Synopsis

There’s no one more deadly than the killer you know.

A man is found brutally stabbed and left for dead.

A young woman is killed in a frenzied attack in the middle of the night on a quiet residential road.

Detective Liz Field is brought in to lead the investigation. The first victim was a well-respected child psychologist. The second victim was once his patient. But that was fifteen years ago. Why is someone targeting them now?

Field is under pressure not just from the top. There are those who would happily see her fail if it means they can take her place. Something about this case feels too close to home.

And the killer is escalating.

Field is in a race against time to solve the case and confront her own buried past – before the they strike again.

Review

What a gripping debut!

Although starting off with a brutal attack, this book is not just about homicide, but a story about family, past trauma and societal expectations. As well as keeping the reader turning the pages to find out who the murderer is, Hannah also educates us on the true difficulties faced by those suffering with OCD, a disorder that is often misunderstood.

DCI Liz Field is far from perfect, but does not conform to the stereotypes we often see with female detectives. She makes mistakes in her personal and professional life, but remains true to her morals and is an extremely likeable character. We gain an insight into who she is, without deviating too much from the main story, casually preparing us for the next book in the series. At the same time, we also get plenty of character development from the adults who were treated by David Moore, as well as the other members of DCI Field’s team, which can be lacking in an inaugural police procedural. This makes the book richer and more relatable because there is already a connection to those whose journeys we will follow in subsequent books.

There are several twists and honestly I’m kicking myself for not spotting one of them, but this is testament to Hannah’s clever plotting and characterisations that lead us in multiple directions, whilst keeping us intrigued and engaged throughout.

No Safe Place is a fast-paced, educational and poignant debut – an unputdownable crime thriller that leaves you hungry for the next instalment.

Thank you to Avon Books for my proof copy. Opinions my own.