This is a story about acceptance...accepting who you are, where you come from, and what family really means. It’s also a crime story with some strange and mysterious characters and a fun tale of folklore and legends. It is also about the lengths one will go to for the children they love, whether their own personal children or those young, little people who come into our lives and wiggle their way into our hearts. You know, those kids that call you auntie or uncle even though there is no blood relation.

On the surface, the story follows Joanna Harper, a police detective, who is trying to solve the mystery of how a man found in critical condition in his bathroom is connected to two seemingly unconnected women and a child. Oh yeah, and just to throw a little twist in there, the latter three have gone missing.

The plot evolves through alternating points of view, mainly between Joanna and Ruby, but a few times with the mystery man. What I like about this type of mystery/crime drama is the dueling timelines. Switching from the past to the present allows the reader to learn essential missing pieces needed to try to solve the mystery on our own. It also creates suspense and tension that captures and holds your attention.

Through the alternating POVs, we learn the challenges that Joanna and Ruby face in their lives, why they made the decisions they have made, and their personal reflections, regrets and growth. With the timelines, Golding does a fantastic job of giving just enough to make us think we know what is going on. That Constance is really crazy, but then maybe she isn’t. The present timeline allows the investigation to play out while the past puts the series of events in order.

Without giving away any spoilers, there is so much more to this book than that. Ruby struggles with who she is and family. Constance struggles with the traditions of her people and longs to go home, but can’t. Both are very different, but the similar emotional distress they each face is very similar. This is what forges their bond.

Now throw in the folktales of the Selkie and Roane, which are seals that can take human shape, and you’ll probably be really confused as to how his serious crime investigation can maintain its depth and sophistication with these Gaelic traditions. It’s actually quite impressive. I was fascinated with this touch of the story. And, it was so effortlessly incorporated. The local folk were in quiet acceptance when other characters interacted with them. Especially when it seemed most of the characters thought the tales being told were just words of a crazy person.

At the end of the book, Golding provides an Author’s Note discussing the incorporation of the Folklore in this book, specifically focusing on “The Mermaid Wife” which is quoted several times throughout the book. I’m so glad she decided to include this supplement because I learned a lot about history and the connection to some of the plot elements she used to develop her narrative.

But, this isn’t the only folktale or legend referenced in the book. Golding did her research and clearly appreciates and respects these tales. It makes me want to delve into this genre a little more, and to read more by her to see what other unique topics get incorporated.

The only major criticism I have about the book is the ending. That climatic moment when all the characters are together and someone, especially in a story like this, is going to die, get seriously hurt or dramatically arrested. I will say that what happens to the characters is fitting, but it was so quick that it almost felt a little anticlimactic. It just felt some of the drama and anticipation that was built up getting to that point just fizzled out. I was left wanting just a little more. But, since I am a big stickler about conclusions, I have to give kudos for providing an epilogue.

If you remember from the beginning, I said that there was a child involved in all this. A sweet little toddler. This two year old had some great character development, which is important because it is through her actions that you can and interpret the dynamics of the relationships and interactions of those around her. You can learn so much by watching a young child. They learn very quickly what is expected in their family. It is through this child that Ruby truly begins to reflect on her own life and the estranged relationship she has with her mother and grandparents.

There is nothing more powerful than the love of a child. As a parent, you would do anything for your child. And, sadly, sometimes, the best thing for your child is the hardest decision to make or action to take. This is seen in Joanna, Ruby and Constance. Three very different women who at the core still have the same desire to do what is best.

I really liked this book. There were a few times where the pace slowed down a little bit for me, but thankfully, it would pick back up. I would totally recommend this book if you like crime and mystery and are looking for a fresh take on it. I loved the folklore, the twisted relationships and was slightly frightened by just how easy it really is to use technology in sinister ways.

The Hidden is a novel with a perfect balance of Celtic mytho
Pay and a suspenseful thriller p.
Ruby finds herself caught between a woman’ and a man. One must be lying and to believe the man is lying forces her to believe, at least a little bit, in something she can’t understand. With a child in the middle, both women must do what is necessary to save the child.
Great read. I didn’t want to put it down. Highly recommended for all (even those who typically don’t enjoy any magic or folktales.)

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

This story is a mixture of police procedural, psychological thriller, and Scottish folklore.
I absolutely loved this book. I went into thinking it was a fantasy mermaid tale but was introduced to another mythological type of human sea being instead. I thought that the story was written beautifully, the mystery and details were revealed perfectly, and there was a lot more to the story than I had expected. All the images going through my mind while reading was autumn/winter time, cold seaside towns, grey moody weather, and low key fantastical beings.

I am not a fantasy bitch but magical realism I can get behind. Is this magical realism? Nonetheless I’m a sucker for dark fairytales so this one fits the bill for me.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. When I first read the synopsis I honestly had no idea it was a folklore type story. It is a mystery/thriller also. That is what attracted me. It is also my first by this author. It won't be my last.

From the Author's Note:
Folktales live all around us. If you look hard enough, you can find one in the bones of every story, every bit of gossip, every film you watch, every book you read. The seed of this book sprouted when I read a folktale about a selkie, but the story may well have been waiting there in my mind all along, ready for me to water it so that it could grow into the novel you have just read.

What a novel it is too. This book is actually quite beautiful. Filled with a lot of emotion. A lot of fears and some laughter too. It's a story that will have you turning the pages to find out what happens next. You won't see some things coming until they actually happen. It held my attention all the way. When I picked it up I had a hard time putting it back down. The way the lives of the main characters play out is something that will keep you asking questions. Even after the book ends you will wonder... Could that have really happened. Are there really such things as selkies? Just who is Constance and where did she really come from. Or go too.

This book was a pleasure to read. Even the parts that had me on the edge holding my breath. It was worth it. My heart felt for Ruby. For Leonie. For Constance. And for Joanna. At first I even liked Gregor. That was short lived though. This story has some mixed up characters and some very disturbed ones. It's about a serial killer and about a tale you may or may not believe. I'd like to think it could be true. The folktale that is. It is told from a few POVs so you get the whole story. A lot of action going on. A lot of mind boggling too. So good.

Thank you #NetGalley, #MelanieGolding, #CrookedLaneBooks for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

5/5 big stars and a very high recommendation. Read, enjoy, have tissues handy for parts.

It took me a while to get into the story. Luckily the main characters are few and once I made the connection The Hidden took off big time.
We're dealing with a psychopath, a musician, a selkie and a small child. A strange bunch traveling the realms of murder mystery and folklore.
Picking up speed along the way and keeping it until the end, this is a fascinating read. Luring me into the wondrous world of make belief whilst enjoying a good mystery with believable family dynamics.
Great dialogue, well crafted characters, set in a realistic landscape.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

I wrong a review and was kicked off for not finishing fast enough, this book is great.
They're some slow moments. Hang in there.
The book has an excellent completion

A little girl is found abandoned by the seaside. A man is found badly injured in a bathtub. Two seemingly unrelated crimes. But when DS Joanna Harper begins to investigate, she quickly realises that the two crimes may be linked. Not only that, but the mother who appeared to claim the abandoned child is someone Joanna recognises - it's her estranged daughter, Ruby....

I loved the original slant on a traditional crime thriller in "The Hidden", and the introduction of the selkie myth as the novel progresses lends it an element of the supernatural while lending equal weight to the more rational explanations, therefore pleasing both those readers who enjoy magical realism, and those who want their thrillers rooted in reality - a clever and deftly executed compromise.

Ruby's backstory is well-told, and her relationships with Constance and Gregor gradually unravelled in a way that is both intriguing and gripping, and I also loved the well-realised relationships and twisted family dynamics within the Harper family. This is a novel I enjoyed from the outset, and which drew me further and further in the more I read. It's beautifully written, the characters are interesting and three dimensional, and the extra plot elements - the Harper family discord, Constance's insistence that she is a selkie - lifted what could have been a great but typical thriller into something greater and more memorable. I loved this novel and will be thinking about it for a long time,

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher, who granted me a free ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

In the seaside town of Cleethorpes, the police are called when a little girl is found seemingly abandoned outside a shop, when her mother does show up, Police accept this was an unfortunate accident and send the pair on their way. Meanwhile, in the city of Sheffield, DS Jo Harper is called to investigate a man found unconscious in his bath, but was this an accident or an attempted murder?
As the investigation begins, Jo finds evidence linking to a woman and child who have yet to be found, could these two incidents be related?
I loved in particular the characters of Jo & Ruby, and the way their stories progressed. We, the reader see the light and dark in the characters and how their experience has shaped them.
Every page of this book kept me intrigued, it really had so many layers and genres - it was a mystery, it was a folklore tale, it was a drama and a thriller! The Hidden takes us on a journey exploring all these elements, it makes it a real page turner, and thoroughly enjoyable to read!
Melanie Golding does a fantastic job of telling this modern story, which has such a heavy Celtic mythology theme to it - I aspect of is a real skill to combine the two in such a way that the novel is fresh and new, with such beautiful imagery and allegory.

Thank you Crooked Lane Books & NetGalley for the e-book of The Hidden, I've truly enjoyed this so much, I cannot wait to see what Melanie writes next.

Melanie Golding has done it again, with another complex story full of mystery, horror, and fantasy! I love the way Golding blends folklore into her stories in an intriguing and realistic way. It really makes her books stand out in the flood of thrillers on the market.
My only complaint is that I wish we had gotten a few more chapters from Constance's POV with more of her background. But, overall this was a 4.5 star read and one I highly recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story!. It really intrigued me and I read and kept on reading.till suddenly the book.was finished! . Just like that!!. I don't want to give much away so I think whoever reads this story will love it as much as I did! It's a great detective story and great characters that have you rooting for their cause!!. So.well written. It's been a while since I read a book that I couldn't put down and thought about when I couldn't readit!!. It threw up a lot of thoughts about it.
Thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC book for an honest review.

A unique blend of Celtic folklore, thrills and chills, with a bit of mystery. Unfortunately I DNF this novel, despite my really wanting to finish it, as I dislike DNF a novel. I may try again at a later point in time to read this novel.

Having said that, I heard amazing reviews for this novel so please do give it a try for yourself.

Simply Captivating!

Is this a page-turning mystery? Is this a thriller? Does this novel contain the eerie echoes of enchanting seaside folktales of ancient lore? The answers are YES, YES, and most definitely YES!!!

I'm not usually one to abuse the exclamation mark, but, it was entirely unavoidable when writing my review for this book.

Melanie Golding weaves a story that is a gripping dissection of hard choices told with complex characters and descriptions so vivid you can almost smell the salty sea and hear the coastal winds whistle past your ears!

I'd like to thank the author, NetGalley, and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Hidden for an honest review.

A freaking 770 pages! A sizeable victory for me as I barely possess the patience to read a lengthy novel. But honestly, I never even felt the burden of it from the first page as it was so engaging. The very initial page & episode usually help us understand how it's gonna pan out for the rest of the novel. A blend of lore & mystery was the first one for me & the writer set it superbly.

We usually hear tales of our ancestors that's come down for ages, but mixing it into such a magnificent book is no mean feat. Plus, it revolves around seals which had me further involved. (Tell me, how can information on shape-shifters not get anyone's notice.) I haven't read the author's first fiction & after seeing this one, I can't wait to land my hands on it.

The novel is composed of multiple POVs meeting different timelines. In some areas, I observed I was getting a tiny bit lost analyzing the timelines beside the POVs, but later, the overall narrative got all together. After I completed the account, it got me to ponder, what if all those stories are very true & how I would respond to it if I had to endure it sometime.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Author Melanie Golding & Publisher Crooked Lane Books for the e-ARC of the novel. I am giving my review voluntarily in exchange for a complimentary copy.

The Hidden - Melanie Golding
Ruby feels such a disconnect from her family that she just wants to shut them out. So she turns off her phone, ignores her meds, and stays awake throughout the night watching her neighbor do yoga through his window.
During a chance meeting with said neighbor, she discovers a strong connection to Gregor but knowing his situation is complicated with a daughter and baby mom at home, Ruby keeps Gregor at an arm's length.
Jo responds to a call where they find a man brutally injured in his bathtub, unsure if he was going to make it. During the investigation, they discover a child may have lived in the apartment with Gregor but currently is no sign of the child. The case becomes an attempted murder investigation with a possible kidnapping. As Jo gets further into the investigation, she is faced with evidence that makes this case a bit more personal, photos of Ruby. The big question is what kind of trouble did Ruby get herself into and how does Jo find her and help her.
This book was a shock to me. I'll be honest, I didn't read too much into it before hand and thought I was diving into a stereotypical thriller. I was wrong. I think the best category put this into is Folklore Suspense (thank you Amazon). While it had major thriller elements it touched on Seal Folklore or Selkies. For those who aren't so much into Folklore (I'm not), don't let that keep you away. The character development of Ruby was astounding. It captures how parenthood has the ability to bring out the best and worst in people, and thankfully, Ruby went with the best. She stood up for what was right and learned to love where she came from. As far as an antagonist goes, Gregor's story was far from typical and I enjoyed his transition from friendly neighbor to something so much more unexpected.
This book deserves an amazing ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you so much Netgalley for the ARC!!

I made it to 75% and then skimmed the rest so I'm counting it. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book at all. It's disappointing because I loved the author's first book Little Darlings. I'm not a huge fan of fantasy and the selkie element was off putting but thankfully that story line wasn't the focus of the story. The main plot point was the disappearance of a small child and the police investigation that follows, something I usually love. However, this was... boring. The characters were all one dimensional and the whole story was too unrealistic.

**Thank to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy.

3.5 stars--somewhere between liked and really liked.

This book has one of my most-hated character tropes, but I didn't really care because of the rip-roaring, fast-paced plot. Like Golding's previous novel, Little Darlings, this book mixes the pain and joy of motherhood with the (maybe?) supernatural. I really enjoyed the fairy tale elements, and I think Golding is one to watch.

I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!

A thriller mixed with Celtic mythology, it was refreshing. A child disappears, and then a child appearing alone and a mysterious woman saying she's her mother.

. It was easy to read with a lot of good plot twist that wasn't always predictable. The characters were interesting and fleshed out, their connections was slowly made.
My favorite thing is that it got darker in way you wouldn't expect, in the beginning the characters are odd, a more than suspicious woman, a man left for dead and the folklore comes in with selkies, everything got darker and it was the moment it picked up for me.
It's not the classical thriller police story and all loose thread will eventually come together for a much darker story than you would think

My word, what a kaleidoscope of a book! The suspense and thrilleriness practically caused me to gnaw on my tongue. It was impossible to put down which meant a late dinner but who needs dinner at a time like this?! From the Selkie folklore to the multiple timelines and multiple perspectives to the plethora of deceptions and secrets to the relationships, the author has written ingeniously. To my mind this sort of originality would be tough to master but it reads like perfection, no hiccups. This book is about choices and their terrible cost, consequences, retaliation and redemption.

Little Leonie is deserted in a seaside town in front of shops. She wanders into one and police are called. A woman shows up, claiming to be her mother. But why leave her for a matter of minutes? Ruby's appearance causes more questions. After a man's body is discovered the twists start looping like crazy. Constance has a strong Selkie connection which adds slices of mystery and legend. I love how the water plays a big role. DS Joanna Harper is on the case like glue and makes discoveries about secrets galore as well as grows to know her own self and past. The plots and subplots are knit together beautifully. The writing is gorgeous and the evocative atmosphere made me feel I was there. And the tension! I got so lost in it. The chapter headings are terribly fascinating and add to the mystique. The story was solid right through to the ending.

If something original and unusual is what you seek, it would be a shame to miss this one. It's so...indefinable but clever and wonderful enough to keep me engrossed and absorbed. What a discovery.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the privilege of reading one of the most startling thrillers I've read for awhile!

A little touch of mystery, a little sprinkling of thriller, tossed in with Celtic folklore and supernatural horror … oh yes please.

This novel is just the thing to transition you from the spooks of Halloween to the being grateful (you aren’t anywhere near Selkies) for the Thanksgiving season.

This was a 4 out of 5 stars read for me. Just enough of all the good stuff with a storyline that moves right along. I didn’t personally “like” any of the characters or their destructive choices, however, isn’t that what makes a book worth reading?

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and author for the electronic ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

The story follows Ruby, a violinist with a tragic past who is caught up in a game of lies, spying and conspiracy.
She is also Mamma Bee to Leonie, who is loved by her mother yet abandoned.
Constance, Leonie’s mother snatched from her own soil and trapped by Gregor Franks. Constance, who continuously pines for her “sealskin”, which makes Ruby increasingly suspicious of her sanity.
Gregor, the charming neighbour Ruby spies on from her window, the one who mesmerizes her so much she agrees to be a part of their lives without knowing what she is bargaining for.
Then there's Joanna, Ruby’s near one and a cop, who gets entangled in her race against time to save Ruby. Ruby, who is more than what she has hidden from everyone.
Weaved into the storyline is selkie folklore(mythology of “seal folk” who can transform into humans), which is the most intriguing addition to a thriller!
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