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The Safe House

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'The Safe House' by Nicci French follows the story of Dr. Sam Lashcen, a single mother who takes in a young woman, Fiona, after the violent murder of Fiona's parents. The plot revolves around the murder mystery of a wealthy couple and the attempted murder of their daughter, which leads Sam to protect Fiona and help her recover. As the story unfolds, Sam's life is dramatically impacted, and the relationships between characters become central to the narrative. Despite being described as a psychological thriller, the book focuses more on the mother-daughter relationships and the dynamics with Sam's boyfriend, Danny, rather than on intense psychological suspense.

Characters:

Characters appear naive at times but become relatable, particularly the main characters, adding depth to the interpersonal themes.

Writing/Prose:

The prose combines lively and engaging elements, though it may tend towards sentimentality and straightforwardness.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot emphasizes relationship dynamics while intertwining a murder mystery, resulting in a slow-paced and somewhat predictable narrative.

Setting:

The setting is a small town outside London, central to the narrative involving domestic life amid a backdrop of violent crimes.

Pacing:

Pacing varies, with a slow buildup that improves significantly in the latter half, although some readers found it dragged.
The door was the first thing. The door was open. The front door was never open, even in the wonderful heat of the previous summer that had been so like home, but there it was, teetering inwards, on a ...

Notes:

The book centers on Fiona, a young girl whose parents are murdered.
Fiona stays with Dr. Sam Lashcen and her daughter Elsie in a safe house.
Although marketed as a psychological thriller, many readers felt it lacked excitement until the end.
The story explores the relationships between Sam, Elsie, and Sam's boyfriend Danny.
Readers experienced mixed feelings, with some struggling to engage with the first part of the book.
The second half of the book improved significantly for many readers, leading to a quicker read.
Several twists appear towards the end of the book, but some readers guessed the murderer early on.
The author uses a lively writing style and creates a sense of nostalgia for London.
Some readers were disappointed with the ending and loose plot ends, feeling it was unsatisfactory.
The book involves themes of trauma and recovery, as Sam is a doctor specializing in PTSD.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes content related to violence, murder, and themes of trauma, which may be distressing for some readers.

From The Publisher:

Samantha Laschen, a doctor specialising in post-traumatic stress disorder, has moved to the Essex coast with her small daughter, Elsie, to escape the problems of her London life. Or so she thinks. Fiona Mackenzie barely survived the savage, murderous attack which left her parents dead. Now she is in need of sanctuary and the police see Sam as the ideal person to offer her a safe house. But as Fiona makes her way into the hearts of her hosts, Sam discovers that the risks she has foreseen are nothing to the terrifying danger she actually faces ...

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