17-year-old Lauren Sykes is on the run. Her father is a mob boss. He also has killed her mother. Lauren is about to be married to Charlie Perrin, who is a criminal. His father is a bigger criminal than he is. It is a marriage of convenience between the two families.

But a shot is fired and Lauren's future "husband" is dead, killed by his own gun. Lauren did it in self-defense but who will believe her? She has no other option than to run. Either that or be killed by her own father.

She approaches her father's ex-henchman, Harry, who is the only person who can protect her from her father's wrath. From thereon starts a bizarre chase where Lauren and Harry, a policeman who may or may not be corrupt, and a revengeful and cruel father try to outsmart each other.

Who will win in this dance of death? Will Lauren ever be safe?

Thrilling book, amazing fast-paced writing. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and Joffe Books for giving me an ARC for review.

SAFE was a surprising good read. I liked that the teenager was calling the shots for part of the story. It definitely kept me on the edge and I enjoyed the non-US words for things like carpark. Overall, it was very suspenseful. It felt a little long at times and the ending I'm still not sure how to process.

A fabulous book that had my heart racing so many times. Brutal in parts but conveys the depth of the fear our main character is living through. Just who can you trust? But you need to trust someone! One that kept me up late because I wanted to carry on reading one more chapter. My first read from this author but definitely won't be my last.

Liked this book plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing till the end thanks to netgalley and joffee books for the opportunity to read this

4.5 stars. Seventeen-year-old Lauren Sykes is on the run for her life after she kills her fiancee who has tried to rape her. Her father is an organized crime boss and he decided she should marry into the Perrin family to bring the families closer together. She kills Charlie with his own gun and goes to the only person who may be able to help her, Harry.

Harry used to work for her father, but is retired. He takes her away no questions asked doing his best to protect her. But what kind of protection can an old man offer a girl who has two major mob families on her trail? Lauren knows if her father catches up with her, he'll kill her.

Clarke and Merrow are two cops who become Lauren's only chance for survival. Organized crime has infiltrated the police, there are very few people who can be trusted. Will they get Lauren out alive?

I am really excited to see this is a new series about Clarke and Merrow. We only scratched the surface of their personalities and abilities in this first book. I can't wait to read more. Very good crime novel.

I couldn't finish it. I have read almost 30% of the book and only because i forced myself to keep reading to see if something interesting happened, but nothing did. I am so very sorry to DNF this one because i had great expectations about it.

This book was everything I wanted and more I really enjoyed the story and the plot and the authors writing style.
I will be looking out for more books from this author

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I will be honest and say I initially requested this book mistaking it for another one with a similar title. With under 300 pages, I figured I'd give this one a go anyway as the premise seemed interesting.

Lauren Sykes has spent her 17 years wishing to feel safe. But when your father murders your mother and gets away with it, where can you run to feel safe? She's about to find out, when she wrongs her father and the competing mob family and needs to run. Can she trust the one person she always has? Can she trust the police?

The premise of this story seemed face-paced and shocking, but I didn't find the book overly so. It seemed like Lauren was just stuck for a long time, waiting for something to happen. Once it finally did, it all barrel-rolled into the ending. I didn't really feel like there were many, if any, shocking twists, as they all kind of seemed like normal 'reactions' to what was happening.

The characters weren't really overly likeable. I felt for Lauren and her situation, but I was also really annoyed with her. I liked 'Pat', but didn't really connect with her. I would pick up another book by this author, in saying all this though. It was interesting and intriguing enough to keep my interest throughout to find out the outcome of the story.

A great crime thriller! The beginning of the story felt a little slow to me and I didn’t feel fully invested in the characters, but about a third of the way in I was hooked! The plot really started to pick up when it introduced undercover agents and crooked cops and added a whole new layer to the story. This is a great read for anyone interested in suspenseful action packed stories. I noticed that the book is listed as Merrow and Clarke #1 so I can’t wait to see a sequel come out. The ending does leave you hanging a bit!

I throughly enjoyed this book. I couldn’t wait to pick it up on the evening to see where it would go. It was action packed and entertaining. I’d recommend to anyone who is looking for an entertaining crime/suspense book to ready while relaxing at the beach or the lake.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yikes what a fantastic read this was. It hooked me in from the first page and I was gripped to the story. Absolutely loved it.

This was one of the best mysteries I've read this so far this year, and can't wait to read some more of Jane's books in future. Recommended.

Absolutely amazing book! What happens if the one who are supposed to be the closest people to you end up being the one you have to escape? Keeps the reader engaged and wanting to know more! One that I will be recommending to friends.

Ok so the book was good and I was really into it and then the end through me. And now I have so many questions. The plot was great but didn’t like the ending unless your planning on making a second book to pick up where this one left off.

This story kept me on my toes! I usually don’t read “mob” books but this was light mob-ish! Wow they are brutal when they catch someone. I read this book quickly and hope there is a sequel! I rate it a 4.3

A good insight in to the reality of living within a family of organised crime. Lauren is a level headed and sensible girl despite fearing for her life and she gets out and manages to escape. What she'd give for a normal life never having to look over her shoulder!
I enjoyed this book and will read more from this author.

Lauren Sykes is 17 and on the run from her Dad and members of two organised crime gangs (Sykes and Perrin) both of which want her dead. The opening chapter gets you straight into the action of the story with Lauren going on the run, with Harry Prentice a retired former employee of the Sykes family. The book managed to retain my interest throughout. Well written story with plenty of action. First book in the series of Merrow and Clarke, so look forward to seeing what the next book will bring.

Fast moving action where no-one is safe

Lauren has killed a man whilst defending herself, so needs to get away from her father’s wrath. However her father is a crime lord with contacts everywhere, which means Lauren has a problem!

Excitement from the first page to last, as Lauren, aged 17, goes on the run, wondering who, if anyone, she can trust. What is a 17 year old, with attitude, to do. Holed up and frighted of everyone including the police. Eventually she has to trust, but is she right to do so?

This is an excellent fast moving thriller set in the UK. Safe is not going to happen, however staying ahead of her father, and being prepared, might keep Lauren alive a little longer.

There was violence, but it took place “off page”. There was plenty of tension as Lauren’s father closed in, and I found myself involved in many of the characters, shocked by others, but they were all believable. Insights into crime gangs were scary, thank goodness for Det Insp. Clarke !

4*s for this fast moving crime thriller, where the focus is on the characters and the action, rather than police methodology. This appears to be the first book in a series, but it ended with everything cleared up. This is the first book I have read by Jane Adams, I shall certainly be reading more, and am looking forward to the next book in this series as I loved the character Petra (find out why by reading the book)!

17 year old Lauren is on the run, leaving a bloody body trail behind her. Her victim is the son of a major crime lord. Lauren is the daughter of an opposing criminal family. Both families want to find her, and kill her.
She doesnt know who to trust. All she can do is run, until she can finally find a safe place.

SAFE is a crime thriller, not a psychological thriller like it lured me in with. I did find the story predictable, but I was entertained. It was more back and forth with detectives then I care for. One of the murder weapons used was well thought up. I did like the uniqueness of that.
This was a hard one. I went in thinking it would be more then it was.

Safe is the first in the new series "Merrow & Clarke"by Jane A. Adams.

A true crime thriller, face paced, relentless, gripping, full of tension and suspense.

I'm excited to see where this series goes