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nadia_oliver's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very unique concept for a book. I didn't read the blurb, so I was shocked when the Selkie-lore aspect appeared in the book, as I was expecting just a regular old thriller. I ended up enjoying that aspect of the book, though, and I appreciated that (at least for me) it never became clear whether she was actually a Selkie, or if that was a delusion. Either way, I liked that unique plot line.
Additionally, I thought I had figured out from the beginning what happened in this one, and what happened was pretty close to my guess, so it did feel somewhat predictable to me.
Overall, though, I enjoyed this one and it was a fairly fast-paced read, since I wanted to know what happened. It was good, just not amazing.
Additionally, I thought I had figured out from the beginning what happened in this one, and what happened was pretty close to my guess, so it did feel somewhat predictable to me.
Overall, though, I enjoyed this one and it was a fairly fast-paced read, since I wanted to know what happened. It was good, just not amazing.
r_coop's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lovelylittlelostgirl_'s review against another edition
1.0
DNF - I tried to get into this but it was so unnecessarily vague from the get go to add intrigue and it just bored me. The concept sounds good. But it reads like the intro of a thriller tv show, but this is a book, it doesn't need to be so cryptic. A hundred pages in and I just couldn't get interested enough to keep reading.
smittenforfiction's review against another edition
3.0
Happy New Year book lovers! I wish you health and happiness for 2022, and that you'll read some incredible books. I'm determined to catch up and keep up with my reviews this year. I'm not going to call it a resolution because then I'm certain to fail. After loving Little Darlings, I jumped at the chance to request an arc for Melanie Golding's newest novel, The Hidden. This is inspired by a Scottish folktale called "The Mermaid Wife".
The Hidden is about people hiding their past and their feelings. There are hidden cameras and hidden objects. Hidden pockets and hidden bodies. What happens when hidden things are found?
About The Book
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
3.0
THE HIDDEN is one of those books that I wanted to love a lot more than I actually did. It has an intriguing premise, the kind that always draws me in. Unfortunately, its execution just didn't quite measure up. For one thing, the characters—even Ruby and Joanna—aren't super likable. I didn't feel really connected to any of them. The plot also seems far-fetched and the whole selkie thing felt unconvincing to me. That being said, THE HIDDEN did keep me engaged. I definitely wanted to know what was going to happen next. In the end, though, I found it a bit disappointing. As much as I wanted to, I just didn't love it.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
The Hidden by Melanie Golding, Narrated by Penelope Rawlins
DS Joanna Harper is a favorite character of mine, now that I've enjoyed two books where she makes an appearance. She played a smaller part in Little Darlings but in this book she is one of the main characters. I love being in her head because it's a funny, cynical place to be. I hope she shows up in future books by Melanie Golding.
Harper is investigating what appears to be an attempted homicide. As she digs deeper, this case could also involve a missing mother and her toddler. Harper goes from career driven cop mode to protective mother who will do anything to protect her child mode when she sees CCTV footage of her estranged daughter carrying the toddler.
I was entranced by the audiobook of The Hidden even though I had to set aside my overly critical thinking and just go with the flow. The child's mother insists that she is descended from the mythological Selkies. The adversary in this story seems to be all powerful and all knowing. And both Harper and her daughter, Ruby, make some extremely questionable decisions. But still, the story had me hooked and I did like Harper, Ruby, and little Leonie so much that I had to see exactly what was going on and how things would end. I so hope we see Harper again.
The narration of the audiobook was very good. Not everyone can do the voice of a toddler very well but I loved hearing Leonie voiced in this story. I wanted to reach out and hug that little girl, she seemed so real and so adorable.
Pub: November 9, 2021
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
DS Joanna Harper is a favorite character of mine, now that I've enjoyed two books where she makes an appearance. She played a smaller part in Little Darlings but in this book she is one of the main characters. I love being in her head because it's a funny, cynical place to be. I hope she shows up in future books by Melanie Golding.
Harper is investigating what appears to be an attempted homicide. As she digs deeper, this case could also involve a missing mother and her toddler. Harper goes from career driven cop mode to protective mother who will do anything to protect her child mode when she sees CCTV footage of her estranged daughter carrying the toddler.
I was entranced by the audiobook of The Hidden even though I had to set aside my overly critical thinking and just go with the flow. The child's mother insists that she is descended from the mythological Selkies. The adversary in this story seems to be all powerful and all knowing. And both Harper and her daughter, Ruby, make some extremely questionable decisions. But still, the story had me hooked and I did like Harper, Ruby, and little Leonie so much that I had to see exactly what was going on and how things would end. I so hope we see Harper again.
The narration of the audiobook was very good. Not everyone can do the voice of a toddler very well but I loved hearing Leonie voiced in this story. I wanted to reach out and hug that little girl, she seemed so real and so adorable.
Pub: November 9, 2021
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.
nickmasters's review against another edition
4.0
There is a lot happening in this story.
Folklore fantasies, psychopathic killers and family struggles. Although each story line was great in isolation, and perhaps could have worked well in a few combinations, to me there was just a bit much for a single novel.
Melanie Golding has done a great job with the characterizations. I really enjoyed all the characters, and in particular loved the relationship between the Harper’s.
Thanks NetGalley and HQ for a Review Copy
Folklore fantasies, psychopathic killers and family struggles. Although each story line was great in isolation, and perhaps could have worked well in a few combinations, to me there was just a bit much for a single novel.
Melanie Golding has done a great job with the characterizations. I really enjoyed all the characters, and in particular loved the relationship between the Harper’s.
Thanks NetGalley and HQ for a Review Copy
heregrim's review against another edition
5.0
A twisty thriller, although it can be considered a more straight path if you embrace the mythology from the beginning. I love the use of unreliable characters to put doubt about Selkies into the story and ultimately this is a story of a mother & daughter's love.