The Hiding Place by Helen Phifer is the 3rd in the Detective Morgan Brookes series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Information: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Morgan Brookes has always dreamed of being a detective. As a rookie officer, she finds the body of a woman, and is catapulted into the Crime Investigation Department under the direction of DS Ben Matthews, where she will work with him, Amy and Des.  After losing her mother, she finally got to know her dad, but Stan is now dead.  Meanwhile, she has learned that her biological father is a rapist and a killer, and is now in jail.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When 9 year old Charlotte (Charlie) Standish goes missing, the hunt is on.  Her mother, assuming that Charlie's dad was going to pick her up,  left her alone while she went and partied with a friend.  She didn't notice her daughter was missing until the next day.

While Morgan is checking out Charlie's school, she learns of another girl that disappeared 15 years ago, but everyone assumed she ran off after her boyfriend, and the investigation was dropped.  Even though there are very few similarities in the cases, Morgan can't let Eleanor's disappearance go.

When Charlie's body is found, the team barely has time to grieve, as another young girl is missing.  10 year old Macy Wallace went to the corner store while her mom was at work, and hasn't been seen since.

Meanwhile, Morgan is getting a lot of romantic interest from a journalist,  but her feelings for Ben seem to be getting in the way.


My Opinions:   
First, I love this author.  However, I get so annoyed when an author has a female lead drink a lot or  fall for some guy who you know is too smooth right from the get-go.  It lowers the integrity of the character, and I was really disappointed with Helen Phifer for doing both of these things, and that is the only reason this is not a 5 star read.

The plot was great, and the action non-stop.  As always, the short chapters and the speed of the events make it a really fast read.  I really like the characters, and they all seems to stand up for the others, although there was a little dissention at one point.

The end had a bit of a cliff-hanger that allows us to be prepared for the next book....which I'm looking forward to reading!

Another good addition to this excellent series.
A gripping and entertaining story that kept me on the edge.
I love Morgan as she's brave and strong willed even if she's a bit reckless at times. The cast of characters is well thought and interesting as usual.
The plot flows, is full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I just love the Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer as I find it so intriguing and original and whenever a new book is released I never think twice to download a copy.

With barely enough time for her to recover from a horrific ordeal, Morgan finds herself in the middle of another intense investigation. A little girl disappears without trace from the street in which she lives with her mother. Charlie is often seen wandering the street and playing on her own. What happened to her? Where did she go? Did she escape from home for some reason? Or has someone snatched the little girl? Her mother and father don't seem exactly the best of parents. Does one of them have anything to do with Charlie's disappearance?

When the girl's body is found and another girl goes missing immediately after from the same street, Ben and Morgan and the whole team are sent on a frenetic search for the missing girl in every nook and cranny of the houses on the street and on a hunt for a sick minded killer who has a predilection for young girls. Will they succeed in saving the second girl on time? Will they find the killer who's obviously hiding in plain sight?

Like the previous two books in the series, I found myself immersed in the story from the get-go. The plot is intriguing and fast-paced and almost all investigation is conducted on the street where the girls have been abducted. We have numerous suspects in this book making this a very interesting read and the author cleverly leads us from suspecting one individual to the next as Morgan goes in search for the girl in the different neighbouring houses. The author's writing is exquisite and engaging as usual. The characters are all life-like and the dialogue realistic. I recommend reading the books in this series in the correct order, because we have some references to previous cases in this book.

Morgan is a fantastic character. She's a great police officer, strong-headed and courageous and I just love her, but at the end of the day she's just a young woman with feelings that unfortunately sometimes lead her to take the wrong decisions. Ben is as sweet as ever in this book. Tough on the outside but mushy on the inside. I love the growing bond existing between him and Morgan and I can't wait to find out what the author has planned for them (and us) on that front.

This is a fantastic addition to the addictive series and I highly recommend it. With thanks to Bookouture for approving my request to read an ARC of this book through Netgalley. Roll on book 4!

The Hiding Place is the third instalment in the Detective Morgan Brookes series set in the small town of Rydal Falls, Cumbria. Nine-year-old Charlotte ”Charlie” Standish has just gotten home from school and is waiting to go to her father’s house for the night. Her mother is off to her friend Julie’s with a wine bottle in hand as Charlie awaits her father’s truck pulling up. But while stroking the ginger cat from down the street gets scratched and it ends up bleeding. A man offers to help her clean it up as her mother isn't home, so she follows him into the run-down house with the cracked window; the one the local school children spread rumours about being haunted. Detective Constable Brookes and her superior Detective Sergeant Ben Matthews are attending Carleton Hall in Penrith to receive their commendations for catching Taylor Marks. All of the fuss is not really Morgan’s scene so she is relieved when they are called in to investigate Charlie’s disappearance after her hysterical mother, Amanda, reports her missing. It took her until the following morning to make the report as she didn't realise she wasn't with her father, as arranged, until her school rang to inform her that Charlie wasn't present. The police believe it to be a possible abduction and most likely perpetrated by someone she knew. Cloisters Road, where she lived, was packed with police vehicles and a search of her neighbourhood was underway starting on her street and working outwards. There is also a focus on the sex offenders in the area. When Morgan visits Charlie's school she's shocked to learn that another young girl, Eleanor Fleming, disappeared fifteen years ago aged fifteen and was never found.

Unbelievably, she had also lived on the exact same street as Charlie, so Morgan decides to visit her family on the way back to the station. Morgan’s colleagues write it off as a coincidence but she believes the cases are too similar to be unrelated. It isn't long before a body identified as Charlie’s is discovered at Piggy Lane park, a few miles from her home, under an oak tree with a serious head injury. Before they get a start on finding the killer, ten-year-old Macy Wallace goes missing also from the same street. By this point, the small town is in the midst of an unprecedented panic and every moment that passes without finding Macy, the higher the chance of a tragic outcome. Can the team identify the perpetrator before they lose another innocent child? This is a compulsive and enthralling thriller that moves at a rapid-fire pace and has some genuinely unpredictable twists and turns. It is told primarily from Morgan’s perspective but other points of view feature too, giving a fully rounded reading experience. Both the investigation and Morgan’s troublesome personal life are interesting plot threads and it is clear she problems letting people in emotionally due to her past. The increasingly ever-present feelings between Morgan and Ben continue but there's a new guy on the scene, journalist Fin Palmer, who seems too good to be true right from the off. There is plenty of drama, tension and suspense throughout as the police use all of their resources to locate Macy and the killer but the clues are few and far between. This is a riveting read and a must for fans of realistic, true-to-life procedurals and likeable, believable characters. Highly recommended.

I just began this series so I need to catch up with the first two books. It can be read as a stand alone, but there’s important back story for the main characters that aren’t explained without reading the fist two books, or that’s my supposition. One thing I like is to compare British police procedures with how American police operate. It’s a good mystery replete with a sicko who is right underneath everyone’s noses and little girls go missing. I zeroed in on who it was early on, but the author likes to muddy the waters a bit to keep readers guessing. I felt sorry for the one who was the decoy since that character gets harassed quite a bit by the authorities. I’m up to 10 separate series now featuring lead female police officers.

Another great book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series.
A child goes missing and Morgan and Ben pull out all the stops to try and find her. She’s then discovered dead by a dog walker, and they both feel devastated that a young life has been taken.
Just as they’re coming to terms with this, another young girl is taken so they are determined to find her alive this time.
Morgan is asked out by a newcomer and whilst her and Ben are just friends, he’s worried about Morgan as he seems too good to be true.
I love this series as true to form, Morgan attracts trouble and ends up in a life threatening situation again.
This is a great crime thriller and a great series that I would highly recommend.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this arc. I have not read the first two books in the series (and other reviews say this book was not as good). I will go back and read the previous books because now I am interested in the backstories. The premise was great but I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Maybe it was because it felt like a lot about personal relationships (maybe because I didn't really care about that) and less about solving the crimes. I did like Macy, though, and thought she was the best character.

Even with the bar set high she never fails to delivery! Helen Phifer is a marvel!

I have had the privilege of reading all the books in the Morgan Brookes series and everyone is just as good as the last which highlights the amazing talent of Helen as an author.

I've been invested in these characters since book one and that bond is still going strong!

A faced past rush crime thriller that will have you hooked in your quest to find the suspect.

Always leaves me wanting more can't wait to see the follow up in book four!! Please Helen can we have some more?

My worst nightmare come to life. Missing children stories haunt me so. This was no exception, a dark twisty story that grabs you in and doesn’t let go. It preys on your darkest fears and you simply can’t put it down. The characters were wonderfully created and the story line was amazing. Twists and turns and angles that keep you guessing till the very end. Horrifying and a must read

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Hiding Place’, the third in the Detective Morgan Brookes series written by Helen Phifer, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Nine-year-old Charlie Standish has gone missing and while Detective Morgan Brookes and Detective Sergeant Ben Matthews are searching for her, Macy Williams aged ten also disappears from the same road. Morgan learns about Eleanor Fleming who disappeared fifteen years ago and although she was older than Charlie and Macy, Morgan doesn’t believe in coincidences and feels there’s a connection. She decides to carry out her own investigation and makes it her mission to find out what happened to Eleanor.

‘The Hiding Place’ is another exciting police thriller based in the Lake District with Morgan Brookes, the department’s newest recruit, who has a sixth sense that she acts upon with no regard to her own safety. As with the previous two books in the series, Morgan is working with Ben Matthews who she has feelings for, but they’re both determined to continue as friends while they find the person who’s taken the girls and if possible return them to their mothers. This is an action-packed thriller that’s had me gripped from page one and although I’d guessed half-way through who’d taken the girls I still enjoyed seeing Morgan in action pursuing leads and putting herself at risk. This is an enjoyable novel with suspense, drama and twists and turns, that I’ve found easy to read and am happy to recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This is the third book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series, he could easily be read as a standalone book. I really like this character, I love the way the author is developing her and showing us her story piece by piece. In this book Detective Morgan Brookes is put on the case of a missing nine-year-old girl named Charlie, in a small community. Morgan and her team hope they will be able to find the girl and quickly solve this case but when Charlie’s battered body shows up not long later and they are devastated. Even worse is within very little time another little girl, Macy goes missing. Morgan and the other detectives are working overtime to try to solve this crime and find Macy alive before they find her body.

It was a nailbiting thriller, I stayed up late finishing this book because I had to know if Morgan could find Macy, before her abductor finds her as Morgan may be getting too close to the case. I love the dynamic between Morgan and her boss/coworker Ben Matthews, I cannot wait to see where their story between them goes in the future. The ending of this book was a hint at further box to come, and it left me wanting more. Great series!

Fast paced, easy to read. I enjoyed this book but seriously...how many times can one officer be the receiving end of a vendetta from criminals. It takes some credibility away from the story.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I believe that this is my first time reading this author. This is part of a series, and I know I have not read any of the others. This reads well as a stand alone-there are some gaps but easily overlooked. Detective Constable Morgan Brookes and her Sergeant Ben Matthew get a new case in this small town. This is a good mystery. with some suspense and a hint of romance. It was enjoyable, and I liked the main characters. 4 stars I think most mystery readers would enjoy.

Detective Morgan Brookes is called in to hunt for a missing girl. Charlotte “Charlie” Standish who was left alone at home, by her mother, to wait for her father. He didn’t and now she is missing. When another young girl goes missing, the town of Rydal Falls is in a panic. Before Morgan and her partner, Detective Ben Matthews, can get ahead of the investigation, Charlie’s body is found. Who would commit such a crime in their small town? Morgan is determined to find young Macy alive, but is time running out for the little girl? When Morgan is attacked while searching for Macy, will she be able to save Macy…or even herself? I read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed them. I had a more difficult time with this one, not necessarily due to the subject matter but the story didn’t hold my interest as had the other two. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Release date 1st June 2021
Omg I am obsessed with this series. Morgan Brooks book 3 what a great crime mystery series this is.

I honestly cannot believe the bad luck poor detective Morgan Brooks finds herself in not even a year into the job she's had two serial killer's and now a kidnapper. So when two girls in walking distance of one another get kidnapped she finds herself on the haunt for them. She knows they are focusing on the wrong areas and is convinced a case from the late 90s is connected but she is shut down at every opportunity.

Look I love the Morgan Brooks series . If you've not read books one and two do so first it will help make sense to start at the beginjng. Also stop reading this review if you are yet to read book one and two as there may be the old spoiler from the books present.

Morgan's luck is running out again. I still find she's a risk taker and rule breaker but I love her for that even if at points I can't help but laugh because I know realistically that she would of been fired a while ago. I loved that Helen Phifer added a love story element in this book for both Morgan and Ben but which point every loyal reader wants them together so them both having different love interests was an interesting way to go. I found they both played out quite well and let's say I didn't trust Morgan's journalist friend from the moment he introduced himself. Turns our for completely the wrong reasons but it was just as shocking. Ben is obviously dating the neighbour which I found ironically funny, she's so forward but very brave after her help with their last case.

This case was interesting because it was a slightly different m.o than the last two cases and this involved children which is such an emotive topic anyway and Helen Phifer uses this by showing how much child cases affect detectives whilst investigating. It was well done because although we had been introduced to each character in previous books we didn't know much about their individal personalities such as the DCI but this book really highlighted how each one of them handled and deals with cases involving missing children.
I loved that we were given quite a few suspects and strangely I wrote of the suspect quite early on until I circled back round to them. The other difference with this case is that we barely followed the suspect but rather the child being held captive. It was nice change and Macy was one badass kid!

Of course we have the lovely Ben Matthews and the rest of his team in this book like the others. I feel like if Ben was a real person I would find myself swooning just something about his take no prisoner attitude that I just love. I also love to read the blossoming relationship between him and Morgan and I still find myself wondering what was it about her on her first day on the field that made him think she would make a good detective, because it wasn't about him fancying her he saw something others didn't.
However as usual he has to put his boss hat on and step away from the ideas that Morgan's mind comes up with in the briefings undermining the senior officers, he does this knowing how clever her detective skills are. It's fun to watch the dynamic play out. He himself is a very good detective and I would happily let him rescue me 😁

Helen Phifer is very good at intertwining previous books so that big issues unravelled in those don't get forgotten. With Morgan finding out her dad was the Riverside rapist and her brother the copy cat years later I like that this was still mentioned throughout the book.

In summary, this is another homerun as far as I'm concerned. Would I recommend this book? Yes and the rest of the series before hand and any book's to follow. I love the way Helen Phifer writes and I know she is highly recommended by so many other bloggers who enjoy the crime thriller/mystery genre which is why I had the first two books in the series already. The written is done so well and is alluring enough that you want to keep turning the pages. I read book 2 and 3 (this book) in the same day because I just needed to know where the story was going. I do not recommend reading book 3 as a stand alone, you can ofcourse and you would get the gist of everything that has happened previously but believe me you will not appreciate the storyline quiet as much.
The investigation in this book is great and you really find yourself trying to figure out where it's going. I was hooked from the prologue until the very last sentence. Expect the unexpected believe me because something was thrown into the mix that now has me on tenterhooks for book 4 in the series. Helen Phifer is a very clever writer and I would put her in my top five in this category. If you enjoy book's by Lisa Regan, Katerina Diamond Kathryn Casey or Maureen Downey you will love this series!
Easiest 5 stars I've given in a while.


Thank you to Netgalley, bookature publishers and of course the very talented Helen Phifer for the digital advanced copy of the hiding place in exchange for my fair and honest opinions. I cannot wait for book 4!

This was my first read in this series and I was not lost I thought the author did an excellent job giving you background so you understood I liked Morgan and Ben I made the mistake of thinking this was a mystery thriller and the first time I met the killer, child snatcher, I knew. Which tells me I misunderstood the genre. Barring that it was a good read. There is action and you feel the emotions and frustration of Morgan. The author did a great job of putting you in Morgans shoes. Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the arc. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions.

The Hiding Place is Book 3 in the Morgan Brookes series and each book just gets better and better.

I absolutely love this series with Morgan , Ben and team.

This team they all care and put their hearts and souls into solving cases and this case of the missing nine year old Charlie is no exception.

You can feel the tenseness in the small town, smell the fear of the detectives and the residents.

The pages fly by as the team scrambles with yet another missing girl after finding Charlie.

Morgan and Ben leave no holds barred trying desperately to find their perpetrator.

Cant wait for Book 4 to see where Morgan and Ben takes us.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture or a gripping read with The Hiding Place.

Detective Morgan Brookes is back in the scene!

Nine-year-old girl named Charlie goes missing in a neighborhood in Ryder Falls. As it involves a child, the police gets involved in the case and then focus on the sex offender who happened to be living in the same neighborhood. Meanwhile, while investigating, Morgan finds out that a girl who attended the same school as Charlie went missing fifteen years ago and couldn't help notice that there's some similarity between the two cases. But when Charlie's body was found a few days later and another girl named Macy goes missing in the same neighborhood, they must find the culprit before Macy is dead...

This is the third book of the Detective Morgan Brooke's installment. But to me, unlike the first two books, this book wasn't as good as the first two books. The book was fast paced but not much twists and turns though somehow, the reader is able to be hooked into the book. Not much of suspects in the book so it's a bit predictable as to who the killer could be. But nonetheless I did enjoy this book though I didn't find much exciting as her two previous books.

This book worth three stars the fact that still it's a good thriller! Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This has quickly become one of my favorite series. Morgan Brookes, who is still a rookie detective, somehow ends up in the middle of the investigation and face to face with the killer. When 2 girls go missing within days of each other, Ben, Amy, Des and Morgan search desperately for them. You won't be disappointed if you like non-stop action. Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Helen Phifer.

DC Morgan Brookes #3

When nine year old Charlotte Standish goes missing from her street in the small town of Rydale Falls, it's sparks a media frenzy. Chasing up a lead at Charlie's school, Morgan is chilled to learn that this is not the first time a child has went missing on that street. Another girl disappeared fifteen years ago and Morgan is the only one who thinks the cases could be related. Then another girl goes missing from the same street.

DC Morgan Brookes and the team have to work fast to find out who is behind the missing girls. Morgan seems to find herself constantly in danger. With not a lot of clues to go on, the team are desperate to catch the kidnapper before he strikes again.

This series has quickly become one of my favourite Detective series. The pace is fast and it's full of twist and turns. I like Morgan and her partner in fighting crime, DS Ben Matthews. There's always a hint of these two becoming romantically involved. I love the authors style in writing these books. I was hooked from the beginning and read it in one sitting.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #HelenPhifer for my ARC of #TheHidingPlace in exchange for an honest review.