I've never read a book from this author before, and this is the second book following DI Fleet, although I haven't read the first book, this could be read as a stand-alone! This is a thrilling and dark read about the mysterious death of a student called Ben, who's body was discovered 20 years later under the grounds of his boarding school. I think this book was written very well, especially given the fact that there are two different timelines (the present day, and then back in the late 70s). We also get multiple POVs in this book which makes the plot even more interesting. Despite this, at times, I found that the story was a bit slow! Although, overall, the book is a great read!

"Ben Draper wasn't ready to die"...."it was only supposed to have been a game. A stupid game he hadn't even wanted to play".

From the moment you start this book you're immediately sucked into the plot!

If I thought this book started a little slow, it didn't take long to speed up. I read until almost 5am this morning as I couldn't sleep until I had finished the whole book. The characters were written so well that I was feeling for them, and not just the original victim. I'm going to be looking at other books by this author.

This is a terrific murder mystery involving the discovery of the remains of a teenage boy more than two decades after he went missing. A very sad story but extremely engrossing and well plotted, as I have come to expect from this talented author. Recommended.

This is the second book following DI Fleet. I hadn’t read the first however this reads fine as a standalone and I enjoyed it and will read the first.

It wasn’t fast paced but was gripping and kept me turning the pages.

This is the second book in the DI Fleet series, but it reads well as a standalone novel. I hadn't read a police procedural for a while, and given that they're not exactly my favourite, I struggled to get properly invested in the story. The plot was interesting, and I was intrigued enough to keep turning the pages. The ending, even though I guessed who the culprit was, had a nice twist. Overall, it was a good, enjoyable read.

Another good book from Simon Lelic. This is the second book to feature DI Flynn and I’m hoping it will become a series. There is something so honest about this ordinary, overweight smoker that makes him seem real to the reader….warts and all if you will! Very well plotted and the atmosphere at the school was brilliantly stifling.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC of The Hiding Place by Simon Lelic in return for my honest review.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book although i didn’t realise its the second DI Fleet and DS Collins book but can defiantly be read as a standalone. The story is set across two time lines and moves brilliantly from past to present keeping you engaged at all times. I would defiantly recommend reading this if you enjoy well written thrillers with great lead characters, can’t wait for the next instalment.

My first book, that I have read by this author, absolutely brilliant! Highly recommended, and I will definitely read others written by this author!

Set within a Posh boys school, with two time lines, the present and 22 years ago, this is a really thoughtful and perceptive story.
Ben is a troubled teenager and , he has already been kicked out of three schools, this is his last chance saloon. However, we learn that Ben was bullied at this school by staff and pupils alike, and he hated both his Father and his Step Mother. Poor lamb, he never stood a chance against the big bad wolves! One day, he and fellow students go to play in the school grounds, and Ben vanishes, completely disappears.
Twenty two years later, in the present day, a hole is found in the grounds, a stone staircase reveals a crypt, and within lies a bag of bones. They are child sized, is the body Ben?
DI Robin Fleet and DS Nicola Collins are tasked to this case, and have to track down any friends that Ben may have made. They are meagre in number, and reluctant to speak. Some have done well in life, and will stop at nothing to prevent their role in this atrocity to be revealed.
I found this to be a chilling and complex novel, so very sad, if you have empathy for poor Ben, and other scholars through their miserable schooldays. A good education doesn’t always equate with a good life and happiness.
The characters were well drawn, they seemed to be so dismissive of the children in their care, the bullies were ignored, especially if the parents were responsible for generous donations to the school. At times, it seemed almost Dickensian in its attitudes and treatment of children, you can tell, that this story really got under my skin, it was compelling awfulness, yet the work of the detectives was superb and not without danger to themselves.
A story to mull over. I shall definitely read more books by this author, there must be some more cheerful ones in the future!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Penguin books, for my digital copy in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.
I have given this five stars. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon when the page is open.

The Hiding Place is a regular police crime procedural drama that could easily be made into a TV adaptation. It reminded me of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Disgrace where a similar trio of boarding school teenagers blackmail and bully their way to the top.
The reveal of the murderer is well done and plausible, with plenty of psychology for the motives of the suspects. The characterisation of the police figures was also excellent, as they were understated and regular people; no scarred pasts or cynical attitudes - just a concern for victims, colleagues and family - which was refreshing.

The Hiding Place from Simon Lelic was my second encounter with DI Rob Fleet and his young sergeant Nicky Collins who are called in to investigate the sudden appearance of a skeleton in a long forgotten crypt in the grounds of a grandiose boarding school. In this dual timeline story there are a cast of obnoxious characters from the abrasive headmaster Adrian Thomas to the TV breakfast show host/aspiring politician and former pupil Callum Richardson. The skeleton is quickly identified as that of missing schoolboy, Ben Draper, and foul play is evident. Simon Lelic manages to infuse humour, sometimes of the gallows variety, with a plot that twists and turns to its final surprise dénouement. As an introspective DI Fleet is an engaging character whose private life plays a role alongside this cracking murder mystery. I look forward to reading another DI Fleet case. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the ARC.

I loved this book, dark, intense and so gripping. I found this book very hard to put down and finally turned the last page in the wee hours. Dual time lines which give the reader little clues and snippets of what happened and leaving the reader to make up their own minds. Brilliant storytelling and an original plot with an ending which blew me away. This book had everything I wanted, a really good crime thriller.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

An addictive twisty turns mystery set in a strange boarding school where many secrets lurk. Very enjoyable read.

I absolutely loved ‘The Hiding Place’. How did I get to this point in my life having not read a Simon Lelic book!

DI Robin Fleet and DS Nicky Collins work in an under-resourced team of two investigating cold-cases. Following a tip-off, the body of a school boy, who went missing twenty-two years ago is discovered in a long forgotten underground crypt at a prestigious public school.

The story unfolds in two time-lines. One in the present day as the police investigate what happened to Ben, the boy who disappeared twenty-two years ago. The other chronicling Ben’s short time at Beaconsfield School from his arrival, trying to navigate and settle into a very rigid school system, to his last day. There are lots of twists and turns along the way making it quite the page-turner. I also very much enjoyed the rapport between Fleet and Collins, a pair of detectives who have a tremendous amount of mutual respect for each other’s work and who are very committed to police work.

This was my first Simon Lelic book and it certainly won’t be my last!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Penguin, for making this ARC available to me for a fair and honest review and for also introducing me to Simon Lelic’s books.

Another roller coaster read! I love a dual timeline story, trying to figure out where it will all come together. Characters are well rounded, the story is fast paced. Really enjoyed this.

I enjoyed this book. Good plot that keeps you interested from the start. The usual twist that I did not see coming. Not spoilt by the fact that I had not read all of the previous books in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and penguin for the advance copy of this book.

I loved this book! I felt like I couldn't read it quick enough as the story unfolded I was reading quicker and quicker as I wanted - no NEEDED to find out what had happened. It kept me guessing too and I loved the way it unfolded. Brilliantly written - a definite must read!

A brilliantly written, utterly amazing book that was a joy to read. The story kept me gripped throughout, I could not put this book down!

Ohhh this book is great. Dark and sinister and gripping right from the very beginning to the very end. The storyline is completely compelling and enjoyable.

I finished 'The Hiding Place' by @Simon_Lelic last night and it was perfection. A well-paced and intricately plotted mystery, reading the final chapters was like putting the final few pieces into a complicated jigsaw. Absolutely wonderful.