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The Hiding Place
'It was only a game.' Until a boy went missing. 'No one was meant to get hurt.' But a body has been found. 'Just some innocent fun.' Except one of them is a killer. Ready or not, here I come. It's time to play hide and seek again.
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2022
16 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
Simon Lelic
17 books337 followersSimon Lelic was born in 1976 and has worked as a journalist in the UK and currently runs his own business in Brighton, England, where he lives with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
May 3, 2022
4+ stars
Two timelines, one in 1997 centres around troubled ‘misfit’ Ben Draper, a square peg in a round hole at Beaconsfield, an expensive and prestigious boarding school. A group of three take Ben under their wing but why? In the present day a tip off followed a few weeks later by a cryptic message leads to a body being found in an abandoned chapel crypt. Is this the body of Ben Draper missing since 1997 after a game of ‘hide and seek’ and the crypt his hiding place? The headmaster Philip Harris seems more concerned about the schools reputation than the body. However, it soon becomes apparent that the powers that be are more concerned about the impact on ex-pupils who have made it into the public eye, specifically Callum Richardson, one of the 1997 ‘seekers’. Could this investigation lead to a huge celebrity scandal and potential political dynamite? DI Robin Fleet and DS Nikki Collins (from The Search Party ) investigate but with hands firmly tied by superintendent Roger Burton who is no friend to Fleet.
I really enjoy the way Simon Lelic writes so my expectations are high from the start and most definitely not disappointed. The premise is excellent, it’s meaty and thought-provoking, tackling several themes from loneliness to diverse troubled backgrounds, cliques and the seeking of refuges and we even dip our toes into murky political waters. The characterisation is very good, Fleet and Collins are an interesting duo and I enjoy some of the personal sections that allow us to see them more clearly is individuals. Ben’s personality comes across loud and clear as does his background, he has no safe hiding place and though his behaviour makes him difficult to like you genuinely feel sorry for him. There’s a good cross section of other characters, some are intense, some are troubled, some are predatory and cruelly manipulative and the headteacher doesn’t emerge very well either!! One big ‘character’ looms overall, the school, with its impressive facade but its reality, the game-playing, the elitism and above all the atmosphere the author creates around it including suspense and a distinct air of creepiness. What becomes clear to Fleet and Nikki is there is an ever-growing suspect pool.
The pace is quick from start to finish, the plot depends and thickens and takes on a disturbing tone, there is intrigue, many secrets and lies with plenty of shocks and twists and turns. You constantly question who is the puppeteer and the marionettes in this increasingly dangerous game. What indeed is the game at play? Politics? Conspiracy? Power, or the illusion of it? Reputation? Guilt? It all escalates extremely well to a dramatic conclusion (overly so??), however, it is good and almost movie worthy. I like the ultimate ending which feels right.
If you like a good mystery thriller then this is for you.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Two timelines, one in 1997 centres around troubled ‘misfit’ Ben Draper, a square peg in a round hole at Beaconsfield, an expensive and prestigious boarding school. A group of three take Ben under their wing but why? In the present day a tip off followed a few weeks later by a cryptic message leads to a body being found in an abandoned chapel crypt. Is this the body of Ben Draper missing since 1997 after a game of ‘hide and seek’ and the crypt his hiding place? The headmaster Philip Harris seems more concerned about the schools reputation than the body. However, it soon becomes apparent that the powers that be are more concerned about the impact on ex-pupils who have made it into the public eye, specifically Callum Richardson, one of the 1997 ‘seekers’. Could this investigation lead to a huge celebrity scandal and potential political dynamite? DI Robin Fleet and DS Nikki Collins (from The Search Party ) investigate but with hands firmly tied by superintendent Roger Burton who is no friend to Fleet.
I really enjoy the way Simon Lelic writes so my expectations are high from the start and most definitely not disappointed. The premise is excellent, it’s meaty and thought-provoking, tackling several themes from loneliness to diverse troubled backgrounds, cliques and the seeking of refuges and we even dip our toes into murky political waters. The characterisation is very good, Fleet and Collins are an interesting duo and I enjoy some of the personal sections that allow us to see them more clearly is individuals. Ben’s personality comes across loud and clear as does his background, he has no safe hiding place and though his behaviour makes him difficult to like you genuinely feel sorry for him. There’s a good cross section of other characters, some are intense, some are troubled, some are predatory and cruelly manipulative and the headteacher doesn’t emerge very well either!! One big ‘character’ looms overall, the school, with its impressive facade but its reality, the game-playing, the elitism and above all the atmosphere the author creates around it including suspense and a distinct air of creepiness. What becomes clear to Fleet and Nikki is there is an ever-growing suspect pool.
The pace is quick from start to finish, the plot depends and thickens and takes on a disturbing tone, there is intrigue, many secrets and lies with plenty of shocks and twists and turns. You constantly question who is the puppeteer and the marionettes in this increasingly dangerous game. What indeed is the game at play? Politics? Conspiracy? Power, or the illusion of it? Reputation? Guilt? It all escalates extremely well to a dramatic conclusion (overly so??), however, it is good and almost movie worthy. I like the ultimate ending which feels right.
If you like a good mystery thriller then this is for you.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
April 14, 2022
When I started reading The Hiding Place I had a feeling I knew these characters. I soon realised that DI Fleet was from The Search Party that I had previously read by this author. But in saying that, you can read this book as a stand alone very easily. Another great book from Simon Lelic.
A dual timeline and multiple POV story of a boy who goes missing only for his remains to be found over 20 years later under the grounds of the boarding school he was last seen in. We learn about his time at school, and the friends he had - then and now. It kept me guessing and is for those with a weak stomach. Who killed him, how and why? Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK, this book is out May 5th.
A dual timeline and multiple POV story of a boy who goes missing only for his remains to be found over 20 years later under the grounds of the boarding school he was last seen in. We learn about his time at school, and the friends he had - then and now. It kept me guessing and is for those with a weak stomach. Who killed him, how and why? Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK, this book is out May 5th.
December 20, 2021
I really enjoyed reading the latest novel by Simon Lelic, an author I really should read more of.
The body of a boy is found, twenty years after going missing in ‘The Hiding Place’ an underground burial place in the grounds of a boarding school Beaconsfield. The pupil who went missing was named Ben and the discovery of his murdered body throws suspicion on fellow pupils and teachers at the time of his disappearance. DI Robin Fleet leads the investigation with his colleague Nicky Collins into the murder which keeps you guessing throughout.
This is well written novel that builds the suspense up page by page and kept me wanting more.
This is a very enjoyable read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
The body of a boy is found, twenty years after going missing in ‘The Hiding Place’ an underground burial place in the grounds of a boarding school Beaconsfield. The pupil who went missing was named Ben and the discovery of his murdered body throws suspicion on fellow pupils and teachers at the time of his disappearance. DI Robin Fleet leads the investigation with his colleague Nicky Collins into the murder which keeps you guessing throughout.
This is well written novel that builds the suspense up page by page and kept me wanting more.
This is a very enjoyable read.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
August 16, 2022
A body has been found. Ben, the missing school-boy from a decades-old unsolved missing child case, is finally being taken to his final resting place and his case reopened. What dark secrets will be unleashed and what connections to the present-day village inhabitants still remain?
I had high expectations diving into this book, after enjoying other of Lelic's creations. They might have been placed too highly, however, as this remained solidly enjoyable and deliciously twisted but failed to capture my attention in quite the same way as he previously has proven able to do.
Perhaps the increased focus on the crime elements could explain my middling rating, as this is not my usual go-to, preferring my thrillers without a police presence, or perhaps this storyline was less suited for me personally due to the split chronological focus, which I have read in abundance recently. Either way I was absorbed throughout but, sadly, this is not a storyline that will stay for me for a long time, I fear.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Simon Lelic, and the publisher, Penguin, for this opportunity.
I had high expectations diving into this book, after enjoying other of Lelic's creations. They might have been placed too highly, however, as this remained solidly enjoyable and deliciously twisted but failed to capture my attention in quite the same way as he previously has proven able to do.
Perhaps the increased focus on the crime elements could explain my middling rating, as this is not my usual go-to, preferring my thrillers without a police presence, or perhaps this storyline was less suited for me personally due to the split chronological focus, which I have read in abundance recently. Either way I was absorbed throughout but, sadly, this is not a storyline that will stay for me for a long time, I fear.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Simon Lelic, and the publisher, Penguin, for this opportunity.
October 11, 2023
The body of missing school boy Ben Draper is discovered in an old chapel crypt, twenty years after he disappeared in the grounds of Beaconsfield Boarding School.
Leading the investigation is DI Rob Fleet and his partner Nick. They discover that Ben was bullied and controlled at the school. The discovery of the body throws suspicion on his fellow pupils and teachers at the time of his disappearance.
The story goes back and forth showing the last few weeks of Ben's life and who he interacted with.
I loved that there are so many suspects and I kept changing my mind as to who the perpetrator was.
A gripping read from an author who is simply brilliant.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Leading the investigation is DI Rob Fleet and his partner Nick. They discover that Ben was bullied and controlled at the school. The discovery of the body throws suspicion on his fellow pupils and teachers at the time of his disappearance.
The story goes back and forth showing the last few weeks of Ben's life and who he interacted with.
I loved that there are so many suspects and I kept changing my mind as to who the perpetrator was.
A gripping read from an author who is simply brilliant.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2022
This had me intrigued and gripped from the start, and my interest didn't wane throughout.
We get the story told in two timelines, from the POV of the victim 22 years ago in the time leading up to his death, and also of DI Fleet who after a tip off is needing to solve a 22 year old cold case, after a anonymous tip off gives the location of the body.
Cold cases I've learnt through fiction are notoriously difficult to solve, so even more so when DI Fleet has his partner, no additional team or resources and there are links of some sort to a power man hoping to get into politics rather soon - so all sorts of interference from higher up.
So a rather tricky case, where there doesn't seem to be much evidence, so its good old fashioned policework, and intuition required to try to solve this.
The boarding school and its children that this centres around really caught my imagination, or perhaps given what occurs, should be my nightmares.
This is well written, and really did hook me in and I was unsure for the majority of the book just who was responsible, and when the realisation comes, it was a case of OMG but also how did I not see that coming as there certainly were the seeds of it sprinkled throughout.
It was the sections from the victim's POV that had me most involved, I really felt for him and his situation, and kept wanting to find out what would happen next.
Kudos to Simon Lelic for yet another fabulous book.
Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
We get the story told in two timelines, from the POV of the victim 22 years ago in the time leading up to his death, and also of DI Fleet who after a tip off is needing to solve a 22 year old cold case, after a anonymous tip off gives the location of the body.
Cold cases I've learnt through fiction are notoriously difficult to solve, so even more so when DI Fleet has his partner, no additional team or resources and there are links of some sort to a power man hoping to get into politics rather soon - so all sorts of interference from higher up.
So a rather tricky case, where there doesn't seem to be much evidence, so its good old fashioned policework, and intuition required to try to solve this.
The boarding school and its children that this centres around really caught my imagination, or perhaps given what occurs, should be my nightmares.
This is well written, and really did hook me in and I was unsure for the majority of the book just who was responsible, and when the realisation comes, it was a case of OMG but also how did I not see that coming as there certainly were the seeds of it sprinkled throughout.
It was the sections from the victim's POV that had me most involved, I really felt for him and his situation, and kept wanting to find out what would happen next.
Kudos to Simon Lelic for yet another fabulous book.
Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
August 24, 2023
A fairly entertaining murder/ mystery, I was interested to see how the story played out but it didn't grip me the way a story like this should. Also the conversations between the main character and his ex wife were super cringe inducing, 3 stars.
October 29, 2022
An enjoyable detective story with plenty of plot to keep you guessing.
I liked the police characters and the pace of the story (and the two story lines set years apart made for interesting parallels)
Well written and a very easy and enjoyable read.
I liked the police characters and the pace of the story (and the two story lines set years apart made for interesting parallels)
Well written and a very easy and enjoyable read.
April 16, 2022
'It was only a game.' Until one of them went missing.
'No one was meant to get hurt.' But a body has been found.
'Just some innocent fun.' Except one of them is a killer.
Ready or not, here I come. It's time to play hide and seek again.
This story has a dual timeline, the present day and twenty two years ago. It's dark, chilling, filled with suspense and has a fast pace. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, I was wrong, because it was unpredictable. The characters are a mixed bunch of likeable and unlikable. DI Fleet and DS Collins are called out to investigate a cold case murder that leads to more deaths twenty two years later. The two stories join together seamlessly. I liked the authors style in writing this book and all the loose ends were tied up by the end.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinGeneralUK and the author #SimonLelic for my ARC of #TheHidingPlace in exchange for an honest review.
'No one was meant to get hurt.' But a body has been found.
'Just some innocent fun.' Except one of them is a killer.
Ready or not, here I come. It's time to play hide and seek again.
This story has a dual timeline, the present day and twenty two years ago. It's dark, chilling, filled with suspense and has a fast pace. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, I was wrong, because it was unpredictable. The characters are a mixed bunch of likeable and unlikable. DI Fleet and DS Collins are called out to investigate a cold case murder that leads to more deaths twenty two years later. The two stories join together seamlessly. I liked the authors style in writing this book and all the loose ends were tied up by the end.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #PenguinGeneralUK and the author #SimonLelic for my ARC of #TheHidingPlace in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2021
I actually read this in one sitting today - so obviously I was in its grips. Follows on strongly from The Search Party though this can be read as a stand-alone.
A dying boy prays to God that no-one will find him - but they did - 22 years later. Can Fleet and Collins solve this cold case, thrust upon them with no anticipation of it ever being solved. But solve it they do, bring the secrets of a posh school out in the open as they seek redemption for the child.
Brilliant narrative, alternating between the current investigation and they boy's last days, and that like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, seem to fit but don't as they will be found to fit somewhere else.
Lelic's tenth book and my second from him - both being fabulous reads.
A dying boy prays to God that no-one will find him - but they did - 22 years later. Can Fleet and Collins solve this cold case, thrust upon them with no anticipation of it ever being solved. But solve it they do, bring the secrets of a posh school out in the open as they seek redemption for the child.
Brilliant narrative, alternating between the current investigation and they boy's last days, and that like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, seem to fit but don't as they will be found to fit somewhere else.
Lelic's tenth book and my second from him - both being fabulous reads.
May 16, 2022
This is my second novel by Simon Lelic although I have had another of his books on my reading list for some time.
In The Hiding Place, a body has been found on the grounds of the prestigious Beaconsfield boarding school. It is Ben who went missing twenty plus years ago. DI Robin Fleet leads the investigation assisted by his colleague, DS Nicky Collins.
This book incited me and I read it in a single sitting. It's well written with precisely the right amount of drive, and the characters were interesting, though mainly abhorrent, including the majority of the police but they are a good cross-section. DI Fleet, with his personal problems, was one that I considered affable. The backdrop of the school created a chilling atmosphere, along with all the game-play, enhancing the story and adding another level of suspense. As this sinister and compulsive thriller headed towards the startling conclusion, the tension really escalated and I was caught off guard. A must-read for thriller aficionados.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Penguin Books/ Viking via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
In The Hiding Place, a body has been found on the grounds of the prestigious Beaconsfield boarding school. It is Ben who went missing twenty plus years ago. DI Robin Fleet leads the investigation assisted by his colleague, DS Nicky Collins.
This book incited me and I read it in a single sitting. It's well written with precisely the right amount of drive, and the characters were interesting, though mainly abhorrent, including the majority of the police but they are a good cross-section. DI Fleet, with his personal problems, was one that I considered affable. The backdrop of the school created a chilling atmosphere, along with all the game-play, enhancing the story and adding another level of suspense. As this sinister and compulsive thriller headed towards the startling conclusion, the tension really escalated and I was caught off guard. A must-read for thriller aficionados.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Penguin Books/ Viking via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
May 17, 2022
Another terrific character driven thriller from Simon Lelic, with some recurring characters but working perfectly well as a standalone.
A body discovered years after a disappearance sets off a violent sequence of events that our main protagonist police investigator has trouble staying ahead of and its a proper page turner.
The Hiding Place has a lot of elements I adore - a boarding school, a secretive group of friends, a past mystery screaming its way into present day and the author manages them all well, keeping things unexpected and addictive.
A great read. Looking forward to more.
A body discovered years after a disappearance sets off a violent sequence of events that our main protagonist police investigator has trouble staying ahead of and its a proper page turner.
The Hiding Place has a lot of elements I adore - a boarding school, a secretive group of friends, a past mystery screaming its way into present day and the author manages them all well, keeping things unexpected and addictive.
A great read. Looking forward to more.
April 30, 2022
This is a great read.
A teenage boy’s body is found hidden in a crypt on the premises of a boarding school.
It’s found that he was killed there 22 years ago but why?
Fleet and Nicky are tasked with finding out who killed Ben and their enquiries lead them to a popular politician who attended the school at the time.
With pressure on them not to mess this up as the media are watching, Fleet is determined to find the truth, no matter what.
This is a gripping crime thriller with flashback chapters showing what happened on the lead up to the murder.
A great read.
Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
A teenage boy’s body is found hidden in a crypt on the premises of a boarding school.
It’s found that he was killed there 22 years ago but why?
Fleet and Nicky are tasked with finding out who killed Ben and their enquiries lead them to a popular politician who attended the school at the time.
With pressure on them not to mess this up as the media are watching, Fleet is determined to find the truth, no matter what.
This is a gripping crime thriller with flashback chapters showing what happened on the lead up to the murder.
A great read.
Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 25, 2022
I quite enjoyed this book!
A story about childhood abandonment, manipulation and places where that can lead you.
The story was nicely paced, well thought-out and the main characters down to earth and relatable. The rest - not so much!
I could not wait to finish it, it really kicked off during the last 30% or so and had to sacrifice sleep to get further along!
It oddly felt like a part of a series with a start I missed and a continuation to follow - maybe that’s just how I felt!
Nothing much to add, but a solid police thriller :)
Thank you, NetGalley for the arc!
A story about childhood abandonment, manipulation and places where that can lead you.
The story was nicely paced, well thought-out and the main characters down to earth and relatable. The rest - not so much!
I could not wait to finish it, it really kicked off during the last 30% or so and had to sacrifice sleep to get further along!
It oddly felt like a part of a series with a start I missed and a continuation to follow - maybe that’s just how I felt!
Nothing much to add, but a solid police thriller :)
Thank you, NetGalley for the arc!
June 27, 2023
What a nice surprise. I have not read anything by this author and now I want to discover more of his writings. The plot was surprisingly unpredictable as well as the backstory. Mr Lelic gives us multi layered characters and a storyline that kept me turning pages fast.
A lot of stars to this progressive author who at one point said through his character something to the effect of not letting another politician who was a tv presenter get access to the nuclear codes, “you know how that turn out”…..sigh, I agree, we are learning more everyday.
A lot of stars to this progressive author who at one point said through his character something to the effect of not letting another politician who was a tv presenter get access to the nuclear codes, “you know how that turn out”…..sigh, I agree, we are learning more everyday.
April 21, 2022
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book
and the hits dont stop coming with this book
20 plus years when ben went missing from his boarding school, he was a troubled boy but no one knew where he went
fleet is in charge of cold cases, it was sort of a demotion but he thrives on a challenge and when finally a little hint about one of his cold cases comes up he sends out officers to have a look
skeleton remains are found at the boarding school
and so begins the hunt for the killer
there are plenty of suspects but no one has any idea what is about to happen....
brilliantly written and i never saw it coming... brilliant just brilliant
and the hits dont stop coming with this book
20 plus years when ben went missing from his boarding school, he was a troubled boy but no one knew where he went
fleet is in charge of cold cases, it was sort of a demotion but he thrives on a challenge and when finally a little hint about one of his cold cases comes up he sends out officers to have a look
skeleton remains are found at the boarding school
and so begins the hunt for the killer
there are plenty of suspects but no one has any idea what is about to happen....
brilliantly written and i never saw it coming... brilliant just brilliant
May 9, 2022
I really enjoyed this - an enjoyable and thrilling police procedural.
The book is written over two timelines, easy to follow and each chapter left me wanting to read more and more. I devoured this over two days. There is a mixture of likeable and unlikeable characters and for me that’s a good balance. It was nicely paced - plotting my thoughts and theories throughout.
I have since realised this is a second book in a series, however I do feel it can be read as standalone but I will be reading the first book - the search party - to learn more about DI Fleet and DS Collins.
A really good thriller and one I definitely recommend. Kept me guessing throughout and it was an ending I didn’t expect.
The book is written over two timelines, easy to follow and each chapter left me wanting to read more and more. I devoured this over two days. There is a mixture of likeable and unlikeable characters and for me that’s a good balance. It was nicely paced - plotting my thoughts and theories throughout.
I have since realised this is a second book in a series, however I do feel it can be read as standalone but I will be reading the first book - the search party - to learn more about DI Fleet and DS Collins.
A really good thriller and one I definitely recommend. Kept me guessing throughout and it was an ending I didn’t expect.
May 14, 2022
Another very enjoyable read from Simon Lelic.
This was a compelling murder mystery with a fun game element to it. A trope which I really enjoy and would love to see more in thriller books.
I really enjoyed the setting of this book. I love when thrillers are set at schools.
I also enjoyed the switch between perspectives, from the past and the present, it made for a very intriguing read.
The pace was really strong. I was hooked throughout and constantly trying to guess where the story was going.
My only criticism of the book was that it felt slightly drawn out in places. However, apart from that it was a throughly enjoyable read with a shocking and dramatic ending you won't see coming.
Overall, highly recommend if you enjoy detective murder mysteries or thrillers with the trope of a deadly game.
This was a compelling murder mystery with a fun game element to it. A trope which I really enjoy and would love to see more in thriller books.
I really enjoyed the setting of this book. I love when thrillers are set at schools.
I also enjoyed the switch between perspectives, from the past and the present, it made for a very intriguing read.
The pace was really strong. I was hooked throughout and constantly trying to guess where the story was going.
My only criticism of the book was that it felt slightly drawn out in places. However, apart from that it was a throughly enjoyable read with a shocking and dramatic ending you won't see coming.
Overall, highly recommend if you enjoy detective murder mysteries or thrillers with the trope of a deadly game.
August 14, 2022
~Thanks to NetGalley for my eARC~
2 stars
For the best part of this book I was simply confused. And not in a good sense, like “who did it” confused. More like: is this a part of a series or stand-alone book? Is it going to be any better or I’ll be forever bored with it and forget about it the minute I finish this novel? There was nothing that would convince me I want to read other books by this author and being completely honest I wouldn't have even finished this one if it wasn’t for writing the review on NetGalley.
There were two timelines in the book: one in 1997 following Ben in the months leading to his deaths and twenty two years later in which we can see the detective's work in trying to figure out what has actually happened to him all those years ago. Frankly, I liked neither of them. In Ben’s part I was dragged through boarding school for rich kids in which I’ve barely met three or four of them - not very much of a character building there. In the police work timeline I saw them trying to uncover what I already started to know (thanks to Ben’s parts) and mostly struggling with too many politicians trying to get their agenda in the investigation. The only personal part of this whole book was Fleet’s interactions with his ex-wife. And let me tell you that this whole thing didn’t make any sense at all. I don’t want to spoil anything here, but I’d prefer there was nothing at all of his personal life than this.
It was almost painful to read this book. Throughout its however many pages there’s nothing really happening. No interesting characters, no ground-breaking developments. And the author's attempts at building suspense were absolutely laughable. They didn’t make me want to know what was coming next or what did the investigator think about. It was only adding to my growing frustration and made me like this book even less. Between that and no characters’ depth I would say I don’t recommend this book to anyone at all.
2 stars
For the best part of this book I was simply confused. And not in a good sense, like “who did it” confused. More like: is this a part of a series or stand-alone book? Is it going to be any better or I’ll be forever bored with it and forget about it the minute I finish this novel? There was nothing that would convince me I want to read other books by this author and being completely honest I wouldn't have even finished this one if it wasn’t for writing the review on NetGalley.
There were two timelines in the book: one in 1997 following Ben in the months leading to his deaths and twenty two years later in which we can see the detective's work in trying to figure out what has actually happened to him all those years ago. Frankly, I liked neither of them. In Ben’s part I was dragged through boarding school for rich kids in which I’ve barely met three or four of them - not very much of a character building there. In the police work timeline I saw them trying to uncover what I already started to know (thanks to Ben’s parts) and mostly struggling with too many politicians trying to get their agenda in the investigation. The only personal part of this whole book was Fleet’s interactions with his ex-wife. And let me tell you that this whole thing didn’t make any sense at all. I don’t want to spoil anything here, but I’d prefer there was nothing at all of his personal life than this.
It was almost painful to read this book. Throughout its however many pages there’s nothing really happening. No interesting characters, no ground-breaking developments. And the author's attempts at building suspense were absolutely laughable. They didn’t make me want to know what was coming next or what did the investigator think about. It was only adding to my growing frustration and made me like this book even less. Between that and no characters’ depth I would say I don’t recommend this book to anyone at all.
April 28, 2022
‘It was only supposed to have been a game – a stupid game he hadn’t even wanted to play.’
We first met Detective Inspector Robin Fleet and Detective Sergeant Nikki Collins in Mr Lelic’s last novel, ‘The Search Party’. Currently out of favour with management after the events of ‘The Search Party’, DI Fleet and DS Colins have been assigned low priority and difficult cold cases. They are called in when a long dead body is discovered in an abandoned chapel crypt at Beaconsfield, an exclusive English boarding school.
The murdered body belonged to Ben Draper, a student who went missing from the school twenty-two years earlier. Ben had not been a student at Beaconsfield for long when he disappeared, and it had been assumed that he had run away during a game of ‘hide and seek’ with three older students.
Discovery of his murdered body casts suspicion on those present at the school when he disappeared.
The story shifts between the present-day police investigation and the events leading up to Ben’s disappearance. Fleet and Collins must track down those who were acquainted with Ben. While one of the three former students is now a prominent celebrity, the lives of other two have taken very different courses. The events of the past take us into a world of privilege and pain, where maintaining traditions is more important than pastoral care. And this world, which is reflected in the present-day attitudes to the events surrounding Ben’s murder, puts pressure on DI Fleet find a politically acceptable way to close the case.
This novel held my attention from beginning to end. I thought I had it worked out twice, but then a couple of unexpected twists took me in a different direction.
Full of suspense. A terrific read.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
We first met Detective Inspector Robin Fleet and Detective Sergeant Nikki Collins in Mr Lelic’s last novel, ‘The Search Party’. Currently out of favour with management after the events of ‘The Search Party’, DI Fleet and DS Colins have been assigned low priority and difficult cold cases. They are called in when a long dead body is discovered in an abandoned chapel crypt at Beaconsfield, an exclusive English boarding school.
The murdered body belonged to Ben Draper, a student who went missing from the school twenty-two years earlier. Ben had not been a student at Beaconsfield for long when he disappeared, and it had been assumed that he had run away during a game of ‘hide and seek’ with three older students.
Discovery of his murdered body casts suspicion on those present at the school when he disappeared.
The story shifts between the present-day police investigation and the events leading up to Ben’s disappearance. Fleet and Collins must track down those who were acquainted with Ben. While one of the three former students is now a prominent celebrity, the lives of other two have taken very different courses. The events of the past take us into a world of privilege and pain, where maintaining traditions is more important than pastoral care. And this world, which is reflected in the present-day attitudes to the events surrounding Ben’s murder, puts pressure on DI Fleet find a politically acceptable way to close the case.
This novel held my attention from beginning to end. I thought I had it worked out twice, but then a couple of unexpected twists took me in a different direction.
Full of suspense. A terrific read.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 15, 2022
Twenty-two years ago Ben Draper went missing from his exclusive boarding school without a trace. The investigation at the time concluded he was a loner who’d run away during a game of hide and seek and didn’t want to be found. But when his body is eventually discovered in a forgotten crypt on the school grounds following an anonymous tip off, the case is re-opened and DI Fleet is put in charge of finding out what really happened. Someone clearly has the answers and wants punishments to be dealt out, the question is will they wait for the law or take matters into their own hands? And will Fleet figure it all out in time?
This book was GRIPPING, I couldn’t put it down! The Hiding Place is the second of Lelic’s books I’ve read with Fleet as the lead and he’s a really likeable character who you always root for. Side note - has anyone else watched Murder in Successville as all I could picture when I read these two novels was DI ‘Sleet’ from that 😆 they are the same person!!
I loved following the police procedural and the dual timelines really kept the tension up. Knowing Ben was dead from the start made the nineties timeline much creepier, and there are lots of red herrings that will keep you guessing. I’m glad the killer wasn’t as obvious as I first thought it was going to be, the twist at the end is a good one, and even if one of the characters I really disliked didn’t get the ending I’d hoped for it’s all tied up nicely.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes crime fiction, and although they’re stand alone novels reading The Search Party first will give you much more background and understanding of Fleet’s character.
Thank you to @vikingbooksuk for having me along on this book tour, I loved it! 🙌
May 10, 2022
Ben went missing 20 years ago, and his bones have just been discovered in a long buried crypt under the grounds of an exclusive boarding school. With politicians and high ranking officials among the alumni the police are keen to get this one solved, and if it turned out the baddie was the opposition politician then all the better!
I loved the police procedural aspect of this one. One of my favourite sub genres. The book started off quite creepy, it's told over two time lines - now, and when Ben originally went missing. So we can play along with the investigation to a point.
You are very much pointed toward one solution and I think this perhaps made it all the more obvious it wasn't going that way. But the actual reveal at the end was very good.
If you want a creepy, police procedural and cold case then this is your book. Full of twists and turns and really great characters - most of which are horrible people :)
Thanks Viking books for having me on the book tour for this one.
Www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
I loved the police procedural aspect of this one. One of my favourite sub genres. The book started off quite creepy, it's told over two time lines - now, and when Ben originally went missing. So we can play along with the investigation to a point.
You are very much pointed toward one solution and I think this perhaps made it all the more obvious it wasn't going that way. But the actual reveal at the end was very good.
If you want a creepy, police procedural and cold case then this is your book. Full of twists and turns and really great characters - most of which are horrible people :)
Thanks Viking books for having me on the book tour for this one.
Www.thebeautifulbookbreak.com
February 8, 2022
Detective Fleet is on a cold case following the discovery of a body that is missing boy Ben from over 20y ago. The story is split between Ben and Fleet’s point of view, giving insight into what happened back then and now.
I don’t usually read this genre but I really enjoyed it. Every chapter unravelled more clues, it was fast paced, with chapters ending in a way that left you needing to read more.
The body is found at a private school and during the investigation more bodies turn up. This amps up the feeling of danger and urgency. We all the twists and turns I didn’t see the ending coming but it is was brilliant. I love how it linked back to the hiding place.
I read an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t usually read this genre but I really enjoyed it. Every chapter unravelled more clues, it was fast paced, with chapters ending in a way that left you needing to read more.
The body is found at a private school and during the investigation more bodies turn up. This amps up the feeling of danger and urgency. We all the twists and turns I didn’t see the ending coming but it is was brilliant. I love how it linked back to the hiding place.
I read an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2022
I couldn't put this book down. This was a brilliant read from start to finish.
The story begins when a body is discovered at a crypt at Beaconsfield boarding school. It is the body of a boy, Ben Draper who disappeared from the school over twenty years ago following a game of 'hide and seek.'
This is a dual time frame story moving between Ben's life at the school prior to his death and Detective Fleet's investigation following the discovery of the body.
I loved the characters in the story. Whilst feeling desperately sorry for some there were others that I completely loathed! I particularly enjoyed reading Ben's part of the story as he gets drawn into a sinister friendship with Callum, Lance and Melissa.
This was such a tense mystery that slowly unravelled connecting past events with the present day. I didn't predict any of the twists and the atmosphere was chilling! The ending was unexpected and I couldn't stop turning the pages!
If you like dark, twisty thrillers with lots of suspense I would definitely recommend this!
The story begins when a body is discovered at a crypt at Beaconsfield boarding school. It is the body of a boy, Ben Draper who disappeared from the school over twenty years ago following a game of 'hide and seek.'
This is a dual time frame story moving between Ben's life at the school prior to his death and Detective Fleet's investigation following the discovery of the body.
I loved the characters in the story. Whilst feeling desperately sorry for some there were others that I completely loathed! I particularly enjoyed reading Ben's part of the story as he gets drawn into a sinister friendship with Callum, Lance and Melissa.
This was such a tense mystery that slowly unravelled connecting past events with the present day. I didn't predict any of the twists and the atmosphere was chilling! The ending was unexpected and I couldn't stop turning the pages!
If you like dark, twisty thrillers with lots of suspense I would definitely recommend this!
January 7, 2022
When this book became available as an ARC, I had to read it. I really enjoyed Simon Lelic’s The Search Party, and was intrigued to see how some of the returning characters had faired. Although this book features the same investigating officer, Rob Fleet, as before and clearly forms part of a series, I’d like to say from the start, this can easily be read as a standalone without any confusion when it comes to back story etc.
It’s been 22 years since Ben Draper, a 15 year old boy, went missing whilst at his exclusive boarding school. His friends, who were with him at the time, alleged they were playing a simple game of hide and seek; but they never found Ben. It seems very few people really cared at the time, and it didn’t take long for the case to go cold. In the present, an unexpected tip off leads the police to discover Ben’s remains, and the investigation recommences to determine what happened to him and ultimately, who is to blame.
Told through alternating chapters with Ben’s POV leading up to the time of his murder, and third person in the present, this is a well-written and pacey read with lots going on. There are plenty of interesting (not necessarily likable) characters, and whilst the big reveal isn’t mind-blowing, it’s also not a let-down, and isn’t rushed (which is too often the case when it comes to typical PP’s).
Whilst there are still a lot of cliches in this book (Fleet is overweight, divorced, smokes too much, is married to his work … you know the rest), I didn’t find his private life to be as dominating in the first book. Instead, it was a nice bit of background noise, rather than a total distraction, and did help with characterisation.
On the whole, I really did enjoy this and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys police procedural’s and mystery/thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
It’s been 22 years since Ben Draper, a 15 year old boy, went missing whilst at his exclusive boarding school. His friends, who were with him at the time, alleged they were playing a simple game of hide and seek; but they never found Ben. It seems very few people really cared at the time, and it didn’t take long for the case to go cold. In the present, an unexpected tip off leads the police to discover Ben’s remains, and the investigation recommences to determine what happened to him and ultimately, who is to blame.
Told through alternating chapters with Ben’s POV leading up to the time of his murder, and third person in the present, this is a well-written and pacey read with lots going on. There are plenty of interesting (not necessarily likable) characters, and whilst the big reveal isn’t mind-blowing, it’s also not a let-down, and isn’t rushed (which is too often the case when it comes to typical PP’s).
Whilst there are still a lot of cliches in this book (Fleet is overweight, divorced, smokes too much, is married to his work … you know the rest), I didn’t find his private life to be as dominating in the first book. Instead, it was a nice bit of background noise, rather than a total distraction, and did help with characterisation.
On the whole, I really did enjoy this and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys police procedural’s and mystery/thrillers.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. Dual timelines set in the present day and in 1997. I was so excited to read this book when I read the summary and this book did not disappoint at all.
I loved the dual timelines. In 1997, we read about Ben, a troubled teen, who has been sent to prestigious boarding school. He already knows he isn’t going to fit in until a group of three friends take him in. In the present day, DI Fleet and DS Collins are investigating the disappearance of Ben, this soon turns into a murder when a body is found. The investigating team have to round up the ex-students from 1998, which is 22 years ago. The 1997 chapters are placed strategically through out the present day story and as the investigation goes on, more secrets are unraveled in the 1997 chapters.
I thought DI Fleet and DS Collins are a good pair and we get to see glimpses into their personal life which gives them some character. They are very determined to get to the bottom of this case and would put everything on the line to solve it. Ben was an interesting character, I felt so sorry for him while reading his chapters. The other characters in these chapters were all very mysterious and this kept open the opportunity for any of them to have killed Ben.
The ending of this book was very unpredictable for me. It was so interesting how the author brought everything together and left no stone unturned. I was completely gripped from the beginning of the book and I couldn’t wait to carry on reading it.
I loved the dual timelines. In 1997, we read about Ben, a troubled teen, who has been sent to prestigious boarding school. He already knows he isn’t going to fit in until a group of three friends take him in. In the present day, DI Fleet and DS Collins are investigating the disappearance of Ben, this soon turns into a murder when a body is found. The investigating team have to round up the ex-students from 1998, which is 22 years ago. The 1997 chapters are placed strategically through out the present day story and as the investigation goes on, more secrets are unraveled in the 1997 chapters.
I thought DI Fleet and DS Collins are a good pair and we get to see glimpses into their personal life which gives them some character. They are very determined to get to the bottom of this case and would put everything on the line to solve it. Ben was an interesting character, I felt so sorry for him while reading his chapters. The other characters in these chapters were all very mysterious and this kept open the opportunity for any of them to have killed Ben.
The ending of this book was very unpredictable for me. It was so interesting how the author brought everything together and left no stone unturned. I was completely gripped from the beginning of the book and I couldn’t wait to carry on reading it.
January 4, 2022
The body of a missing schoolboy turns up twenty odd years after he disappeared from his boarding school - Beaconsfield.
DI Fleet and DS Collins lead the investigation which immediately throws suspicions on three of his then school friends who were the last people to see him alive. They claim, the missing boy Ben, disappeared during a game of hide and seek but each of them becomes a suspect. The plot moves quickly continually changing course an easy and gripping read. Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.
DI Fleet and DS Collins lead the investigation which immediately throws suspicions on three of his then school friends who were the last people to see him alive. They claim, the missing boy Ben, disappeared during a game of hide and seek but each of them becomes a suspect. The plot moves quickly continually changing course an easy and gripping read. Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.
May 7, 2022
A solid crime thriller, following Ben in the 90s and current day police after they locate Ben's body when looking into cold cases and try and figure out who the killer is.
I really thought this was going somewhere very predictable but super glad for the twist! Fleet was a likeable guy and I can think of a few people Richardson might have been based on!
I really thought this was going somewhere very predictable but super glad for the twist! Fleet was a likeable guy and I can think of a few people Richardson might have been based on!
May 11, 2023
Wonderful
December 16, 2021
Twenty-two years after his disappearance during a game of Hide-and-Seek, Ben Draper’s remains are found in the forgotten crypt of a totally razed and overgrown chapel in the grounds of his boarding school. The PM shows he had been clubbed, stabbed and strangled. At the time of his death, he appeared to have only three friends at the school, all of whom had been part of the game – it is also worth noting that they are all mid-teens, an unlikely age for this sort of game.
DI Robin Fleet and DS Nicky Collins are the local Missing Persons team, just them, no other support. It will not surprise the reader that Fleet is a short, overweight, cigarette smoking, divorcee, relegated to this job because his boss dislikes him for being a proper copper not a pen pushing graduate. It is less clear why Nicky has volunteered to be the other part of the team.
Fleet’s first lines of investigation are the school, specifically the Headmaster who has been in post since before Ben enrolled, The Chaplain, the only other staff member from that time, and the three friends. Two of these, Lance and Melissa, have dropped off the radar while the third is Callum Richardson, former spoilt bad-boy but now famous as a TV star, socialite, politician and thorn in the side of the government. This latter means the case has become high profile and the powers that be want it solved and closed down asap. Lance turns out to be a drunk sometime painter and decorator and Melissa is reportedly a homeless junkie – “reportedly” because she seems to have disappeared some time ago. Attempts are also being made to contact and talk to any other ex-pupils or staff members, without much success.
The story is told from two perspectives: Ben’s time at the school leading up to his death and Fleet’s investigation. It is, therefore, a fairly straightforward police procedural (PP) with little diversionary material except some interaction between Fleet and his ex-wife. As a puzzle, it is not very difficult to work out the who and why of the murder, although there is a slight twist that I didn’t spot ‘til very late. The book is written in a smooth and uncluttered style, typical of Lelic’s previous books and, like them, it is a standalone (although it does feel a bit like this might be the start of a series). Overall, an enjoyable read, especially for PP readers.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
DI Robin Fleet and DS Nicky Collins are the local Missing Persons team, just them, no other support. It will not surprise the reader that Fleet is a short, overweight, cigarette smoking, divorcee, relegated to this job because his boss dislikes him for being a proper copper not a pen pushing graduate. It is less clear why Nicky has volunteered to be the other part of the team.
Fleet’s first lines of investigation are the school, specifically the Headmaster who has been in post since before Ben enrolled, The Chaplain, the only other staff member from that time, and the three friends. Two of these, Lance and Melissa, have dropped off the radar while the third is Callum Richardson, former spoilt bad-boy but now famous as a TV star, socialite, politician and thorn in the side of the government. This latter means the case has become high profile and the powers that be want it solved and closed down asap. Lance turns out to be a drunk sometime painter and decorator and Melissa is reportedly a homeless junkie – “reportedly” because she seems to have disappeared some time ago. Attempts are also being made to contact and talk to any other ex-pupils or staff members, without much success.
The story is told from two perspectives: Ben’s time at the school leading up to his death and Fleet’s investigation. It is, therefore, a fairly straightforward police procedural (PP) with little diversionary material except some interaction between Fleet and his ex-wife. As a puzzle, it is not very difficult to work out the who and why of the murder, although there is a slight twist that I didn’t spot ‘til very late. The book is written in a smooth and uncluttered style, typical of Lelic’s previous books and, like them, it is a standalone (although it does feel a bit like this might be the start of a series). Overall, an enjoyable read, especially for PP readers.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
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