Psychological thrillers are not something I have a lot of experience with when it comes to reading, so I figured I should browse around and see what the genre has to offer.
I was surprised when Yael van der Wouden’s The Safekeep crossed my path, because it is a book I saw some years ago and through it may be interesting, then forgot all about it until this sudden reunion.
Set in 1960s Netherlands, this debut novel focuses on the tensions and troubles that form between Isabel and her brother’s new girlfriend, Eva. From what I can garner, this butting of heads is rooted in a contrast of personality and opinions from both women, with Isabel being strict and controlling, whilst Eva is largely drifting through life and without much care or respect.
Somehow this building of pressure during a hot Dutch summer threatens to reveal more about Isabel’s life than she would have ever known previously. Personally, I am guessing they are somehow related or something like that, but I genuinely do not know anything about the plot beyond the blurb and some brief summaries.
I am intrigued by its simple premise and seemingly small cast of characters. Psychological thrillers take a lot of talent to work, especially when done with only words and no visual or auditory elements—the positive reception online suggests that this (then) budding author managed to nail it.
I look forward to giving it a read, especially because I need to sample more from the thriller genre that is simply not overly gruff detective narratives that take themselves far too seriously.
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