A Masterclass in Misdirection: JC Fuller's "Safe to Assume" Delivers Smart, Visual Crime Fiction

Rating: ★★★★★

Categories: Thriller | Crime Fiction | Mystery | Contemporary Fiction

JC Fuller's latest offering, "Safe to Assume," is a delightfully cunning thriller that proves assumptions can be deadly—both for the characters and for readers who think they've cracked the case. This isn't your typical suspense novel; it's a clever, visually engaging thriller that transforms readers into armchair detectives alongside a compelling community of characters.

What Makes This Book Outstanding

From the moment you open "Safe to Assume," Fuller demonstrates a masterful understanding of what modern crime fiction readers crave. The book's greatest strength lies in its visual storytelling elements—whether through detailed scene-setting, evidence artifacts woven into the narrative, or the way Fuller paints each clue with cinematic precision. These aren't just words on a page; they're breadcrumbs in a carefully constructed maze that keeps you completely enthralled until the final reveal.

The community of amateur sleuths that emerges throughout the story adds a refreshing layer of authenticity to the mystery. Fuller captures the genuine enthusiasm and collaborative spirit of armchair detectives, making readers feel like they're part of an exclusive investigation team. Each character brings their own perspective and expertise, creating a rich tapestry of voices that enhances rather than clutters the central mystery.

The Art of the Red Herring

Where Fuller truly excels is in the delicate dance of misdirection. Just when you think you've identified the culprit, the author deftly shifts the evidence, revealing new layers of complexity that send your theories tumbling. This back-and-forth momentum—the constant questioning and re-questioning of every assumption—is what makes "Safe to Assume" exceptional thriller fiction. It's intellectually satisfying without being frustratingly obtuse.

The wit threaded throughout the narrative prevents the story from becoming too dark or heavy-handed. Fuller has a gift for finding moments of levity that feel natural rather than forced, providing necessary breathing room between the more intense investigative sequences.

A Taste of Fuller's Style

To give you a sense of Fuller's engaging approach, here's the kind of scene that makes "Safe to Assume" so compelling:

Detective Sarah Chen stared at the evidence board, three coffee-stained photographs pinned beneath a web of red string that looked more like abstract art than investigative work. The victim's reading glasses sat in an evidence bag, one lens cracked in a perfect spider web—too perfect, she thought. Nothing about this case was accidental.

"Still think the nephew did it?" Martinez asked, settling beside her with his fourth espresso of the morning.

"I did an hour ago." Sarah tapped the photograph of the broken vase. "But look at this—the fragments are scattered toward the door, not away from it. Either our victim threw it at someone leaving, or..."

"Or someone very clever wants us to think that's what happened."

Sarah smiled grimly. In a case built on assumptions, the smartest move was to assume nothing.

This exemplifies Fuller's talent for weaving visual evidence seamlessly into dialogue while keeping readers constantly questioning what they think they know.

The Verdict

"Safe to Assume" is an exceptional thriller that respects its readers' intelligence while delivering thrills, surprises, and genuine satisfaction. Fuller has crafted a suspenseful masterpiece that works on multiple levels—as a puzzle to be solved, as a character study, and as an exploration of how our assumptions can blind us to the truth hiding in plain sight.

This is thriller fiction at its finest. If you're looking for a book that challenges you to think, engages your visual imagination, and makes you question everything you think you know, "Safe to Assume" isn't just recommended—it's essential reading.

Perfect for readers who enjoyed: Tana French's atmospheric mysteries, Louise Penny's Three Pines series, or Agatha Christie's classic puzzle plots with a modern twist.

Have you read "Safe to Assume"? Share your theories and thoughts in the comments below—but no spoilers, please! Let's keep the mystery alive for future readers.

Found this review helpful? You can also find my thoughts on Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble. Follow me on social media for more book recommendations: Facebook

Check out the author interview and an item out of The Lock Box…

🎧 Listen to the full episode:
👉 Click here to stream the podcast
(Also available on Spotify — just search “Ink & Airwaves Podcast by readmybook.net”)

📜 Bonus Content from Lock Box:

• A quote graphic from JC on writing through self-doubt:

A behind-the-scenes note on what she cut and why:

• “What I Cut — and Why”

When I started writing Safe to Assume, I had a quiet scene between my main character and a younger version of herself — almost like a memory, or maybe a ghost. It wasn't supernatural, but it was deeply emotional. She was sitting in her childhood bedroom, and for a moment, she was both present and looking back.

I loved it. It grounded her motivations and showed where some of her walls came from.

But in the end, I cut it. The pacing didn’t allow for it — too much reflection at the wrong moment, and it pulled readers out of the tension. Still, it hurt to take it out. Not because it wasn’t good, but because it was honest.

That’s the hard part of writing — you don’t just cut words. Sometimes, you cut pieces of yourself.

— JC Fuller

• A message to readers about what she hopes this book leaves behind:

  If Safe to Assume stays with you after you turn the last page, I hope it’s because it made you feel something — curiosity, tension, maybe even comfort in the honesty of imperfection.

  I didn’t write this book to create a perfect heroine. I wrote it to explore what we assume about people, and what those assumptions cost us — in relationships, in silence, in missed chances.

  If you find yourself giving someone a second thought before writing them off… or noticing a quiet detail that others missed… then the story did what I hoped it would.

  Thank you for reading with your whole heart.

  — JC Fuller

✨ Thank you for being part of the journey. We can’t wait to spotlight more voices and stories with you.

🔍 First Look: Safe to Assume by J.C. Fuller

A promising date.
A few red flags.
And one unforgettable night.

📚 This one’s for the readers who love secrets, twists, and just the right amount of danger.

💡 Solution for Today:

Sometimes the biggest clue is what we assume we already know. Whether in fiction or in life, today’s reminder is this:

Pause before assuming. Ask before concluding. Notice what’s quiet.
That’s where the truth lives — in books and in people.

📦 What You’ll Find in the Lock Box

This is your space — and it will grow with every new author, reel, and reveal.

• You get the first glance, not the leftovers. That’s the promise of the Lock Box.

🔐 Subscribe:

Subscribe to the website it’s free for future lock box exclusives.

Stay tuned — and stay inside “The Lock Box.”

In Light & Love,
🧡 The ReadMyBook.net Team