"The Hike" by Lucy Clark presents an intriguing premise that promises an exciting survival story. However, upon delving into the pages, I found myself experiencing mixed emotions about the overall execution of the story.

I found myself quite bored at the beginning of the novel to the point I was struggling to continue picking it up and wasn't sure if i wanted to DNF it or not. The story did pick up as it continued, but I found myself not loving some of the characters.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, and I did love the aspect of it being a survival story turned murder mystery. I am always a big fan of books that force characters into a really rough terrain and then put them in situations in which it's difficult to survive, and I think this it what saved the book from being a one- star. But the slow burn of the book was a bit much for me overall, and this is why I didn't love it. I would definitely pick up another Lucy Clark book though and give her another chance for a big hitter.

I devoured this almost 400 page beast in 2 days! With addictively short chapters and pulse pounding suspense, I could not put this down! I loved the adventure and travel element of this story and it appears her other novels are similar, taking the reader to exotic places. In this one, 4 lifelong friends; Liz, Maggie, Helena and Joni are meeting up for their once a year trip to reconnect. This year, Liz chose a challenging 4 day backpacking trip in Norway. But the women all show up world weary, troubled, afraid of the future and harboring secrets. Will they be able to meet the challenge of hiking the mountains and arrive back safely? Will their friendships be strengthened or destroyed? How is this my first Lucy Clarke book? I fixed that in a hurry by ordering all of her other books, can’t wait to read them! Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on August 29, 2023

I absolutely loved @lucyclarke_authornewest book, The Hike💙 It is an atmospheric thriller that revolves around a girl’s trip to Norway to hike a famous peak. Once there, they learn that a local girl went missing a year earlier on the same trail. There are multiple POVs, surprising twists, and a page turning fast pace. I highly recommend grabbing this one!

Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

I dove headfirst into this book and was not disappointed. I loved how atmospheric the novel was, I felt really connected to the story and characters the entire time. The volley from friend POV to friend POV was executed great, I felt like all of the characters were well de eloped and many plotpoints were very relatable to me as an older female reader. This novel is perfect to read when you're longing for those spooky October reads in the middle of summer!

The book opens with a body lying at the base of a mountain. We are then introduced to four characters: Maggie, Helena, Liz, and Joni. These friends have been a solid group for a long time and take turns deciding where to go for their annual girls' trip. This year is Liz's turn and she has chosen for them to hike to the top of a mountain in Norway. The book turns into a survivalist thriller and has the reading who has done what and whose body was in the opening of the story.

I really enjoyed this one. As soon as the women are off on their journey, the action starts and doesn't really stop until the end. The characters are fully formed, with each having their own unique background. As with any friendship group, there is drama from time to time but it felt real and not over the top. The setting in the mountains of Norway gives a perfect wilderness feel. I felt both the struggle and fear that the women felt. They run across a few people on the mountain as the tension rises, secrets are uncovered, and past hurts are revisited. I did not see some of the twists coming at all. The story flowed seamlessly while keeping my attention the whole time.

This is an entertaining suspenseful thriller sure to delight anyone looking for such a book. I had not read a Luc Clarke book in the past but will be sure to look into her backlist. 4.5 stars!

Absolutely breathtaking! This is probably the BEST book I’ve read so far in 2023! So full of suspense, character development, atmosphere, I loved it so much! Lucy Clarke is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, can’t wait for more from her!

The Hike by Lucy Clarke is a moving, suspenseful novel. It is women’s fiction at its best. Here, you’ll find imperfect women doing their best in difficult life circumstances and yet finding out how much they need to each other. I really enjoyed this book and the mystery that led to so many suspenseful moments. I recommend this novel to readers of both women’s fiction and thrillers. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Hiking up a mountain in Norway is definitely not my idea of a vacation! However, these four friends are making it their girls' trip this year. They are each very different from one another, with their common thread mainly being the friendship itself, but is that enough for all of them to survive this weekend?

I loved this! It was really fast-paced and easy to fly through, all while giving me the satisfaction of a very full read. I was surprised by the ending, which made it even more fun!

Out August 29, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

The Hike is about 4 lifelong friends who take yearly trips together. This year Liz has picked where they are going- a remote hiking trail in Norway where they will do wild camping. None of them are really prepared for the trip and all of them are dealing with personal problems. Liz chooses to ignore warnings about the weather and doesn’t tell her friends. They run into a dangerous secret on the trail that leads them to believe they are being pursued. This book is suspenseful but also predictable. Scary hiking stories are kind of a guilty pleasure of mine. I enjoy hiking and camping but I am well aware of the fact that terrible thing happen while people enjoy these endeavors. Yet I still consume these stories as much as possible. The number of times that the burn of lactic acid is mentioned in this book is frustratingly distracting. I wasn’t a fan of how the pregnancy of Helena, who has never wanted kids, was handled. Overall, I think the story was suspenseful and most of the friend group was likable so I rooted for them. The atmosphere was beautifully rendered. This is a 3/5 star read for me. Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for allowing me access to an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication date August 29th, 2023. This review will be found on Instagram and Goodreads indefinitely.
Instagram book reviews @CandaceOnline

A fun fast thriller that isn’t particularly original but hard to put down! Four friends take a hiking trip to Norway only to find themselves in danger amidst discovering secrets that they are keeping from each other. Perfect read for a vacation by the pool (which is how I read it)! Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

I am a big fan of Lucy Clarke's books, so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy to read and review!

I loved the multiple POV's, and how the book switched to the search (although we aren't sure yet who they're searching for!) I did feel like it started a little slow, but once the story really got going I couldn't stop reading. I enjoyed the ending and how the author didn't leave any holes in the story. 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hike is a fast paced, thrilling read and I was intrigued from the very beginning. Set mostly in Norway, this is the story of four girlfriends leaving their lives behind for their annual vacation together in a very isolated and challenging setting, hiking in the remote wilderness. Each member of this travel party has their own baggage they are dealing with and the adventure tests each of them to their limits. The setting is chilling at times, and as the story develops I found myself unable to stop reading. I enjoyed the suspense of the plot as they hike this rough terrain, but I also enjoyed the dynamics and backstories of each character. The chapters are short, a personal favorite of mine, but they pack a lot in. This is the first book I've read by Lucy Clarke and I look forward to diving into others she has written. I would encourage you to not read any spoilers and head into this one blind, it's a very enjoyable read. My only complaint is I need a friend to read it so I can discuss it without spoiling the plot! Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam Books for this advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

Told over a 4 day hiking trip, the four friends are all at different crossroads in their lives and this trip represents something different to each of them. While they were anticipating blisters and sore muscles they weren’t accounting for stark revolutions and to get caught up in a sticky situation.

I selected this book because of the setting. Norway is one of the top places on my travel bucket list and I want to hike as many fjords as I can when I eventually get there. Besides the setting I liked the multiple POVs and the pacing of the story.


Thank you @putnambooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

starts slow but improves

Four long-time friends take their annual trip. This time they are hiking a mountain in Norway. They really don't know what they are doing and don't follow the warnings that the weather will be bad. As a long-time camper, I was a little frustrated that they could be that stupid, but it happens all of the time. They have some predictable and unpredictable setbacks.

This started slow and almost gave up on it. The women were too predictable - the organized woman whose life was falling apart, the single woman worrying about having a child, the successful musician who felt like she had lost who she was.... Then there were the good and bad guys, Norwegian brothers whose family owned the lodge they stayed at.

I sped-read the last half and missed how a body, dead a year, got to a spot that should have been visible by hikers and didn't seem to be deteriorated after the year. I could go back and find out what I missed. But I won't.

3 1/2 stars

First Lucy Clarke novel I’ve read, although it appears she’s no stranger to the thriller genre, so I’m surprised I haven’t read one of her novels before. Either way, I was pleasantly entertained by the story - I do believe it could have been a little shorter. There seemed to be a lot of character personality buildup, right along with building tension amongst the same characters. I would’ve liked a little more background to Helena’s “situation” (trying to avoid spoilers) - I thought it was going to tie back in some juicy way, with how much mystery there was surrounding it!

This book grabbed my attention quickly and moved fast! I really enjoyed how quickly the plot moved, there weren’t any parts that dragged. The plot kept my attention and I thought it was a great premise for a book. Four friends set off on a trip together to climb a mountain in remote Norway. While there they hear about the disappearance of another woman a year previous and strange things start happening.

While this book intrigued me and kept me reading I struggled a bit with the believability and a few plot points. Number one, why would a bunch of women who had never hiked choose to start with a mountain in remote Norway and completely by themselves. No women I know would choose to do this. Also, only one of the women brought a phone on the hike (even though there was no reception) and somehow the battery lasted until the morning of the fourth day?

All in all, it was a solid thriller. Maybe 3.5 stars rounded to 4 for GR.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Penguin Group for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This multiple POV thriller set in the Nordic mountains will have you guessing whodunnit by the time you finish reading the prologue!

I thought the setting of this book was extremely unique and I’m officially adding Norway to my bucket list of places I need to travel in my lifetime! The fjords added a level of danger and isolation to the story that increased the overall sense of mystery. I also genuinely love split POV novels, and was easily able to connect with each of the main characters in this story.

This was an action packed and suspenseful read that showed how a girls trip can go from bad to absolutely awful in just 4 days. If you enjoy books centered around friendship, the outdoors, or just like a good thriller you should absolutely check this one out!

Why do girls destination trips end in mayhem and murder? And, I am traveling to Bergen in 2025.

Four English friends step outside their comfort zone to hike in Bergen, Norway. Over the course of a few days, their lives go from enjoying the beautiful landscape to fighting a bad guy in the mountains. Each women has come to Norway to escape the mundane routines of life - husbands, children, careers and some regrettable life choices.

The writing and storytelling were so good in The Hike. Clarke's atmospheric build-up made this a binge worthy read. Not only are things not what they seem on the hike, but the friends have secrets that add to the salaciousness of the thriller.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the complimentary copy.

The Hike by Lucy Clarke is an excellent stand-alone thriller, set in the wilderness of Norway. Four best friends (Liz, Helena, Maggie, Jodi) get-together annually for a long weekend getaway, which usually is beach oriented. But, since this is Liz’s choice to pick, she decides on going hiking in the mountains of Norway. Both Maggie and Helena were not thrilled with the idea of hiking in the Norway wilderness, but they will embark on their trip. Jodi, a famous singer, decides in the last minute, she needed to get away from her band, and arrives in Norway surprising her friends that night.

They do receive some warnings from various villagers, about the bad weather coming, a missing girl, and the dangerous mountain climbing; as well as someone possibly following them. Once they get past the first day, things slowly change, especially when the weather changes, and they have to find safety in a cave. What they find in the cave will open the doors to someone who is determined to stop them. The tensions between them rises, with arguments, secrets revealed, some injuries, and not knowing which of the men they run into is the bad man. The danger escalates threatening their lives. Who will survive?

The Hike was an exciting, tense, suspenseful, edge of your seat thriller. In the last half, I could not put the book down. I do not want to give spoilers, as the rest of the way was a mind-bogging thriller. I like all four of the ladies, their friendship, despite some of the trauma and anger between them. The Hike was very well written by Lucy Clarke. If you like psychological thrillers, I suggest you read this book.

Wow, this one got my heart racing! I love a good thriller with a creepy backdrop. And this one was perfect. A group of friends take their annual girls trip in the European mountains. All is well, until the day before their hike when they learn of the woman who disappeared on the trails last year.

Was there something out there? Was it natural causes? Or do the locals know more than they are letting on?