The Safekeep

📚 Why We Recommend It​
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In the sun - dappled Dutch countryside of 1961, where the scars of World War II are starting to fade into memory, a story of secrets, desires, and long - buried truths unfolds in The Safekeep. Isabel, a woman of routine and discipline, lives a solitary life in her late mother's country home. Her world is orderly, until her brother Louis arrives with his new girlfriend, Eva. Eva, the complete opposite of Isabel, is boisterous and carefree, disrupting Isabel's quiet existence.​
As the summer progresses, things start disappearing around the house, sparking Isabel's suspicions. What begins as a simmering resentment between the two women evolves into a complex web of emotions, blurring the lines between hate and infatuation. Yael van der Wouden masterfully weaves a tale that not only delves into the personal turmoil of these two characters but also serves as a poignant exploration of the lingering effects of war on the human psyche. The descriptions of the Dutch landscape, with its bomb - filled past now covered by lush greenery, mirror the characters' attempts to hide their own emotional scars.​
This is not just a story of two women in a small house. It's a story of a nation trying to move on, of personal identity colliding with historical trauma, and of the unexpected ways in which we connect with others. With its sharp writing, complex characters, and an atmosphere that crackles with tension, The Safekeep is a page - turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.