HIDE
GENRE: Murder mystery, thriller
This story has quite an ample of characters. Seven friends, seven characters and all of them are equally important.
The characters include: Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back. Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind. Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren. Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession. Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group. Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife. Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.
These seven people though differing in their age, thoughts and backgrounds have gathered for Boxing Day Hike as members of a birdwatching group. They wander into wilderness to watch the moves of starlings during Christmas time. Though they aren’t friends but they are bound together by their passion of birdwatching. Suddenly they hear a gunshot and they start to panic. One of the members is found dead in the hide and everyone is gripped in mortal fear.
The setting of the story is quite eerie. The chapters are short and their endings are great cliff-hangers. There is a lot of running through the snow-covered dark forest. The book is filled with mixed feelings of doubt, panic and fear of all the characters.
By the mid of the story the pace fastens. The hunt and prey fight would surely spike up the reader’s interest. It’s a great page turner. As the story progresses the character’s backgrounds unravel themselves. The killer and the intended victim/ victims become more of a puzzle to the readers. There are many surprising suspense and unexpected twists all through the story. The end has a diabolical twist.
(P.S: If you are up in the night reading this book you won’t sleep owing to the great cliff-hangers and your desire to read just one more chapter.)
Ratings: 4/5

I was really looking forward to reading this one, set in a snowy woods in winter, what's not to love?
Well there were a few things I liked however by the end there were even more that I didn't.
What I did enjoy about this was how it was an easy read that was done in 2 sessions. I also liked how the story started of and I thought: here we go, this is going to be great!
However by about half way through my interest fell off a cliff.
The story felt flat and the characters had no depth. At times I struggled to remember which was which.
As the plot evolved it just ended up with everyone running around after each other, only to find them, then all start running around again.
And that ending? Oh my god what a bad way to finish. I was rolling my eyes.
This was my first book I have read by this author and I don't feel much like I want to read another

What a fun thrill ride! I loved the atmospheric winter setting!

Seven very different friends part of a nature group go on a winter hike. Before the sun sets one of them will be murdered. And one of them is a murderer.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

So I've learned that I am a sucker for books with purple and blue covers, and apparently ones with snow as well? Perhaps that is merely the sort of thriller I crave when it gets cold, as there are many believable elements within. Anyway, Hide by Nell Pattison is the latest thriller I decided to dive into.

What would you do if you were trapped in a cabin (in the middle of nowhere, mind you), and you found out that one of your friends was a killer? That is the situation seven friends find themselves in, and it will quickly become a fatal situation.

Hide is a claustrophobic and chilling (literally) thriller novel that perfectly suits those creepy cravings we all feel like the colder months set in. I'll admit that half the reason I wanted to read it is because of the Agatha Christie vibes, but I'm okay with that!

This book is split into seven perspectives – one for each member of the friend group. It really helps readers get a feel for the situation while feeling just as lost for who could have done it. I personally adore that blend and will never get enough of it!

I'll admit that there were times where I wanted to smack some common sense into a character but isn't that always the case during thriller/horrors? You find yourself screaming "don't go into the basement" or some such nonsense. At least this way, you know you've invested in the story.
Hide is the first novel I've read by Nell Pattison, but you better believe I'll be adding her to my list of thriller authors worth keeping an eye on!

This is my first Nell Pattison book, and it was such a good one. It was an outstanding thriller with the tension and suspense maintained throughout the story. The story was brilliant with a heart-pounding, character-driven plot that I couldn’t put down. Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for an advanced copy!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book that I read of the author and it is so interesting, The author makes that the reader enjoy so much the storie and get inside that you can´t stop reading until the end.
This thriller is so wel written and get inside your head that it is amazing!
Thak you so much for the opportunity to read it!

I’m all in on Agatha Christie type whodunits, and this was actually WAY better than Ruth Ware’s One by One—so if you’re looking for a snowy thriller to squeeze in this winter, I recommend giving this a go. ❄️

The two sisters are hard to like, but if you can push past that, the random group dynamic in this birdwatching gang is very interesting and totally worth it.

Although this was action-packed, it was almost too much in the middle, dragging on a bit, and the tension was almost unbearable.

Part of the ending was predictable, but the final chapter was definitely twisty.

Thank you @avonbooksuk and @writernell & @netgalley for the gifted #advancedreaderscopy in exchange for the honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and Nell Pattison for my arc of Hide in exchange for an honest review.

Out now!

Seven friends, out for an exclusive walk around a Lincolnshire nature reserve. Birdwatching on Boxing Day, the perfect relaxing retreat. But they’ve all got secrets and one of them knows them all. One murderer. When one of the friends is killed it throws the others into panic. Lost in the dark and snow wondering who might be picked off next, who can they trust?

This got off to a slow start but I soon got into the thrall of the story. Many of the characters were very unlikeable and couldn’t even really be described as friends but that just added to the tension created as they head out into the reserve in the dusk.

There was great build up and I genuinely couldn’t work out who the killer was until it was revealed. As for the ending what a fantastic twist. It really leaves you reeling! my first read from this author but it definitely won’t be my last!

I'd give this 2.5 if I could award half stars. I so wanted to enjoy this as the premise was really good. I just felt let down by the ending and some of the dialogue.

I could picture the reserve perfectly, and I even felt cold reading whilst wrapped up warm. I did like a couple of the characters, namely Kai and Emily, and I felt they had the strongest backstory. Additionally, I've read that Nell has a deaf character in each of her novels which is great for learning more.

I found Lauren horrible and repulsive, I don't know how she actually had any friends. Her chapters were difficult to read as I hated the way she spoke to people - I don't think I've ever felt so disgusted by a character before (quite an achievement from the author). There were some sections of the book that dragged, bits felt a bit repetitive and dull. The ending seemed to come out of nowhere, like a twist for a twists sake rather than building up, but then I also wasn't surprised by the very last bit at all.

Overall, frustration is the key emotion here. I was trying to overlook Lauren's attitude throughout, thinking the mystery would pull together at the end and overshadow it - but it didn't.

I could not get into this story, the writing style was not for me. I didn't care for any of the characters and I dnf-ed it.

I really enjoyed this book. I have read a lot of Pattison’s novels featuring characters that are hard of hearing and I was pleased to see the writer turn their hand to a stand-alone thriller. This was not a disappointment.

This is a great winter read and I think it will guarantee you turning the pages in a flurry of motion that is largely absent during the Christmas period! Set on Boxing Day, a group of nature enthusiasts come together for a hike through a reserve, intent on watching the murmuration of birds as it is such a natural spectacle. However, the murder of one of the group raises suspicions and paranoia as each suspects one another. How well do they really know each other? What has led to the murder of one of their group?

What I liked about this book is how it was so difficult to foresee the perpetrator and how the truth would be revealed. Like books of a similar genre, this novel really develops the characters and I appreciated how varied they all were. At the same time, I was surprised at how Pattison makes connections between them, as revealed in the final few chapters. Such developed characterisation was a big help considering each chapter is narrated from a different perspective. It certainly did not take me too long to identify the range of personalities.

The novel’s title has plenty of layers of meaning, which I appreciated. Firstly, ‘hide’ refers to the characters after learning about the murder; they are all trying to protect themselves to ensure they are not the next victim. ‘Hide’ is also the construction that the characters use when watching the birds and there are many of them on the reserve. It is also where the murder takes place. Finally, the title also refers to the many secrets that the characters have, with the writer only gradually revealing them over the story. I often enjoy exploring the significance of book titles and this one was no exception.

This book is a stand-alone and it felt fresh and interesting to read. I had expected characters from Pattison’s other series to make an appearance, but this is not the case. The only crossover is that one of the characters is deaf but has high-tech implants to help with her hearing. I have always said that the writer’s presentation of this has consistently been sensitive and interesting and I think this element of Emily’s character adds an extra dimension to the plot development, particularly as she feels increasingly threatened.

If you have yet to sample any of Pattison’s writing, this is a great place to start. With plenty of questions on the perpetrator and the reasons why, this is a thrilling read with great surprises and turns along the way.

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!
What a gripping book. I found it hard to put down. Always thinking it could be this person it could be that person.
A perfect winter thriller and the end, well that just blew me away!

Actual rating 2.5/5 stars.

Seven individuals meet at a deserted nature reserve over the Christmas break with the intention of bird-watching and hiking together. Some among the group have more than these innocent plans set in motion however, with potentially disastrous consequences for all involved.

I thought the author did an excellent job of introducing the reader to the main characters and allowing us to understand their histories and relationships, whilst also keeping many secrets reserved for later dramatic reveals. I also loved the setting the group were soon to explore, which only became more sinister as the sun set and the snow descended.

My attention started to sway once the first dramatic interlude had occurred and did not return until the novel's close, however. So much of this novel was spent with the various characters fleeing through the dark with little other than their scattered thoughts and fears for their safety marking the pages. I wish far less time had been spent on this focus, as it soon began to feel repetitive with little added to the story-line.

However, my interest returned with the final reveal, which I did not see coming and thought ingenious on the author's part. I thought it a devious twist to end this novel with and ensured, despite my lacklustre response throughout, that this is an author I would read from again.

Spectacularly suspenseful and chilling thriller that’s perfect winter reading!

This is the first Nell Pattison book that I’ve read and the first thing I’ll say is, it won’t be my last. This book was superbly thrilling and the tension is generated from almost the first page. It continues to build momentum like a freight train and as the narrative progresses it catches in your throat like that first hit of freezing cold air on a sub-zero winter’s day. I can’t iterate enough just what a masterclass this is in suspense. This is partly the blend of the isolated location, the harsh elements that exacerbate that and the actual structure of the novel, which is tells the story from the viewpoints of all the characters. All of these elements were perfectly constructed and Pattison used them to the utmost effect. I particularly loved reading from all the different perspectives, which revealed twists and revelations like the reader was gossiping with the characters. It felt like a really organic and authentic way for this mystery to unravel and I really felt like I was inside the minds of the characters. Similarly, Pattison has created a completely evocative setting that is passionately described, to the point that I could feel every biting gust of wind and every flake of snow that fell whilst I read. I felt completely transported to this nature reserve and it was so clever how Pattison turned a place of tranquil beauty completely on its head into a horrifyingly cut off and dangerous place.

As with all good thrillers, Hide is also very much about the relationships at its core. Pattison takes a group of very diverse characters, who are somehow in a place that resembles friendship due to their supposed shared interests. Each of the characters is extremely well drawn and all of them are three dimensional and have enough depth to draw the reader in and keep the pages turning to discover more about them. There’s so much to each of these characters and their interwoven relationships, and it felt like new discoveries and revelations about them were made in every chapter.

This made the book feel like it was fast paced and unputdownable - I had to read just one more chapter every time! It also meant that I was able to slowly piece together the plot, but only exactly when Pattison wanted me too! I don’t want to give anything away, but there are some excellent surprises between these pages and the final revelation made me gasp out loud! Whilst it’s very much a cliche, Hide truly is an entirely gripping read that is the perfect book to pick up at this time of year!

Thanks to #netgalley and #avonbooks for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. An atmospheric read about a group of 7 nature lovers who start to realise not everyone is who they seem when a member of the group is shot and killed and then one by one they all start feeling as if they are being hunted down, the question is by who? A deliciously claustrophobic read that will have side eyeing all of the characters trying to work out who is the killer amongst them. Told from all 7 points of view my first time reading Nell Pattison and it won't be my last. #nellpattison #hide #netgalley #avonbooks #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #litsy #thestorygraph #thriller #bookqueen #bookstagram

Seven friends. One killer. You can run, but you can’t hide…
It’s Boxing Day and your friendship group has planned a hike.
You know tensions are running high. You’ve heard the rumours flying around.
But this trip is a chance for you to reconnect.
As you head into the reserve, everyone is quiet. It almost feels like you’ve imagined the rift.
But as the sun sets, you hear a gun shot.
One of your group is dead.
And someone you know killed them…

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I found all of the different characters and chapters to be somewhat confusing in this one - which doesn’t usually happen for me!
Unfortunately, this book was too much of a slow burner for me
I loved the dramatics of the group and how secrets were held between them. But I just felt that the book took a little too long to get going. Once it did get going, I absolutely loved it and found myself raving through it. But the book ended far too quick. In my opinion, the book should have had more pace in it
I have enjoyed this authors previous work, so will look out for her future work

A group of seven friends meet up on Boxing Day in the nature reserve where Lauren works to watch the starling murmuration. With the reserve closed to the public, this will be a special outing for the group of nature lovers. However, each of them has a secret they haven’t shared with the group and what should have been an idyllic day out soon turns into a nightmare when one of the group is killed and they realise that the killer is among them.

I was expecting a Christmassy read but other than the setting being Boxing Day, this could have happened at any time - the author simply needed a wintery bank holiday to ensure no one else was around, creating a classic closed whodunnit. All of the characters had ulterior motives which were hinted at at the beginning but I got a bit frustrated at the constant hints, but no real revelations. The story is told by the characters in turn which works successfully, once you are able to remember who each character is and the back story revealed so far. I found the middle section a bit tedious and there was an awful lot of walking back and forth in the woods. I wasn’t expecting the last chapter, which reveals a shocking twist in the tale.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A group of seven friends set out on a hike across a nature reserve. The Boxing Day outing is meant to heal the rifts which are becoming apparent within the group, but all of the friends have their own secrets, & one of them is hellbent on murder.

This was an average read. The narration is shared out between all the group with each one getting several chapters each throughout the book. It is refreshing to see an author include a main character with a disability but not make the character reliant upon that as their entire character. On the downside, none of the characters are particularly nice really, & I didn't feel as if most of them were given distinct personalities, so I had to doublecheck whose chapter it was at times. It was also fairly easy to work out who the perpetrator is - if you read carefully there is only one viable answer really. Overall the pace & plot were okay but the characters need distinguishing from each other more.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Avon Books UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Wow! What a great book.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page.
7 bird enthusiasts set out on a visit to view a murmeration of birds at their local wildlife refuge, which has closed over the Christmas period, so should be deserted. They were looking forward to viewing the spectacle, but instead find themselves embroiled in a murder of Alec, one of the 7 bird watchers. Was it poachers, who killed him by accident, or was it one of the other 6 members of their little club?
The book is written from the viewpoint of each of the group members, so you get to know each character pretty well. Each one has their own quirks & failings, but do they also have their own secrets that could have lead to the death of Alec?
If you are a fan of suspense, then you are in for a real treat with this page turner!
I will definitely look out for more books by this author.

Hide is a fab winter thriller that you will struggle to put down. The suspense will have you on the edge of your seat at times and the twist at the end was great.
Being in a nature reserve in the pitch black creates a really eerie atmosphere especially for Emily who is deaf and can’t hear a sound.
There are quite a few characters which took me a while to get to grips with but they all seem to be hiding something and it’s great how their secrets connect each of them in some way.
An absolute must if you’re into winter thrillers!