Another brilliant book in the series. Morgan Brookes is racing against time to identify a murderer and find his latest kidnap victim. A really satisfying read, full of twists and turns. Looking forward to the next in the series.

Reading Between the Wines book review #65/115 for 2021:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 📱: The Hiding Place
Author: Helen Phifer
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
RELEASED on June 1, 2021!!! GET YOUR COPY TODAY!!
Recommended to readers who would love series with a strong female protagonist.

Sipping thoughts: Reading a Helen Phifer book is like having a conversation with your eyes. Her books are so well written that it’s literally like the words are just flying off the pages into my head without me being aware it is happening. Morgan Brookes is quickly climbing to be one of my most favorite female character and series, albeit, I want to slap her for some of the crazy things and situations she gets herself into. This was book 3 but could be read as a standalone, although, I would say you are missing out if you don’t read book 1 and 2. Also, that cliffhanger, though!!!

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley, @helenphifer and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @TheHidingPlace

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I hadn't read any of the other Detective Morgan Brookes books but this can be read as a stand alone. I will definitely read more of them in the series and enjoyed this book very much. Fast paced mystery thrilling book with great characters and storyline. Brilliant book and I've already bought the other 2 in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4.5*

If you enjoy reading riveting police procedurals with great characters, plenty of twists and full of suspense, I advise you to get yourself a copy of this brilliant story. This is the third book in the series but you don’t need to have read the previous stories to enjoy this one.

The small town of Rydale Falls in Cumbria is the setting for this investigation which begins when nine year old Charlotte Standish goes missing. Detective Morgan Brookes and her team (Ben, Amy and Des) are called in to investigate and she discovers that a teenage girl went missing from her home on the same street fifteen years ago. Are the two cases connected? When another young girl goes missing the tension mounts . . . . .

This is a real page turner that had me resenting anything that interrupted my reading. It is every parent’s nightmare that their child goes missing and the danger to the girls is obvious from the start. Most of the story is related from Morgan’s point of view and shows how her own life is somewhat in turmoil, too, especially as she and her work partner, Detective Ben Matthews, seem to be fighting succumbing to their mutual attraction. With few clues, Morgan follows her instincts but when Ben is viciously attacked outside her home could the perpetrator have her in his sights? It is a dark story, one in which Morgan knows she needs to solve the case before anything happens to anyone else at the hands of this perpetrator.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Charlie was waiting to be picked up by her Dad so her mum went off to a friend's house with a bottle of wine. Next day, when she discovers Charlie is not in her bed a massive search is underway. Megan Brooks discovers that another girl went missing from the same road many years ago- are they connected? Nobody else seems to think so. When Charlie's body is found & another little girl disappears Megan is determined that Macy will be found in time.

This is the third book in an excellent series. I really like the characters & the author keeps the pace going, throwing the odd red herring in for good measure. I really enjoyed it & am already looking forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my review!
I hadn’t realized when I received this book that it was part of a series, but it is fine as a stand-alone, I usually like to read a series in order, but this didn’t prevent me from enjoying the story or understanding what was happening; I found myself quickly flipping the pages to find out what was going to happen next!
Very gripping and intense, I really enjoyed this thriller, definitely recommended.
5⭐️

It can’t be easy being Morgan. She’s known for being a magnet for crime. But she is also very good at solving those crimes. It’s amazing how she puts the clues together and goes to resolving the issues. My heart stopped a beat when Morgan befriends journalist Fin. Seriously, is she trying to make life hard for herself? Why can’t she see what’s right in front of her. And the best? Solving not only one case but also the case of a missing girl, 15 years ago. Highly recommended series!

Book 3 in the Detective Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer. I have read and loved the previous two books in this series , so I was excited to read this one. From the very start this book had me gripped and I just wanted to keep reading. I did however guess who the perpetrator was early on but it certainly didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.

An intense race to find the victim, a young girl named Charlie. At first I had trouble getting into the book, but after a couple chapters I was hooked. I picked up the authors pace and enjoyed learning the characters strengths and weaknesses. I would definitely recommend this book to friends and family. I have already purchased another book by Helen Phifer.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley for my voluntary honest opinion.

My Rating:

4.5

Favorite Quotes:

It’s always the dog walkers; we wouldn’t find most of our missing persons or dead bodies if it wasn’t for them. Poor bastards, imagine coming home from work to take Scamp out for his teatime poopsie and you find a dead girl under a tree. It’s enough to put you off ever walking the bloody dog again.
He paused in the hallway to take in the mess. ‘Blimey, Morgan, this looks like a violent crime scene, your cooking isn’t that bad.’

… whatever you do you better not leave the house without a balaclava on, you look monstrous.


My Review:

Morgan Brookes continues to be a lightning rod for trouble and I enjoy her out-of-the-box methods and good heart. This installment was nonstop activity on both the personal and professional fronts with new relationships stirring pangs of jealousy, speculation, and gossip among her coworkers. The storylines were engaging and rippling with tension, occasional hits of wry humor, and curiosity-prickling observations, yet a dearth of solid clues. This intriguing and absorbing series has been my introduction to the expertise of Helen Phifer's crafty scribblings, and I am annoyed at myself for being so late to the party. I have a lot of catching up to do.

I hadn't read any of the other Detective Morgan Brookes books (yet!) but I will definitely read more of them.... and although it's always nice to read a series in order, it didn't stop my enjoyment and my desire to turn the pages! Enthralling and interesting with great characters and storyline!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Hiding Place is the third instalment in the Detective Morgan Brookes series set in the small town of Rydal Falls, Cumbria. Nine-year-old Charlotte ”Charlie” Standish is waiting for her father to pick her up and she wanders down the street. She pets a cat going into a yard and it scratches her. The owner of the house offers to clean up her scratch and that is the last time we see Charlie alive. Morgan, Ben, Amy and Des are called to the scene of a hysterical mother who has not seen her child since just after dinner the night before. While investigating, Morgan visits Charlie's school and is surprised to learn that a teenager, Eleanor Fleming, disappeared fifteen years ago from the same street that Charlie lives on, and was never found. Are these cases related in any way? When a second young girl disappears from the same neighbourhood, Ben, Morgan and the team are sure that it is the same person who took both girls.

This is a compulsive and gripping thriller that moves quickly. It is told primarily from Morgan’s perspective but other points of view are also included. We also see Morgan's personal life that is a bit of a mess. This adds a couple of other interesting twists to the story. There is definitely an attraction between Morgan and Ben and the sexual tension is palpable, but Morgan hooks up with a different fellow in this story and it causes some ripples. There is plenty of drama, tension and suspense throughout the police procedural and some of the twists were amazing. There were very few clues to find Macy, but with gut instinct and a little luck, Morgan once again puts herself in danger to find a killer. This is a riveting read that had me reading into the night as I had to find out who had Macy, what was the motive and would they bring her home alive. I definitely recommend this one to those who enjoy well-written police procedurals with twists and suspense.

DC Morgan Brookes is back in this third instalment from Helen Phifer. Morgan is called to lead a hunt when nine-year-old Charlotte "Charlie" Standish vanishes and her hysterical mother, Amanda, reports her missing.

This enthralling thriller moves at a rapid pace and has several unpredictable twists. It is told primarily from Morgan’s perspective but other points of view also feature and both the investigation and Morgan’s troublesome personal life are intriguing plot threads. Set in the small town of Rydal Falls, Cumbria, the reader is treated to a fully rounded tale set in the present day and the feelings between Morgan and Ben Matthews, her sergeant continue, but there's a new guy on the horizon. There is plenty of drama, tension and suspense throughout and many police procedural elements are incorporated ensuring I remained entrenched in the story. The Hiding Place is a must for fans of realistic, true-to-life procedurals. Helen Phifer's superb writing continues to wow me and it will be interesting to see what's in store for DC Brookes in the next instalment.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

It’s no secret how much I love the Morgan Brookes’ series. I love Morgan as a protagonist and I get frustrated when her terrific gut instincts are ignored. Still fairly new to the job she’s still treated as a rookie, especially by her boss Ben Matthews but I’m sure it’s only because he’s harbouring feelings for her and a touch of the green eyed monster is at play. So when they are at a ceremony, to be presented with commendations for their recent work of catching a serial killer, all hell breaks loose when a missing child case comes to light.

Now this is where my outrage started, it soon transpired that the mother was getting drunk round a mates and didn’t even notice her nine year old daughter was missing until the following morning. That surprisingly wasn’t what caused my outrage! I’ve been a working single mum and it’s a hard enough job that gets little thanks and lots of judgement. Nobody ever blames or judges the men and in the majority of cases they don’t have to rearrange their jobs and entire lives during the week to make their child safe and pay the bills. The dad should have been there to collect his daughter rather than let her down again as he was out for dinner with his new girlfriend. Now don’t get me wrong and think me being outraged spoiled my enjoyment, if anything a book that stirs my emotions puts it at the top (rant over).

Then a body is found and another child goes missing. The hunt is on and the clock is ticking….

This is book three in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. I know a lot of readers stay away from crime books that involve children but Helen writes with such care, attention and respect that I never once felt uncomfortable.

I really can’t recommend this series enough so if you enjoy a police procedural with characters that are beyond brilliant and a will they won’t they romantic break from the heavy hits then give this super series a shot. Helen never fails to deliver a twisty read and this is no exception!

Having read and loved the two books in the Dr Beth Adams series, which I sincerely hope there is more of, I came into the DC Morgan Brookes series on the second book with the first one still on my list to get to. I didn't feel I had missed a lot as the second book almost felt like an introduction to the series. But having said that, I do recommend you read them from the beginning as there is an ongoing theme involving Morgan and her background which is alluded to in this book but without having read the second one I would be scratching my head wondering just what that was.

I am really enjoying this series as it is easy to read with nice short chapters and the odd one from either the killer or a victim throughout. In THE HIDING PLACE however the killer's voice is silent. We don't hear from him at all. We do hear from the victims with the Prologue and several others throughout. This book did feel a little different to the previous one but it was still just as good as we welcome back the team to investigate the disappearance of a child.

DC Morgan Brookes has had barely enough time to recover from the horrific ordeal that played out at the end of the previous book "The Killer's Girl" , for which she and her Sergeant Ben Matthews receive commendations, before she is thrust into another investigation. This time the disappearance of 9 year old Charlie Standish who vanished without a trace from the street on which she lives with her mother. Often seen wandering and playing in the street on her own, Charlie is a loner left to her own devices much of the time. But someone must have seen something surely. However, Charlie disappeared more than twelve hours before with her mother not noticing her absence believing Charlie's father had picked her up to stay with him and his girlfriend.

Still a newish detective herself, this is Morgan's first missing child case and she is determined to find the little girl. But with the golden hour long since gone time is of the essence as every minute without answers increases the prospect of a tragic outcome. The team begins knocking on doors in the street where Charlie lived and searching any outbuildings they may have. And then Morgan discovers that Charlie isn't the only child to have disappeared from the area - the same street no less. Fifteen years ago, 15 year old Eleanor Fleming also disappeared, the police at the time filing her as a runaway and no further action taken. But Morgan believes that this could be more than a coincidence.

Then they receive the news that no police officer wants to hear - the discovery of a child's body less than 24 hours after she had disappeared. With hardly time to identify and investigate, another girl 10 year old Macy Wallace goes missing from the same area. This time, Morgan is determined to find her before it's too late.

An unexpected diversion in this story is the addition of journalist Fin Palmer as he seeks out Morgan at the original crime scene. Attracted to him at first, Morgan soon becomes wary upon discovering his profession but Fin is quick to put her fears to rest when he makes it clear he isn't interested in questioning her for a story. He just thinks she is awesome and wanted to let her know. Against her better judgement, Morgan invites him for a drink at a local pub but nearly didn't make when the discovery of Charlie's body almost scuppered her plans. Despite the investigation going on around them, Fin never queried what was happening and instead made Morgan feel like she was the most important person in the room.

Ben, however, didn't trust him. Call it copper's intuition or the mere fact he was a journalist but he couldn't help but feel that something wasn't right. And when Fin always appeared to be waiting for her whenever she finished her shift, just seemed a little too creepy that I began to wonder if Ben was right to be concerned.

And then just when the team thought they were running out of options, Ben is attacked outside Morgan's flat and left for dead as Morgan's past comes crashing back at full speed that she feels she is never going to escape it.

The third book in the Morgan Brookes series, THE HIDING PLACE is a real page turner that moves at a frenetic pace throughout. Although it lacks the twists that littered the previous books, don't be fooled by it...there is a twist to come.

I love reuniting with the characters again - Morgan, Ben and I love Declan and Susie - as they are a fantastic team who complement each other and work well together. None of that superiority amongst the ranks coupled with bitchiness. Everyone gets along which makes a nice refreshing change. And while the identity of the villain wasn't a surprise - I guessed it very early on - there were other unexpected issues to deal with. And then there is that cliffhanger...

I really enjoy the writing style which is soft and gentle and not gritty like many other procedurals. It makes for a refreshing change as well as for readability. It just makes me want to come back for more and I can't wait for the next installment of what is fast becoming one of my most favourite series.

A truly enjoyable book, THE HIDING PLACE is a fast paced read that offers the perfect segue into the next book which I hope isn't too far away.

Perfect for fans who love crime fiction with a little less grit and a lot more heart.

I would like to thank #HelenPhifer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheHidingPlace in exchange for an honest review.

Another fantastic instalment, a great series. Love the characters and the pace of the book. Really looking forward to the next in the series.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Hiding Place' by Helen Phifer.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Helen Phifer, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 1st June 2021.

This is the fourth book I have read by this author. I have previously read her 2 previous books in the 'Detective Morgan Brookes' series 'One Left Alive' and 'The Killer's Girl' plus the second book in the 'Beth Adams' series 'The Girls In The Lake' which I would highly recommend. This is the third book in the 'Detective Morgan Brookes' series but it can be read as a standalone.

I was originally drawn to this book by its gorgeous eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated 'A nail-biting, unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night, for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Patricia Gibney.' I am a huge fan of Angela Marsons so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a huge fan of Helen and if this is half as good as the previous books in the 'Detective Morgan Brookes' series it is sure to be a great read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue and 48 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in the Lake District, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited the Lake District so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonists are Detective Constable Morgan Brooks, Detective Sergeant Ben Matthews and Detective Constable Amy Smith. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Wow!!! Just Wow!!! I did not see that one coming!!! Another brilliant book from this very talented author. Fantastically written and such an addictive and compelling read. Excellent descriptions making it so easy to imagine what's going on. The book cover and synopsis suit the storyline perfectly.

The storyline is an absolute roller-coaster ride filled with suspense, crime, drama, red herrings and is a very good psychological thriller that kept me up until late at night. Did not see that one coming at all so well done Helen. It gets harder and harder to surprise me when it comes to crime books after reading so many yet that was a shocker. I loved the twist and just loved watching it all unfold. The storyline itself was very realistic and I would say that Helen has done quite alot of research in regards to procedure plus more which shines through when your reading. I loved how the book ended especially the last bombshell dropped on me and am looking forward to see how the next one plays out.

I loved meeting all the characters again. The characters were all very strong and the fact that Morgan and Amy are such strong females was definitely a bonus with me being female myself. I loved Amy and Morgan and her relationship with Ben and would love to read more about her. I'd love to read more about Ben, Morgan and a few others actually. I am looking forward to see what becomes of the relationship between Ben and Morgan also and I liked the way they had quite similar histories. Declan is another big character for me and I really love his funny yet caring and compassionate personality. I love him more and more with each epic, suspense filled addictive page turning novel in this series!!

Well done in another massive success Helen and here is to the next success in an amazing series 🥂 🎈 💐

Overall another action packed, page turning, gripping, suspense filled edge of your seat must read by the legend that is Helen Phifer!!


Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Hardboiled, Noir Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Police Procedural and Crime Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer, CL Taylor, Tess Gerritson and anyone looking for an epic read.


289 pages.

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book via Netgalley and for letting me take part in this tour. I LOVE Morgan Brookes so I was interested to see what scrapes she got herself into this time.

Morgan Brookes is still a relatively new detective but she's already been through quite a lot. This is her third big case within a year. She's not afraid to break the rules or put herself in danger if it means getting a result. She has good gut instincts but she tends to get herself in a lot of danger. I really like Morgan. She is one of those people that will always have your back and go to the ends of the earth to protect people.

Helen did a really good job of showing how the officers feel about the case, the toll it takes when children are missing. Missing children is something that always evokes strong emotions. Children are so innocent and you immediately want to protect them.

My favourite character by far is still Amy. You didn't see as much of her as in the previous books but she has all the sass with the right work ethic. I'd love for her to be my friend.

The book had a few POVs which I really liked. It was good to see things from the other side and not just the detectives. It really adds to the suspense and the creepiness of the story.

Helen's writing style is very easy to read. I read this in two big sittings as I just did not want to put it down. It's very fast paced. I thought oh I'll just read a few chapters and before I knew it I was over halfway through the book.

The last chapter has left a nice little clue about what the next book could be about and I can't wait to read it.

A missing child case. Though there is no flaw in the plot, due to the paucity of characters the suspense is predictable which becomes a big letdown for a thriller. The link to the cold case that Morgan keeps harping on is a stretch. She keeps going round in circles and suddenly gets a brain wave after a personal blow. Didn’t really enjoy it. Sorry.

I really enjoyed the first 2 books in this series. I'm not sure why but this one just didn't grab me as much. This one just didn't have the same flow as the earlier books. Still a decent enough story.