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The Hike
10 hours, 28 minutes
No help.
No cell coverage.
No one to hear them scream.
Burned-out by both her marriage and work, Liz is desperate for an escape. More than that, she craves an adventure, a total reset. So, when she plans a vacation with her three best friends, she persuades them to spend four nights camping in the stunning mountains of Norway. Following a trail that climbs through lush valleys, towering peaks, and past jewel-blue lakes, Liz is sure that the hike is just what they need.
But as they stride farther from civilization, it becomes clear that the women are not the only ones looking to lose themselves in the mountains. The wilderness hides secrets darker than they could ever have imagined, and if they’re not careful . . . not all of them will return.
No help.
No cell coverage.
No one to hear them scream.
Burned-out by both her marriage and work, Liz is desperate for an escape. More than that, she craves an adventure, a total reset. So, when she plans a vacation with her three best friends, she persuades them to spend four nights camping in the stunning mountains of Norway. Following a trail that climbs through lush valleys, towering peaks, and past jewel-blue lakes, Liz is sure that the hike is just what they need.
But as they stride farther from civilization, it becomes clear that the women are not the only ones looking to lose themselves in the mountains. The wilderness hides secrets darker than they could ever have imagined, and if they’re not careful . . . not all of them will return.
Audible Audio
First published April 27, 2023
2851 people are currently reading
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About the author
Lucy Clarke
22 books3,139 followersSunday Times bestseller Lucy Clarke is the author of nine destination thrillers. They include Waterstones Thriller of the Month, The Castaways, Richard and Judy Book Club pick, One of the Girls, and international bestseller, The Hike - and her most recent novel, The Surf House. Lucy's novels have sold over a million copies in the UK alone and are published in more than 25 territories worldwide.
Lucy's thriller, No Escape has been released as a major international show for Paramount+. The Castaways has also been adapted into a five-part thriller for Paramount+ and stars BAFTA award-winner Sheridan Smith. Three further novels by Lucy are currently in development for TV/film.
When Lucy isn't away on research trips (the real reason she loves being an author!), she can be found writing from a beach hut on the south coast of England. She lives with her husband and their two children.
Say hello:
Instagram @lucyclarke_author
Facebook: lucyclarkeauthor
Lucy's thriller, No Escape has been released as a major international show for Paramount+. The Castaways has also been adapted into a five-part thriller for Paramount+ and stars BAFTA award-winner Sheridan Smith. Three further novels by Lucy are currently in development for TV/film.
When Lucy isn't away on research trips (the real reason she loves being an author!), she can be found writing from a beach hut on the south coast of England. She lives with her husband and their two children.
Say hello:
Instagram @lucyclarke_author
Facebook: lucyclarkeauthor
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,658 reviews
February 8, 2023
Thank you Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my reviews are always honest.
PSA: 3 stars is NOT a bad book. This is a solid survivalist popcorn thriller
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 4/5 tbh it was plotting | Ending: 2.5/5
SYNOPSIS
Four lifelong friends embark on a challenging 4-day hike in Norway, each with their own secrets and personal issues. Some are more eager to get on the trail than others, but when they hear about a missing girl who looks strikingly similar to Maggie, things take a sinister twist.
MY OPINION
Why yes, I'm writing reviews on Christmas LOL. Wanted to get this one off while it was fresh in my mind and before I passed out from the meat sweats. If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you're having a wonderful day with loved ones (both human and furry!).
Now, I'm usually not one to jump at a survivalist thriller, but I'm trying to dibble dabble in a few different tropes because the plain ole domestic ones are letting me down. I need something different. And this definitely fit the bill. It's the first of its kind that I've read, and I have to say I enjoyed it. Was it a literary masterpiece? No. But was it a solid popcorn thriller? Yes (bar the ending going a lil too Charlie's Angels).
This is also the first time I've read a Lucy Clarke, and I'd def visit her backlist if I'm in the need for a similar read. The start was a tad on the slow side; it does take a minute to introduce each of the four ladies, their problems, and their personalities. Each character is distinct, so kudos for that as well. If I had to rank them from most to least likeable, I'd say: Maggie (hella wholesome), Helena (she got a huge character arc which was great to see), Liz (very type A, forced the women into a dangerous trip because SHE needed it, didn't really give AF how they felt) and Joni (no comment, see for yourself.)
Once introductions were made, I was super impressed with how much conflict she stuffed within these pages. There was action abound. It didn't feel too OTT either, just issues a group of inexperienced hikers may encounter. Then we had the personal conflicts running throughout the story: Maggie being away from her young daughter for the first time and brimming with self-doubt, Helena with her unexpected pregnancy, Liz with her marriage on the rocks, and Joni with her addiction and conflicting feelings regarding fame. There was also conflict between the women; and yes some of the friendship moments were a little rah-rah and saccharine sweet, but for a popcorn thriller it worked. It's safe to say that once you clear that first 20/25% ish, there's never a dull moment.
Also, this book reinforced that sitting on your couch and reading about hiking is much better than actual hiking. The thought of wearing three-day old clothes and not showering is disturbing. I was barely surviving this weekend when the power went out for 13 hours LOL. Ain't no way I'm trekking through some unknown mountain eating dried food and shitting in the woods. I'm more of a beach gal LOL.
All in all, a solid popcorn thriller that was different than the usual "is my husband secretly a killer?" books. The final showdown was ... le cringe, but again, popcorn thriller.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-plotted, brimming with action and conflict after the first 20/25%, strongly written characters
Cons: ending, writing was a bit chonky and Clarke certainly likes to write "blood crashed in her eardrums" and "X felt liquid inside"
PSA: 3 stars is NOT a bad book. This is a solid survivalist popcorn thriller
Writing: 3/5 | Plot: 4/5 tbh it was plotting | Ending: 2.5/5
SYNOPSIS
Four lifelong friends embark on a challenging 4-day hike in Norway, each with their own secrets and personal issues. Some are more eager to get on the trail than others, but when they hear about a missing girl who looks strikingly similar to Maggie, things take a sinister twist.
MY OPINION
Why yes, I'm writing reviews on Christmas LOL. Wanted to get this one off while it was fresh in my mind and before I passed out from the meat sweats. If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you're having a wonderful day with loved ones (both human and furry!).
Now, I'm usually not one to jump at a survivalist thriller, but I'm trying to dibble dabble in a few different tropes because the plain ole domestic ones are letting me down. I need something different. And this definitely fit the bill. It's the first of its kind that I've read, and I have to say I enjoyed it. Was it a literary masterpiece? No. But was it a solid popcorn thriller? Yes (bar the ending going a lil too Charlie's Angels).
This is also the first time I've read a Lucy Clarke, and I'd def visit her backlist if I'm in the need for a similar read. The start was a tad on the slow side; it does take a minute to introduce each of the four ladies, their problems, and their personalities. Each character is distinct, so kudos for that as well. If I had to rank them from most to least likeable, I'd say: Maggie (hella wholesome), Helena (she got a huge character arc which was great to see), Liz (very type A, forced the women into a dangerous trip because SHE needed it, didn't really give AF how they felt) and Joni (no comment, see for yourself.)
Once introductions were made, I was super impressed with how much conflict she stuffed within these pages. There was action abound. It didn't feel too OTT either, just issues a group of inexperienced hikers may encounter. Then we had the personal conflicts running throughout the story: Maggie being away from her young daughter for the first time and brimming with self-doubt, Helena with her unexpected pregnancy, Liz with her marriage on the rocks, and Joni with her addiction and conflicting feelings regarding fame. There was also conflict between the women; and yes some of the friendship moments were a little rah-rah and saccharine sweet, but for a popcorn thriller it worked. It's safe to say that once you clear that first 20/25% ish, there's never a dull moment.
Also, this book reinforced that sitting on your couch and reading about hiking is much better than actual hiking. The thought of wearing three-day old clothes and not showering is disturbing. I was barely surviving this weekend when the power went out for 13 hours LOL. Ain't no way I'm trekking through some unknown mountain eating dried food and shitting in the woods. I'm more of a beach gal LOL.
All in all, a solid popcorn thriller that was different than the usual "is my husband secretly a killer?" books. The final showdown was ... le cringe, but again, popcorn thriller.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-plotted, brimming with action and conflict after the first 20/25%, strongly written characters
Cons: ending, writing was a bit chonky and Clarke certainly likes to write "blood crashed in her eardrums" and "X felt liquid inside"
May 14, 2023
Lace up those boots!🧗♂️
Four best friends meet up every year for a long weekend getaway. Usually it involves a tropical sunny beach. But this time it’s a mountain hike in Norway and not everyone is exactly on-board with the decision. Can’t say I blame them. Going from margaritas to hiking boots! Are they really prepared to tackle the climb and whatever adventure awaits them?
But we know not everyone will return alive! What exactly happened up on that mountain trail?
During the entire read I had that nagging feeling I’d read this before. Perhaps it was just one of those books.💁🏻♀️
This is a super easy read that I read in basically one sitting. If you’re looking for a fast thriller with some fabulous twists then this is a must for you!
My first by this author and looking forward to more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam.
Four best friends meet up every year for a long weekend getaway. Usually it involves a tropical sunny beach. But this time it’s a mountain hike in Norway and not everyone is exactly on-board with the decision. Can’t say I blame them. Going from margaritas to hiking boots! Are they really prepared to tackle the climb and whatever adventure awaits them?
But we know not everyone will return alive! What exactly happened up on that mountain trail?
During the entire read I had that nagging feeling I’d read this before. Perhaps it was just one of those books.💁🏻♀️
This is a super easy read that I read in basically one sitting. If you’re looking for a fast thriller with some fabulous twists then this is a must for you!
My first by this author and looking forward to more!
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam.
January 11, 2023
A female body lies at the base of Blafjell Mountain in Norway, the only silent witness to what has happened?? Maggie, Liz, Helena and Joni are old friends from school days. This is their annual ‘reconnect’ trip, very different from their normal lounge around the pool break away. Hiking boots, heavy backpacks, wild camping, stunning scenery, what could possibly go wrong? Well, I’m sure you’ve guessed it’s a catalogue of errors from start to finish. The mistakes are wide ranging, from crass stupidity to thoughtlessness and so things that could go wrong, certainly do. However, not everything that happens on Blafjell is the friends fault, far from it.
The pace of the novel is slow initially but picks up considerably once the hike has got underway and then it varies from a brisk walking speed to hurtling pell mell down the mountainside. The atmosphere is very good, the Norwegian setting provides and adds a great deal of mood and ambience to the developing drama. This heightens and deepens the group dynamics which are in constant flux with moments of joy and liberation which contrasts effectively with the building fearful dread and suspense. None of the characters are especially likeable but this adds to the plot rather than detracts with some of the Norwegian characters giving cause for concern and worse. There are some scenarios where time seems to stand still which are really good as you are anticipating the next bad thing. The sense of mystery escalates, it starts uneasy then blooms to full on danger, there’s a mystical element too which is intriguing and so there’s plenty going on to keep you glued to the pages.
Overall, once this gets going it’s a very immersive and entertaining read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
The pace of the novel is slow initially but picks up considerably once the hike has got underway and then it varies from a brisk walking speed to hurtling pell mell down the mountainside. The atmosphere is very good, the Norwegian setting provides and adds a great deal of mood and ambience to the developing drama. This heightens and deepens the group dynamics which are in constant flux with moments of joy and liberation which contrasts effectively with the building fearful dread and suspense. None of the characters are especially likeable but this adds to the plot rather than detracts with some of the Norwegian characters giving cause for concern and worse. There are some scenarios where time seems to stand still which are really good as you are anticipating the next bad thing. The sense of mystery escalates, it starts uneasy then blooms to full on danger, there’s a mystical element too which is intriguing and so there’s plenty going on to keep you glued to the pages.
Overall, once this gets going it’s a very immersive and entertaining read.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
July 16, 2024
The weather forecast is terrible and it is not very wise to travel in that condition? Let’s just ignore it! No one has trained for this strenuous trip? Well, it will probably work out fine. Lots of POVs with long backstories? Let’s hope you have plenty of time to get to know them.
September 13, 2023
My thanks to Penguin Group/Putnam, Lucy Clarke and Netgalley.
Short review.
Far as I'm concerned, if Lucy writes it, I will read it!
Average story. Everybody seems to have one of these type of tales nowadays.
Ms. Clarke however is fantastic at building her characters and the atmosphere.
Recommended. Wear some decent hiking boots though!😜
Short review.
Far as I'm concerned, if Lucy writes it, I will read it!
Average story. Everybody seems to have one of these type of tales nowadays.
Ms. Clarke however is fantastic at building her characters and the atmosphere.
Recommended. Wear some decent hiking boots though!😜
December 24, 2023
Way too much talk, not enough action
WAYYYY Too much Exposition for my taste but enjoying aspects so far.
Like it's 20% in , 15 chapters +, and were still not into the hike.
We didn't need over 5 chapters at the lodge party good lord.
We also don't need pages dedicated to reorganizing their packs. Like come on get to the point. All this character background details isn't adding ANYYYthing.
It's crazy we're finally on the actual hike and we're still barely focusing on it and spending pages going on and on about so many insignificant boring details and their back stories. There's no ominous survival tension being built. Just so much talk.
Like why did we just start a new chapter with a whole half page of the lodge owner fixing a door at the lodge??? It's totally insignificant to the story.
I feel like this book needed a good edit. This could have been really tense and thrilling but the writing is really bogging it down.
I totally called the vilhelm thing
Also really stinks the only way for jonnie to redeem herself was to die. And the lady stayed with the cheating husband and it's fine but the cheating woman had to die to redeem herself as a character🙄 GODDDDD
The second half of this book does get better but I wanted more action and tension and there just so much flashback scenes and not enough present tense.
Also wow there like 5 chapters of epilouge and wrapup. I'd expect nothing different from this author at this point wow.
Although I will say that This book taught me what Vertigo is officially. So that's good.
WAYYYY Too much Exposition for my taste but enjoying aspects so far.
Like it's 20% in , 15 chapters +, and were still not into the hike.
We didn't need over 5 chapters at the lodge party good lord.
We also don't need pages dedicated to reorganizing their packs. Like come on get to the point. All this character background details isn't adding ANYYYthing.
It's crazy we're finally on the actual hike and we're still barely focusing on it and spending pages going on and on about so many insignificant boring details and their back stories. There's no ominous survival tension being built. Just so much talk.
Like why did we just start a new chapter with a whole half page of the lodge owner fixing a door at the lodge??? It's totally insignificant to the story.
I feel like this book needed a good edit. This could have been really tense and thrilling but the writing is really bogging it down.
I totally called the vilhelm thing
Also really stinks the only way for jonnie to redeem herself was to die. And the lady stayed with the cheating husband and it's fine but the cheating woman had to die to redeem herself as a character🙄 GODDDDD
The second half of this book does get better but I wanted more action and tension and there just so much flashback scenes and not enough present tense.
Also wow there like 5 chapters of epilouge and wrapup. I'd expect nothing different from this author at this point wow.
Although I will say that This book taught me what Vertigo is officially. So that's good.
July 24, 2024
Four women who are the closest of friends take a girls trip every year and this year they choose something different which will be out of their comfort zones. They decide to fly to Norway to go hiking in the beautiful and possibly dangerous mountains for four carefree days to escape their everyday mundane routines and life problems while also catching up with one another's lives including babies, husbands careers and also some regrettable life choices over the years. Not all the women are thrilled with the idea mountain hiking yet they're always supportive of one another even when they'd rather be on a sunny and warm beach in some other beautiful, exotic location.
The people are welcoming although somewhat aloof in the small village of Norway and give the ladies instructions and advice with some warnings of dangers they could encounter while hiking. At times they feel they are not alone and being watched by an unseen, creepy presence. The women aren't prepared to find themselves discovering something very bad that places them in great danger if found out while at the same time two of the women have been harboring painful secrets which will affect the group but only one will reveal a secret so ugly and shameful that it could cause a breakdown in the friendships or it could possibly cost one woman her life!
I loved everything about this book from the beginning to the final page. I'm a fan of locked room mysteries and thrillers and that's what this story was even though it took place in the great outdoors. Oh, the writing and storytelling were just so good I hated having to put the book down to take care of my reality (sigh). I have now become an official fan of this author "Lucy Clarke" as I had read another of her books called "One Of The Girls" which I was also crazy about. The atmosphere and scenery were made so visual that all my senses were alive with all the lovely, descriptive words and phrases where I felt I was an invisible party hiking alongside the women. Just so much fun and enjoyable entertainment with continuous threats of menace or physical danger lurking around every bend. Not all the women were warm, fuzzy characters. Each of them at different times could be annoying or irritating but that's what made the story saucy, spicy and oh. so delicious! I highly recommend this book and I am so looking forward to the next novel "Lucy Clarke" writes as well as reading some of her previous books.
I want to thank the publisher "Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam Sons" and Net galley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this novel a rating of 4 1/2 MESMERIZING AND EXCITING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
Title: The Hike
Author: Lucy Clarke
Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam
Publication Date: August 29, 2023
The people are welcoming although somewhat aloof in the small village of Norway and give the ladies instructions and advice with some warnings of dangers they could encounter while hiking. At times they feel they are not alone and being watched by an unseen, creepy presence. The women aren't prepared to find themselves discovering something very bad that places them in great danger if found out while at the same time two of the women have been harboring painful secrets which will affect the group but only one will reveal a secret so ugly and shameful that it could cause a breakdown in the friendships or it could possibly cost one woman her life!
I loved everything about this book from the beginning to the final page. I'm a fan of locked room mysteries and thrillers and that's what this story was even though it took place in the great outdoors. Oh, the writing and storytelling were just so good I hated having to put the book down to take care of my reality (sigh). I have now become an official fan of this author "Lucy Clarke" as I had read another of her books called "One Of The Girls" which I was also crazy about. The atmosphere and scenery were made so visual that all my senses were alive with all the lovely, descriptive words and phrases where I felt I was an invisible party hiking alongside the women. Just so much fun and enjoyable entertainment with continuous threats of menace or physical danger lurking around every bend. Not all the women were warm, fuzzy characters. Each of them at different times could be annoying or irritating but that's what made the story saucy, spicy and oh. so delicious! I highly recommend this book and I am so looking forward to the next novel "Lucy Clarke" writes as well as reading some of her previous books.
I want to thank the publisher "Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam Sons" and Net galley for the opportunity to read this terrific book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this novel a rating of 4 1/2 MESMERIZING AND EXCITING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
Title: The Hike
Author: Lucy Clarke
Publisher: Penguin Group Putnam
Publication Date: August 29, 2023
August 12, 2023
Every year, Liz Wallace and her three best friends travel the globe to recharge and reconnect. This year, it was her chance to choose where to go. Battling problems in her marriage plus burn out at work, Liz decides it’s time to take the trip she’s been dreaming of ever since she was a child: hiking the Norwegian trails.
Dragging along the others, they head out for four days in the remote wilderness with just each other and their minimal experience. And for the first two days it seems like hard work, but also just what the doctor ordered. After all, they are surrounded by unadulterated beauty as far as the eye can see.
The farther they get from the picturesque lodge, however, the less certain they all become. Between glimpses of mysterious figures and whispered stories that allude to unseen dangers, the women begin to wonder if they ever truly knew what they were getting into. And now they find themselves farther away from civilization than any of them have ever been before.
As they continue along the trail, secrets begin to emerge. Deep, dark secrets that reveal that the striking vistas might just so happen to also hide a bounty of dangers. Do they keep going without knowing what’s around the next corner or turn back before it’s too late? One thing is altogether too clear, though: if they don’t watch themselves, they just might not make it out of the woods at all.
Every time I dive into one of Lucy Clarke’s novels, I cross my fingers and hope that it’s going to be just as good as the last one of hers that I’d read. And yet again, I was thrilled to find that The Hike somehow managed to live up to all of my rather high expectations.
In each book I’ve read by Clarke, I’ve always been particularly blown away by her deft ability to build consistent and ever ratcheting suspense. This time around, not only was that true, but with each revelation, something else was twisted to reveal a new puzzle filled with just as much intensity. This managed to create an ebb and flow to the unease that kept me on tenterhooks throughout. Even better, it meant that not once was I able to guess where this one was headed.
Speaking of the plot, well-written and beautifully organized, this multiple POV storyline took me on quite the ride. Starting off with a buildup that felt a tad more like women’s lit than thriller, the slow burn quickly caught fire into a rip-roaring explosion of suspense. And the further along the hike the women got, the higher my heart rate seemed to rise.
If I had to name my absolute favorite part of this book, however, it would have to be the relationships at the center of the plot. A tale of reconnecting friends and life’s unexpected turns, it was heartwarming but also filled with true-to-life problems that occur when you put more than two people together in a friendship. And, ultimately, this led to plenty of plot charging drama that put the thrills in thriller.
The only minor issue I found as I flew through the pages was within the near perfect climax. Unlike anything I’ve ever read before, the wonderfully long, drawn-out crescendo managed to maintain quite the adrenaline fueled scene. And while the vast majority of it hit just the right chord, there were pieces that rang with a bit too much melodrama. Don’t get me wrong, I could easily see it playing out just the way it was written, but, nevertheless, it felt a bit over-the-top all the same.
Ultimately, however, I was thoroughly hooked from the very first page. A quick, easy read imbued with plenty of foreboding, compelling yet complex group dynamics, and characters who will make you wonder who to trust, I just could not get enough of this one. In fact, it would make one heck of a thrilling movie or TV series, so I’ll be crossing my fingers on that score. Done and dusted, this one was an absolute home run for me and I cannot recommend it enough for all of you out there looking for your next great read! Rating of 4.5 stars.
PUB DATE: August 29, 2023
Thank you to Lucy Clarke, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Trigger warning: drug use, death of a parent, landslide, drug addiction, pregnancy, infidelity, mention of: cancer
Dragging along the others, they head out for four days in the remote wilderness with just each other and their minimal experience. And for the first two days it seems like hard work, but also just what the doctor ordered. After all, they are surrounded by unadulterated beauty as far as the eye can see.
The farther they get from the picturesque lodge, however, the less certain they all become. Between glimpses of mysterious figures and whispered stories that allude to unseen dangers, the women begin to wonder if they ever truly knew what they were getting into. And now they find themselves farther away from civilization than any of them have ever been before.
As they continue along the trail, secrets begin to emerge. Deep, dark secrets that reveal that the striking vistas might just so happen to also hide a bounty of dangers. Do they keep going without knowing what’s around the next corner or turn back before it’s too late? One thing is altogether too clear, though: if they don’t watch themselves, they just might not make it out of the woods at all.
Every time I dive into one of Lucy Clarke’s novels, I cross my fingers and hope that it’s going to be just as good as the last one of hers that I’d read. And yet again, I was thrilled to find that The Hike somehow managed to live up to all of my rather high expectations.
In each book I’ve read by Clarke, I’ve always been particularly blown away by her deft ability to build consistent and ever ratcheting suspense. This time around, not only was that true, but with each revelation, something else was twisted to reveal a new puzzle filled with just as much intensity. This managed to create an ebb and flow to the unease that kept me on tenterhooks throughout. Even better, it meant that not once was I able to guess where this one was headed.
Speaking of the plot, well-written and beautifully organized, this multiple POV storyline took me on quite the ride. Starting off with a buildup that felt a tad more like women’s lit than thriller, the slow burn quickly caught fire into a rip-roaring explosion of suspense. And the further along the hike the women got, the higher my heart rate seemed to rise.
If I had to name my absolute favorite part of this book, however, it would have to be the relationships at the center of the plot. A tale of reconnecting friends and life’s unexpected turns, it was heartwarming but also filled with true-to-life problems that occur when you put more than two people together in a friendship. And, ultimately, this led to plenty of plot charging drama that put the thrills in thriller.
The only minor issue I found as I flew through the pages was within the near perfect climax. Unlike anything I’ve ever read before, the wonderfully long, drawn-out crescendo managed to maintain quite the adrenaline fueled scene. And while the vast majority of it hit just the right chord, there were pieces that rang with a bit too much melodrama. Don’t get me wrong, I could easily see it playing out just the way it was written, but, nevertheless, it felt a bit over-the-top all the same.
Ultimately, however, I was thoroughly hooked from the very first page. A quick, easy read imbued with plenty of foreboding, compelling yet complex group dynamics, and characters who will make you wonder who to trust, I just could not get enough of this one. In fact, it would make one heck of a thrilling movie or TV series, so I’ll be crossing my fingers on that score. Done and dusted, this one was an absolute home run for me and I cannot recommend it enough for all of you out there looking for your next great read! Rating of 4.5 stars.
PUB DATE: August 29, 2023
Thank you to Lucy Clarke, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Trigger warning: drug use, death of a parent, landslide, drug addiction, pregnancy, infidelity, mention of: cancer
July 31, 2023
3.5 stars rounded to 4
If you’re looking for an entertaining popcorn thriller, albeit maybe not memorable or a chart topper, look no further! The first quarter is slow moving as we get to know our group of friends who are hiking together, but if you can be patient, once that backstory is laid (and this part is arguably important) the real action begins and doesn’t let up until the very last page.
I’ve never been so sure of my not being a rugged, outdoor kinda gal as I was while reading this book. I guess you could call me a glamping princess, as I’d rather have access to at least some conveniences, but after reading this book I can argue with my husband that it’s just safer overall. 😇 These women are wearing the same crusty clothes for days, eating dried/preserved foods, etc and YOU DO YOU GIRLS. 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻
The ending is a bit over the top, but exciting nonetheless. This was my first read by the author, and I enjoyed this one enough to want to check out her backlist. I did not listen to the audiobook, and the male narrator appears to either be a debut artist or using a pseudonym, but the female narrator (Stephanie Racine) is a favorite of mine, so if you enjoy reading with your ear balls I highly recommend giving it a try and reporting back.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
If you’re looking for an entertaining popcorn thriller, albeit maybe not memorable or a chart topper, look no further! The first quarter is slow moving as we get to know our group of friends who are hiking together, but if you can be patient, once that backstory is laid (and this part is arguably important) the real action begins and doesn’t let up until the very last page.
I’ve never been so sure of my not being a rugged, outdoor kinda gal as I was while reading this book. I guess you could call me a glamping princess, as I’d rather have access to at least some conveniences, but after reading this book I can argue with my husband that it’s just safer overall. 😇 These women are wearing the same crusty clothes for days, eating dried/preserved foods, etc and YOU DO YOU GIRLS. 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻
The ending is a bit over the top, but exciting nonetheless. This was my first read by the author, and I enjoyed this one enough to want to check out her backlist. I did not listen to the audiobook, and the male narrator appears to either be a debut artist or using a pseudonym, but the female narrator (Stephanie Racine) is a favorite of mine, so if you enjoy reading with your ear balls I highly recommend giving it a try and reporting back.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
October 4, 2023
3.5⭐
Genre ~ friendship fiction, suspense fiction
Setting ~ Norway
Publication date ~ August 29, 2023
Page Count ~ 382 (82 chapters & p)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 28 minutes
Narrators ~ David Johansen-Menkin, Stephanie Racine
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ secrets, drugs
Four friends, Helena, Maggie, Liz & Joni are on holiday together. Liz has picked their excursion this time and not everyone is thrilled about it.
It took me a bit to get into the story. Maybe because I'm not super big on hiking. You might catch me on an early morning walk/jog with my pup once in a while, but out in the wilderness, no thanks. Anyway, I loved that it was written with each of their POV's. It's full of friendship drama and some old secrets, as expected. After it picks up the pace there's some tension and action that kept me engaged. Overall, decent.
I was able to listen to an audio copy as well.
Narration notes:
No complaints.
*Thanks to the author, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ friendship fiction, suspense fiction
Setting ~ Norway
Publication date ~ August 29, 2023
Page Count ~ 382 (82 chapters & p)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 28 minutes
Narrators ~ David Johansen-Menkin, Stephanie Racine
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ secrets, drugs
Four friends, Helena, Maggie, Liz & Joni are on holiday together. Liz has picked their excursion this time and not everyone is thrilled about it.
It took me a bit to get into the story. Maybe because I'm not super big on hiking. You might catch me on an early morning walk/jog with my pup once in a while, but out in the wilderness, no thanks. Anyway, I loved that it was written with each of their POV's. It's full of friendship drama and some old secrets, as expected. After it picks up the pace there's some tension and action that kept me engaged. Overall, decent.
I was able to listen to an audio copy as well.
Narration notes:
No complaints.
*Thanks to the author, Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
June 30, 2023
I looked forward to this book! I like an earlier one by the same author and this one is set in Norway, where I live. Of course, I knew the risks. I would be too familiar with local quirks. That wasn't so much the issue, but the name "Leif" being pronounced "life" instead of "lay-f" annoyed the hell out of me. I guess I should have avoided the audio edition.
Four friends set off on one of their regular holiday trips. Not to a beach this time, no, to a rather strenuous hike with wild camping in Norway. There are tensions and turmoil within the four friends and it's made worse by the natural strain from this sort of holiday. Plus, a local woman went missing here a year ago and was never found, so a killer could be on the lose.
And enter THE most commonly used technique/theme in this type of book. Cant' say what without spoiling it, but let's just say it's used so often it's a bummer. Most of the book was a snooze fest. Long, slow build up and predictable from one end to the other.
Four friends set off on one of their regular holiday trips. Not to a beach this time, no, to a rather strenuous hike with wild camping in Norway. There are tensions and turmoil within the four friends and it's made worse by the natural strain from this sort of holiday. Plus, a local woman went missing here a year ago and was never found, so a killer could be on the lose.
And enter THE most commonly used technique/theme in this type of book. Cant' say what without spoiling it, but let's just say it's used so often it's a bummer. Most of the book was a snooze fest. Long, slow build up and predictable from one end to the other.
January 21, 2025
In an interview, the author shared how she had been on a hike in Norway, when she started to think about writing this novel. She said…
“I spent five days hiking in Norway, experiencing first-hand the fear that grips you when fog rolls in and the visibility is reduced to almost nothing, or the difficulty of making a river-crossing wearing a cumbersome backpack. En-route, I slept in rustic DNT cabins perched in some of the most remote spots I can imagine, hugely grateful for the warmth of a woodstove, and a bowl of steaming noodles enjoyed after a long day of walking.”
In many ways thrillers work via the settings that are created.
And certainly, the setting in “The Hike” can be considered a most worthy character. Earning at least 1 star from this reviewer.
This is a story about 4 friends who decide to take a hiking/camping trip on the Blafjell Mountain in Norway.
But…Liz, Helena, Joni and Maggie just want a nice vacation adventure.
Still…The truth is…Each of them is each escaping something from their lives.
Still…None of them expected or anticipated that this trip would also lead them into danger.
And that danger… Would lead to the death of one of them.
Now…What I shared becomes clear at the onset, so I am not divulging any spoiler.
But…This page-turning, suspenseful drama, has its moments.
Which will lead readers to some significant questions.
Who can we trust?
Who is/are the bad guy(s)?
Who dies?
Who gets out alive?
And…Do we care in the end?
Remember…
1 star was for the setting. 3 stars for the story.
“I spent five days hiking in Norway, experiencing first-hand the fear that grips you when fog rolls in and the visibility is reduced to almost nothing, or the difficulty of making a river-crossing wearing a cumbersome backpack. En-route, I slept in rustic DNT cabins perched in some of the most remote spots I can imagine, hugely grateful for the warmth of a woodstove, and a bowl of steaming noodles enjoyed after a long day of walking.”
In many ways thrillers work via the settings that are created.
And certainly, the setting in “The Hike” can be considered a most worthy character. Earning at least 1 star from this reviewer.
This is a story about 4 friends who decide to take a hiking/camping trip on the Blafjell Mountain in Norway.
But…Liz, Helena, Joni and Maggie just want a nice vacation adventure.
Still…The truth is…Each of them is each escaping something from their lives.
Still…None of them expected or anticipated that this trip would also lead them into danger.
And that danger… Would lead to the death of one of them.
Now…What I shared becomes clear at the onset, so I am not divulging any spoiler.
But…This page-turning, suspenseful drama, has its moments.
Which will lead readers to some significant questions.
Who can we trust?
Who is/are the bad guy(s)?
Who dies?
Who gets out alive?
And…Do we care in the end?
Remember…
1 star was for the setting. 3 stars for the story.
March 20, 2023
Well now I see what all the fuss is about Lucy Clarke books! This was my first of hers and certainly won’t be my last. It is an absolute page turner, so tense and suspenseful that I could not put it down. I do love a story of friendships and how they get tested in these situations. I loved the drama and the setting was so vivid. So much fun to read and try to guess who the bad guys were.
4 childhood best friends embark on a hike in the Norwegian mountains… what could possibly go wrong? Haha… you know it, if it can go wrong it will go wrong. They don’t all want to be there and have secrets that they are keeping from each other. Could these secrets be the end of their friendships, or lives? Read it and find out.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on April 27th.
4 childhood best friends embark on a hike in the Norwegian mountains… what could possibly go wrong? Haha… you know it, if it can go wrong it will go wrong. They don’t all want to be there and have secrets that they are keeping from each other. Could these secrets be the end of their friendships, or lives? Read it and find out.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on April 27th.
August 27, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Maggie, Liz, Helena and Joni have been a fabulous foursome for a long time. The women have history, friends since childhood, who have stuck together through thick and thin. Even when life took them in unexpected directions.
They've been good about keeping in touch and even have a tradition of taking trips together, just the four of them. It's a great way to reconnect and recharge.
Their most recent excursion is going to take them far from the beach trips they are used to though. This time around, the women are heading to the majestic mountains of Norway to go hiking.
A hiking trip!? Some of them are more prepared than others, but let's be honest, none of them are truly prepared for a serious trek through the mountains. Nevertheless, they persist and head for the wilderness.
This is a little slow to start, as we're introduced to the different ladies and get the scope on their current life status, as well as their relationship to all the other women.
There are some strong personalities in the group, but they seem to all get along for the most part, and provide a lot of support and encouragement for one another. But no friendship group is perfect, and this one has it's cracks.
In addition to interpersonal dramas, dangers on the trail are many; some of them coming in the most unexpected forms.
Clarke took this story in directions I definitely wasn't expecting, and you know what, I really enjoyed it. She succeeded in keeping me on my toes and entertained.
When the women travel to Norway, they stay in a small town adjacent to their trailhead the night before they set-out on the anticipated 4-day hike. It's there we meet some of the locals, and we do end up following some of the local drama, as well as the perspective of one of the local men.
I was surprised when we got that perspective, and initially it seemed a little odd and out of place. Clarke did bring it around and tied everything together fairly seamlessly in the end. Although, admittedly, I did have trouble differentiating between a few of the male characters.
For me the highlight of this book is the relationships amongst the women and the fact that they undertake this crazy hike. I love hiking and being out in nature, so that also tends to be something I have fun with in fiction.
There's a lot of time to think on the trail, and if you're with other people, a lot of time to talk and bond. I think these women were in over the heads and the pressure starts to show early. That brought out some issues that needed addressing, and boy do they get addressed.
While this did start slow, the pace steadily increases throughout. By the end, it's going top speed, as you try to ascertain who's going to make it out alive!?
This is the second novel that I have read from this author, the other being One of the Girls, also a girls getaway story. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as OOTG, but this has definitely solidified Lucy Clarke as a go-to author for me.
If you enjoy Travel Thrillers, or stories that involve female friendships, you should definitely give this one a shot. It's exciting, intriguing and made me want to go to Norway even more than I already did. Job well done by Clarke.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm seriously sorry it took me so long to get to it.
It was a trip!!
Maggie, Liz, Helena and Joni have been a fabulous foursome for a long time. The women have history, friends since childhood, who have stuck together through thick and thin. Even when life took them in unexpected directions.
They've been good about keeping in touch and even have a tradition of taking trips together, just the four of them. It's a great way to reconnect and recharge.
Their most recent excursion is going to take them far from the beach trips they are used to though. This time around, the women are heading to the majestic mountains of Norway to go hiking.
A hiking trip!? Some of them are more prepared than others, but let's be honest, none of them are truly prepared for a serious trek through the mountains. Nevertheless, they persist and head for the wilderness.
This is a little slow to start, as we're introduced to the different ladies and get the scope on their current life status, as well as their relationship to all the other women.
There are some strong personalities in the group, but they seem to all get along for the most part, and provide a lot of support and encouragement for one another. But no friendship group is perfect, and this one has it's cracks.
In addition to interpersonal dramas, dangers on the trail are many; some of them coming in the most unexpected forms.
Clarke took this story in directions I definitely wasn't expecting, and you know what, I really enjoyed it. She succeeded in keeping me on my toes and entertained.
When the women travel to Norway, they stay in a small town adjacent to their trailhead the night before they set-out on the anticipated 4-day hike. It's there we meet some of the locals, and we do end up following some of the local drama, as well as the perspective of one of the local men.
I was surprised when we got that perspective, and initially it seemed a little odd and out of place. Clarke did bring it around and tied everything together fairly seamlessly in the end. Although, admittedly, I did have trouble differentiating between a few of the male characters.
For me the highlight of this book is the relationships amongst the women and the fact that they undertake this crazy hike. I love hiking and being out in nature, so that also tends to be something I have fun with in fiction.
There's a lot of time to think on the trail, and if you're with other people, a lot of time to talk and bond. I think these women were in over the heads and the pressure starts to show early. That brought out some issues that needed addressing, and boy do they get addressed.
While this did start slow, the pace steadily increases throughout. By the end, it's going top speed, as you try to ascertain who's going to make it out alive!?
This is the second novel that I have read from this author, the other being One of the Girls, also a girls getaway story. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as OOTG, but this has definitely solidified Lucy Clarke as a go-to author for me.
If you enjoy Travel Thrillers, or stories that involve female friendships, you should definitely give this one a shot. It's exciting, intriguing and made me want to go to Norway even more than I already did. Job well done by Clarke.
Thank you to the publisher, G.P. Putnam's Sons, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm seriously sorry it took me so long to get to it.
It was a trip!!
October 1, 2023
By the end of the book I was so sick of these women, their dull problems and stupid decisions. I hated the ending, too.
May 17, 2023
Four friends on a Norwegian hike. Each with their own backstory and baggage. Of course tensions will get high and with a mysterious murder thrown in, it will get testy. Lucy has a gift to tell a thrilling story. I love the way she portraits her characters and how each one is unique in their own way. Funny enough Joni was my favorite one, definitely not a coke addict fan but she had all the right rockstar vibes. I only wished that the beginning had more spunk and picked up more quickly. The ending left me wanting a little bit more from it but overall not a bad read.
March 26, 2023
Maggie, Liz, Helena and Joni. Old friends bound by history, adventures, old secrets. And now bound by murder.
They lace up their hiking boots for the adventure of a lifetime in the Norwegian wilderness: a place of towering mountains, glass-like lakes, log cabins and forests stolen from a fairytale. It's the perfect place to lose yourself - until a broken body is found at the bottom of a ravine.
I like the relationship between the four women. The setting added some great atmosphere to the story. four childhood friends go on a hiking holiday to Norway, but everything doesn't go to plan. Even though the pace is slow to begin with, I was quickly pulled into this story, and it wasn't long before the pace picked up. Four very different women lead very different lives, but they still remain friends. Each woman brings their own motivations and issues along to the trip. This is a well written, twist filled, and thrilling read. This mix between a survival thriller and a murder mystery is a quisk and easy book to read. The story is told from the four women's perspectives.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUk #HarperFiction and the author #LucyClarke for my ARC of #TheHike in exchange for an honest review.
They lace up their hiking boots for the adventure of a lifetime in the Norwegian wilderness: a place of towering mountains, glass-like lakes, log cabins and forests stolen from a fairytale. It's the perfect place to lose yourself - until a broken body is found at the bottom of a ravine.
I like the relationship between the four women. The setting added some great atmosphere to the story. four childhood friends go on a hiking holiday to Norway, but everything doesn't go to plan. Even though the pace is slow to begin with, I was quickly pulled into this story, and it wasn't long before the pace picked up. Four very different women lead very different lives, but they still remain friends. Each woman brings their own motivations and issues along to the trip. This is a well written, twist filled, and thrilling read. This mix between a survival thriller and a murder mystery is a quisk and easy book to read. The story is told from the four women's perspectives.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUk #HarperFiction and the author #LucyClarke for my ARC of #TheHike in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2023
This is my second book by Lucy Clarke and it confirmed that I definitely enjoy her writing style. I did think the story was a little slow getting going, but once it did I couldn’t put it down. The story is told from alternating perspectives and in two timelines and I liked that we got small pieces to keep putting together to figure out what was going on. It wasn’t the most twisty ending I’ve ever had, but I liked it. Liz and her childhood friends take a vacation together every year and this year is Liz’s turn to pick. Liz decides they need to go to Norway and do a hike up a mountain to do something different and challenge themselves. Once they get going it is clear they weren’t truly prepared and this mountain hike might just be more than they bargained for.
April 18, 2023
Not as good as her other books. This book annoyed me a little why would a group of women travel to Norway to go hiking but not prepare themselves beforehand? Seems silly as nobody would attempt to climb a mountain in bad weather without the right equipment and preparation. I found the story a little silly. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
December 2, 2023
The Hike was a fun, enjoyable thriller by Lucy Clarke. It's my first Clarke novel but I'm going to check out more. Her writing was easy to read, plot believable, and the mystery element great.
July 5, 2023
Every year Liz and 3 of her childhood friends spend a few days vacationing together. Between her job and marriage, Liz is looking for time away to reset. This year it is her turn to choose the location so she decides that they should spend 4 days camping/hiking in the remote mountains of Norway which is much different than their usual tropical destinations. Sounds pretty safe right, I mean, what could go wrong with that?!
This was my first Lucy Clarke novel but it is easy to see why she has a huge fan base. I thought the characters were well developed and each had distinct personality traits which made it easy to keep them straight. The conflicts between the characters felt realistic. First 25% is a little slow as we get into everyone’s backstories, but then the pace picks up exponentially and it moves along quite quickly after that. The setting of the book was atmospheric and well-written, and definitely added another layer to the story.
What dropped my rating a bit was the noticeably excessive overuse of certain phrases which could have been replaced by something else or edited out altogether and then the ending which was not my favorite and left me with some questions that I unfortunately can’t go into without it being a spoiler. All that said, I enjoyed this book overall and will definitely check out this author’s previous work. 3.5 stars rounded up because I enjoyed it overall.
Pub date August 29, 2023
This was my first Lucy Clarke novel but it is easy to see why she has a huge fan base. I thought the characters were well developed and each had distinct personality traits which made it easy to keep them straight. The conflicts between the characters felt realistic. First 25% is a little slow as we get into everyone’s backstories, but then the pace picks up exponentially and it moves along quite quickly after that. The setting of the book was atmospheric and well-written, and definitely added another layer to the story.
What dropped my rating a bit was the noticeably excessive overuse of certain phrases which could have been replaced by something else or edited out altogether and then the ending which was not my favorite and left me with some questions that I unfortunately can’t go into without it being a spoiler. All that said, I enjoyed this book overall and will definitely check out this author’s previous work. 3.5 stars rounded up because I enjoyed it overall.
Pub date August 29, 2023
April 22, 2023
Four best friends - Liz, Joni, Helena, and Maggie - set off on a four day hike through remote Norwegian wilderness. The lifelong group of friends takes a yearly trip and takes turns deciding where to go. This year, Liz, a type-A doctor whose marriage is on the rocks, decides that what she and the girls need is the healing power of walking. She encourages her three best friends - Joni (a rock star with substance use problems), Helena (a city girl who would never be caught ~dead~ without her lipstick), and Maggie (a sweet, single mother) - to ascend a literal mountain with her for this year's trip. The route that Liz selects for them to take is described by the locals as being a "thin place" where the dead are closer to the living. Upon arriving, they learn that Maggie is a ~dead ringer~ (sorry for these puns) for a girl who went missing on the mountain almost a year to the date before. Told from multiple POVs, this thriller winds between the past and the present. Four women started off on the hike - how many will come back?
I enjoyed this one! I read it essentially in one sitting. This atmospheric thriller was a quick, easy read with lots of suspense. I especially enjoyed the focus on female friendships.
Thanks so much to Lucy Clarke and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC through NetGalley. The Hike will be available for purchase in late August.
I enjoyed this one! I read it essentially in one sitting. This atmospheric thriller was a quick, easy read with lots of suspense. I especially enjoyed the focus on female friendships.
Thanks so much to Lucy Clarke and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC through NetGalley. The Hike will be available for purchase in late August.
July 9, 2023
Is it bad that I finished this book 5 days ago and I can't remember a single thing about it? I just remember I did NOT like it.
The moral of this review is that there were TOO MANY CHARACTERS. I think that is a Lucy Clarke staple tbh, because at the end the plot twists just kept coming and more characters were being reintroduced, and they were all connected somehow. I just felt like I needed a piece of paper to write all the connections down. And I don't like feeling that way, I want to read to escape, not to do homework and try to put everything together myself... maybe I'm just annoying for feeling like that but oh my goodness.
The MC ladies, were sooooo awful to each other and in general, I didn't want to root for anyone, which made me not interested in even finishing the book to see if they survived.
This book plot was: Let's hike up the hardest mountain for a girls trip, omg we are lost, omg is that cocaine? Omg the cocaine people are after us. Omg a dead body. Omg another dead body. The end.
Save yourself the time and skip to the next book on your tbr.
The moral of this review is that there were TOO MANY CHARACTERS. I think that is a Lucy Clarke staple tbh, because at the end the plot twists just kept coming and more characters were being reintroduced, and they were all connected somehow. I just felt like I needed a piece of paper to write all the connections down. And I don't like feeling that way, I want to read to escape, not to do homework and try to put everything together myself... maybe I'm just annoying for feeling like that but oh my goodness.
The MC ladies, were sooooo awful to each other and in general, I didn't want to root for anyone, which made me not interested in even finishing the book to see if they survived.
This book plot was: Let's hike up the hardest mountain for a girls trip, omg we are lost, omg is that cocaine? Omg the cocaine people are after us. Omg a dead body. Omg another dead body. The end.
Save yourself the time and skip to the next book on your tbr.
September 18, 2023
Liz was thirty-three, a wife, a mother and a GP. Her days were busy but organised with set schedules. Liz decided she was ready to do something different, so when she told her friends about a four-day adventure of wild hiking and camping in Norway they wondered if she was serious.
When Liz and her friends Helena, Maggie and Joni were teenagers they made a pact during class that they would one day hike to a mountain called Blafjell. It was time for Liz and her to make their pact come true, but the women’s adventure goes from fun to dangerous and this is where the tension begins to build. This book had me fully engrossed it was atmospheric and I loved it.
When Liz and her friends Helena, Maggie and Joni were teenagers they made a pact during class that they would one day hike to a mountain called Blafjell. It was time for Liz and her to make their pact come true, but the women’s adventure goes from fun to dangerous and this is where the tension begins to build. This book had me fully engrossed it was atmospheric and I loved it.
June 4, 2023
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
British author Lucy Clarke gifts her audience with a brand-new wilderness thriller, set in the beautiful but dangerous surrounds of Norway. As story of friendship, secrets, adventure, thrill seeking and underhanded deeds, The Hike is an adrenaline filled tale that I absorbed from the minute I opened this book to the last word.
The Hike is a friendship story that follows four close friends on a wild adventure in beautiful and tranquil Norway. As the women take in the crisp mountain air, the dark forests and the brilliant blue sky, they each set out with different ideas of how this much needed getaway will pan out. As the ladies embark on their hike, they discover that the area has a dark history, a missing persons case still haunts the region. As the group enters the exact zone where the missing woman disappeared, they get the feeling that someone is watching them. This person is hell bent on keeping the women far away from the secret they are keeping. But with the weather coming in and the mountain peak looming, will this foursome make it back alive?
Eight novels in and Lucy Clarke just keeps getting better. The Hike is easily my favourite Lucy Clarke novel to date. I love a good isolated thriller mystery novel and The Hike is a fabulous example of a destination thriller. Fans of Lucy Clarke and newcomers will lap this one up in no time at all.
Taking on her core theme of friendship, Lucy Clarke presents her readers with another rock-solid tale about a long-standing friendship circle of four women tested by the wilderness. Clarke is an intuitive storyteller and her understanding of how a woman may think and feel is implicitly clear in The Hike. The overarching theme of friendship is a strong force in this tale, making the story at hand incredibly compelling. Each of the four main female protagonists has their own distinct personality and a secret of sorts, which is tested as the holiday in the wilderness unfolds. I loved how each woman had her good points and bad. I was able to find something to relate to, or sympathise with as the story progressed. Lucy Clarke fills her cast with a few other outside male characters who contribute to the tension and fear in this tale. With duplicity, danger and protection leading the way, it is unclear who we can trust or fear. Lucy Clarke is known for her great twists and red herrings. I definitely wasn’t disappointed in any way by The Hike.
For me the winning piece was the setting. I would just love to jump on a plane and visit Norway, it’s such a fresh and spectacular part of the world, with an untamed beauty that was described perfectly by Lucy Clarke. The wildness and sense of sheer isolation was expressed with precision by Lucy Clarke, it was definitely my highlight. The setting managed to compound everything that happens in this eventful thriller.
The Hike was astonishing, dramatic and tense. Lucy Clarke is definitely at her optimum with this one.
*I wish to thank HarperCollins Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
British author Lucy Clarke gifts her audience with a brand-new wilderness thriller, set in the beautiful but dangerous surrounds of Norway. As story of friendship, secrets, adventure, thrill seeking and underhanded deeds, The Hike is an adrenaline filled tale that I absorbed from the minute I opened this book to the last word.
The Hike is a friendship story that follows four close friends on a wild adventure in beautiful and tranquil Norway. As the women take in the crisp mountain air, the dark forests and the brilliant blue sky, they each set out with different ideas of how this much needed getaway will pan out. As the ladies embark on their hike, they discover that the area has a dark history, a missing persons case still haunts the region. As the group enters the exact zone where the missing woman disappeared, they get the feeling that someone is watching them. This person is hell bent on keeping the women far away from the secret they are keeping. But with the weather coming in and the mountain peak looming, will this foursome make it back alive?
Eight novels in and Lucy Clarke just keeps getting better. The Hike is easily my favourite Lucy Clarke novel to date. I love a good isolated thriller mystery novel and The Hike is a fabulous example of a destination thriller. Fans of Lucy Clarke and newcomers will lap this one up in no time at all.
Taking on her core theme of friendship, Lucy Clarke presents her readers with another rock-solid tale about a long-standing friendship circle of four women tested by the wilderness. Clarke is an intuitive storyteller and her understanding of how a woman may think and feel is implicitly clear in The Hike. The overarching theme of friendship is a strong force in this tale, making the story at hand incredibly compelling. Each of the four main female protagonists has their own distinct personality and a secret of sorts, which is tested as the holiday in the wilderness unfolds. I loved how each woman had her good points and bad. I was able to find something to relate to, or sympathise with as the story progressed. Lucy Clarke fills her cast with a few other outside male characters who contribute to the tension and fear in this tale. With duplicity, danger and protection leading the way, it is unclear who we can trust or fear. Lucy Clarke is known for her great twists and red herrings. I definitely wasn’t disappointed in any way by The Hike.
For me the winning piece was the setting. I would just love to jump on a plane and visit Norway, it’s such a fresh and spectacular part of the world, with an untamed beauty that was described perfectly by Lucy Clarke. The wildness and sense of sheer isolation was expressed with precision by Lucy Clarke, it was definitely my highlight. The setting managed to compound everything that happens in this eventful thriller.
The Hike was astonishing, dramatic and tense. Lucy Clarke is definitely at her optimum with this one.
*I wish to thank HarperCollins Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
January 31, 2024
The Hike is an intense and suspenseful read! I couldn’t stop listening!! In fact, I found more things to do just so I could finish it…at 1 am!!
Liz, Helena, Maggie and Joni all have issues but have been friends since high school. Every year they meet up and have a joint getaway. This years getaway will change their lives forever.
The blurb mentions a killer on the hiking trail, so that’s not a spoiler, but who is it? Any why?
To make things worse, bad decisions, physical stress and exertion cause the women to bicker and second guess their relationships when they should be working together to stay alive.
I especially liked how, even when you finally know who they killer is, the story become even more intense. Right up to the end!
TW: detailed sexual encounter, bad language.
Liz, Helena, Maggie and Joni all have issues but have been friends since high school. Every year they meet up and have a joint getaway. This years getaway will change their lives forever.
The blurb mentions a killer on the hiking trail, so that’s not a spoiler, but who is it? Any why?
To make things worse, bad decisions, physical stress and exertion cause the women to bicker and second guess their relationships when they should be working together to stay alive.
I especially liked how, even when you finally know who they killer is, the story become even more intense. Right up to the end!
TW: detailed sexual encounter, bad language.
January 11, 2024
Loved it in the beginning, but then the wild action took off, and I ended up skimming pages just to see how it all ended. And boy, did I get fed up with the expression “sunkissed” this and that. There ought to be a rule that relegates this expression to commercials.
But apart from that, I quite liked the characters, flawed as they were, they seemed real, though it baffles me how anyone can agree to a trip into the Norwegian mountains without being properly trained for it. Being here in Nuuk, I ventured out hiking in a terrain I guess is comparable to the Norwegian landscape and though we never negociated anything slightly mountainous, I ended up with sore legs the day after, simply because I am only accustomed to the flat landscape of Strasbourg.
Another thing that puzzled me was the very short sentence one of the culprits got, I know Norwegian prisons are more luxurious than most, but surely the judicial system still punishes criminals for serious offences?
But apart from that, I quite liked the characters, flawed as they were, they seemed real, though it baffles me how anyone can agree to a trip into the Norwegian mountains without being properly trained for it. Being here in Nuuk, I ventured out hiking in a terrain I guess is comparable to the Norwegian landscape and though we never negociated anything slightly mountainous, I ended up with sore legs the day after, simply because I am only accustomed to the flat landscape of Strasbourg.
Another thing that puzzled me was the very short sentence one of the culprits got, I know Norwegian prisons are more luxurious than most, but surely the judicial system still punishes criminals for serious offences?
March 27, 2023
What a brilliant book, I've read most of Lucy Clarke's books now and they just keep getting better!
This psychological thriller will keep you glued to the pages and take you away to the Norwegian mountains where you'll feel you are hiking along with the four main characters of this book, Liz, Maggie, Helena and Joni who are lifelong friends going off on their annual holiday. This time Liz had chosen to go hiking in Norway. Her three friends all have very different situations and the characters are all so well written and the location will draw you in, right from the start. What could go wrong? Pretty much everything, including a body found in a ravine and someone knows what happened...
This is a really exciting and twisty thriller from the start to the end which will leaving you wanting to hike in Norway too.
A big thanks to Harper Collins UK HarperFiction and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy Clarke - another winner from you and this will definitely will be a best seller. I' would love to see a movie of this book and please keep up the writing, I'm running out of your books to read. They are all soo good. I cant wait to see what comes next.
This psychological thriller will keep you glued to the pages and take you away to the Norwegian mountains where you'll feel you are hiking along with the four main characters of this book, Liz, Maggie, Helena and Joni who are lifelong friends going off on their annual holiday. This time Liz had chosen to go hiking in Norway. Her three friends all have very different situations and the characters are all so well written and the location will draw you in, right from the start. What could go wrong? Pretty much everything, including a body found in a ravine and someone knows what happened...
This is a really exciting and twisty thriller from the start to the end which will leaving you wanting to hike in Norway too.
A big thanks to Harper Collins UK HarperFiction and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lucy Clarke - another winner from you and this will definitely will be a best seller. I' would love to see a movie of this book and please keep up the writing, I'm running out of your books to read. They are all soo good. I cant wait to see what comes next.
February 23, 2023
Have been to Norway a few times but got to admit never hiking or walking up mountains but the fact this book was set in Norway was the initial draw
The descriptions of the Country and mountain (s) and the hike itself were amazing and gave you a feel for something you may never get to do,easier to describe something to a reader we all do and know but not so when its something we dont,anyway it worked and worked well and I could almost touch the clouds with them as they toiled
The story itself is tense in places and relaxing in others as you get to know the 4 friends and their relationships with each other and their good and not so good points and as the plot thickens so does the truth between them……
There are aspects that came as a great surprise as the book went forward and turned it into a part whodunit whilst keeping the drama and psychological elements ongoing
All told was an exciting read that ended with me feeling I had experienced the adventure and the hike with them 😎
The descriptions of the Country and mountain (s) and the hike itself were amazing and gave you a feel for something you may never get to do,easier to describe something to a reader we all do and know but not so when its something we dont,anyway it worked and worked well and I could almost touch the clouds with them as they toiled
The story itself is tense in places and relaxing in others as you get to know the 4 friends and their relationships with each other and their good and not so good points and as the plot thickens so does the truth between them……
There are aspects that came as a great surprise as the book went forward and turned it into a part whodunit whilst keeping the drama and psychological elements ongoing
All told was an exciting read that ended with me feeling I had experienced the adventure and the hike with them 😎
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