As an outdoor enthusiast, I was excited to read this new thriller! I love to hike and camp and have certainly been on hikes that would have been optimal scenes for scary stories. I enjoyed that this story switched POV often so you really only get a chunk of the scene chronologically. It really helps to throw you off and keeps things confusing to the reader. What I didn't care for with this thriller is how slowly the first two-thirds of the book moves. I nearly gave up many times. In the end, there is excitement but it wasn't enough for me to justify the time put into the beginning with nothing happening. Also, there are just so many things that aren't necessary in this book or things that don't have anything to do with the story. All in all, The Hike wasn't a bad thriller or poorly written, but it's not one I'd recommend.

The Hike follows four friends who embark on what should be an exhilarating trek through the mountains of Norway. But as the group delves deeper into the wilderness, they find themselves confronting not only the challenges of the rugged terrain but also the secrets and tensions that have been simmering beneath the surface of their friendship.

Unlike many thrillers I’ve read lately, I didn’t see any of the twists coming in this one. After a slow beginning, it became a real page-turner, the pace picking up significantly as the story progressed. There was a portion of the book where chapter after chapter was a cliffhanger (pun intended), the rotating narrative adding to the suspense. Clarke keeps the reader on edge, with each character’s perspective revealing just enough to keep you guessing until the end.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Group, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Another solid popcorn thriller from Lucy Clarke! I’ve been pretty open about my disdain for thrillers lately. Very similar plots and tropes, and they tend to be a bit over the top with twists. While The Hike *did* rely on some familiar tropes, Lucy’s writing and characterization are solid. It’s a fairly small cast of characters and I won’t lie that I predicted *most* of the twists and bad dudes, but I don’t need to be flabbergasted with every book I read, and definitely prefer the plausible versus the TWIST YOU’LL NEVER SEE COMING!

The Hike is about four long time friends that head off for a girls trip in wild Norway. The 4 day hike goes a bit sideways pretty quickly and there is definitely some suspicious circumstances.

I found the book to be a bit of a slow burn. I’m good with those but I know that many others don’t vibe well with the slower pace, so be wary. There is some twisty stuff and allusions to possible craziness, but the first half is more so for expanding on characterization. I loved the (imagined) setting. Norway is soooo beautiful so this was a fun world to build in my mind.

I did find the side characters to be a bit cliche, but that’s somewhat expected when they don’t get expounded upon too often. The ending went a bit over the top, but I enjoyed it.

As a major acrophobic I have to be honest that a solid third of this book had me with *sweaty palms* and having to take breaks occasionally. Overall, I feel like that shows how well the book is paced and how absorbed in the story one gets.

I definitely recommend this for my thrillers crowd. If you take The Descent and subtract the caving and monsters aspect and throw in some sketchy Norwegians then you’ve got this book. It’s nothing particularly novel, but definitely scratches that twisty, thriller itch.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 close friends are headed on an annual girls trip, giving them the opportunity to catch up and escape the trials and tribulations of their daily lives. For a change from their usual relaxing, beachy destinations, they decide to tackle an adventurous hiking trip in Norway. Upon arrival, they quickly meet the locals who give them ominous warnings about the dangers associated with taking this specific hike but decide to soldier on. As they navigate the challenging terrain, it forces them to navigate their true relationships with each other and the internal struggles and dark secrets they are keeping to themselves while also navigating an unexpected threatening situation that puts all of their lives in danger.

This book was a fun popcorn thriller and I really enjoyed the dual storylines that took place in the book. The back stories of the 4 women held my attention and I thought it was interesting how they all had vastly different relationships with each other even though they all felt that they were a fairly cohesive friend unit. The addition of the mystery behind the events occurring while they hiked added some more depth to the story. This book fits the category of entertaining beach read!

#TheHike #NetGalley
Awesome.
Burned-out by both her marriage and work, Liz is desperate for an escape. More than that, she craves an adventure, a total reset. So, when she plans a vacation with her three best friends, she persuades them to spend four nights camping in the stunning mountains of Norway. Following a trail that climbs through lush valleys, towering peaks, and past jewel-blue lakes, Liz is sure that the hike is just what they need. But as they stride farther from civilization, it becomes clear that the women are not the only ones looking to lose themselves in the mountains. The wilderness hides secrets darker than they could ever have imagined, and if they’re not careful . not all of them will return.
This is a well written book with lots of twists.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for giving me an advance copy.

I'm a huge vibes gal, and as soon as I saw this book I knew it was a must read for me. A hike into the wilderness, a creepily realistic built-in atmosphere, old friends, old secrets, and an unfortunate death... BUT, this was ridiculously familiar and predictable. Although the backdrop and potential were both right there, this somehow ended up a huge miss. Why is there so much unnecessary chatter? Literally just talking, not even relevant speech, just talking. Where is the action? Where is the dread and the terror? I was bored to death. Taking out half of the random thoughts in this probably would have made it more "readable." Very disappointed.

Meh. This one tried to do too much. Not bad, but could’ve been better.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was just what I needed to read while I was on vacation hiking in the national parks. I really enjoyed the characters, their backgrounds, and I was rooting for each one of them. The story line kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I liked the back and forth between the two timelines and was kept guessing who was found on the ledge in the prologue. And not knowing which of the Norwegian characters that the encounter on their trip are dangerous or who to trust kept it interesting as well. I will definitely be picking up more Lucy Clarke books in the future.

Annually, four best friends convene for a joint vacation. This time, Liz, feeling adrift in life, opts for a grand adventure to rekindle their spirits. They embark on a mountain hike in Norway, fulfilling a pact made by Liz and Joni during their school days. Each friend faces personal battles, and as they mingle with the locals at the lodge before their four-day trek, they soon realize they aren't the only ones who head into the wilderness.
The narrative capitalizes on the fear of isolation and disconnect from civilization. Navigating through uncharted terrain and combating unanticipated weather, they find themselves stalked by someone. Cut off from the world with no means to call for aid, they must depend on each other for survival. It's a compelling read, deserving of a solid 4 Stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Based on the premise, I truly thought that this was going to be something I would enjoy, and at times, something would begin to happen that was on the brink of okay, but this book, specifically the pacing and the constant rambling, needed a good edit. There was just SO MUCH useless information. And it wasn't to drag out scenes and add tension; instead it was absolutely boring and pointless description just to add unneeded words and page count. It took entirely too long for the women to go on the hike in the first place, and once there, it was just constant bickering and fighting with nothing to add a mystery or thrilling element. Just ladies with blisters finding anything and everything to argue about.

Unfortunately not a single character was likable or had any redeemable factors. I feel like sometimes awful characters can still add so much to the story, or make you root for one outcome or another, but not in this case. I truly didn't care who lived or died, who took drugs, who slept with who, who got lost, and whatever else petty drama or encounter they could dig up along the way. I just wanted it to end.

Super twisty, suspensful, page turner! I didn’t see the end coming, but it was so satisfyingly full circle.

A fairly fast paced read about four women who trek out into the wilderness to climb a mountain in Norway - what could go wrong?

The plot definitely kept me reading and the short chapters were a bonus too!

Enjoyed how everything wrapped up in the end.

This is an exciting, nerve wracking story that will keep readers on edge. It's well crafted, exploring the bonds of friendship and family alongside a page-turning, tense story.

The Hike
By Lucy Clarke
Review and Rating 4 ⭐️

The Hike is a hidden gem. This was my first Lucy Clarke novel and I did not know what to expect. This ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year so far!
Four childhood friends, Liz, Joni, Helena, and Maggie, spend a vacation together every year. It usually involves a beach or a lovely resort somewhere. But this year, Liz plans an adventure, hiking and camping in the beautiful mountains of Norway. As the four women hike further from civilization, it becomes clear they all have secrets and baggage they are escaping from back home.
Meanwhile, two female hikers see a body at the bottom of a ravine. Unable to help her, they hurry back to the lodge at the base camp to report what they have found.
The friends soon find that they are not the only ones on the mountain, and the others may have sinister intentions. Unless they rely on each other they may not make it back alive.
I was hooked on this story from the beginning. It is told with dual timelines and alternating POVs which I think kept it moving right along. I also loved the deeply atmospheric setting. Hiking on a mountain in Norway is not on my bucket list but I loved every minute reading about it! I also felt there was good character development, and lots of interpersonal drama that helped the story feel more real. I am giving this diamond in the rough a solid 4 ⭐️!

I want to thank #Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.



Book Rating Key
⭐️ Not Recommended
⭐️⭐️ Readable Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Good Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent Book
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Near Perfect Book
***Note*** I seldom give ⭐️or ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ratings. If I feel a book is a ⭐️sometimes I just prefer to not finish reading it and not rate it. As for 5 ⭐️books, I think of those as books I would want to take with me to a deserted island 🏝️, and this means I read a whole lot of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️star books. Happy Reading!

i really enjoyed the character dynamics in this book. learning about the relationships between each of the four women and as an entire entity was really interesting and gave so much life to the story. the concept of the hike was well done and i liked the details about the wildlife as they traveled. at times the plot felt a little bit weak and as though i was forcing myself to get through it, but then it would pick back up again and i’d be fascinated. i think one of the best things about the hike is that you have about 100% of the mystery aspect figured out by the last 20 pages, and then the last few produce a final plot twist that is really quite unexpected. this is a good mystery book that falls in line with the vibes of lucy foley’s books.

3.5 stars.

"The Hike" by Lucy Clarke is a visceral mystery thriller that will leave you apprehensive about ever traveling to Norway, that's for sure! What you expect at the start of this book is not where the book is going. Twists and turns abound, and the characters you thought were reliable aren't and vice versa. Short chapters unfurl the story of a group of friends on vacation hiking in Norway. When they get stick amongst the elements, storms, rocks, getting lost, lack of supplies, and unsafe ground are the least of their worries as they feel as though they are being watched... and for glkd reason. Each character gets their own alternating point of view as their lives and personalities are unraveled over time, the dynamics of their friendships divulged slowly as secrets, interpersonal struggles, new happenings, and old resentments are exposed. I found this to be a fine book. Some parts are predictable. Apart from some slowness in the beginning of the book, this is a fast-paced, short-ish read that you will likely not be able to put down. Where Clarke succeeds is here fantastic visualization of the trails and mountains where these friends find themselves. She really paints a terrific picture of the terrain, the terror of the weather, the menace of the hike, the scariness of the things (and people!) lurking. A solid read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Clarke, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This was neither a good or a bad book. I enjoyed the book mostly, but it felt like something was missing. I don't know if it was that I figured out who done it early in the book or what. But over all I liked it and would read another book by this author in the future.

It took me a bit to get into the story. Maybe because I'm not super big on hiking. You might catch me on an early morning walk/jog with my pup once in a while, but out in the wilderness, no thanks. Anyway, I loved that it was written with each of their POV's. It's full of friendship drama and some old secrets, as expected. After it picks up the pace there's some tension and action that kept me engaged. Overall, decent.

Overall this story was well-plotted and action packed. I picked it up because I was looking for something different and it fit that bill well compared to my typical TBR list. However, it had a pretty slow start to the point I almost DNF the book. I’m glad I pushed through because it definitely picked up and was overall enjoyable.

This is a decent travel-based thriller novel. In my opinion, the writing was very well done and the multiple perspectives were executed well. The drama between the main characters felt believable for the most part, but some of the external conflict seemed a bit far-fetched. Although I found the ending to be underwhelming, I still think it was a decent thriller overall.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.