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Nowhere to Hide
The winter hike is meant to bring their nature group together.
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.
As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve.
One of the seven is dead. And one of their number killed them
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.
As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve.
One of the seven is dead. And one of their number killed them
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2021
109 people are currently reading
14857 people want to read
About the author
Nell Pattison
8 books271 followersAfter studying English at university, Nell Pattison became a teacher and specialised in Deaf education.
She has been teaching in the Deaf community for 12 years in both England and Scotland, working with students who use BSL. Nell began losing her hearing in her twenties, and now wears hearing aids.
She lives in North Lincolnshire with her husband and son. The Silent House is her debut novel.
She has been teaching in the Deaf community for 12 years in both England and Scotland, working with students who use BSL. Nell began losing her hearing in her twenties, and now wears hearing aids.
She lives in North Lincolnshire with her husband and son. The Silent House is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
March 21, 2022
Decent mystery thriller with a few shortcomings. Too many pov characters and way too much chasing and build up before the reveal. I loved the character of Emily and the experiences of living without hearing seemed authentic. The ending was a bit over the top.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book all opinions are my own.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book all opinions are my own.
April 29, 2022
This is the third book I have read by this author and I have enjoyed all of them. An isolated nature preserve sets the stage for murder. Seven friends go out to bird watch and only six come back. One of them is a killer, but who? Everyone of them has a secret. One secret proves to be deadly. This story demonstrates that actions and decisions have consequences. Some consequences may result in murder! This slow burn mystery was entertaining with many unexpected twists. The final twist was shocking and clever. Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for my copy.
April 11, 2023
- During two thirds of the books the characters were running in circles (literally since they were lost in a forest) with nothing actually going on.
- I hated most of the characters specially Lauren, freaking despised her.
- The murderer makes zero sense. Actually, scratch that. The whole murder thing makes no sense.
- I hated the ending, the fact that it's an open one doesn't help either.
- I hated most of the characters specially Lauren, freaking despised her.
- The murderer makes zero sense. Actually, scratch that. The whole murder thing makes no sense.
- I hated the ending, the fact that it's an open one doesn't help either.
November 11, 2024
3.5 stars - I think making this a novella with fewer POVs would have fixed some of the pacing and made this a home run, but otherwise, this is a solid version of my fav trope
December 28, 2021
Actual rating 2.5/5 stars.
Seven individuals meet at a deserted nature reserve over the Christmas break with the intention of bird-watching and hiking together. Some among the group have more than these innocent plans set in motion however, with potentially disastrous consequences for all involved.
I thought the author did an excellent job of introducing the reader to the main characters and allowing us to understand their histories and relationships, whilst also keeping many secrets reserved for later dramatic reveals. I also loved the setting the group were soon to explore, which only became more sinister as the sun set and the snow descended.
My attention started to sway once the first dramatic interlude had occurred and did not return until the novel's close, however. So much of this novel was spent with the various characters fleeing through the dark with little other than their scattered thoughts and fears for their safety marking the pages. I wish far less time had been spent on this focus, as it soon began to feel repetitive with little added to the story-line.
However, my interest returned with the final reveal, which I did not see coming and thought ingenious on the author's part. I thought it a devious twist to end this novel with and ensured, despite my lacklustre response throughout, that this is an author I would read from again.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Nell Pattison, and the publisher, Avon Books, for this opportunity.
Seven individuals meet at a deserted nature reserve over the Christmas break with the intention of bird-watching and hiking together. Some among the group have more than these innocent plans set in motion however, with potentially disastrous consequences for all involved.
I thought the author did an excellent job of introducing the reader to the main characters and allowing us to understand their histories and relationships, whilst also keeping many secrets reserved for later dramatic reveals. I also loved the setting the group were soon to explore, which only became more sinister as the sun set and the snow descended.
My attention started to sway once the first dramatic interlude had occurred and did not return until the novel's close, however. So much of this novel was spent with the various characters fleeing through the dark with little other than their scattered thoughts and fears for their safety marking the pages. I wish far less time had been spent on this focus, as it soon began to feel repetitive with little added to the story-line.
However, my interest returned with the final reveal, which I did not see coming and thought ingenious on the author's part. I thought it a devious twist to end this novel with and ensured, despite my lacklustre response throughout, that this is an author I would read from again.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Nell Pattison, and the publisher, Avon Books, for this opportunity.
May 27, 2022
On reading the synopsis my first thoughts were that I’ve read this plot before and I have. Nell Pattison’s twist is that in previous books the setting has been in far more dangerous areas than an East Midlands nature reserve. But then the greatest suspense stories are so often set in locations that are expected to be comfortable and safe.
Interestingly the book is posted on Goodreads as Nowhere to Hide.
In Hide, Nell Pattison has selected seven assorted people who outwardly have little in common other than their shared love of nature. The exceptions are of course the sisters, Lauren and Emily, who have recently reunited after being estranged for several years. What all seven have in common is that they each have at least one secret that they would like to keep from the rest of the group.
Of the seven protagonists, one for me really stood out. Nell Pattison has used her personal experiences of deafness to create Emily who, despite no natural hearing and being raised in care, has become a successful entrepreneur.
The tale is told in the first person, rotated among the group chapter by chapter. The author clearly tells us at the beginning of each chapter whose perspective we are following. This way we get to know each person very well and we are initially able to view the action through everyone’s eyes. Of course, the characters are not perfect and some have secrets that they will not even share with us!
Ms Pattison has a writing style that makes for easy reading and as the gentle afternoon stroll became increasingly stressful I found that I was well and truly hooked. I was impressed with how many dangerous factors the author could find in those few acres of English countryside.
As the story develops the revealed secrets get more serious and people are forced to take strong action. There are also some fascinating little twists, some of which you may anticipate.
I can see that Nell Pattison has previously published three books featuring Paige Northwood and has a fifth novel called Friends Don’t Lie expected in September. If they match the quality and entertainment of Hide then they are to be recommended. I have awarded an almost perfect four and a half stars.
Interestingly the book is posted on Goodreads as Nowhere to Hide.
In Hide, Nell Pattison has selected seven assorted people who outwardly have little in common other than their shared love of nature. The exceptions are of course the sisters, Lauren and Emily, who have recently reunited after being estranged for several years. What all seven have in common is that they each have at least one secret that they would like to keep from the rest of the group.
Of the seven protagonists, one for me really stood out. Nell Pattison has used her personal experiences of deafness to create Emily who, despite no natural hearing and being raised in care, has become a successful entrepreneur.
The tale is told in the first person, rotated among the group chapter by chapter. The author clearly tells us at the beginning of each chapter whose perspective we are following. This way we get to know each person very well and we are initially able to view the action through everyone’s eyes. Of course, the characters are not perfect and some have secrets that they will not even share with us!
Ms Pattison has a writing style that makes for easy reading and as the gentle afternoon stroll became increasingly stressful I found that I was well and truly hooked. I was impressed with how many dangerous factors the author could find in those few acres of English countryside.
As the story develops the revealed secrets get more serious and people are forced to take strong action. There are also some fascinating little twists, some of which you may anticipate.
I can see that Nell Pattison has previously published three books featuring Paige Northwood and has a fifth novel called Friends Don’t Lie expected in September. If they match the quality and entertainment of Hide then they are to be recommended. I have awarded an almost perfect four and a half stars.
dnf
April 12, 2022DNF @ 20% … I don’t like the writing, everyone sounds the same and of course everyone has a SeCrEt!!!!!
December 31, 2021
This was a fun ride! I loved the atmospheric winter setting!
Seven very different friends part of a nature group go on a winter hike. Before the sun sets one of them will be murdered. And one of them is a murderer.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
Seven very different friends part of a nature group go on a winter hike. Before the sun sets one of them will be murdered. And one of them is a murderer.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.
January 15, 2023
Wow! What a twist and turn thriller. A lot of secrets and revenge going around.
I highly recommended this book
I highly recommended this book
January 19, 2024
It was a really slow start but had a few twists and turns at the end.
April 3, 2022
Close to 3.75. All sorts of pieces with very surprising connections. A decent read. Probably a hit or miss kind of story.
September 5, 2021
I don't know, this just didn't do it for me. The writing was just so-so, all the characters sounded alike (also, can I just say that I *hate* multiple first-person POVs? IMO there'd have to be a really, really good reason within the mechanics of that particular story to go that route; AND you'd have to be a great storyteller with a fantastic ear for internal as well as external dialogue and patterns of speech to pull it off, which, sadly, does not apply to Ms. Pattison, whose multiple I's all come across as the same flat cardboard character), and as for logic, well, let's simply say it's best not to think too hard about stuff when reading "Hide".
Unfortunately, this isn't a seat-of-your-pants can-hardly-come-up-for-air wild ride kind of book either; in fact, ironically, reading it felt like plodding through knee-high snow in the middle of the night, just not as exciting. I mean, there's six people stuck in a snowed-in wildlife reserve with, presumably, a killer around, and it takes them ages to decide whether to split up or stay together as a group -- a reasonable discussion, perhaps, but it takes them forever to come to a decision, they just talk and wail and argue and wring their hands and it's all what-if this and what-if that to the point that you want to kick them out of their bloody hut so they'll just start walking, preferably into the killer's line of fire.
That said, things never get (or even feel) as dramatic as that hand-wringing lot of losers make it out to be. They just stumble around the reserve, tumble down this slope or that track, there's some shining of torches and lots of "wait, what if's s/he's the killer???" It's all quite juvenile really. Throw in some fawning 7th grade style not-quite-romance, and you get an idea of the level of storytelling you're up against.
Oh, and the Secrets. Of course every bloody one of them has a Big Secret. I don't know if you're familiar with the "Small World" Disney ride, but the song kept playing in my head, because yikes, it IS a small world after all!
Apparently one of the characters knew about all the others' Secrets or at the very least gave them the impression that he did, so it's not that surprising (even to them) that he gets killed about five minutes into their excursion (the lead-up to which is as tedious and superfluous as it's drawn-out); the supposed kicker being that every single one of them has a motive for wanting him dead. This, of course, is just plain ridiculous, especially considering the quality of said Secrets. It's like a soap opera thought up by a 14-year-old, with tons of coincidences ("It's a small world aaafter aaall") and breast-beating melodramatics; people have lots of Feelings, and Dilemmata, and everything is just so stupidly dramatic -- there's a guy who grazes his head, and of course it bleeds like crazy, because that's what head wounds do (a freaking GRAZE?!), so he stumbles around the reserve like a zombie because, quote, "he's lost a lot of blood". Which we get told every other page or so, until the whole stumbling-around thing doesn't fit with the plot anymore (same with the hurt foot of some other dude) and the near-lethal head graze falls by the wayside. (Maybe the characters really did forget about those injuries, just like park guide Lauren totally forgot about the park's education block until she and her gang stumbled over it. You know, that building with the functioning electricity, the hot drinks and the landline phone? The one Lauren conveniently has the keys to on her? Completely slipped my mind too.)
Then there's the clichés. Of course as a software developer you totally make it big, earn a shedload of money and buy a really fancy, easily identifiable car, because it's the logical thing to do in the middle of London (also, it's something the plot hinges on quite heavily). Of course the only POC in the whole book is from the wrong side of the tracks, but secretly looking for redemption (by cutting ties with his crooked family and aspiring to follow in the footsteps of the forgiving white people he looks up to... not the kind of narrative you'd expect in this day and age). Of course the sisters' mom was like something from a 21st century Dickens novel -- pregnant at 15, abandoned by all, addicted to drugs AND alcohol and dead by 19.
The thing that supposedly sets this thing apart from the other dross in the people-in-stupid-peril beach read genre, that hearing-loss angle the publisher makes so much of, felt to me like nothing more than a gimmick. You could have taken it out and the book would not have changed at all. So sometimes saintly Emily doesn't hear as much as the others -- it has no effect on the narrative whatsoever. I would have thought the author would have done a lot more with this; what it's like to be able (or forced) to live in both worlds -- the world of the hearing and the world of the profoundly deaf, and the perks and drawbacks and inherent idiosyncrasies of either one, and the effects on your sense of self. All we're told is that people were mean to Emily as a child (even her own sister), and she's swimming in money now -- that's basically the whole extent of her as a character. Her deafness does not add anything to that. During the last third of the book she loses her implant processor, so she can't hear a thing, but it doesn't influence the plot one way or another -- to communicate she simply uses the note function on her mobile. I would have liked it if being deaf in that particular situation/that specific setting would have given her an edge AS WELL AS a disadvantage, because otherwise why make her deaf at all?, and also, it should have added an extra thick layer of vulnerabilty. I mean, she's lost in a huge wildlife reserve, all alone, the middle of a cold, snowy night, with someone on her back who might be a friend or a murderer or even just a figment of her panicked imagination, and unless she finds shelter she might well freeze to death. So why does everything feel so flat and generic???
Then again, why was the whole book so boring? Why, with a setting like that, do we have to trudge through pages and pages of needless information? I don't CARE what Lauren's flat looks like, I don't need to hear about her home decor. Who gives a crap about Ben's mum and her feelings, and those to-die-for turkey sandwiches, or his dad, and dad's new girlfriend, and that whole will-Ben-move-back-to-mum's business? What does that have to do with anything?
None of the characters read like adults, they all felt totally immature and overly dependant on the opinions of others. They had no agency at all. Presumably sandwich-boy Ben is in his thirties, so why the hell can't he just ask the woman he likes out for a drink like the grown-up he is? We have two sisters who only recently reconnected and, it is claimed, try to build some kind of relationship, and they go about it like societal rejects who have spent the last decade or two in an isolation chamber without any human contact at all... one of which works as a tour guide, presumably for humans. Then there's Morna, who as a sixty-something is regarded as "old" but behaves like a hysterical 13-year-old whenever things go wrong and like a nincompoop the rest of the time. There's Dan, who doesn't feel like a person at all but seems to have stumbled over from a Liam Neeson movie. There's Kai the Crook with the emotional maturity of (yet) another teenager and some serious deficiencies in the decision-making department. Blabbermouth Alec isn't really a person either, just a plot device to kick things off. It all feels fairly YA, especially during the last third of the novel, when they come across the perp/s in the visitors' center and literally run away, because hey, who knows what could happen, right?
As for That Ending, well. I seriously hope this person succeeds. Good riddance, to all of them. Just don't disturb the badgers.
Unfortunately, this isn't a seat-of-your-pants can-hardly-come-up-for-air wild ride kind of book either; in fact, ironically, reading it felt like plodding through knee-high snow in the middle of the night, just not as exciting. I mean, there's six people stuck in a snowed-in wildlife reserve with, presumably, a killer around, and it takes them ages to decide whether to split up or stay together as a group -- a reasonable discussion, perhaps, but it takes them forever to come to a decision, they just talk and wail and argue and wring their hands and it's all what-if this and what-if that to the point that you want to kick them out of their bloody hut so they'll just start walking, preferably into the killer's line of fire.
That said, things never get (or even feel) as dramatic as that hand-wringing lot of losers make it out to be. They just stumble around the reserve, tumble down this slope or that track, there's some shining of torches and lots of "wait, what if's s/he's the killer???" It's all quite juvenile really. Throw in some fawning 7th grade style not-quite-romance, and you get an idea of the level of storytelling you're up against.
Oh, and the Secrets. Of course every bloody one of them has a Big Secret. I don't know if you're familiar with the "Small World" Disney ride, but the song kept playing in my head, because yikes, it IS a small world after all!
Apparently one of the characters knew about all the others' Secrets or at the very least gave them the impression that he did, so it's not that surprising (even to them) that he gets killed about five minutes into their excursion (the lead-up to which is as tedious and superfluous as it's drawn-out); the supposed kicker being that every single one of them has a motive for wanting him dead. This, of course, is just plain ridiculous, especially considering the quality of said Secrets. It's like a soap opera thought up by a 14-year-old, with tons of coincidences ("It's a small world aaafter aaall") and breast-beating melodramatics; people have lots of Feelings, and Dilemmata, and everything is just so stupidly dramatic -- there's a guy who grazes his head, and of course it bleeds like crazy, because that's what head wounds do (a freaking GRAZE?!), so he stumbles around the reserve like a zombie because, quote, "he's lost a lot of blood". Which we get told every other page or so, until the whole stumbling-around thing doesn't fit with the plot anymore (same with the hurt foot of some other dude) and the near-lethal head graze falls by the wayside. (Maybe the characters really did forget about those injuries, just like park guide Lauren totally forgot about the park's education block until she and her gang stumbled over it. You know, that building with the functioning electricity, the hot drinks and the landline phone? The one Lauren conveniently has the keys to on her? Completely slipped my mind too.)
Then there's the clichés. Of course as a software developer you totally make it big, earn a shedload of money and buy a really fancy, easily identifiable car, because it's the logical thing to do in the middle of London (also, it's something the plot hinges on quite heavily). Of course the only POC in the whole book is from the wrong side of the tracks, but secretly looking for redemption (by cutting ties with his crooked family and aspiring to follow in the footsteps of the forgiving white people he looks up to... not the kind of narrative you'd expect in this day and age). Of course the sisters' mom was like something from a 21st century Dickens novel -- pregnant at 15, abandoned by all, addicted to drugs AND alcohol and dead by 19.
The thing that supposedly sets this thing apart from the other dross in the people-in-stupid-peril beach read genre, that hearing-loss angle the publisher makes so much of, felt to me like nothing more than a gimmick. You could have taken it out and the book would not have changed at all. So sometimes saintly Emily doesn't hear as much as the others -- it has no effect on the narrative whatsoever. I would have thought the author would have done a lot more with this; what it's like to be able (or forced) to live in both worlds -- the world of the hearing and the world of the profoundly deaf, and the perks and drawbacks and inherent idiosyncrasies of either one, and the effects on your sense of self. All we're told is that people were mean to Emily as a child (even her own sister), and she's swimming in money now -- that's basically the whole extent of her as a character. Her deafness does not add anything to that. During the last third of the book she loses her implant processor, so she can't hear a thing, but it doesn't influence the plot one way or another -- to communicate she simply uses the note function on her mobile. I would have liked it if being deaf in that particular situation/that specific setting would have given her an edge AS WELL AS a disadvantage, because otherwise why make her deaf at all?, and also, it should have added an extra thick layer of vulnerabilty. I mean, she's lost in a huge wildlife reserve, all alone, the middle of a cold, snowy night, with someone on her back who might be a friend or a murderer or even just a figment of her panicked imagination, and unless she finds shelter she might well freeze to death. So why does everything feel so flat and generic???
Then again, why was the whole book so boring? Why, with a setting like that, do we have to trudge through pages and pages of needless information? I don't CARE what Lauren's flat looks like, I don't need to hear about her home decor. Who gives a crap about Ben's mum and her feelings, and those to-die-for turkey sandwiches, or his dad, and dad's new girlfriend, and that whole will-Ben-move-back-to-mum's business? What does that have to do with anything?
None of the characters read like adults, they all felt totally immature and overly dependant on the opinions of others. They had no agency at all. Presumably sandwich-boy Ben is in his thirties, so why the hell can't he just ask the woman he likes out for a drink like the grown-up he is? We have two sisters who only recently reconnected and, it is claimed, try to build some kind of relationship, and they go about it like societal rejects who have spent the last decade or two in an isolation chamber without any human contact at all... one of which works as a tour guide, presumably for humans. Then there's Morna, who as a sixty-something is regarded as "old" but behaves like a hysterical 13-year-old whenever things go wrong and like a nincompoop the rest of the time. There's Dan, who doesn't feel like a person at all but seems to have stumbled over from a Liam Neeson movie. There's Kai the Crook with the emotional maturity of (yet) another teenager and some serious deficiencies in the decision-making department. Blabbermouth Alec isn't really a person either, just a plot device to kick things off. It all feels fairly YA, especially during the last third of the novel, when they come across the perp/s in the visitors' center and literally run away, because hey, who knows what could happen, right?
As for That Ending, well. I seriously hope this person succeeds. Good riddance, to all of them. Just don't disturb the badgers.
January 12, 2023
Hide or Nowhere To Hide as it is also known looked like the perfect wintry thriller to curl up with at this time of the year in the UK with the #bitcrackbookclub The synopsis proved to be intriguing - a group of seven friends meet on a nature reserve which has been opened specifically for their group to enjoy the wonders of the natural world. One of their group is killed by one of the six remaining bird lovers. Additionally, all seven have a secret which they are desperately hoping will not be revealed meaning all seven have a motive for murder.
Who is the killer? Why did they kill? I’m still not quite sure how I can talk about this novel without being brutally honest as it wasn’t for me. As a nature/bird lover myself, I was quite excited to read about characters of the same ilk. Also, I have to say that the setting for this mystery was inspired and incredibly atmospheric. I could feel the isolation and the terror that our characters were going through as they traipsed through the secluded reserve, trying to avoid a maniacal killer with very little knowledge over who it could be or who they could trust.
Coupled with the cold, icy weather and the blanket of snow covering the reserve, this story had all the promise of being a satisfyingly eerie read. Unfortunately, although all the bones were in place in terms of the structure, there wasn’t enough filling to give me much of what I was anticipating. In terms of characters, there was certainly representation from the Deaf and Black community which was nice to see but I didn’t really feel as if any characters stood out in the way of individuality. In fact, a few of them seemed to blend into one and more than once, I lost the thread of who they were and what their story was. Furthermore, I was hoping that the secrets held by the group would be a lot juicier - sadly, the reveals just left me rather cold (not a pun! 🤣). It’s a shame as there was certainly potential for a great story in terms of the setting.
Two stars 🌟 🌟
Who is the killer? Why did they kill? I’m still not quite sure how I can talk about this novel without being brutally honest as it wasn’t for me. As a nature/bird lover myself, I was quite excited to read about characters of the same ilk. Also, I have to say that the setting for this mystery was inspired and incredibly atmospheric. I could feel the isolation and the terror that our characters were going through as they traipsed through the secluded reserve, trying to avoid a maniacal killer with very little knowledge over who it could be or who they could trust.
Coupled with the cold, icy weather and the blanket of snow covering the reserve, this story had all the promise of being a satisfyingly eerie read. Unfortunately, although all the bones were in place in terms of the structure, there wasn’t enough filling to give me much of what I was anticipating. In terms of characters, there was certainly representation from the Deaf and Black community which was nice to see but I didn’t really feel as if any characters stood out in the way of individuality. In fact, a few of them seemed to blend into one and more than once, I lost the thread of who they were and what their story was. Furthermore, I was hoping that the secrets held by the group would be a lot juicier - sadly, the reveals just left me rather cold (not a pun! 🤣). It’s a shame as there was certainly potential for a great story in terms of the setting.
Two stars 🌟 🌟
July 23, 2021
It has the potential to be a perfect way to spend a winters day - in the presence of like-minded companions, with a nature reserve closed to the public, you’re free to wander, watch the wildlife, and enjoy the experience.
Until the gunshot is heard.
Told from the point of view of each of the seven characters, we learn more about each person’s past, their secrets, and how they’ve come to be part of this loose group of nature watchers.
The ability of the author to use the natural enviroment as a place of beauty and also danger is put to good effect in this book. The snap of branches, the snowstorm, and the wildlife makes it easy to form a picture and follow the action from there. The each character a chapter is well done, with the tone of each (annoying superior Alec, for example) making it clear who is placed where in the order of things.
I’d definitely look for more of Nell Pattison’s books based on this one.
With thanks to Netgalley, Nell Pattison, and Avon Books UK for a copy for review.
Until the gunshot is heard.
Told from the point of view of each of the seven characters, we learn more about each person’s past, their secrets, and how they’ve come to be part of this loose group of nature watchers.
The ability of the author to use the natural enviroment as a place of beauty and also danger is put to good effect in this book. The snap of branches, the snowstorm, and the wildlife makes it easy to form a picture and follow the action from there. The each character a chapter is well done, with the tone of each (annoying superior Alec, for example) making it clear who is placed where in the order of things.
I’d definitely look for more of Nell Pattison’s books based on this one.
With thanks to Netgalley, Nell Pattison, and Avon Books UK for a copy for review.
December 7, 2021
4.8 / 5 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com...
They say that everyone has the potential to kill under the right circumstances.
Emily, mid-20’s. Lauren’s little sister has suffered from hearing loss since birth. But she never lets it hold her back. Now she works at a tech startup making cochlear implants. After growing up in a children’s home, she and her sister ran in different directions and did not speak for most of twenty years.
Lauren, late-20’s. Has recently reconnected with her sister after decades apart, though neither are entirely comfortable with it. Works at a nature reserve in the country, where the group will be meeting up. She considers herself the de facto leader of their little group.
Ben, early-30’s. Works at a law firm. Pursued Lauren for years before becoming infatuated with her little sister. Shy, quiet, he’s not too sure how to get her attention, but thinks this meeting might be the perfect time.
Kai, mid-20’s. Perpetually late. Feels intimidated as the only black member in a group of outdoorsy white people. Originally had little interest in birds, but recently thinks he’s found his calling.
Dan, late-30’s. The newest member of the group. No one seems to know what to make of him since Lauren invited him in. Recently lost his wife Rachel to a tragedy and doesn’t know what to do with his life.
Morna, late-60’s. Has a daughter. A volunteer at the reserve, she likes to have everything orderly and likes to see everyone get along. But she doesn’t get on with Lauren. At all.
Alec, mid-50’s. He is the undisputed leader of the group. With all the best equipment and years of experience, he’s the natural choice. Plus he knows all their secrets. While he may have ruffled some feathers at their last meeting, he knows that their group will just get over it in order to best witness the murmuration. they’ll just have to follow his lead.
Seven friends. Seven people with secrets to hide. Seven potential killers. An out of the way nature reserve in Lincolnshire plays host to their Christmas holiday. When night falls, the starling murmuration will begin in earnest. But as the sun sets, a gunshot shatters the peace and sets the flock aflight. As night falls, one of their number lies dead. And one of their friends has killed them.
So… “friends” is a bit of a stretch. Plus they’re all kinda awful. Especially to one another.
Nowhere to Hide is told from the perspective of seven different members of the same group of birders. Each is told in first-person. I’m fine with books being told entirely in 1st person, so long as there’s one of them. Two is a stretch, but in some instances it works out. Three or more… it just doesn’t work. I can’t keep track of who is whom and everyone’s POV eventually blend into one. ALL SEVEN POVs in Nowhere to Hide are told in first-person.
It should be insanity.
But it works.
All seven of them have personalities different enough to differentiate them for one another, so I rarely (if ever) got confused about who was who. Right from the start I assigned personas and voices to each of the group, which made it much easier to keep them separate. Alec had an English accent that any colonial overlord would be jealous of. Emily and Ben I assigned based on internet personalities. Kai inherited Kedar Williams-Stirling’s voice. Lauren reminded me of someone I work with, so she got that voice. Morna was granted Liza Tarbuck’s accent. Wasn’t sure what to make of Dan at first, to the point that I assigned him a generic American accent.
It’s a little hard to explain why this worked so well for me. It just did. I’ve seen some mixed reactions on this one, which initially surprised me. But I liked it. A nice mystery with just the right amount of thrill. An idyllic setting for this type of murder-mystery as well; on an otherwise abandoned nature reserve, the day after Christmas. It’s a good setting—or a bad one, if you will.
However good I found the story and its characters, the conclusion was a bit of a letdown. Just when I thought that everyone was perfectly human and had believable motives and intentions, it was revealed that someone (no spoilers!) was some kinda demented evil villain with logic to match. The ending and epilogue brings everything back around, however. Otherwise it was a wild ride. In addition to sussing out who the murderer is (and it IS one of them), the reader is also assigned the task of discovering all their secrets. And I’m happy to say that when everything wound down, I had everything pegged correctly!
Well… mostly correctly.
TL;DR
I’d definitely recommend Nowhere to Hide but would understand if you’re a bit leery. Seven first-person POVs is a lot to take in, and just because it worked out for me, it might not work for you. Honestly I think that this would be a good one to try as an audiobook, as I’ve heard there’s a full cast. But if you want to try it in some standard format, just remember: Take your time, there’s no rush—the story’s not going anywhere. Just because one of them’s a murderer doesn’t mean you can’t relate with everyone just a bit (except Alec—no one should relate to Alec). Nowhere to Hide is a work of fiction, one that should be read for fun. So if you’re not having fun, maybe consider stopping it. And most important of all: everyone can kill under the right circumstances—so trust no one.
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They say that everyone has the potential to kill under the right circumstances.
Emily, mid-20’s. Lauren’s little sister has suffered from hearing loss since birth. But she never lets it hold her back. Now she works at a tech startup making cochlear implants. After growing up in a children’s home, she and her sister ran in different directions and did not speak for most of twenty years.
Lauren, late-20’s. Has recently reconnected with her sister after decades apart, though neither are entirely comfortable with it. Works at a nature reserve in the country, where the group will be meeting up. She considers herself the de facto leader of their little group.
Ben, early-30’s. Works at a law firm. Pursued Lauren for years before becoming infatuated with her little sister. Shy, quiet, he’s not too sure how to get her attention, but thinks this meeting might be the perfect time.
Kai, mid-20’s. Perpetually late. Feels intimidated as the only black member in a group of outdoorsy white people. Originally had little interest in birds, but recently thinks he’s found his calling.
Dan, late-30’s. The newest member of the group. No one seems to know what to make of him since Lauren invited him in. Recently lost his wife Rachel to a tragedy and doesn’t know what to do with his life.
Morna, late-60’s. Has a daughter. A volunteer at the reserve, she likes to have everything orderly and likes to see everyone get along. But she doesn’t get on with Lauren. At all.
Alec, mid-50’s. He is the undisputed leader of the group. With all the best equipment and years of experience, he’s the natural choice. Plus he knows all their secrets. While he may have ruffled some feathers at their last meeting, he knows that their group will just get over it in order to best witness the murmuration. they’ll just have to follow his lead.
Seven friends. Seven people with secrets to hide. Seven potential killers. An out of the way nature reserve in Lincolnshire plays host to their Christmas holiday. When night falls, the starling murmuration will begin in earnest. But as the sun sets, a gunshot shatters the peace and sets the flock aflight. As night falls, one of their number lies dead. And one of their friends has killed them.
So… “friends” is a bit of a stretch. Plus they’re all kinda awful. Especially to one another.
Nowhere to Hide is told from the perspective of seven different members of the same group of birders. Each is told in first-person. I’m fine with books being told entirely in 1st person, so long as there’s one of them. Two is a stretch, but in some instances it works out. Three or more… it just doesn’t work. I can’t keep track of who is whom and everyone’s POV eventually blend into one. ALL SEVEN POVs in Nowhere to Hide are told in first-person.
It should be insanity.
But it works.
All seven of them have personalities different enough to differentiate them for one another, so I rarely (if ever) got confused about who was who. Right from the start I assigned personas and voices to each of the group, which made it much easier to keep them separate. Alec had an English accent that any colonial overlord would be jealous of. Emily and Ben I assigned based on internet personalities. Kai inherited Kedar Williams-Stirling’s voice. Lauren reminded me of someone I work with, so she got that voice. Morna was granted Liza Tarbuck’s accent. Wasn’t sure what to make of Dan at first, to the point that I assigned him a generic American accent.
It’s a little hard to explain why this worked so well for me. It just did. I’ve seen some mixed reactions on this one, which initially surprised me. But I liked it. A nice mystery with just the right amount of thrill. An idyllic setting for this type of murder-mystery as well; on an otherwise abandoned nature reserve, the day after Christmas. It’s a good setting—or a bad one, if you will.
However good I found the story and its characters, the conclusion was a bit of a letdown. Just when I thought that everyone was perfectly human and had believable motives and intentions, it was revealed that someone (no spoilers!) was some kinda demented evil villain with logic to match. The ending and epilogue brings everything back around, however. Otherwise it was a wild ride. In addition to sussing out who the murderer is (and it IS one of them), the reader is also assigned the task of discovering all their secrets. And I’m happy to say that when everything wound down, I had everything pegged correctly!
Well… mostly correctly.
TL;DR
I’d definitely recommend Nowhere to Hide but would understand if you’re a bit leery. Seven first-person POVs is a lot to take in, and just because it worked out for me, it might not work for you. Honestly I think that this would be a good one to try as an audiobook, as I’ve heard there’s a full cast. But if you want to try it in some standard format, just remember: Take your time, there’s no rush—the story’s not going anywhere. Just because one of them’s a murderer doesn’t mean you can’t relate with everyone just a bit (except Alec—no one should relate to Alec). Nowhere to Hide is a work of fiction, one that should be read for fun. So if you’re not having fun, maybe consider stopping it. And most important of all: everyone can kill under the right circumstances—so trust no one.
Want to read
March 7, 2022Prior to requesting Nowhere to Hide, I had just concluded reading Silent House and absolutely loved it. To request Nowhere to Hide, was a no brainer.
I have always been a fan of Nell Pattison's books and his writing style . Nowhere to Hide, is no different, this is sure to be a hit amongst his fans and soon to be fans.
Nowhere to Hide, is a standalone, which is nice compared to the usual series. I have been having commitment issues lately and like to bounce around between authors and genre's. Knowing that this would have a conclusion and not be left with a cliffhanger, was a breath of fresh air.
This is a character driven, murder mystery novel that will have you guessing right up until the very end. Once I started, I was unable to put this one down. The suspense completely consumed me.
Seven people at a closed park for a nature hike? Cue the eerie music, this just sets the tone for the fear that is about to explode amongst this group.
Filled with secrets, twists and turns, this is sure to be a page turner for anyone who decides to pick this one up. Oh, and the ending? You wont see this one coming!
I have always been a fan of Nell Pattison's books and his writing style . Nowhere to Hide, is no different, this is sure to be a hit amongst his fans and soon to be fans.
Nowhere to Hide, is a standalone, which is nice compared to the usual series. I have been having commitment issues lately and like to bounce around between authors and genre's. Knowing that this would have a conclusion and not be left with a cliffhanger, was a breath of fresh air.
This is a character driven, murder mystery novel that will have you guessing right up until the very end. Once I started, I was unable to put this one down. The suspense completely consumed me.
Seven people at a closed park for a nature hike? Cue the eerie music, this just sets the tone for the fear that is about to explode amongst this group.
Filled with secrets, twists and turns, this is sure to be a page turner for anyone who decides to pick this one up. Oh, and the ending? You wont see this one coming!
November 21, 2022
Where to begin. The start off this book was so slow. Like genuinely hard to read and keep going. I also found all the characters extremely boring and unlikable. BUT once you get past the first 150 pages it does pick up. And as the book develops the characters get more likeable and interesting. Will I be recommending this book? Probably not. But I still gave it 3 stars….so can’t be that bad. The ending is pretty good and was actually surprising.
February 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention and had me guessing who done it up until the last few chapters. It was well written and although some of the characters were not very likable they were developed well. I love books where you can not figure it out in the first few chapters. If you like thrillers or Mysteries you will enjoy this one.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this book.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with this book.
December 21, 2021
Full review will be in my December wrap up on Books and Bargains youtube channel
February 1, 2022
2.5 rounded up
This book has a lot of rave reviews so I'm definitely in the minority here but this is my honest opinion of the book.
The description of the location, a remote nature reserve in Lincolnshire is beautifully portrayed by the author I loved the premise of this book, a group of people, in the middle of nowhere and one is a murderer.
From the outset I struggled to relate to most the characters and was irritated by anomolies in the story, why wouldn't a character who had sensed someone (other than the group) in or around the reserve's visitor center earlier in the day not bring this up when one of the group was randomly accused of murder?
I read this as a member of a book club readalong, which was the only reason that I didn't give up and trudged on to the end. For me there was little plot or substance, it just seemed like a lot of mostly awful characters, all keen to blame a friend of murder without much thought or rationalisation who then all seem to make one ridiculously stupid decision after another, running around in dark woods and snow suspecting first one person then another. The multiple over worked, repetitious and often inconsistent internal monologues of so many characters were perhaps the author's way of creating tension and mistrust but it just didn't work for me. I did however warm to Emily and Kai who for me, despite their flaws,were the only redeeming characters.
For me the ending was the best part of this book and had an unexpected twist which went some way to redeeming the whole debarkle and upped my rating from 2 to 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
This book has a lot of rave reviews so I'm definitely in the minority here but this is my honest opinion of the book.
The description of the location, a remote nature reserve in Lincolnshire is beautifully portrayed by the author I loved the premise of this book, a group of people, in the middle of nowhere and one is a murderer.
From the outset I struggled to relate to most the characters and was irritated by anomolies in the story, why wouldn't a character who had sensed someone (other than the group) in or around the reserve's visitor center earlier in the day not bring this up when one of the group was randomly accused of murder?
I read this as a member of a book club readalong, which was the only reason that I didn't give up and trudged on to the end. For me there was little plot or substance, it just seemed like a lot of mostly awful characters, all keen to blame a friend of murder without much thought or rationalisation who then all seem to make one ridiculously stupid decision after another, running around in dark woods and snow suspecting first one person then another. The multiple over worked, repetitious and often inconsistent internal monologues of so many characters were perhaps the author's way of creating tension and mistrust but it just didn't work for me. I did however warm to Emily and Kai who for me, despite their flaws,were the only redeeming characters.
For me the ending was the best part of this book and had an unexpected twist which went some way to redeeming the whole debarkle and upped my rating from 2 to 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
January 31, 2024
boring and slow til the very end but the end had my jaw dropped
December 20, 2021
Nowhere to Hide is an outdoor adventure and similar to a locked room mystery. 7 adults are part of a nature bird watching group and have hiked far into the reserve into the winter to view a special birding event (Murmuration). While there, one of the participants dies. No one is sure what has happened or why. Although the book describes everyone as "7 friends" they really are not - just adults with a shared hobby interest But BECAUSE they are not actually friends, it's a bit more suspenseful and they all try to determine what happened and how to get help before a blizzard sets in. The story was refreshing and as promised, every character had a secret they wanted to keep hidden. I also enjoyed learning the reasons behind some of their less predictable behavior. I do with there was more characterization but it was a fun read and suspenseful! If you like a snowy thriller, locked room mystery, psychological intensity, then this is a book for you! #NetGalley #NowheretoHide #avon #avonpublishing
March 25, 2022
I don’t like to give books a low rating but I could not give this book any higher. It was farcical in places and very repetitive which became a bit boring. There was also a lot of characters in which each chapter was told by their POV. You never really got to know them, it just skimmed the surface. The twist at the very end (last page) was good and I didn’t see coming but it also made me want to ask why?!
May 18, 2023
Oh, damn! I thought this was a fine story, but then that last chapter was like, "huh, come again?". Well played, Nell Pattison, well played.
July 19, 2025
⭐️
This was so boring, literally nothing happens. The "plot twist" was so predictable. Don't waste your time.
This was so boring, literally nothing happens. The "plot twist" was so predictable. Don't waste your time.
January 28, 2022
Audio book experience itself was actually really enjoyable, I love that it was narrated by a whole cast and each character had their own unique voice.
The story on the other hand is, i guess, a classic whodunit. But for me it lacked .. action? For the majority of the time we were running around the nature reserve and in the end I didn't actually catch the overall plot point?
Lots of secrets that somehow didn't quite make sense and the ending felt incomplete..
Perhaps an unpopular opinion, I've seen it praised a lot, so maybe it's just a me problem.
The story on the other hand is, i guess, a classic whodunit. But for me it lacked .. action? For the majority of the time we were running around the nature reserve and in the end I didn't actually catch the overall plot point?
Lots of secrets that somehow didn't quite make sense and the ending felt incomplete..
Perhaps an unpopular opinion, I've seen it praised a lot, so maybe it's just a me problem.
November 12, 2024
3.5⭐️ I think, for the twist right at the end. Which wasn’t super surprising? Still satisfying though, even with being able to guess half of that twist. I’m not a huge fan of having so many POVs, I think it’s easy for that to slow the story down which I think is what happened for most of this book. Too much buildup, not enough action.
January 9, 2022
Second I have read by this author. She has deaf characters in her stories which is a nice difference in chracters.
December 9, 2022
Oh how I wanted to like this so much more... there was one good character for me and the disability rep was brilliant but apart from that. MEH!
July 28, 2021
Seven friends. One killer. You can run, but you can’t hide…
The Boxing Day hike is meant to bring their nature group together.
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.
As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve.
One of the seven is dead. And one of their number killed them…
This was brilliant, the twists and turns and the ending!!!!!
Never read anything by the author before and now I'm going to be searching out their back catalogue.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The Boxing Day hike is meant to bring their nature group together.
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.
As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve.
One of the seven is dead. And one of their number killed them…
This was brilliant, the twists and turns and the ending!!!!!
Never read anything by the author before and now I'm going to be searching out their back catalogue.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews