Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This book address modern day issues like human trafficking, and the PTSD problem soldiers return with from war. It was done in a sensitive way, but I did not like the sex scenes with the 15 year old. Recommended for anyone that can read past that.

Kate Bradley has written a dark psychological thriller, oozing twists and turns. It kept me hooked and I was very grateful for the ARC.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book which was really not what I expected. you
This was a dark story and quite shocking at times. It was well written and I I look forward to reading more from Kate. .

Wow, I couldn't stop reading. So many twists and turns that leave you wondering what's really going on. I was hooked and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from the author.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

What would you do if you thought a child was in danger, yet no one believed you? Would you take them in to protect them – would the world see this as protection or danger? An interesting concept, especially with the child protection laws in todays world. Yet, this is exactly how this tale unfolds, and it does so at a rapid rate of twists and turns, a few of which are predictable but on the whole its well written and kept me gripped throughout. I’d recommend this title to anyone looking for a fast paced, intriguing storyline and interesting characters. I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A dark, shocking psychological thriller - not to be missed. This book is well-structured and well-written. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

Really enjoyed this book and was eager to see what happened. Lots of twists and turns plus a few parts that confused me a bit but then started to make sense the more you read.

Really enjoyed this book infact I read it in a day. Fast paced and likeable characters I could not put this down. Thank you for letting me read this.

I found this debut novel by Kate Bradley well written and a little different from the normal psychological thriller.  The book kicks off right from the very start, leading you down a particular path that you soon realise, with the unreliable nature of the character of Jenni, may not be all that it seems.

As the blurb explains the book starts when ex soldier and now teacher Jenni witness an attempted abduction of one of her students, Destiny. The men who try to take Destiny clearly mean business, but when Jenni feels that Destiny's protection is not given enough immediate action, she feels there is only one thing she can do and that's to take matters into her own hands and protect Destiny herself.  As an ex soldier she has no fears for her own safety, knowing that she is more than capable of looking after herself and perhaps therefore even this child.

Yet there is a definite sense right from the very beginning that Jenni, with her difficulties in reading people and other problems we learn of as you re into the book, may not be understanding the full picture here.

Our other main character, Destiny, is a very complex character who has spent her more recent 'childhood' in care.  Intelligent and some what of a closed book, we gradually hear more of her story as the novel progresses.

It certainly has a fast paced plot with lots of threads and twists darting here and there keeping the reader on their toes! It also keeps you engaged by use of flash backs and explanations of where the two main characters find themselves at this time, which goes some way in explaining their behaviour.

There are some violent scenes in the book, such as physical fighting, and has a very dark and serious subject at the core of the novel.

I liked the way the book is divided up into the main protagonists, each narrating their own chapters.  The other characters in the book are equally as complex and mysterious.  George is an example here.  I wasn't quite sure what role he was playing in the story, a red herring to disorientate the reader even more perhaps?  Indeed I wasn't entirely sure what was what until toward the end, even at one point wondering if Jenni herself was one of the good guys or not!

There were a few parts of the story line I found a little unbelievable and never exactly warmed to the 2 main characters, even though I thought I should have, but with the pace, twists and turns and dramatic events along the way I was able to ignore this and just enjoy this different take on a thriller type read.

Jenni, a 40 year old former soldier now a teacher, feels one of the teenagers in her class is at risk of grooming and in danger. Destiny is in the social care system and Jenni sees that she is in danger and helps her escape her tormentor but nothing is what it seems.
I found the first quarter of the book quite slow and I wasn’t sure how it was going but then it flowed so well and I really enjoyed it. The story was great and I’m glad I kept with it.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Jenni is ex-Army and has recently started in a new job teaching at a school. When she notices that one of her vulnerable pupils has come to school with a black eye, she approaches her about it and what unravels changes her life as she knows it……She takes Destiny, all in the name of keeping her safe. But is she putting more than herself in danger? What do the men want and why are they chasing Destiny?

This book had me completely and utterly hooked! There were so many twists and turns that I couldn’t have even imagined! Jenni is something else – a strong lady who struggles with her emotions, but not as you would imagine a woman to do……The story flits backs to moments in her life so we can try and understand why she is the way she is. Destiny – well I’m not saying much about her….she’s definitely one that you have to read about; all I will say is that there is much more to her than you first think. There are so many brave characters in this book, and then the one’s that will make you rage with anger……

This book most definitely bought out all my emotions!! My heart was racing…..I was angry, excited, hopefully, shocked…..

And then there is the ending…….not as I expected at all!!

If you love an OMG thriller that will literally have you on the edge of your seat, then this is for you. But be warned….you honestly won’t want to put it down and when you think you’ve sussed something out, Kate throws in another twist that will leave you gobsmacked! Absolutely recommended by me!!

“They’re coming for her. You don’t know who they are. You don’t know why they want her. But she’s in your care. And she’s vulnerable........How far would go to save a child who isn’t yours?”
There’s no doubting that “To Keep You Safe” by debut author Kate Bradley is a dark and gritty thriller considering the premise and amount of violence it contains. Sadly, I wasn’t impressed at all with it. The characterisation was very flat and not one person in my opinion was realistic. I couldn’t get away with Jenni and her ex soldier background or Destiny with her typical, stereo-typed bad girl in care attitude and actions. All are unreliable narrators and i just felt the story dragged and never developed itself.
Having checked out the author Kate Bradley and seeing her credentials of managing services for people who are marginalised by society and her experience in education, I can see she has used a lot of her knowledge to create a story but unfortunately the execution of it falls way off the mark for me.
I usually say it’s a case of ‘its not the book it’s me’ but I can safely say on this occasion that it’s definitely not me.

2 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Books UK and Zaffre for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A high octane, engrossing thriller with a conscience. An accomplished debut from Kate Bradley.

I have read some great debut novels this year and "To Keep You Safe" is certainly up there with the best. You've read the blurb, so I won't go into this in too much depth. In a nutshell the novel is about the relationship between Destiny Mills, a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl, and her teacher, Jenni Wales. Destiny comes from an abusive background and currently resides in care. Jenni is an ex-soldier with a disorder that means she can't 'read' people. Yet when Destiny appears with a black eye, Jenni takes it upon herself to become the young girl's protector. What follows is a twisty mystery involving the intertwined fates of Destiny and Jenni. Among the questions you will have, also typically involve some classic tropes of this genre; including the constant spectre of the unreliable narrator. Are Jenni and Destiny telling the truth of events? Is Destiny in real danger, and if so, from whom? What follows is an extraordinarily accomplished debut novel, with Bradley skilfully recasting tired and well known tropes of the mystery/thriller genre in new and innovative ways With her perfectly calibrated prose, imaginative dialogue and clever plotting, the author has written a memorable edge of your seat thriller. Whilst being a classic of its type, this is also a novel of heart and conscience in the best traditions of social realism. Whatever your particular political stripe - whether you bemoan the 'Age of Austerity', or hold fast to the notions of 'Broken Britain', this novel will resonate for its all too sadly, yet equally real, depictions of abuse, poverty and broken education and social care systems.

Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and NetGalley for allowing me to review a copy of this book.

This is an interesting idea for a story, and everything isn’t quite as it seems.

Jenni used to be in the military but after being discharged she becomes a maths teacher at a secondary school. She has trouble reading emotions but thinks that a pupil in her registration class, Destiny, is in trouble. She has a black eye and seems very scared.
Armed men in a van appear to be after her, so Jenni takes matters into her own hands and tried to keep Destiny safe.

I didn’t warm to Jenni or Destiny as characters and found Destiny to be quite manipulative and a piece of work. I did empathise with Jenni a bit as she was in a difficult situation. However, I did really like the character of George, the headmaster. He seemed so warm and kind yet totally run down by the pressures of running a school.

The book does reveal the struggles and pressures of modern day teaching. Budget cuts and red tape aplenty!

Overall, this book was a page turner and I wanted to find out what happened. The chapters aren’t too long and are told from various points of view - mostly Destiny and Jenni.
I would recommend this book and will keep an eye out for more from this author.

I am sure this book has been well researched and it was sensitively written. Personally I found it rather hard going as it was such a grim tale. The sad thing is the story will reflect the lives of so many abused young people and it is a salutary read. If this is a subject you want to find out more about ... and really everyone should be more fully aware ... it is a very informative read ... but you need to be able to stomach it. I have great respect for the author but I did find it a hard and depressing read.

5☆ Deliciously Twisty, Tense, Chilling, Psychological Thriller. Unputdownable!


Oh wow what a deliciously twisty, tense and Dark read I literally couldn't put down!

Jenni is ex army, who is now teaching Maths in a school for teenagers.
Jenni is an intriguing character her past is filled with tragedy and horrors from war, and her past leaving her with PTSD

When Jenni sees one of her brightest students Destiny turn up to school with a black eye her protective nature kicks in and instead of going through the school channels to report the potential abuse, she takes matters into her own hands.

When Jenni witnesses Destiny almost being abducted by a man in a van with a gun, her extensive Army Training kicks in and she is determined to protect Destiny no matter what the consequences.

Destiny is from a broken and abusive home. Put into a care home after several failed attempts at foster care after accusing her foster parents of sexual abuse, she is now on her last attempts at school and her care home.

But how far is Jenni willing to go to protect Destiny and to what risks? Is Destiny all that she seems?

As I said before wow oh wow what a breathtakingly twisty and thrilling read.
To Keep You Safe is seamlessly weaved together, gripping, realistic, fast paced, shocking, dark and chilling, everything you want and need from a psychological thriller.
The Characters are perfect, they are damaged, deeply complex and evoke all the right emotions you expect from the characters of this genre.

I've read lots of these types of books before but you would never of guessed this is Kate Bradley debut novel.
To Keep You Safe is an Unputdownable Thriller, that indeed got under my skin and gave me the chills.
I can't recommend reading this Gripping Book Enough!

Thank you to Tracy at Compulsive Readers Tours for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Bonnier Books UK and Zaffre for this book. Wow, what a great read - full of twists and turns, and featuring very powerful material, distressing at times but also relatable in many ways. I hadn't read a book like this before - a psychological thriller that is both character and plot driven. Very strong characters although not very likeable ones most of the time! Clearly very well researched and well written. Really brilliant.

Kate Bradley writes a hugely engrossing and entertaining debut novel that deals with some serious issues in this gripping thriller awash with glorious tropes of abuse, grief, kidnapping, trauma, loss and exploitation.

Teacher Jenni Wales is finding her job difficult. She is ex-military and currently teaching maths at a struggling, financially strapped school run by the compassionate Head, George Danvers, sinking under the pressures and stresses of a impossible job as he trying to do his best for the children. Jenni suffers from a condition that leaves her with a lack of emotional awareness and the inability to identify and distinguish feelings. She doesn't know how to make small talk and relationships of any type are not straightforward for her.

Destiny Mills is a fifteen-year-old schoolgirl who is smart and intelligent with the potential for a bright academic future. But Destiny comes from a troubled background, taken from her prostitute and drug addict mother and placed into foster care. She is a challenging child now living in a care home with a history of running away.

When Jenni sees that Destiny has a black eye, she's alarmed however, concern turns to fear when Jenni witnesses an attempt to abduct Destiny from school. With those around her not taking the matter seriously enough, Jenni does the only thing she can think of to keep Destiny safe: she takes her.

Kate Bradley delivers an unrestrained and exuberant story of drama in this toxic concoction of trauma, loss, and dysfunctional families. Taut and compelling, it was a cracking story and a book that I revelled in all the way through. It brought no disappointments and the clever plotting enabled me to fully grasp the situation and motivations of the main protagonists. The shifting of perspectives between the main characters - Jenni and Destiny - and some other key characters, such as George, and the Polish Aleksander, one of Destiny's would be abductors, was handled with a deft touch by Kate Bradley. Nothing was as it seemed in this novel as I wondered just how reliable Jenni and Destiny were. I admired how strong and courageous Jenni was, who thrived on tough challenges and was intimidated by scarcely anything. The masterful twists paved the way for an enthralling denouement. A riveting tale of unravelling lives, menace, troubled and abused childhoods, and grief, I would love to read more from this gifted story-teller and I am delighted to recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Bonnier Zaffre via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Kate Bradley for giving me the opportunity to read this book!