I kept thinking throughout the story that a couple of the characters were a bit too unrealistic although not enough for me to give up. However, the author pulled it off at the end with full explanations that made me glad to have read the book.

No Place to Hide is a unique tech thriller/retelling of Doctor Faustus. Dr. Adam Pound is wary of the ever-present cameras that seem to be following him through his life. His paranoia is not that of the tech-unsavvy, but that of someone who has made a strange pact for self-preservation and fears the truth these cameras could reveal. The story alternates between Adam's life in the present, and his college days 24 years prior. The two timelines tell a thorough story, but at times alternate too quickly in short chapters, slowing the pace. The first ~half was a bit boring and could've built up the sense of paranoia in the present more. The story picked up though and felt like an episode of Black Mirror that could actually happen with modern-day technology. Brb while I go unplug my baby monitor.

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for an advance copy of this book for review.

I mean, I finished it, so that's good.

Unfortunately, that's pretty much where the good ends. I found the premise to be interesting which is why I initially requested it, but overall this was not an enjoyable read.

Adam Pound is a paediatrician with a good life, a successful career and a loving family - and an extreme paranoia that he's being constantly filmed by CCTV. As the book bounces between his present and his past as a medical student in Cambridge, it's slowly revealed that he has an extremely ridiculous reason as to why he's convinced he's being filmed (shan't spoil it for those of you who aren't put off by this review).

His past mistakes puts his current life on the line, and... there's literally no consequence at the end. This interesting premise is marred by poor characterisation (the two female characters are Nice Wife and Sexy French Lady), an unlikeable lead, and just a downright ridiculous plot where 'twists' are straightened out just as quickly as they appear.

Parts of the novel felt like the author asked ChatGPT to explain a concept in simple terms (effects of LSD, what is an NFT, what is the moral of Doctor Faustus) and just pasted it into the book. Overall, this felt like a book written by a young writer given the prompt to create a thriller based on modern zeitgeist and shoehorned Doctor Faustus references. It was cluttered, messy and just too unrealistic, even for a chronically online, Black Mirror-loving person like me.

However, Ji was great. Best character.

I thought this was a fantastic book . I wasn’t thinking it would be that good when I first started reading but it soon started to get exciting. I loved the characters and the direction the story went in was very interesting. It’s a very modern book and interesting the way technology could possibly lead us to these extremes . I will look forward to more from this author and definitely recommend it to my audience. 5 stars from me

I couldn’t get into this one. The paranoia was a little bit too unbelievable and it didn’t flow into something that I could relate to

When I read the synopsis for the book I had high hopes. I thought it might have a bit of a 1984 vibe to it. I really wanted to love this one but it just fell a bit flat for me. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review the book.

This well-written psychological thriller was convincing and compelling. Great character development, especially the protagonist, Adam, who provides the sole point of view, but from two alternating timelines, 1998 and the present. The switch between past and present was executed seamlessly and most chapters ended on a cliff-hanger as the tension built up to an intense ending. This gripping story was cleverly plotted and expertly revealed. Chilling events from the past start to haunt Adam 24 years later, making him paranoid about being watched by CCTVs and all the hackable cameras on phones, laptops and gadgets. You'll meet an interesting cast of characters where you and Adam are constantly wondering who can be trusted and who can't. This was a first read from this author, but will definitely be looking to read the five previous and acclaimed psychological thrillers. Many thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I really tried to like this book. I tried on three separate occasions to pick it back up and try again but it just did not stick with me. I couldn't get into the plot enough to care and ultimately did DNF it about the 30% mark. While I enjoyed the blasts to the past it didn't add enough to make me want to read further and finding out why this guy was so paranoid would have greatly helped with my understanding.

I did enjoy the writing style in general - the flow etc so I would pick up another from this author. Sadly this one just did not work for me.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for this honest review. I appreciate the opportunity.

I will not be prosting feedback to any social media.

A suddenly, surprisingly gripping, read.
The UK is known for having more CCTV cameras per head of population than any other country, which translates to over four million cameras watching our streets, and us, all the time. This novel works on the premise that these cameras can be hacked and used for evil purposes, and not only CCTV, but home security and even the cameras on your personal laptops and phones. Actually, all this bit is true - cameras can be j=hacked, so you never really know who's watching... So what if who's watching was determined to see your downfall? What if who's watching is also monetising the increasingly voyeuristic nature of society, finding those individuals prepared to pay a great deal to see their own disturbing fantasies come true?
This story delves into this anxiety-inducing 'what if', and takes us on a ride from 1990s Cambridge to contemporary London, while we are the ones to watch and see what happens next - and why.

I was thrilled to receive an arc for this book as it sounded absolutely thrilling a real look in to what one of the most surveilled places on earth does when you are on the wrong side of it.

Sadly this book had weakly written characters and tried to add an unnecessary amount of literature rather than working on the plot.

Adam is a London based doctor with a happy marriage and two young children. He becomes convinced that he's being watched by CCTV cameras and his every move recorded. He believes this is happening because of an accident that happened at a party while he was at university in Cambridge.
No Place to Hide is an original and exciting thriller full of wicked twists and turns and is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Builds tension page by page. Adam has a feeling he is being watched, especially with the arrival of people in the present that he knew in the past. Is there more than immediately appears or is explained? Why is his family involved and what is at stake? OK, some the premise is not for today but it's still possible in the very near future and plausibly described. The technology is there and the descriptions very accurate - it's not science fiction at all - more what could well happen. I found myself unable to put it down, especially as we built towards the end. Well planned, thoroughly enjoyable, and I look forward to more from JS Monroe!

No Place to Hide by J.S. Munroe was a joy to read from start to finish. It’s an elegantly written novel with Adam as its central character. It starts with a parent’s worst nightmare. His child goes missing and within those heart-pounding few minutes, the child is found by Adam’s old flame, Clio. Coincidence? Maybe not. He hasn’t seen her for well over twenty years and his son’s recounting of what happened doesn’t add up. Something tells me Adam never quite tied up loose ends all those years ago.

An aspiring actor at Cambridge University in the 1990s, he is now a medic with a wife and two children. Written in a dual narrative (Cambridge in 1998 and the present) this whip-smart story goes back and forth, revealing his relationships with other students and their impact on his life. I loved the setting, having lived in Cambridge for three years, so I could resonate with the descriptions, especially scenes of punting down the Cam.

Past chapters with Clio are smartly and tastefully drawn and it’s easy to experience his obsession with her. What was this Faustian pact he made with Louis? What terrible secret must he now repay? The implications of the cameras that follow him everywhere escalates the pace and caused me to wonder how this could turn against him.

The twist at the end is fabulous and, as the book circles back to the present, explains the motives of Adam’s antagonist. This was fast read for me because of its sense of menace. Each chapter ended on a cliffhanger and I couldn’t wait to get back to that period of time to find out what happened next. Definitely a book to recommend.

Wow! I wasn’t sure what to expect as this is my first book written by the author, but I was pleasantly surprised.

This story had me gripped from the beginning. It started with an interesting premise and the mystery was built steadily, as Clio, Louis and Ji were introduced through flashbacks from their university days. I love a good switch between past and present and this was executed masterfully, without giving too much away. I was left guessing to the very end, which says a lot, as I read a lot of thrillers and can often guess what the twist will be. However, when the last twist (I.E. who Louis was) was revealed, I truely had no idea!

Characters were well developed in a way that showed such different sides that it was often hard to know who was trustworthy and not. The only character I did not enjoy was Tania as I found her quite inconsistent.

The narratives from past and present are woven together in a satisfying way, so that loose threads are tidied up at the end of the book. I liked that we are left guessing of the fate of one of the characters also.

I will be reading more of this author going forward.

A unique plot that becomes increasingly hard to put down as you delve deeper into the story. I would recommend to thriller lovers.

With thanks to NetGalley for the arc in return for an honest review.

Adam a succesful paediatrician who is a first generation medic and studied at Cambridge is suddenly very paranoid about CCTV, certain they are watching him.

As we go through the book we find out the reason as we go back and forth with Adam at uni and in the present day.

An interesting read that I enjoyed, very easy to get in to

4 stars

A slow burn of a thriller. The character of Adam, troubled medical.student, later dedicated paediatric consultant and family man, well written. I liked the settings of Cambridge as Cornwall especially the description of the iconic Minack theatre. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Wow, what a story. This has kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.. Loved the characters the plot was original and once started was hard to put down, Fantastic 5 star read

I loved No Place to Hide ,a very different psychological thriller which had me gripped from the beginning .What happens if you really do sell your soul to the "devil"? Adam is a successful paediatrician with a beautiful wife and 2 children and has a happy marriage but 24 years ago an incident when he was studying at Cambridge has now come back to haunt him .A fast paced ,very clever ,edge of your seat story with a very satisfying ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC

I was quite intrigued to read this novel. The premise seemed to be very entertaining and a bit different from the norm. Generally not a bad read but it did drag somewhat. Took far too long to get going. I didn't have any problems at all with the Dr Faustus part of the storyline , either in vocabulary or understanding its relevance. In fact I felt that was one of the, if not the best bits. Adam was a great character and I liked Clio too (though I kept wanting to call her Renault and expecting her to call Adam Papa. It really was quite intrusive and no, changing her name to Nicole wouldn't help).
A strange ending in some ways
A good by the pool/on the beach read

The book loosely follows the basic premise of a very famous 1998 film, can't say more as that would involve spoilers. It's a nice twist, set in the UK too. It's definitely a page turner although personally there could have have been one large twist at the end that I was expecting and didn't materialise. I read it straight in 4.5 hours, so it's my kind of book for when I'm on a flight or sitting on a beach. Very similar to Richard Osman's style, simple to read, doesn't tax your mind, just a good plot which makes you turn pages. Not 5 stars as it isn't a book you'd read again, just a short simple read with a good plot.