Hide and Secrets

by Sophie McKenzie

A lonely girl, a missing father and a trail of lies . . . From the bestselling author of top-ten blockbuster Girl, Missing comes an explosive new teen thriller – for fans of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and Riverdale.

Fourteen-year-old Cat is facing a lonely summer. Her father is missing – presumed dead – her mother has retreated into her own world and her little sister, Bess, refuses to speak. But when a boy and his father come to stay nearby for the holidays, Cat finds herself opening up to the handsome Tyler. Discovering some long-buried information, Cat and Tyler begin to unravel the trail of lies around her father’s disappearance – a journey that will take them cross-country, uncover a dangerous gang, and a plot to steal a priceless jewel. With secrets exposed, will Cat be able to begin to mend her family?

An edge-of-your-seat drama from the queen of teen thrillers, Hide and Secrets will have you looking for answers in every corner . . .

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Friendship, Adventure

368 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2021

About the author

Hey there! Welcome to my Goodreads page where you can keep up with all my stories - both the ones that are already published and the works in progress!!

I write mostly teen thrillers - plus some teen romance, books for younger children and four adult psychological thrillers.

I'm really excited right now because of...

Boy, Missing, my £1 book for World Book Day and Truth or Dare, my new teen thriller. (UK)


For more info on these and my other books, check out my website: www.sophiemckenziebooks.com

Reviews

[Kara (bookishskippy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen-year-old Cat is facing a lonely summer.  Her father is missing – presumed dead – her mother has retreated into her own world and her little sister, Bess, refuses to speak. But when a boy and his father come to stay nearby for the holidays, Cat finds herself opening up to the handsome Tyler.
He was handsome let me just say that!
Both cat and tyler begin their journey to uncover some dancing secrets. Will Cat be able to mend her family 👪 ?

4 🌟
This was a amazing story i enjoyed the plot and how the story managed to flow so easily. My favourite character was Tyler he was caring but THE ENDING OF THE BOOK THOUGH CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD!!!
DAMN I ENJOYED IT 😉
This book comes out in july 2021!

Thank you so much for this copy @definitelybooks
#Pansing

[ammna_h13 · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good book, a quick read however there’s a lot of similarities to sophie mckenzie’s other book called girl, missing which is why i gave it a 3 star nevertheless it was a great plot. defo recommend !!

[Franko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ugodno iznenađenje, baš dobro napisan teen triler.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

fast paced and easy to read with lots of twists and turns, this is the perfect ‘starter thriller’ for young teens.

[Maia · Rating 1 out of 5]

SO UNREALISTIC

[Jenny Sharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a classic Sophie McKenzie gripping mystery and if you liked Girl, Missing then you’d definitely enjoy this one. Teen Cat has become increasingly isolated in the 18 months since her dad was presumed dead in a boating accident. But one day, out of the blue, everything changes when a new friend turns up right on her doorstep and she is also informed that her dad is in fact alive but in hiding. It’s up to Cat to find the truth - but who can she trust? Great for readers who enjoy a fast-paced mystery. For me, the fast-paced plot sacrificed some substance and I wanted a little more from the characters, although it was a great story.

[Willemijn jufwillemijnopallstars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dood of levend? 🤷🏼‍♀️

1,5 jaar geleden is de vader van Cat tijdens een bootongeluk omgekomen. Helaas is het lichaam niet gevonden, de verwoeste boot wel. Cat en haar moeder en zusje hebben er nog steeds verdriet van. Maar op een dag krijgt Cat een telefoontje: haar vader leeft nog en zij is de enige die hem kan vinden..

Cat krijgt hulp van Tyler, een nieuwe vriend. Samen gaan ze op zoek naar haar vader. Het moeilijke aan de zoektocht is dat 1. niemand het mag weten en 2. Cat geen idee heeft waar ze moet beginnen.

De zoektocht is natuurlijk spannend, maar de personages geven ook een grappige twist aan het verhaal. Zo is de moeder van Cat altijd met sterrenbeelden, planeten en horoscopen bezig. Steeds als er iets is gebeurd (misgaat) geeft ze dan ook de stand van de planeten de schuld. Bess, het zusje, tekent ongeveer de hele dag dezelfde hond en zegt niks meer sinds haar vader is verdwenen. Tyler is een goede vriend en staat altijd klaar voor Cat. Het enige wat Tyler mist, is goede wifi..

Dood of levend van Sophie McKenzie is een spannend jeugdboek voor 10 jaar en ouder. Voor de lezers van Mel Wallis de Vries, hoewel dit boek iets minder heftig is (qua moord/dood). Het boek is te lezen bovenbouw basisschool en onderbouw middelbare school. Sophie McKenzie heeft een fijne schrijfstijl waarbij veel aandacht is voor de gevoelens van de hoofdpersonages. Aanrader!

Bedankt voor dit recensie exemplaar @uitgeverijdefontein ❤️

[Zainab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the full review up on my blog: Zainab Chats!

https://zainabchats.wordpress.com/202...

Hide and Secrets really captured the essence of an exciting teen thriller, in my opinion, due to the fact that secrets were questioned everywhere in this story. What I mean by this is that the main character, Cat, is told something shocking about her presumed dead father but in reality, there could be a lie in that revelation (no spoilers!) Or the so called ‘truth’ is fake? The mysteries in the story are so confusing which is why I believe so many people did enjoy this book – the mystery is an epitome of a thrilling story!

This is a thriller, so of course there would be action. But to me, I felt like the action in this book was different/delayed in the story. Compared the other thrillers where usually murders or physical action is a main plot point, I felt that this book was a lot more mild in the sense that the beginning action was just Cat deciding to believe what an unknown text stated. There still was action to the story, I just felt it happened quite later. This was not disappointing but I just would’ve liked to feel more excitement at the beginning to dive into the story more, but I still got that excitement towards the end!

[elsa · Rating 1 out of 5]

was not my favourite at all, the writing style was very bland and it was easy to predict what was going to happen next

[Ella Storey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. I love the ending and there were a LOT of plot twists which I really liked.

[Georgia Muirhead · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy book but had to push myself to read it, really teen-y and I would’ve probs loved this when I was 14

[Jo McKenna-Aspell · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I received an ARC from Netgalley)

I’m a fan of McKenzie having been introduced to her by a chum’s daughter via her “Split Second” books.

The book follows 14 year old Cat as she navigates life after her father’s death, supporting her newly mute sister, Bess, and her troubled relationship with her mum. Just as another family move into the property for a summer project, Cat is informed her father is alive and in danger - Cat has to save him.

The book has everything a teen reader wants in a YA novel: mystery, thrills, some romance (it isn’t overdone), a relatable protagonist and a sense that the kids have some autonomy - in this case, they’re solving a mystery.

I’ve read some other reviews that complain the relationship between Cat and her mum is odd and that Cat’s friends wouldn’t ghost her in light of her father’s “death.” As someone who has taught thousands of teenagers, I found both situations utterly believable. In losing her go-to parent, it’s no wonder that Cat would retreat from the world. Naturally, this would strain her relationship with her mum and potentially alienate her from all but the most persistent friends. I mean, don’t get me wrong... it’s also convenient for the plot and premise because in seeking her father, Cat relies on herself and her new friend, Tyler (one half of the family who move in for the summer), rather than her mum or existing friends. It makes the sleuthing more insular. But convenience doesn’t mean implausibility.

I also note that some reviewers judge Cat’s decision making to be questionable at best and ridiculous at worse. Er, yup. That’s what 14 year olds do! I’m a long time fan of YA fiction; I’m about a minute away from turning 40 and I’ve still not outgrown YA fantasy, SciFi or drama. That said, I recognise I’m relating to the characters and plot through a haggard-40-year-old-lens. I think Cat’s choices are daft but I’m meant to think that. Youngsters in Years 7-10 enjoying “Hide and Secrets” will most likely resonate with Cat better than I can.

There were definitely sufficient twists to balance out the more obvious turns. And I also really liked Tyler, her sidekick; I wish we could have learned more about his backstory.

Overall, it’s great to have a YA book that’s actually aimed at a YA audience. McKenzie has created another brilliant novel that will comfortably sit in a secondary school library - unlike other books branded as YA which are too smutty or violent to avoid parental complaints. (I imagine this is a publisher problem not authors’ intent).

[Lucy Webb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a lot to say on this. First off, it’s definitely not YA, I’d aim this book at no one older than 13. This is mainly due to the simplistic writing and plot. It was predictable and there were many convenient moments, especially at the end. Speaking of which, the ending was too happy and perfect to be realistic. Her ex-bestfriend suddenly wants to be friends with her again and the police don’t arrest her dad even though he’s a thief? Really?

I am 14, and I would never ever act like Cat. She’s childish, selfish, and a generally unlikeable and hard to relate to main character. Her age also sits wrong with me, how her and Tyler end up together is unrealistic. I didn’t like their connection from the start, they’d argue and he’d just go over and comfort her. They were extremely close despite only knowing each-other barely, holding hands and snuggling up together etc was weird. AND THEY’RE 14. It may just be me, but having a relationship at 14 is definitely not usual.

A final thing is I noticed many similarities between this book and McKenzies other series (Girl, Missing). Especially with the dad and the boats and the shy little sister who is used as bait. However I would like to add I did really enjoy the Girl, Missing trilogy, so the author is capable but I just really didn’t like this book.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

We meet 14 year old Cat who is facing a lonely summer, Her farther is missing but presumed dead, Her Mum is completely lost in her own world and her little Sister Bess refuses to speak. But the day that a boy and his farmer turn up things take an unexpected turn for Cat and she is about to have one summer she is never going to forget!!!

This is the Perfect Book that I was looking for it had everything I wanted, A Great Mystery, Suspense and twists and turns at every corner that kept me wanting to never put the book down which makes it the perfect YA Mystery book.

Within the book there is some good Character development on each and every character that is sometimes only given to the Main one, but McKenzie has done an amazing job and making sure that you see each character grow and develop with each page turn.

I have to admit here that I did not see the ending coming at all, Whilst some of the book might be a little predictable the ending was far from it and was super refreshing to read and be pleasantly surprised.

[Payal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This read like a middle-grade book dressed up as YA. The circumstances of Cat's father's disappearance were too simplistic, and there were too many convenient coincidences in Cat and Tyler's search. I was very happy to read a book with a protagonist who isn't thin, but there were also a lot of teen romance tropes thrown in.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

[watermelonreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly unrealistic. The main character left a bitter taste in my mouth; she’s always more concerned about how she looks, whether a certain boy likes her and is pretty gullible.

Istg, Tyler tanked the story from start to finish. He’s such a sweetheart, always asking if the mc is okay. She doesn’t deserve Tyler 😖

[Mikah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book from the incredible author, Sophie McKenzie!! SPOILERS: A lonely girl named, Cat, has a father who is presumed—dead—after a tragedy. But little did she know, that it was all lies. Technically, she had mum and sister. A boy from London and his father, decided to come and love with them, then Cat started getting interesting messages from this guy about her father who everyone THOUGHT was dead….but the guy was saying that her father might be alive because he knows that he couldn’t have JUST DIED. That’s when Cat started getting suspicious, so she decided to (I forgot the guys name) and make him help her try to find her father who the guy said was “alive” they took long journeys away from home with her little sister…which put them into more trouble..they stayed in random places for nights, in a place they didn’t know. And finally, after she had enough clues and evidence she went to a young woman’s house, the young woman had a baby boy. Cat asked if she had seen a man (who was her father) she described him a lot of what her looked like before he died. But Cat had no idea that the woman she was talking to was hiding Cats dad and starting a new begging With him to keep him safe. So, Cats dad was cheating, but for a very particular reason. Cats dad ran away from home to start a new life all because of the guy that cat was getting messages from saying “I think your dad is alive” actually threatened cats dad to leave his home and start again (I think, I haven’t read the book in a while) so then, she found her dad and found out that he had a baby with the woman THE END LOL

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting and fast-moving teen mystery/thriller.

McKenzie does write these well, great teenage characters in modern settings that feel real (lots of tech, for example), and plots that really do hook the reader in.

Teenaged Cat is still grieving her father, missing presumed dead nearly two years ago, her young sister hasn't talked since, her astrologist mother has thrown herself into readings and client consultations. Cat wants to spend her summer making dresses, as she doesn't have any friends anyway. But the phone call from her Dad's business associate changes all that, when it turns out her dad might not be dead after all but in hiding...

Excellent premise for a good old-fashioned 'road trip' of clues and cross-country races, of bad guys and wiles and adolescent realisations and growth.

Loved Cat, even came to appreciate her mother through the story, would have liked more of little Bess as she came across well in the few moments she was given.

Lots of predictability in general if you're familiar as an adult with the genre, but teenagers will get a taste for the excitement and staples of the thriller/chase.

Great, fast read for ages 12+. Nothing unsuitable or graphic.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

[Eilish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me gripped from the start, it gave you a little insight into the character and then bang straight into the story which I loved! It’s very fast paced, things move quickly as the story develops, but it still lets you get to know the characters, this is something I really enjoyed and it really got me into the book and made me want to read on more. The ever changing story, lots of twists, turns and unexpected events had me reading so fast to know what happened next. I like that so much was focused on telling the story rather then ‘page filling’ which a lot of authors do with uncessery descriptions as I find these make a book loose it’s edge and slows it down.
The end was just UNREAL! Everything I thought was going to happen just blew up, I was so shocked in a great way!
This was such a great read!
Overall this is a great book and a very easy thrilling read. I read it all in one sitting and would encourage everyone to read it. It’s a great book for getting you out of a non reading phase, in between a series or after an intense or lengthy book. Another great book from a great author!

I received this free for reviewing purposes, nevertheless this is a review of my true thoughts and feelings towards this book

[Saskia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book reads waaaaay younger than the 14yo protagonist. It reads more like a children's book where things fit nearly and conveniently into the story when and where required. E.g. MC has no friends, but a boy the same age turns up to live in her guesthouse and becomes her insta-friend-wannabe-love-interest. A dark and deadly secret happens, and, miraculously, things fall into place to progress them to the next step.

Having said that, the ending was rather good, and I was *really* unsure which way things were going to go! But then we have a neatly packaged happily-ish ever after.

Having dumped on this book a wee bit, I do think it's a great gateway book from children's to YA. This would suit a Y9 who has not read much before and wants a bit of comfort and safety with their mystery book. I liked the writing style; there was little to no world-building, so we went straight into the story at a good pace.

CW: kidnapping, 'light' violence, #didthedogdie

Y9

[Esther Bultitude · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hide and secrets is the first Sophie Mackenzie book I’ve read although my daughter has read the girl, missing trilogy and loved it.

Although the writing was good and storyline easy to follow I find that with YA thrillers they lack the excitement that I find adult books have.

Saying that, I really enjoyed the character developments of Cat and her sister Bess who lost the ability to speak after their Dad’s death.

Tyler was a great crutch for Cat and his support and friendship through their whole adventure was really endearing.

I will definitely read more by this author but due to the YA nature of them I won’t expect the same thrills as I get from adult books.

[Evangeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an arc of Hide and Secrets by Sophie McKenzie in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored Sophie McKenzie growing up and Girl, Missing was one of my all time favourite books from secondary school, it was also one of my very first in the genre. Hide and Secrets follows Cat whose dad passed away not so long ago in a horrific boating accident. However one day she receives a text from someone who says they knew her dad and suddenly she’s immersed into a world of secrets and adventure.

I felt like this story was a good length to keep the reader interested and moved at a good pace. I think it was a well-constructed teen mystery. I also liked the themes of family and friendship. There was also just the right amount of the romantic storyline, which was really cute. Overall I really enjoyed this book and it definitely had a lot of twists, turns and surprises that kept me on my toes.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read other Sophie McKenzie books and was thrilled to get the chance to review a book before publication. This title does not disappoint. A fast paced adventure story with twists and turns that keeps the reader glued to the page. Plenty of danger with a bit of romance thrown in. A teenage book but one that adults will like too.

[Frances Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very obviously a teen book but still a good read. A bit slow to get going and annoying at times but I do think it’s because it’s written for teens and not adults.

[tamsin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book and it was very good to get me back into reading. I’ve read before the three book series with girl missing, sister missing and missing me by the same author. I really enjoyed those however this plot was very similar to her other books despite the fact it was a good plot. That is why i’m giving it four stars. I really enjoyed the plot twist about Rik and cats dad!!

[Yorkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim on my latest trip to Tesco, admittedly without a whole lot of enthusiasm, just because I fancied a new book and vaguely remembered reading and enjoying Girl Missing when I was in year 7 or 8. But then once I started reading it, I couldn't get enough. It did what all the best books do: kept me reading when the book was in my hands and kept me wanting to go back for more when I was doing other things (and imo it did it a whole lot better than a lot of fiction aimed at adults that I've attempted to read). It also wasn't completely predictable either, which children's/YA fiction novels oftentimes are. Although there were some moments of predictability, it actually did keep me guessing and the end wasn't quite what I expected. All in all, an enjoyable and relatively easy (in the best way) read that is well worth a look if you want something that doesn't make your head hurt trying to keep up.

[EdenB15 · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading 2 other Sophie mckenzie books last week I was delighted to find another one at my local supermarket. This book features the main character who honestly seems quite bratty at first but you actually get to like her. After evolving a mysterious phone call saying her dad is alive the search to find him begins after thinking he has been dead for so long. I think you should read this it’s a great mystery story

[Killjoy · Rating 2 out of 5]

★★☆☆☆ 2 stars

"An explosive blockbuster thriller that will have you looking for answers at every turn." Yeah… I think not.

Hide and Secrets by Sophie McKenzie is supposed to be a YA thriller in which the main character, Cat Mooney, searches for her missing father alongside Tyler Tuesday. They are both kids (14 years old) who run away on this supposedly amazing and exciting journey. Except—it’s neither amazing nor exciting, just plain stupid and boring.

Spoilers ahead... The entire journey of Cat, Tyler, and Cat’s sister, Bess, was painful to read. Why? Even though this book is (for some reason) classified as YA, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone over the age of 12. It’s incredibly shallow, and the characters are so... I don’t even know what word to use —family-friendly? The whole story feels overly sanitized. Now, let’s address the claim that this is a thriller. I could predict almost every single event, and while reading, I could think of at least 50 better and more exciting plot twists. Honestly, almost anyone could come up with a story like this, so I wouldn’t call it innovative or special in any way.

Every character is written in a shallow and predictable manner, but in the end, the father turns out to be a selfish BITCH. While there could have been more emphasis on just how terrible of a person he is, at least we got some acknowledgment of it. So, her dad—the one she went through hell for (well, as much as “hell” can be for a kid)—turns out to have abandoned her and her family for money (in the form of a diamond). And somehow, he’s still painted as a good person in the end, which is incomprehensible to me.

Some of my favorite ridiculous moments from that dude include:

"Dad, it's the diamond or Bess." Dad hesitates. → WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU HESITATE?? IT’S YOUR DAUGHTER?? I WOULD LOSE MY MIND RIGHT THERE.

"You came back because of that?" I point to the diamond. "Not because of us?" → Yep, he came back for the money. Nothing else.

He also blatantly has favorites among his two daughters and doesn’t even try to hide it. And that’s just a fraction of his nonsense which is not even properly acknowledged in the end.

Overall, I would recommend this book only to someone who is just starting to learn English—it's easy to follow, shallow, has no complex vocabulary, and is basically the kind of bedtime story you’d tell a 10-year-old.

[Lisa Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat Mooney is the daughter of a narcissistic astrologer, but that’s not her (entire) problem. Years ago, Cat’s dad died in a boating accident, her beloved dog was killed and her sister Bess stopped talking. To say that she lives in a dysfunctional family is putting it lightly, and push comes to shove when her mum invites two strangers to live in the ‘barn’ where Cat indulges her one passion: fashion design. A mysterious text from someone claiming her dad is alive sets Cat alight and there begins a tightly woven and thrilling adventure.

In a book filled with mystery and mayhem, the action begins quickly. To compound the tension and invest our attention, characters are introduced and it’s up to Cat (and us) to work out who to trust. Cat makes some pretty dodgy decisions, but given the world’s most self-obsessed mother, she must live with the consequences.

I love Sophie McKenzie’s books. They always deliver on the thrill scale. In this book she builds an obstacle course that means there is only one way forward for Cat and that is to power forward in a blaze of glory. The author creates a perfect sidekick who also happens to be pretty dishy to boot. The title is so super cute, I would pick it up and read it just for that.

When I began reading it, I clocked that Cat was in Year 10 (15yo) but the book is written for what I think is a Year 7 (12yo) reader. The language is accessible and concise and the situation fairly tame sophistication-wise (like Holly Bourne-lite). The addition of family and friend issues ramps up the interest and I admit I was so hooked by the start that I read it in one sitting. (If only to see if Cat’s mum or dad gets the world’s worst parent award). The mystery was solid and the race against time as tense as we have come to expect from the divine Ms McKenzie.

The book has mystery, adventure, romance and enough YA issues to keep the school counsellor reaching for CPD (pro dev) courses. If you like Fleur Hitchcock, Holly Bourne, Tracy Darnton or Karen McManus, this book will be sure to satisfy. Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK Children’s and NetGalley UK for the eARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Aria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.

I’m not fond of reading books geared towards a younger YA audience since I’ve outgrown them (unfortunately) and more often than not, find myself unenthused by the simpler age-targeted writing. Nevertheless, I can’t deny that the author is amazing at their craft.

I could easily relate with Cat despite our age gap. In some ways, it was looking into memories of my younger self because some of Cat’s actions and thoughts reminded me of how I used to be at that age. Though, I wasn’t pleased by how concerned she is about her looks, boys and how naïve she can be, Cat is an incredibly realistic character. She’s a young teen who hasn’t had much experience or done much growing up yet. Tyler, on the other hand, is so sweet (too sweet actually. I was really suspicious of him at first haha) and I appreciate his moments of cheekiness.

However, I find the adults in her life questionable and honestly so naïve at times, I can’t even help not rolling my eyes. Sure, everyone has their dumb moment sometimes but some of those dumb moments in this book take the cake. It even got to a point where they deserved to be given a (very sarcastic) A+ Adulting Award.

Nevertheless, when you suspend your disbelief, this book turns into an amazing thrilling ride. The twists can be typical and the plot rather convenient but when you’re in the zone, it just keeps you on the edge of your seat and flipping page after page, trying to get answers and see what happens in the end.

Everything considered, this book is what I would’ve greatly enjoyed reading as a teen. At my current age and self, the plot is just too convenient for my preference, though I do understand it’s due to the targeted audience. Nevertheless, Hide and Secrets is a well-written and properly targeted, fast-paced teen mystery novel with sprinkles of romance.

Thank you so much Pansing for sending me the ARC of this in exchange for an honest review! Hide and Secrets by Sophie McKenzie is available at all good bookstores.