Yes, if you want a quick, atmospheric mystery you can finish in one sitting. It’s a 63-page short story/novella centered on Rae Donovan, a private investigator whose estranged father dies under suspicious circumstances. When she searches his secluded home, she discovers a hidden safe room containing surveillance equipment, weapons, and cash—and realizes she may never have known who her father really was.
The biggest issue is the length. At only 63 pages, several readers felt the story was rushed and underdeveloped, particularly the mystery and ending. Some thought it felt more like the beginning of a full-length thriller than a complete one.
Reader reception is fairly mixed to positive, currently around 3.8/5 on Goodreads.
| Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Plot | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| Characters | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| Romance/Chemistry | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Pacing | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Emotional Impact | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
The biggest problem is the length.
At only 63 pages, the story doesn’t have enough room to fully develop its characters, mystery, or emotional payoff. Multiple readers had the same reaction: they enjoyed the premise but wished it had been expanded.
Some readers also found Rae difficult to connect with, particularly because of the first-person narration and the amount of introspection.
So ironically, the biggest compliment and criticism are the same:
I wanted more.
Rae is a private investigator, wife, and mother whose estranged father dies before she can properly reconnect with him. That gives her investigation a strong emotional motivation.
She’s intelligent, observant, and naturally suspicious—but she’s also carrying years of complicated feelings about her father.
Her biggest strength is that the mystery becomes personal.
Because this is such a short story, the supporting cast isn’t deeply developed. Lenny, Rae’s former boss, stands out particularly well for some readers.
Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for relationship chemistry, but romance isn’t actually a major component.
This is important if you’re using a romance-style rating system.
Rae has a husband and child, and her existing family relationships shape her characterization.
There isn’t a central romantic storyline, love triangle, or romantic tension driving the plot.
So I’d rate it:
Your ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating works best if you’re using “Romance/Chemistry” to mean relationship dynamics and emotional connection, rather than romantic chemistry.
There is no meaningful romance/spice focus.
Expect:
It’s more suspenseful and mysterious than graphic or horrifying.
The pacing is fast and efficient, which makes sense given the novella/short-story format.
The mystery moves quickly, and there’s very little filler. Some readers found it gripping and intense; others felt that the speed came at the expense of development.
Unger creates a strong atmosphere and establishes Rae’s emotional situation quickly.
The main weakness isn’t the prose—it’s that the story ends before the premise has been fully explored.
The ending is satisfying enough, but rushed.
You get answers and a sense of resolution, but don’t expect the elaborate final act of a full-length Lisa Unger thriller.
This is probably the one area where I most strongly thought:
“This could have been a fantastic 200–300-page thriller.”
Several readers independently expressed a similar frustration, saying they wanted more time for the mystery and characters to breathe.
Definitely pick it up if you enjoy:
It’s also a good palate-cleanser between longer books.
Skip it—or lower your expectations—if you:
If you go in expecting a full-length Lisa Unger thriller, you may feel underwhelmed.
If you go in expecting a 63-page mystery with a great hook, it works much better.
Lisa Unger’s own full-length novels are also worth exploring if you enjoyed her style. The Safe Room is essentially a compressed version of the kind of psychological/family mystery she does well.
No. It’s a very short story/novella of approximately 63 pages.
Absolutely. That’s arguably the ideal way to read it.
Not really. It’s more mysterious and suspenseful than frightening.
Very little. Rae is married, but romance isn’t the focus.
No. 🌶️
Yes, particularly if you enjoy discovering secrets about a seemingly ordinary family member.
Yes, somewhat. That’s the most common criticism from readers.
Yes—provided you know you’re getting a very short story.
⭐ 4.5/5
The Safe Room has an excellent thriller premise, an intriguing protagonist, strong emotional themes, and enough mystery to keep you turning pages.
Its biggest weakness is also its defining characteristic: it’s simply too short to reach the full potential of its premise.
For me:
Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Mystery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Romance: ⭐⭐
Emotional impact: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
A fast, atmospheric, emotionally charged mystery that’s absolutely worth reading if you want a quick thriller—but you’ll probably finish it wishing Lisa Unger had given Rae and this mystery another 200 pages.
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