Really excellent - I pride myself on being an excellent guesser of crime novels, but this had a couple of extra wrinkles that completely misled me. Definitely looking forward to more DI Robin Fleet books…

From the beginning this book really had me engaged. I enjoyed two timelines and the multiple pov learning about the time at the boarding school. The suspense created throughout kept me picking up the book and it did not disappoint.

Another great novel from Simon Lelic. Really enjoyed the continuation of Rob, Holly and Nicky’s story. Great storyline and twists to keep you guessing.

The blurb doesn’t give much away, but does definitely set expectations high.

This police procedural centres around the discovery of the body of a young boy, Ben, who went missing from his boarding school twenty-two years earlier, apparently during a game of hide and seek. The case is investigated by the likeable and well-written DI Fleet and his equally likeable DS, Nicky Collins. The suspects are the dead boy’s friends at the time, who have now all gone their separate ways, the most successful now an aspiring politician.

It’s solidly written, enjoyable, and I didn’t cotton on to who the killer was, which is obviously vital in these novels.

But it didn’t really live up to the hype. I was expecting something a lot darker, a lot more gripping and sinister.

If police procedurals are your thing, then there’s a lot here to enjoy. But I do think that perhaps the blurb needs a bit of rethinking.

This was a brilliant read. The story is told from a dual timeline. I loved the characters. This was such a tense book. The atmosphere was chilling. I didn’t guess any of the twists

Brilliant thriller! I really enjoyed this read. I thought the characters were really well written and the pace was fantastic, just the right amount of mystery and suspense but a gripping "can't put down" feeling too. Kept me guessing until the end!

This book was an interesting read set over two time periods and about a boy whose death was discovered after more than two decades. DI Fleet is head, of an impossibly small, unsolved crime unit . This case will test his ability to solve the murder and lead him in many different and ultimately incorrect directions before the cataclysmic events that end the novel. I Liked the characterisation of DI fleet and can perhaps see more books featuring this police department. At times I just felt it needed a bit more pace or propulsion.

The body of a young boy is discovered in the grounds of the boarding school from which he disappeared many years before. The narrative switches between past and present to reveal the reason for his death.

The excerpts from the past cast light on the police investigation and the multiple viewpoints, which has become a rather tiresome feature of crime novels, is used effectively in this instance.

A good muted mystery but I do wish there was a detective out there with a settled family life!

I hadn’t read anything by this author before but I was very impressed with this book. It was easily read, it was dark at times but I liked that. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon Lelic for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

The body of missing school boy Ben Draper is discovered in an old chapel crypt, twenty years after he disappeared in the grounds of Beaconsfield Boarding School.

Leading the investigation is DI Rob Fleet and his partner Nick. They discover that Ben was bullied and controlled at the school. The discovery of the body throws suspicion on his fellow pupils and teachers at the time of his disappearance.

The story goes back and forth showing the last few weeks of Ben's life and who he interacted with.

I loved that there are so many suspects and I kept changing my mind as to who the perpetrator was.

A gripping read from an author who is simply brilliant.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I like this author and the way they write. An enthralling and suspenseful story with a great denouement.

A brilliantly plotted thriller, with multiple character perspectives and a dual timeline that kept my attention throughout. Recommend for fans of thrillers!

Throwbacks to sinister goings on at school...this is a dark twisty read. It is a nasty story but all too believable with the way places like to keep dark secrets hidden.. A decent read.

A tense thriller set in two different times. A great story line and well written characters. Highly recommended by me!

My review:⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hiding Place is a tense thriller, told in two timelines, one set in 1997 at a boy's boarding school, and the other in present day.

One of the boys from the boarding school went missing all those years ago, and is found in present day.

It's a good story, written well, so you don't see the twists coming, and it has a great build to the story!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin.

When four boys leave their school dorm to play a game, nobody expects one to disappear. Twenty two years later, a body is found and DI Fleet is sent to investigate. Can he piece together all the evidence and discover what really happened that night, before another death occurs?

The Hiding Place is a well written thriller that keeps you guessing. The action takes place across two timelines - Fleet’s investigation in the presence, and the action of twenty two years before. The exclusive boarding school setting, complete with crypt for hiding bodies and a headmaster more keen to preserve the good name of the school than solve the crime, all adds to the entertainment.

A good read

Great read! A body is found in the grounds of an auspicious boarding school, many years later! Some of those pupils have gone onto to established positions within the community, and therefore the need to keep the past in the past is imperative. Fast paced, well rounded characters, and a joy to read! Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the book.

I really enjoyed this book. Great storyline, riveting twists snd turns. Good characters.
All in all a good read

I found The Hiding Place by Simon Lelic to be a riveting read that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This psychological thriller is a complex and disturbing tale that will challenge your perceptions of truth, justice, and revenge.

The story follows the investigation of a brutal murder that takes place in a small town. Detective Inspector Jonah Sheens leads the investigation, but soon finds himself unraveling a web of lies and secrets that threaten to consume him and his team. The Hiding Place is a well-crafted mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Lelic's writing style is immersive and atmospheric, creating a sense of tension and unease that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. The characters are multi-dimensional and flawed, making them feel real and relatable. The pacing is perfect, with just the right amount of suspense and action to keep you engaged throughout.

An anonymous tip-off sends the police to the exclusive boarding school of Beaconsfield. A body has been found in a crypt that no-one knew was there. The body is that of Ben Draper who everyone assumed had run away from the school twenty years earlier. It is obvious that there has been foul play and the case is assigned to DI Robin Fleet and DC Nicky Collins.
There are some solid suspects but when those suspects themselves become victims, and the bodies mount the race is on to catch the killer. Flint thinks he knows who the murderer is, but he’s been wrong before.
Told in a dual timeline, we have the events leading up to Ben’s death and the investigation to find the person responsible.
This book had me hooked from page one. The main characters, who were introduced to us in a previous novel, are well-rounded and likable and I look forward to (hopefully) meeting them again in another book.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.