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Keep Her Safe    by Sophie Hannah Amazon.com order for
Keep Her Safe
by Sophie Hannah
Order:  USA  Can
William Morrow, 2017 (2017)
Softcover, Audio, CD, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Clara Burrows has had it. Living in London, she wants to get as far away as possible. Not realizing that life wouldn't get any better wherever she is, she books into an upscale spa resort in Arizona.

Checking in, she is mistakenly shown to the wrong room that is already occupied – by a young girl and her father. Or, at least, that is what she assumes. As she is enjoying the luxurious amenities at the spa, an older woman is upset, claiming she has seen a girl who was murdered seven years before. A search for this elusive young woman begins, while Clara spends time texting her family to let them know she will return.

The story of the girl - whose body was never found, but whose parents have spent seven years in jail for her murder - is slowly related to Clara. A book supposedly written by this girl falls into Clara's hands. It is an unbelievable tale of excessive parental abuse.

Clara's husband arrives to talk her into returning home. Her two children add their pleas to his. Clara is determined to finish her two weeks' vacation but becomes embroiled in finding the phantom girl and her father.

Keep Her Safe by Sophie Hannah starts off mildly enough but picks up speed and becomes downright spooky. While I could understand Clara's need to have some alone time, I also worried about this missing - supposedly murdered – girl. Tension builds as the pages are turned. I thought I had the plot all worked out until the really, really surprise ending.

Whatever you do, do not – I repeat, do not - go to the last page until you have read the whole book, on threat of being ostracized from your favorite bookstore.

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