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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.
charlottethebookharlot's review against another edition
4.0
A little girl is abandoned by her mother on a seaside town street and a man is found bludgeoned in his bath. At first seemingly unconnected DS Joanna Harper must find the connection and uncover the truth, but is it too strange to be true?
I loved the mix of the suspense and mystery elements with the mythology of the Selkies; it was written in a very believable way that didn't feel forced or fake and brought a new layer of interest a mystery story. The twists and turns kept coming and I was hooked until the very end.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel
I loved the mix of the suspense and mystery elements with the mythology of the Selkies; it was written in a very believable way that didn't feel forced or fake and brought a new layer of interest a mystery story. The twists and turns kept coming and I was hooked until the very end.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel
haylogo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nerdywerewolf's review against another edition
4.0
"Within the community, cult-whatever...there are stories. They're all to do with seal worship. Their version of bible stories, I suppose."
This series is scary-good. Scary because it never tells you whether the people seeing or experiencing fantastical things are sane or not. It's up to your own interpretation and there is A LOT to interpret.
This is the second Joanna Harper book and it deals with her own estranged daughter-raised-as-a-sister, Ruby. After her last case, in which a sleep-deprived mother was convinced faeries swapped her twins for changelings, this one is just as wacky and terrifying. This time, it's a woman convinced she's a selkie and needing to get back to her clan-The Rowans.
I can't even say if I like these or if they're just amazingly thought-out. I shall be thinking about this one for a while and if there's another, I'll probably read it, too. A good series for ponderers...
This series is scary-good. Scary because it never tells you whether the people seeing or experiencing fantastical things are sane or not. It's up to your own interpretation and there is A LOT to interpret.
This is the second Joanna Harper book and it deals with her own estranged daughter-raised-as-a-sister, Ruby. After her last case, in which a sleep-deprived mother was convinced faeries swapped her twins for changelings, this one is just as wacky and terrifying. This time, it's a woman convinced she's a selkie and needing to get back to her clan-The Rowans.
I can't even say if I like these or if they're just amazingly thought-out. I shall be thinking about this one for a while and if there's another, I'll probably read it, too. A good series for ponderers...
routergirl's review against another edition
5.0
The Hidden - an impressive, beautifully written book. It's about selkies, and mothers who let go of their little ones to give them a better chance, and complex mother/daughter relationships, and a psychopath in the middle of it all.
I loved the idea that Constance looking for her coat could be portrayed to others as her losing her grasp on reality. I loved that Ruby was open to believing. The characters were so well written, the locations brought to life, the horror and the sadness, and the longing Constance has for the sea - all perfectly done.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this. Highly (HIGHLY) recommend it, and will likely be pushing it on people I know as soon as it comes out.
I loved the idea that Constance looking for her coat could be portrayed to others as her losing her grasp on reality. I loved that Ruby was open to believing. The characters were so well written, the locations brought to life, the horror and the sadness, and the longing Constance has for the sea - all perfectly done.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this. Highly (HIGHLY) recommend it, and will likely be pushing it on people I know as soon as it comes out.
nearly_empty_nesting's review against another edition
4.0
What I like about Melanie Golding is her ability to write about the challenges of women in the present day and her ability to add a touch of folklore. She adds just enough to make it plausible and completely thought-provoking.
In 'The Hidden', what begins as a murder investigation, turns into so much more. An attempted murder victim is not who he appears to be. Follow along to watch the escape from a coercive controlling domestic situation. He claims she's crazy for believing she is descended from the mythological Selkies. But is she?
This novel dives into family secrets, domestic abuse & kidnapping. The author ties it all together in a compelling narrative. It is fast-paced and thought-provoking. If the Synopsis sounds good to you, I highly recommend picking this one up.
In 'The Hidden', what begins as a murder investigation, turns into so much more. An attempted murder victim is not who he appears to be. Follow along to watch the escape from a coercive controlling domestic situation. He claims she's crazy for believing she is descended from the mythological Selkies. But is she?
This novel dives into family secrets, domestic abuse & kidnapping. The author ties it all together in a compelling narrative. It is fast-paced and thought-provoking. If the Synopsis sounds good to you, I highly recommend picking this one up.