Title: NO SAFE PLACE
Author: Hannah Brennan
ISBN: 9780008778071
Publisher: Harper Collins / Avon
Pages: 416
Source: Review copy from the publisher
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 they strike again.
Official Summary
04 August 2025
Thank you to Random Things Tours for including me in this Blog Tour and for this review copy. The blurb had me very excited about reading this one. I always love a crime thriller.
No Safe Place introduces readers to Detective Liz Field in a tightly wound police procedural that doesn’t just deliver on suspense—it digs deep into trauma, ambition, and the long shadows of the past.
From the first page, the pacing is relentless. The brutal murder of a respected child psychologist quickly spirals into something far more personal and disturbing when a second victim, his former patient, is killed. The time gap between them adds a chilling layer of mystery—why now, and who benefits from reopening old wounds?
Liz Field is a fascinating lead. She’s intelligent and capable, but also constantly watching her back—it is nice to have a mature lead that is flawed and a little insecure. Field’s personal connection to the case is gradually revealed, and it adds a weighty emotional undercurrent without ever veering into melodrama.
The writing is sharp and confident. The atmosphere—dreary streets, tense offices, dim hospital corridors—has a distinctly British noir feel, and the escalating sense of danger had me turning the pages faster than I expected. The procedural details are believable, but never bog down the story. I enjoyed that the story wasn’t filled with procedure, yet it allowed you to understand the process.
As for the mystery itself, it kept me guessing. Every time I thought I had it figured out, Brennan threw in just enough of a twist or new layer to make me rethink. This keeps you on your toes while flipping the pages. And when everything finally clicks into place, it’s both satisfying and unsettling. I loved that I suspected all the wrong people.
This is a solid debut that doesn’t feel like one. If you enjoy gritty, character-driven crime fiction with an emotional punch and a strong female lead, No Safe Place is well worth your time. I’ll be keeping an eye out for what Hannah Brennan does next.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Hannah Brennan was born in and still lives in South East London, and studied English Literature at Durham University. She is one of the organisers at the Greenwich Writers’ writing group. Hannah is also a trustee at the Royal Association for Deaf People. Hannah has had OCD since her teenage years, although she is now happily in recovery. She has previously volunteered for and regularly attends groups at the charity OCD Action. No Safe Place is her debut novel.
Thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for sharing this blog tour read with me. Crime fiction is always my first choice when reaching for a book and this one did not disappoint. I hope you enjoy it. Remember to share your thoughts, please leave a message below. Until next time…. Happy Reading.
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