A July 2020 Indie Next Pick!

A PopSugar "Best New Book of July 2020"
One of Travel + Leisure's "20 Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2020"
One of Ms. Career Girls's "Summer Releases for Your TBR List"
One of Parade's "New Thrillers and Mysteries You Won't Stop Thinking About This Summer "
A Frolic "Most Anticipated Book of Summer 2020"
One of "The Most Anticipated Books of Summer" on Getaway House
A "Most Anticipated Crime Book of Summer" on Crime Reads
One of the "Best new Books to Read This Summer" from She Knows
A She Reads "Summer's Hottest Thrillers"
A South Florida Sun-Sentinal "Best of the Year" Pick

“[Downes is] skilled at ratcheting up the tension and conveying Emily’s sense of thrumming unease . . . an unusual and thrilling narrative.”—The New York Times

“Downes keeps the sense of foreboding building . . . Emily is a compelling character who arrives in France scatterbrained and immature but find the inner strength to save herself.”—The Washington Post

“Downes imbuesThe Safe Place with a strong sense of the gothic, keeping the suspense high and the tension in the Querencia household palpable. Surrounded by decay, Emily proves her mettle as her maturation and emotional growth enhance the solid plot with its myriad surprises and twists.The Safe Place delivers a deliciously creepy debut.”—South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“Secrets are laid bare, and the novel moves toward a conclusion that melds sorrow with satisfaction, ruin with redemption. She does so with evocative and insightful prose, striking characters and a plot that’s astute, addictive and alarming. Downes, who draws on her past for elements ofThe Safe Place, shows great promise and creates equally great expectations.”—The Free Lance-Star

“I absolutely devouredThe Safe Place, and lived and breathed every second. The images Anna Downes creates are so vivid and real that I was transported between Soho and France in the flick of an eye. I had no idea where it was going; I just knew I had to hold onto Emily’s coattails and go along for the ride. This one is going to fly!If you love a suspense thriller with a punch, I’d highly recommendThe Safe Place.”—Sandie Jones,New York Times bestselling author ofThe Other Woman

“[A] mix of romantic escapism and gothic menace. Ruth Ware fans may want to check this one out.”—Publishers Weekly

“Downes' debut novel is a slow burn of a story with Emily picking up on snippets of conversations as a breadcrumb trail leads her to an astounding conclusion. A great read for those looking for a side of mystery with their women's fiction.”—Booklist

“A riveting review.”—SheKnows "Best Summer Books of 2020"

“The Safe Place is such a rare thing—a claustrophobic, addictive thriller that lets you actually feel for all of the characters involved.Anna Downes has such skill in combining the heart-in-mouth feeling that everything is building to a disaster with genuine emotion. I was right behind her as she chose this big change in her life, and in a strange way, right behind Scott and Nina, too, whose stories were heartbreaking.”—Gytha Lodge, bestselling author ofShe Lies in Wait

“The Safe Place isa brilliantly atmospheric novel that keeps you equally gripped and unsettled from page one. Starkly original and with an alarmingly plausible premise, this isdestined to be a bestseller.”—J.P. Pomare, bestselling author ofCall Me Evie

"The Safe Place iscompellingly disturbing. Anna Downes is a powerful story writer who will lull you into a false sense of security—and then pounce.An author to be watched."—Jane Corry, bestselling author ofMy Husband’s Wife andI Made a Mistake

“The Safe Place isa dark and wonderful debutthat lulls you in with beautiful prose and complex, believable characters, then beats you over the head with a killer plot and a thrilling climax. It’s the kind of book you race through as quickly as you can so you can start it again.Everyone will be talking about this book!”—Christian White, internationally bestselling author ofThe Nowhere ChildandThe Wife and the Widow

“The tension ratchets up and up in thisbeautifully paced thriller—an outstanding debut, populated by complex and sympathetic characters. You’ll be thinking about them long after you’ve finished reading.Destined to be a book club favorite.”—Chris Hammer, international bestselling author ofScrublands

“I lovedThe Safe Place . . .it wastense and atmospheric with the seemingly idyllic yet eerie setting.A truly gripping read.”—Karen Hamilton, author ofThe Perfect Girlfriend

“I could just close my eyes and float away reading this book. I tore through this one and was as blindsided as Emily was when the truth came out. Downes did a fabulous job of sucking me right into this perfect little world and left me wanting more. This was my first book by this author and I’ll absolutely be back for more!”—We Are Bookish

“Gripping, satisfying and also promising first suspense novel. Psychological suspense, really, but in a setting where we expect a “gothic romance”—isolated house, mysterious owner, troubled child needing care. . . . But a larger cast than that, and characters that, even though we are in close point of view with each in turn, continue to surprise us.”—Shawangunk Journal

“It all adds up to an intriguing and addictive read. A real page turner; I couldn't put the book down once the secrets began to be unveiled.”—The AU Review.com

"Anna Downes’ debut places her firmly as a new player on the psychological thriller playing field! I can’t wait to see what she does next. With her strength for characters, structure, and pacing, I am definitely all in on it!"—Novel Lives

"All the stars! An incredible debut from a new voice in suspense fiction, this was a tension-building and atmospheric read."—The Reading Beauty

A YALSA 2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

"Like [M. T. Anderson's] National Book Award-winningThe Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, this graphic novel is both accessible to a wide age range and rich with ideas that will intrigue adults... Jo Rioux’s character designs—which reference fifth century Anglo-Saxon art—aren’t just beautiful, they allow her to test the evocative possibilities of minimalist cartooning." —NPR, from "NPR's Favorite Books Of 2020"

"Anderson adds compelling depth to the story with just a few details beyond the original tale, and Rioux’s lush, dense artwork, full of dynamic figures, swirling lines, dramatic angles, and colors that seem to glow, cultivates a fantastic, magical folk-tale atmosphere."—Booklist,starred review

"Anderson and Rioux have woven a lush folktale filled with magic, lust, and feminine power. Rioux’s pencil illustrations are melancholic, with dramatic shadows, glowing moonlight, and swirling seas. ...A haunting rendering of an ancient folktale, packed with magic."—School Library Journal,starred review

"Anderson’s [lyrical] version of the original lore...draws the reader into the eerie mystical world of Ys. Rioux’s enchanting classical artwork employs rustic pencils in a romantic style that recalls Emily Carroll, and autumnal colors which harken back to Breton culture. Readers keen on Celtic mythology will appreciate this whimsical tale with a dark turn, with crossover for Anderson’s teen fans likely."—Publisher's Weekly


"Rioux’s graphics stress the magical effects and action elements of the folktale, with a shadowy, subdued palette and abundant, inventive sound effects. [Rioux and Anderson] transport us to a world that seems beyond language itself, a dangerous confluence of nature’s forces."—Horn Book

"Intriguing and accessible, this thought-provoking tale will be new to many."—Kirkus

"[Piranesi]flooded me, as the tides flood the halls, with a scouring grief, leaving gleaming gifts in its wake… rich, wondrous, full of aching joy and sweet sorrow. "- The New York Times Book Review

“A novel that feels like a surreal meditation on life in quarantine.” —The New Yorker

“Piranesi astonished me. It is a miraculous and luminous feat of storytelling, at once a gripping mystery, an adventure through a brilliant new fantasy world, and a deep meditation on the human condition: feeling lost, and being found. I already want to be back in its haunting and beautiful halls!” —Madeline Miller, New York Times Bestselling Author of CIRCE

“Unforgettable - surely one of the most original works of fiction this season. It drops you into a mind-bending fantasy world, a vast labyrinth with infinite rooms and seas that sweep into halls and up staircases with the tides. … It's a hypnotic tale that you can devour in a day (and probably will; it's that hard to put down).” —AARP

“Piranesiis a high-quality page-turner-even the most leisurely reader will probably finish it off in a day-but its chief pleasure is immersion in its strange and uncannily attractive setting. . . Establishing that sense of totality-and the feeling of peacefulness that accompanies it-is Ms. Clarke's standout feat.” —Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal

“CouldPiranesimatch [the hype]? I'm delighted to say it has, with Clarke's singular wit and imagination still intact in a far more compressed yet still captivating tale you'll want to delve into again right after you read its sublime last sentence.” —The Boston Globe

“Piranesi is a gorgeous, spellbinding mystery that gently unravels page by page. Precisely the sort of book that I love wordlessly handing to someone so they can have the pleasure of uncovering its secrets for themselves. This book is a treasure, washed up upon a forgotten shore, waiting to be discovered.” —Erin Morgenstern, NYT bestselling author of THE STARLESS SEA and THE NIGHT CIRCUS

“A short and beautiful novel that reads like a poem, not in its use of language (which is very accessible) but rather in its cumulative effect of expressing an emotion and state of being that is inexpressible. It's a strange and lovely read.” —Buzzfeed

“What a world Susanna Clarke conjures into being, what a tick-tock-tick-tock of reveals, what a pure protagonist, what a morally-squalid supporting cast, what beauty, tension and restraint, and what a pitch-perfect ending. Piranesi is an exquisite puzzle-box far, far bigger on the inside than it is on the outside.” —David Mitchell, New York Times bestselling author of CLOUD ATLAS

“Destined to become a work of classic fantasy.” —Ron Charles, CBS Sunday Morning Book Report

“PiranesiWill Wreck You: The novel establishes Susanna Clarke as one of our greatest living writers.” —New York Magazine

“Infinitely clever… none of [Clarke's] enchantment has worn off - it's evolved. . . to abide in these pages is to find oneself happily detained in awe.” —The Washington Post

"Enthralling [and] transcendent… the sweetness, the innocence of Piranesi's love for this world is devastating to read. Clarke's writing is clear, sharp — she can cleave your heart in a few short words. . . The mystery of Piranesi unwinds at a tantalizing yet lightening-like pace — it's hard not to rush ahead, even when each sentence, each revelation makes you want to linger." -NPR.org

"The long-awaited followup toJonathan Strangeis even more magically immersive. . . Here is a protagonist with no guile, no greed, no envy, no cruelty, and yet still intriguing." -The Los Angeles Times

“[Piranesi’s] love of the house and the meaning he finds in his humble life within it give this unusual novel a radiant, gentle, melancholy heart." -Slate, Best Books of 2020

"Susanna Clarke’s astonishingPiranesi proves she’s one of the greatest novelists writing today." -Vox

"Piranesi hit my mind and soul like a thunderbolt. It is a work of deep power." -EW.com

“Susanna Clarke has fashioned her own myth anew and enlarged the world again.” —The New Republic

"Spellbinding, strange, and unforgettably original." -Esquire

“Almost impossible to put down… lavishly descriptive, charming, heartbreaking and imbued with a magic that will be familiar to Clarke's devoted readers,Piranesiwill satisfy lovers ofJonathan Strange and win her many new fans.” —Bookpage, starred review

“Readers who accompany [Piranesi] as he learns to understand himself will see magic returning to our world. Weird and haunting and excellent.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

“Clarke wraps a twisty mystery inside a metaphysical fantasy in her extraordinary new novel . . . Sure to be recognized as one of the year's most inventive.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“As questions multiply and suspense mounts in this spellbinding, occult puzzle of a fable, one begins to wonder if perhaps the reverence, kindness, and gratitude practiced by Clarke's enchanting and resilient hero aren't all the wisdom one truly needs.” —Booklist, Starred Review

“Clarke creates an immersive world that readers can almost believe exists. This is a solid crossover pick for readers whose appreciation of magical fantasy leans toward V.E. Schwab or Erin Morgenstern.” —Library Journal, Starred Review

“Clarke's imagination is prodigious, her pacing is masterly and she knows how to employ dry humor in the service of majesty.” —Gregory Maguire, The New York Times

“Nobody writes about magic the way Clarke does . . . She writes about magic as if she's actually worked it.” —Lev Grossman, TIME Magazine

"I read it months ago and still think about it almost every day." -Emily St. John Mandel, Book Marks (Lit Hub)

"Piranesi is a luminescent, dreamlike adventure, a book that will soothe your soul and transport you to a beautiful, strange world where you will want to linger, savoring every moment, every page." -Boston Magazine