REVIEW: To Keep Her Safe by Kate Bradley (ARC)

To Keep You Safe by Kate Bradley

Genre: Psychological thriller

Read: 18th October 2019

Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon

(publication: 10th October 2019)

★★★ 3 stars

A tense, dark and shocking psychological thriller, TO KEEP YOU SAFE by Kate Bradley was nothing like I expected at all. It is a chilling read that is disturbing and twisted but compelling just the same.

Being a teacher is not an easy job, particularly teenagers, and no one knows this better than Jenni Wales. Ex-military, she is now teaches mathematics at a financially stretched school under the watchful eye of George Danvers, the kind and compassionate headmaster, struggling to do his best for the children. But trying to engage students who are more interested in their phones and social media is proving to be anything but easy.

Jenni suffers from alexithymia, which involves a lack of emotional awareness and the ability to identify and distinguish feelings. She struggles to read people, is socially awkward and has a tendency to take things a little too literally. Relationships of any kind are difficult for her and she doesn't understand the concept of small talk. Even her students tease her. She left the military, refusing psychological therapy after the the death of soldier under her command. Suffering continual flashbacks, Jenni is left with PTSD and an overwhelming sense of guilt and failure that she was not able to save him.

But the military gave Jenni that structure she could relate to, so when she left the army she felt like a boat without a mooring, drifting out to sea. That was when she found herself competing in regular Ironman events, enjoying both the challenge and the discipline it provided. Becoming a teacher gave her the structure and stability she missed but what she ended up with was far more than she ever bargained for.

Destiny Mills is a 15 year old student who is both clever and intelligent with the potential for a bright academic future. However, Destiny comes from a troubled background, taken from her prostitute/drug addict mother and placed into foster care at a young age, she is a challenging child now living in a care home with a history of running away.

When Destiny turns up to school with a black eye, Jenni begins to worry that something is seriously wrong, but also knows she must tread carefully. Despite being in the care of social services, Jenni fears that Destiny is in danger and that she has nobody she can turn to or protect her. But Jenni has no proof that she is in danger so what can she do?

Then Jenni witnesses an attempt to abduct Destiny from school and she knows beyond all doubt that she must do something, even if social services won't. Aware that it goes against every rule in the school's protocol, Jenni knows that she must step in and rescue the girl from certain danger at the hands of these men. But is she prepared for what she is about to step into?

Something incredibly sinister is going on and when Jenni uncovers the shocking truth, she must then draw on all her military training to save both Destiny and herself.

Told primarily through both Jenni's and Destiny's eyes, with also the voices of headmaster George and the Polish Aleksander, TO KEEP HER SAFE is a twisty and disturbing read where nothing is as it seems. The reader is left to wonder just how reliable Jenni and Destiny are. Can we trust their word at all? Are either of them who they appear to be?

I didn't particularly like any of the characters, except maybe Gary. I kind of felt sorry for him. But Jenni felt too closed-off, Destiny a troubled and obnoxious teen, Aleksander was just a power hungry arrogant bastard and poor George just couldn't seem to do anything right. I am not a fan of strong female leads so that could be another reason I couldn't connect to Jenni but the fact that she had trouble with feelings also made her seem emotionless.

TO KEEP HER SAFE is not a comfortable read as we watch lives unravel through trauma, abuse, dysfunctional families, loss, grief, guilt, PTSD and exploitation. It is very dark and disturbing throughout while at the same time making you aware of some horrifying issues. Then just where you think it is all heading, along comes another major twist turning everything about once again.

I was immediately gripped with this book and the unique concept of every occurrence taking place at each particular time. However, it did make it seem drawn out in parts as I wondered where the banter was going and if it was actually pertinent to the story. Well, as it turns out it is but at the time it seemed a little superfluous.

A hard-hitting disturbing thriller, TO KEEP HER SAFE is perfect for those who love their crime reads gritty, dark and twisted.

I would like to thank #KateBradley, #NetGalley and #BonnierZaffre for an ARC of #ToKeepYouSafe in exchange for an honest review.