Every house has a history. Few contain the drama that resides within the “cavernous house” in the Dutch countryside, a sanctuary for sole resident, Isabel den Brave. On occasion Isabel’s brother, Louis, uses the old house as a crash pad for one of his several girlfriends. Isabel’s other brother, Hendrik sporadically visits with “boytoy”, Sabastian. Otherwise, the house remains under Isabel’s vigilant watch. She regularly checks that nothing ever goes missing. Ever!
Called away on business for a month, Louis asks Isabel to host Eva, his current squeeze. Isabel cannot rightfully refuse Louis’ request. Though Isabel is very protective of everything inside the property, that one Uncle Karel bought in 1944, the fact remains the property is promised to Isabel’s brother, Louis. Isabel can’t refuse his request. Reluctantly agreeing, she girds herself for an interloper, another one of Louis’s girlfriends.
The moment Isabel meets Eva she detests her. In appearance as different as farfel from falafel, Eva is in stark contrast to Isabel. Lips “painted heart-attack red”, obviously peroxided hair, speaking with the “loud, high-pitched voice of an actress in a bad play,” Eva is syrupy, obnoxiously friendly. Everything about Eva disturbs Isabel. Eva’s sweetness, her ingratiating manner, her effort to engage Isabel in conversation, her lighthearted laughter.
Oblivious to Isabel’s aloof demeanor, Eva nonchalantly moves into the main bedroom. The best room in the house, it once belonged to Isabel’s mother. All too soon, Eva makes Isabel’s house her own. Isabel cannot wait for her brother’s return. She counts the hours until Eva leaves. Yet, at some level, Isabel feels erotically attracted to the woman she detests.
As is her daily routine, Isabel fastidiously counts her mother’s silver spoons, making sure none is missing. After each use, she carefully hand-washes her mother’s precious heirloom dishes, the ones with hares chasing one another, fastidiously replacing each one in the vitrine. To Isabel’s utter dismay, small things begin to disappear-- a thimble goes missing from her sawing basket, a bowl, a silver spoon, a cake knife.
Over the next three weeks, the tension between the two women builds to a fever pitch. Isabel is not only rude but demeaning, denigrating Eva at every turn. Holding tightly to her rigid values of propriety and good breeding, Isabel takes every precaution to camouflages her carnal urges whenever Eva comes near her. After innumerable futile attempts, in Eva’s effort to lessen the strain between them, Eva “pecked Isabel on the lips.” It was a playful gesture, meaningless for Eva, but the kiss elevated Isabel’s erotic fantasies into an inferno of desire.
Somewhat salacious in parts, the novel explores repressed feelings within one woman and an obsession for revenge within the other. The Safekeep is thrilling historical fiction with twists and surprises when opposite forces collide; the one poised for retribution, the other yearning love. A wickedly good read.
