Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Safe by S.K. Barnett

I don't normally include them, but I need to include a *TRIGGER WARNING* with this book as there is reference to child abuse that could trigger memories in survivors of child sexual/physical abuse.

Twelve years ago Jenny Kristal walked our her front door to walk two houses down the road to see her bestfriend - and disappeared.  It was the tragedy that drew the community together, people helping anyway they could, from searching for Jenny and putting up posters, to making meals to support the searchers.  As hours turned into days, and then into weeks, and then years it seemed as all hope was lost that Jenny would ever come home, people moved on with their lives and her posters faded to almost nothing.  It seemed hopeless that Jenny would ever be found, and then a miracle happens - not only is she found, she is home.  

After being missing for years it is hard for Jenny to reconnect with her family - especially with her brother Ben showing open hostility and suspicion.  If only Ben knew the truth about Jenny, or maybe he does, because Jenny is not as careful as she should have been.  She has been clumsy and left open the Facebook page that Ben created, the Facebook page that gave Jenny all she needed to become Jenny, to convince her family that she really is Jenny.  All those little memories bring authenticity, and even make it easier for Jobeth to connect with Jenny, makes it easier to pretend she is Jenny.  This isn't the first time that Jobeth has become someone else, Jenny is not her first missing person, but something isn't right about the Kristal home.  'Jenny' has come home, but it seems too easy, the family too eager to accept Jenny back and carry on with their lives.  Jenny has come home, but is Jobeth safe?

Safe starts with a bang and doesn't slow down as it drags you along for a wild ride of guesses and second guesses as you try and figure out what is happening and what happened in the past.  It's a shame to have to ruin the little twist that Jobeth really isn't Jenny, but that opens the story up quickly to become a thriller that has your wondering what is going on.  This was one of the better thrillers I have read recently, it takes a relatively simple idea and turns it into something that keeps you guessing right to the end.  The characters are suitably complex and each play their part in uncovering Jobeth's story, but also current events.

This thriller is built up with different layers and different points of view, and I challenge you to figure out all the moving parts before the author delivers to final scenes.  

If you like this book then try:

Reviewed by Brilla

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