This was an enjoyable, fast paced mystery with interesting and compelling characters. Investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads - dogged, determined, and ambitious works to find her story as a beat crime reporter for the Austin Herald. On the other side of the law, Detective Jacob Merritt lands a case that interests the whole community as a woman is killed in a popular recreation area. The two work together (as much as an investigative reporter and detective can work together) to solve the crime. I'm looking forward to more books in this series and following these two characters! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC.

Fast paced crime story. Addictive read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book starts a brand new series and based off of this one, it’s going to be exciting.

Solving murders is never fun, however, when we have a deliciously hot, dreamy detective on the case it makes for a much better story, don’t you think?

The story skirted around the edge of acceptable relationships due to work relationships when Jacob started looking at Bailey, the news reporter on the crime beat, just a little too closely. She’s smart and spunky, asks forgiveness instead of permission, and clearly has feelings for him as well.

Griffin develops the story beautifully and puts in the perfect amount of tension and heat that builds up to a unexpected twist and a beautifully romantic ending.

Written with unique detail and seemingly futuristic plot, Griffin once again ties us up in an exciting romantic suspense with a crime twist you cannot miss.

A young woman is brutally murdered on a jogging trail. Who is she and why was she killed? As with all of Laura Griffin’s romantic suspenses, the reader is grabbed right at the start by the crime. Once you’re in you’re hooked and there’s no turning back.

Jacob Merritt is a seasoned homicide detective with the Austin PD. Intense and detailed, he has no time nor is he looking for a relationship after the last one didn’t work out. His work is his passion. While investigating the murder of an unidentified young woman he becomes aware of the attractive reporter looking for information for her story. He has always been wary of reporters and she was no exception.

Bailey Rhoads is crime reporter for the local newspaper. When the newspaper is forced to lay off reporters, she has to fight to hang on to her job. Assigned to the murder case, she is determined to get her story by any means but her persistance doesn’t always allow her to see the danger she puts herself in. When Jacob and Bailey cross paths it’s an instant but wary attraction. Separately, they each discover information leading to the identity of the victim but are they sure she is who they think she is? Is there more to her murder than either of them know? Hidden will take the reader into somewhat disturbing territory to find the answers.

HIdden is an interesting insight into the relatively new world of facial recognition and how it has and will affect the future of our society. It will make you wonder who is watching us and why. Laura Griffin is a master of suspense and Hidden is no exception. I’ve read all of her books and enjoyed each one of them in it’s own way but Hidden is the first one that left me with a slight bit of uneasiness and made me think about what the future may hold. Definitely a read you will not soon forget.

If you want competent, smart heroines, then pick up this book. This is the kind of romantic suspense that I absolutely love - filled with thrills and danger and lots of steamy chemistry. Yes, please!

Really good. This could have been a great TV show. Crime reporter stumbles upon a murder where the victim has no background. Who is she and why was she murdered? Reporter reluctantly teams up with the police investigator to solve the mystery. AND there's chemistry between them. If this is a series, I"ll definitely read the next one.

A new series from Laura Griffin and what a great start to it. I love her Tracer series and this new one looks like it is not going to disappoint!!
Bailey is a reporter and will do anything to get her story. Detective Jacob Merritt is not fond of reporters and does not know what to do about Bailey. He soon gives in just a little. Because it seems she has sources that even shock him. Their problem is this case is now being handled by the FBI, and they want him to stay out of it. He wants to know why? He will not give up, and soon even lets Bailey into some things little chemistry he should not. There are hidden things neither of them sees coming. There is so much more to come. A between the reporter and detective. But is it right or wrong? Wait and see.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an early copy which I accepted in exchange for an honest review.

Hidden is a perfectly fine book, but I found myself growing impatient in the middle. I had to force myself to finish. I appreciated the romance between Bailey and Jacob, especially their instant attraction. Their connection was steamy, even if Jacob’s taciturn behavior was quite frustrating at times. The last few chapters did pick up speed, but the investigative elements frequently dragged. Overall, it’s a solid mystery with interesting twists but hard to stick with.

Light on romance, moderate on mystery, a nice paced thriller that has many well rounded characters. Each chapter flowed to the next. Easily a best seller. Appreciate the chance to review it!

This is my first book by Laura Griffin but I was interested because it's set in Texas and that's where I live.

It did not disappoint! Light romance and mystery! This is the first in the new Texas Murder Series so I will be looking for the next book for sure.
I enjoyed all the characters and the way they complimented each other. Already cant wait for the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced copy!

This is another well-paced romantic suspense by Laura Griffin. I was entertained from beginning to end and hope to see a few characters receive their own books in the future.

Hidden keeps you constantly reading to discover journalist Bailey and detective Jacob's endeavors to solve the murder case and to prevent the next one. Laura Griffin intertwined mystery and romance to whet the thirst to not one to stop reading until the plot is concluded.. It was a great read.

I really enjoyed it. My only complaint is it ended so soon. Good characters, romance and suspense. The book was fast paced with the right amount of romance and suspense. Laura Griffin never disappoints me.

Hidden
by Laura Griffin
Berkley Publishing Group
You Like Them
Berkley
Mystery & Thrillers | Romance
Pub Date 25 Aug 2020 | Archive Date 25 Sep 2020

Yes! This is a must-read if you enjoy a light romance and mystery combination. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishers for giving me a chance to read this book. I will recommend it to our patrons when it is released 8/25.
This is the first book in her new series!

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Books for the chance to read Hidden. Pub date 8/25. This was my first Laura Griffin book and it did not disappoint. I stayed up too late reading it because I was too invested!

This book seems to be the first in a series to come. It involves a reporter, Bailey, and a cop, Jacob, who “work together” to solve a recent murder. Jacob can’t give out details about the investigation and Bailey starts doing her own investigative work. This leads them to disturbing discoveries (relevant to real life, too) that help them solve the murder.

I loved the combination of mystery and a love story, that wasn’t too “cheesy.” This was a quick page turning read and I’m glad I read it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

The always captivating Griffin has done it again! Kicking off with a heart-pounding introduction, she gives you a murder mystery you are utterly compelled to reach the ending as soon as you can. It's a great set up for an immediate reread as soon as you finish.

From page one I was captivated and hunkered down for what I knew would be a gripping ride. The combo of reporter and cop is always a clever match up and Hidden provides a fresh yet classic take on the trope.

From the fabulous cover to the wild ride till I reached Hidden's ending.. I loved everything about this book.

~Tanja

When I saw an email from Berkley with an early copy of Hidden, I couldn't jump fast enough to request it. Laura' Griffin is one of my favorite writers. I'm a fan for sure but I wasn't aware she was beginning a new series. Imagine my happiness at learning this fact!

The Texas Murder Files first book is Hidden. It stars a young journalist, Bailey Rhoads and a detective, Jacob Merritt. Usually, this combo doesn't mix well in real life but Laura makes it work in spades in this romantic suspense.

The story begins with a woman jogging in a park and then getting stabbed to death. The problem is that Dana Smith doesn't really exist. She has no friends, no family, and her employer, a doctor who hired her as a nanny, doesn't know anything more about her than what the cops do.

Hidden is an interesting novel with great characterization. I loved Bailey. She was smart, resourceful and stubborn- in a good way. She knew the murder had to have another angle and she was willing to dig and put herself on the line to find it. She wouldn't let go of the story and she wanted to bring justice to the dead woman.

Jacob was the perfect complement to Bailey. He was strong, dedicated and he cared for the victims. Also, he was as stubborn as Bailey in not letting go of the case as she was. He wanted the person responsible for Dana's death behind bars.

Jacob's partner, detective Kendra Porter was very cool too. She was essential to the investigation and when she could've been catty, she wasn't. She piqued my interest and I want to learn more about her.

Lastly, John Colt's character. He was so mysterious about himself which only made me want to know everything about him. I hope this is not the end of John. He deserves his own story.

As a whole, I was pleased with the way Hidden developed. I'm already pumped to read her next work in this series but really any book by Laura Griffin is a winner in my book.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is pretty great. It doesn't reinvent the romantic suspense wheel or anything, but what you see in the blurb is what you get. Terrifying stakes, intriguing murder, sexy romantic connections. I'd rec for all romantic suspense fans.

Full review to be published online in late August.

HIDDEN is the first book in Laura Griffin’s new “Texas Murder Files” series. Griffin is also the author of the “Tracer”, series, one of the better RS series of recent years. I enjoyed following the progress of the homicide detectives and the reporter in finding the facts and story to this murder. Bailey Rhoads is a crime reporter for The Austin Herald. Bailey and her editor are always listening to the police scanner, so she is first on the scene of a female jogger at Lady Bird lake who is found stabbed and left in shallow waters. Homicide detectives, Jacob Merritt and Kendra Porter are on the case. There is no id on the woman and no one is missing this woman. Despite working the Austin crime scene for awhile, this is the first time Bailey has had to interact with Jacob Merritt, who is not forthcoming with information about this victim or the crime scene. However, Bailey is very resourceful in finding facts and figuring out possible motives. Jacob and Kendra id the woman. It turns out she was in the FBI Protected Witness program so the FBI takes over the case but Jacob continues to investigate on his own, with Bailey right there helping.

As soon as a Laura Griffin book is available it goes on my list to read. This is a standalone book, but has a solid plot so you don't miss the series aspect. Bailey is a young reporter who has not become jaded by her job, covering crime is ideal for her. Jacob is a dedicated cop who follows and believes in the rules. When a brutally killed young woman is discovered on a trail in the city Jacob's orderly life collides with Bailey's wide open approach. The technology of today that few of us can totally understand is prominent in this book and incredibly well represented for the benefits and pitfalls is brings.

A very good stand alone suspense with well developed characters.

It was another fast-paced, entertaining, gripping thriller with romantic vibes.

Mostly romantic suspense is not my favorite genre but thankfully this book is more murder mystery and suspense. Of course from the beginning there is undeniable attraction and sizzling chemistry between the characters which I enjoyed because I liked both Bailey and Jacob from the beginning and luckily nothing changed my opinion about them till the end of the book.

This is brand new premise of Laura Griffin’s Texas Murder Files series. Bailey Rhoads is crime reporter and meets with detective Jacob Merritt throughout the investigation of the case belongs to brutally murdered woman at Austin’s lakeside hide and hike and bike trail. She is so adamant to reach the answers about the murder because there are so many holes about the case and nothing adds up: there is no ID found on the corpse and no one is looking for her. But Bailey is not ready to give up so easily. With her helpful sources she finds out the victim was protected witness of FBI and a hitman found her real identity and finished the job for his mysterious bosses.

From this point, the story moves into a darker turn which I enjoyed more. And of course as long as Bailey and Jacob became partners in crime to dig more about the secrets, they eventually got closer. The conclusion of the story was solid and of course love story part, well, you may guess how it goes…

Overall: I enjoyed the author’s way of fast, stick to the point and riveting story telling. Romance parts worked well for me. I’m giving 3.5 stars and rounding them up to 4. I think I should give the author’s previous works a try sooner if I could trim my Mount of TBR before it collapses on me!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this ARC in exchange my honest review.