The Hiding Girl

Emily Calby #1

by Dorian Box

"Dark and gritty ... an exceptional, heart-pounding story full of raw emotion, deep-seated fear, and an undercurrent of hope and innocence. Deeply atmospheric ... without peer in contemporary mysteries/thrillers." — Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Finalist in Mysteries/Thrillers

"Best Psychological Thriller of the Year." — BestThrillers

"Masterful interplay of character, setting, and theme ..." — IndieReader Discovery Award for Fiction

"You root for the lead, Emily, and stick with her throughout. Engaged me from the first page." — Feathered Quill Medal Winner for Mystery/Suspense

Twelve-year-old Emily Calby was a good girl from a good family in rural Georgia. She loved softball, her little sister, and looking up words to get her allowance. Then two men came and murdered her family. Only the killers know she escaped.

On the run, surviving by wits and instinct, she makes an unlikely ally in an ex-gang member in Memphis. He takes her in and trains her in “self-defense” before more tragedy launches her on a perilous journey for justice. Nothing will stop her—not cops or creeps, not even her own splintering mind. Through it all, Emily fights to hold onto the girl she once knew, kept buried deep inside.

Dark and gritty, but filled with heart and hope, The Hiding Girl will leave you cheering, cringing, crying and even laughing. A twisty action-packed coming-of-age story and testament to the boundlessness of human love, loyalty and the will to survive.

Awards/honors for titles in the Emily Calby Series include: Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Semifinalist; IndieReader Discovery Award for Fiction; Best Psychological Thriller of the Year and Finalist for Best Legal Thriller of the Year (BestThrillers); National Indie Excellence Award Finalist; and Readers’ Favorite Awards in Suspense and New Adult fiction.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 15, 2020

About the author

Dorian Box is the pen name for A.J. McClurg, a former law professor. He likes to blend dark themes with heart, hope and humor with a goal of evoking tears and laughs over the same book.

His novels have received awards and honors such as: Writer's Digest Award for Genre Fiction; Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize Finalist in Mysteries/Thrillers (twice); IndieReader Discovery Award for Fiction; Feathered Quill Medal for Mystery/Suspense; Best Psychological Thriller of the Year and Finalist, Best Legal Thriller of the Year (BestThrillers); National Indie Excellence Award Finalist; and Readers’ Favorite medals in four different categories (Suspense, Legal Thrillers, Humor, and New Adult Fiction).

At one time or another his books have been Amazon No. 1 Bestsellers in categories such as Thrillers, Psychological Thrillers, Legal Thrillers, and Women Sleuths (for the Emily Calby Series), and General Humorous Fiction, Humorous Dark Comedy, and Amateur Sleuth Mysteries (for the Danny Teakwell Series).

His nonfiction books include an Amazon Editors’ Favorite Book of the Year. As an academic, he's been interviewed as a legal expert by National Public Radio, the PBS Newshour, and many other sources.

McClurg (or maybe it's Box) lives out his childhood rockstar fantasies singing and playing in Memphis cover bands.

Reviews

[Theresa Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hiding Girl is a suspense novel that lives up to the name suspense—it’s taut and fast-paced and in places extremely tense.

Emily Calby’s family is murdered, but she manages to escape. Only twelve years old, she finds herself on the run from the men who raped and murdered her mother and sister. She finds a man and his girlfriend who are willing to give her defense skills and shelter for a time. I can’t begin to imagine myself being that smart and brave when I was twelve—or today as a full-grown adult for that matter, but it’s a fun read, and I’m looking forward to starting the second book in the series, The Girl in Cell 49B, which will be out in March of this year.

[Susan (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Calby barely escapes a home invasion in which her mother and sister were murdered. Now she’s on the run for her life and hiding from the two vile culprits.

Did I mention that she’s twelve years old?

However, she’s not your usual pre-teen. She’s savvy, quick on her feet, and someone to root for.

Although in hiding, she encounters and cons people to assist her. A highlight was her friendship with Lucus, a thirty something black man with marketable skills. He’s a wealth of information regarding survival.

The majority of the book is non-stop action which I loved.

Unfortunately, the ending bogged down after the big events. While I like wrap ups in a story, I felt the section on Emily’s therapy diluted the pace and could have been shorter.

Thank you to Edelweiss, Dorian Box, and the publisher for my advance electronic copy.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting book! It was dark and gritty yet heartwarming at the same time. Emily Calby is 12 years old (nearly 13) when a home invasion by two men leaves her mother and younger sister dead. Emily just manages to escape by the skin of her teeth. Her father had recently died in an industrial accident. So Emily is all alone in the world and firmly believes she is still in danger from the two men who killed her family as she can identify them. She grabs her dad’s $5,000 emergency fund from the garage and flees the town.

After a month of travelling on random buses to random places she heads to Memphis to get a fake ID so she can legally travel alone. She arrives at Lucas’s place to pick up her ID. Lucas, a mountain of a black man wants nothing to do with the “skinny white girl” but she tugs on his heartstrings so he agrees to do the ID, feeds her and lets her stay the night in the spare room. Long story short, they become unlikely friends and Lucas gives her some self defence training. And this is where I must stop for fear of spoilers. What I can say is it got really, really exciting after that as Emily seeks out the men who killed her family.

Emily is smart, funny, brave , cheeky, sad and intensely loyal. Lucas is strong, violent, kind, smart and intensely loyal. The book addresses questions like the difference between justice and vengeance and whether redemption is possible for everyone. Can you do bad things and still be a good person? Along the road Emily meets a motley collection of others - some good, some bad but they all serve to teach her something. This is not a cosy read. It is violent, brutal and full of swearing. The pace is relentless and Emily is only ever one step away from big trouble. I am pleased to hear there is to be a sequel.

[Melanie (mells_view) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Justice. Always comes too late, but it’s still justice.

The Hiding Girl by Dorian Box is a thrilling story that starts out about survival and strength, and turns into a hunt for revenge. This story is focused on Emily Calby a pre-teen girl who is the only surviving victim of a home invasion that left her an orphan. She’s on the run because she’s scared that the men who killed her family won’t stop until they find her. On her journey she meets Lucas, and a handful of others, but he is who becomes someone that helps her along the most in the new normal of her life.

The way I felt about this book was unexpected. I honestly loved it. When I read the sneak peek on BookishFirst I wasn’t expecting to become so invested, but I was. I needed to know what would happen with Emily and her possible new unlikely friend, Lucas. This story is violent and sad, but it’s also empowering, emotional, and deep. Some of the banter and dialogue was so witty and fun. It also had a painfully timely realistic punch at times when Lucas was speaking about the law and justice, when it applies to Black men.

It takes an interesting look at revenge and justice, and all of the emotions that come with being wronged. How does that change you? How does loss and pain break you or make you?

This book definitely requires some ability to suspend your disbelief. The plausibility of a 12 year old, successfully surviving on the run, after witnessing her family slaughtered will make you roll your eyes a bit. I promise you though that it is worth it. This story is just such a thrilling ride. It just does not stop or take a breath. Emily is constantly moving toward her next step.

An entertaining read that will make you feel. A bit uncomfortable, a bit sad, but a bit hopeful as well. The best part is while this story feels completed, there is more to come!

[this book does contain multiple potential triggers: murder, abuse, sexual assault, violence]

AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC provided by BookishFirst

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Couldn't Stop Reading This Stars
* * * * * Spoiler Free
So as you can see, I gave this the Full 5 Stars, period. I found out about this book in a backward way. I saw the next book in this series on NetGalley and was very curious about the main character. Learned she was created and starred in her own book, The Hiding Girl. Did a quick search, found it, clicked, and dove in.

I will tell you, I was captivated and held in book reading prison/paradise until 3:30 AM. I needed to know everything about this girl and her quest. I felt her pain, her fear, her determination against all odds, and her finally having some peace.

Diving into The Next one and probably won't sleep tonight either. A reader's torture and delight.

The Hiding Girl (Emily Calby, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Girl in Cell 49B (Emily Calby, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Target: The Girl (Emily Calby, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
She Was Too Young...
To Know So Much...
Yet Thankfully She Did...

Because Of Her Past Curiosity...
Her Thirst For Knowledge And Street Smarts...

She Survived The Horror...
That Befell Her Mother And Baby Sister...

Now She Is Out There...
Basically On Her Own...
Making Sure She Isn't Found...
She Becomes...

The Hiding Girl

A gifted copy was provided by Friction Press Via NetGalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

************************************
TRIGGER WARNING: Before purchasing and reading this book, I believe it is important to let potential readers know that this book contains themes that may be triggers. These include:
- Violence Against A Child (not explicit, but still there)
- Rape - This is not detailed, but it is mentioned (including suggestions of the rape of children)
- Cutting
- Violence
- Homelessness
- D.I.D. - Dissociative Identity Disorder
- mention of suicide
- other adult themes
*************************************

Twelve year old Emily Calby is desperate, scared, and all alone. She's on the run from the men who tortured and killed her entire family; men from  whom she just barely escaped.

Emily is a white girl, with blonde hair who grew up in a middle class family and who has never had to experience racism or classism. Even though she has never thought of herself as privileged, she starts to realize just how good she had it when she meets Lucas.

Lucas is an adult, black male who lives in a poverty stricken neighborhood that experiences way too much gang violence. A previous gang member himself, Lucas knows exactly how dangerous it can be for a young, white girl to be homeless in the city. Despite his reservations, Lucas takes Emily under his wing. (This relationship is a huge part of the plot, but the way the two met and his decision to befriend Emily is extremely far-fetched. I reduced the number of stars I gave THE HIDING GIRL because of this.)

Emily is terrified that the two men from whom she had barely escaped will track her down and finish what they started. Because of this, she convinces Lucas to teach her how to kill.

Readers learn about Lucas and his past, including the fact that he used to be in a gang, and he also talks about the death of someone close to him. It is this death that is used to explain why Emily keeps seeing teddy bears attached to hydro poles in his neighborhood. The inclusion of this tidbit is based on fact. Author Dorian Box has seen these Memorial Teddy Bears in real life.

This book is a testament to the resiliency of youth, as well as the power of fear, grief, and a hunger for justice. I enjoyed the inclusion of the conversations between characters in regard to exactly what is justice, and who has the right to extract that justice. Emily must decide whether she is willing to kill the monsters who had obliterated her entire family.

There are a multitude of social themes in this book and the plot has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster. It is an enjoyable story with characters you will come to love.

THE HIDING GIRL is the first book in a brand new EMILY CALBY SERIES. The second book is due for release within the year.

I rate this book as 4 OUT OF 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*** Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book. ***
*
*
I have to mention and give kudos to @Herabooks Hera is a FEMALE-LED Publisher. It is about time that women were not only in positions of power, but are also the owners and CEOs. I have bookmarked and am following Hera Books. It is important to me to celebrate and support women-led Indie businesses, especially in this unprecedented time in history when everyone on the planet is trying to #flattenthecurve and to #eradicate #Covid19

[Athena (OneReadingNurse) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to BookishFirst and Friction Press for my advanced copy of The Hiding Girl by Dorian Box! All opinions are my own!

While it is no literary masterpiece, all three hundred and four pages of The Hiding Girl had me hooked. Emily's family is brutalized and murdered, although she manages to escape before the criminals set the house on fire.

Weeks later Emily meets Lucas, a giant of a man who sells her a masterpiece of a fake drivers license. Lucas might be a 6"5 ex-army turned murderer and etc, but he is a good person at heart and sees some of his sister in Emily. He takes her in off the street and teaches her how to defend herself, use a knife, and shoot a gun.

While I really don't ever see this happening in real life, it made for a great story. Emily started working out with Lucas' girlfriend, Kiona, and became at least a little more formidable if not still naive. Lucas doesn't seem like a typical criminal, he even gets Emily a birthday present. Which is a gun. And Kiona smacked him. I really enjoyed their dynamic. Found families are one of my favorite tropes anywhere!

Emily just wants to find the two men who savaged her family and extract justice. Can she do it after only a month of training in Lucas' house? The pacing just flies too - I think I read the whole book in two sittings

I don't think Lucas was supposed to be hilarious, but watching him try to deal with an annoying 12 year old white girl was pretty funny at times. She should have been terrified of him. I think this is a good race-transcending book for the current day and age too.

This is going to be a series and I will definitely be reading the next one.

Recommended for people who can suspend disbelief long enough to watch a very brave, broken, and determined little girl learn the ways of life from a gun waving not-quite gangster. Some mature content involved.

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Bookish First ebook was won and thoroughly enjoyed. Phew! I had a terrible time downloading it, but after I finally got to read it-I was glad it arrived in print. Emily is a mess, she's on the lam, only 12, but trying to hide from 2 murderers. She is smart, creative and has learned to lie very well. She has to get a driver's license and gets one from Lucas, a bit of a criminal. There is lots of action, suspense and yes, injuries, murders and far too much swearing. Emily emerges as a girl with a vengeance and Lucas is her pseudo parent, trainer and mentor. I loved the characters. They were well portrayed and I couldn't stop reading because it was that good. As far as Emily being a believable young girl who manages to do what she did; that was a bit of a stretch, but young kids can do amazing things when fueled by hate. I see it all the time on the I.D. channel.

[Jessica Berry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most amazing books I’ve read in a long time and when I finished it, I closed my eyes and hoped for some type of sequel. To not have “The Hiding Girl “ in my world would’ve been devastating. Everything about this book from beginning to end was addictive. I love the writing style that really mimics the way a 12-year-old would think and speak, but it’s not a childish book. I really love the characters, especially Lucas and Kiona.

This book would be a fantastic movie or limited series. I NEED to see the training montage set to badass rap music.

I can’t imagine going through a tragedy like Emily went through, then trekking around the country all alone on a fury-fueled mission. What a storyline!

While there are some plot holes, weak plot devices, and an untimely use of the title phrase (forty percent in is way too late use the “hiding girl” trope), the characters and the story outweigh any negatives. This book was phenomenal.

[Monica Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hiding Girl is a fast paced story about a 12 year old girl who has gone through an unspeakable tragedy. Emily is a typical girl until one day two strangers come to her house and convince the mother to let them in. Emily manages to get away but is unable to save her mother and sister. She is on the run and refuses to turn her self into the authorities because she feels she is still in danger. While on the run she meets Lucas. Lucas is an ex-gang member who forges documents. Emily's life will again change in ways she never imagined.
This book thoroughly sucked me in. I like thriller novel's but I did not think that these characters would be so relatable. I did not want to stop reading this and there were even times when I shed a few tears. This is an excellent read!

[Samantha Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow. This book was a page Turner for me.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the year’s best thrillers. When two predators come to 12-year-old Emily Calby’s home asking to siphon gasoline, she immediately senses what her mother does not - their lives are in imminent danger. Only Emily escapes. 

Armed with extraordinary powers of perception and five-thousand dollars that her father had stashed in the garage, she goes on the run. A born survivalist, Emily prowls unlocked cars at night, finding a stun gun, a knife, makeup and a Stephen King book. She makes it to a sketchy neighborhood in Memphis, where she pays a professional counterfeiter named Lucas in cash for a fake ID, becoming sixteen-year-old Alice Regina Miller from Chattanooga, TN.

Like Emily, Lucas’s entire family is dead. The two bond, and he becomes an unlikely ally in her quest for justice. After nothing comes of the anonymous tips Emily sends the Sheriff back home, she receives an unexpected message from the FBI to her fake email address. The special agent in charge of the investigation wants to bring her back to Georgia. But for Emily, there’s far too much at stake to simply head home to be placed with a foster family. Only justice will give her peace.  

[Joanna McQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as an ARC and I am so grateful that I was given this opportunity. Thank you @herabooks

I read this book quickly as it was so intense and I just loved Emily’s character. I couldn’t put it down.

At 12 years old, Emily finds her world completely torn apart. Two men have murdered her sister and mother. Emily is able to escape but is forced to survive in a world she has no idea how to live in. She enlists an ex-gang member to help her and together, with the help of Lucas’ girlfriend, Emily builds up her endurance. Together they embark on a journey that neither one was expecting to go on. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and Emily is once again put in dangerous situations that test her character and her morals.

Emily is such a vivid character. She is determined to not only survive but to become stronger. As a strong female character, I admired Emily’s ability to challenge herself when faced with adversity as well as her ability to remain calm and deal with the situations she was put into. I imagine that she will be a force to recon with when she grows up.

Some of the content of this book is less than desirable, but what can you expect from a story about a 12 year old girl trying to survive on the streets. Emily, at twelve, is exposed to things and situations that should break her spirit, but they don’t, she keeps going and that is admirable.

I would expect that anyone who enjoys an intense story with interesting characters will enjoy this read.

[Cathy Geha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hiding Girl by Dorian Box
Emily Calby #1

Excellent – could not put this book down! Remembering myself when 12, thinking about what Emily experienced, rooting for her throughout – what a roller coaster ride this book proved to be!

What I liked:
* Emily: Strong, smart, damaged, survivor, focused on justice. This young girl grew up in a hurry and lived by her wits as she moved forward while dealing with the loss of her family.
* Lucas: Big, strong, giving, caring, nicer than he appears at first, suffered great loss, just who Emily needed in her life.
* Kiona: kind of a silent person in the story but there for both Emily and Lucas.
* James: a young man with a future, good friend to Lucas, would like to know more about him.
* FBI agent Forster: a good man with Emily’s best interests at heart.
* The kind people that were there for Emily from time to time.
* Emily’s strength, resilience and ability to survive – and also her loyalty and friendship with those she cared about.
* The unflinching look at what happened in more than one situation.
* Darla and Peggy: two women that were kind and helpful when they didn’t have to be.
* The way Lucas was there for Emily when she really needed him.
* That the baddies were dealt with in the end…and how they were dealt with.

What I didn’t like:
* The bad guys…and there were several that showed up in this story. Predators that all deserved the justice meted out to them.
* Knowing that the predators in this book exist in real life and that what Emily experienced in the story is all too real for too many.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Friction Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good and engaging tale, with a horrible beginning that is handled well. Instead of hitting us over the head with awfulnesses, author Dorian Box doles out the details of the event throughout the book. It’s a strategy that works well, turning what would have been a thriller into something more like a quest. I found the protagonist, Emily/Alice, to be thoroughly appealing and looked forward to reading more about her in the ARC I received of her second book.

[Nicky Mottram · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I’ve read by this author and won’t be the last ! It’s the first book in the series and even though it’s slightly unbelievable it’s a book that makes you aware that friendship gets you through anything! Loved it

Thank you to NetGalley and Friction Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Carol Dass · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just don’t know where to start! This book was all sorts of amazing! It was also stunning, captivating, heartbreaking but also heartwarming. In many places it was sombre, a little dark but the characters were so alive, believable with heart and warmth, humor and love. Emily at the age of 12, suffered a huge and overwhelming tragedy. She witnessd the murder of her mother and sister her father had died a while before all this happened. Emily was lucky to escape, but with the thought of vengeance in her heart. With her escape the real story begins. Although I read the summary, I did not think I would enjoy this book so much. I loved every character. This book is certainly on my ‘best ever books’ list. I cannot wait for the next books in the series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jeremy Reppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Hiding Girl" was a fun book. It starts out with a murder (and assumed but undescribed sexual assault) and there are other instances of violence in the story, so it is not "fun" in that respect. As Emily Calby, her younger sister, Becky, and her mother are unloading the groceries, two strange men appear in their driveway, claiming they need gas for their vehicle. Emily is suspicious of them, questioning their story and noticing inconsistencies. However, her mother does not pay attention, which proves to be a fatal mistake, as the men enter the house, and assault and kill Emily's mother and sister and burn down the house. Emily manages to escape, but she has nowhere to go (her father was deceased and she had no extended family) and is afraid that the two men will find her and kill her if she goes to the police or otherwise lets her existence be publicized. After hiding in the woods, she returns to the house and grabs a stash of cash her father had hidden in the garage for emergencies and then she flees. Taking advantage of her age (twelve) and the sympathy of strangers, as well as some petty theft and her own resourcefulness, she has been traveling around the country. Her destination is Memphis, TN, where she plan to purchase a fake driver's license, although she lied about who she was in order to arrange the transaction. The cab driver who takes her to the address in Memphis questions whether she really wants to go there, as it is not a location a young white girl should be hanging around.

At the address, Emily meets Lucas or Big EZ. Lucas is a big black man with a checkered past who currently specializes in making fake documentation, among other illegal activities. Lucas does not really want anything to do with Emily (or Alice Miller, as she will be identified on her new driver's license, which says she is sixteen), but at the same time he cannot abandon her to the elements or to the neighborhood she would have to pass through in order to find shelter. They end up reaching an arrangement where Lucas allows Emily to stay with him for a month while he and his girlfriend, Kiona, a personal trainer, make her stronger and fitter, teach her self-defense, and additional survival skills. Emily is determined to find the men who killed her family and Lucas agrees to provide assistance, but also cautions her about the cost of revenge.

Emily and Lucas make an unusual pair, especially considering the age, size, and color difference, and events occur that highlight the potential problems and prejudice of them being together (as friends), which is eye-opening to Emily, who sees Lucas an ally and friend (not a "black" ally/friend). However, they actually make a pretty good duo, as they challenge each other, Emily helps bring out in the inner goodness in Lucas, and Lucas helps Emily focus and control her worst instincts. Emily, who is twelve at the start of the book and celebrates her thirteenth birthday during the course of the story, is in some ways wise beyond her years, with a knowledge base, observational skills, resourcefulness, and determination that belies her age, but she is also very naïve about a lot of things, including some of the potential dangers facing her. Complicating matters is that Emily has not had the opportunity to properly grieve the loss of her family and she is having to engage in uncharacteristic and at times desperate measures to survive, which results in episodes of mental instability.

The author has created some rather good plot twists and a good supporting cast of characters. There are some rather funny moments. Watch out for Alice the Pit Bull. "The Hiding Girl" is well worth reading.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[Kristen Pickering · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book through BookishFirst and LOVED it. I'll include my review without any spoilers here.

I'll confess, I first thought I'd have a big mental leap to believe that it was a 12-year-old girl at the center of this story - that she survived the rape and murder of her mother and sister in a home invasion, escaped the killers who fled before burning down her house (but not before she got back in to grab a box of emergency cash) and then hit the road. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the author managed to craft a character that was both winsome as a 12-year-old girl and believably tough and resilient. Similarly, I loved the juxtaposition of Lucas, the streetwise, hardened Army veteran who is solicited to create a fake ID for Emily and, finding a soft spot in his heart, takes her in to help her toughen up and let her find her path of revenge properly prepared.

There were so many twists and turns in this book, it felt a little like one of those old online adventure games like Oregon Trail, where your choice had an immediate impact and effect, which was cool because I was experiencing it as a 12-year-old girl facing impossible choices, sometimes making good ones and sometimes making really bad ones. There were parts of this book that had me so on the edge of my seat that I had to walk away and catch my breath but go right back to find out what happened next once my heart stopped racing.

Another thing I loved was that this book jumped over parts of Emily's journey that were informative and necessary but not particularly interesting. That gave the book a great pace, keeping the action front and center.

I think this book is clearly geared towards the adult reader who likes a blend of humanity and crime, who leans towards characters who are flawed but mostly trying to be good. It really illuminates social injustices, such as how people react to a 12-year-old blonde girl in a situation versus a 6' tall muscled black man in the same situation, and how each of them needs to manipulate that situation to make it work for them.

The book included a sneak peek at the sequel, taking place a few years in Emily's future. That story promises to be very different from this one, but with the same resilient, intelligent protagonist. I will definitely be reading that one when published.

[Ashley Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGallery for allowing me to read a free E-Arc of this book in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
First, I want to warn any readers about to read this book there are some trigger warnings: Cutting, Mental health, hints of rape/child rape (not explicit but implied), homelessness, and violence.
This was a great first book in what I think will be a wonderful series. The author did a wonderful job of creating a very intense story with complex characters. The story had drawn me in so deeply that I finished the book in less than one day.
At 12 years-old, Emily finds her world has been turned upside down. After the brutal murder of her mother and younger sister, she finds herself hiding on the streets from the men that are trying to kill her after she was able to escape them. Emily finds herself in need of a fake ID so she meets Lucus, an ex-gang member, who is willing to help Emily not only with her fake ID, but also with the help of Lucus' girlfriend, learn self-defense. As Lucus and Emily start out together as mentor/mentoree their relationship soon turns into a more father/daughter relationship. But as Emily's journey of revenge causes Lucus to get hurt, she finds herself being tested and surviving more than she ever thought possible.
This book had a well crafted story. The pacing was very good and I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. Emily was an amazing character that went through more than any person should ever have to go through in any lifetime. While Emily was suffering from the traumas that left her orphaned and on the streets, she never fully lost her spirit nor her willingness to survive. I enjoyed the development of Emily and Lucus' relationship. They came into each other lives at the perfect time. Lucus was a very complex character and I enjoyed reading about his backstory. The author did not shy away from the hard topics and issues Emily had to face, but was able to use them in a realistic way to move the story along.The ending of the book was so intense and satisfying. It allowed for this arc of the story to be wrapped up well, but left room for the next installment to pick up with our characters.
I would highly recommend this book to those who love a good thriller. I will be counting the days until the second book comes out to this awesome series!

[Willow Moon Greymoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Innovative page-turning psychological thriller!

Brave soul and main protagonist, Emily Calby, her mother, and younger sister were murdered in a heinous fashion while Emily narrowly escaped the crime scene alive. Not only does she have the grief and loss of her mother and sister to mourn—her father was killed in an industrial accident. The series of soul-crushing events orphaned Emily at the age of 12, and on her own living on the streets, perpetually on the run from the men who murdered her family. Survival, resourcefulness, and the help of others she met along the way helped her survive horrendous circumstances.

Throughout each chapter, the reader can easily follow the events that splintered Emily's young mind and how her life and personality altered. This book does provide a solid example of how badly traumatic events can change a child's mind, consciousness, personality, etc.

Young Emily is not faint of heart and provided readers with a gritty, hard-boiled preteen character. Not often are young girls portrayed with this level of grit and tenacity. Kudos to author Dorian Box for writing a thriller that captured the pain and horror of murder, loss, and grief while coming of age—this book has the potential to become a bestseller or a powerful cinematic experience.

I implore Dorian Box to continue to create thrillers of this quality!

[Karen (kmo.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Hiding Girl' by Dorian Box drew me in immediately. 12 year old Emily Calby's life changes in the blink of an eye. She finds herself on the run, scared, constantly looking over her shoulder and trying to block out everything that just happened to her and her family.

She goes from a well behaved, obedient child to a thief, a liar and a kid who can clearly fend for herself in extreme circumstances, but make no mistake. She is no dummy. Emily meets a man named Lucas in Memphis, who couldn't be more different from her. She is Southern, white, and religious. He is black, former gang member and from the inner city. However, what brings them together is their loss and their need for justice. Lucas teaches her self defense and his girlfriend, Kiona, gets her in shape. The profound relationship between Lucas and Emily grows throughout the book. It was definitely my favorite part.

The character development was really strong. The twists and turns were enough to keep me guessing and engrossed. It was an intense read. I felt like I was in Emily's head sometimes and I appreciated her strong female character.

This book publishes on June 15, 2020. I can't wait to read Book 2!

Trigger Warnings - Rape (nothing explicit, but mentioned), death, cutting, PTSD with dissociative symptoms

Thank you to NetGalley and Friction Press for the eGalley copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept hearing about The Hiding Girl and wanted to check it out. I was super impressed with the writing! The story begins with a teenager, already suffering the loss of her father, becoming a witness to the murder and rape of her mother and younger sister. Emily escapes her house, hides in the woods and eventually runs as far away as she can. She had grabbed the last of the money her father had hidden away before he was killed in a work accident and hides, afraid that the 2 men who killed her mom and sister would still be looking for her. Only 14, and looking even younger, she finds someone on the dark web who can build her a fake identity - she figures that being 16 will at least let her take buses and trains unaccompanied. She travels to Atlanta and meets Lucas - another lost soul who at first turns her away. She tells her story and he agrees to help.

This book totally pulls you in. The survivor's guilt Emily feels after her father 'left her in charge' and she couldn't save them is heart-wrenching. Her naïveté in thinking she was safe wandering around the bad part of town near Lucas' compound. The walls she builds to not get close to people and the compartments in her brain for The Hiding Girl, Calm Girl and Scary Girl. Emily's journey takes some twists and turns before the end of the book, but in the end you can't help but root for her to be happy.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good psychological thriller.

[Erin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a 2 day read for me. Let’s start with the cover. After reading the book I believe the cover could be more intriguing as what is inside the cover is deep and ever changing.
The protagonist Emily goes through a major life changing event and makes choices that ultimately give her what she “feels is justice... just a little to late” without giving away too much a lot happens with our main girl that I didn’t surprisingly expect to see from her.
There is another major character we meet Big EZ. I feel like his story could have given us a little bit more background so I could visualize his character better in my head while reading- I had no trouble envisioning what Emily would look like but I struggled with our male lead for a while- he is such a complex character and I wish I got a little bit more.
You are constantly rooting for Emily to gain peace and over come issues and obstacles- there is one twist near the end of the boom I really didn’t see coming so that was pleasing. The ending of the book is well done And satisfying but a bit predictable.
Overall I’d read this again and will definitely recommend to everyone for a great book to pick up and read!! Well done!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found at: http://jessicasreadingroom.com
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This review will appear on my site on August 29, 2021.
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What else can I say about The Hiding Girl by Dorian Box other than wow! It is a fast-paced novel that packs all the punches: Literally and figuratively! The Hiding Girl is dark and gritty with very graphic violence that also gives us characters to root for and become very attached to.

Twelve-year-old Emily Calby survives the graphic attack on her family and is on the run. Emily is definitely not the typical twelve-year-old. Experiencing what she did already ages her and over the course of the novel you have to keep reminding yourself of her young age! She meets Lucas who is a former gang member who helps her and these two definitely make quite the unique pair that form a special relationship. We also have Kiona, who is Lucas’ significant other who isn’t quite sure what to make of Emily. They teach her self defense and more as Emily is determined to find the men who killed her mother and sister.

Emily is one you cannot help but be on her side and get attached to. She is in for a long ‘adventure’ with many obstacles that keep coming up. At one point I found myself thinking “What else is Box going to have Emily go through!?!?” It is one thing after another, but our brave little fireball of a main character Emily can pull through!

And let me say this: I love Lucas! He is not what you expected and you really grow to care for him. As I was reading, I pictured Michael Clarke Duncan (RIP) as Lucas, but then I saw the premiere of The Walking Dead’s final season where we meet Mercer played by Michael James Shaw and despite the age difference, he would be a perfect Lucas!

This novel will not be for everyone with the graphic violence, but it also has a lot of heart and emotion to it. What made me read The Hiding Girl was that I was granted an arc copy of the second in the series The Girl in Cell 49B. I realized when I read the description for book two that I should read The Hiding Girl first. Though not needed as the second book touches on Emily’s back story, if you don’t read The Hiding Girl you will be missing so much! I am currently reading the second and still rooting for Emily!

The Hiding Girl actually fits for the prompt for #Diverseathon for this month, which is a main character in an interracial relationship. The relationship between Emily and Lucas starts as a mentor/mentee relationship that grows into so much more. August’s host is Mary @booksbymary1 and she will host at Instagram.
For full details on this year long read-a-thon, please click here.
And don’t forget about the awesome GRAND PRIZE at the end of the year. Click the link here for that information.

I really enjoyed The Hiding Girl and recommend it and cannot wait to see where Box goes next with the series. He is working on book three and I will be highly anticipating it!

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most heartwarming bloody crime I've ever read.

Meet Emily. Freshly runway from her home in Georgia, we follow her on a journey for justice. Although, runaway.. Emily would argue that to be a runaway, you need to have a home to runaway from. After a horrific crime that leaves her all alone, justice will be hard to come by.

While Emily starts out alone on her journey, being a clever 12 year old, she finds help along the way in all the unusual places. Emily's story is both hearth wretching in the tragedies that befall her, as well as hearth warming in the people she meets that help her on her way.

Following Emily and watching her grow and try to deal with the situation she's been put in was so much better than I expected after reading the first few chapters. Since the book is the first in a series, I was scared it would be an open end, which I personally think is very unsatisfying, but the book sets up perfectly for a sequel without leaving blanks in the story line. Highly recommended.

[Katie Akerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily is forced to become a "runaway" when a tragedy befalls her family. What will she make of her life as a child on the run from the FBI and the Criminals who put her in this situation. What will Emily Calby become in order to survive?

Very interesting and culturally diverse story. Many times you can look at a person and judge them for their crimes based on the law but when getting to know the characters in this story things become more then just black and white.

The person that Emily/Alice becomes is both frightening as well as inspiring. The hurdles that she overcomes are pure determination, brains and a little bit of crazy along the way. Her determination to get "justice" for her family is a very real emotion that many people feel and one that not many are able to act upon.

I really enjoyed reading this book as well as the discussion questions in the back. The questions really made me think about right and wrong and in what circumstances something that is wrong can often seem like the only way. It would be nice to have a group read and discussion.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from BookishFirst.
Emily is 12 when two men murder her mother and sister. When the two men show up, you start to feel apprehensive. I sped through this book wanting to see what was going to happen next. From that point on, I rooted for Emily and held my breath as she tries to survive while trying to find the men that ruined her life.
The characters were great. Fleshed out. Emily makes a great, strong, smart protagonist. A very real 12 (she tuns 13 during the book) year old girl that is trying to navigate life on the streets while traumatized and, orphaned. She makes mistakes, as would anyone else. You read about her evolution from a scared mouse to ferocious fighter.
Lucas is also a solid character. As were the people Emily met along the way. Good and bad.
TW for cutting, and rape.
I am looking forward to other books by this author. But would love a follow up to The Hiding Girl. Even though I'm pretty sure this was a standalone.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The story follows Emily who is on the run after her family was brutally murdered in a home invasion. She makes an unlikely ally in a former gang member as she struggles to survive and seek justice for her family.

I totally judged the book by its cover and wasn’t too excited for it initially, but it immediately sucked me in. Emily is a strong force to be reckoned with and I loved her character. Despite the trauma she experienced, she was a woman on a mission who still maintained a sense of humor. Her friendship with Lucas warmed my heart and kept me smiling despite the terrifying situations they found themselves in. The only bit that I’m hung up on is Emily is supposed to be 12/13 years old... I don’t know many adults that would have her strength, intelligence, and determination so the age threw me off.

Check this out if you need a quick thrill with a protagonist you’ll love to root for.

[Jennifer Holloway Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve year old Emily Calby is forever changed when her mother and sister are murdered in their home. She fortunately escapes narrowly with her life, but begins her life anew on the streets. She has one goal and it is to avenge their murders and to avoid living life in the foster care system. She only has the resources from a cigar box that her father had put money into before his death and her wits. She has a lot of difficulties being able to use public transport due to her age and discovers that she can obtain a fake ID.

She meets Lucas during the exchange and finds her way into a much stronger, more resilient Emily. I was immediately drawn to how strong and powerful she becomes in her training and how immensely brave she is to go through what she does and be able to manage herself. I loved the blended genre in this book and definitely want to read more about this character.