I found The Hiding Place by Simon Lelic to be a riveting read that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This psychological thriller is a complex and disturbing tale that will challenge your perceptions of truth, justice, and revenge.

The story follows the investigation of a brutal murder that takes place in a small town. Detective Inspector Jonah Sheens leads the investigation, but soon finds himself unraveling a web of lies and secrets that threaten to consume him and his team. The Hiding Place is a well-crafted mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Lelic's writing style is immersive and atmospheric, creating a sense of tension and unease that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. The characters are multi-dimensional and flawed, making them feel real and relatable. The pacing is perfect, with just the right amount of suspense and action to keep you engaged throughout.

An anonymous tip-off sends the police to the exclusive boarding school of Beaconsfield. A body has been found in a crypt that no-one knew was there. The body is that of Ben Draper who everyone assumed had run away from the school twenty years earlier. It is obvious that there has been foul play and the case is assigned to DI Robin Fleet and DC Nicky Collins.
There are some solid suspects but when those suspects themselves become victims, and the bodies mount the race is on to catch the killer. Flint thinks he knows who the murderer is, but he’s been wrong before.
Told in a dual timeline, we have the events leading up to Ben’s death and the investigation to find the person responsible.
This book had me hooked from page one. The main characters, who were introduced to us in a previous novel, are well-rounded and likable and I look forward to (hopefully) meeting them again in another book.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately after multiple attempts to connect with this book I have had to mark as dnf. I think it was just too slow paced to hold my attention.

A really good read, full of tension and twists. Enjoyed the case and the cast of characters. Looking forward to reading more from the author.

A heart pounding thriller, the author has real gift of writing great 'page turners' and this is certainly no exception. With two timelines, this story pulls and pushes you back and forth, leaving you guessing.

Thank you Penguin General UK - Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Viking, Penguin Life, Penguin Business, Penguin and Netgalley for rhis arc. It was really unique and i like the games people plays and dors not turn to what they wanted and what everything is seen as.

Fantastic book to read. Loved how fast paced it is. So many twists and turns to keep you focused. Really good plot. Played out well. The book is very well written

Unfortunately not for me! Found it too slow to get into and not pacy enough to care about the mystery.

I'm not sure what to make of #TheHidingPlace by Simon Lelic. There are numerous 4 and 5 star reviews praising the story and the writing but I found both to be flat and without style.

I really like Simon Lelic books, they’re fast paced and thrilling and this one was no exception!
4 friends go for a game of hide and seek and only 3 return - we are treated to a dual timeline in this book where you’re trying to patch up the past and the present and I for one could not put it down!
I liked the relationship between the two detectives and it genuinely had me guessing until the end.
My only criticism is I wish I knew it was the second book so I could have got to know the detectives more!

When this game of hide and seek goes wrong - it has dire consequences.

This was a gripping read which had me hooked from the first chapter. The level of intrigue and mystery was just right. Great characters, an eerie setting and compelling storyline.

Highly recommend this title.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the review copy.

I was gripped by this from the start and it left me guessing the whole way through. A great read which I would highly recommend

I flew through this. I was gripped pretty early on. The pace is fast and the plot deepens throughout.
While I didnt manage the guess the killer I did enjoy this book the whole time.
With a duel timeline where we get the see the lead up to Ben's death while we see the present day investigation. Trying to connect the pieces.
Unlikeable characters meaning any one of them could be behind the murders. Secrets and lies.
This is a solid mystery.

An entertaining mystery! Kept me guessing until the end.

It was fab to see Fleet in action again too.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this review copy. An entertaining mystery that keeps the reader entertained.

This book had me completely hooked. I didn't expect the story to develop in the way it did. The setting was fascinating and it is obvious that the author has done a great deal of research to bring the story to life for their readers.

This was an ARC from Netgalley.

Four friends go for a game of hide and seek but only 3 come back.

Years later the body of Ben is found in an underground crypt in the prestigious boarding school they all attended. DI Flint, now disgraced to cold cases, is tasked with investigating what happened and how Ben was murdered. As the bodies pile up and his partner goes missing it's a race against to uncover the truth. Can DI Fleet stop another murder and find out what happened to his partner?

Really enjoyable read and worked well as a stand alone.

I read this a while back and forgot to upload my review.

Fast paced, stressful in a way that I love and the two person narrative added layers of depth and tension that made it a great read

A children's game of hide-and-seek turns deadly in this whodunnit crime thriller. Twenty years later a body is found. Told over two timelines, in places it felt slow and dragged out but will keep you guessing until the end.

A body has been found. Ben, the missing school-boy from a decades-old unsolved missing child case, is finally being taken to his final resting place and his case reopened. What dark secrets will be unleashed and what connections to the present-day village inhabitants still remain?

I had high expectations diving into this book, after enjoying other of Lelic's creations. They might have been placed too highly, however, as this remained solidly enjoyable and deliciously twisted but failed to capture my attention in quite the same way as he previously has proven able to do.

Perhaps the increased focus on the crime elements could explain my middling rating, as this is not my usual go-to, preferring my thrillers without a police presence, or perhaps this storyline was less suited for me personally due to the split chronological focus, which I have read in abundance recently. Either way I was absorbed throughout but, sadly, this is not a storyline that will stay for me for a long time, I fear.