A kidnapped girl survived twelve nightmarish years.
Now she’s safely back home . . . or is she?
Jenny Kristal was six years old when she was snatched off the sidewalk from her quiet suburban neighborhood. Twelve years later, she’s miraculously returned home after escaping her kidnappers—but as her parents and younger brother welcome her back, the questions begin to mount. Where has she been all these years? Why is she back now? And is home really the safest place for her . . . or for any of them?
About the author
S. K. Barnett is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author whose previous thriller novel Derailed was turned into a major motion picture in 2005 featuring Jennifer Anniston and Clive Owen. He lives in New York State with his family.
My Review:
Whoa! What did I just read? How on earth am I going to review this without giving anything away?
This is one of the books that had me gasping out loud and saying “no way” loudly several times throughout. There are twists, red herrings galore, unreliable narrators, a shocking storyline, a truly unique and clever plot and some very, very, very dark and disturbing topics.
This is NOT easy reading – there are topics which are definitely “triggers” for many readers including child abduction, grooming and child abuse and it takes a LOT to upset me and this did upset me. The dark and disturbing scenes are NOT graphic, but that’s what probably upset me more because the readers imagination is left to fill in the blanks and believe me when I say it’s not a pleasant experience.
Safe is the story about a sweet, adorable 6 year old girl, Jenny who goes missing one afternoon on the way to play at a neighbour’s house. The family are distraught and in pieces but miraculously twelve years later Jenny returns, having escaped her captors. Her parents Jake and Laurie are over joyed at her “safe” return, however her older brother Ben is suspicious immediately.
I can’t say much without giving anything away now – except I absolutely raced through this book, I thought the storyline was clever, original and very, very twisty and one I highly recommend to fans of dark, psychological thrillers.