Sara and Paul Callaway had hoped the move to "fly-over
country" from Boston would be a positive step in their
lives. They were going to achieve personal and professional
success, as well as have the opportunity to enjoy a special
sense of neighborliness within their cul-de-sac.
Instead, from the first night of the move on, the situation
starts spinning out of control. On the night of their
Christmas party, Paul is arrested for one of the most
frightening crimes of which a teacher can be accused -- the
suspicion of sexual exploitation of a minor. As horrifying
as the accusation is, it represents only the tip of the
iceberg of the intrigues within cozy and safe Sycamore
Court.
Narrated in a semi-linear fashion through a series of
flashbacks, SAFER is more richly textured than the average
mystery tale. Doolittle expertly draws the reader in to the
hopelessness felt by an "everyman" when confronted by
conspiracy and accusations.
FromDirt to The Cleanup, Sean
Doolittle has dazzled critics and defied expectations,
garnering bolder critical raves with each new
novel. “Stylishly written” hailed the New York Times
Book Review… “Superb” declared the Wall Street
Journal…“Heart-stopping, gut-clenching, eye-opening”
raved the Chicago Tribune. Now Doolittle fulfills
all that promise—and more—in his latest novel, a
powerhouse of suspense that will catch you off guard at
every turn.…Because in Safer, a young couple
moves into an idyllic little cul-de- sac—and ignites a
harrowing journey into darkness as a shocking accusation
is made, a family is shattered, and the mystery of a long-
ago crime begins to unravel. For Paul
Callaway and his wife, Sara, moving from the East Coast to
a quiet midwestern town was a major adjustment. But right
from the start, Paul has tried to fit in. He’s played golf
with the guys. He’s even joined the Neighborhood Patrol,
grabbing a flashlight and a walkie-talkie to make these
neatly tended streets even safer. Then Paul makes one
mistake—and now they want him gone. But nothing could have
prepared Paul and Sara for the quarrel that has erupted
between Paul and a neighbor—the self-appointed leader of
the Neighborhood Patrol. Or for the next outrage, as
police arrest Paul for a sordid crime he didn’t commit.
Suddenly Paul’s life, university career, and marriage are
at risk, as he finds himself locked in a desperate fight
with an angry man, a dark conspiracy, and a secret that
began with a child’s disappearance ten years before.