This was an enjoyable FBI procedural. It’s the 6th in a series and I haven’t read any of the other books, but it can be enjoyed as a standalone. This book heavily features a cult so if you love cult vibes then you’re going to want to check this one out.

See How They Hide (Quinn & Costa, #6) by Allison Brennan

This is the first of this series that I have read and will go back and read the series from the beginning as I enjoyed the camaraderie between Detective Kara Quinn and Special Agent Matt Costa and their team and Brennan's writing style. It can be read as a standalone.

The story begins with 2 murders on opposite coasts killed in a similar manner surrounded by poppies. What is the meaning of the poppies? The mark of the killer(s)? Something of Importance to the killer(s)? The victims? They search for the younger victim, Jane’s, best friend Riley Pierce, hoping to get more information from her as Jane’s current roommates know very little about her and there is minimal personal information in her room. More murders occur. Riley knows exactly what is going on but fears law enforcement. Will Detective Kara Quinn and Special Agent Matt Costa, along with their team gain her trust in time to end the killings? The suspense made this book hard to put down

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Allison Brennan for an advanced copy of this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

See How They Hide is my first five-star read of 2025. I haven't read the other books in this series, but after this one, I totally need to. See How They Hide functions very well as a standalone. The only confusion I had involved Kara's background, which was explained but not in depth. I also found the number of characters confusing at first, but once the story picked up, it was easy to tell who was who.

See How They Hide gave me Criminal Mind-type vibes. The cast of characters was great. I loved the romance between Matt and Kara and the drama it caused between Kara and Catherine.

I've always been interested in cults. I thought the way that Havenwood was ran by Calliope was really interesting. It wasn't really a religious cult it was more of a commune that was taken over by a charismatic leader. What really stood out to me was the way the team worked together with Riley. They actually listened to what she had to say about the cult she grew up in. Because they listened they were able to diffuse the situation at Havenwood before any innocent people were hurt.

Overall it was a great read if you like books with a cast of characters like Criminal Minds this book might be for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately I found this book boring. I may try and pick it up again at a later date. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc/alc.

See How They Hide by Allison Brennan is the 6th book in her wonderful Quinn & Costa series. I love the Quinn and Costa series, as it is always very exciting and intense. Detective Kara Quinn and Special Agent Matt Costa are the leads, with them part of the FBI Mobile Response Team (MRT).

Two people are found murdered in the same time period, with Kara in Oregon and Matt in Virginia, with both finding red poppies on the dead. Kara and her partner Michael, investigate the murder of Jane Merrifield; Matt and his agent, Sloane are investigating the murder of Robert Benson. They begin to try to uncover the link between the two cases, which have similar findings. In a short time, it is suspected that who ever is behind the murders, are part of a cult; as more victims are found. The search reveals more questions, until they meet Riley Pierce, the only person still alive that could help them.

Riley Pierce grew up in Havenwood, a commune started by her grandmother, where people could live a much simpler life. When Riley gets older, she discovers that her mother, Calliope has taken control, not allowing anyone to leave Havenwood, or they will die. Riley escapes to Paris, to study; but when she finds out her best friend, Jane was murdered; she returns secretly to the states, and is devasted that a few other friends (who had escaped) were also murdered. Kara meets Riley, and learns all she can about where and who run Havenwood; they both bond, and Riley will help reveal the information that might help them break the case.

The suspense rises throughout the investigation, as Matt gets himself kidnapped. Kara, Michael and the rest of the FBI/MRT team, are determined to find Matt, and save Riley (who her mother wants her back). The last ¼ of the story was a nail-biting end, filled with suspense, intrigue, intense, with a number of twists.

See How They Hide was a captivating thriller, that was a fantastic chiller, with a wild ending. I was happy that Riley’s part ended well, with her having a very good conclusion. Allison Brennan gives us another fabulous exciting thriller. See How They Hide was another terrific addition to this wonderful series.

I have read every single one of Alison Brennan's books. They never disappoint and this was no exception. Great story, great characters.

Best of luck with the book and thanks for the advanced read

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Brennan, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC. This gripping detective mystery with a cult theme is a true page-turner. Brennan expertly reveals each twist at the perfect moment, keeping the tension high throughout. A highly enjoyable read!

A mind blowingly wild ride! This one had me on a rollercoaster ride that I couldn't get off until iknoew what the heck was going on! From start to finish, never a dull moment. Allison Brennan, you are absolutely brilliant!!

This was a difficult book to read because of the subject matter. However, I did feel for the characters. The police/ FBI story was wee done v

See How They Hide is the Sixth installment in author Allison Brennan's Quinn & Costa series. Detective Kara Quinn, formerly of the LAPD, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt Costa, have a mystery on their hands. The FBI Mobile Response Team has been asked to investigate the deaths of two people who were murdered in the exact same way, one in Virginia and another in Oregon, with red poppies covering their bodies. Quinn and her partner, FBI Agent Michael Harris, investigate the murder of Jane Merrifield in Oregon.

Meanwhile, Matt and Agent Sloane Wagner, who is new to the team, are in Virginia looking into the murder of Robert Benson. What is his connection to Jane? As they investigate, they pinpoint Jane’s roommate, Riley Pierce, as the link between the two and other victims who appear to have been given new identities. Eventually, they learn that Riley, who arrived from Paris, has information about an isolated cult-like community called Havenwood in the Colorado mountains that might be the key to solving the murders.

Riley grew up in Havenwood, a commune started by her grandmother, where people could live a much simpler life. It was a place for people who wanted to live a simple life. But when Riley got older, she discovered that her mother, Calliope, had taken control and refused to allow anyone to leave. Those who tried, died. Those who escaped were tracked down. While Riley escaped to Paris to study art, her best friend, Jane stayed behind. Now she's dead. Riley is devastated to learn that friends who escaped with her help are now being targeted by Calliope.

The suspense rises throughout the investigation as Matt gets himself kidnapped as a way to send a message to Riley. Kara, Michael and the rest of the FBI/MRT team are determined to find Matt and save Riley (whose mother wants her back). Unfortunately, Kara once again faces scorn from her teammate, Catherine Jones, who thinks she's unhinged and out of control. Catherine's issues have always bothered me because she's sanctimonious, like most politicians, believing that her truth is one everyone should agree upon. Even Dean Montero, who takes over while Matt is gone, seems to have issues with Kara.

The good thing is that Kara develops a bond with Riley, one of the bright spots in this series. Riley is a character who not only escaped her own mother but now may have answers as to how to find Havenwood and how to rescue Matt and others who might want to leave. Dean Montero is an expert in cults but he hasn't been out in the field for years, which allows Kara to do what she does best. Kara is well aware of her shortcomings in the eyes of the FBI, but no one has her instincts, and that counts for a whole lot, especially when things go sideways and Matt is in danger.

On the brighter side, it has taken a few books for Matt to realize that Catherine's opinion is just that—her opinion. Matt loves Kara, who is now looking to move ahead with her life without worrying about her past issues with the LAPD or her issues with Catherine. There is a bit of hope when it comes to that, but I won't spoil it. Let's hope this means that the author intends to give the couple time to explore if they are meant to be together.

See How They Hide by Allison Brennan is a gripping thriller that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Brennan expertly crafts a tense and suspenseful narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with their flaws and motivations adding depth to the story. The plot moves at a brisk pace, combining psychological intrigue with action-packed moments that make it hard to put down. Brennan’s attention to detail and ability to build a chilling atmosphere elevate the book, making it a standout in the genre. A must-read for fans of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrillers!

Allison Brennan belongs in the class of top notch thriller writers.... her characters are just so relatable, there's never a dull moment.

So Kate and Matt are trying to piece together what connects different murders in different states. The killer or killers leave a signature of poppies. When Riley comes into the picture, they get brought into a hidden world of a cult ruled by a terrifying figures with a connection to Riley.

Lives are at stake especially when someone from the team gets taken! It's a race against time to prevent another WACO like tragedy!

THANKS NetGalley and Harlequin. Beyond grateful and humbled for this ARC!!!

SEE HOW THEY HIDE, OUT JANUARY 7TH 2025

SOLID 4.5 STARS!!!!

Let me start with saying I would rate it 3.75/5 stars!

This was my first book by Allison Brennan, I realize this is a series but I didn’t feel lost at all coming in at book 6!

This was a great and exciting police procedural story, dealing with many characters including a deadly cult-like community.

Overall, this story was exciting and kept me entertained most of the time. There was lots of details regarding lots of different aspects in the book, I felt some aided in the story and some felt like filler.

This detective lead story thought felt unlike anything else I’ve read recently, which I really appreciated. I would recommend this story to anyone that likes a mystery or thriller, and especially anyone that likes the inns and outs of detective work. Think the script of Law&Order!

Title:  See How They Hide
Author: Allison Brennan      
Genre:  Mystery/thriller      
Rating:  4 out of 5

No matter how far you run, some pasts never let you go…

Two people were murdered—at the exact same time, in the same gruesome manner, bodies covered in the same red poppies…but on opposite sides of the country.

With Detective Kara Quinn investigating in Oregon and Special Agent Matt Costa in Virginia, the Mobile Response Team digs deep to uncover more about each victim. What is the link between the two, and why were they targeted?

Yet their search unearths more questions than answers—until they meet Riley Pierce, the only person still alive who might be able to help them find the killers.

Soon, it becomes clear this case is nothing like they’ve seen before as their investigation leads them to the hallowed grounds of Havenwood—an eerily beautiful place rooted in a terrifying past.

As more bodies turn up, all tied to the same community, Kara and Matt are desperate to piece the puzzle together before Havenwood’s leader sacrifices everything to keep her secrets buried.

 I’ve enjoyed all the Quinn & Costa books, and I liked this one, too. Books about cults always creep me out a bit, and this one was no exception. I liked seeing how the team made connections and linked thinks I would never have thought of, but the glimpses of live within Havenwood was creepy and unsettling at best. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt—the part after the resolution with Havenwood—but the rest was a solid read.

Allison Brennan is a bestselling author. See How They Hide is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 1/29).

This book follows the FBI's mobile response team as it investigates two murders with eerie similarities that were committed on opposite sides of the country.
What I liked: I love the teamwork and camaraderie of the Mobile Response Team, as well as the continued progress in the romantic relationship between Kara and Matt, as well as the working relationship between Kara and Catherine, who have always rubbed each other the wrong way. Brennan is great at exploring complex characters. I also enjoyed the team's investigation into the mysterious, cult-like community of Havenwood. The second half of the book was particularly exciting.
What I disliked: For me, this book was slow at the beginning. It took me longer than usual to immerse myself in the world and become invested in what happened, and I never enjoyed this book as much as I did some of the others in the series.
Overall: This is a good addition to the series. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the others in the series, but it's still a solid police procedural that explores complex characters and relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

For book recommendations and reviews, follow me on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@whileireadwithkatiedodrill?si=jxOMZ3BPnlH5ofeU

Fans of gripping, fast-paced mysteries and thrillers will devour this story, as it masterfully weaves together dark, adventurous, and suspenseful elements to create a page-turning ride that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

Thank you NetGalley! I throughly enjoy this series by Allison Brennan. I love the dynamics between the characters. This book drew me in right away and had me hooked the entire time

This is book 6 in the Quinn and Costa series and I loved it! A fast-paced read and great story. I have enjoyed watching the relationships between the characters develop over the course of the series. Can be read as a stand-alone but highly recommend you read the series from the beginning.

Thank you #netgalley and #htp #mira for the eARC.

I picked this book up not even realizing it was books 6 in a series. I think one of the great things about it is that you don’t have to read the books that came before this one to be completely engaged with the stories and characters.
I will plan on going back and reading from the start of the series just so I can see how the develops happened over time though as the FBI team dynamic is what made this book stand out for me. Not to mention Riley who has amazing strength in the face of some severe PTSD.
So no spoilers…..just if you like fbi procedurals with a fun and interesting cast and a truly devilish bad guy/gal you should give this one a read. A solid 4.25/5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

This book IMMEDIATELY drew me on, however, I hadn't realized it was part of a series! I did stop partway through so I could start from the beginning, but I HIGHLY recommend the series!