I want to express my sincere thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC of Hide in return for an honest review. This is my first book by Nell Pattison, but am already looking for other books by this dynamic author. This was an outstanding thriller with the tension and suspense maintained throughout. I thought the storytelling was brilliant with a heart-pounding, character-driven plot that made the book impossible for me to put down.

Seven people of diverse ages, interests, and backgrounds are attending a hike in a nature reserve focusing on bird watching. The park is closed due to the Boxing Day holiday, but the group has permission to be the only ones admitted.

They refer to themselves as the 7 friends, but they are scarcely that. There is conflict and stress from the beginning. Two sisters, estranged and separated for years, hold resentments. There is animosity between the group leader and an older woman who wanted the position, and thinks it should be her duty to guide. An arrogant older man flaunts his superior knowledge of birds and annoys others with his expensive equipment he advises everyone to buy. He has bragged that he knows everyone's secrets, ones they would never want to be revealed. Many are in dread of this apparent threat.

They are in a series of blinds to observe a spectacular flight of starlings when a shot rings out. One of the participants has been murdered. Others fear they may be targeted next, and are almost certain that the unknown killer is within their group. The other possibility is deer jackers have entered the park illegally and with guns. The dark night is closing in and it is snowing. The setting is vividly described. What follows is a frantic chase through the woods. Shots are heard at a distance. They are suspicious that the killer is among them, but also frightened that they may be followed by unknown killers. During the run through the darkened forest with the snow-covered ground, they become lost, injured, experience fear and panic attacks. After an argument, the group divides in two, heading in different directions. Neither group can find their way out of the park on the cold, snowy night. Who is being targeted as the next victim (or victims) and why?

As more of each character's background is revealed, the killer and intended victim or victims become more of a puzzle. There are surprising reveals and unexpected twists along the way. Once you feel the mysteries are revealed and resolved with things are getting back to normal, there is a diabolical twist at the conclusion.

Highly recommended! Review is on Goodreads and will be on Amazon at the time the book is published.

Omg gawd Thank You Avon Books, NetGalley and Nell for once again for this amazing ebook copy!

So when I seen Pattison released a new book Hide I had to jump on it and request it.
I fell hard for her Silent Series so I had to get my fingers on this one.
And girl I'm thankful! Grateful and Thrilled! 😘

Hide was a fun, wild, suspense book that I couldn't get enough of.
Utterly compelling, twisty story this book was awesome with such strong writing and terrific storytelling within dynamic character-driven thriller you won't want to miss this story.
Nell done a wonderful job of keeping the reader in suspense throughout it all.

Again thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book I will post to my Goodreads, Facebook and Bookstagram accounts closer to pub date.

A group of seven friends head out on a hike the day after Christmas; it should be a chance to stretch their legs, clear away the cobwebs and catch up . But there will be no chatting and watching the wildlife, instead there will be a murder. I have to say that this book kept me on my toes, I didn’t know who or what to believe. Pattison has penned a winner, one that will keep readers guessing

When I saw a new Nell Pattinson book was out I just had to drop everything and read iti which I did. Wow.

Different from the others I have read but no less amazing.

The twists and turns and the ending.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is all my own.

Holy. Hell. I haven't finished a thriller this fast since Gone Girl, and I was blow away by this. If you are a fan of unreliable narrators and people you can't trust, pick up HIDE. Pattison's writing is akin to Christie's, and HIDE is a refreshing tale in the genre.

This was such a great read, it has everything you could want from a thriller. It is captivating and engaging but also tense and dramatic with plenty of twists that you could never even imagine. I loved the idea of the story line and it really brought the story to life. Lots of characters but who is the one hiding the secret? It's a well thought out plot line with red herrings galore but the story is so good and the ending I didn't believe. I feel like I want to re-read this story again in case I missed anything the first time.

This is a great suspense novel! I loved the fact that the chapters were told in the voice of each of the different characters. It really kept me interested and got a better idea of what was going through that persons mind. There was such a great sense of mystery and what exactly were each persons secrets and who killed who that I found myself wanting to read more and more. The ending is great releasing even more mystery and a wow surprise ending. All in all a great read, highly recommend!!

It has the potential to be a perfect way to spend a winters day - in the presence of like-minded companions, with a nature reserve closed to the public, you’re free to wander, watch the wildlife, and enjoy the experience.
Until the gunshot is heard.
Told from the point of view of each of the seven characters, we learn more about each person’s past, their secrets, and how they’ve come to be part of this loose group of nature watchers.
The ability of the author to use the natural enviroment as a place of beauty and also danger is put to good effect in this book. The snap of branches, the snowstorm, and the wildlife makes it easy to form a picture and follow the action from there. The each character a chapter is well done, with the tone of each (annoying superior Alec, for example) making it clear who is placed where in the order of things.
I’d definitely look for more of Nell Pattison’s books based on this one.
With thanks to Netgalley, Nell Pattison, and Avon Books UK for a copy for review.

This is the first book I have read by this author, but I will definitely be reading more!! I was hooked from the start, and I loved the writing style

The twists. Do I have whiplash? I think I might have whiplash... When I saw that Nell Pattison wrote another book, I was PUMPED. This book can be devoured in one sitting and deserves that type of attention.

Seven friends. One killer. You can run, but you can’t hide…
The Boxing Day hike is meant to bring their nature group together.
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.

As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve.
One of the seven is dead. And one of their number killed them…

When I read the blurb for this book I was immediately intrigued and had to get reading. I love a good thriller/mystery novel that keeps you guessing and I also love ones that are character driven, which Hide certainly is.

Written from the perspective of 7 different characters Pattison has created a page turner that keeps you on your toes and guessing right up until the end, is it her? Him? Them? Anyone?

I really enjoyed it and the only reason why I didn’t give it 5/5 was because I thought it was a little drawn out and repetitive at times (eg the same event told from different perspectives but maybe not offering anything new that was crucial to the main plot line) but definitely a fun read that I would recommend.

#bookreviewsbymrsc #hide #nellpattison

Hide By Nell Pattison

It is always great to find new Authors to add too my shelf and Nell Pattison is one such author that I will add, Hide is a claustrophobic, whodunnit of the highest order.

we follow 8 characters with the setting of the nature reserve being one of those 8 and this is what stood out for Me and made the book really work.

Seven birdwatchers enter the reserve for a Boxing Day walk to watch the starling murmuration all 7 have secrets and when one killed the fear and paranoia and the struggle to survive the night is at the heart of this story.

Pattison tells the story by giving over a chapter to each of the seven as we get events from there POV and as the night draws in and the snow storm begins to fall the reserve takes on a character of its own giving the reader a real sense of panic and fear as our characters start to give in to that fear and the prospect of being hunted whilst trapped in acres of dense snowy marshland.

The writing is good and all the main cast has their own unique voice as we the reader try to work out whodunit.

Emily who is deaf and has a hearing aid in the form of a Cochlear is so well writing that this only adds to the tension, when ever I found Myself with this one character My heart was going ten to the dozen as she stumbles and runs through the said reserve.

The book is really held together by the writing and is very believable as each characters fear and own paranoia really ramps up the tension I also never worked out the killer or how it was done so I tip my hat to Nell Pattison.

The book is also elevated by the very last few pages of the book which I never saw coming some may not like this but I found it just clever and great writing.

This is a tight and thrilling whodunit and I loved it.

Well worth your time and hard-earned cash.

I would like to thank Netgally the Author and Avon Books UK for the ARC of Hide in return for an honest review.

First book I've read by this author and I did enjoy it.
Emily,Lauren. Morna,Ben,Dan,Kai and Alex all meet on boxing day to birdwatch but 6 of them have a secret and one of them knows their secrets.
A gun shot sounds out whose been shot and who do they need to be afraid of?
We learn everyone's secrets as the story goes on and I expected a happy ending but it left me surprised.
If your looking for a good but not to heavy read I would recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books for the ARC

I really really really enjoyed this book. I probably would have picked it up in a book shop as the cover was eye catching and bought it. This is a first Nell Pattison book for me but won’t be my last!

I love reading books where the characters have a chapter on their own, and this book was written from the perspective of each character. It was well written and each character had their own voice. It also made me want to read faster to get back to that character.

Each character has their own hidden secrets which could point any of them to the murderer; and a reason to “shut up” the victim.

I predicted some of the outcomes.

I thought the setting was a great place to have a ‘who done it’ and you literally felt you were walking around the reserve with the characters and wanted to run for it, I’d have definitely been tripped over some of those tree stumps in the snow.

I really enjoyed the book and devoured it in two evenings. I will definitely read more of Nell’s books.

Thank you Net Galley for an advance copy and the publisher

I always enjoy to read claustrophobic, whodunnit, trapped in one location and who’s gonna be the last one standing theme!

Seven people gathered for Boxing Day Hike as members of birdwatching group finding themselves into wilderness to watch the moves of starlings during Christmas time! I know what you’re thinking! Why don’t they find something more interesting to spend their special holiday instead of following behind the birds and freezing their spines in the middle of nowhere! Get a better life or better hobbies folks!

They are not friends as they’re advertised on the blurb. Laureen and Emily are estranged sisters, already dealing with their own resentment and past issues, raisins by foster parents. Lauren gets jealous of her sister’s sudden success by finding an app for hearing impairment. She hates her fancy car, her cozy London apartment when she works her arse off to make ends meet.

Ben seems like friendly and sweet mother’s boy with Joe Goldberg vibes who already asked Laureen out on a date and rejected. And now he’s chasing Emily like a child follows the ice cream truck. And he’s still too shy to ask her out, too. Poor weird boy!

Morna competes with Lauren for the same job position, thinking that’s her responsibility to lead the group. The beef between them gets escalated at each second. Cat fight alert!

Kai seems like having ulterior motives to join their hiking group. He shows different kind of interest to those birds, making suspicious phone calls.

Dan, a widower, still suffering from trauma to lose his wife and his unborn child, newcomer of the group.

And Alec who already got attention of entire group because of an incident at bar. He screamed at their faces he knew their dirty little secrets! What could he know? He’s just ordinary cocky man suffers from superiority complex , making long talks as if he’s narrator of most boring National Geography documentaries, annoying the hell of the group members.

Those mandatory friends find themselves in the middle of wilderness and one of them pulled the trigger. One down, six left! Killer on the loose! All of them give person of interest vibes! Whodunnit? What’s his/ her secret motives?

What are those secrets seven of them carry?
Well, this book started a little slow for me! Instead of Emily, none of the characters were likable. All of them were irritating and a little unrealistic one dimensional types.

In the middle of the story, the pacing fastened and mysterious hunt- prey fight picked my interest for!

I was planning to give three stars but the conclusion was good enough to earn half more stars! It’s good to see the least likable character for me was perpetrator.

I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 bird watching, 7 perfect strangers, creepy stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Avon UK for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

This was so much fun!

Hide follows a mismatched group of friends as they spend the evening trekking to watch the murmurations. With Emily and Lauren as estranged sisters, newly reacquainted, also having back stories along with POV from the other characters, Pattison weaves a web of suspense, deceit, and thrills.

I was gripped and read it in a few sittings as I wanted to know what had happened. So many twists that I didn't see coming which I love.

Highly recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read and review.

An engaging read with an interesting cast of very flawed characters!

It’s been awhile since I’ve picked up a book that had me hooked right from the start. I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of this book and had a hard time putting it down. We are introduced to a group of 7 characters that form an unlikely bond through bird watching. What an unusual hobby to include in a thriller, but Pattison makes it work. We learn quickly that each character has a bit of a secret to hide, and I found myself burning through the first few chapters so I could learn more about each one and try to figure out what the heck was going on.

The group sets out on an evening excursion in a large nature reserve with no cell service to be found. Before long, one of them is dead and the remaining group members are left to wonder if the killer is among them, or if they are prey for an unknown predator. The goal becomes reaching safety and cell service, which is no easy task.

While some of the characters make frustrating decisions, and some are downright unlikable, it all weaves together to make a narrative with a decent amount of suspense. I think Pattison does a great job of foreshadowing the twists without making them too obvious. I appreciated the resolution, although I can’t say it was a huge shock for me.

My only gripe: in the second half of the book there are few events that are far-fetched and don’t make sense with what we have learned about the characters and the setting in the first-half of the book. I’ve learned to overlook this type of inconsistency in the thriller genre as I see it often. Not everyone can be Agatha Christie and I’ve learned to stop expecting that.

If you go into this book wanting a quick and entertaining read, you will not be disappointed. I’m thinking those with negative reviews were expecting a literary masterpiece. Take it at face value and enjoy the ride.

Thanks to Avon books, Nell Pattison, and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

Entertaining read. It was different than a lot of the thrillers I've been reading lately, which was nice. The entire book takes place in the span of one night on a nature reserve in rural England. On this night, there is a murder at the reserve and the characters find themselves running from a killer, through the woods, in the middle of a snowstorm. The narration is through seven POVs. As a reader, you don't trust any of the characters, so you're constantly guessing who is telling the truth and who has ulterior motives. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a murder mystery/thriller.

Seven members of a nature walking group meet on boxing day with plans to watch the starling murmuration. One of the group is found dead and the other six members are the only suspects. They all have their own secrets to hide that the victim may have known about. They’ve got to try and get out of the nature reserve, get help and stay alive.

This is a claustrophobic thriller which slowly reveals more about each character. It’s quite similar in style to Lucy Foley’s novels, in that a dead body is found in a remote/enclosed location with a limited number of suspects and the narration moves between members of the group. It kept me guessing for a while, whilst I worked out some of the secrets I hadn’t guessed the killer. There is a final dark reveal that I found intriguing. Overall it was an enjoyable read.

I found this book a bit hard to get into. It was very slow moving but having enjoyed the author's work before I decided to keep going. I'm so glad I did. About halfway through, the story seemed to take off and the tension was ramped up. I had no inkling about the various characters' secrets and the identity of the killer was a total shock. But that was nothing compared with the jaw-dropping final chapter. What an awesome ending.

This was a terrific thriller. Seven characters, one victim in a closed setting. What set this book apart was the physical setting—a nature reserve closed off from the rest of the world by a snowstorm. The suspense was intense and I couldn’t put the book down!

This one for me was a little slow starting and then introduced the main 7 characters very quickly, I kept trying to remember who's who. Once I got past that, and the suspense built up, I was intrigued. The second half of the book unravels lots of secrets and I changed perceptions of them all quite quickly. Entertaining. And THAT ending. Wow.

What a book! Read it in two sittings because I had to know what happened next! Lauren & Emily are sisters who have met again after eleven years after Lauren turned eighteen & left the care home they lived in. Lauren works at a nature reserve & a group of people including Emily, meet on Boxing Day to go & see the murmurations. Each of the group is carrying a personal secret close to their chest & this outing brings everything to the surface.
Great writing, great tension & great story. Recommended read.

Alright- so I was excited about this because it reminded me a lot of Agatha Christie’s ‘And then there were none’
This story is about 7 friends (I would say friends very lightly- more like people who all appreciate wildlife and so meet ups)
You get to read from all 7 perspectives, which I will say I didn’t care for. It made it hard to follow and sometimes I had to go back and remember who was talking.

It’s definitely a fun thriller and you are constantly trying to figure out who the “bad guy” is. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and was kind of left going “whaaaaat??”

If you like thrillers and something that makes you analyze characters and try to figure out “who done it” then I would recommend this book.

Loved it! A who dunnit with the weather as an extra character. Really enjoyed it and read it in a very short space of time. You know a books good if you get up thinking about when you can next read and go to bed hoping you can read for hours with dropping off to sleep too soon.

I love a good who dunnit thriller/mystery and Hide by Nell Pattison doesn't disappoint. Set in the dark on a nature preserve makes it all the more thrilling. Add in seven unlikable characters with secrets and we've got a great story. I love how the author really makes you suspect each character and you're questioning everything you've read only to be surprised by another secret revealed. The end will shock you!!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced e-book of Hide by Nell Pattison in exchange for my review.

Another great who did it story, honestly this type of books are my absolute favourites and ‘Hide’ was up there. The mystery of this book was a good layout of thrill/suspense. Throughout the book it had me questioning a few times who the killer was. The characters were very well written, we had so unlikeable characters, many secrets and more. The author has this effect on you as I was always questioning myself on each of the characters whether they were the one. The ending okay, wasn’t expected but also a good shock(?), anyway I wasn’t expecting the ending. Very much enjoyed this book and I would recommend 5*

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

RATING: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 🌟.5/5
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SYNOPSIS: Several acquaintances decide to go watch the murmuration of birds 🦅 🐦 using special access on the reservation. While there and all split up, they hear a gun shot 😱 and realize there’s a murderer in the woods. One problem though: they are supposed to be the only ones there. 🤷🏼‍♀️
•
PROS: I DEVOURED this novel and loved everything about it. Nell Pattison combined the perfect blend of suspense 😱 and plot twists 🪢 ,keeping me hooked until the very end.
•
•
CONS: NOT A THING

Wow what a story, although I had guessed the relationship between 3 of the characters, the ending just blew me away. A really good read.

Trigger Warnings: murder, stalking, overdose, child neglect, stealing

This novel follows the story of seven friends who go together to a wildlife retreat in order to observe the birds. They all have secrets to hide that involve others in the group too, but only one of them knows everyone’s secrets. When Alec is found murdered, they all start to panic and try to think which one of them could have such a big secret that was worth killing Alec for so that the secret dies with him.

As the night comes and snow starts falling, they start to panic when they realize how far in the woods they are and how much they have to go back to the visitor center in order to be able to call the police for help. The panic grows inside each of them since they can’t know for sure who is the murderer amongst the group and if they have a second target.

The first 20% of the book went a little bit slow until I I got used to the characters, but once I became invested in their stories, it was such a fast pace to read. I was completely hooked and eager to find out how it ends.

I loved that the suspense and twists kept coming up to the very last paragraph of the book and the last sentence was a jaw-dropper. I am still thinking about it and I can’t believe how twisted the characters were and I’ll always wonder about the way it ended.

I liked that the story was told in the first person’s POV from all the seven characters' perspectives. It was interesting seeing how each and every one of them felt without the truth being revealed towards the end.

I was skeptical about this book at first, but it totally exceeded my expectations, so glad I gave it a go!

Read this if you like:

Multiple POVs
Who did it?
Outdoor adventures
Complex characters with dark personalities
Short chapters

Thank you so much NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the gifted digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

7 friends join each other for a walk around a nature reserve on Boxing Day on a special arrangement. No one else is allowed in. So when 1 member of the group is killed, it means one of the group is the killer. But who?
An enjoyable read with the story told by each member of the groups perspective which I felt helped build up the suspense of the book. Many of the groups had secrets they did not want to get out. Another superb book by Nell Pattison.

Thanks to NetGallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun read---I went through it in a day. I almost didn't want to read this book because majority of the time I am disappointed in mystery/thriller crime/whodunits and I dislike changing perspectives in books, but not here. With a cast of six characters (members of a bird watching group visiting a nature sanctuary on Boxing Day), I was interested.

The cast: There is Lauren and her sister Emily, who have been estranged for many years and are looking to reconnect their relationship. There is Morna, a volunteer who was passed up for a full-time job at the sanctuary who is always clashing with Lauren, a full time employee. Ben, the quiet one, the "nerd" who lived at home with his mother and is really into Emily. Kai, one of the newer members who has shifty reasons for being part of the group. Dan, the newest member of the group and another quiet one. And then Alec, the know-it-all expert who is condescending and who at the group's Christmas dinner reveals that he knows secrets about each person there.

The delivery: Even with all these perspectives, this book delivered when it came to wanting to find out what happened next. When a shot rings out and one of the group is murdered, the rest of the party split up to try and find help and chaos ensues. It was refreshing that little reveals were slipped into each person's perspective and peppered around instead of being made out to be gigantic deals. The culprit is revealed about 80% through the book and I think the way it comes to be when we get that viewpoint is great. The ending has a twist and one I greatly enjoyed. I especially liked the dynamic between the two sisters. With growing up in foster care, Emily's hearing impairment, and underlying jealously and resentment I found it to be unique and captured my interest through the end.

There is some repetition in the retelling of certain events from multiple perspectives that at times got a little tiring, but overall----wow. I think Pattison hit this one out of the park. First book I've read by this author and I did enjoy it. Well worth the read and recommendation.

Excellent read. The tension ratcheted up to the very end with a stunning twist at the end. Finished this over a weekend. Highly recommended.

I really ended up liking this book. This first 30% dragged a little, but it soon ramped up. If you like locked room style books, this is for you!

You'll definitely be left with your jaw on the floor and your head spinning. This book was just so beautifully written and atmospheric. I love that it's written from the various characters perspective and that not too much is given away too soon. You may think you know that you know... but you don't know! Not u time you finally race to the end of this amazing book

Seven friends, one killer......
It’s definitely a fun thriller and you are constantly trying to figure out who the “bad guy” is. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and was kind of left going “whaaaaat? loved it!

And she does it again! 😍, The ‘Silent’ series is one of my favourites, so as soon as I saw that this standalone was available to request, I quickly trotted off to @netgalley

I love the authors writing style and how she built up the characters, so you fully understood them and their personalities. It was interesting to see how they came together as a group and their roles within it.

This was a atmospheric and eerie read, I really felt like I was in the woods with them, there were plenty of twists and I was changing my mind constantly on what the outcome would be!

A must read for any thriller fan! Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooksuk for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

When a group of friends meet for a winter’s hike full of bird watching and fresh air, they are faced with a murder of a friend and the awful knowledge that one of their own might be the killer.
This page turner had me guessing until the very end and even when I finished - I wanted to know more! The bonds of family and friendship are put through the test in this mystery

For some reason this one kept getting put at the bottom of my "to be read" pile. I was wrong!!! I loved it when I eventually got around to reading it.
Great plot and I was kept guessing.

This was an enjoyable thriller for me & the first book I have read by this author. Highly recommended by me.

I have been a fan of Nell Pattison's books for a while and I was so glad that I got a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

We meet seven friends

"Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets."

Each individual meet up on Boxing Day at a nature reserve to do some bird watching - they have the whole reserve to themselves as Lauren and Morna both work at the reserve.

The setting is cold and snowy and can really transport the reader to the atmosphere. Nell Pattison writes from each characters point of view so you get to hear from each character. I personally found each character very intriguing but I did find myself forgetting who was who!!!

Anyway the groups splits up and there is loud gunshot and one of the group is found dead....but who did it!!!

The premise of this book is great - I found I did skim read some bits but I ultimately did enjoy this book. Some parts were extremely far fetched - but lets face it, its not real life. Nell Pattison really sets the theme of this book, its a cold and thrilling read that will stay with you for a good time afterwards.

Thanks to NetGalley, Nell Pattison and the publisher for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Absolutely Brilliant

An unpredictable thriller that reveals twists for each and every character!

A huge thank you to Avon Books UK & NetGalley for giving me accessing to this novel. 'Hide' is due to be released on the 9th of December 2021. Nell Pattison has included her passion for deaf education in a smart thriller that involves seven friends and one killer. As a major fan of surprises and new revelations in novels, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hide! The ending is going to be a main discussion point for readers everywhere

Thank you to NetGalley, Nell Pattinson and Avon Books UK for an ARC of Hide.
I found this to be an outstanding thriller full of tension and suspense.
A group of 7 people are meeting at the local nature reserve on Boxing Day, to view a starling murmuration.
I wouldn't call the 7 characters friends, more acquaintances with plenty of hidden secrets.
One of the group is shot and killed and from there we're led through the group's efforts to escape. Who is the killer? It could be anybody, I kept changing my mind. Mistrust is rife and heavy snows add to the claustrophobic feel of the book.
The story unfolds and I was able to work out any twist just before it happened - which I love to do.
A cliche but I was unable to put down this book!

An enjoyable thriller by Nell Pattison.
Seven friends go on a nature walk after Christmas. They are all hiding secrets which one of them seems to know. When one of them is murdered, they are all left suspecting one another.
With each chapter told from a different point of view, and their secrets gradually revealed, this story keeps you guessing until the end.

Seven birdwatchers set out into the nature reserve to watch a special bird murmuration. Some of them have known each other for years, some only a few months. After an altercation in the pub a few nights previously, there’s also tension between them. One of them, Alec, insinuated he knew all their secrets – and some of them really don’t want those secrets to get out. Not long into the hike, one of them is dead. Is the murderer someone in the group, or is someone on the reserve who shouldn’t be?

The ‘who is the murderer in the group’ trope is one of my absolute favourites and for some reason, I LOVE snowy settings! (Maybe because we don’t have any where I live, it just seems extra spooky 😄). I was kept guessing the whole time, not only about who the murderer could be, but about the secrets of the individual characters as well. I really enjoyed the suspenseful nature of this author’s writing and could just about feel the cold seeping into my bones through the pages! Emily was one of my favourite characters, deaf since she was a child, she had invented an app to assist people who are hearing impaired, making her fortune along the way. My least favourite character was her jealous, spiteful sister Lauren. What a piece of work she was!

Piecing together the puzzle, while the character’s secrets were revealed, was fun and engrossing. The chapters alternated between multiple points of view from each character, allowing us as the reader to be the only one discovering the real truth along the way.

If you love wintery murder mysteries that keep you guessing, add this one to your TBR!

Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for an unbiased review. Heart thuddingly (I made it up), suspenseful, atmospheric murder mystery with a superbly enticing plot, and an ending that I didn’t prepare my neck for! “Hide” had me gripped from the outset, and I read throughout the early hours as I didn’t want to leave the characters behind with a murderer.
Seven people who loosely know each other via the Nature Reserve; all with their own secrets; all with their own agenda embark on a ramble to view the starling murmuration, one is murdered and the others are all under suspicion from each other.
My heart pounded as each person had their own opportunity for narrative and perspective, and I am going to look for more books by this author. I can not wait to tell everyone this is a must read. Thank you again.

I have read Nell Pattison’s previous novels and have thoroughly enjoyed them and this is no exception.

A group of seven individuals are going out for a boxing day hike on a nature reserve to go bird watching. They all know each other and some are more friendly than others, creating conflict and tension from the beginning.

Two sisters, one of whom wears specialist hearing aids, who were estranged for several years are attending along with a small party who are allowed on the reserve even though it is closed to the public on Boxing Day.

Cleverly plotted with numerous twists and turns which is expected from this author and the ability to bring them all together for a tense, entertaining ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and Nell Pattison for my ARC of Hide in return for my honest review.

Good read, recommended.

I will admit that I was surprised when I opened this to find out that the cover had completely misled me about the setting. Lots of snow and I assumed we would be in a snowy landscape. Half right - there was snow but we were on a nature reserve with bird-watchers! Nothing wrong with bird-watchers, I have been one myself. The thing with bird-watchers is that you get a very varied collection of individuals and that is the case here.

Lauren is a warden on the reserve and arranges for the little Nature Club to have access to the closed reserve on Boxing Day to watch the evening starling murmurations. So, 7 characters in the dusk in a closed nature reserve - the perfect ingredients for a claustrophobic thriller - and as one of the characters is deaf, that adds another level.

This group are together for the bird-watching, they are not really friends even though the blurb describes them as such. They are of different ages from twenties to seventies and they all seem to have secrets which Alec, the annoying birding geek of the group, seems to have discovered. As someone who has in the past volunteered on a reserve, I can catergorically state that people like Alec exist on every reserve. Anyway - when one of the group ends up murdered, the remaining six all look at each other with suspicion. As dusk becomes darkness and snow starts to fall, the group split to try to return to the centre to get help.

The story is told from each character's point of view - we hear their voice, their fears and their secrets. The game of cat and mouse is played with the reader as we have to decide who is a reliable narrator and who we can trust and who we need to fear. The finger of suspicion points first at one character and then at another and the threatening atmosphere within the woods where all is dark, where snow impedes vision is beautifully described.

Did I guess who did it? Not in the beginning. As secrets were revealed, motives for murder changed and so the 'murderer' changed. The ending does have a twist and while I had guessed a part of it, I had not foreseen the whole of it.

An enjoyable thriller from an author that I had not picked up before. Thank you Netgalley.

This was a fab atmospheric thriller featuring seven acquaintances on a Boxing Day bird watching trip on a closed nature reserve. When one member is shot in one of the hides it leaves the other six full of suspicion of the others. The isolated location, inclement weather and the dynamics between the group members made this a great page turner and I enjoyed reading the story from each different perspective. The individual stories gradually unfolded really well and the end was chilling. 9/10

I loved this book.
It's an intense thriller full of little twists and turns and secrets right up to the last page.
I loved learning about the different members of the group and the way the story is told from each of their point of views throughout the book
This definitely kept me interested and pulled me in to carry on reading until the end .

This is the first book i have read by Pattison but I sincerely doubt that it will be the last. Thrilling from start to finish, you are kept guessing throughout as to who is responsible for Alec's death and what their motivation is.

Told in turns by all of the characters and yet still leaves the reader unclear as to who or what is at the root of this whodunnit. Characters are realistically portrayed with each having a possible motive to confound both the other characters and the reader. A plot that keeps revealing one more step right to the very last pages.

My thanks go out to Netgalley for the ARC copy of Nell Pattisons Hide. This is easily the furthest ahead book I have had a chance to read.

7 "friends" head to a nature reserve focused on bird watching. The park is closed because of a new years holiday,

With twists an turns Long the way you learn are a plenty and the character inter. There is murder on the air and this time it has nothing to do with crowds

ⒷⓄⓄⓀ ⓇⒺⓋⒾⒺⓌ
Hide
Author: Nell Pattison
Genre: Psychological thriller, Murder mystery
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to the publisher Avon Books UK and Netgalley for sending this review copy to me.

The story starts with a group of people who works for a reservoir specially treating birds, deers and several other kinds of animals. The timeline of the story starts on the morning after Christmas, when the group is getting ready to meet up to see a rare murmuration of birds. Things are a little tense in the group, since none them are emotionally close to each other, and things definitely get a lot worse when they suddenly find one of the teammates dead from a shotgun wound, and another one hit in the head. They all panic and get divides into groups to be able to call for help, all the while suspecting each other of being the murderer.
The main attraction of the story is the suspense of running through the dark reservoir, the limit and map of which is not exactly known to anyone. On top of that, nobody can trust each other, the chase and run being unbearable and a cause for anxiety in most of the book. Almost after 80% of the book the main mystery comes into focus, and that is when things begin to clear up a little. If all the chase and run sequence could have been a little concrete, the story would wind up a long while back. Anyway, the treat at the end is the unveiling of the curtain to reveal the actual cause and motive of the whole incident, which also gives hint to a more sinister beginning of another story.

First time for me reading this author, but it won’t be my last. This was a fast paced thriller that kept me guessing. Love it!
Thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for an advance digital copy in exchange for a honest review.

Hide is a taut edge-of-your-seat thriller, and it was so good I could only read it when my son was asleep because once I was reading I lost myself in it.

“As I see their face turn in my direction, their eyes light on me and narrow. I feel a jolt of fear. Is this the killer? I have a horrible feeling I’m right though I don’t know why did it, or why they’re after me now. All I know is that I have to start running again.”

Lauren works at a nature reserve in Lincolnshire and along with her sister and five friends they get permission to visit the reserve on boxing day when it is usually closed to the public. The plan is to watch the starling murmuration but tensions within the group arise and before long on of their number is dead.

The thing I liked the most about Hide was that it was less about the murder and more about the interaction between the characters. It felt real and it kept me guessing right to the end.

I loved how twisty the book is and that you don’t know if one of their number Is the killer or if someone else is one the reserve and the weather and desolation of the reserve only add to the tension.

Also, its not often that I get to read books set in Lincolnshire and it always excited me when I come across one.

Hide was a solid five stars for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon Books UK, Avon for the arc of this book. I am a huge fan of this author's "silent" series. This book had an interesting premise, and if you liked "locked room" thrillers, you will like this one. I didn't love any of the characters, and kept confusing the men because they were so similar. The story was creepy and so much was going on, though some of the "lost in the woods" went on too long. The end was a surprise, and the VERY end was even more of a surprise, but maybe a bit over the top.

Having read all of Nell Pattison's previous books I was very much looking forward to a new standalone book from her. And it did not disappoint.
Even though there were many characters, this was handled well as you could differentiate who was who and were rooting for certain characters to keep going.
The pacing was great and because of this and the storyline, it kept me on the edge of my seat.
I liked the suspense that was created and the fact that it could have been any of them.
I'm always a fan of the chapters alternating the character's POVs and that was done well in this.
The way the setting was built up also made it feel like you were really there.
I will definitely be reading more from Nell Pattison and she has easily become one of those authors that I would pick up any of her books going forward, as I'm such a fan.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nell Pattison is one of those authors that has managed to shock me a couple times, as my expectations were much lower than what I got! I love this type of story, although it’s not for everyone. Well written, intense, and lots of fun thrills, chills, and twists! Highly recommend!

A Boxing Day hike is supposed to be a joyful experience for the 7 people in the birdwatching group but will this be the enjoyable hike they planned?
Not all of them will come out of the woods. The characters are a mixture of nice and unlikable but they all have lies and secrets. As always Nell’s books are enjoyable and this was no different. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

"We all have those moments we wish we could relive and do differently."

This is a story of seven friends who enjoy birdwatching together. On Boxing Day, they all decide to meet up at a nature reserve. But one of them has more than birdwatching on his/her mind. With tensions mounting and inclement weather coming in, they'll find themselves trapped in an isolated forest with no one around to help or hear them scream. All of them have secrets and regrets, but only one of them has secrets worth killing for.

This a character-driven novel. We get the POV of each of the seven characters throughout the book. The personalities of the characters as well as their relationships with each other are well fleshed out, which made for rich characterization and personal dynamics.

I'm more of a plot-driven fan, but I did enjoy the character introspection and the frisson of tension amongst the group. Some parts of the story did lag for me and could do with an edit, however, by the end of the book I had so many intense feelings for these characters. How can you feel so much outrage/sympathy/hope/despair/anger for fictional people? Somehow, Nell Pattison was able to give me all the feels.

The ending of the book was a choice, and I don't know if I love it or hate it. I haven't had this intense of an emotional reaction to a character since reading 'What the Dead Know' back in 2007.
I kept going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars but, because of the amount of hate I have for this character, I had to up it to 4 stars. After all, it has been almost fifteen years since I got this riled up over a character.

Additional things I enjoyed:
~I feel like nature lovers (like myself) will love the setting and the birdwatching element.
~The inclusion of a deaf character was interesting and insightful. Emily's hearing impairment upped the intensity of the situation while also serving to be inspirational due to her strength and determination.

If your a fan of character-driven novels and/or locked-room style mysteries, I recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me gripped from the off. I loved the change in pov, it worked really well and created more suspense as the book went along. I found the ending a little disappointing, but overall a great read!

This was a really great book, I ended up finishing this in just one sitting! It was a really interesting and engaging story, that I could not put down! I would definitely recommend this book in the coming winter months, it would be a perfect addition to a cosy winters night in, you won't regret it!

The seven members of the nature group are excited for their Boxing Day hike, when they will have exclusive access to the nature resort. But not everyone is planning to walk and watch birds... some may have other ideas in mind. When one of the group is shot dead, the rest are forced to try to get help or find out what happened... and why...

Another brilliant book by Nell Pattison. This is a thrilling and tense story where we are kept guessing until the end - is someone else in the reserve with the group, or is one of the group members responsible? Could anyone else be in danger? An exciting and well-written plot with shocking twists and turns, and a varied set of characters for us to get to know. Very much recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

Wow! I haven't enjoyed a book quite this much in a long time and I'm so glad that I had a whole day off work to read it as I honestly couldn't put it down. This book has everything that I love: A locked room murder, well written and interesting characters, multiple POVs and a unique, vividly described location.

I haven't read anything by this author before but I immediately warmed to her writing style. I loved that we got a chapter from each of the 7 characters at the beginning so we could really get to know them before any of the action started. I really grew to care for some of the characters and hated others.

I love it when it is clear that there are multiple secrets to uncover as well as the main mystery and I really enjoyed reading as they all started to be revealed. Some I guessed, some I didn't but it was all really fun to read.

I can't say enough good things about this book, to me it was perfect. I haven't read the 'Silent' series by the author yet but after this I may have to.

Excellent story! Totally engrossing!. Looking forward to reading more by this author! Could not put this down!

Loved this book from the moment I met the sisters. I knew something was off with their relationship, but I did not see the twist coming. It was such a pleasure reading each character’s point of view and how they felt and reacted to the other characters individually. This book was intense, thrilling, and full of twists that you do not see coming. I always appreciate learning something new and I feel like I learned a lot about birds, starlings, murmurations and the intense snowing that made everything in the book much more thrilling. Highly recommend this book! And don’t forget to stick to the very end of the book, you will love the surprise that awaits you there.

WOW! This book certainly keeps up the author's excellent writing style and unexpected bad guys. In this book, seven friends go out to see some birds in the nature preserve. While there, one of their number is shot and killed. The problem lies in trying to find out who it was - was it the one who seems injured but unreliable? The deaf girl with no real motive? The girl who seems so angry at everyone? The one who's working with poachers? The poachers? Someone else? I guarantee you, you won't figure out before the end who did the killing and why. And even once you figure that out, that isn't the end of the story!

I absolutely loved this book and all of its characters, even while I was busy hating some of them. They are so well written for me that I enjoyed even the small nuances of the bad guys. As a deaf man, I love reading books where a deaf character is written well and realistically. Nell Pattison is a genius at writing realistic characters, both deaf and hearing, and I would recommend this to anyone looking for an awesome thriller.

This is my first read by this author so I thought will I enjoy it? Yes I did. Liked the style of writing with chapters dedicated to the people involved. Had me hooked and read in a couple of days, did not predict the ending. Would thoroughly recommend to others.

What an amazing book i can't believe I've had it all this time and I only just read this. Release date 9th December 2021 thanks to netgalley, Avon publishers and Nell Pattison for the advanced digital copy of hide in exchange for my fair and honest opinions.

The Boxing Day hike is meant to bring their nature group together.
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back. Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind. Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren. Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession. Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group. Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife. And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets. 7 of them go out for this hike and not all of them return.


I loved this book truly I did. I found myself guessing throughout who the killer is they all had motive but which of them is the killer. I must say I got it wrong so wrong They all have a problem with Alec he swears he knows everyone's secrets so everybody is on edge. Alec is quiet and a watcher so he hears things others think he doesn't. I honestly found each secret to be super interesting as some are far worse than the others but are worth killing over.


Now as I was reading this I found the character Emily to be a really interesting one. She's deaf and it was so well written I thought let me check out the author as soon as I saw it was Nell Pattison I was like no wonder I love this character so much and further no wonder I love this book so much.
I found some of the scenes well written when it came to Emily one where she described running bur hearing nothing yet feeling the vibration and what a wierd sensation that Is. Even though the book is centred around the murder we are still given all of ingestion about deafness and the wider community.
This is similar when it homes to bird watching now I never thought I would be interested to read about birds but I going it fascinating. Now either Nell did some amazing research or is a bird watcher himself. It truly was so intriguing I was hooked
.

Esbh of the characters are so different and as to not give any spoilers away I thought I would share favourite character. I really liked Ben. He's an odd feller and has it bad got Emily. He also prime suspect in the murder. I was never convinced personally but I will leave that guessing game to you. He is clearly a socially awkward guy I just wish that more was explained about that in the book I wanted to know why he was the way he was although it reads like he's on the spectrum.

As per Nell Pattison writes like a pro with short paragraphs and amazing descriptions. He writes in a way that makes me want to be there although maybe not with a potential murderer on the loose but you get my drift his writing is second to none! Plus shortish chapters are always a bonus to me I find I read quicker when that's the case. Plus the entire event is less than 24hrs. Be warned that there are 7 characters and If you are anything like me you will mix people up as you go along and If you're not one to get confused we'll I'm jealous ahow me how


All in all a 5 star book I highly enjoyed and whole heartedly recommend! If you're alread a fan of Nrll's crime series you will enjoy seeing much as I currently do.

I read the last two novels in the Paige Northwood series back to back and was so into the series, that I have to admit that I was a little disappointed to find out that Nell Pattison’s forthcoming novel Hide, was a stand alone thriller, completely removed from my beloved Paige and Singh. Happily, it didn’t take long for me to completely forget about that disappointment (yes, I know I’m very fickle!).

The narration follows the point of view of the seven characters involved as they head out onto a Lincolnshire nature reserve for a Boxing Day hike. They position themselves to enjoy the starling murmuration, but a shot rings out and one of them is dead. And so begins a tense thriller, where secrets tumble out and true characters are revealed.

It feels cinematic in scope, the words easily turned to pictures in my head and I felt as if I was there watching it all play out. The fear and claustrophobia, particularly for Emily who is deaf, is almost tangible.

The pacing was perfect for me. Hints are placed that all was is right early on, with a little more information being tantalisingly dropped as the novel progresses. Secrets begin to spill and what you know of characters is questioned. I was completely on board from chapter one. Some characters I instantly liked. Some I didn’t. Some redeemed themselves. Some did not. It was a read of constant ups and downs, and yet my attention never wavered, keeping me completely enthralled. Then just as I took a breath at the end. It whipped the chair from under me!

This is my favourite Nell Pattison novel to date. As much as I love the Paige Northwood books, this felt a little more slick and sophisticated. I cannot wait to see what else Nell has up her writer’s sleeves!

Thank you, Avon, and NetGalley for a copy of Hide by Nell Pattison. I was excited when I saw the author had a new book out and I jumped at the chanced to request it.
It is Boxing day; seven friends decide to go birdwatching at a local nature reserve when one of them ends up dead. There is no telephone signal to call the Police and each of them don’t know whether to trust each other and when the weather closes in, they all try and fight to get back to the visitor’s centre, they struggle. But they are also scared. There is a killer on the loose and it must be one of them but whom?
The story is told in each character’s point of view which I liked, telling us of their circumstances and how it led to this day. This is a tense, gripping. High octane thriller that I enjoyed except for the ending which I found to be a little flat. 4 stars from me.

This is the first standalone fro: author Nell Pattison. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I couldn’t see where the story was going.
Seven people go out on Boxing Day to watch the starling murmurations on the nature reserve and one of them is then murdered. The other six have to fins a way to get off the reserve and call the police.
The story unfolds with each chapter having a different characters POV and not all the characters are very likeable.
Great read.
Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this, loved the characters, loved the setting. Suspenseful and captivating, I finished it in one sitting!

I have read all of Nell Pattison's books and this is my favourite. I loved the winter setting and the idea of seven friends going out together. Every single one has something to hide but one of them has murder on their mind. This book was very tense and I loved how we got to know each characters point of view...some I loved, some I loved to hate. This is very much a character driven story and I really liked that. The writing is typical Nell Pattison with a deaf (like me) character represented. Ms. Pattison knows how to keep her readers riveted to the pages. I am so glad she finally did a stand alone novel this time around...the ending to this one just blew me away.

“Do we ever really know other people…sometimes the people we think are completely harmless are the ones who end up ruining lives…”

Seven nature enthusiasts enter a nature preserve on Boxing Day, but after one of their group is found murdered in one of the hides, they quickly start turning on one another. Who could have killed Alec…and why? As their secrets become uncovered, the mystery unfolds…one of the group is thirsty for vengeance…and there is nowhere to hide…

Wow! Personally, I found this story a wee bit frightening in that one of the characters is deaf and finds herself running for her life…in the dark…in the forest…alone…Can you even imagine how absolutely terrifying it would be? No sense of where you are and not being able to hear anything around you? Is the person chasing you friend or foe? *Shiver* Highly recommend this page-turner of a thriller!




**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

Hide -Nell Pattison ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This tense and brooding novel was the perfect read as part of ‘Spooktober’. The mystery and tension was palpable- a real page turner that garnered my undivided attention from the very outset. Superb writing! I’d be very keen to read future publications by this author.

Tongue-gnawingly tense and suspenseful, Hide is full to the brim with atmosphere. Think darkness, deep snow, shadows, cold, no cell reception and being hunted on a large nature reserve. Gives me the willies just thinking about it! But in the best way possible. Even the cover is shivery!

A motley group of seven people meet at a nature reserve one December evening to watch the starling murmuration. The dynamic is a very interesting one as one of the characters knows something about each of the others and makes it known. When a body is found hysteria and shock take over, skewing logic and the route back to the nature reserve center becomes tricky with a blanket of snow and the knowledge that there is a killer on the loose. Not only that but there are injuries to deal with, slowing their progress.

My favourite aspects of this book are the atmosphere, bird information and original setting. That ending, though! Love it. A few of the characters and relationships are a bit unrealistic but this book is a winner.

My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this thrill-a-second book! Unputdownable.

This was a new and welcome author for me. I have really gotten into these "locked room" type thrillers lately so I was really excited to read this one. The "locked room" in this instance is a nature reserve supposedly reserved for only their group of seven and a snowstorm closing in. One in the group turns up dead soooo....whodunnit? What follows is a fast-paced story where the characters feel they are being hunted and could possibly be next. There were some fairly predictable aspects and I did figure out a couple twists, but this did nothing to detract from the overall enjoyment of the story. We get to know each of the characters and Emily is a deaf character. I really liked her perspective, as she is trying to survive without being able to hear and has to use her other senses. That was an interesting piece. I am definitely looking for more from this author!

Thank you to #NetGalely, Nell Pattison and Avon Books UK for this ARC!

Having read a trilogy by this author, and absolutely loved each book, I was very keen to get my hands on ‘Hide’ and I wasn’t disappointed!

Emily and Lauren are sisters, although they were estranged for about ten years when Lauren moved away at 18, and they’d had a turbulent upbringing in care. Emily is deaf but she hasn’t let that hold her back, and she has a very successful career in London.

Emily, Lauren, and five people they’ve become acquainted with at the local nature reserve, go on a Boxing Day hike there. Each one of them has a secret, and Alec seems to know all of them. Instead of staying together in a group, they split up and go to different hides to watch a murmuration of starlings. Just as dusk is falling, a gunshot is heard and one of their number is dead.

There were so many twists and turns in this book, I was totally hooked and struggled to put it down. A fantastic read that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

This book was fab! I love a good 'whodunnit' and this one didn't disappoint. Easy to read, with lots of twists and false leads so you think you have it worked out....but nope! I disliked most of the characters but especially Lauren, she's such a spoilt and moody brat....they are all flawed and not great people but make for an awesome set of characters 😊 I love Nell's writing and this book was brilliant ❤

I need a lie down
I've just been in a nature reserve, heard a shot, ran for dear life and stumbled in the snow and dark winter night.
Who was shooting and why?
Where are my friends I came with?
Who has got into this nature reserve as only our group is supposed to be here
God is it one of us?
I'm still catching my breath.
Top thriller!

A group of birdwatchers set off on a hike to watch a starling murmuration. When one of them gets murdered, the rest need to find their way out of the enormous nature reserve before it's their turn. Is the killer one of them?

I love the Paige Northwood series, so I was excited about the author's first stand-alone novel. I requested it without reading the blurb, so when I started reading, I had no idea what it was going to be about.
It turned out to be a multi-perspective whodunnit kind of story, which I'm not a fan of. But... after the story got going, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I loved how all the people had skeletons in their closets; it made me constantly change my mind about who the culprit was. The unique setting made the story creepy. Overall, it was a great, fast-paced and suspenseful read.

An isolated, snowy weather thriller? I am here. for. it! Lots of atmosphere, interesting characters and points of view. A thrilling read and one that I would recommend to my students!

Spiked With Adrenaline….
A Boxing Day hike, seven friends and…a killer. Riveting, character led psychological suspense spiked with adrenaline and fizzing with the anticipation of what will happen next. With a credible cast of characters, and a premise that delivers, this is an edge of seat, one sit read to devour.

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.

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.

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

When 2 sisters Emily and Lauren meet up with 5 friends for a Boxing Day walk in a nature reserve to watch a starling murmuratation none of them suspect that that there is a killer in their midst and not all of them will survive the day.
This is a great whodunit book set on a cold, snowy day in the middle of nowhere with no witnesses. Each chapter is told by one of the friends, there is no way you could put this book down without wanting to read a little bit more. I've read the authors previous novels, this is a standalone, but this one was my favourite.
All of the characters have flaws and secrets, some I guessed others I didn't. The ending was fab.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon books UK for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Firstly, thank you to #NetGalley and #AvonBooksUK for giving me a digital advanced reader's copy of #HIDE by #NellPattison in exchange for a genuine review.

This is my first Pattison book and I'm glad I picked this book up. I always love a good murder mystery especially if it's a whodunnit type of plot. It was a light read but still with a lot of twists and turns. I always like to work these stories out and try to guess who the culprit is. It was a well written novel and as redundant as this may sound - the author's writing was exceptional. I highly recommend this twisty murder mystery.

Another incredible book from Nell Pattison. This one definitely had me gripped from beginning to end. Bird watching and tramping around hides isn’t something I’ve done or know much about so it was a delight to discover something new.

Thank you Netgalley and Avon books for an eARC in return for an honest review.

hide1

/hīd/

verb

put or keep out of sight; conceal from the view or notice of others.

noun

BRITISH

a camouflaged shelter used to get a close view of wildlife.
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I love the double meaning of the title. Yes, people were hiding from a killer in their group and yes, hides were present. And they were at times hiding in hides. Just brilliant!!!🤯
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Seven friends get together to go bird watching at a reserve that is closed due to Boxing Day. There is a killer amongst the group.
7 povs and I was able to keep up with all of them. They all had secrets and would possibly want to kill to keep them. I was interested in every single character. Fast paced and heart pounding. Great book to read in the cold months.

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.

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 .

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.

It’s December 26 and a group of seven friends meet at a nature reserve, ready to spot starling murmurations and walk off the excess of the previous day. A hike in the crisp, cold weather, with plenty of warm clothes and a hearty pre-walk lunch… what can be better? But ‘friends’ is a loose term, as there’s plenty of resentment within the group. As tensions run high, some will start to break out a sweat for the wrong reasons. Although this is a chance for you all to reconnect, learn about each other and maybe – if you’re lucky – make a romantic connection, for one member, they have a more permanent way of ensuring things go their way. As everyone finds places to enjoy the spectacle, there’s a gunshot and someone is found dead. One of your supposed close knit group is responsible – but why? And will they stop at just one? A nicely put together festive read with a bite, ideal for a night in. But make sure you know best where to hide…

Nature group meets in a closed park on a Boxing Day. They seem to be friendly with each other but soon becomes obvious that someone is really dangerous. Deadly dangerous. Someone in a group hides a dark secret that affects everyone.

When they regroup in different hides to watch birds, a sound of a gun resonates through the nature reserve and all thoughts of nature are pushed away by the primal instinct to survive.

Game of observation, suspicions and manipulation begins. Game of life and death.

The novel is fast paced, atmospheric and with very well developed characters and with amazing ending. Sometimes the people we think are completely harmless are the ones who end up ruining lives.

Superb reading.

Read this if…you like Agatha Christie type stories where a killer is picking off members of their group, one by one.

A group of seven birdwatchers get more than they bargained for when a post-Christmas excursion to view a starling murmuration turns deadly. When a member of their group is shot and killed during the hike, the loose-knit group of friends realizes they don’t actually know each other all that well. Throw into the mix that the deceased member knew all the nature club’s secrets and it’s obvious this was no accident. The group struggles to make it to safety in the dark while traversing marshland in winter conditions. Can they make it out alive? As the saying goes, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”

This one starts out a bit slow, but picks up about a quarter of the way in and doesn’t slow down again. I really liked the group of characters and it was fun trying to figure out their secrets. I liked that one of the narrators was deaf because that notched up the scare factor and taught me some things I didn’t know about the deaf community. The relationships between the group members were layered and complex. I had settled on 4 stars, but then the last twist earned Hide another half star. I ended up loving this one overall and would highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for an atmospheric thriller this winter!

My rating: 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5)//5

A big thank you to the author, Netgalley, and Avon UK for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have always been a sucker for a good closer room mystery, and this is an excellent approximation of one, even though it is set in the wilderness which is as open as it gets, but for the sense of seclusion. A group of friends sets on a hike, not knowing just how perilous their journey is about to get…

I received an E-ARC copy of ‘Hide’ by Nell Pattison through NetGalley when my request was approved by the publisher Avon Books UK. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.

This book follows the seven members of a nature group as they meet up on Boxing Day. Lauren works at the nature reserve and has managed to get them all exclusive access for the day.

There is tension in the group due to a drunken revelation when they met up before Christmas, but they still are keen to bring the group back together and have a great day.

The group disperses into different hides to get ready for the spectacular bird watching views they are expecting.

Suddenly a gun shot is heard, and after investigation they find that one of their group has been shot dead.
Suspicions fly, but is it one of the group or has someone else trespassed onto the land?

What follows is the uncovering of many secrets, and a tense and terrifying night whilst they try to work out who is the killer and try to find safety through the increasing bad weather.

The book is told by all the seven members of the group, as the chapters move between them all. I did find that this made it a little slow unravelling the storyline. I didn’t get to fully relate or click with any of the characters as the story concentrated on too many of them rather than a select few. I can see why it was done in this way, to reveal as many secrets as possible and increase the mystery as you try to work out who is the killer.

I like the fact that the author always includes a deaf character in her books, not only does it make the books more unique and inclusive, but you can tell that they come from experiences the author has faced herself or in her knowledge from teaching in the deaf community.

There are many mysteries to reveal in this book, as not only do you need to work out the murderer but also the secrets each one of the members is hiding.

Overall, a mysterious thriller with lots of secrets to reveal.

Wow! This was absolutely fantastic! I loved that we saw chapters from the POV of all the characters, it gives the reader so much to think about and possibilities of who the killer could be. And the author shows the personalities of each character so well, including for one character in particular making you think there’s more than meets the eye to them, which as you see at the end there is! I cannot recommend this enough

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book

I haven't read a thriller in a while and Hide was the perfect one to kick start me back into reading them.

Lauren, Morna, Kai, Ben, Dan, Emily and Alec are all members of a little nature club and have arranged a Boxing Day outing to watch the starling murmuration at the closed nature reserve where Lauren work and Morna volunteers.

One of them knows secrets about the rest of them and threatens to out them all.

There's a single gunshot, one of them is dead, which one? ... who is the killer? .. will the rest make it out alive?

The story is told by each character, which is great as you get a real feel of their personalities with each chapter giving you a little insight to their individual secret.

There are lots of twists and turns and for a good part of the book you don't have a clue who the killer was or why and just when you think that's it there's the final twist, really clever!

Loved it! a can't put down book that you will devour quickly.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the ARC

Psychological thriller. Seven acquaintances (not friends) go on a walk in a nature reserve on Boxing Day to see a starling murmuration . The previous week middle aged Alec got drunk in the pub and told them he had secrets about all of them.
Only six start back to the visitor centre/main road as one of them is found dead . Is one of the group the killer or is it someone else?
All of the group do have secrets including sisters Lauren and Emily who don’t seem to have much sisterly love for each other.
Good story, if a little slow in places. Information comes out in little snippets leaving the reader unsure who has killed Alec and if anyone else is under threat.
I was quite surprised at the ending which is always a good thing for me.
4 Stars ⭐️ Recommended for anyone who likes nature, murder and complicated characters.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon books for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

What an ending, the tension and characterisation in the last few paragraphs is brilliant!

The book as a whole is a solid 4 star, I felt it was a little drawn out at times and the tension did not sustain throughout. I’m not sure which bits you could cut but just seemed a little too drawn out. Maybe Ben’s story was unnecessary?

A good read that is full of intrigue, twists and turns. The character of Lauren was well written, as was Kai.

A fast paced thriller set over a few hours, kept my interest and the ending was brilliantly written.

Thank you to the publishers at Avon Books UK and Netgalley for this e-ARC of Hide!

Boxing Day, aka the day after Christmas, seven people decide to head into the nature reserve to watch a Starling murmuration together. Little do they know, not all of them will walk out with their lives. All holds a secret they don’t want revealed, but after Alec let’s loose that he knows what they are all hiding from one another, someone feels the need to eliminate him.

After finding his body, nobody trusts one another, and they decide to go in different directions; one group back to the center, another to the perimeter fence. Each chapter is told from a new person’s point of view, and we don’t know who to trust, as each person is holding something back. Who killed Alec, and are they finished, or is someone else next?

I really enjoyed this fast paced thriller told from 7 different points of view. First we are introduced to each character, and then we dive into the heart of the story. I did guess a lot of the twists, which may just be from how many books I’ve read, but the final ending still ended up throwing me for a loop. That was probably the one thing I didn’t really see coming, so I appreciated that! 3.5 stars from me.

Hide releases December 9th!

This was such a quick and thrilling book to read. The group of seven that go on the walk were all compelling characters and i liked how they were all layered and had differing viewpoints and reasons why it could be them who did the murder. I thought the drama was done well and this is what kept me hooked all the way through. This definitely had the stark and wintery feel to it that the cover promises and this made the terror of the murder feel even more scary.

This gave what it promised. A cozy -for me yet claustrophobic whodunit perfect for the winter time. Wonderful. It kept me guessing and intrigued. I had a great time!

Overall, an enjoyable read. The author does a good job of creating the wintry setting and the feelings of panic created in the character when they lose their hearing aids. As the book unfolds more of each characters background is revealed, leading you to become more suspicious over everyones motives and true self. A good twist at the end.

I received a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books.

I’ve read other books by Nell and was stoked to be accepted an arc for her latest book.

The thing that I love about Nell’s books is that she always has a main character who’s deaf and shows that, just because they have a hearing loss, it doesn’t mean they can’t have a fulfilling life like everyone else. They have their own struggles, but there are ways to overcome it.

Throughout this book it flicks between the 7 characters to show their perspective as the story develops.

It’s very much a locked-room-mystery concept where the characters are on a hike when someone is murdered.

It’s full of twists and turns, and I never guessed the who-dunnit. I had my suspicions but they turned out to be wrong!

That ending though! I didn’t expect that twist!

An isolated setting and a killer on the loose. If you enjoy thrillers with a group of suspects, multiple POV chapters, and a quick pace- this is for you! For fans of Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Agatha Christie.

It's the day after Christmas and the seven members of a nature club agree to meet at a local private reserve to go birdwatching. Among the group are estranged sisters Lauren and Emily, reserve volunteer Morna, middle-aged birding geek Alec, lovelorn Ben, stoic Dan, and young Kai. There is tension right from the start in this group. No one is truly friends with another and everyone harbors secrets. When one of their number winds up dead, everyone is a suspect. Trapped in the reserve with snow falling and an unknown killer, the group argues over whether to hide out or try to hike back to the visitor centre.

I liked the fast pace and the different characters' POV. The snowy setting gave the story an added layer of suspense. Definitely a solid thriller and the addition of a deaf character was interesting. Apparently this is a hallmark of this author's work. I look forward to reading another book by her in the future.

An atmospheric chiller thriller, Hide is a well-developed and unpredictable read that will leave you feeling suspicious of everyone.

I love a thriller set in the snow, especially a locked-room thriller that is heightened by the sense of claustrophobia. Hide certainly uses its setting well and I could really picture the surroundings and feel the pressure of the high walls around this enclosure, which is exactly what I want from a book like this.

Told through seven points of view, showing the story from every perspective, this really allows you to get to know each character. Sometimes it can be confusing having so many narratives, but I instantly understood the different personalities and had no trouble remembering who was who.

I especially appreciated that one of the main characters was deaf as we don’t often see characters with disabilities in thrillers, and Pattison brilliantly describes what the experience would be like from their point of view.

Although I thought I had this story sussed out early on, only one of my predictions was close to being correct and a final twist really turns everything on its head. But while I did really enjoy this book, I never felt gripped by it which is the only thing that prevented me from loving it more. Still, I really liked Pattison’s writing and characters so I can’t read to more by her.

I really enjoyed this, a well-written pacy thriller with multiple narrators and a great ending. One single setting, on a nature reserve, the group of seven gathers to walk out across the reserve and watch the starling murmuration on Boxing Day, then one of the group is shot. I liked mystery aspect as we tried to work out who dunnit and the different points of view meant that we were drip fed little bits of information about each character. One character had hearing loss and I felt this was very well dealt with and really added to the tension of the story, being chased through dark snowy woods when you can't hear your pursuer! I also felt that the birdwatching details were accurate, which really helps with the story flow. The weather conditions were a character in their own right but it was the tension and the pace that made this a great read, plus that brilliant ending! Definitely recommend.

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The story is told from seven points of view, with each character giving their own version of events. I thought I might struggle to keep up with who was who, fortunately each character has their own individual personality (although none are particularly likeable) so this was never a problem.

Nell Pattison has managed to create a fabulous, eerie, claustrophobic sense of atmosphere. The snowy setting adds to the feeling of being trapped and the tension builds throughout.

I did find that the story became quite repetitive, especially towards the middle of the book, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I did guess some of the twists, I didn’t foresee the final reveal.

A fantastic winter read!

Giving me serious The Guest List and One By One vibes, Hide by Nell Pattison is a classic "specific group of people in an isolated location and someone just got killed and omg is one of us a killer??" story. I'm a big fan of this trope so I enjoyed this read a lot!

A hodge podge group of birdwatchers meets up on Boxing Day in a closed reserve to watch a starling murmuration (is some kinda bird event idk). It's late afternoon, it's starting to snow, the reserve is large and isolated, the group splits up and then BOOM someone gets shot.

We get first person chapters from all of the characters and this is used quite effectively to hint at all their secrets and agendas while still keeping you guessing. The setting is atmospheric as both night and snow falls, not to mention there is a deaf character with cochlear implants, so how she copes with a "killer on the loose in the forest" situation adds a whole other dimension.

I was definitely hooked on this story the whole way through and didn't want to put it down. The thing with this type of story is that no matter how enthralling it is, it really all comes down to the climax and resolution. If the big whodunnit is uneventful, the experience of the whole book is tainted. I don't know that I was super shocked by the climax bit the real twist comes right at the very end in the falling action. I like it when this happens so much that I tend to be underwhelmed when it doesn't! I think the ending will possibly inspire mixed feelings as it kind of leaves you with an unresolved feeling, but having said that, I think it was exactly the ending the book needed.

Overall I had a blast with this one and would definitely check out the author's other work!

4.8 / 5 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2021/12/07/nowhere-to-hide-by-nell-pattison-review/

They say that everyone has the potential to kill under the right circumstances.

Emily, mid-20’s. Lauren’s little sister has suffered from hearing loss since birth. But she never lets it hold her back. Now she works at a tech startup making cochlear implants. After growing up in a children’s home, she and her sister ran in different directions and did not speak for most of twenty years.

Lauren, late-20’s. Has recently reconnected with her sister after decades apart, though neither are entirely comfortable with it. Works at a nature reserve in the country, where the group will be meeting up. She considers herself the de facto leader of their little group.

Ben, early-30’s. Works at a law firm. Pursued Lauren for years before becoming infatuated with her little sister. Shy, quiet, he’s not too sure how to get her attention, but thinks this meeting might be the perfect time.

Kai, mid-20’s. Perpetually late. Feels intimidated as the only black member in a group of outdoorsy white people. Originally had little interest in birds, but recently thinks he’s found his calling.

Dan, late-30’s. The newest member of the group. No one seems to know what to make of him since Lauren invited him in. Recently lost his wife Rachel to a tragedy and doesn’t know what to do with his life.

Morna, late-60’s. Has a daughter. A volunteer at the reserve, she likes to have everything orderly and likes to see everyone get along. But she doesn’t get on with Lauren. At all.

Alec, mid-50’s. He is the undisputed leader of the group. With all the best equipment and years of experience, he’s the natural choice. Plus he knows all their secrets. While he may have ruffled some feathers at their last meeting, he knows that their group will just get over it in order to best witness the murmuration. they’ll just have to follow his lead.

Seven friends. Seven people with secrets to hide. Seven potential killers. An out of the way nature reserve in Lincolnshire plays host to their Christmas holiday. When night falls, the starling murmuration will begin in earnest. But as the sun sets, a gunshot shatters the peace and sets the flock aflight. As night falls, one of their number lies dead. And one of their friends has killed them.

—

So… “friends” is a bit of a stretch. Plus they’re all kinda awful. Especially to one another.

Nowhere to Hide is told from the perspective of seven different members of the same group of birders. Each is told in first-person. I’m fine with books being told entirely in 1st person, so long as there’s one of them. Two is a stretch, but in some instances it works out. Three or more… it just doesn’t work. I can’t keep track of who is whom and everyone’s POV eventually blend into one. ALL SEVEN POVs in Nowhere to Hide are told in first-person.

It should be insanity.

But it works.

All seven of them have personalities different enough to differentiate them for one another, so I rarely (if ever) got confused about who was who. Right from the start I assigned personas and voices to each of the group, which made it much easier to keep them separate. Alec had an English accent that any colonial overlord would be jealous of. Emily and Ben I assigned based on internet personalities. Kai inherited Kedar Williams-Stirling’s voice. Lauren reminded me of someone I work with, so she got that voice. Morna was granted Liza Tarbuck’s accent. Wasn’t sure what to make of Dan at first, to the point that I assigned him a generic American accent.

It’s a little hard to explain why this worked so well for me. It just did. I’ve seen some mixed reactions on this one, which initially surprised me. But I liked it. A nice mystery with just the right amount of thrill. An idyllic setting for this type of murder-mystery as well; on an otherwise abandoned nature reserve, the day after Christmas. It’s a good setting—or a bad one, if you will.

However good I found the story and its characters, the conclusion was a bit of a letdown. Just when I thought that everyone was perfectly human and had believable motives and intentions, it was revealed that someone (no spoilers!) was some kinda demented evil villain with logic to match. The ending and epilogue brings everything back around, however. Otherwise it was a wild ride. In addition to sussing out who the murderer is (and it IS one of them), the reader is also assigned the task of discovering all their secrets. And I’m happy to say that when everything wound down, I had everything pegged correctly!

Well… mostly correctly.

TL;DR

I’d definitely recommend Nowhere to Hide but would understand if you’re a bit leery. Seven first-person POVs is a lot to take in, and just because it worked out for me, it might not work for you. Honestly I think that this would be a good one to try as an audiobook, as I’ve heard there’s a full cast. But if you want to try it in some standard format, just remember: Take your time, there’s no rush—the story’s not going anywhere. Just because one of them’s a murderer doesn’t mean you can’t relate with everyone just a bit (except Alec—no one should relate to Alec). Nowhere to Hide is a work of fiction, one that should be read for fun. So if you’re not having fun, maybe consider stopping it. And most important of all: everyone can kill under the right circumstances—so trust no one.

I love the love /hate... more hate relationship between the sisters.
The fact that this friend group knows virtually nothing of each other makes the suspense even higher.
The twist at the end is like a hammer to a nail to drive home the feeling of the book.

Another great book by this author. The books are sometimes slow to read but always good!

#youcanthide #netgalley

I loved the setting: seven people go into the woods on a birdwatching hike. One is killed. Who did it? My kind of book.
I liked the short chapters and the different points of view.
The pace could have been faster.

7 friends. 1 is a victim. 1 is a killer. The others must run….

This spine-tingling new thriller by Nell Pattison is a MUST read. Seven friends decide to meet up at the nature reserve for a Boxing Day hike. The plan is to watch the Starling murmuration but the tension among the friends increases and before the murmuration can be viewed, one of them ends up dead.

Pattison uses the atmosphere and setting to her advantage. The isolated nature reserve is closed to the public and the weather is foreboding, and this only adds to the terror when the friends sense that someone is out there in the woods with them. The novel opens with a deaf woman running through the woods at night, having lost her cochlear implant. The author successfully hooked me into this story because I could feel Emily’s fear and my heart was pounding before I even got to chapter 1! Imagine knowing that someone is after you, but you can’t hear them! It’s a locked room mystery in the sense that it’s only the 7 hikers and readers know that the victim and killer must be one of them. I loved the chance to try and solve the mystery before one of the hikers solved it. This is a murder mystery, but Pattison does such a phenomenal job crafting her characters that I got more wrapped up in the relationships between the friends than focusing on who it was. This allowed me to focus on the ‘why’ rather than the ‘who.’

There are many locked room mysteries out there, but this one rises above the rest because it focuses on the deaf community and because of the unique setting. Pattison was able to place me in the action and allow me to feel the tension and that’s an ability I admire.

The author began losing her hearing in her 20s and now teaches the deaf. The authenticity she brings to the narrative makes it successful. She deals with a crime within the deaf community with sensitivity.

Publishes December 9, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Nell Pattison, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

The narrators in the audiobook worked perfectly for the overall tone of this story, so I would recommend it as a good background/multitasking listen if that's your thing.

Hide is gripping in a way that keeps you sucked in till the very end. The characters are exactly what you'd expect when there are secrets to be uncovered and an unidentified killer amongst them.

I would recommend this very easy read to someone looking for a wintery/isolated thriller with morally grey characters. It doesn't require you to work very hard to solve the mystery, but it also throws quite a few red herrings your way, so if spotting the killer is not your strong suit then look out!

I will say that while I was able to quickly identify the bad guy, that ending threw me for a loop. I absolutely did NOT see that coming!

A great winter read. Lots of excitement and I really liked how the author's brilliant descriptive power conjures up the scenes so well that you can really immerse yourself in the action. At times I felt that some character's over deliberated on the storyline and it felt as though this dragged the storyline a bit. But otherwise a great read with some brilliant twists and turns intertwining the different characters lives in a well written thriller.

Seven friends head out into the nature reserve where Lauren works. One of the group, Alec, is shot and so begins a tense few hours as they try to work out who was responsible.
We are told fairly on that a number of the group have secrets they are wanting to keep quiet. Alec has, we know, let the group know he is aware of some of the things they’re hiding and so the possibilities for who might have killed him are fairly high.
From the outset we have a fairly claustrophobic setting. As the characters split up to try and find their way to safety we know that time is of the essence. The various characters are developed a little, though I did feel we were deliberately kept out of the loop a little.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this prior to publication.

This is a great suspenseful book about seven friends who meet in a wildlife park to watch birds in the hides. When one of them is murdered the other 6 have to try and survive as night closes in and which one is the murderer and accusations fly.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and its nail biting end.

I really love the cover, which is what drew me to this book. And I really liked the setting. We are in an isolated nature reserve on Boxing Day as seven friends come together for a walk and some bird spotting. Lauren is the manager of the reserve and so she's opened it up just for them, they've got the whole place to themselves. But as darkness and snow starts to fall, a gunshot rings out and one of the party is found dead.

The book is told from the varying different view points of all the characters, which I enjoyed. The tension builds up as the remaining members of the group start arguing about the best course of action. They need to raise the alarm but the visitor centre is over 5 miles away. So they split up to try and get help (never a good idea!)

I loved that disability was being represented, one of the main characters Emily, is deaf. It was great to read from her point of view and see how her senses were affected by being out in the dark. And how she was in a world of silence if someone turned there back to her if they were talking. I felt nervous for her as you realised it was so much harder for her in the surroundings.

I enjoyed the beginning and the ending of this book, but felt it dragged slightly in the middle. And there were a couple of occasions that didn't make sense, but you just have to go with it, don't question it too much.

Ive seen from some other reviews that they found the ending a bit controversial, but I LOVED it. It's what pushed it up to a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me. Totally unexpected and a chilling twist.

I have read quite a few books by Nell Pattison and enjoyed them all. Hide is yet another fantastic story, full of tension, suspense, twists and turns. The setting is very atmospheric and was a great book to curl up with on a snowy afternoon in late November.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC.

This is a story of seven not-quite-friends-but-not-strangers-either people who enjoy bird watching in the wilderness. This time, they gather on Boxing Day at a wilderness center managed by Lauren to watch the murmuration of starlings at the nearby nature reserve. The day started off perfect but as they hiked and split into groups in the woods, it takes a 180 degree turn. Wind starts to pick up and it starts to snow. As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve and Alec is found dead. Alec, who just a week prior, made a threat-ish announcement that he knows ALL. THEIR. SECRETS.

Tension rising, adrenaline pumping and survival instinct is high. It was clear one of them is the killer, but who and why? We have Emily with her successful career but is severely hearing impaired and relies on cochlear implants to hear. Lauren is Emily's sister with her own past issues and modest way of living. There's Ben, a sweet boy who is borderline stalkerishly in love with Emily, Dan who is grieving the loss of his wife, Morna who competes with Lauren at work, and Kai who has shady friends in the neighbourhood.

* * *
I've always loved a claustrophobic whodunnit thriller. The fact that one of the characters is deaf and relies on cochlear implants just like my eldest son made me mark this book as a must-read this year. I can relate to the woe and challenges that Emily faces -the lip reading, the malfunctioning device, and so much more- because my son deals with that and i really appreciate a book that highlights this issue. Trust me there are not many fictions on deaf people and I love Nell Pattison for it!

Told in 7 POVs, the book started a bit slow for me. Apart from Emily, all the other characters are hard to like (think irritable manchild, whiny grandma and annoying sister). The pace and suspense pick up at the middle part of the book. It kept me guessing for a while, but some parts are too detailed and i found myself lost interest and skimmed through the pages. Overall an engaging book, fans of Lucy Foley and Shari Lapena would appreciate this. I rate this as 3.5 stars. Thank you Netgalley, Avon Books UK and Nell Pattison for an eARC copy of this book.

I thought this was an interesting premise for a book. I enjoyed that one character was deaf, it created a different dynamic for the relationships. I also really liked that this was in a secluded location. It created an atmospheric story!

2 things different about this book, 1 is that one of the characters is deaf and 2 is that it is set in a Nature Reserve, both things vastly different, both things could have taken over the book but the author very cleverly had both as inclusive parts of the story so we learnt about cocklear implants alongside starling mass flights in an interesting informative but not take over the story way, both elements were fascinating to read about
The story itself is about 7 friends ( very loosely friends ) who go on a Boxing Day walk in the reserve, all though have secrets and one of them knows each one of them, again cleverly the author hints at these throughout until the big reveal of each one…..meanwhile someone is trying to kill them all
It was a fine engaging read, descriptive and reader friendly and with a ‘ohhhhhhhhh’ ending
Really enjoyed it

9/10
5 Stars

Hide - Nell Pattison

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Seven friends. One killer. You can run, but you can’t hide…

The winter hike is meant to bring their nature group together.
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.

I enjoyed this book - I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book but I was drawn in by the cover. Each of the characters is hiding something and it could lead to any of them being the murderer. As the reader, I felt as in the dark as the characters I was reading about, as they were running around the reserve in the dark.

I listened to the majority of the book in one sitting and even when I wasn't listening I was trying to work out who the killer was. This book is told from the perspective of each of the different characters - with each character getting their own chapters.

Rating: 4/5

It was suppose to be a beautiful hike in the woods the day after Christmas for a small nature loving group of seven. The reserve would be closed to all others but them. They hadn’t seen each other since an awkward night in a bar when one member hinted to having secrets about every one of them. And one of them would kill for it! Soon after their hike begins they split off to watch birds and a gunshot is heard, leaving a member dead. The snow starts falling and they need to get help but which one of them is a murderer.

This story is told by the 7 members of the group but I promise it is not hard to follow. The author gives each character a distinct voice and personality that makes it easy to read. The book had me in suspense and the ending had me wanting more. The description of the scenery made me feel like I was there and I loved reading this curled up in a warm blanket. A perfect winter read!

Lauren worked at a nature reserve and really enjoyed her job. She had a sister, Emily, who she had only just reconnected with and they were slowly getting to know each other as Emily lived in London. Lauren belonged to a group that did nature walks and Emily joined them on the walks sometimes. Lauren had arranged special permission for them to go on Boxing day for a walk to watch the starling murmuration which was about four pm. It would be the first time the group had been on the reserve in the dark.
Everyone had been looking forward to it until the little upset with Alec the week before when he was a bit drunk and said things he probably shouldn’t have. He hinted he knew secrets about everyone in the group and it made them all feel uneasy.
On the day there was definitely a feeling of unease as the group met at the visitor center before setting off for their hike into the reserve, about four or five miles they were going. When they reach the big bird hide, Morna and Dan decide to go in there while the rest of the group go on. Alec takes the next small hide, Lauren is the next one to find a spot with Kai finding a spot soon after leaving Ben and Emily who find a hide but Ben ducks out with a lame excuse of going to sort out something with Alec and disappearing into the rapidly approaching darkness. Not long after the murmuration starts then sometime after that there is a gunshot and Alec is shot dead!
Ben is found by the hide with a massive bump on his head and protesting his innocence which on the surface isn’t fully accepted. The remaining six break into two groups of three and go different routes back to the visitor center, certain that the killer is in one of the groups. But have they set their sights on the right person to be the killer?
I just loved this story. It was a totally different setting to anything else that I have read. The descriptive writing was brilliant, I felt like I was there and the amount of research required must have been immense but the story was worth it. Highlights the problem encountered by the deaf community if their hearing implements fail.

A great read. I have read/listened to a couple of books by this author and so far they have had a main character who is deaf which is quite unusual but welcome.
Liked the play on the title,set in a nature reserve,a thrilling read,original I thought and wow what a huge twist at the end,it totally floored me.
I loved this book!

This is the first book by Nell Pattison that I've read...and it won't be my last! An interesting version of the classic locked room mystery there are twists and turns aplenty. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can highly recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows a group of hikers during a snowy boxing day hike through a nature reserve. The last time this hiking group met up for drinks in a pub it didn't end well, with an argument breaking out. The tension is there from the very start and only grows when a group member is found murdered.

This story is told through multiple perspectives, which I usually tend to dislike. But this is a well told story and the different points of view definitely kept me guessing until the very end. The start of the book was a real pageturner. The middle section did drag a bit as there was a lot of walking around with no progression. The book definitely picked up for the last third!!

This book was an excellent mystery whodunnit made better by the snowy setting as it's coming up to Christmas! Overall this was a very good read. I gave this book 4 stars.

Thanks to @netgalley and @avonbooksuk for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a locked-room murder mystery as it goes without saying that the murderer - and next victim - is a character you know as there's a limited group of suspects. Set on a closed nature reserve at night during a snow storm, this was the perfect closed "room" setting where the clever title could equally have related to the bird hides just as much as hiding for your life. The small set of characters were cleverly developed so as one of them says: "I feel like I've seen everyone here in a different light this evening, and that has changed my opinion of them all, some for better, others for worse." In fact the antagonist turns out to be a true psychopath which I didn't foresee but really enjoyed. What I didn't buy, however, were the overly convenient connections between the characters. Lots to like with this but it was slightly let down by the middle which consisted of a lot of running around in the dark without much actually happening.

My thanks to Avon Books U.K. for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Hide’ by Nell Pattison in exchange for an honest review.

For the past few years Lauren has been meeting up regularly with a small group of nature enthusiasts. On Boxing Day she has arranged for them to visit the Lincolnshire nature reserve where she works for an afternoon walk and wildlife spotting.

Among the group is her sister, Emily, with whom she has a complicated past. After contracting meningitis as a baby, Emily is deaf, though she uses cochlear implants. Then there is Morna, in her 60s and a long time volunteer at the nature reserve. She appears to resent Lauren.

The chaps accompanying them: Alec, Ben, Dan, and Kai each have their own issues which are explored or hinted at in their chapters. Then there is a murder! No details of who in order to avoid spoilers.

Having seven narrative voices did seem rather crowded, though after the murder it drops to six. Once I realised the format, I made a notes for myself on who was who, which helped me until I became familiar with everyone.

This was a classic style of murder mystery/thriller where a small group of people in an isolated situation suddenly are confronted by a murder. Of course, they are miles away from the Visitor’s Centre, their cars, and assistance. I did wonder why a reserve didn’t have proper signage to assist visitors.

With no phone signal there’s a lot of wandering about in the woods holding their phones up and tripping over tree roots. Add to this lots of anxiety as to whether the murderer is one of the remaining group or an outsider, such as a poacher or someone trespassing on the reserve.

Overall, I found ‘Hide’ an entertaining whodunnit with some interesting twists.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

That was a book that we all needed this winter! One of the best of this year!

Night in the forest, snow falling heavily, eight people, and one murder. Who is the killer? and why? Is someone in this inner circle going to kill anyone else? And what the hell is going on? I have a gooseflesh while reading. No kidding!

It is similar to Lucy Foley's book which I adore so this one is turning me on. I love the story when nothing is for sure and the reader needs to solve the crime. Here? The ending was a huge surprise. Even for me. Would never expect something such crazy as this!

It is perfect. In the new year, I wish I had only such excellent book on my tbr list!

Seven friends. One killer. You can run, but you can’t hide…
The winter hike is meant to bring their nature group together.
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.
As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve.
One of the seven is dead. And one of their number killed them…

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

Really enjoyed this book. I really liked how each chapter was given from the perspective of another person in the group. I thought that the character development overall was great and I especially loved that there was a character who had a cochlear implant. I personally wear hearing aids and seeing an accurate representation of what is it like to not be able to fully hear even with help with machines in my ears was something that I truly appreciate. OVerall, really liked this book and would recommend it easily to others.

An enjoyable thriller and a fab audiobook, Hide will give you chills! I could practically feel the ice coming out of the speaker, the scene is set so well. As a fan of walking the dog in pretty places I loved the nature reserve setting, it made it really easy to picture and was the perfect place for this to ensue. I liked hearing from all the different narrators and thought the cast were great; I definitely prefer books in which you get to hear multiple perspectives, especially in a thriller. In this we’d finish one chapter and be left hanging waiting to find out what had happened to that particular character which added to the suspense.
On the flip side I did feel it could have been a bit shorter as there was a lot of the same stuff happening that it went on for a little longer than it needed to. And there were a few plot holes for me too - <spoiler> Why didn’t Dan kill Emily when he first caught her in the woods instead of trying to talk to her? And if he was so hell bent why didn’t he pick her off sooner when it was just him, Morna and Emily? Why did he kill Alec? Still doesn’t make sense to me as when Alec described it it wasn’t instant. Was Kai faking his ankle injury and why did he keep stalling, surely not just for the purpose of avoiding his poacher friends? What was the light everyone kept seeing all about? Did Alec know Lauren’s secret? Why did Lauren run out to help Emily when she heard her scream if she actually wanted her dead? Why didn’t Morna help her grandchildren, her reasoning was ridiculous. And why on Earth is Emily so oblivious to how much Lauren dislikes her?</spoiler> I still have lots of questions about bits and I prefer when everything is properly explained away, BUT I did like the final twist at the end (although I did see it coming.) I would’ve liked to have known more about some of the characters back stories too. We hear a lot about some and not so much about others, especially Lauren who’s very important but who we only hear about second hand.

All in all it was an an enjoyable listen with a different premise to any of the thrillers I’ve come across before, I thought it was quite original. If you’re looking for a good, wintery read (but be prepared to feel cold!) this could be the one for you!