Safe With Me

by K.L. Slater

Thirteen years ago someone did something very bad to Anna. Now it’s her turn to get even …

Anna lives a solitary existence, taking solace in order and routine. Her only friend is the lonely old lady next door. She doesn’t like to let people to get too close – she knows how much damage they can do.

Then one ordinary day Anna witnesses a devastating road accident and recognises the driver as Carla, the woman who ruined her life all those years ago. Now it’s Anna’s chance to set things straight but her revenge needs to be executed carefully …

First she needs to get to know Liam, the man injured in the accident. She needs to follow the police investigation. She needs to watch Carla from the shadows…

But as Anna’s obsession with Carla escalates, her own secrets start to unravel. Is Carla really dangerous or does Anna need to worry about someone far closer to home?

A compelling, gripping psychological thriller, perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train and The Sister.

What everyone's saying about SAFE WITH

'Holy Hell what a jaw dropper!.....Just need a moment to lift my jaw back off the floor, what a fantastic debut!' Chelle's Book Reviews

'First let me say, just WOW. It has been a long time since I read a book this good. I was completely spellbound by this psychological thriller and could hardly put it down... Safe With Me went far beyond my expectations in every way ...There are so many secrets, backstories, and undercurrents, and this wonderful feeling of dread throughout, it is like nectar for the reader. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a psychological thriller. I am looking forward to the next book from K.L. Slater. She has knocked this one out of the proverbial park' Shelf Knowledge

'Oh my gosh! What a belter of a debut! Safe With Me is totally brilliant' The Little Bookworm

'Sublimely dark and all-consuming, Slater has written a novel so gripping, so captivatingly exciting that I found myself shushing everyone and ignoring everything simply so I could carry on reading.' Becca's Books

'This one will keep you up at night, flipping the pages ...One word of caution, prepare to be surprised & shocked more than once.' First to Read

'Freakin' awesome...you need to start this book on a day when you have nothing else to do, because believe me you will not want to put this down once you start it.' I Love Reading

'WOW,I'm going to have to catch up with the housework tomorrow because I have just spent the last two days devouring this jaw droppingly brilliant debut psychological thriller. 'Nicki's Life of Crime

'Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Lots of twists in the story kept me guessing right to the end. Very well written.' Book Attic Confessions

'I was totally captivated by this book from the start, it is truly a gripping read with some gobsmacking twists that will leave you breathless!' Emma the little Bookworm

'You know how some books declare 'It'll leave you on the edge of your seat", I swear I almost fell off mine more than once ... this is a gem of a read, hugely enjoyable in a perverse making yourself feel on-edge kind of way!' Woman Reads Books

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

376 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2016

About the author

Kim is the number one bestselling author of sixteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in a small Nottinghamshire village.

Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson

Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can you see me, standing alone on my island of discontent, waving halfheartedly from the shore? Yup, here I am, once again . . . in the minority. I was sure the overwhelmingly positive reviews I’ve seen for this author’s work and the blurb couldn’t be wrong - this was going to be a creeptastic read. One I would revel in or heck, even just enjoy. Turns out . . . not so much.

“Let’s face it, some people are just weird and there’s no logic behind it.”

I think we all know by now, the same can be said about books and the characters that inhabit them. This story was riddled with weird characters and the narrator, Anna, was the worst of the bunch. I’m all for an unreliable narrator, but there still has to be something about that character I connect with or that’s even interesting on some level. For me, Anna’s character crossed the line from creepy in an interesting and suspenseful way, to creepy in an awkward and pitiful way. Being in her head was icky and uncomfortable. There was no enjoyment in trying to understand her downward spiral of delusions.

Anna is the sole witness in an accident involving a woman in a car, hitting a man on a motorcycle, and it seriously messes with her head. The woman driving the car happens to be the person she holds responsible for the destruction of her own family thirteen years earlier. The very person that disappeared and changed her identity after that tragic night. In an effort to keep tabs on this mystery woman, Anna tries to befriend the man on the motorcycle, relentlessly inserting herself in his life.

The storyline itself was interesting enough, it was the execution and feel that was off for me. Nothing irks me more than suspense being carried out with situations that are glossed over or conversations where one character doesn’t provide an answer, but instead storms off in a dramatic way. It’s a plot device that feels cheap to me and it was used a lot in this story.

When it all boils down to it, there were some twists, thrown in at the end, but again, the way it all came together didn’t work for me. Essentially the author tried to pull the wool over my eyes, but she failed. The major thing that Anna first ‘uncovered’ mid-story made the direction of things so obvious. And that ending . . . nope. Not impressed. And seriously, what was that smell? I still can’t figure that one out.

*Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 3 out of 5]

K.L.Slater tells us the story of Anna, who is still suffering from a trauma she had to face 13 years ago. She still has a lot of hatred toward the person who caused the trauma. She is trying to find a situation where she can take revenge.

The person who ruined Ana’s life was Carla. She finds Carla getting involved in a devastating road accident. Is Karma a boomerang and has given her the opportunity to take revenge on Carla?

The person injured in the accident is Liam and Ana decides to know more about Liam, follow the police investigation and watch Carla’s actions closely.


Was it possible for Ana to behave in a different manner if she had read the above quote by Einstein? She shows us how it is challenging to follow the above quote in our everyday life and why revenge is something that tries to destroy our own life.

What I learned from this book
1) How should we set boundaries in our life?
Setting boundaries is very important, especially if you live in a place filled with a lot of manipulative people, as mentioned in this book. It tells us the danger if we don’t know how to say no to those who try to encroach into our personal life.

“That person is taking charge of all my personal affairs.”

2) What is the most important thing that Ana learned from counseling?
The importance of building a rapport with people is shown beautifully by the author here. Ana was able to learn the importance of rapport only after passing through many difficult circumstances in her life.

“If I learned one thing from my months of counseling sessions with Dr. Marsh, it is that you can’t push people to talk until they’re ready to open up.”

3) Can a single person change people’s lives?
Miracles happen in the form of human beings and from the people whom we expect the least to help us during times of crisis.

If you still have doubts about this topic, I request you to please read the book Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally.

“People sometimes surprise you in good ways and you can never be sure how your life is going to turn out.”

My favourite three lines from this book

“How easy it is to hide your true feelings with a smile and a kind word.”

“It always amazes me how it is so easy to appear one way to the people around you but to live inside as someone else entirely.”

“Something is very wrong here, something doesn’t fit.”

What could have been better?
This is a pretty straightforward story without many twists, which will make it disconcerting for at least some readers.

Rating
3/5 It might be a thriller without many mind-bending twists, but it still gives you a decent reading experience.


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[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa! I feel like I've just gone through the drive-thru window at McCreepy's and ordered a Jumbo Squeamish Shake with a side order of Curl-Your-Toes fries.

And taking my order is Anna. Anna certainly doesn't reveal all the items on the menu quite yet. But you'll be turning pages quickly in order to unwrap the secrets held in that crisp white bag. Make sure you take extra napkins.....you're gonna need 'em.

Anna has just witnessed a horrible car accident involving a motorcyclist. She bolts out of her vehicle and tries to give comfort to the victim who is splayed out on the pavement. The young man appears to be in serious condition and Anna refuses to leave his side. She glances over at the driver of the car involved and does a double-take. Could that be Carla who was at the center of all of Anna's heartbreak years ago? Possibly.....

Anna can't help herself. She finds out the name and address of the victim and visits him non-stop in the hospital during his recovery. She even shows up at their home. His grandmother, Ivy, insists that they don't need her presence any longer. But, oh, Anna insists.

The story weaves back and forth between Anna's home and Liam's. Anna is employed. There's a frying pan filled with workplace issues for Anna. Just wait and see. Her neighbor, elderly Mrs. Peat, also adds plenty of her own ingredients to this mix. This storyline will keep your head turning back and forth and you'll be checking under the bed for more than just dust bunnies.

K.L. Slater presents a wallop of a psychological thriller. It will tap you on the shoulder and pose the question: Are the inmates running the sanitorium? Bookouture showcases some the most talented writers that I have had the privilege to read. Does the name Angela Marsons ring a bell? Yep, you know exactly what I'm talking about here.

This is a honey of a read that switches from the present and then back to thirteen years ago. You're gonna be caught in that time warp and neither is a pleasant place to be. Booyah! Great job, K.L. Slater. We'll be back for a refill for sure.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is brimming with psychos, but just wait until you meet creepy Anna!

A motorcycle accident Anna witnesses brings back memories of what happened during the dark days 13 years ago, and as she befriends the injured party at the scene, a plan of revenge against the driver begins to materialize in her crazy mixed-up brain.

With a heavy workload at the Royal Mail Service, an elderly neighbor friend to check in on and her new secret plan of attack to carry out (combined with a bit of OCD) Anna finds herself overextended, but soon connives a way to adjust her schedule.....Ha!

SAFE WITH ME takes the reader in a myriad of directions as a disturbed Anna reeks her havoc and reveals the truth making for an entertaining and crazy good thriller.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Mary Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this one. I loved Blink and this one just did not do it for me. The characters in this book were not very likable. I especially hated Anna. It was so obnoxious being inside her head. Clearly, she wasn’t alright. I could never root for her or support her decisions because we know so little about her and her past. She had no right to insert herself into the Bradbury’s lives, and her intrusiveness played on my nerves. Even though there was some twists in the book the plot moved too slowly for me. The last third of the book was altogether more gripping, meaning I could even forget most of what had previously bothered me about the writing. Even though not all the questions were answered by the time the book concluded, it was a good story. I just love my suspense and love it going throughout the book and not just the ending.

Anna witnesses a car crash caused by the woman who destroyed her life 13 years ago. She is determined to get the woman back for all the pain and suffering she has caused and does so by befriending the victim of the crash. The story is told from 3 perspectives. Anna from present day, Anna's neighbour, Mrs. Peat, also from present day and Carla from 13 years ago.

What did I like about the book?
I loved all the twist and turns in this book and because the main chart is completely off the wall you are never really sure which way the story will go. I love nothing more in a book then something that will shock me and make me go hmmm.

I will be reading more by this author. I did love her book Blink and she has a new one coming out.

I want to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCERPT: So, they're tucked up in bed at last. You take a handful of matches and you light each one, watching the burn die to a powdery black dot.

The embers in the open fireplace are dying down but there's still the white hot core, deep in the centre, still powerful enough to help you set things straight one final time.

'Two squashy seat cushions piled on the floor. Four squashy seat cushions piled on the floor.' It’s fun to sing to the tune of 'Ten Green Bottles'.

You push the chair right up next to them so that the fabrics are touching. You carefully extract two balls of molten coal from the ashes with the tongs, carefully placing each one in the middle of the cushions. Now you sit back to watch them melting in, deep down. The glowing balls sink greedily into the soft foam, and the scorched fabric cover of the cushion shrinks back like it's trying to escape.

There is no noise and you enjoy the silence.

Entranced, you watch as the small flames start to dance, flicking their pretty, lethal tongues. The power amazes, terrifies and comforts you all at once. You feel the layers of protection you have tried to coat yourself with over the years being stripped away. You needed them so you had a chance of getting through each day and drunken night, but you are safe now. The flames will make it safe.

You have tried to tell them many times, of course, tried to ask for help. But they didn't understand what you were trying to get through to them. And now the rawness of your fear, your sadness - it's here for all to see in the sharpness of the thick, sulphured air.

You mustn't cough. You don’t want to wake them, set the sillies screaming and crying. Leave them to their dreams, they will learn soon enough.

The flames grow larger, then fuse together. You know that it's a sign that they're promising to help you and yet, for a second, you actually consider changing your mind. You could stomp down the flames and shout for help. You could wake them up.

Then you hear it.

'Let us do our work,' the flames whisper. 'Everything will be better in the morning.'

And that's when you decide to finally walk away.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: Thirteen years ago someone did something very bad to Anna. Now it’s her turn to get even …

Anna lives a solitary existence, taking solace in order and routine. Her only friend is the lonely old lady next door. She doesn’t like to let people get too close – she knows how much damage they can do.

Then one ordinary day Anna witnesses a devastating road accident and recognises the driver as Carla, the woman who ruined her life all those years ago. Now it’s Anna’s chance to set things straight but her revenge needs to be executed carefully …

First she needs to get to know Liam, the man injured in the accident. She needs to follow the police investigation. She needs to watch Carla from the shadows…

But as Anna’s obsession with Carla escalates, her own secrets start to unravel. Is Carla really dangerous or does Anna need to worry about someone far closer to home?

MY THOUGHTS: Anna is a solitary person. She has had a hard life. She is damaged but has built a new life on her own terms, one she can cope with.

As long as nothing goes wrong. . . But go wrong it does.

Told from multiple viewpoints and over two timelines, this novel is seriously twisted. Creepy twisted. Turn the pages very carefully, creepy, twisted. . . because you're never quite sure what Slater is going to spring on you next.

Safe With Me is a debut novel by KL Slater which has me completely blown away. This is a chilling psychological thriller that had me devouring every word.

I want more from this author. Soon.

😨😨😨😨😨

THE AUTHOR: Kim is the million-copy bestselling author of seven psychological crime thrillers. Her eighth thriller, FINDING GRACE, was published 14th February 2019.

Kim's titles are also published in paperback by Sphere in the UK and Grand Central in the USA.

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents and collected an impressive stack of rejection slips. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating in 2012, she gained literary agent representation and a book deal. As Kim says, ‘it was a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer. She has one daughter, two stepsons and lives with her husband in Nottingham and Yorkshire.

Publishers: Bookouture, Sphere, Grand Central, Audible
Agent: Camilla Bolton at Darley Anderson

Author website: www.KLSlaterAuthor.com
Twitter: @KimLSlater
Facebook: KL Slater Author
Instagram: KLSlaterAuthor

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a digital ARC for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

SAFE WITH ME is a gripping psychological thriller by a debut author, KL Slater…and definitely an author with a promising career, and published by my favourite publisher, Bookouture. Your future is set!

“Thirteen years ago someone did something very bad to Anna. Now it’s her turn to get even … “

“Anna lives a solitary existence, taking solace in order and routine. Her only friend is the lonely old lady next door. She doesn’t like to let people to get too close – she knows how much damage they can do. “

Then one day Anna witnesses a disturbing road accident and recognizes the driver as Donna, the woman who ruined her life thirteen years ago. Now it’s Anna’s chance to get revenge!

But Anna realizes that she needs to have a sound plan, which first involves getting to know Liam, the man injured in the motorcycle/car accident. Anna offers Liam any help and support she can provide. But Liam lives with his nosy controlling grandmother,” Ivy”, who is unwilling to accept Anna's assistance, even though Ivy is feeble and unable to take care of her grandson. Therefore, Anna must take matters in her own hands and work out the path to make things happen her way, so she will get her revenge! It also means following the status of the police investigation, while watching and observing Donna from a distance. Anna must play her cards right…to win this time!

This novel is told from multiple perspectives, Anna's in the first-person, the others in the third. The story alternates between present day and 13 years ago as the story unfolds. I love how the author allows us to get to know Anna, slowly with all her delusions. There are lots of red herrings and this book will keep you guessing all the way through. I was totally glued to this book, as I wanted to see what was going to happen.

It is hard to believe this is a debut novel. The author did a super job of leading the reader down the wrong path, and at 88%, I loved Chapter 67. The characters in this book are creepy and disturbed, and it is difficult for the reader to guess the outcome of the book. I didn’t! I felt the author rushed the ending a little bit, and I was scrambling to keep up and put the pieces together. But everything came together in the end.

This author is very talented and has a bright future.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the ARC. It was my pleasure to provide an honest review.

[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

3.5 Stars

THIS is what that waste of time The Girl on the Train should have been. At least as far as the unreliable narrator goes. Meet Rachel I mean Anna. Thirteen years ago a superbadawful happened to someone she loved that she hasn’t been able to get over. When by coincidence she witnesses the person from her past get in a car vs. motorbike accident she knows karma is finally working in her favor and it’s her chance to ruin someone’s life. If only she didn’t have the distraction of her job to keep her from focusing 100% on the task at hand . . . .



Not to mention how hard it’s getting to avoid her neighbor lady Old Mrs. Peat . . . .



Or that just when she thinks things are progressing quite nicely with Liam here comes his dang grandma . . . .



And that bitch Carla . . . .



Plus WTF is up with her apartment?!?!?!?!



If you like reading about awful people and can occasionally suspend disbelief in order to enjoy a quality “Lifetime Nutter Movie of the Week” type of story, Safe With Me might be right up your alley.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read some really good novels recently and many have been published by Bookouture. This is another fine example, a debut novel by author KL Slater that is definitely going to be a success and the start of a glittering career.
The stories main character is Anna, she is a loner and her only friend is Mrs Peat who lives next door. Thirteen years ago something happened in Anna's life that she still suffers to cope with.
Now in the present day Anna witnesses a car accident and the person who caused the accident is the same individual who ruined her life 13 years ago. Anna now decides it's time to seek her revenge, she is obsessed with the woman and follows the police investigation very closely encouraging the victims family to press charges.
The story alternates between present day and 13 years ago as the story unfolds. This is an excellent debut novel and shows signs of a more experienced writer.There are lots of red herrings and this book will keep you guessing all the way through.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.

[Angela Marsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of Safe With Me and absolutely loved it. It is a testament to the quality of this author's writing that her main character - Anna - still occupies space in my head months after I read the book. The tension was expertly built throughout the novel and from 70% my head was just spinning. There were various points at which I thought I had it all worked out but no, I was proven wrong each time and then brilliantly taken on another route. I particularly enjoyed the skill with which each of the characters was unpeeled and revealed over the course of the book. I loved Anna’s character even though I wanted to shake her sometimes I still cared about her very much. Brilliantly done and I can't wait to read the next book this author has to offer.

[STEPH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Next level creepy! Hahaha.

Honestly, It was a bit depressing to be inside Anna’s head and the majority of the readers didn’t like her character. But her delusional tendencies and her unstable mental state were major plot points in the story and it made me really understand her. She was unlikeable in the sense that her view of people was prejudiced and her way of thinking was marred with unfair justice and reasoning. But still, she was an interesting, imperfect character.

It was an OK book for me. It took a long time for the story to make sense, the ending was rushed and there were a couple of questions in my mind that weren’t answered.

As for the smell? Hmmm, I think I have an idea what it was. Really expected something more from that one but nothing came out of it.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alarm bells rang straight away in my head on this one I just had to know what happened to Anna, although I hated her she kept the pace going at a quick rate, I despised how she worked her way into Ivy & Liam's life .I found Anna to be a disturbing character bordering on paranoia & normalcy she was such a pain in the butt for me.


What I did like was the way the author connected the characters of Carla & Amanda being twins it made the plot more believable & the concept turned out well, as for Liam well enough said on him I nearly fell off my chair at the end, as for Joan Peat she wasn't what I expected.


As the plot progressed we find out what happened to Anna's brother Daniel I was glued to his character & Carla his councillor my heart went out to him the horrors that went on in the Clarke household was abhorrent.

All I can say if you like a fast paced psychological thriller then read this K.L slater has another winner with this one almighty story. 4.5 stars

[Zoeytron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

Watch out for this type! You know the sort, a person who latches onto you, working nonstop to insinuate herself into your life. Attempts made at quelling this bizarre interest in you are futile. She knows what you need far better than you do.

Meet Anna. She recognizes the value of routine, rote, and control. There is some OCD going on with her, essential checks she must make when she leaves her flat, all designed to make her feel safe. The plug-ins, the oven, the kettle, the cushions on her sofa, they all have to be just so. She strives to do the same things at a certain time each day. Too bad she doesn't take the same amount of care with her deliveries for the Royal Mail service.

A chance encounter as the result of a car accident thrusts Anna into a situation she has always wanted, the chance to care for someone she can truly trust, someone with whom she can share her secrets. As it turns out, there are others involved in the mix, nosy untrustworthy types, those who are only out for themselves.

What about old Joan Peat, who lives in the adjoining flat? She has her own secrets. She sits, watching and listening, with a glass pressed up against the wall to aid in hearing. That killed me. Let's not forget the spare room and its contents. And what is that horrible smell?

Although there were a couple of rather too convenient pieces that caused my eyeballs roll a bit, I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller. Anna is a fascinating character. With everything she has been through, it's remarkable that she isn't pulling her hair out by the roots. Oh, wait. She kinda is.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent thriller that will draw you in and keep you captivated till the end. Anna is a loner with only one friend, Mrs Peat her next door neighbour. Something terrible happened to Anna thirteen years ago, years later while she is out one day, she witnesses a car accident and is dumb struck to see that the perpetrator is the person who has made her life hell for all these years. Anna is now after revenge and she becomes completely obsessed with this person and even tries to get herself involved in the police investigation to the point where she is making friends of other people involved in the case. I really enjoyed this book and loved Anna's character, a fast moving story and for a debut novel this is an excellent read. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An odd sort of psychological thriller. It's told from multiple points of view . Initially, there are three perspectives - Anna, an overweight mail carrier who had a tragedy in her life 13 years ago, her neighbor Mrs. Peat and an unknown individual. The first two suffer from loneliness. Anna also suffers from OCD and other issues stemming from the tragedy which we come to learn involved her brother. At the start of the book, she witnesses a car accident caused by the perceived perpetrator of her own tragedy and starts to plot revenge.

As the book goes on, we are given flashbacks to Carla, a school therapist, who Anna sees as her childhood villain. She is another lonely, damaged soul. Other character’s POV come into play throughout the book.

Anna is a disturbing character. The kind of character that gives me the creeps. It doesn't take long to realize how off she truly is. Ever read one of those books where the scenes are so disturbing that you keep putting the book down? This is one of those books. Not that the scenes are violent or sickening. Just creepy. Goosebumps creepy. Slater does a great job of portraying Anna. Her choice of words is spot on, like when Anna sneaks into a house and then thinks “my sacrifice has paid dividends”.

Then just when you think you have it figured out, Slater starts throwing curveballs at you. In fact, with every curve, you think, well now I know what's going to happen. And you will be wrong. Very well done plot.

My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC of this book.

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've done some pondering with fellow good readers on this one and I've decided to change my review.... I'm not sure if I am getting pickier with my novels OR if it's because I truly read so many books in the psychological thriller genre.

I have to say I was wanting more from this novel.... and it was not there for me at all.

Anna was a very delusional and dark character. I at times, felt myself getting irritated with Anna, because she truly made tons of irrational decisions (like idk giving half her life to a stranger) . But, to Anna's character she somehow manages to convince herself that her decisions are sane for herself and other others around her. (Which clearly has a lot to do with the trauma that her and her brother Danny endured growing up).

The ending felt ridiculously flat and I was thinking really that's it? Eh.... yeah this is going on my disappointment list and I don't think I will be reading anymore from this author.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW,I'm going to have to catch up with the housework tomorrow because I have just spent the last two days devouring this jaw droppingly brilliant debut psychological thriller.

The story starts with a prologue about a arson attack by a unnamed person and then you are plunged into the scene of a car accident and introduced to Anna,Liam and Donna or is she really called Carla? who are basically the main players in this very gripping drama about mental health,mind games and deception.

The chapters flip back and forth between thirteen years ago when someone did something really bad to Anna when she was a teenager and the present day when Anna recognizes a face from her past at the accident which causes her life to swiftly start unravelling.Most of the story is voiced by Anna,who is not a very likeable character,it was unnerving reading about her swift break down and loss of control,you never knew what she was going to do next.It was very obvious that there was something seriously wrong with her mentally but I struggled to feel any sympathy for her.

The book holds the readers attention throughout,is packed with twists and there is a mixed bag of characters who are mostly untrustworthy,have hidden secrets and are not what they seem.It's very well written and absolutely brilliant,I look forward to reading more books by k L Slater in the future

Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second book by this another and again I read it in one sitting.
Good writing and great premises.
Most of the book is written in first person and you are taken inside the head of the main character, which is a place that you don’t want to be, not because she is totally unlikable, but because she does sound creepy and delusional.
Anyways, this was very entertaining, with some very good moments, but with nothing remarkable. The conclusion felt convoluted and I think that the author tried too hard with this debut.
Once again I did not get the thrill that was promised by the blurb, but still not a bad entertainment.
I read the ebook while at the same time listened to the audiobook narrated by Lucy Price-Lewis, an Audible exclusive, which is currently available at not extra cost for subscribers, until March 22, 2023 (I think that most of her audiobooks are free this month). I did enjoy the audiobook.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Safe With Me is a brilliantly disturbing psychological thriller by a debut author.
Told from multiple perspectives, Anna's in the first-person, the others in the third, the story kept twisting and turning and was totally unpredictable.
Anna witnesses a road traffic accident and recognizes the woman responsible, Donna, as somebody from her past. Anna's past was traumatic, so it's totally understandable that she offers the unfortunate accident victim, Liam, any help and support she can provide. After all, now that Anna has found the woman responsible for her tragic past she can't let her get away with it again, can she? And if Liam's grandmother, Ivy, is somewhat reluctant to accept Anna's much-needed help, then Anna has no choice but to engineer her own creative ways to make things happen.
The plot switches between the present and thirteen years ago, which worked well. I absolutely adored the way K.L. Slater portrayed Anna and her delusions. She was a character who really unnerved me. I would have never thought this was a debut novel. The author did a fantastic job of misdirecting the reader and throwing curve after curve. The prologue sent me down a completely wrong path. I was totally surprised by where the story went. Up to about 85%, I thought this was going to be a 5-star read. But I felt the last bit wasn't quite up to that. The author suddenly rushed with the ending. However, for a debut novel, this was brilliantly done. Especially the characterization. If you like disturbed, creepy characters and a tale where nothing is quite as it seems look no further.
I chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.

[Adrian Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was one unusual read. A psychological thriller that seems to be set up as a simple revenge story but as it unravels, it becomes much much more, with some genuinely dark characters.

Anna, our central character witnesses a road accident as a young man is knocked off his motorbike by a car and seriously injured. Anna jumps out of her car to see if the young man is ok. He's seriously injured with a very bad head wound and she stays by his side as she waits for the emergency services to arrive, trying to comfort him. As she glances up she sees the woman who was driving the car that hit him and to her horror she recognises her as Carla, a woman who apparently ruined her life 13 years ago.
Anna keeps her head low in case Carla recognises her as panic and fear grips her on seeing Carla again after such a long time.

As the young man. - Liam is brought to hospital, Anna decides that she must visit him to see how he is, but more importantly to try and garner information about the woman who knocked him down. Surely the police will have her details and Liam will know about them. She needs to exact revenge on Carla, a woman she hasn't seen in years, could never find and has now stumbled upon again. Liam is her ticket to this.
As she visits Liam she discovers that he has amnesia from the accident and as yet has no details on Carla or the accident he was in. His over bearing grandmother Ivy who he lives with,is at his side and at first thankful of Anna's visit and help at the accident scene but as Anna decides to intrude on their lives more, offering lifts to Ivy to the hospital, wanting to visit Liam at home and bring him to follow up visits to hospital, Ivy becomes more and more protective of Liam, treating him like a child and not wanting any help from Anna.

The story is told both in the present and in the past and from multiple perspectives, from Anna's point of view, in the first person and when from other characters point of view, in the third person.

As it goes back and forward in time we get little hints and crumbs of information of what happened in the past and why Anna wants revenge. We also spend a lot of time in Anna's head as she slowly unravels and we realise all is not right with her.

For a debut novel this really is an excellent piece of work. The central character and the writing of her is what makes the book for me. We know that something traumatic has happened to her in her childhood but, as we spend more and more time in her head it becomes more and more uncomfortable as we realise that all is not well with Anna. She turns into a genuinely creepy and unsettling character that you still have empathy for.

The story itself is pretty clever, if a little contrived. There are plenty of red herrings and it keeps you guessing right until the end. It's all resolved fairly quickly at the end, a little too conveniently and as I say feels a little contrived and stretches the readers tolerance in the believability and credibility stakes,but putting that aside, it is a well constructed and told story with some genuinely creepy characters, some that are obvious from the off and some not so. The writing and storytelling is of a high standard, enough perhaps to forgive the slightly outlandish finale.

Anna is undoubtably the star of this novel for me. For all it's clever and complicated storyline and vivid descriptions of the past and the intrigue that goes with it, it's the time spent with Anna where the novel really shines. Such a well written character, genuinely creepy and unnerving, but despite this you want to spend more time with her to see what makes her tick and what she may do next. She's a character I will long remember.

K.L. Slater seems a very talented writer. Bookouture seem to have a knack of finding these fantastic thriller writers and if this is the opening gambit from Ms Slater then we have much to look forward to from her.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and K.L. Slater for an Arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Judy Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

K. L. Slater a major new talent, delivers a dark, mind-boggling, and twisty psychological debut thriller: SAFE WITH ME. Set aside the time, “unputdownable.”

Creepy, chilling tension builds with more twists, turns, and secrets than you can imagine combined with Anna’s escalating mental state, and dangerous obsession. No one is safe here.

As the thriller opens with stunning prose, there seems to be a fire. Sadness, fear, and someone walks away. There is a mysterious person speaking, here and again towards the end of the book. This person is dark, scary, and very troubled. The identity is not revealed until the explosive ending, adding to the intrigue.

Present Day Anna Age 33. An unreliable narrator. An accident. She sees a silver car coming the other way moving too fast. The driver loses control and veers over to the wrong side of the road. It happens quickly. The car hits the motorbike in front of her and the rider flies up into the air and lands face down on the road. Her foot slams down on the brake, she jumps out.

The car door opens, and a woman of about forty, dressed in jeans vomits on the side of the road. And in that split second, Anna recognizes “her.” She can barely breathe.

Twelve years ago, when she got out of the hospital, even though she had met her only briefly on just a couple of occasions, she spent every spare moment trying to trace her again. Anna was young, naïve, and desperate back then, with no one to help. She had hit a brick wall.

She prayed karma really did exist and was coming to her for what "she" did to them.

And now, "she" is here, right in front of her. Ruining yet another life. Ironic. She was good at playing the victim. She will never let go of her again. She is not that same terrified young girl now. She will try and help the guy from the moped. Looks to be about mid-thirties, her age.

The woman has no clue who she is, or what she did to her all. Of course, Anna looks different now. It has been thirteen years. She has darker hair and much heavier. People like her never noticed the insignificant around them. Until it all comes back with a vengeance.

Anna is smarter now. Wiser. She will be able to keep tabs on her through the local newspaper and the accident reports and can identify herself later as a witness to the police. For now, she has learned to play it smart. From her therapist. Stand back from her thoughts and evaluate a situation calmly and logically to make the best decision. So there are NO mistakes.

Anna lives a solitary life and a preoccupation with order and routine and lives with her cat, Albert. She works for Royal Mail and has for five years. She organizes and bags it, and delivers it to the residents of the Clifton housing estate, on the outskirts of Nottingham. Her job keeps her on track. To escape the dark days. The places she does not want to return to.

She decides looking back, that every single minute of the last thirteen years has been perfectly aligned to this moment. To bring "her" back to her. She keeps up with the accident in the Nottingham Post. She knows HER real name.

The woman’s name is Carla Bevin, but she is now going by Amanda. She decides the best thing to do is keep in touch with the motorbike victim, Liam Bradbury, currently in the hospital. The nurses tell her he lives with his gran Ivy which is old. She thinks he is a bit old to be residing with a relative.

Joan Peat (love her) is Anna neighbor, (seventies) with a care assistant, Linda. Her husband Arthur had died with cancer. She also has a useless daughter Janet Mae. Joan watches Anna.

After all, Joan she had been their neighbor for thirty years. She knows what goes on in the house next door. Even long ago.

The Clarkes. Monica and Jack with little girl Anna. Monica had a penchant for alcohol and men. She was pregnant a year later with Daniel. Jack thought the child was not his and left. Six months later he was dead. That was when Anna starting visiting Joan.

The author keeps you hooked with intriguing suspense with an impending darkness lurking. What really went down thirteen years ago? What did Carla/Amanda do and what happened to her brother Daniel and the mom? Why is Anna so obsessed with revenge? What is Liam's story?

We jump to Carla Bevin (HER) who had worked at the Cumber Meadows group of schools as a counselor and psychotherapy. She was fascinated with kids which seemed to be bullied and had a rough time. Daniel refused to say a work to give any visual clues. She was his counselor and therapist.

His sister Anna was fifteen. Daniel and Anna were both very bright academically and Anna was selected for the school’s prestigious gifted pupil program. The mother had refused due to her needing to be at home.

Daniel only said, "He’s always watching me. He knows what I’m thinking. He knows about every single thing I do."

Anna worms her way into Liam’s life and Grans. However, she has no clue what this accident has done to Liam’s mind and his troubled past.

From alternating POV from thirteen years ago to the present, we hear from Anna and Carla and Joan. A fearful Anna, which seems to be spiraling out of control with her obsession, and worried about the people getting their mail late and losing her job. (stolen mail).

In between, she is putting herself in the middle of Ivy, Liam, and Amanda. She cares for Liam. She also discovers Carla/Amanda works at a nursery and loves kids. She devises a devious plan to get her bloody revenge.

Anna is coming unhinged, worrying about Amanda trying to steal her happiness with Liam and she has to protect him. She had turned a blind eye once before in her life with disastrous consequences. Not again.

However, who is really the most dangerous here? Anna, Liam, or Carla (Amanda), or is it someone else? Who is out to get whom? Liam and Anna may have more in common than they know. Nothing is as it appears. .

Their stories converge in a shocking conclusion, that will leave readers eager to share and discuss SAFE WITH ME. (ideal for book clubs and discussions). Plus it will raise your blood pressure, and increase your heart rate.

Wow, the author covers highly charged topics from mental health, abuse, and others with sensitivity, vivid descriptions, and fully developed characters. Anna was one wild character like a time bomb not knowing when she would implode. She was disturbing, cold, chilling, paranoid, detached and delusional.

The perfect unreliable narrator. Unpredictable from beginning to end. I will have to say my favorite character was Joan. (Love the surprise little evil twist) I was applauding. Something about a great neighbor who does not "miss a thing". The twist with Liam and Gran was cleverly crafted. Each person experienced tragedy, with the opportunity to help someone crossing their path.

It is very hard to believe this is a debut! If this is a debut, can you even imagine what is to come?? For fans of Jennifer Hillier, Heather Gudenkauf, Chevy Stevens, Ruth Rendell, BA Paris, Fiona Barton, Kathryn Croft, Mary Kubica, and Clare Mackintosh (some of my favorites)!

Yes, I totally agree with the author. An outstanding cover, Bookouture! These guys sure know how to crank out the talent!

“Your life takes a turn and, suddenly, everything changes and it just can’t be put back together again the same way as it was before.“

Dark, and compelling and devoured it in one sitting. Congrats on a heart-stopping, gripping, hit debut! (saving another star for the second book)

Would encourage readers to view the author’s journey. An inspiring story, returning to university at age forty and the beginning of the story we have today. "You had me at Prologue."

Be sure and read her second strong followup novel: Blink Coming Feb, 2017. An author to follow.

A special thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

JDCMustReadBooks

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowsers! Read this in hours. Could not put it down! Full gushing review to come!

[Danielle (The Blonde Likes Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

One normal day, Anna witnesses a car accident where a motorcycle is hit by a car. It turns out that the driver of the car is Carla, the woman who ruined her life thirteen years ago. Anna wants to exact revenge but doesn’t want to reveal herself to Carla yet. Instead, she visits the motorcycle driver, Liam, in the hospital as he’s recovering and makes friends with Liam and his grandmother.

As we learn more about Anna, we start to question whether or not her obsession with Carla is warranted or if Anna herself is hiding secrets…

I have to say, I LOVED K.L. Slater’s other book, Blink, and was so excited to read this one, but was left disappointed. This was not my favorite book. I know that this was her first book, so I’m thinking since I loved Blink that her books have gotten better with time.

The story jumped back and forth between Anna in the past and Anna in the present time, but also has chapters told from the perspective of a variety of characters including Liam, Carla, a detective, Anna’s supervisor at work, and so on. This made it really difficult for me to stay engaged in the story because I was constantly having to go back and check whose point of view I was reading and in what timeline. Some of the chapters felt irrelevant to the story, too, which took me out of the main narrative.

Additionally, I felt like there were a number of loose ends that weren’t tied up to my liking. For example, Anna talks repeatedly about a bad smell that starts happening in her apartment, but it’s never uncovered what the smell was…I thought it would have relevance to the story, but NOPE. There were also some discrepancies in Anna and Carla’s ages. In the chapters set in the past, they were said to be one age, but in the present day chapters, they were said to be an age that wouldn’t add up to the 13 missing years.

I also HATED Anna as a character, and to be honest, I can’t think of a single character I did like. I felt like Anna was nuts. She was constantly making decisions and justifying them to herself when no normal sane person would make the same decisions. For example, Anna decides she needs to break into Liam’s apartment so she could “feed his cat” using a key that he doesn’t know she has. That’s already weird enough, but then she proceeds to hack into his facebook account, go through his messages, and then make a copy of his key to keep “just in case” – all of this done without her knowledge. It just left me thinking she was crazy and I was not rooting for her AT ALL.

Then the end happened, and I was left feeling like “that’s it?” I felt like there was a lot of unnecessary parts to the story – like the entire plotline where Anna can’t deliver all of her mail on time, but then the ending felt rushed and not everything was neatly wrapped up.

That said, I did enjoy the writing of the book and I feel like Slater has a great writing style and way with words that makes reading her books quick and easy. Overall, I feel like she’s learned from her first book, and her second book Blink, was much more of a win for me. I’m excited to see her continue to write and evolve as an author. I do also want to note, that Safe With Me has a lot of positive reviews, so it’s absolutely possible that I just wasn’t the right reader for this story.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Safe With Me by K.L. Slater
The story begins with a prologue of burning ash and arson and I am not quite sure what this means. This psychological thriller has a unique plot, compared to the rest that I have read this year. This used to be my favorite genre, but it has changed to literary contemporary fiction. So many psychological thrillers have been closely resembling one another. Either a wife or husband goes missing or a very young child goes missing. That is what makes the plot of this one so much better as it has a fresh unused before now story. It is in a league of its own. In a letter from the author in the back of the book she tells us that she went back to school at age forty. I was impressed to read that one of her support group that she thanks in the acknowledgements in the talented Angela Marsens.

In the beginning of the book there is a creepy prologue that has to due with burning ashes and I am not quite sure how that fits into the rest of the story, but read it again after you finish the book and it adds to the creepiness factor of this book. I think this is K.L. Slater's debut novel and if it is congratulations are in order for writing such a fresh, creepy novel.

Anna witnesses and accident of Liam getting knocked off his motorcycle driven by Carla Bevins, who Anna feels is responsible for a tragedy that happened thirteen years ago. The novel is told in the present day and it alternates with chapters of thirteen years ago. Anna is a loner who has OCD who works as a mail delivery person for the Royal Mail. Anna can not keep up with the volume of mail and hordes what she doesn't have time to deliver in her house. She tries to burn some of it in order to hide the fact that she is not doing her job, by having undelivered mail at the end of each of her shifts at work.

Anna really has a grudge against Carla Bevins who is driving the car that hits Liam and knocks him off his motorcycle to the pavement. Anna holds Liam's hand until the ambulance arrives to take him to the hospital. Anna can't believe her good fortune at discovering Carla as causing the accident. For thirteen years Anna has been holding a grudge against Carla who is now going by the name Amanda. Anna lives a solitary life with her cat Albert and her neighbor an older women by the name of Joan Peat. Now that Carla has hit Liam Anna can keep track of her and Anna inserts herself into Liam and his grandmother Ivy's life.

Anna wants to see Carla/Amanda prosecuted for causing the accident with Liam. Everyday Anna turns up at the hospital at Liam's bedside and asks "Have you gotten in touch with the police, yet?" Anna really can't let it go. Amanda visits Liam in the hospital to say how sorry she is about the accident and that only infuriates Anna more. To say anymore would give away spoilers and ruin your reading experience. This is a very creepy story and I knew or I thought I knew the ending but I was wrong.

Thank you to Net Galley, K.L. Slater and Bookouture for providing me with a digital copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's rare that a book described as a "psychological thriller" really blows my mind - but this one screwed it up big-time. In fact, it's downright creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky from start to finish. That's even more astonishing given that not a single character is truly likable.

Therein is the psychological appeal; every character is flawed - demented, even; to what extent is revealed only as layers of the good, the bad and the ugly are peeled away when chapters shift from present to past and from character to character. Admittedly, that can be a little hard to follow; in fact, when I first started, my reaction was, "Oh no - not another one where I not only have to keep a bundle of names and relationships straight in my head but also the time period." But in very short order, the author's expert crafting of the story made that much easier (and no doubt it helped that reading as fast as I could because I couldn't wait to see what happened next meant I had little time to forget).

Anna, a U.K. postal carrier, lives alone in her family home and is struggling to overcome something awful that happened in her life 13 years earlier. One day, she watches in horror as an oncoming car hits a motorcyclist, causing him to be seriously injured and lose memories of his past. Anna is shocked at the scene, but she's downright horrified when she recognizes the driver of the car - it's Carla, the woman behind her years-ago trauma. As Anna comforts the cyclist, Liam, she formulates a plan to ingratiate herself with him and thereby ensure that Carla gets what should have been coming to her back then.

But as one might expect, best-laid plans don't always work out smoothly. Anna must deal with Liam's elderly, very protective grandmother (with whom he lives), juggling her mail delivery duties to give her enough time to spend with Liam and staying out of the prying eyes of a next-door neighbor who befriended her as a child. Then, of course, there's Carla; now known as Amanda, she meets with Liam to apologize for causing his accident and strikes up a relationship that threatens to drive Anna over the deep end.

It's a heck of a race to see the story as it evolves through the minds of all the characters - but saying much more would mean giving too much away. If I have any disappointment, it came with the ending; perhaps I missed something, but it seemed a bit confusing even though I read it twice (hence my rating of 4 stars rather than 5). That said, I admit saying "Wow" out loud when I reached the last page. It's an awesome debut novel I'm glad I didn't miss - so many thanks to the publisher (via NetGalley) for allowing me to read it in exchange for an honest review.

And for those of you who weren't in the room with me when I finished it, I'll say it again: WOW!

[Annika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun fact: I started this book 11 months ago and just now managed to finish it! The only other book that has ever taken me that long to get back to was Dan Brown's Angels & Demons.
The big difference is: in the end, I hated the latter but, surprisingly, really, really enjoyed this one.

In my defense, it was hard to like any of the characters in the beginning, most of all Anna herself. She was such a weirdo with utterly incomprehensible thought processes that I just couldn't and didn't want to follow. But I pushed through her rambling inner monologues and now, I couldn't be more happy about that.
So while I was reading and trying my best not to let my boredom get the better of me, the strangest thing happened: Anna started to get to me. Her reasoning and justification of her psycho stalker actions oddly made sense to me and I found myself feeling and rooting for her. I disliked whom she disliked, I wanted her to do what she was doing, and I was scared for her when it became obvious that someone wanted to cause her harm. And I didn't feel bad about it because I needed Anna to succeed and get back on track.

It was equally harsh and fascinating to witness her hatred for the women who she blames for her brother's death turn into an all-consuming obsession, and Anna gradually losing not only control over her life and the routines she's fought so hard to establish, but also her grasp on reality.

The story is told from various POVs, including flashbacks that, little by little, reveal Anna and Carla's traumatic pasts and how they're linked to each other.

Safe with me definitely deserves its label as a psychological thriller. It's a classic slow-burner, with only little action but all the more atmosphere, that had me guessing from start to finish. I had to restrain myself from jumping to the last chapter to find out what was going on, and that is always a good sign when it comes to me and thrillers.

Absolutely recommended.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Safe With Me is a novel that made me feel like I was actually going crazy.

The chapters are relatively short and flick between Anna present day, the past, as well as the odd chapter here and there by other characters that pop up. This is a book where you do need to keep your wits about you as otherwise you could get lost if you don’t concentrate. It is a fairly fast paced read and to be honest I found it pretty gripping stuff so was eager to turn the pages at the pace that the author had set.

Anna is a woman with issues. She has never got over a tragedy that happened thirteen years before and she has pretty much cut herself off from everyone. She is quite a loner yet I felt sorry for her as she seems to have got herself into a rut. Her job at the Royal Mail is taking it’s toll on her, all she wants is to be able to do her job and go back to the comfort of her home. Unfortunately she is struggling with delivering the amount off mail she gets on her route and manages to get herself into a bit of a mess to say the least.

I loved the story line to do with Anna’s job. It certainly opened my eyes as to what could possibly happen to missing mail and any investigations that go on with in the company. It certainly made for an informative and enjoyable read.

Her problems at work seem to escalate alongside her involvement in witnessing an accident. Anna seems to fixate herself on the people that were involved in the accident and I couldn’t wait to find out why.

The whole story seems to build itself into a frenzy so I didn’t know whether I was coming or going or what to actually believe. As soon as I thought I had figured something out something would happen and I would be left doubting everything that I had previously believed. This author certainly knows how to play with the readers mind and not only did I think that Anna was slowly losing her mind, I thought I was as well.

Safe With Me is a very clever psychological thriller that plays with your mind and will make you feel like you have just stepped off the waltzers at a fair ground. With plenty of twists and turns this is a definite must read for fans of this genre.

My thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anna lives a lonely existence. Her only friend is the next door neighbour, Joan, who has known Anna since she was a child. Joan knows her history and the losses Anna has suffered in her life. Anna delivers mail but when she starts getting behind in her deliveries, a few complaints roll in. How can she overcome the problem and get back on track? And then one day Anna sees an accident. The woman driving the car that hits the motor cyclist is well known to Anna. Hadn’t she destroyed Anna’s life 13 years earlier? Anna is determined that this time she will not get away with what she has done. But events do not exactly work out the way Anna imagines they will.
Anna is a strange character and I never felt comfortable in her head. There is something off about her. But then I didn’t like any of the other characters in this story either. It kept me reading but I would hardly call it,’ a psychological thriller so tense it will take your breath away,’ as the cover claims. That sets up expectations that are never met. The book is readable, but ‘tense’ and a ‘thriller,’ it is not. As for the ending, I was left going, ’You have got to be kidding!’
I’m not a person who likes to feel worse when I finish a book that I did before I started. But unlikable strange characters, viewpoints and story that jumps around and unrealistic expectations, made me feel that way. I’m beginning to think I am not a good match, on the whole, for books labelled ‘psychological thrillers.’ There are going to be people who will love this book. For me it was really just okay, nothing more. Too many strange or obsessive people for me.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna is a loner. She has no real friends, she only has the woman next door, Mrs Peat.

Thirteen years ago something tragic happened to Anna. She still has issues from this tragic event.

In the 1st chapter Anna is witness to a car accident. We also learn that the person who caused the accident is the same person who ruined her life 13 years ago. Now it's time for Anna to seek her revenge. Anna follows the police investigation and Anna's obsession with the woman escalates. Is the woman dangerous or is there someone else closer to home that Anna should be worried about.

The story flips between 13 years ago and the present day. Anna is quite a. Reply and not very likeable character. The storyline will keep your attention with the twists the author has thrown in. It's very well written.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author K. L. Slater for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna happens to see an accident happen. A young man was knocked off his motorcycle by a car that was speeding. Anna does what she can while waiting on an ambulance. The young man (Liam) reminds her so much of her brother. And the woman that hit him ... Anna knows immediately who she is even though its been 13 years since she has seen her.

That seems to be the trigger for all kinds of things. Working as a letter carrier, she can't seem to get all her deliveries done every day, so she starts taking whatever she doesn't deliver home with her. She lives a very solitaire life, and only interacts with the old lady next door, who she has known for many years.

She sort of invites herself into Liam's life. He lives with his grandmother, so Anna volunteers to help her with housework.... wants to help take care of Liam .... she even suggests that she move in to help them.

Meanwhile, Carla, the lady who hit Liam, has been coming around ... and Anna absolutely will have none of that. This is "her" family .... and Anna wants Carla to pay for her sins and what she did to Anna's family.

But who is more dangerous? Anna ... Carla ....? And while Anna is sneaking into Liam's house to spy .... who's the lady sneaking into Anna's house? All the principal players have secrets .... and everything out of their mouths are lies.

The book bounces back and forth from today to 13 years ago and back to the present. This is a roller coaster of a psychological thriller. It's enough to cause you to doubt your own sanity. The ending came out of nowhere .. and was quite a surprise.

I have read all this author's books and they have all been riveting and engaging, full of twists and turns. Highly recommend this one to anyone who likes psychological thrillers.

Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of SAFE WITH ME. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.