After reading The Stranger by this author, I jumped at the chance to read The Hollow.
This book sounded so good, an unsolved murder, secrets, then another missing girl years later. The reveal was not really shocking, it didn't hit the shock factor you expect in a thriller.
This book was more romance (nothing wrong with that, romance is a fav genre of mine) with less thriller and I think the cover and description are very deceiving. But it wasn't at all what I was expecting, which was disappointing.
The big reveal felt rushed at the end and I had to relisten to the chapter to make sure I had heard it right.
But I was interested in the story and the murderer. It was a quick listen that kept me interested.

Thanks for the ALC Netgalley and Dreamscape Media!

Kiersten Modglin's THE HOLLOW is a mix of coming of age, a love triange, an unsolved mystery, and romantic suspense when a young woman returns to a campground she loved as a teen.

It was the perfect place to grow up…and the perfect place to die.

About...

Carmen returns to Hunter's Hollow, an idyllic campground in North Carolina where she spent time as a teen. Jack and Dean Hunter were the sons of the campground's owners. They became her friends, protectors, and keepers of secrets.

There was a horrific tragedy when a body was found at Hunter's Hollow. There is a killer among them. She spent years running. She wants justice.

Unsolved, Carmen left the Hollow behind. Now a successful illustrator in Atlanta, Carmen returns to spend time with her mom, who still works and lives there. She wants to learn the truth behind the unsolved death that still haunts her.

Now, eleven years later and with the case still unsolved, Carmen returns to face the past and discovers the truth about that terrible night. Before she can, a guest is reported missing from the campground, and the circumstances are all too similar to the horror Carmen once faced.

From past to present, with two storylines colliding (as a teen and today as an adult), the author explores relationships between the triangle. Secrets from the past unravel, and no one is as they appear.

Audiobook...

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Diana Bustelo who gave an engaging performance for both dual timelines. (a more youthful YA voice)

My thoughts...

I do not read a lot of romantic suspense; however, THE HOLLOW is a heart-wrenching, twisty, mysterious, and unpredictable romantic suspense about home and where you belong. I enjoy books set in campgrounds that I find mysterious and eerie.

Recs:

For fans of Colleen Hoover, Laura Griffin, Megan Miranda, Marlee Bush, and those who enjoy:

~murder mysteries
~missing person
~love triangle
~Dual: past & present timelines
~eerie, atmospheric campground setting
~family
~enemies to friends to lovers
~coming of age with dark twists
~brothers
~romantic suspense
~YA novels

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 3.5 Stars rounded to 4 Stars
Pub Date: May 28, 2024
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This book was different than the Kiersten Modglin books I've read previously. This book was very romance/coming of age more so than a suspenseful novel. Still written well and was interesting throughout. I listened to the audiobook of this book and found the reader's voice pleasant and articulate.

Such a great book. I was fortunate to be approved for this book and as usual Kiersten always knows how to keep you at the edge of your seat in suspense. I kept waiting for what was coming next and it didn’t disappoint as usual. I recommend reading this book asap. It’s worth the time spent reading it.

The Hollow is another Kiersten Modglin well paced thriller. This story is for those who may not be able to handle some of her darker, closer to horror, stories. While it’s a bit lighter, it’s still gripping, grabbing the reader from the beginning and keeping them curious. It also has a love triangle in this one that’ll keep you intrigued and guessing from a romance standpoint (which I loved!) and it is a dual timeline story, which is something that I always enjoy.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, which was well done. I listened at 1.75x speed (with 1.75-2x speed being my normal audiobook listening speed).

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this advanced audiobook copy.

This was a great story. It kept me wanting to keep listening. The narrator did a great job with the voices. The story had enough suspense to keep me hooked and wanting more. There was a pretty good twist at the end and the end tied up nicely. I would recommend this book to others for sure. Thanks Netgalley and Dreamscapes media for the opportunity to listen to this one.

I’ve read many books by Kiersten Modglin and this isn’t one of my favorites. Usually I find lots of twists that I never see coming but this one wasn’t like her usual books. I listened to the audiobook me the narrator was good.

This is the third book I've read by Kiersten Modglin. I absolutely LOVED Hemlock, but The Hollow doesn't even come close. I liked the characters and the writing but it felt like there wasn't much of a story - not a lot happened. I hope Modglin isn't becoming one of those assembly line, mass produced, pump them out just to get them out authors. I was quite intrigued after reading Hemlock, and may give her another chance because I once had hope she'd become a favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley for offering this title in their catalog. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This was a fantastic book! Carmen McKenna, after a personal tragedy, moves to Hunter’s Hallow with her mother’s friend, Jill, and her husband Sam, and their boys, Dean and Jack. With a bit of a love triangle happening, there’s also a body found in a cabin. 11 years later, Carmen comes back to visit, and it seems to be happening again. A girl is missing and the reminder that 11 years ago, they never found the killer. Could it be the same thing happening again?

Kiersten Modglin needs to just come out with a straight romance book. The romance in this book was top notch. No matter the age of the characters, I felt the push and pull of their emotions. The interactions made me smile as if I was Carmen with the guy! Oh how I wish. Both are sweet, but Dean is the sweetest! He made my heart melt.

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc. I first wanna say that this is not at all a thriller. No thrills whatsoever throughout this book. I did however like it for different reasons. The atmosphere was good and we follow a past and present timeline and it's at a campground called Hunter's Hollow where our main character spent a lot of time at as a child and comes back to visit for 2 months when she's an adult and there's a romance in this too and I feel like that was the main focus like Carmen couldn't make up her mind on who she loved or even the guys messed around with her. There was a girl gone missing at like 60% through the book but nothing mystery or thriller really happens. I was disappointed with this but the characters were pretty good just wish there actually was some thrills and a deeper mystery.

The Hollow
by Kiersten Modglin
Narrated by Diana Bustelo

Rating: 3.5/5.0 Stars

I will give Kiersten Modglin one thing: never know what you're going to get when you read a book of hers. I expect twists and turns and suspense and more...The Hollow was definitely more of a love triangle story that spans years with a little bit of a mystery happening in the background. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as riveting as many of her stories are.

Carmen and her mom move to Hunter's Hollow when times get tough. The two boys that also live there, Jack and Dean, change Carmen's life forever. Set in between back and forth narratives between the past and the present, this novel tells the story of Carmen's relationships with both Dean and Jack, as well as a mystery that has haunted the campgrounds for years, with no one knowing what happened all those years ago.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley, and the author for the chance to listen to and review this ALC!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audio version of this novel. I really enjoyed the fast paced story! When Carmen returns to the campground she grew up as a kid, the reader is left guessing about her feelings towards the two boys she grew up with - Jack and Dean. Having history with both boys complicates thing even more as they both fight for her attention and love. Part love story, part thriller; I honestly didn't see the killer coming.

WOW!

This is the first time that I am actually going to include a narrator in my review. Diana Bustelo, was absolutely incredible! Clear, crisp and engaging! I would love to listen to more audiobooks by this narrator and would likely pick a book I might not otherwise pick just due to the way she narrates a story.

Kiersten Modglin, has a reputation for her thrilling and engaging plots. No need for an introduction, we ALL know Modglin,

The Hollow was a book that kept on giving. Dual timelines built up the storyline to deliver an explosive twist at the end. Although I did figure out who the villain was before Modglin exposed them, it did not take away from my love for this book.

The Hollow is due out May 28th and I will be recommending this book to all my friends!

Kudos Kiersten, once again, you slayed!

The Hollow is part romance, part thriller, told in alternating timepoints, and an engaging read.

This book completely caught me off guard. Based on the cover, description and the authors past works I’ve read, I’d expected a dark thriller, but this was more romance with a dash of mystery. It was a really enjoyable read however, with The Summer I Turned Pretty vibes, as slightly grittier setting and a few startling twists.

The love triangle romance contrasted with blood and murder in an unsettling way, so while the twists weren’t as twisty as the authors usual works, they certainly carried shock value. The reading experience reminded me a little of Nora Ephron’s blend of suspense, romance and crime (which is a combo I love).

The audiobook narration perfectly reflected the various characters in both time points and captured the gloomy sometimes sinister setting of the holiday camp well. I zoomed through this audiobook, and would recommend to anyone looking for an engaging romance with a sinister undertones.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.

This one definitely wasn't what I was expecting. Kiersten's books normally have jaw dropping twists and turns. This one had a tiny bit of suspense, but it was more of a romance in a way. Torn between 2 brothers, etc. It was just ok for me.

Not at all the story I was expecting since KMod tends to write fast-paced thrillers but this is one of her romance-lead ones.
I did enjoy it, I liked the twists both in the mystery and with the relationships, and the romance was spicy but not overdone.


Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

A slow-burn romance with a touch of suspense and a hint of a love triangle that will keep you intrigued until the end. The story draws you in, gradually unraveling its mystery elements and leaving you eager to uncover more. The audiobook's narration by Diana Bustelo perfectly captures the emotions and tension, making for an engrossing listen. Carmen's journey back to Hunter’s Hollow is filled with secrets, young love, and chilling twists that kept me hooked.

The Hollow by Kiersten Modglin was an audiobook listen and was
narrated by Diana Bustelo. Diana was an excellent voice and really brought to life for me. I highly suggest listening to this one.
This was more of a romance for KM but she still wrote a mysterious page turner. Someone was killed and the MC is back after being away for years.
The ending felt a little rushed and I have a few questions I’d like to ask about Jack! 😂
Thanks Dreamscape Media via NetGalley.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for my free audiobook for review.

My thoughts on the story:
I was surprised by this book, expecting a thriller based on the ominous cover and synopsis, but it turned out to be more of a romance with a touch of mystery.

The story unfolds in two timelines, past and present, centered around Carmen. We get to experience the day Carmen first encountered the Hunter brothers, Jack and Dean, and their tale is fraught with angst, young love, and heartbreak.

The Hollow, a camping ground with cabins, sets the perfect atmospheric backdrop for the narrative.

The revelation of the mystery caught me off guard; as they say, "I didn’t see that coming."

I devoured the book in one sitting. Despite not being the thriller I anticipated, I was engrossed in the complex relationship dynamics between Carmen, Jack, and Dean, eagerly following how it would all unfold. The ending left me satisfied.

My thoughts on the audiobook:
Narrator Diana Bustelo truly embodied Carmen, evoking her emotions of anguish, happiness, and anger. I always appreciate when a narrator can bring variation to the voices and accents of characters, and Bustelo ensured I could distinguish between Jack and Dean.

I’d recommend this if you want a slow burn fiction, some suspenseful romance and a side of mystery. This focuses on Carmen’s relationship with 2 brothers and life at the Hollow, a camping ground. Told in a dual timeline, half of it was a coming of age/young adult as well. It's a good book as a fiction and the added mystery really pulls you in.

Now for my rant and frustration. Reading the blurb I went in with the wrong expectations. I was expecting a bigger focus on the unsolved case and the secrets.
I kept on waiting for something to happen but the reveal and twist was all at the end and because there wasn’t enough about the case throughout, I lost interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.