What you do after Christmass? You go for a walking adventure that turns to an nightmare. The idea of the story is good just maybe too much suspects after one of the so called friend is daed. They are really not friends, sisters are not conected and everyone is against someone or afraid. Well thazvis interesting discovering and the final twist was a shock.

Thank you to Netgalley.com and Avon publishing for advanced read and listening copies.

As with murmurations, it seems humans are safer travelling together when predators attempt to pick them off. When these seven friends go to bird watch on a freezing cold day post-Christmas, danger ensues when one is shot and the others decide it will be safest to split up.

The book is a very quick read, particularly as it is told from the first person perspective in each character’s case. That for me kept the story feeling pacy. The first third of the book was spent building tension and then the coil was released as we raced to the conclusion, with twists and turns along the way.

I was pleased I managed to guess a few of the twists and also who was responsible for the nefarious acts, without it being overly obvious. Also, the setting is immersive and a great indoor winter read.

The reason I took off a star here is because the characters are largely so unlikeable that it was tough to root for any of them. There are only one or two exceptions to this, which in a cast of seven is minimal.

I would definitely be interested to read more work by this author.

Many thanks to Avon Books, NetGalley and the author for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm usually a fan of multiple POVs but this one fell flat for me. I honestly didn't connect with any of the characters and I'm not sure if the constant POV switch was to blame or the fact that non of them were likeable. The ending was also disappointing for me. It was a quick read and I enjoyed the setting.

Well I’m going to keep this short. I don’t like to leave negative reviews but at the same time, I’d like to save others the trouble of reading this. I was pumped going into it because it sounded awesome-isolated winter time thrill ride with loads of secrets. What I actually got was flat characters, a slower than molasses burn and and ending that was not even worth reading. And way too much description of stuff-I mean a wholesome chapter about someone spraining their ankle? Ridiculous. I found myself skimming quite a bit, and in all reality, had I not been buddy reading this, I would have DNF’d it.
Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

A deserted nature reserve may be a remarkable place to observe birds in their natural habitat but when there is a killer amongst your group, the isolation is now an extra enemy that you can do without. Seven people went out on a crisp winter’s day, but how many will actually return?

Just wow! I was taken aback with the increasing tension within the pages of this book, it pivots on a knife's edge at times. It was just gloriously sneaky, with the various motives to previous & current deceptions bubbling to the surface. You are fully immersed in the shifting emotions of each of the group as each crisis unfolds and like them, you aren’t sure where it will lead. This is suspense writing at it’s very best.

I also wanted to highlight the striking cover design, it is a lovely lure to ensnare readers into an enthralling reading experience.

Another excellent read from Nell Pattison.
Seven people are meeting up for a hike and some bird watching at a nature reserve. the reserve is closed to the public due to it being Boxing Day.
It’s stretching the description to call the group friends they are acquaintances, and are from varied backgrounds and ages, all having their own reasons for being there , and for one of them the reason is murder. The story is a proper who dunnit , keeping the reader thinking is it her ? Or is it him? The twist at the end brought the book to a perfect conclusion.
The characters are diverse and the writing describes them well , I found Emily a likeable character the rest are what I would called troubled .
Nell Pattison’s writing is easy to read , and changing the narrative to each person in the group kept my interest and made for an enjoyable read.
Looking forward to reading more from this author .

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books .

I found this book a little slow to start with, and to be honest I couldn’t really take to any of the characters, none of them wer particularly likeable but I liked the suspense of who the murderer was and the winter setting though I wouldn’t really call this a Christmas book. A good suspense read for a cold winters night. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the read of this early copy.

If you like mysteries with numerous character POV’s this may be a great winter thriller for you!

I don’t think I do well when more than 5 characters are thrown at me, and I had some trouble connecting to them.

Overall, I think it is a solid who dunnit, but was missing something in the first half to really draw me in.

Thank you to Avon Books UK, NetGalley and Nell Pattison for giving me the opportunity of reading this book for an honest review.

WOW what a thriller. Hide was very well written and quite believable. Each chapter is written from the perspective as one of the seven people who start out on Boxing Day to view the Starling Murmuration in a closed reserve.

One of the group is murdered. Is the killer one of the group or is it one of the poachers who may have gotten in? It is snowing and dark, can the people find their way out or are they all in danger? As a reader, I had to keep turning the page to find out what was happening next.

I have no hesitation in giving this a full five stars.

It took me a little time to fully get into this book and keep up with which of the characters was the narrator. However all of a sudden I was hooked. The book had enough suspense to keep me wanting to read more and once I was hooked I couldn't put it down. Great description so I could actually picture the scenes the books are set in. Recommended read.

Very entertaining and easy to read, but a little bit too slow paced for me. I found myself skimming chapters just to get to the end faster. Loved the final twist at the end though.

I got this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Lauren works on a nature reserve in Lincolnshire and leads a nature group although fellow member Alec would dispute this, after all he is the longest serving member. She persuades her boss to allow the group private access to the site on Boxing Day so that they can marvel at the sight of the murmuration of starlings as they fly on mass just before they roost at night.

The group is an odd collection. There’s Emily Lauren’s deaf sister who trying to connect with her after years apart. Ben is a quiet man who is obsessed with Emily though he previously asked out Lauren who turned him down. Kai is a city lad, not the sort you would expect to find on a nature reserve. Morna is a volunteer who was disappointed not to work there and resents Lauren. Dan is the most recent member who has given little away so far.

The most experienced member of the group is Alec who is a bit of a ‘know all’ and caused a fracas at their pre-Christmas night out. He says he knows all their secrets.

As they gather for their walk there is tension between them, and a short time later there is a gunshot and one of their number lies dead. Who is the murderer; who can be trusted? Are any secrets worth killing to keep?

The novel begins with a frantic chase through snow bound woods and what seems to be a capture, but this is not the start more a taste of what is to come. The set up could almost be one for a teen horror; “Don’t split up” “Don’t go into the woods” “Don’t explore that noise”, but of course they do after all there would be no fun if they didn't. That is where the similarity ends, this is no slasher movie script. What it is is a thoughtful novel centring on personal secrets and the effect the have on the holder and those around them. We all have secrets, some we are determined will remain so, but what lengths would we go to keep them? The secrets themselves vary both in importance and credibility with some of them easier to guess than others but it all helps to keep the reader guessing on top of the whodunnit aspect as the motive for murder is in the secrets.

The story is told in first person, but the narrative circulates between the seven characters, so we see it through their viewpoint. That way we discover their secrets, what they are thinking and the effects that the building tension has on them. It also allows for regular ‘cliff-hangers the narrative.

Although there is a murder early in the story it is to set up the plot, it’s not a violent book. Instead it is more of a psychological thriller than a crime novel being built on fear and anxiety.

The pacing was good as it quickens as each incident develops and then gives a pause for breath before the next cliff-hanger. The killer and motive are not obvious but as the plot progresses the field is gradually narrowed down but the ending still manages to be unexpected and with a nice twist to it.

Finally I would like to thank the publisher, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for a fair review.

A killer lying in wait ★★★☆☆

When a group of seven nature enthusiasts meet for a Boxing Day walk, little do they know that one of them will be shot dead. The killer is amongst them and each of them has a guilty secret to hide.

As the snow begins to fall and it grows dark tensions begin to rise and the group becomes scattered across the nature reserve. What will kill them first? The cold, the fear, or the hidden shotgun?

Gradually the secrets come to light including sisters Lauren and Emily’s traumatic past and complex relationship, Morna’s connection to the group, and the tragedy behind Dan’s grief.

The identity of the killer keeps us guessing even when motivation is revealed and the finale is more complicated than it first seems, revealing a chilling and deep-seated hatred. However, the multiple connections between some of the group members stretch credulity as does the convoluted murder plot.

A light thriller for a snowy winter’s night.

Omg! What a brilliant book. I knew I’d enjoy this book as I’d genuinely enjoyed Nell Pattison’s other books but I have to say this is a in a league of its own.. I’ve read quite a few books of this style recently where a group of friends are in a remote location and then one of them gets killed and everyone is under suspicion and I have to say this is one of the best and most definitely one of my favourite reads this year. The story is so cleverly plotted. You really don’t know who to trust or believe. This book is fast paced as the story gradually reveals itself and just keeps going right until the end. Definitely a recommended read.

A Winter hike on a nature reservation with a group of seven bird watching friends. It sounds about as serene and calm as you can imagine... but you’d be wrong. With one of the group killed, and the rest all in the frame, deserted in a secluded spot. It’s a recipe for a fantastic, nail biting and claustrophobic thriller.
I thought it was incredibly well executed, the setting was desolate and dangerous with the cold weather adding another layer of danger to the plot.
I also thought the way the characters were presented was interesting and clever. How dangerous can a group of birdwatchers be? I started reading relatively skeptical about how I was going to feel these people could be in any way shape or form threatening however the undercurrents and tensions between the characters really made this book. The way the secrets start to spill out really build a picture that leaves you realizing that every character has the capability. I particularly thought the character Emily was well written, her journey through the woods with the loss of her hearing, really plays on her vulnerability and makes for a terrifying read.
A brilliant, fast paced whodunit. It surpassed all my expectations and had me totally absorbed in the pages.

I went into this a little worried the multiple POVs might confuse me, but other than a little muddling up of a couple of characters at the beginning I had no issue keeling track.
Although I had no issue getting through this I did feel something was missing for the first half. The atmosphere in the second half made me more intrigued. I tried figuring out things more during this time.
I will say the reveal of who did it and why was underwhelming. Especially the why. That was disappointing. I expected something bigger.
Then the last paragraph did intrigue me to what happens next. But at the same time the reason why the character is planning what they are planning is disappointing. I need something else.
I had no issue with 90% of the book being the characters trying to get to a safe place to make the call. But I would have liked a little more suspense and a better reason behind the actions.

Does this count as a Christmas book? It does take place on Boxing Day. If so, don’t come expecting a jolly festive extravaganza - not unless you asked Santa for a murder in which case I have some questions for you.

There’s been tremendous hype for this book and I’ve eagerly awaited my chance to read it. But I wasn’t overly enthralled by it. I didn’t find the suspense or the chill that was meant to be there.

I found the characters’ background stories a bit vanilla and didn’t hold much particular interest for me. I thought there were 1 or 2 too many characters to keep on top of, so not all of them got the time they deserved. This meant I didn’t feel worried for any of them even though I knew a murder was going to take place.

I admit, I’m afraid I did do a lot of skimming over because I felt it a bit wordy and too long, with content that I personally didn’t think added to the story.

Seven friends. One killer. You can run, but you can’t hide…
The book cover and this tag line is what drew me to this book. I really like a good murder mystery and after reading the reviews I was excited to get started with this one, however that didn’t last. The plot is interesting, seven friends meet on Boxing Day to go for a walk in a nature reserve but when one is killed by someone from the group, they don’t know who to trust.
Each chapter in this book is told from the point of view of one character, I normally like this but with seven characters it all got a bit confusing and at times I had to go back to see who was talking, also doing it this way meant that although you were reading chapter after chapter not much was actually happening to move the story along. Saying that, the characters were all well written with secrets of their own that were slowly uncovered.
The first two thirds of the book were really slow paced, I know the characters were trying to navigate through snow in the dark but it also felt like we were being made to feel that hard slog along with them
There were parts that didn’t make sense and a lot of repetition. I almost gave up a few chapters in but I am so glad I didn’t, the ending is definitely worth it.

Having read one previous book of Nell Pattison, I was looking forward to this novel. It started well and getting to know the characters was slow start. The Nature Group consists of seven members, Lauren and Emily are sisters, Morna, Ben, Dan, Kai and Alec make up the rest of their Nature Group. The blurb tells the story and the plot is predictable and annoying at times. For me, halfway through the book my mind was wandering until the last quarter of the book picked up and the ending was unexpected. Each chapter is told by different characters. The writing was good at times and not so much in other chapters.

I did enjoy the book, but, for me, was too long in parts.

I give a 4 star rating for the plot.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. MY VIEWS ARE MY OWN.

Wow what a read this book was. Right from the start it had me gripped that I needed to know more, needed to know everyone's secrets let alone find out who the killer was. The ending, was not expecting that at all. Such a fantastic read and would highly recommend giving it a read