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Hidden
A gripping psychological thriller by a former police psychologist. Perfect for fans of Nicci French, Tana French and S. J. Watson.
HE'S WATCHING
A gunman is stalking the wards of a local hospital. He's unidentified and dangerous, and has to be located. Urgently. Police Firearms Officer Aden McCarthy is tasked with tracking him down. Still troubled by the shooting of a schoolboy, Aden is determined to make amends by finding the gunman -- before it's too late.
SHE'S WAITING
To psychologist Imogen, hospital should be a place of healing and safety -- both for her, and her young niece who's been recently admitted. She's heard about the gunman, but he has little to do with her. Or has he? As time ticks down, no one knows who the gunman's next target will be. But he's there. Hiding in plain sight. Far closer than anyone thinks.
HE'S WATCHING
A gunman is stalking the wards of a local hospital. He's unidentified and dangerous, and has to be located. Urgently. Police Firearms Officer Aden McCarthy is tasked with tracking him down. Still troubled by the shooting of a schoolboy, Aden is determined to make amends by finding the gunman -- before it's too late.
SHE'S WAITING
To psychologist Imogen, hospital should be a place of healing and safety -- both for her, and her young niece who's been recently admitted. She's heard about the gunman, but he has little to do with her. Or has he? As time ticks down, no one knows who the gunman's next target will be. But he's there. Hiding in plain sight. Far closer than anyone thinks.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2015
24 people are currently reading
2121 people want to read
About the author
Emma Kavanagh
15 books321 followersEmma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. Now she is lucky enough to be able to write for a living. She lives in South Wales with her husband, young sons, and a dog named Dobby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
September 3, 2019
So well written. And such great suspense.
This is told from different points of view including the shooter leading up to it.
I have to say how superbly this was as a plot, I certainly was astounded when I found out.
It starts with a bang and ends with a boom
My thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone via net galley for my copy
February 27, 2019
"...it comes in threes, doesn't it? Bad luck..."
I really liked the plot of this book, I just found the execution of it a little confusing at times.
Hidden starts with the end - which is fine, I don't have a problem with that.
Then the story is told from multiple POV's (which seems to be something of a fashion trend currently) and I don't usually have a problem with that; except that 4 different POV's when the timeline is jumping around is probably too many.
A gunman has been stalking the wards of a local hospital, but has been successful in evading capture. Who is he and who is he stalking?
The nurse who reported his presence on the first night is struck and killed while wandering about the motorway late at night, dressed in high heels and her going out clothes. How did she get there? Is her death connected with her sighting of the gunman?
Three Firearms Officers, who have recently returned to active duty after being exonerated of the shooting of a teenage boy which left him in a vegetative state, are facing a civil suit from the boys angry parents. Interpersonal tensions are simmering between the three and the remainder of the team.
Imogen and Mara, twin sisters, are both facing crises in their relationships. Can they rely on each other?
Then there is Charlie, a reporter on the local paper, who has the gut feeling that things are just not quite what they seem......and she follows her instincts.
This would have been a 4* read for me had it not been for the confusion caused by MPOV's with the disjointed timeline.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and author Emma Kavanagh for the gift of a copy of Hidden in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the plot of this book, I just found the execution of it a little confusing at times.
Hidden starts with the end - which is fine, I don't have a problem with that.
Then the story is told from multiple POV's (which seems to be something of a fashion trend currently) and I don't usually have a problem with that; except that 4 different POV's when the timeline is jumping around is probably too many.
A gunman has been stalking the wards of a local hospital, but has been successful in evading capture. Who is he and who is he stalking?
The nurse who reported his presence on the first night is struck and killed while wandering about the motorway late at night, dressed in high heels and her going out clothes. How did she get there? Is her death connected with her sighting of the gunman?
Three Firearms Officers, who have recently returned to active duty after being exonerated of the shooting of a teenage boy which left him in a vegetative state, are facing a civil suit from the boys angry parents. Interpersonal tensions are simmering between the three and the remainder of the team.
Imogen and Mara, twin sisters, are both facing crises in their relationships. Can they rely on each other?
Then there is Charlie, a reporter on the local paper, who has the gut feeling that things are just not quite what they seem......and she follows her instincts.
This would have been a 4* read for me had it not been for the confusion caused by MPOV's with the disjointed timeline.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and author Emma Kavanagh for the gift of a copy of Hidden in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2015
I loved this book! I made some notes in the beginning to keep relationships straight, and I occasionally had to flip back and forth to keep the timing straight. Once I got into the book everything fell into place. Chapters are told by different people at a particular date and time, and some are told by the shooter. I did find myself sometimes wanting the time to go by quicker, especially when we were getting close to the day of the shooting. Seemingly unrelated events were all tied up nicely at the end.
Like the note on the cover says, "He's hiding in plain sight, closer than you think..." I had absolutely no idea who it was, and even when one of the characters revealed the shooter to me, I didn't realize it!!! Kavanagh put the shooter in a certain location at a certain time, just where it is plausible to be without knowing that character is the shooter, and it got by me. I couldn't believe it.
There were a couple of things the editor didn't catch. For instance, a satchel was placed on the floor and then a couple of paragraphs later it was placed on a chair. I could forgive those. I also overlooked the several instances of the word "akimbo" and the characters (plural) with shaved heads.
Like the note on the cover says, "He's hiding in plain sight, closer than you think..." I had absolutely no idea who it was, and even when one of the characters revealed the shooter to me, I didn't realize it!!! Kavanagh put the shooter in a certain location at a certain time, just where it is plausible to be without knowing that character is the shooter, and it got by me. I couldn't believe it.
There were a couple of things the editor didn't catch. For instance, a satchel was placed on the floor and then a couple of paragraphs later it was placed on a chair. I could forgive those. I also overlooked the several instances of the word "akimbo" and the characters (plural) with shaved heads.
April 12, 2015
Hidden really does start with a bang, in the immediate seconds following a shooting rampage at a Swansea hospital. The first chapter really is chilling stuff with bodies everywhere and Charlie, local reporter, caught right in the middle.
The story then rewinds and we follow three of the main characters in the week leading up to the shooting. As well as Charlie there is her friend Aden, a firearms officer and Imogen who is a psychologist attached to the hospital. A man with a gun has been spotted at the hospital on a couple of occasions and tensions are high, but who is he and why is he there? What has it got to do with a shooting that took place 12 months earlier?
We also follow events through the eyes of the unnamed shooter and the author very cleverly kept me guessing throughout the read as to who he was. There were a number of candidates and she did have me well and truly fooled with some very well placed, subtle red herrings.
I really loved the storyline, but wasn’t quite so keen on the way the story was told. Some of the viewpoints start a week before the shooting, but the shooters viewpoints are told from a couple of days before and onwards. It did mean that there was some overlap in each viewpoint with each person seeing things just a little bit differently. This is something that the author wanted to portray as Imogen herself makes the comment that two people can witness an event, but will see something slightly different. Although the first chapter is absolutely brilliant, I did feel that it diluted the tension somewhat for the rest of the read – I already knew what was in store for the characters and their fates to a large extent although, having said that – the author still had quite a few surprises in store., especially with the sub plots that run throughout the book. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
The story then rewinds and we follow three of the main characters in the week leading up to the shooting. As well as Charlie there is her friend Aden, a firearms officer and Imogen who is a psychologist attached to the hospital. A man with a gun has been spotted at the hospital on a couple of occasions and tensions are high, but who is he and why is he there? What has it got to do with a shooting that took place 12 months earlier?
We also follow events through the eyes of the unnamed shooter and the author very cleverly kept me guessing throughout the read as to who he was. There were a number of candidates and she did have me well and truly fooled with some very well placed, subtle red herrings.
I really loved the storyline, but wasn’t quite so keen on the way the story was told. Some of the viewpoints start a week before the shooting, but the shooters viewpoints are told from a couple of days before and onwards. It did mean that there was some overlap in each viewpoint with each person seeing things just a little bit differently. This is something that the author wanted to portray as Imogen herself makes the comment that two people can witness an event, but will see something slightly different. Although the first chapter is absolutely brilliant, I did feel that it diluted the tension somewhat for the rest of the read – I already knew what was in store for the characters and their fates to a large extent although, having said that – the author still had quite a few surprises in store., especially with the sub plots that run throughout the book. Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
September 29, 2015
Emma Kavanagh has a talent for writing complex novels with multiple POV. In "Hidden", author Kavanagh displays this talent again. The novel begins at the end of a horrific shooting, then goes back five days before the shooting to give the reader background stories on events leading up to the crime.
My one caution to readers is to pay attention to the timeline at the beginning of each chapter. The book does jump around and not all character POV are happening at the same time, example, one character describes events 4 days before the shooting and in the next chapter, the killer describes events the day before the shooting. That bothered me a bit so the loss of one star in this review.
Otherwise, this is an amazing complex novel that comes together beautifully in the end, providing lots of answers.
My one caution to readers is to pay attention to the timeline at the beginning of each chapter. The book does jump around and not all character POV are happening at the same time, example, one character describes events 4 days before the shooting and in the next chapter, the killer describes events the day before the shooting. That bothered me a bit so the loss of one star in this review.
Otherwise, this is an amazing complex novel that comes together beautifully in the end, providing lots of answers.
April 14, 2015
So anyway, some people may remember what a huge fan of “Falling” I was, so it was with some trepidation I started reading “Hidden”. It is the usual thing of course, will you love it as much, what if the first one was a fluke, oh what can I say if I hate it? So I count myself lucky for more than one reason that within about 5% of this novel I was hook, line and sinkered.
A lot of that had to do with the haunting and rather exciting starting point – we see an aftermath. Horrific and heart pounding, it will draw you straight into the story and that will be that.
Going back then to prior events, we start to meet some of the people involved, find out more about them and about what has led up to this awful outcome. In true Emma Kavanagh style (once more and I’ll call it trademark) the characters become the skeleton key. Beautifully drawn and intriguing, from various walks of life but all with that line between them, a story starts to unfold, connections are made and slowly but surely that day is approaching when it all comes to a head.
It is all so addictive, so elegantly constructed and once again I found myself deep deep into the emotion of it – especially with Charlie who I related to on a very basic level. She wants to do the right thing yet often ends up doing the exact opposite, I can definitely stand by that one, so for me she was my favourite. All of them are brilliant and it really gives a wonderful emotive edge especially as you know at least some of what is coming.
I was especially fascinated by the portions of the story relating to armed officers – it felt terribly authentic, unsurprising really – not only on points of procedure but also on the feelings and issues that can arise. Aden is a really excellent protagonist here, torn sometimes but with a good heart and a determination to protect.
Overall then what was I worried about? Turns out if anything this was better than Falling – certainly if you love a psychological crime thriller that is mostly character driven, you’ll love this. The ending was pitch perfect and may surprise you. Don’t miss it whatever you do. Oh and maybe put a pot of coffee on before you start….
A lot of that had to do with the haunting and rather exciting starting point – we see an aftermath. Horrific and heart pounding, it will draw you straight into the story and that will be that.
Going back then to prior events, we start to meet some of the people involved, find out more about them and about what has led up to this awful outcome. In true Emma Kavanagh style (once more and I’ll call it trademark) the characters become the skeleton key. Beautifully drawn and intriguing, from various walks of life but all with that line between them, a story starts to unfold, connections are made and slowly but surely that day is approaching when it all comes to a head.
It is all so addictive, so elegantly constructed and once again I found myself deep deep into the emotion of it – especially with Charlie who I related to on a very basic level. She wants to do the right thing yet often ends up doing the exact opposite, I can definitely stand by that one, so for me she was my favourite. All of them are brilliant and it really gives a wonderful emotive edge especially as you know at least some of what is coming.
I was especially fascinated by the portions of the story relating to armed officers – it felt terribly authentic, unsurprising really – not only on points of procedure but also on the feelings and issues that can arise. Aden is a really excellent protagonist here, torn sometimes but with a good heart and a determination to protect.
Overall then what was I worried about? Turns out if anything this was better than Falling – certainly if you love a psychological crime thriller that is mostly character driven, you’ll love this. The ending was pitch perfect and may surprise you. Don’t miss it whatever you do. Oh and maybe put a pot of coffee on before you start….
October 31, 2015
How do i start this review as all reviews i have read rated this in between 4 & 5 i decided to finally read it but unfortunately i found it very confusing to follow as it was told by all 4 characters i could not connect to any of the characters except Aden & Rhys & the plot left a bit to be desired i have bought falling recently so will look forward to that but this book just did nothing for me. I must say Emma Kavanagh's writing style i liked a bit disappointed with this one
April 16, 2015
“I stand there, a boulder in a stream of people”
There aren’t too many books I have read, where the endgame of the story, is revealed within the first couple of paragraphs of the opening chapter … well! not quite all, and therein lies the intrigue of Hidden, for no matter what you know, or what you think you might know, I can almost guarantee … you don’t!
Emma certainly brings all her psychology training and extensive work within the various enclaves of the police force to bear, in the well drawn characterizations, clever plot building and masterful moments of suspense, in this excellent psychological thriller.
Emma tests her audience on so many different fronts and certainly demands full attention from the reader, even down to the chapter headings, which take you back and forth in the story’s timeline, from six days out, to the actual time of the shooting. They also alternate not only in time, but in character narrative, just to keep you on your toes even more, but as the quote from the book says: “So, the world isn’t a simple place. And sometimes, in order to understand what has gone on, we have to understand what those around us were seeing.”
Critically, each time a character was updated by chapter and time, so my own list of suspects grew and changed in priority, with me becoming more firmly convinced of my findings as the story progressed, only to be shot down firmly in flames when the final reveal was disclosed, leaving me a sucker to all those red herrings which Emma had planted along the way.
In this well constructed and plotted, tense and multi-layered story, almost each and every character is damaged goods and comes with baggage, many have secrets to be kept and others carry a sinister desire for revenge and retribution. Yet only one is capable of taking the ultimate step, which crosses the line between reality and an almost urgent desire to push the self destruct button, and I definitely didn’t see it coming from the direction it eventually did!
Emma has created a great cast list of characters, including several strong willed and determined women who do rather dominate the story, often leaving their male counterparts somewhat in the shade, but nonetheless potent for this. Complicated relationships are explored with sensitivity and understanding and the many social problems which the storylines brings to the fore, are treated with the care and consideration they are due.
Pitch perfect, addictive, fast-paced – Hidden is the thinking man’s thriller!
There aren’t too many books I have read, where the endgame of the story, is revealed within the first couple of paragraphs of the opening chapter … well! not quite all, and therein lies the intrigue of Hidden, for no matter what you know, or what you think you might know, I can almost guarantee … you don’t!
Emma certainly brings all her psychology training and extensive work within the various enclaves of the police force to bear, in the well drawn characterizations, clever plot building and masterful moments of suspense, in this excellent psychological thriller.
Emma tests her audience on so many different fronts and certainly demands full attention from the reader, even down to the chapter headings, which take you back and forth in the story’s timeline, from six days out, to the actual time of the shooting. They also alternate not only in time, but in character narrative, just to keep you on your toes even more, but as the quote from the book says: “So, the world isn’t a simple place. And sometimes, in order to understand what has gone on, we have to understand what those around us were seeing.”
Critically, each time a character was updated by chapter and time, so my own list of suspects grew and changed in priority, with me becoming more firmly convinced of my findings as the story progressed, only to be shot down firmly in flames when the final reveal was disclosed, leaving me a sucker to all those red herrings which Emma had planted along the way.
In this well constructed and plotted, tense and multi-layered story, almost each and every character is damaged goods and comes with baggage, many have secrets to be kept and others carry a sinister desire for revenge and retribution. Yet only one is capable of taking the ultimate step, which crosses the line between reality and an almost urgent desire to push the self destruct button, and I definitely didn’t see it coming from the direction it eventually did!
Emma has created a great cast list of characters, including several strong willed and determined women who do rather dominate the story, often leaving their male counterparts somewhat in the shade, but nonetheless potent for this. Complicated relationships are explored with sensitivity and understanding and the many social problems which the storylines brings to the fore, are treated with the care and consideration they are due.
Pitch perfect, addictive, fast-paced – Hidden is the thinking man’s thriller!
April 13, 2015
This was a very good read that certainly kept my mind engaged.
As soon as I started this book I knew the author was going to capture my attention as she started off with a bang. This is the story of a shooter who is randomly shooting in a hospital. Although the story starts off with the end the author kept me guessing right through the book.
Telling a story through flashbacks isn't my favourite kind of read. However I felt the author pulled this off brilliantly. If your looking for a book that will keep you guessing then I certainly recommend this story. Ill definitely be 1-clicking this authors previous book.
As soon as I started this book I knew the author was going to capture my attention as she started off with a bang. This is the story of a shooter who is randomly shooting in a hospital. Although the story starts off with the end the author kept me guessing right through the book.
Telling a story through flashbacks isn't my favourite kind of read. However I felt the author pulled this off brilliantly. If your looking for a book that will keep you guessing then I certainly recommend this story. Ill definitely be 1-clicking this authors previous book.
October 30, 2015
After having read Falling and loving that one I was excited to move onto Ms Kavanagh's next book, Hidden.
It starts off in dramatic fashion with a gunman going on a shooting spree inside of a hospital. Shocking to say the least and the kind of beginning that 'throws you in there'. We then cut back to a few days previous to the shooting and that's where the story really begins, the lead up to the shooting. We have a cast of characters that includes Charlie, a reporter for a local paper, Mara and Imogen, twins, one a mother and one a psychologist and we have Aden, a firearms officer. And this is where the reader needs to exercise caution and pay attention to each chapter heading because each chapter is told from a different point of view and different timeframe. As long as that is borne in mind, it's fairly easy to follow and actually flows well.
There's also chapters from the shooter's point of view so we're given a fairly clear psychological insight into different opinions and insights as to how events unfolded in the lead up the shooting. It's cleverly interwoven but is most definitely character driven. The only time I really felt the tension flow is reading from the shooter's viewpoint, the rest at times left me not as engaged as perhaps I could have been. It has a great beginning and a compelling ending but the middle didn't captivate as much as I wanted it to.
Overall it's a good solid read and does well to highlight how someone you know can remain 'hidden' amongst you as you go about your daily life but it didn't quite live up to the love I felt for the previous book 'Falling'.
I would still recommend this as a good psychological character driven novel with some great moments of tension.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
It starts off in dramatic fashion with a gunman going on a shooting spree inside of a hospital. Shocking to say the least and the kind of beginning that 'throws you in there'. We then cut back to a few days previous to the shooting and that's where the story really begins, the lead up to the shooting. We have a cast of characters that includes Charlie, a reporter for a local paper, Mara and Imogen, twins, one a mother and one a psychologist and we have Aden, a firearms officer. And this is where the reader needs to exercise caution and pay attention to each chapter heading because each chapter is told from a different point of view and different timeframe. As long as that is borne in mind, it's fairly easy to follow and actually flows well.
There's also chapters from the shooter's point of view so we're given a fairly clear psychological insight into different opinions and insights as to how events unfolded in the lead up the shooting. It's cleverly interwoven but is most definitely character driven. The only time I really felt the tension flow is reading from the shooter's viewpoint, the rest at times left me not as engaged as perhaps I could have been. It has a great beginning and a compelling ending but the middle didn't captivate as much as I wanted it to.
Overall it's a good solid read and does well to highlight how someone you know can remain 'hidden' amongst you as you go about your daily life but it didn't quite live up to the love I felt for the previous book 'Falling'.
I would still recommend this as a good psychological character driven novel with some great moments of tension.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
July 21, 2015
I was given a copy of Emma Kavanagh's book 'Hidden' by Net Galley in exchange for a honest review. I had previously read the excellent novel 'Falling' by the same author and having read other reviews for the new book I was eagerly looking forward to it. But I found the book generally disappointing and for me did not live up to the hype. To be fair I appear to be in the minority but I found the book rather confusing with the changes in both characters and timelines which did not help with the flow of the story.
March 9, 2015
The story begins with a shooting spree by a lone gunman at a hospital. A witness to the carnage is Charlie, a reporter with a local paper. We see from her eyes the victims, some of whom she knows. These names don’t mean anything to us – yet, but the timeline to the story then goes back, counting down to detail events over the preceding 6 day period and culminating on the day of the shooting. This does tend to jump around and attention is needed to the timeline heading for each chapter to avoid confusion. Written from multiple viewpoints – Charlie, the journalist; Aden, a police fire arms officer; Imogen, a hospital psychologist and the shooter himself - the voice of Charlie and the shooter are told in the first person, the other characters in third. I know that some don’t like the switching of tenses of POV but this doesn't bother me at all.
I'm not usually a fan of stories that begin with the end as I lose that element of surprise but in this case, the author has made it work very well. The dramatic start will get you hooked and by going back in time, we get to know the backstory to various characters, including the shooter. Although there can be no excuse for such a savage act, we get to see his mindset as he prepares for his murderous mission.
Running through the story, is a strand concerning the death of a young nurse, Emily. Emily’s body was found on the M4, apparently the drunken victim of a road accident. Although Emily and Charlie used to be close friends, they had drifted apart but Charlie is concerned that her death is somehow connected to reports of a gunman having been seen at the hospital (this is prior to the shooting) and uses her investigative skills to find out the truth. She is not convinced that Emily’s death was merely an accident but struggles to convince others.
This is a complex character driven story and the author has used her experience as a police and military psychologist to show how police officers involved in life or death situations can struggle to deal with the aftermath of their actions and how such tragedies affect them. Writing about what she knows makes these characters realistic and believable.
Once or twice I thought I had guessed who the shooter was from the little hints that were weaved in at various times. I was however completely wrong and I realised later that I should have been paying more attention. Whilst Charlie was my favourite character (she’s feisty who acts on her gut instinct), all the main characters were realistic and well-drawn.
This is the second novel by Emma Kavanagh that I’ve read ('Falling' being her debut). Both books are extremely well written but this latest one just has the edge for me. Hidden is a well plotted and tense thriller written with authority and attention to detail. It’s not a fast paced action thriller but for those interested in the human psyche then this is definitely recommended.
I'm not usually a fan of stories that begin with the end as I lose that element of surprise but in this case, the author has made it work very well. The dramatic start will get you hooked and by going back in time, we get to know the backstory to various characters, including the shooter. Although there can be no excuse for such a savage act, we get to see his mindset as he prepares for his murderous mission.
Running through the story, is a strand concerning the death of a young nurse, Emily. Emily’s body was found on the M4, apparently the drunken victim of a road accident. Although Emily and Charlie used to be close friends, they had drifted apart but Charlie is concerned that her death is somehow connected to reports of a gunman having been seen at the hospital (this is prior to the shooting) and uses her investigative skills to find out the truth. She is not convinced that Emily’s death was merely an accident but struggles to convince others.
This is a complex character driven story and the author has used her experience as a police and military psychologist to show how police officers involved in life or death situations can struggle to deal with the aftermath of their actions and how such tragedies affect them. Writing about what she knows makes these characters realistic and believable.
Once or twice I thought I had guessed who the shooter was from the little hints that were weaved in at various times. I was however completely wrong and I realised later that I should have been paying more attention. Whilst Charlie was my favourite character (she’s feisty who acts on her gut instinct), all the main characters were realistic and well-drawn.
This is the second novel by Emma Kavanagh that I’ve read ('Falling' being her debut). Both books are extremely well written but this latest one just has the edge for me. Hidden is a well plotted and tense thriller written with authority and attention to detail. It’s not a fast paced action thriller but for those interested in the human psyche then this is definitely recommended.
September 28, 2015
Loved the format of the book. very uniquely written. kept me guessing til the end!
April 12, 2015
Hidden's first chapter hooked me from the outset with its fast-paced writing and dramatic scene. The book begins with the vivid description of the first few moments after a shooting spree at a hospital by a lone gunman. This is seen through the eyes of Charlie, a local reporter, who clearly knows some of the victims well. I found this to be an effective introduction to some of the key characters.
Hidden jumps between timelines, building up to the day of the shooting. I found this very easy to follow, as each chapter is clearly signposted with who is telling the story and when this is taking place. The book is written from four main viewpoints - Charlie, Aden (a police firearms officer), Imogen (a psychologist) and the gunman - as it follows their journey to that fateful event. Several threads weave together as the tension builds up.
Hidden has believable interesting characters, many of whom are linked in some way. We learn about their back stories, including that of the shooter, although the identity of the shooter isn't revealed until right at the end of the book. The author uses twists and turns to lead the reader off track, with several red herrings strategically placed throughout the book. I thought I had guessed who the shooter was on several occasions, but then changed my mind again as I continued to read.
Emma Kavanagh is a former police psychologist. In Hidden, she has explored how different police officers react and cope with tragedies and life-and-death situations.
This is an excellent well-written character-led psychological thriller.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Hidden jumps between timelines, building up to the day of the shooting. I found this very easy to follow, as each chapter is clearly signposted with who is telling the story and when this is taking place. The book is written from four main viewpoints - Charlie, Aden (a police firearms officer), Imogen (a psychologist) and the gunman - as it follows their journey to that fateful event. Several threads weave together as the tension builds up.
Hidden has believable interesting characters, many of whom are linked in some way. We learn about their back stories, including that of the shooter, although the identity of the shooter isn't revealed until right at the end of the book. The author uses twists and turns to lead the reader off track, with several red herrings strategically placed throughout the book. I thought I had guessed who the shooter was on several occasions, but then changed my mind again as I continued to read.
Emma Kavanagh is a former police psychologist. In Hidden, she has explored how different police officers react and cope with tragedies and life-and-death situations.
This is an excellent well-written character-led psychological thriller.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2015
My Review., 4/5
This is the 3 rd book I have read from this author. I have just read The Affair which is currently free on Amazon. A short story. My review for that can be viewed here. Click the image below to download your free copy. (free at time of post)
The story is told from multiple view points and does require your concentration.
I think to get the best of this book you need to sit and get stuck in. Not just pick it up now and then. As If you are anything like me, you may get a little confuzzled over who is who.
The story starts off with a shooting in a hospital. Then jumps back to the day’s before it, showing what leads up to the shooting.
We also have another story running alongside of A friend of Charlie’s that has been found dead.
Emily, who the police believe walked onto the motorway while drunk.
Emily is an old friend of Charlie. And Charlie doesn’t believe this is what happened.
Charlie seems to think there is some sort of link, to the hospital where the shooting took place.
As Charlie is a journalist she set’s out to figure the truth and try to find out what really happened.
I think if you are anything like me you have to try figure out the who’s and why’s, then get it so so wrong. I thought I had it figured out, but I hadn’t.
This is the 3rd book I have read from this author. And another enjoyable read.
Interesting enough to keep you guessing. And guess you will....
Very well put together.
May 12, 2015
I really enjoy books by Emma Kavanagh. This one is a real psychological page turner. The concept of a gunman running around a hospital is a really scary one.
Aden McCarthy is looking for him and he's trying to overcome inner turmoil by stopping this man before it's too late- will he find him in time? He's a police Firearms officer. Is Imogen in danger? She didn't really pay the gunman much attention initially.
Emma certainly has the right background to write with such suspense.
"Emma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. She lives in South Wales with her husband and young sons."
Order your copy now!
Aden McCarthy is looking for him and he's trying to overcome inner turmoil by stopping this man before it's too late- will he find him in time? He's a police Firearms officer. Is Imogen in danger? She didn't really pay the gunman much attention initially.
Emma certainly has the right background to write with such suspense.
"Emma Kavanagh was born and raised in South Wales. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, she spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe. She lives in South Wales with her husband and young sons."
Order your copy now!
December 7, 2015
4.5 of 5 stars
A shooter is on the prowl in a Swansea hospital. Why does he keep lurking outside Ward 12. Is he linked to one of the patients, a boy involved in a shooting a year previously. Does his presence have anything to do with the tragic death of a nurse from the same ward?
The book opens with the immediate bloody outcome of a shooting in the hospital. Amongst the dead and injured we are introduced to Charlie, a reporter at the local paper, and Aden, a police marksman. As the story continues we go through the days leading up to the shooting.
Each chapter is told from the view point of a different character; Charlie, Aden, psychologist Imogen and the unidentified shooter. As we progress through the story more details emerge as to how the characters are all linked.
Each character gives definition to the story. Not one is out of place. You feel for and have definite feelings for each person. For example I loved Charlie, Imogen and Aden, though all are flawed in their own way. I disliked Mara with as much passion. The characters are so well drawn that even the absent ones add layers to the story. As I read I absorbed clues, sifting through hints and conversations, discarding some, hoarding others so I could beat the reveal to discover who the shooter was.
Emma Kavanagh is a trained psychologist, having worked with the police during her career. Her insights into how a person's past and how little random decisions can have a lasting effect echoes throughout this superb novel.
I loved Falling, Emma Kavanagh's debut novel. With Hidden I feel she has taken it to the next level. Emma Kavanagh is bound to be a leading light in psychological thriller authors.
This is gripping, compulsive read. If her next book is half as good as this one it will be a cracking read.
A shooter is on the prowl in a Swansea hospital. Why does he keep lurking outside Ward 12. Is he linked to one of the patients, a boy involved in a shooting a year previously. Does his presence have anything to do with the tragic death of a nurse from the same ward?
The book opens with the immediate bloody outcome of a shooting in the hospital. Amongst the dead and injured we are introduced to Charlie, a reporter at the local paper, and Aden, a police marksman. As the story continues we go through the days leading up to the shooting.
Each chapter is told from the view point of a different character; Charlie, Aden, psychologist Imogen and the unidentified shooter. As we progress through the story more details emerge as to how the characters are all linked.
Each character gives definition to the story. Not one is out of place. You feel for and have definite feelings for each person. For example I loved Charlie, Imogen and Aden, though all are flawed in their own way. I disliked Mara with as much passion. The characters are so well drawn that even the absent ones add layers to the story. As I read I absorbed clues, sifting through hints and conversations, discarding some, hoarding others so I could beat the reveal to discover who the shooter was.
Emma Kavanagh is a trained psychologist, having worked with the police during her career. Her insights into how a person's past and how little random decisions can have a lasting effect echoes throughout this superb novel.
I loved Falling, Emma Kavanagh's debut novel. With Hidden I feel she has taken it to the next level. Emma Kavanagh is bound to be a leading light in psychological thriller authors.
This is gripping, compulsive read. If her next book is half as good as this one it will be a cracking read.
December 13, 2015
While others seem to rave about the supposedly powerful opening, I was somewhat unconvinced. I found it rather messy and confusing. Although it is a point of reference throughout the book, I didn't exactly get me hooked straightaway. As for the rest of the book, however...it wasn't bad.
Seeing as this is Kavanagh's second novel, she does well to keep the reader guessing as to the shooter's identity. The use of multiple perspectives throughout the book bring to light the darker sides to numerous characters; towards the end of the book, it appears almost no one is completely innocent.
The dramatic introduction of Charlie and Aden in the book's opening pages doesn't seem to fit with the rest of Kavanagh's construction of the two characters. Their budding romance is simple and understated. Apart from the unnecessary extremity in her introduction, Kavanagh strikes the balance between normalcy and great tragedy rather well.
Although we are given pieces to the puzzle of the shooter, the final reveal does not quite come together as Kavanagh perhaps had hoped. There are links between numerous characters and the shooter, however the identity of the shooter is rather underwhelming. Yes, we have been given his motivations for becoming a shooter, yet no hearts are seriously wrenched in the concluding actions of this story.
Seeing as this is Kavanagh's second novel, she does well to keep the reader guessing as to the shooter's identity. The use of multiple perspectives throughout the book bring to light the darker sides to numerous characters; towards the end of the book, it appears almost no one is completely innocent.
The dramatic introduction of Charlie and Aden in the book's opening pages doesn't seem to fit with the rest of Kavanagh's construction of the two characters. Their budding romance is simple and understated. Apart from the unnecessary extremity in her introduction, Kavanagh strikes the balance between normalcy and great tragedy rather well.
Although we are given pieces to the puzzle of the shooter, the final reveal does not quite come together as Kavanagh perhaps had hoped. There are links between numerous characters and the shooter, however the identity of the shooter is rather underwhelming. Yes, we have been given his motivations for becoming a shooter, yet no hearts are seriously wrenched in the concluding actions of this story.
July 21, 2019
Hidden is a page turning gripping and unnerving psychological thriller by a former police psychologist.
I read Falling which I thoroughly enjoyed reading and couldn't wait for Emma Kavanagh to publish another novel. I do highly recommend both of Emma's novels.
The nerve-racking story of Hidden starts of Sunday 31 August, 10.33 with a shooting at Mount Pleasant Hospital. The story flips back to six days before the hospital with workers at the hospital and the police each having their own chapter to what they were doing six days before the shooting took place. A young woman who works at the hospital is found dead on the M4. Time is ticking away for Charlotte as she is writing for the Swansea Times about the young woman's death on the M4 and trying to find out who the man was holding a gun walking through the hospital.
Emma Kavanagh tells this story with great verve, weaving the strands of her story expertly. I hope many readers enjoy reading Hidden as much as I have.
April 23, 2015
Hidden is one of the books I have read this year recently that I expect to be among my top ten favourite books of the year. From the opening few pages I was hooked.
Starting with a shooting in a hospital it then goes back a few days and introduces the reader to some of the characters who have been killed or wounded and also to the shooter who remains anonymous throughout.
All of them are linked in someway, and I don't think I will be the only one not knowing who the shooter was until the final few pages.
Well written, gripping, believable characters and a great story. I will be definitely be reading Emma Kavanagh's debut novel very soon.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy via Netgalley
Starting with a shooting in a hospital it then goes back a few days and introduces the reader to some of the characters who have been killed or wounded and also to the shooter who remains anonymous throughout.
All of them are linked in someway, and I don't think I will be the only one not knowing who the shooter was until the final few pages.
Well written, gripping, believable characters and a great story. I will be definitely be reading Emma Kavanagh's debut novel very soon.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy via Netgalley
August 13, 2015
The book was ruined by its structure - jumpy timelines back and forth, with too many voices to keep track of. I found it hard to keep up the suspenseful momentum and just wanted the book to finish. Despite being in the headspace of several of the characters, there was no good psychological explanation for the motivation of the shooter apart from the most obvious superficial one.
September 25, 2015
I really liked her writing style & how she wove the story together.
May 25, 2017
Emma Kavanagh's second novel is narrated in a similar manner to it's predecessor Falling, in that it tells its story from the viewpoints of four different characters and doesn't follow a linear time-frame. However, I found Hidden to be a far more exciting read because it builds and maintains a sense of impending danger. With Falling the crimes had already been committed and it was just a matter of solving them. In this novel a gunman is stalking a local hospital: Who is he? Who is her after and why? When will he strike next? These questions remain unresolved until the climactic penultimate chapter. I also thought the main characters were more thoroughly drawn and particularly liked Charlie, the local reporter and Aden, a police firearms officer. I wouldn't mind seeing these two return in a later novel.
July 25, 2024
Reading a fast-paced thriller like this after a long time! Emma Kavanagh masterfully narrates the story through the perspectives of various characters, adding depth and intrigue by employing multiple timelines. The crime is introduced in the very first chapter from the point of view of the killer. The killer's story is then told in reverse, creating a sense of suspense, while the narratives of other charaters starts from T-minus 6 days, leading upto the pivotal event. On top of it, the writer seamlessly switches between first-person narration for select characters and third-person narration for the rest, which enhances the complexity of the plot. All in all, it kept me on the edge of my seat for sure!
July 3, 2019
It’s rare to find a book that legitimately keeps you guessing until the very end, but this one did that.
July 14, 2016
This is the second release from author Emma Kavanagh and after being impressed by the originality of her first novel and the quality of her writing I picked up Hidden. Her debut, Falling, was an emotional and absorbing tale of the lives of four individuals, all of whom were affected when a plane crashes. In Falling she took her readers straight into the minds of her narrators as their stories unfolded and once again she uses this clever device to weave an exceptional thriller. It would be hard to classify Hidden strictly as a psychological thriller, especially as the story adds an 'whodunnit' element and includes an insightful look at how those on the front-line deal with their jobs, particularly firearms operatives.
The story starts with a senseless loss of life as a lone gunman opens fire in the lobby of Mount Pleasant Hospital in Swansea. This shocking scene is very well portrayed and there is nothing gratuitous in the narration of the bloodshed and hooked me right from the start. After this opening Kavanagh then backtracks to the days leading up to the shooting and through the voices of three involved parties and that of the shooter, we are taken through the events which have motivated this massacre. The narrators are all involved with the activities of the police force in some capacity, from thirty year old Charlie cataloging crimes as a journalist for the Swansea Times, experienced police firearms officer Aden McCarthy and hospital psychologist Imogen, dealing with the mental health of those who occupy the demanding roles on the front-line and ensuring the trauma of their jobs does not overwhelm them. The three individuals all have loose connections to each other which become apparent in the early part of the novel and fuse all of their stories together wonderfully.
When Charlie finds herself reporting on the death of nurse Emily Wilson whose body has been found on the M4, she is taken straight back to her childhood best friend. Despite losing touch in the intervening years, the questions surrounding Emily's death play on Charlie's mind and she sees it as her duty to prove her former friend wasn't the drunk 'asking for it' young woman that the gossipmongers are speaking about. That Emily called the police the previous evening to report seeing a lone gunman stalking the wards of Mount Pleasant Hospital surely cannot be a coincidence, or can it? Who is the intended target of this gunman? One of the police firearms officers patrolling the hospital is Aden McCarthy and he has his own complicated history with the hospital, especially when it is suspected that the young boy seemingly being targeted by the shooter is Dylan Lowe. A year ago Aden's colleagues responded to an incident which resulted in Dylan being shot and left in a permanent vegetative state and despite an IPCC clearing, the day is never forgotten in any of their minds. As psychologist Imogen helps Aden work through the ensuing questions of just why he couldn't or didn't pull the trigger that night she also has her own concerns, with her young niece also a sick patient at Mount Pleasant.
Charlie's and the gunman's narration is in the first person, that of Aden and Imogen in the third person. Despite this stylistic difference and the fact that this story does have a jump in timeframe, it flows beautifully. As the countdown to the shooting unfolds Emma Kavanagh works in some excellent red herrings to detract readers attention; twice I thought I had nailed the killer and twice I was wrong! As the story climaxes to a finish the initial shooting scene is relived and may have felt like an abrupt and unfitting ending. Thankfully Emma Kavanagh has the good sense to offer readers some closure as she presents a memorial scene two weeks after the bloodshed and provided an opportunity to catch up with the lives of the narrators who I really grew to care about. Undoubtedly Kavanagh's psychology background adds a real depth of understanding to this novel, and I suspect, is part of the reason for her instinctive feel for creating characters. The depth of focus on the mental battles that can affect armed operatives in the force and those whose lives are devastated by the effects of crime certainly added another dimension.
An exceptional and highly original thriller and this comes highly recommended! Hidden blends genre boundaries and gives the reader an understanding of the rationale behind the gunman's actions and combines to make for a stylish and genuinely suspenseful novel. Well paced and refreshingly original.
The story starts with a senseless loss of life as a lone gunman opens fire in the lobby of Mount Pleasant Hospital in Swansea. This shocking scene is very well portrayed and there is nothing gratuitous in the narration of the bloodshed and hooked me right from the start. After this opening Kavanagh then backtracks to the days leading up to the shooting and through the voices of three involved parties and that of the shooter, we are taken through the events which have motivated this massacre. The narrators are all involved with the activities of the police force in some capacity, from thirty year old Charlie cataloging crimes as a journalist for the Swansea Times, experienced police firearms officer Aden McCarthy and hospital psychologist Imogen, dealing with the mental health of those who occupy the demanding roles on the front-line and ensuring the trauma of their jobs does not overwhelm them. The three individuals all have loose connections to each other which become apparent in the early part of the novel and fuse all of their stories together wonderfully.
When Charlie finds herself reporting on the death of nurse Emily Wilson whose body has been found on the M4, she is taken straight back to her childhood best friend. Despite losing touch in the intervening years, the questions surrounding Emily's death play on Charlie's mind and she sees it as her duty to prove her former friend wasn't the drunk 'asking for it' young woman that the gossipmongers are speaking about. That Emily called the police the previous evening to report seeing a lone gunman stalking the wards of Mount Pleasant Hospital surely cannot be a coincidence, or can it? Who is the intended target of this gunman? One of the police firearms officers patrolling the hospital is Aden McCarthy and he has his own complicated history with the hospital, especially when it is suspected that the young boy seemingly being targeted by the shooter is Dylan Lowe. A year ago Aden's colleagues responded to an incident which resulted in Dylan being shot and left in a permanent vegetative state and despite an IPCC clearing, the day is never forgotten in any of their minds. As psychologist Imogen helps Aden work through the ensuing questions of just why he couldn't or didn't pull the trigger that night she also has her own concerns, with her young niece also a sick patient at Mount Pleasant.
Charlie's and the gunman's narration is in the first person, that of Aden and Imogen in the third person. Despite this stylistic difference and the fact that this story does have a jump in timeframe, it flows beautifully. As the countdown to the shooting unfolds Emma Kavanagh works in some excellent red herrings to detract readers attention; twice I thought I had nailed the killer and twice I was wrong! As the story climaxes to a finish the initial shooting scene is relived and may have felt like an abrupt and unfitting ending. Thankfully Emma Kavanagh has the good sense to offer readers some closure as she presents a memorial scene two weeks after the bloodshed and provided an opportunity to catch up with the lives of the narrators who I really grew to care about. Undoubtedly Kavanagh's psychology background adds a real depth of understanding to this novel, and I suspect, is part of the reason for her instinctive feel for creating characters. The depth of focus on the mental battles that can affect armed operatives in the force and those whose lives are devastated by the effects of crime certainly added another dimension.
An exceptional and highly original thriller and this comes highly recommended! Hidden blends genre boundaries and gives the reader an understanding of the rationale behind the gunman's actions and combines to make for a stylish and genuinely suspenseful novel. Well paced and refreshingly original.
April 9, 2015
I would like to thank Random House, Cornerstone and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.
"I can smell the blood. It is all I can smell. It coats my nostrils, my lungs, it stains the inside of my throat. It is on me."
These are the harrowing opening lines of this gripping psychological thriller. 'Hidden' kept me on tenterhooks from start to finish. As I was reading it, I could feel my heart beat faster and my stomach squeeze with tension and the more I advanced in the book, the more pressured I felt. The fact that from the prologue I knew that things would ultimately end up tragically, just increased my apprehension a tenfold.
What factors drive a man to open fire on a crowd of innocent people? 'Hidden' starts off with a horrific mass murder in a hospital lobby ... a gunman ... a bloodbath ... a scene out of horror films.
"The bodies litter the hospital lobby like autumn leaves blown inside on a gusty day. There are so many of them, the floor has vanished beneath them."
The first chapter is narrated by Charlie, a crime reporter, and a witness to this mass murder. She describes the devastation left in the wake of the gunman.
From then on, we are taken back in time to six days before the shooting. A hooded armed man is spotted inside the hospital. Soon after a nurse is run over on a busy motorway. Who is this gunman? Why is he targeting a specific ward? Is the nurse's death an unfortunate accident or is it somehow linked to the strange happenings at the hospital?
Chapter by chapter, through countdown of days and povs of the four main characters, the author brings the story full circle as she skilfully unfurls the circumstances leading to the shooting. We are taken inside the mind, the psyche of the principal characters: Aden the police officer who's carrying deep psychological scars; Charlie, who feels she doesn't truly know her own family; Imogen the psychologist, a red-haired twin who's in an uncertain relationship; and the shooter, who's ultimately a victim himself and of whom I couldn't guess the identity till the very end.
This book is so well-written that I actually ended up feeling sorry for the shooter. His is the reality of many people around us in real life. People who have been hurt or traumatised and who even though they try hard, seem not to find their place in society. People who once they reach their breaking point, are capable of doing the unthinkable.
'Hidden' is a brilliant psychological thriller that hooked me from the first page and I highly recommend it to anyone loving a truly absorbing read. This was my first Emma Kavanagh book and it will certainly not be the last.
"I can smell the blood. It is all I can smell. It coats my nostrils, my lungs, it stains the inside of my throat. It is on me."
These are the harrowing opening lines of this gripping psychological thriller. 'Hidden' kept me on tenterhooks from start to finish. As I was reading it, I could feel my heart beat faster and my stomach squeeze with tension and the more I advanced in the book, the more pressured I felt. The fact that from the prologue I knew that things would ultimately end up tragically, just increased my apprehension a tenfold.
What factors drive a man to open fire on a crowd of innocent people? 'Hidden' starts off with a horrific mass murder in a hospital lobby ... a gunman ... a bloodbath ... a scene out of horror films.
"The bodies litter the hospital lobby like autumn leaves blown inside on a gusty day. There are so many of them, the floor has vanished beneath them."
The first chapter is narrated by Charlie, a crime reporter, and a witness to this mass murder. She describes the devastation left in the wake of the gunman.
From then on, we are taken back in time to six days before the shooting. A hooded armed man is spotted inside the hospital. Soon after a nurse is run over on a busy motorway. Who is this gunman? Why is he targeting a specific ward? Is the nurse's death an unfortunate accident or is it somehow linked to the strange happenings at the hospital?
Chapter by chapter, through countdown of days and povs of the four main characters, the author brings the story full circle as she skilfully unfurls the circumstances leading to the shooting. We are taken inside the mind, the psyche of the principal characters: Aden the police officer who's carrying deep psychological scars; Charlie, who feels she doesn't truly know her own family; Imogen the psychologist, a red-haired twin who's in an uncertain relationship; and the shooter, who's ultimately a victim himself and of whom I couldn't guess the identity till the very end.
This book is so well-written that I actually ended up feeling sorry for the shooter. His is the reality of many people around us in real life. People who have been hurt or traumatised and who even though they try hard, seem not to find their place in society. People who once they reach their breaking point, are capable of doing the unthinkable.
'Hidden' is a brilliant psychological thriller that hooked me from the first page and I highly recommend it to anyone loving a truly absorbing read. This was my first Emma Kavanagh book and it will certainly not be the last.
May 29, 2015
On August 31 at 10:33 am at a Welsh hospital there is a shooting. This opening description isn’t for the faint-hearted, it was all too easily visualised thanks to Charlie’s detailed reporting, but then she is a reporter on the local paper. Amongst the casualties are a few familiar faces to Charlie.
Emma Kavangh has managed to create a complicated structure that actually works.
With the story told from the number of days preceding ‘the shooting’ from different character’s viewpoints it does sound like a nightmare to navigate, but once I realised that the timeline wasn’t chronological, the earliest date six days before the shooting, beyond a brief reminder of what part of the story was being told and by whom, which is clearly signposted at the start of each chapter, it was remarkably straightforward. Nor did knowing the ending at the beginning ruin the tension, Emma Kavanagh keeps the identity of the shooter under wraps despite some of the tale being told from his viewpoint. Did I guess the identity? Not on your Nelly! I had been far too busy chasing several of the well-placed red herrings.
If a shooting wasn’t enough there is another big mystery and that is what happened to Charlie’s friend Emily who had recently been found dead on the M4, the police suspect that she’d wandered onto the motorway whilst drunk but Charlie suspects his death may be linked to a boy who is in a coma in Ward 12 of the hospital. Using her skills as an investigative journalist she sets out to uncover the truth.
The other narrators to the story are Imogen, half of a twin and a psychologist at the hospital and Aden who is a member of the armed police tracking the shooter who had been spotted at the hospital days before the shooting. The main characters are all linked to each other, some more tenuously than others and just in case there isn’t enough to concentrate on the author gives us a few detailed sub-plots to follow too.
I really enjoyed this read with the only mild criticism being some over-blown writing in some parts which isn’t helped by the repetition of some of the phrases which added to the constant changing of character, time and sometimes the tense of the writing, most of which is written in the first person present tense, meant that this book could easily have tipped into the plain confusing rather than the satisfying read I found it to be.
I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in return for my review.
Emma Kavangh has managed to create a complicated structure that actually works.
With the story told from the number of days preceding ‘the shooting’ from different character’s viewpoints it does sound like a nightmare to navigate, but once I realised that the timeline wasn’t chronological, the earliest date six days before the shooting, beyond a brief reminder of what part of the story was being told and by whom, which is clearly signposted at the start of each chapter, it was remarkably straightforward. Nor did knowing the ending at the beginning ruin the tension, Emma Kavanagh keeps the identity of the shooter under wraps despite some of the tale being told from his viewpoint. Did I guess the identity? Not on your Nelly! I had been far too busy chasing several of the well-placed red herrings.
If a shooting wasn’t enough there is another big mystery and that is what happened to Charlie’s friend Emily who had recently been found dead on the M4, the police suspect that she’d wandered onto the motorway whilst drunk but Charlie suspects his death may be linked to a boy who is in a coma in Ward 12 of the hospital. Using her skills as an investigative journalist she sets out to uncover the truth.
The other narrators to the story are Imogen, half of a twin and a psychologist at the hospital and Aden who is a member of the armed police tracking the shooter who had been spotted at the hospital days before the shooting. The main characters are all linked to each other, some more tenuously than others and just in case there isn’t enough to concentrate on the author gives us a few detailed sub-plots to follow too.
I really enjoyed this read with the only mild criticism being some over-blown writing in some parts which isn’t helped by the repetition of some of the phrases which added to the constant changing of character, time and sometimes the tense of the writing, most of which is written in the first person present tense, meant that this book could easily have tipped into the plain confusing rather than the satisfying read I found it to be.
I received a copy of this book from Amazon Vine in return for my review.
July 8, 2015
Publication Date: 23rd April 2015 (HB), 5th November 2015 (PB)
Publisher: Century (HB), Arrow (PB)
ISBN: 978-1780892047 (HB), 978-0099588535 (PB)
Source: NetGalley, via publisher
Rating: 4.5*
Synopsis:
A gripping psychological thriller by a former police psychologist. Perfect for fans of Nicci French, Tana French and S. J. Watson.
HE'S WATCHING...
A gunman is stalking the wards of a local hospital. He's unidentified and dangerous, and has to be located. Urgently.
Police Firearms Officer Aden McCarthy is tasked with tracking him down. Still troubled by the shooting of a schoolboy, Aden is determined to make amends by funding the gunman - before it's too late.
SHE'S WAITYING...
To psychologist Imogen, hospital should be a place of healing and safety - both for her, and her young niece who's been recently admitted. She's heard about the gunman, but he has little to do with her. Or has he?
As time ticks down, no-one knows who the gunman's next target will be. But he's there. Hiding in plain sight. Far closer than anyone thinks...
Review:
A plethora of complex characters and a distinctive writing style really make this novel stand out. The author's extensive work experience is evident on every page, in the gritty detailing and the psychological insights.
The timeline flits around, which is slightly confusing, but this doesn't detract from the plot. Hidden is a slick, well maintained novel full of suspense and crammed with fear. Each character is inextricably wound into the plot, each playing an essential role. The descriptive detailing is fantastic, so you get to know all the main players really well. There are red herrings galore, so when the identity of the gunman is finally revealed, it comes as a real shock.
Hidden had me reading until well into the early hours - I finished it at 2.45am after a mammoth reading session! It's a real page turner filled with action. I'm so looking forward to reading more by Emma Kavanagh.
Publisher: Century (HB), Arrow (PB)
ISBN: 978-1780892047 (HB), 978-0099588535 (PB)
Source: NetGalley, via publisher
Rating: 4.5*
Synopsis:
A gripping psychological thriller by a former police psychologist. Perfect for fans of Nicci French, Tana French and S. J. Watson.
HE'S WATCHING...
A gunman is stalking the wards of a local hospital. He's unidentified and dangerous, and has to be located. Urgently.
Police Firearms Officer Aden McCarthy is tasked with tracking him down. Still troubled by the shooting of a schoolboy, Aden is determined to make amends by funding the gunman - before it's too late.
SHE'S WAITYING...
To psychologist Imogen, hospital should be a place of healing and safety - both for her, and her young niece who's been recently admitted. She's heard about the gunman, but he has little to do with her. Or has he?
As time ticks down, no-one knows who the gunman's next target will be. But he's there. Hiding in plain sight. Far closer than anyone thinks...
Review:
A plethora of complex characters and a distinctive writing style really make this novel stand out. The author's extensive work experience is evident on every page, in the gritty detailing and the psychological insights.
The timeline flits around, which is slightly confusing, but this doesn't detract from the plot. Hidden is a slick, well maintained novel full of suspense and crammed with fear. Each character is inextricably wound into the plot, each playing an essential role. The descriptive detailing is fantastic, so you get to know all the main players really well. There are red herrings galore, so when the identity of the gunman is finally revealed, it comes as a real shock.
Hidden had me reading until well into the early hours - I finished it at 2.45am after a mammoth reading session! It's a real page turner filled with action. I'm so looking forward to reading more by Emma Kavanagh.
April 1, 2015
A distinctive, quirky writing style sets this author's books apart from the crime fiction crowds.
"A gunman is stalking the wards of a local hospital. He's unidentified and dangerous, and has to be located. Urgently...As time ticks down, no one knows who the gunman's next target will be. But he's there. Hiding in plain sight. Far closer than anyone thinks..."
I've spent a while trying to work out how to review Hidden without spoilers but haven't figured it out. The event towards which all the book's action is hurtling is described in the first few pages. The author's skill is in drawing the reader into the stories surrounding each of the main players so that at times the inevitable ending is forgotten.
I recommend Hidden to fans of twisty plots and well developed characters. I'm already dusting off a place in the to-be-read pile for Book 3.
Thank you to the publisher, via Netgalley, for the advance copy e-book.
"A gunman is stalking the wards of a local hospital. He's unidentified and dangerous, and has to be located. Urgently...As time ticks down, no one knows who the gunman's next target will be. But he's there. Hiding in plain sight. Far closer than anyone thinks..."
I've spent a while trying to work out how to review Hidden without spoilers but haven't figured it out. The event towards which all the book's action is hurtling is described in the first few pages. The author's skill is in drawing the reader into the stories surrounding each of the main players so that at times the inevitable ending is forgotten.
I recommend Hidden to fans of twisty plots and well developed characters. I'm already dusting off a place in the to-be-read pile for Book 3.
Thank you to the publisher, via Netgalley, for the advance copy e-book.
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