No Safe Place is an accomplished debut novel, a good police procedural with some interesting plot elements. Lead detective DCI Liz Field is an interesting character, experienced but world weary and carrying her own baggage and suffering from police politics.

The murder of a child psychologist leads Field and her team to an OCD clinical trial from several years before involving five young people. ANd when one of them becomes the second victim, they know they are on the right track. The characters are realistic and the effects of their condition manifest in different ways. All are well described without making the characters one dimensional.

The solution escapes the detectives for perhaps too long - the clues were there. But the ending is well written and provides a good final twist. Perhaps we will see more of DCI Field in the future.

Detective Liz Field will be in charge of the investigation of a series of murders with victims closely linked as doctor and patient, years ago.
We enter the whole police process to catch the murderer and see how the case affects the detective in a very personal way.
We also have the point of view of the potential victims with all the difficulties and problems that their illness entails.
With very human characters and an interesting plot we have a tremendously attractive reading.

Review of ‘No Safe Place’ by Hannah Brennan, due to be published on 31 July 2025 by Avon Books UK.

The first in the Detective Field series, a man is brutally stabbed, a young woman is killed. Both are known to each other, a Child Psychologist and his former patient.

With a strong female protagonist, Detective Field must work to find out why they have been targeted after so long and why they were killed.

A great debut police thriller with plenty of twists and suspense.

Recommended read.

WOW!!! This book was an incredible debut novel, full of factual information AND plenty of twists and turns along the way.

Lily and Callum battle OCD, but got better courtesy of their doctor. Years later, the trial they were in comes back to haunt them. The doctor was murdered and it doesn't stop there. Why? Why would anyone want to murder someone who helped people? Did he hurt them? Follow the journey and how OCD is a truly crippling diagnosis that hinders many of the characters.

An ending you don't see coming and was brilliantly woven into the story! 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is a fast paced and gritty police procedural with a clever exploration of OCD as a theme. The procedural details felt real and well written. It was utterly convincing. The subject matter was sensitively and intelligently handled.
The police protagonist was strong and relatable and the scene setting of SE London worked for me. The writing was high quality throughout with convincing dialogue
This is a well crafted and elevated thriller. An amazing debut which I loved. I read this in a day. I'm looking forward to more.

A fast page-turner with a good plot I can’t wait to read next book by this author! WOW! Just WOW! This kept me wondering and guessing until the very end! I read this book in a few hours on the sofa as I couldn’t bear to put it down I loved it!

This heart pounding nail bitting police thriller is stunning! The unexpected twists and turns were perfect. This book had a bit of everything I was glued to my Kindle!

I’d highly recommend this book a solid 5 stars and it’s definitely a must read when it comes out!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!

It was the relationship between Lily and Callum that pulled me in. I couldn't work it out for a long while. Whilst I was still puzzling that one I got caught up in Fields life and everything that came with it.
These characters are so believable human. Not once did I roll my eyes and think "as if".
The murders are interesting and puzzling, who, and more importantly "why now?"
The Old side of things added an extra layer to the book, the limitations an illness can bring to your life.
A very good read in my opinion.

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?! Great read!! This book had chilling suspense, gruesome murders, mystery, intriguing, action, and a few shocking twists! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Reading this book was like watching the best kind of edge-of-the-seat police drama on telly. The way the scene is set and the characters painted made the whole story stand out in glorious 3D.

A really face paced plot with plenty to keep the brain guessing.

Using well researched knowledge and lived experience of OCD, Hannah Brennan took me into a world I knew very little about and opened my eyes without making me feel I was in a lecture theatre.
By giving her detective a son the same age as the young people at the centre of the case, Hannah has cleverly added an empathetic layer that gives a really interesting viewpoint.

I raced through this book, reading into the night in that glorious "just one more chapter" book fog!

I really enjoyed the ‘old fashion’ policing in this especially Fields age was a lovely breath of fresh air will be ordering the paper back for my auntie when it’s released as she will love it!!
This had a lovely pace the ending definitely had me sitting up on the edge of my bed.
I enjoyed the character but I really loved Lily and Callum’s relationship.
I loved getting to know DCI Field and her team and can’t wait for me

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

DCI Field (or 'Field' as she is referred to throughout, since she hates her first name - which is Elizabeth) investigates the stabbing of David Moore, a well-respected psychologist. Then one of his former patients is also stabbed and is discovered by another second former patient.

I found the first chapters a little slow, but after that things picked up and I read the whole book in one sitting. David's speciality is the misdiagnosis of OCD in children and I thought this aspect was really interesting. I learnt a lot. The narrative moves at a good pace and the ending was excellent.

Recommended.

Chilling, twisty and original: I loved it! I can’t believe it’s a debut. The writing is so accomplished, the plot and characters are compelling, and it had a perfect ending: I didn’t see it coming but it felt exactly right. To be able to get into characters heads and make them so real and alive is a gift – to achieve that and tie it into a pacy, effective plot takes such skill. Write more of these, please! A definite 5⭐ from me.

No Safe Place is a mystery crime story about a group of kids that went to therapy in a study led by a psychologist to manage different types of their OCD. And a killer on the loose. It’s one of those books that keeps you on the edge of your seat, making you question who the murderer is. And the ending takes an unexpected turn that totally caught me off guard.

I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley.
I requested this book as the tag line and description sounded interesting. A nice whodunit mystery. But what I got was so much more.
The way this was written was intriguing and kept me guessing the entire way through. The novel is interspersed with pages from a diary with a dialogue. You only have the intials of those speaking and for a while, you do not know who it is. As you figure it out, it shifts what you think is happening.
No review of this novel is complete without talking about the underlying theme of OCD.
Most of the main characters were in a trial years earlier to study and treat their OCD which all manifested differently.
The way this is written forces an understanding of how debilitating OCD can be to individuals and how people not suffering from it, don't understand.
A satisfying ending to this novel, with a great twist. All in all an excellent book that keeps you unsure while teaching you a little as well.

Absolutely loved this gripping thriller which is also a sensitive exploration of the condition of OCD. The characters - police detectives, as well as the victims and suspects feel incredibly real and authentic. Hannah's writing is immersive and packed with detail about police procedure. No Safe Place that had me reading late into the night! Loved it and can't wait for the rest of this new series!

I love a good police procedural, and this is a good police procedural!

This is a debut from Hannah Brennan, and marks what is (I presume) going to be a new detective series featuring Detective Liz Field.

In this book, Field is called in to investigate a brutal attack on a man who is stabbed multiple times and ends up with his life hanging in the balance. When a second attack happens with the same distinctive methods, Field has a murder investigation on her hands. Guided only by a page from an academic paper found with the victims, Field embarks on a race to understand the subjects of the paper a child psychologist's study on his young patients with OCD. Field has to race against time to find the group of ex-patients, while also considering that one of them could be a killer...

The OCD element of the story is managed really well - the writer has personal experience of this and it shows in her careful treatment of the issue. Several of the characters who take turns narrating the story have OCD, and it is interesting that Brennan explores the different aspects for each character, such as agoraphobia, intrusive thoughts or fear of causing harm. This was an intriguing addition to the expected murder mystery, and something I've not seen so sensitively handled or so well integrated into the plot. before.

The other aspect of the book that I loved was Field herself. She's an older character (in her fifties) and with a family connection to OCD herself, which makes this case more personal. I thought that the character was well developed, especially in her relationships with her son and her two (very competitive and warring) colleagues.

This was an enjoyable read with a bit more depth than some other books in this genre (not a criticism of other books - I love a mystery in pretty much any form!) because of the OCD element. I think that Field is an appealing central figure and look forward to more books in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy of this book.

This one surprised me. Yes, it’s a gritty police procedural with a twisty murder case, but what really got me was the emotional depth. DCI Liz Field isn’t your typical detective, she’s older, flawed, and carrying her own trauma, including OCD. And the way OCD is portrayed here? Honest and raw, not just a plot device.

The story keeps you guessing with clever narrative threads and anonymous dialogue that adds a haunting, psychological edge. It’s not without a few slower moments, but the characters felt real, and the tension never fully lets go.

No Safe Place by Hannah Brennan is a compelling debut novel that combines a gripping police procedural with an insight into the impact on living with OCD.

With a cast of believable, flawed characters. It kept me guessing with twists and turns.

I really enjoyed this, and I am looking forward to seeing what the author brings out next.

This was an impressive debut novel with many twists and turns.

Plot summary: DCI Field is investigating two murders that seem related. A well-known psychologist and one of the students who was in his groundbreaking study many years ago. Lily and Callum live nearby and may be next. Will Field find the murderer in time?

What I liked: This was fast-paced and full of energy. It had an urgent feel, which kept me turning the pages. Lily and Callum have OCD, and Callum's struggles are well-detailed. I really didn't know what was going on. The story is interspersed with an ongoing dialogue, and it's unclear who is talking and what is happening and how it fits into the mystery, The characters are well-developed and real.

Read the afterward. I made me tear up, because the author has struggled with OCD, which is why it comes across as so authentic in the story.

What could have been better: The ending, while satisfying in many ways, was also a little lame, in terms of motive and the reveal of what the dialogue is. There are also a few unanswered questions about how the murder took place.

In sum, this was a gripping read with excellent characterization and a great mix of murder mystery and exploring relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Hannah Brennan for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

This book was really captivating. It had me hooked from the moment I started it and really kept me on my toes throughout the entire book. I highly recommend it!

A strong debut with a topic that I understand all too well. It was handled with care and was well informed. The plot itself was solid, and it was gripping enough to make me want to know what had happened. I enjoyed the added snippets of the doctor/patient conversation throughout, which the ending shed light on and revealed the meaning.

Hannah did a great job in the character's personalities and adding red herrings in to put you on completely the wrong track.

I didn't even cross my mind as to who the killer was, I'll be honest! 😅

No Safe Place is an outstanding debut from Hannah Brennan. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
D.C.I. Fields and D.S. Riley are completely convincing characters. I really hope this is the start of a series. This is police procedural at its best.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

No Safe Place is a brilliant police procedural which also shines a light on misunderstood obsessive-compulsive disorders. Brennan has crafted a challenging case for DCI Liz Field. Why is someone killing the child psychologist and his patients from a study which took place fifteen years ago? Can Field and her talented team solve the crime before all the patients are dead or the case is reassigned? Can they decipher the clues the killer left at each scene? The clock is ticking but you'll be racing through the pages to get the answers to those questions. This is a wonderful debut with a satisfying conclusion. Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was beautifully written! It opens the reader up to OCD and the complexities that people don’t truly understand. OCD is sometimes the butt of jokes or people use it as a saying but it’s so much more complex! Callum and Lily’s story was eye opening and also the twists and turns through the book has me reading and not wanting to put the book down.

There were a few mistakes of Sam being listed closer to the end of the book as Ruby’s sister when it was Paige. But nothing edits wouldn’t hurt.

I’m grateful to receive this ARC and I can’t wait for another book!

I received an ARC of this novel thanks to NetGalley.
For a debut novel, this was fairly decent. It wasn't as thrilling or keeping me on the edge of my seat as usual thrillers are, but with time, I can see this author writing more amazing novels. It was an easy quick read. I really appreciated the depth Hannah went into about OCD, I love reading books that teach me new things.
3.5 stars for me

No Safe Place is a gripping mystery about a young woman who returns to her hometown after a long time away—and finds herself caught up in dark secrets and danger. As she tries to uncover the truth, the story slowly reveals twists, past trauma, and people who aren’t who they seem.

The writing is easy to follow, the tension builds well, and it keeps you guessing until the end. It’s emotional in parts, but full of suspense.

Good if you like: mysteries, small-town secrets, strong female leads.
Not so good if you don’t like: dark themes or emotional backstories.

You can't beat a decent fast paced crime - thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. No Safe Place did it exactly that.

The main focus of this story is about uncovering the murderer of two dead bodies. However they're linked to a group of then teenagers who were inpatients in a psychiatric facility with OCD. Field who is the leading detective finds that this case hits a little close to home, so can she hold it together long enough to uncover the truth.

I had my mind made up who the killer was so the ending threw me completely, I definitely didn't pin that one down. I loved how twisty this book was always leading you down one route only to have you swerve off course.

A great story with really well developed characters, perfect for crime, mystery and thriller fans.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an e-ARC via NetGalley! That has not influenced this review and all opinions are my own.

This book was great at demonstrating how differently OCD can present in different people, and I am so glad this book is raising awareness!! It’s so important for people to know that OCD doesn’t just fit into one singular box, and it can influence everything a person does.
The characters within this book are so unique and human and I found it quite easy to relate to them. It was slow at times but there were some plot twists that I wasn’t expecting!! The plot was easy to follow and it’s a book you can put down and pick up at any point and still know what’s going on.

Rating: 4/5 stars (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)

Touching on real diagnosis that shows what OCD really is was so powerful. Really good read, didnt hook and grab my attention the whole way through.

What an excellent debut novel from the author, a powerful and compelling thriller which hooked me in from the start. It is a mystery about a group of young people who were in therapy together. I learned so much about OCD, it was very well researched and I really liked the characterisation, especially Field the lead detective. It kept me guessing until the end, which is good but there were a few inconsistencies which rounded my rating to 4*. I would definitely recommend the read and I hope there is more to come from the author and DCI Field. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This a great debut! 👏🏻👏🏻
Fast paced and a quick read, No Safe Place will keep you invested.

This police procedural is clever and entertaining while it goes into mental health, specifically the many differences of OCD.

I really enjoyed learning more about detective Field and I can’t wait to read more.

Thank you so much Avon Books UK and the author Hannah Brennan for this eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Highly recommend.

“I never saw this coming”

This line was included partway through the story, and I agree; I didn’t see the line that would lead to the killer. A great concept and superbly executed. The book provides a deeper understanding of the various types of OCD and gives the reader a better insight, which can often elude a lay person who has little or no exposure to the issues brought on by OCD.

Pacing and plot were ‘spot on’ and included realistic scenarios which fitted with the storyline.

An author I will look out for and read again. 5 Star!

A great read!

Complex storyline taking you into the world of OCD and giving you a real understanding of what life can be like for people suffering from it.

Throwing quite a few red herrings into the mix, it all made sense when you realise 'who did it's.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.