Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️

A couple of pages is all it took for me to be invested in The Hike, there was so much foreboding I was anxious from the get-go.

Four lifelong best friends decide for their yearly vacation that they are going on a four day's long hike in the Norwegian wilderness. Four women who have previously spent their annual trip on a beach or by the pool. Only one of whom had even been somewhat training for their adventure. Yeah, this trip wasn't ever going to go well for them, even without the murder.

Liz, Helena, Maggie, and Joni are in varying degrees of a midlife crisis and use this trip as an excuse to distract them from their own problems. Honestly, I felt like they all were kind of awful, each making mistakes and deliberate choices.

Liz chose and planned the trip, and did not let any reasonable doubt or concern get in the way of going. She was incredibly self-centered and knowingly withheld information, putting her friends at risk several times just so that they would go climb Blafjell with her.

Helena was maybe my favorite of the four friends, though she make just as many bad decisions as they did, both in her life back home and while in Norway. Her character was the most unforgiving and she felt stuck up at times.

Maggie was such a difficult character to feel sorry for because she felt so sorry for herself. She was the stereotypical whiny, wet blanket of the group but also went through the greatest character development, so her character was bearable by the end.

Joni, the wild child, was so free but trapped by her fame. She might have been the most desperate of them to get away from her problems but was unable to run from her demons in the end.

The Hike is written in multiple POVs and it did get tiresome. Though they all had distinct voices, I still found myself forgetting whose head I was in.

Almost everyone in the book is a suspect, and it seems like you can’t even trust your friends. There were so many twists and turns, I never knew what to expect next. I'd recommend The Hike to anyone who enjoys thrillers with a splash of drama and plenty of outdoorsy adventure.



*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lucy Clarke has done it again! If you haven't picked up one of her titles, you are definitely missing out.

Four childhood best friends set out on a 4 day/4 night "wild camping" hike, where they leave with only the bare minimum and are set to hike up a large mountainside in Norway. Liz, the protagonist and organizer of the event, is fit and trained for this event. The other three did not take it seriously, and have blisters and are physically and emotionally drained after day 1. With another 3 days left, how are they going to make it back to the lodge? When we find out that the close-knit group of friends are hiding secrets from one another, you know we are in for a wild ride of twists and turns!

I read this book in one sitting, and I was sad when it was over! The descriptions of this fictional mountainous side in Norway make we want to book a ticket there YESTERDAY.

I love Lucy Larke and was so excited to be approved for this book. Let me tell you, The Hike did not disappoint! 5 stars for me! Don’t want to spoil the book but believe me when I say you need this one on your shelf!

This was my first Lucy Clarke book and it will not be the last. I loved everything about this book. It was fast passed and kept me guessing until the very end. Thank you so much NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Loved it! This book was filled with twists and turns that has you on the edge of your seat....er....cliff! (You'll get it when you read it!). After reading so many books, it seems only natural to me that I think ahead to what possible outcomes could be. I was doing it the...entire...book. It is totally unpredictable and my guesses were wrong!

Lucy Clarke is a phenomenal writer. She has a knack for writing the most interesting stories, characters, and she creates an atmosphere that is described with such precision that the reader almost feels as if they are there.

The Hike was another gem of a book. The plot and the characters were so entertaining. I was on the edge of my seat reading this latest novel by Lucy. The premise of the book was excellent and so entertaining. I really enjoyed this book and recommend to others.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I could not put this down!

It was fast paced, and I loved the flawed characters and their complex relationships. It was very much the thriller I was in the mood for.

Twists and turns just kept coming. Highly recommend

Wow! This was an amazing read. It’s a journey through friendship and a thriller. I could not put this one down. Highly recommend the read👏🏻.

A group of four best friends have all gone their separate ways in life. They meet up for a vacation together often and this time they are going to Norway for a hiking trip. This trip is a chance to escape and figure out all of their next steps.

Liz is a wife & mother who has just learned her marriage could be in trouble. Will she fight to save it or let it go? Helena is a free spirit. She’s about to find out some news that will alter the course of her life. Maggie is a single mom. She really hates leaving her little girl but needs the time with her friends. Joni is a rockstar with a huge secret. Will she come clean with her friends?

The girls set out on their journey into the mountains and discover the beauty of Norway along the way. Their friendship is put to the test as they encounter obstacles in their journey. Danger is lurking along the way and threatens their return to civilization. Will they make it back alive?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Nicely paced thriller!

The Hike follows four childhood friends as they embark on their yearly girls trip. This year, unlike their usual tropical vacation, Liz has chosen to take Maggie, Helena and Joni on a four-day hike in Norway where they face treacherous terrain, severe weather and even chance some supernatural encounters--will they make it out alive?

I really enjoyed this book! There was a good amount of meaningful dialogue. The character development was solid and the plot was sequential and believable. Everything in the book was purposeful and succinct, which I truly appreciate! This is the first book I have read by Lucy Clarke and it certainly won't be my last!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wish you were here?
Think again . . .

Maggie, Liz, Helena & Joni. Old friends bound by history, adventures, old secrets.

And now, bound by murder.

They lace up their hiking boots for the adventure of a lifetime in the Norwegian wilderness: a place of towering mountains, glass-like lakes, log cabins and forests stolen from a fairytale.

It’s the perfect place to lose yourself – until a broken body is found at the bottom of a ravine.

Somewhere out there, someone knows exactly why a woman has died. And in this deep, dark wilderness, there’s a killer on the trail . . .

Going into this book I thought this was going to be one of those heart-pounding thrillers but this was not at all what I was expecting.

I felt the characters were developed really well and it was interesting to see all POV’s with the chapters switching to all 4 POV’s.

The descriptions of the mountains and what they were enduring were really cinematic like. I can definitely see this becoming a movie. It really felt like I was with them the whole time, going through the mountain. I read this book in literally less than 24 hours and definitely recommend this book if you love nature type books with a twist.

I was definitely not expecting the plot twist that happened. This definitely confirms my dislike of hiking though.

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for this arc, my thoughts are entirely my own. This book kept me on my toes the whole time. When backpacking there are already risks, and watching them constantly increase was so stressful in the best way. The characters had well developed lives and personalities, and seeing how they played into the plot kept me guessing and shocked. I would recommend this thriller, especially with the unique setting of backpacking on a mountain which I’ve never seen before.

Very grateful that I was given an ARC of the book via NetGalley. I didn’t expect to be as invested in the story and characters as I was in this book. I was expecting a typical whodunit thriller, given the prologue, but instead it was more of a character driven survivalist story with thriller elements.

The story is about four lifelong friends who embark on a hiking adventure in Norway. The chapters switches perspective between each of the four women.

The beginning starts a bit slow as the author introduces the four main characters and their personal struggles in life, but once we get to Norway, and especially the hike itself, when a lot of things start to go wrong, I couldn’t put down the book.

I loved how fleshed out the characters were and appreciated the time the author spent on each of them in the beginning because it made me root for all of them throughout the events of the book. I also loved all the nature imagery and descriptions because it made me feel like I was experiencing everything the characters were going through on their hike. The story itself is very cinematic and I can easily picture the story as a movie.

My biggest critique was how choppy some of the chapters felt. I loved that the chapters were short, but sometimes it switched too suddenly for my tastes. I also felt like I lost the voice of the women in some of the chapters towards the end where the main bulk of the action was occurring, to the point where I would forget whose perspective the chapter was being told from. I also thought around 80% into the book, the plot seemed to drag on for longer than it needed to be. The ending was bittersweet, and I didn’t love the outcome, but overall, it was a solid read.

3.5⭐️

this book is about a group of friends who go on a hike in norway and encounter a few problems along the way, both externally, from the environment and other people, and internally, between each other and also their own individual selves. i honestly had no idea where this book was going at any point and it kept me intrigued. for myself, i tried to figure out the plot twists and was wrong every time. i actually thoroughly enjoyed this book and the mystery/thriller aspect of it. but also underneath the mystery and suspense, lied friendship and how with these strong connections you can conquer anything and i really really loved that!

I liked this book. It took a bit to get all the characters straight with all the switching chapters but once I caught on I enjoyed it. I liked the setting and enjoyed all the history the characters had together.

Synopsis
4 childhood besties chose their annual vacay to hit the trails in Norway on a four day hike. While the majority of the group would prefer some r&r on beachside, this Norway trip holds a special meaning tied to their childhood. This hike will unveil lots of secrets, heartaches, and true colors. Sprinkle in a dead body and you’ve got yourself a real mystery!

This book would make a phenomenal motion picture. I’ve got the cast already lined up.
Maggie- Ginnifer Goodwin
Helena- Kerry Washington
Joni-Jessica Alba
Liz- Rachel McAdams
Leif- Jeffrey Dean Morgan
Eric-Alexander Skarsgård

The beginning starts slow while establishing the characters, but once the hike gets started the book flies! The plot is excellent. Fans of Breathless will love the storyline. It reminded me of a Scooby Doo Mystery where the whole team bands together at the end to rid the villain. The ending was not my favorite, HOWEVER I think it will translate much better on the big screen. Hollywood, call me!

Wow, I tore through this book! The pacing of this was excellent, I found it so hard to put down. Lucy Clarke did a great job of bringing these characters to life, I could picture them so vividly. I read "One of the Girls" and enjoyed it, but I thought "The Hike" was even better. I will be reading more of her books and cannot recommend this one enough! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Very much a popcorn thriller - short chapters, so easy to binge, and enough suspense to keep you wondering what was going to happen. While I didn't necessarily predict the twists at the end, they made sense with the story and weren't shocking. It started off slow as there was a bit of introduction and back knowledge to know about each of the 4 main characters. Each of the 4 women were very different and each had their own personalities and qualms with each other, which added a lot of elements outside of the main plot. The survival mode was fun and unlike other thrillers I've read recently. I thought the "Search" chapters were going to lead in a different direction where it did. Overall, an enjoyable, quick, tension-filled read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Posted to Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5482917748 - and StoryGraph, live now

This mystery thriller was about four women, very close friends, going on a hiking trip in Norway. It was a hot mess and I really enjoyed it. The author portrayed a believable, mysterious and some what scary story.
I thought it was well done and I recommend this one!
Thanks G. P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley.

I think the description for this book is a little deceptive. Or maybe it’s my interpretation that is at fault. I was expecting sort of locked door mystery vibes where we aren’t sure who is stalking the group/they keep disappearing as the book goes on. This is not the case. This book didn’t really hook me, but I also was never bored. The story was good, the writing was succinct and well done, but there was something lacking. Perhaps an element of suspense? I wasn’t really surprised at any point during my read. This is a good book and I would recommend it, but it wouldn’t be in my top reads of the year.

Thank you to the publisher for an ARC.

I did not see that coming! The Hike was full of twist, turns, and secrets! A group of friends take turns picking a destination for their annual holiday. This year it was Liz's turn to pick and she chose hiking (and wild camping) difficult mountains in Norway. What could go wrong spending time with friends in the beautiful outdoors? After stumbling across something the friends were definitely not supposed to see, things go downhill quick. The friends are left wondering who they can trust and if they will all survive this trip.

Thank you to Netgalley, PENGUIN GROUP- PUTNAM and Lucy Clarke for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date for The Hike: August 29, 2023