It pains me to say, as I have always loved this author, but I really struggled to connect with this book

I struggled quite a lot with the characters. I really like to get to know a character, but I felt that the author never really let us in to know the two police officers It wasn’t clear that this was second in a series.

The storyline was cryptic and this read like a Peter james novel for me, who is one of my favourite authors

There was just something missing for me.

I will not be posting my review to any sites as I do not want to out anyone off for something that I can’t quite put my finger on

Brilliant twisty little thriller had me hooked from page one and the ending was not to be missed, will look out for more from the author!

An ok read
I did finish it but it wasn’t one of my favourites
It won’t put me off reading more by this author
Thanks NetGalley

A thrilling read. A real page Turner as D I Robin Fleet and DS Nicola Collins start to investigate a murder at a boarding school over twenty years later after an anonymous tip off. It is told in both the present day and from the time of the murder which is very interesting with lots of things coming to light and sees them chasing leads that become dangerous especially for one of them.A great read from the beginning and highly recommended

Really enjoyed this, it whips along at a great pace with twists and intrigue and a good sense of 'whodunnit'. Interesting characters, the detectives are quite likeable and don't always see what's coming which gives it a good sense of realism. I enjoyed the dual timelimes, 22 years apart so memories can be hazy but not totally forgotten. Great plot, always crucial and this book delivers. I've read others Simon Lelic books and recommend, as I do this one!

I always enjoy Simon Lelic’s books as I think he writes with a good pace, an interesting plot and excellent characterisation - this book is no exception. I liked the two time frames: Ben the troubled adolescent who we know comes to a sticky end but don’t know why and the current timeframe of the police investigation. Obviously there is an element of whodunnit but that isn’t what drives the book. I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented author.

A dark mystery set over two timelines, 1997 and the present day. I found the pace too slow for a crime thriller but I liked the detective characters and their teamwork.

Four friends, one murder! A game they can’t escape
This is an enjoyable read, the 2nd book I have read from this author and it didn’t disappoint. This book kept me interested from start to finish, I wasn’t gripped by it but found it easy to put down and pick up and carry on reading around day to day life.

Set in 2 timelines back to 1997 and present day, we flit between the 2 as the story unfolds. Twists and turns had me switching theories a few times before the reveal

All in all a good read

Found it too long winded. Not enough action and when there was action it was way too wordy.

Liked the twist. But then the ending just did not hit the spot. Not sure why as it’s my kind of book but just did not get with it at all.

A brilliant story with a dark storyline, well written and really interesting, also had some great mouth dropping moment. Gripping stuff.

I quite enjoyed this book!
A story about childhood abandonment, manipulation and places where that can lead you.

The story was nicely paced, well thought-out and the main characters down to earth and relatable. The rest - not so much!

I could not wait to finish it, it really kicked off during the last 30% or so and had to sacrifice sleep to get further along!

It oddly felt like a part of a series with a start I missed and a continuation to follow - maybe that’s just how I felt!

Nothing much to add, but a solid police thriller :)

Thank you, NetGalley for the arc!

A thoroughly gripping and enjoyable read. I enjoyed the two storylines which came together brilliantly at the end and I didn’t work out who had done it. Recommended.

I really liked the timeline it was narrated in as you follow the story/ plot through it just added that extra edge and suspense to the book. We get to hear from Bens POV from his time at boarding school and up-till his death and then from DI Fleet following the investigation through. At times you feel like there are some unanswered questions and potential gaps but it all comes together dramatically as the story concludes.

The Hiding Place by Simon Lelic was another brilliant book I was gripped from the beginning till the end. Simon is an author that will have you guesting right till the end chapters - when you think you have worked the book out Bang You are being pulled back into the book! Just brilliant

I highly recommend this latest book by Simon.

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin UK,

I’ve read two of Simon Lelic’s books previously and enjoyed both of them, but I think The Hiding Place is the best. It’s the second book featuring D I Robin Fleet and D S Nicola Collins, first seen in The Search Party.

It’s set across two timelines – 1997 when Ben Draper, a 14 year-old teenager with a troubled background, and a history of absconding from school, started at Beaconsfield, a prestigious boarding school. He is bullied, disliked and feels shunned and despised, but he does make three friends, Callum, Lance and Melissa. Longing to be accepted, he thinks they are his friends, but then he is drawn unwillingly into their plot to damage the school. After playing a game of Hide and Seek with them, that ended in terror, he went missing and his body was never found. Until, that is, in the present day, when his skeleton was found in an abandoned crypt in the school grounds – Fleet and Collins are assigned to investigate the case.

I was soon thoroughly gripped by this book as it moves between the two time periods. The detectives interview the headmaster, who seems to be more concerned about the school’s reputation than about finding out what had happened to Ben. The investigation is made more difficult as Callum is now a well-known TV celebrity and aspiring politician, which means the case is potentially a political scandal and that Fleet’s hands are tied. The detectives efforts to trace the other two pupils, Lance and Melissa are also hampered.

What emerges is a fantastic story, with many complications, red herrings and plot twists. Lelic is a terrific storyteller and writes a really compelling story that moves along at a fast pace. It is full of tension and suspense that kept me enthralled.The characterisation and the school setting, surrounded by thick woodland full of ancient trees and a graveyard, are excellent. I really like Fleet, and the way he stands up to his boss, Superintendent Burton, a yes man whose main concern is to keep the politicians happy. It examines the problems caused by loneliness and feelings of being a misfit in an unfeeling elitist education system where bullying and manipulation is largely unchecked. I was never sure how it would end, or who was responsible for Ben’s death until the final dramatic conclusion. I think it is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.

This is the third Simon Lelic I've read and I've loved them all. It kept me guessing and although I guessed the big reveal it was still a gripping book. I would definitely recommend this and read others by this author

This is the second novel I have read which features DI Fleet and I enjoyed it as much as the first instalment.

In this story DI Fleet is working on a cold case from over 20 years ago of a missing young boy, Ben from a public school. He was never found and mystery surrounded his disappearance during a game of hide and seek. DI Fleet and team start to dig deeper into Ben’s friends and life at the school at the time which in turn becomes a dangerous game of trying to catch the killer when a body buried in a crypt turns up.

Again a well written story and I cant wait for the next instalment with DI Fleet.

Following the events of the previous novel, The Search Party, DI Robin Fleet has been relegated to a desk job, going through cold cases with the only help of DC Nicky Collins. An anonymous tip leads them to a crypt at Beaconsfield, a prestigious boarding school, where they find the remains of Ben Draper, a 17-year-old pupil who had disappeared in 1997 during a game of “hide and seek” with three friends.

The case becomes entangled in politics when it turns out that one of the friends Ben was last seen is Callum Richardson, now a high-profile politician who constantly challenges the government, and there are many people who would like him to fail.

The story switch between the past and the present. In 1997, Ben has just arrived at Beaconsfield after being kicked out from yet another school. He is angry at his father and at the world in general. The other pupils are not very friendly, except for three other students who take Ben under their wing. In the present, DI Robin Fleet wants to solve the case without the interference of his bosses who are looking for a scandal to stop Callum Richardson’s career and his investigation into Beaconsfield uncovers a toxic environment where students are bullied and humiliated.

The Hiding Place is an addictive read. I like the character of DI Robin Fleet and I enjoy his easy and comfortable relationship with DC Nicky Collins. Also, we get a few glimpses into his personal life, which is almost as much as complicated as the case he is investigating, and I look forward to reading more about it. Ben’s story is heart-breaking. He is a young boy who wants to be accepted first by his father and then by his new friends, who, like him, struggle to accept that they are not wanted by their own families.

Full of twists and suspense, The Hiding Place is a dark, gripping, and thrilling police procedural with quite a few intriguing characters and an immersive well-crafted plot. Highly recommended!

This is only my second Simon Lelic novel and he's already a favourite author.

The characterisations, observations and assured writing style make something that is very difficult appear very easy - the writing of a cracking good story. It had me hooked from the first page to the last.

It's difficult to review the story without spoilers, save as to say it keep motoring all the way through to it surprising and satisfying end.

A stonking good read.

Highly recommend.

A riveting roller-coaster read!

‘The Hiding Place’ drew me in from the very first page. The tension started to mount, as I read this explosive plot.

The setting is Beaconsfield boarding school, which is run along old-fashioned traditional lines, by the headmaster, Mr Harris. It certainly seems a very bleak environment for the pupils.

The plot revolves around a certain cold case, regarding Ben, a former pupil. His body was found hidden on the school grounds, after over twenty years had elapsed. Ben’s home life was extremely stressful, as his father just wanted Ben out of the way, so he felt unloved.

Ben made friends with three other pupils, who also had similar problematic backgrounds. They were just playing a game outside when Ben disappeared.

The police investigation came to a halt. However fresh evidence came to light twenty plus years later when the body was found. This further investigation was led by D.I. Robin Fleet, and his colleague D.S. Nicky Collins.

The twists and turns kept me hooked until the finale, which was satisfyingly unexpected. I shall certainly look out for other offerings by Simon Lelic!!

Galadriel.

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.