I liked how the "real world" and the selkie mythology both get woven seamlessly together in this novel. It held my interest, though I wanted more closure with the ending (even though I'm sure it was written that way on purpose).

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book early!

This was a 3.5 star book for me.

I really liked the concept, and I liked the different view points in the book. I couldn’t really get attached to any of the characters though - I did love Ruby the most, along with Constance.

I couldn’t get along with Joanne at all, so I found myself skimming through her last few chapters.

Overall a loved the idea, and I’m always up for folklore-like stories, it just didn’t hit me the way it should have.

I do think there will be people who will absolutely adore this book, it just wasn’t my type entirely!

This book was very similar to the first supernatural mystery "Little Darlings" by this author. It weaves in elements of fantasy with realism and attempts to make the events ambiguous, when really there's no question. DS Joanna Harper is back from the first book, investigating the death of a man found barely alive and bleeding out in his bathroom. He remains in a coma, unable to point to his attacker. The more Joanna investigates, the more it looks as if her estranged daughter, Ruby, is involved, along with a young girl who is not her child.

Ruby was raised as Joanna's sister, as Joanna was only 13 when she gave birth. No one seems to think that's ridiculously young and disturbing, which I happen to find disturbing. The father is only briefly referenced as a teenager of indiscernible age, who neither is prosecuted for statutory rape nor made to financially assist the child. Why purposely have her as such a young teenage mother, yet never include realistic elements like the therapy she most definitely would have needed? Sure, their dysfunctional family life is discussed but never in a 'Joanna was victimized' way, just in a 'our family is so weird' way.

Anyway, the story is told from both Joanna and Ruby's points of view, and through Ruby's in the past, we see her developing fascination with the man in the apartment across from her. They soon meet and we discover this is Gregor. Upon visiting his apartment, she meets Constance and Leonie, Gregor's ex-partner and child. According to Gregor, Constance is agoraphobic and mentally unwell. She claims she is Roane, a clan descended from the Selkies. Essentially, they are seals that at certain times can become human and walk on land.

Of course, it's never outright stated this way - Constance only uses words like 'family' and 'my people' even though the full mythology is explained to the reader. Ruby and Gregor never directly realize Constance thinks she's part seal, because otherwise, Ruby wouldn't believe Constance and try to help her get home - where she met Gregor and was abandoned by her 'people' when she didn't come back in time from her night spent on land. That's how Ruby ends up being a suspect in Gregor's attack and discovered by Joanna and her team.

It's a pleasant read, but you have to suspend your disbelief because it's not written as if it's purely fantasy. It's just vague enough that the author seems to believe everything could be explained logically, if you choose to view it as such. There are too many impossible parts, though - maybe that just frustrates me because I'm not a fan of fantasy and like to discover there was a rational explanation all along. Either way, it held my interest and made me want to stick it out to the conclusion, however unbelievable I may have found it.

I loved Little Darlings her last novel! And this one is close behind!
I very much enjoyed reading The Hidden! Writing was on point! And I loved the plot!
Very exciting read! It was quick and filled with suspense!

The Biden is the second Joanna Harper book by Melanie Golding. We have a mysterious blend of myths, urban legends, dark tales. I'm enjoying getting to know Joanna.

Yes! Ms. Golding who wrote deliciously original debut “Little Darlings” : a mystery meets dark fantasy which reminded us of Neil Gaiman and Grimm Brothers’ kind of whirlwind, complex tales returned back with her next book!

We’re introduced to DS Joanna Harper at the first book : investigating a mother’s missing twins’ case: the mother insists her kids have been replaced by fairy changelings.

At this new book, she also investigates a case related with Roane a.k.a selkies: a special cult connected with seal worship which have special ritual to wrap themselves with sealskin coat on each solstice or equinox, dropping them into the sea and swimming until dawn. Aren’t you already as intrigued as like me?

Joanna is summoned to the crime scene at the Christmas Eve, a bath brim full of bloody water as a man lying unconscious inside, suffering from head trauma. This is not suicide attempt! From the angle of the gash on his head, he couldn’t accidentally harm himself. Somebody tried to kill him. They identified him as Gregor Frank.

They also find toys belong to a little child as like the neighbor downstairs mentioned who heard a child and a mother whisper each other a few days ago. But there is no record Gregor has a child and a partner.

Joanna has no idea in the meantime her own daughter Ruby ( she gave birth to her when she was a teenager and she let her mother raise her as her own child and they are raised as sisters) is saving that missing child from the hands of social service by acting like she’s the mother.

When we keep reading the flashbacks we understand that Gregor and Ruby are neighbors and Gregor lives with Constance whom he had one night stand relationship ended with her pregnancy and their ultra smart, nearly three years old kid Leonie also lives with them. But Constance suffers from agoraphobia and delusions. She thinks she’s some kind of sea creature, a member of clan, looking for her sealskin coat.

Good hearted Ruby already left her alcoholic grandmother/ mother’s house because of harsh things she told her. She starts living at the community building, estranged relationship with Joanna, writing letters to her old love Sam who also suffers from trauma, living secluded, lonely life, healing herself with the music she played.

She forms a habit to stalk her neighbor’s yoga seances in the middle of the night when she can not sleep.

One day at the outside, they bump each other and with special classical music interest of yoga man a.k.a Gregor intrigues her. He invites her in his house, introducing Constance and his child. Ruby starts to stop by playing her instrument and hanging out with this weird kind of family trio but as she starts to learn more about their dysfunctional relationship patterns and their secrets, she finds herself in a very dangerous path.

Joanna also deals with the most stressful case she’s ever gotten: she’s trying to track her own daughter as person of interest. Why Ruby acted like Leonie is her own daughter? Why Constance and Leone left the apartment? Who tried to kill Gregor? Will he survive? What are the secrets they both keep from each other?

A delicious combination of myths, urban legends, dark tales and murder mystery. I loved the second book more than the first one. We get closer look to personal life of Joanna Harper. The author’s genuine, realistic approach to the motherhood and emotional conclusion of the story made me cry. I loved it!

It was weird, quirky, original and interestingly riveting, unputdownable !

I’m rounding up 4.5 stars to 5 epic, sealskin, motherhood, complex stars!

I’m looking forward to read more DS Harper books ASAP! They are truly addictive!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

A young girl loses her amount in a shop. In steps Ruby to become the girls new amom.and the story begins. A murder occurs and Ruby's sister is the lead detextive and soon everyone stories and lives are intertwined. An interesting premise that even includes selkies.

Book Review for The Hidden
Full review for this title will be posted at: @cattleboobooks on Instagram!

This book was sent to me by Netgalley on kindle for review. Although it is not my favorite genre, others will be intrigued by the characters. Try it

I absolutely love this book I read it in one day. Realistic characters and a heart pounding plot. I highly recommend this one.