The Hidden

by Kathryn Mackel

A dark ravine. A fiery death. An unimaginable secret. Some things are best left hidden

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Thriller

281 pages, Paperback

First published May 9, 2006

About the author

As a screenwriter (writing as Kathy Mackel), Kathryn Mackel has worked for Disney, Fox, and Showtime. She’s famous with the kids for the Disney movie Can of Worms. She was the credited screenwriter for Frank Peretti's Hangman's Curse (with Stan Foster) and part of the story team for Left Behind: The Movie.

Reviews

[₊˚ ୨ৎ Kaylee !! ᶻ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t know where to begin.
Normally I’m not one to not only give a book 2 stars but abandon it. 200+ pages in and I couldn’t stand. I personally find the whole (demonic? He’s god on earth?) concept completely dumb and a waste of time. Now don’t get me wrong at first it sounds like a good book when you read the synopsis but with all the pov’s and personality it was not only overwhelming but most of the characters made close to no progress. Maybe it gets better but after 200+ pages I think i should’ve seen some growth.
Anyway, the opinions are my own. Don’t like them? 🤷‍♀️ Move on I guess lol

[TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't get into this book. This is maybe the second or third time I've tired and just couldn't. So, therefore I'm giving up, there are just to many other books out there waiting to be read.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm...I felt like I got tricked on this book. I didn't realize that it was "christian fiction" until I was fully suckered into it. I caught a few "let's pray on it" comments, but nothing was overtly religious until the end. A snobby doctor returns home to her family ranch to help her father who has broken his leg. She ends up finding a man chained in a cave.

This book was very suspenseful and even scary at some parts. I was a little disappointed by the religious tones at the end of the book how forgiveness and faith can conquer all evil. Blah, blah, blah.

But that was my only problem with the book. If they had left all that "let's pray together and throw our arms out in Christ's love" crap out of it, this book would have gotten four stars.

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven't read any other review. I really enjoyed this book until right at the very middle, practically page 152. At that point, it started to get weird on me. I like Christian fiction, but this was more Christian science fiction. It ended up being too spooky- eerily weird (not in a good way) and turned out to be a little far fetched for me. After about page 170 I started skipping forward several chapters at a time and reading bits and pieces, sure enough, it became weirder and weirder. I wasn't able to finish it.

[Zacksmom Okon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to disagree with some of the reviews insinuating this novel was "preachy". Quite the contrary (for me). With that being said, this book had the perfect amount of personal soul searching, forgiveness, horror, and selfless love. At the close of this book, the reader feels quite satisfied, and a little teary-eyed. Well, done Ms. Mackel - glad I chose this novel as an introduction to your mind. Looking forward to reading more.

[Rebecca Jo Caputo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good fiction read that kept my attention. I loved the character of Jeanette in the book, what a lovely example of a Godly woman. A good story about redemtion and forgiveness.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absolutely whack. Kept me on the edge of my seat but mostly because i needed to know why it kept getting weirder. Strangely religious. I thought it would all make sense in the end but it did not. I did like the wholesome ending and the strong character development that happened in such a short book/time. But i wouldn’t recommend this book 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out quite promising. It drew me in initially, and had me wondering what on earth was going on with the mysterious deaths that were cropping up. However, the last 1/4 of the book was not enjoyable for me at all. Didn't care for this one.

[Terrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was barely okay - boring and too full of cliches - too religious for me

[Georgann · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! Suspenseful and eerie and sad and beautiful and inspiring...

[ANNETTE · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out fast paced and drew me in.Author did a good job keeping the mystery going.

[Ginny Rockwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning caught my interest, but it became a little too Christian/religious/preachy for me. Having started it (it couldn't get any worse), I finished it, and it came with a unsatisfying ending.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!!

[Verenicque · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot Summary: What happens, When & Where, Central Characters, Major Conflicts[return]A sudden health crisis with her father brings Dr. Susan Stone back home to the ranch that she hasn't visited in years. Family tensions run high, but the discovery of a badly burned body is even more alarming. And then Susan stumbles across a young man chained in a deep crevasse after taking a tumble while horseback riding. The young man seems to be suffering from amnesia, but as events unfold the mystery of who--or what--he really is builds, especially as violent and eerie occurances multiply. [return][return][return][return][return][return][return]Style Characterisics: Pacing, clarity, structure, narrative devices, etc.[return]OK, the theology of this story is somewhat suspect. An angel--on of the guardians of the fallen demons to be released at the apacolypse--is unchained (could a mere mortal do this?) and havoc is reeked as his demon enemy tries to get the key that will release the demons he was guarding from him. The released angel is quite an enigma--is he good or bad, fallen or on his way to redemption? Putting these questions aside, Mackerel does use the suppositions to create a tightly woven suspense story with intriguing characters that will keep those pages turning.[return][return][return][return][return][return][return]How Good is it?[return]Thoughtprovoking thriller that doesn't dissapoint, but raised plenty of questions.

[Kim Mol-van Aken · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recensie geschreven voor MagicTales.nl

Dit is een thriller gecombineerd met het bovennatuurlijke met een religieuze ondertoon. En dit verhaal heeft alle elementen om een spannend boek te zijn, onverklaarbare gebeurtenissen, complexe karakters, gruwelijke moorden en het perspectief vanuit de ‘slechterik’ in het verhaal. Helaas zorgt de uitwerking ervoor dat het een langdradig verhaal is geworden waar de spanning zeer lang op zich laat wachten.
Er spelen zoveel dingen in dit gezin, die maar beetje bij beetje aan je worden uitgelegd, wat erg frustrerend is. En hierdoor had ik ook totaal geen klik met de personages.

Voor volledige recensie ga naar MagicTales.nl

[Alick Sazonov]

I think this is a vary interesting book filled with mysterious things that happen throughout the book. If you like books that have murder mysteries and people that appear from nowhere this is the book for you. I am not a fan of these kind of books but I really liked the book and it was good from the beggining to the end. A short summary of the book is that a lady is going through bad times and goes to visit her injured dad and ends up riding a horse into the forest to finding a boy chained up. The boy does not know anything about him and can do really weird things. I liked this book and I give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

[Margo Berendsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Volatile family dynamics mixed with the terror of an unspeakable brutal serial killer on the loose - topped off with a mysterious young man suffering from amnesia, terrible scars on his back, and an ability to heal.

Loved the scenes where they try to put Jacob through a C-Scan and later when they take his fingerprints! And the scene where they hypnotize him - seriously creepy!!! The author does an excellent job building both the characters and the mystery.

[Junkie for the Written Word · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the goodie goodieness of the booke it was still interesting. Since books that are written for a certain religious audience usually are not, I was pleasently surprised. The idea of the book was neat and it was well written and I can get over the fact that despite sex, drugs, foul language, and general depravity are common in life it was completely left out of this book.

[Vickey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took me a really long time to read for some reason. The book itself wasn't bad until the last few chapters. Then it took a strange turn, that for me kinda ruined it. When it started getting too far out there I really just lost interest and had to force myself to get through it, hoping the end would make up for itself...it did not.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit hard to start off with, at times it felt very disjointed. Later on the pieces come together however and make a wonderful story of family, love, and forgiveness. Has a great meaning behind it and really touches on some great Christian values.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful --powerful! Definitely hard to put down. A story of the pain, guilt, anger we all experience in life at times, along with a creative look at the unseen world of good and evil. But ultimately a story of love, forgiveness and redemption. I look forward to reading more by this author.

[Apesydaisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping. Grabbed hold of me and didn't let go until it was finished.

[Janet Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really give this a 3 and a half. At first I was bored but I found it to be interesting and thought provoking for the last half.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Some parts were predictable, but others you never saw coming!

[Genny Foley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was interesting. Angels and Demons in a modern day setting. Also about family, forgiveness, and redemption. I enjoyed it, but it was a little too strange for me.

[Atarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another supernatural-type book. Definitely kept my interest. Fiction, about a surrogate mother and a couple who pays for her service.

[Julia Guice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It was somewhat like The Shack but a completely different story line. I really enjoyed it.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner that makes you question what you thought you knew about darkness and light. Kathryn Mackel never fails to deliver intelligent, insightful story lines that make you want to read more.