"Hidden" by Laura Griffin is the perfect book for you if you're a big fan of true crime. This book felt like true crime packaged up in a fiction book for me... and I loved it! Bailey and Jacob, an investigative journalist and lead detective, team up to uncover what actually happened on that suspicious hit-and-run accident that left a woman dead. Who was this woman? Was this actually a hit and run? Oh, and we get a little romantic spin in there (just in case the story was making you feel bored). Definitely recommend picking this one up if you're a fan of true crime, suspense, and just a lil bit of romance!

Here's my analogy to explain my ratings. Besides being a reader, I'm a cook. Sometimes, I cook a fabulous meal that is wonderful from start to finish. It was so good I hated it when I was full and had to stop eating. When I was finished, I wanted more meals like it. Then, most times, I cook great/average meals......they are interesting, filling, and you are glad you didn't miss it. Finally, sometimes I cook meals that are okay, filled me up but I wish the meal had been better.

Laura Griffin is one of my favorite authors. Most of her books fit that fabulous meal description. This book was like a great/average meal. The story was interesting. The story "filled" my need for a good mystery/romance story and I'm very glad I read it. (3.5 stars)

The story starts off with a murder! A reporter, Bailey Rhoads, happens to get wind of this murder before other medias find out. She meets Jacob Merritt, Detective, while he is working on the case. Bailey develops a rapport with him and finds out some good information for her news article. She finds out the murder victim was under witness protection.

I wish the author would have expanded the characters of Bailey and Merritt. I like them and I liked their story line but they could have been developed more. I love longer stories because they usually have more details.

Thank you to the author and Penguin Random House for sending an ARC.

This was a super quick mystery/ thriller that I felt like didn’t totally resolve everything st the end. An investigative crime journalist teams up with a detective to help out a compromised witness in a criminal case. Parts/ relationships at times seemed forced and there were almost too many story lines going at once. I enjoyed how quick it was though!

Why did I wait to pick up this book? I've had it as an ARC for a very long time now, but after finding it on Libby, I gave it a shot and LOVED it! Following both the detective and crime reporter, a brutal murder is investigated, with a race to find the killer, but so much more is discovered. I loved both our main characters and really enjoyed all of the pieces they discovered as they uncovered who killed the runner. With little to no eye rolls, this book kept me interested and guessing the whole time.

This was my first "romantic suspense" novel and I LOVED IT. I am SO here for those genre crossovers. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way!

Do you like a dual genre book? What is your favourite?

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<p>I really liked the book Flight by Laura Griffin (<a href="http://www.gotfiction.com/flight-by-laura-griffin/">you can read my review here</a>), and when I found out that it was the second in a series, I immediately picked up the first book. Hidden is about a journalist named Bailey who spends her whole day hustling to find that next big story to avoid layoffs at the paper she works for. When a murder in her area is assigned to her, Bailey hunts down every lead, talks to every witness, and even starts trying to get information out of the lead detective. But soon the story becomes more than a woman being killed on her morning run.</p>
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<p>Detective Jacob Meritt knows of Bailey by reputation. She's tough and she doesn't let go of a story. She's decided she wants information from him, and he knows she won't stop. But her tenacity is just one of the things that attracts him to her, even as much as it drives him crazy. As the case progresses, he worries for her safety. The two of them butt heads on the case</p>
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<p>But she wants to solve the case. The case has become so much more than a story to her. What started out as a story she was hoping would hit the front page, became a deep dive into tech companies, ethics, and murder. What Bailey doesn't take seriously is that she might be on the killer's radar. Jacob goes from trying to stay away from her, trying to keep his case and Bailey's story separate, but realizing she's just put herself in the crosshairs of a killer, or killers. He wants to protect her as much as he wants to push her away. </p>
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<p>When the FBI takes the case from him, Bailey is able to connect some things he doesn't see. The two of them are great together and when things heat up, both in the bedroom and with the case, Jacob doesn't want to leave Bailey alone. The two of them have to learn to trust each other and to work together not against each other. </p>
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<p>The two of them are great together and I love how they are when they are working together. I did kind of get annoyed at Jacob fighting his attraction as long as he did. It felt like he was leading Bailey on for a bit. But the mystery and the writing are good enough it didn't bug me too much. I wish they had worked together sooner. I like this author's style and voice, so I've already bought a couple more of her books. </p>
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<p>Laura Griffin writes well-plotted and well-written thrillers with plenty of romance and exciting moments. I really am enjoying the Texas Murder Files series and look forward to the next book.</p>
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<p>***ARC courtesy of Berkley Publishing via Netgalley</p>
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This was a sold 3 star read. It was good, but nothing mind blowing.

I enjoyed the mystery and crime solving aspects of the case, but I did not care for the romance storyline. It felt very out of place and thrown in. As if it was an after thought. Which just made it unbelievable and awkward.

There was some opportunity for improvement when it came to building the characters. At times they felt quite flat which made it hard to connect with them. I also found myself waiting for those “wow” moments that would keep me hooked, but they didn’t come till about 70% in.

I told someone “it’s a bit of a boring murder I’m trying to solve,” which felt weird to say but that about sums it up.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This is not one of Laura Griffin's best works. The characters were flat and the action was forced. It was a very quick read, but I wanted more.

WHY DID I LISTEN TO HIDDEN BY LAURA GRIFFIN?
Hidden by Laura Griffin is a romantic thriller, so that appealed to me as I like both romance and thrillers. Also, I like checking out genres that I am not very well versed in. Upon seeing this on Hoopla, I just knew I had to listen to the audiobook. It meant I would be able to get to and through the book that much faster. Plus, this seemed like a good summer kind of listen – what with opening with a murder and all.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
Laura Griffin’s Hidden stars Bailey and Jacob. Bailey is an investigative journalist and Jacob is a detective. When a young woman is murdered on a local jogging trail, Bailey writes an article about it. She attempts to get more information out of Jacob, but he’s quite mum. Anyways, the two interact more and more and there’s definitely attraction there that blossoms into more. Oh, and it turns out the young woman who was killed has some secrets of her own. Things are about to get complex and we’re about to discover some shady dealings under the veneer of respectability.

WHAT DID I THINK OF HIDDEN?
Well, it turns out I was not hugely invested in Hidden. I just didn’t really care all that much. Which is fine, not every book is going to be a banger. This book is a great beach read though. It kept me reasonably entertained during the time I was reading it. Just, when I wasn’t actively reading it my mind didn’t think about it all that much. It’s not like the chemistry between Bailey and Jacob leapt off the pages or anything. Plus, I did find myself getting a little bit confused on the different characters. Even now, a few weeks after listening to the audiobook, I am struggling a little bit to remember details.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Hidden is narrated by Teri Clark Linden. It is 9 hours and 16 minutes long. I listened via Hoopla (gotta love libraries!). Honestly, I did listen to this one sped up a little and it worked really well at a slightly sped up speed. Linden is a decent narrator. This was my first time listening to her and I definitely would pick up another audiobook narrated by Linden.

I love all of Laura Griffin's books and this was no exception. Romantic suspense at its best. Bailey is a reporter using her investigative skills to help solve the murder of a girl on a bike trail. The police detective on the case is not only frustrating to work with but also an interest on a personal level for Bailey.

I have never read a Laura Griffin book, but I’ve been told to read her Tracers series, which I will do ASAP because I enjoyed Hidden so much. I’m so picky about my romantic suspenses. I’m a huge fan of Julie James’s romantic suspenses and always find myself comparing my books to the suspense, romance, and banter in Julie’s books.

This book gripped me from the start and I loved it almost as much as a JJ book😂! I loved the romance element in the book but I do like how it didn’t overshadow the overall suspense/murder plot of the book.

I will definitely be picking up the second in this series. I can’t believe I put this book off for so long!

A banging start to what seems to be a promising detective series. It was fairly fast paced and kept me entertained. I would have liked to see a tad more gore and less romance but that’s more of a personal taste. Overall I’m excited to see where this series goes and will be picking up her next one.

When a young woman is found murdered, a detective and a young reporter both start investigating , but things are more than they initially seem

✔️ really enjoyed this story. It keeps me on my toes, and definitely kept me wanting to read to find out what was going on
✔️ the data security aspects of the story were quite interesting
✔️ I enjoyed the chemistry and budding romance between Bailey and Jacob

This is my first book to read by Laura Griffin but definitely won't be the last. This book was extremely entertaining and had so many great suspense moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. I also really enjoyed the characters and felt like they were extremely relatable which made me want to continue reading this one.

As a longtime fan of Laura Griffin’s Tracers series, I was happy to see that she’s branching out with The Texas Murder Files. The first book, Hidden, follows investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads and Detective Jacob Merritt as they try to solve the murder of a young woman on a popular jogging path. They soon realize this probably isn’t a crime of opportunity but something far more sinister.

The FBI wants Jacob and his partner off the case. Jacob wants Bailey to back away from it. Both persevere because there’s another woman somewhere who’s connected to the victim, and her life may be in danger. They are determined to find and warn her. For Jacob, there’s also a need to hold accountable the person who murdered a woman in his city.

Along the way, Bailey stumbles across a new form of technology that has potentially disastrous ramifications for personal privacy. It’s particularly dangerous for anyone who has a good reason to hide. Bailey resolves to find out how it’s connected to the murder and whether it can help locate the woman she believes is the killer’s intended second victim.

This review originally appeared on The Romance Dish: https://www.theromancedish.com/2020/08/review-hidden.html

The premise is timely and intriguing, and I liked the ways Bailey and Jacob pursue the case from their different angles. They’re easy to root for, especially when they’re trying to save someone they believe is in danger and doesn’t know it. I particularly enjoyed seeing Bailey pursue leads that didn’t occur to Jacob.

The supporting characters were also very likable. Bailey has friends at the newspaper and is close to her sister’s family. She also is on not-quite-friends terms with a skip tracer who becomes important later in the book. He doesn’t have many scenes, but his personality comes across immediately. Jacob’s partner is equally determined to see justice delivered for their victim. She and Jacob function well as buddies with no hint of any desire for more on either one of their parts.

There are also scenes involving the woman Bailey and Jacob are seeking. She’s likable, smart, and brave, and the ultimate solution to her problem felt like a great one.

Bailey’s source for the tech issue is also likable but not always understandable. He initially refuses to help her beyond a basic level, then agrees to do so, then helps her still more. All that’s fine, but even after warning her there’s someone at his company, where surveillance is ubiquitous, with an axe to grind over this tech, he takes no precautions. That felt like a stretch.

Although the romance between Jacob and Bailey was satisfying overall, it didn’t entirely work for me. They’re both dedicated, hot, and likable, but I was never sure what either of them saw in the other. Why this person instead of some other dedicated, hot, likable individual? Jacob knew dating a reporter could be a problem with his fellow cops, Bailey withheld information because of his job, and he wasn’t entirely honest with her because he wanted her to back off of the story. Yet they kept coming back to each other. I would’ve liked more insight as to why.

Issues like these and some others make the book feel less polished than it might have. It’s just not quite as solid as other books of Griffin’s I’ve read. I did enjoy it, though, and I do recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is the first book in “The Texas Murder Files,” and is another winner for Laura Griffin. The story is a fast-based thriller about a killer who is loose in Austin. It includes a lot of action, intrigue and romance with loving sex.

Bailey Rhoads is an investigative reporter who just happens to be on the scene of a murder before she realizes what is going on. Jacob Merritt is the lead detective on that murder case. Bailey and Jacob are working on the same case. This causes a lot of tension between the two as they stubbornly refuse to help each other. In spite of this, Bailey refuses to give up her investigation.

During this action packed page-turner, the author makes an interesting comparison between Jacob, as he follows a legal investigation, and that of Bailey, who, as an investigative reporter, uses no rules at all.

3.5 stars

This grabbed me from the beginning, lost me for a bit in the middle, then revved up again at the end. "Hidden" is a solid mystery with a romantic subplot. The MCs are a police detective and a journalist who start out at odds but end up working together. The romance was slow at first, then moved quickly. It felt a bit too quick, but still believable. I liked how Bailey and Jacob worked together and how their relationship developed. They made a good investigative team, and then romantic couple. The mystery was a little convoluted but it worked and there was plenty of action. "Hidden" is a good start to this new series, The Texas Murder Files.

I really enjoyed this book, and reviewed it as part of a roundtable discussion with another reviewer on All About Romance. You can find that discussion here:

https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/hidden-by-laura-griffin/

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Griffin and Berkley Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised just how quickly I read through this novel and enjoyed it! I didn't want to put it down! It was really nice to have a few different sides of the story and for some reason I really enjoy hearing from the reporters point of view when they are looking into cases. This one got really dark and twisted pretty early on and I loved it! I really enjoyed the main characters and their relationship. I was shocked by the ending and I can't wait to see what comes next from Griffin - especially if it involves these two!

This was a really fun romantic suspense thriller!!! This was so fast paced and even though it did take a bit to get into, once it did, it was hard to put down. I think when it got more intense and took that darker tone, I was really captivated. I really liked watching Bailey try so desperately to solve the case, and I was right there with her and Jacob trying to figure out what was happening! I loved the romance!! The tension was so good!! It felt like it was dripping off my kindle, the amount of tension I felt from these two killed me! I was frustrated at times with Jacob but I really loved his loyalty! Overall this was really good and I’m definitely interested to read from Laura Griffin!

Hidden by Laura Griffin is like a grittier version of the books that I cut my teeth on, it's more than a cozy mystery but not quite gory romantic suspense either. The fact that the book takes place in Texas, where I live, was just the icing on the cake.

I loved the tenacity of Bailey, she put in a lot of footwork on a case that the police were determined not to let her interfere with but she didn't let that stop her. Instead she kept pushing and pushing until she broke through the walls of one Austin Detective, Jacob Merritt.

Of course, no matter how sexy and how much Jacob liked Bailey he was cautious because she was a reporter and didn't know if he could trust her not to run what he tells her in private. But the more she investigate and the more he's compelled to keep her safe. I love the internal struggle that he has where he wants her out of the investigation for her safety, but at the same time knows he can't keep a determined woman down.

The suspense aspect of Hidden, was the best part, the mystery of this who-dun-it of a story was completely unexpected and I never would have guessed who was behind it all, well except later in the story as the author begins to lay it all out.

If you're ready to start a fun new, thrilling romantic suspense series, Hidden is one you want to jump out in front of and start now.