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Hide and Seek
CLOSE YOUR EYES
The game of hide and seek is over, everyone has gone home, but little Lily Murphy hasn't been found. Her parents search the woods and tell themselves that the worst hasn't happened - but deep down they know this peaceful Dublin suburb will never be the same again.
COUNT TO TEN
Years later, Joanna moves into a new house. It seems perfect in every way, until she learns that this was once Lily Murphy's home. From that moment onwards, a sense of dread seems to follow her from room to room.
AND WHEN YOU OPEN THEM, YOUR CHILD IS GONE
As Joanna unravels the secrets at the heart of this close-knit community, her own dark past begins to resurface. Because she thinks she knows what really happened to Lily - and if the truth gets out, it might be her undoing...
The game of hide and seek is over, everyone has gone home, but little Lily Murphy hasn't been found. Her parents search the woods and tell themselves that the worst hasn't happened - but deep down they know this peaceful Dublin suburb will never be the same again.
COUNT TO TEN
Years later, Joanna moves into a new house. It seems perfect in every way, until she learns that this was once Lily Murphy's home. From that moment onwards, a sense of dread seems to follow her from room to room.
AND WHEN YOU OPEN THEM, YOUR CHILD IS GONE
As Joanna unravels the secrets at the heart of this close-knit community, her own dark past begins to resurface. Because she thinks she knows what really happened to Lily - and if the truth gets out, it might be her undoing...
337 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2022
585 people are currently reading
18340 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 848 reviews
May 5, 2022
4.5 rounded up
Do you enjoy a multi layered, slow burner psychological thriller where are you are so darned into it you can’t put it down? Where are you scratch your head trying to figure out the puzzle exercising every ounce of grey matter desperate to figure it out and coming up with all sorts of theories? When the answers come it is so not what you had in mind but it’s so well thought out in a cleverly executed executed plot? Look no further, Andrea Mara is the author for you.
In 2018 Joanna plays hide and seek with her youngest daughter Sophie, briefly losing her as she wanders into the garden next door. Hide and seek, a common enough game but in 1985 three year old Lily Murphy despite endless seeking is never found and most believe she has drowned. Coincidentally, Joanna now lives in the same house as Lily, Sophie is the same age and shockingly the two children have a similar appearance. Joanna is jolted, her thoughts tumble and turn, she’s freaked out, so spooked and thoi fearful she feels honour bound to investigate. The story is told in dual timelines with the 2018 by Joanna but how reliable narrator is she???
Wow. Yet another winner from Andrea Mara. You jog along going with the flow then the author chucks in some absolute bombs of information that you feel as if you’re hanging on the edge of a cliff. The two timelines flow seamlessly, the plot is fast-paced, never a dull moment and at times it’s a mind blower. You witness dynamics you can’t get a handle on, shocking dysfunction with monsters masquerading behind a glossy appearance and deceptive smiles. This wealthy suburb of Dublin has umpteen secrets plastered over with plausible lies, it’s a mission to uncover those and and the truth when it comes makes absolute sense. The ultimate end is a cracker, I smile as justice is served.
This is very hard to put down, it’s very smart and keeps you guessing to the end, the characterisation is masterful although there are a bunch of them to get your head around. Overall, an unpredictable, riveting read from start to finish.
Highly recommended .
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK/Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Do you enjoy a multi layered, slow burner psychological thriller where are you are so darned into it you can’t put it down? Where are you scratch your head trying to figure out the puzzle exercising every ounce of grey matter desperate to figure it out and coming up with all sorts of theories? When the answers come it is so not what you had in mind but it’s so well thought out in a cleverly executed executed plot? Look no further, Andrea Mara is the author for you.
In 2018 Joanna plays hide and seek with her youngest daughter Sophie, briefly losing her as she wanders into the garden next door. Hide and seek, a common enough game but in 1985 three year old Lily Murphy despite endless seeking is never found and most believe she has drowned. Coincidentally, Joanna now lives in the same house as Lily, Sophie is the same age and shockingly the two children have a similar appearance. Joanna is jolted, her thoughts tumble and turn, she’s freaked out, so spooked and thoi fearful she feels honour bound to investigate. The story is told in dual timelines with the 2018 by Joanna but how reliable narrator is she???
Wow. Yet another winner from Andrea Mara. You jog along going with the flow then the author chucks in some absolute bombs of information that you feel as if you’re hanging on the edge of a cliff. The two timelines flow seamlessly, the plot is fast-paced, never a dull moment and at times it’s a mind blower. You witness dynamics you can’t get a handle on, shocking dysfunction with monsters masquerading behind a glossy appearance and deceptive smiles. This wealthy suburb of Dublin has umpteen secrets plastered over with plausible lies, it’s a mission to uncover those and and the truth when it comes makes absolute sense. The ultimate end is a cracker, I smile as justice is served.
This is very hard to put down, it’s very smart and keeps you guessing to the end, the characterisation is masterful although there are a bunch of them to get your head around. Overall, an unpredictable, riveting read from start to finish.
Highly recommended .
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK/Transworld for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 3, 2023
An entertaining read with a gripping, twisty storyline.
A children’s game of hide and seek ends but little Lily Murphy hasn't been found. Her parents and neighbours search the woods and tell themselves that the worst hasn't happened. But Lily’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
Life moves on and Years later, Joanna moves into a new house. It seems perfect in every way, until she learns that this was once Lily Murphy's home. From that moment onwards, a sense of dread seems to follow her from room to room and Joanna is determined to unravel the mystery of Lily’s disappearance by tapping into uncomfortable memories and flashbacks from her childhood which she’d rather keep hidden.
A fast paced read with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader entertained. I did however struggle to keep track of all the characters and found myself a bit confused by times in the storyline. I am not sure I was fully convinced by the story’s conclusion either however the book kept my attention and I enjoyed the read.
An entertaining read but not sure I will remember this one a year from now.
A children’s game of hide and seek ends but little Lily Murphy hasn't been found. Her parents and neighbours search the woods and tell themselves that the worst hasn't happened. But Lily’s whereabouts remain a mystery.
Life moves on and Years later, Joanna moves into a new house. It seems perfect in every way, until she learns that this was once Lily Murphy's home. From that moment onwards, a sense of dread seems to follow her from room to room and Joanna is determined to unravel the mystery of Lily’s disappearance by tapping into uncomfortable memories and flashbacks from her childhood which she’d rather keep hidden.
A fast paced read with lots of twists and turns to keep the reader entertained. I did however struggle to keep track of all the characters and found myself a bit confused by times in the storyline. I am not sure I was fully convinced by the story’s conclusion either however the book kept my attention and I enjoyed the read.
An entertaining read but not sure I will remember this one a year from now.
July 2, 2022
This was a really hard book to get into. The Stedman family - Mark and Joanna and their children Sophie aged three, Emily aged eleven and Ben aged nine move into a nice large house in Rowanbrook in Dublin. Joanna is taken aback when she learns that this is the house that 3 year old Lily Murphy disappeared from 30 years ago. I’m really still not sure why that is. She has many secrets and thinks she killed her sister, Lila, when she herself was still a child but I couldn’t work out what that had to do with Lily. The general consensus was that Lily had drowned in the river but the body had never been found.
Joanna becomes obsessed with Lily’s disappearance and talks to anyone in the area who knew the family. She tracks down photos and follows a blog about the story. It got really, really tedious. She recognises quite a few of the people in some of the photos from 30 years ago but I still couldn’t work out what this all had to do with her sister or why she was so obsessed with Lily. The story is in two timelines - 1985 when Lily disappeared and the present day in 2018. There were also too many characters to keep track of and so they were not as well developed as I would have liked.
Finally, in the last quarter of the book we get some answers. And I will admit that these are are quite interesting- certainly more interesting than the first three quarters of the book. Of course I can’t tell you about them as that would be spoilery. What I can say is that the ending raised the book from a certain 2 star rating to a 3. But it was a lot of hard slog getting to the good stuff. If you like a really, really slow burn this could be a book for you. Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
Joanna becomes obsessed with Lily’s disappearance and talks to anyone in the area who knew the family. She tracks down photos and follows a blog about the story. It got really, really tedious. She recognises quite a few of the people in some of the photos from 30 years ago but I still couldn’t work out what this all had to do with her sister or why she was so obsessed with Lily. The story is in two timelines - 1985 when Lily disappeared and the present day in 2018. There were also too many characters to keep track of and so they were not as well developed as I would have liked.
Finally, in the last quarter of the book we get some answers. And I will admit that these are are quite interesting- certainly more interesting than the first three quarters of the book. Of course I can’t tell you about them as that would be spoilery. What I can say is that the ending raised the book from a certain 2 star rating to a 3. But it was a lot of hard slog getting to the good stuff. If you like a really, really slow burn this could be a book for you. Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
August 10, 2022
Unless I'm mistaken, this is my first book by Andrea Mara. On the back of this, I'll definitely look out for her next one!
I love stories with missing children, it's something of a fascination. This was a great one to add to the collection. A story that grabbed from the initial disappearance and had me questioning everyone at one page or another!
This is a complex plot and you do need to have your wits about you to fully appreciate the execution. This is intricate stuff, and beautifully done. I just wish I'd have picked up on some of the smaller clues along the way!
I love stories with missing children, it's something of a fascination. This was a great one to add to the collection. A story that grabbed from the initial disappearance and had me questioning everyone at one page or another!
This is a complex plot and you do need to have your wits about you to fully appreciate the execution. This is intricate stuff, and beautifully done. I just wish I'd have picked up on some of the smaller clues along the way!
July 28, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up
When Johanna and her family move into her new home, she's sure they've found her forever home. Until she learns about it's dark past: thirty years ago, it was home to three year old Lily Murph, who disappeared during a game of hide-and-seek, and never seen again. Joanna is determined to find out all she can about the little girls disappearance and the inhabitants of the close-knit neighbourhood are all eager to speculate. But the more she learns, the closer she's drawn towards her own dark family secrets - secrets she's spent years trying to hide.
Joanna Stedman, her husband Mark and their three children move into their 'forever home' in Dublin. Joanna is distressed to learn that her new home is the house where three year old Lily Murphy went missing from after playing hide-and-seek thirty years ago. The story has a dual timeline - the past, 1985, when Lily went missing and the present day. Joanna becomes obsessed by the mystery surrounding the missing girl. She questions the neighbours and she suspects the disappearance is connected to an event from her own past. There is a lot of characters to try and keep track of. There's secrets, red herrings and revelations. With some people knowing more than they were letting on, we don't find out what happened to Lily until the very end.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #AndreaMara for my ARC of #HideAndSeek in exchange for an honest review.
When Johanna and her family move into her new home, she's sure they've found her forever home. Until she learns about it's dark past: thirty years ago, it was home to three year old Lily Murph, who disappeared during a game of hide-and-seek, and never seen again. Joanna is determined to find out all she can about the little girls disappearance and the inhabitants of the close-knit neighbourhood are all eager to speculate. But the more she learns, the closer she's drawn towards her own dark family secrets - secrets she's spent years trying to hide.
Joanna Stedman, her husband Mark and their three children move into their 'forever home' in Dublin. Joanna is distressed to learn that her new home is the house where three year old Lily Murphy went missing from after playing hide-and-seek thirty years ago. The story has a dual timeline - the past, 1985, when Lily went missing and the present day. Joanna becomes obsessed by the mystery surrounding the missing girl. She questions the neighbours and she suspects the disappearance is connected to an event from her own past. There is a lot of characters to try and keep track of. There's secrets, red herrings and revelations. With some people knowing more than they were letting on, we don't find out what happened to Lily until the very end.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishers and the author #AndreaMara for my ARC of #HideAndSeek in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2022
They say females experience heart attacks differently to men and honestly I wonder at times if reading an Andrea Mara book is in a way a similar experience. Andrea has this uncanny ability to create a layer of tension that imposes itself on the reader from the very first page and it does not relent until you get to that relief inducing last chapter. I for one had several moments within this book where I was left gasping for breath, with a tightness in my chest and a panicked pulse.
I think Andrea's talent in creating such an extreme reaction in her readers is in one part due to how she writes so fluidly and realistically. While there may be layers upon layers of twists imbedded within the plotline at no point do her words feel over written, the story always feels far too real and plausible. There are so many relatable snippets that you are immersed into a world you recognise and feel comfortable in, until those stark, jarring moments when you're not.
A lot of thriller writers in recent years seem to be fans of the slow burn approach and often that can leave a reader underwhelmed. The opening section of Hide and Seek immediately grabs hold of you, slaps you in the face and leaves you cast aside agonising over what's to come.
Within the many glowing reviews of Andrea's books she is frequently called the Irish thriller Queen or Queen of the unexpected twist and inside the pages of Hide and Seek she proves yet again why she will always retain that title. Andrea flawlessly spins a web of mystery and ensnares you into a false sense of security, in which you think you have it all figured out, you know exactly who is to blame and then she violently rips the carpet right-out from under you.
Alongside the tension you could cut with a knife and those whiplash inducing plot twists the book is full of characters that are relatable. Some you will see in yourself, others are that annoying neighbour a few doors over that never smiles, remember that family down the road that seem to have it all or even that cluster of snotty Mummies at the school gates. We all know these characters, whether we love or hate them, it becomes ridiculously hard not to become invested in them.
Hence why despite recieving my advanced reading copy at 9am after an 11 hour night shift, I sat in bed and got through about 50% of the book in one sitting. I woke with my kindle slapped on my face wondering what just happened and where the hell was Lily.
An unputdownable page turner which will have you gripped from the opening lines, and tortured until you find out the staggering truth about Lily and those around her. All is not what it seems in these quiet leafy Dublin suburbs.
I think Andrea's talent in creating such an extreme reaction in her readers is in one part due to how she writes so fluidly and realistically. While there may be layers upon layers of twists imbedded within the plotline at no point do her words feel over written, the story always feels far too real and plausible. There are so many relatable snippets that you are immersed into a world you recognise and feel comfortable in, until those stark, jarring moments when you're not.
A lot of thriller writers in recent years seem to be fans of the slow burn approach and often that can leave a reader underwhelmed. The opening section of Hide and Seek immediately grabs hold of you, slaps you in the face and leaves you cast aside agonising over what's to come.
Within the many glowing reviews of Andrea's books she is frequently called the Irish thriller Queen or Queen of the unexpected twist and inside the pages of Hide and Seek she proves yet again why she will always retain that title. Andrea flawlessly spins a web of mystery and ensnares you into a false sense of security, in which you think you have it all figured out, you know exactly who is to blame and then she violently rips the carpet right-out from under you.
Alongside the tension you could cut with a knife and those whiplash inducing plot twists the book is full of characters that are relatable. Some you will see in yourself, others are that annoying neighbour a few doors over that never smiles, remember that family down the road that seem to have it all or even that cluster of snotty Mummies at the school gates. We all know these characters, whether we love or hate them, it becomes ridiculously hard not to become invested in them.
Hence why despite recieving my advanced reading copy at 9am after an 11 hour night shift, I sat in bed and got through about 50% of the book in one sitting. I woke with my kindle slapped on my face wondering what just happened and where the hell was Lily.
An unputdownable page turner which will have you gripped from the opening lines, and tortured until you find out the staggering truth about Lily and those around her. All is not what it seems in these quiet leafy Dublin suburbs.
June 29, 2022
Hide and Seek is the latest from Irish thriller queen, Andrea Mara.
I’ve loved her previous books so I was delighted to get an advanced copy of Hide and Seek, prior to its release in August.
Joanna has just moved into a beautiful home in the Dublin suburbs with her husband and kids. All is well until she finds out from her next door neighbour that her new house was also the former home of Lily Murphy; a three year old who disappeared following a game of hide and seek nearby in 1985.
Joanna is horrified by this and starts to look into it; her in laws knew Lily’s parents and a lot of the neighbours remember the Murphy family also, so Joanna is not short of people to chat to about it, but what really spurs her on to uncover the decades-old mystery is her realisation that the photos of three year old Lily look very familiar to her indeed.
Joanna thinks she may be remembering what happened to Lily, and her childhood self may have been involved.
I loved this book! As I mentioned on my stories, I started reading it on the plane home from Tenerife. As it was an evening flight I had a little doze and had a dream involving ALL of the characters in the book! Completely invested in the storyline, and I had only just started it!
I love a dual timeline; the 80’s irish suburb along with the attitudes of the time felt very familiar to me, but equally the modern day setting felt realistic too.
I couldn’t work out the solution to the mystery for most of the book, even at that I only deduced part of it! I’m not slipping, it’s just a particularly good mystery! 😅
This one has some really excellent creepy vibes, something that’s been lacking in a lot of the thrillers I’ve read recently.
I highly recommend Hide and Seek, I think along with The Sleeper Lies, it’s probably my favourite Andrea Mara so far. Available to pre-order now.
With thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this ARC.
I’ve loved her previous books so I was delighted to get an advanced copy of Hide and Seek, prior to its release in August.
Joanna has just moved into a beautiful home in the Dublin suburbs with her husband and kids. All is well until she finds out from her next door neighbour that her new house was also the former home of Lily Murphy; a three year old who disappeared following a game of hide and seek nearby in 1985.
Joanna is horrified by this and starts to look into it; her in laws knew Lily’s parents and a lot of the neighbours remember the Murphy family also, so Joanna is not short of people to chat to about it, but what really spurs her on to uncover the decades-old mystery is her realisation that the photos of three year old Lily look very familiar to her indeed.
Joanna thinks she may be remembering what happened to Lily, and her childhood self may have been involved.
I loved this book! As I mentioned on my stories, I started reading it on the plane home from Tenerife. As it was an evening flight I had a little doze and had a dream involving ALL of the characters in the book! Completely invested in the storyline, and I had only just started it!
I love a dual timeline; the 80’s irish suburb along with the attitudes of the time felt very familiar to me, but equally the modern day setting felt realistic too.
I couldn’t work out the solution to the mystery for most of the book, even at that I only deduced part of it! I’m not slipping, it’s just a particularly good mystery! 😅
This one has some really excellent creepy vibes, something that’s been lacking in a lot of the thrillers I’ve read recently.
I highly recommend Hide and Seek, I think along with The Sleeper Lies, it’s probably my favourite Andrea Mara so far. Available to pre-order now.
With thanks to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this ARC.
January 15, 2025
A slow burn read it took me a while to come to grips with this book but it was well worth staying with it. There were quite a few characters to remember. The book was based on a missing child Lily Murphy who was never found back in 1985. The story switched between 1985 and 2018, this was ideal, essentially for remembering characters. Once I became gripped in this story the second half of the book took no time at all to read. There is so much more to say about this book but the characters, some likeable and some not, the plot and the totally unexpected finale made this a great read.
January 25, 2025
“Hide and Seek”, by Andrea Mara
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (but 5 stars for the concept and conclusion)
Good writing. Good premises. Good timeline structure.
Unfortunately the storytelling wasn’t gripping enough and I didn’t connect with any of the characters.
The pace is very slow. I kept waiting for that redemption point, but it took forever to get there.
The line of inquiring was very repetitive, but then, the main protagonist who was obsessed with discovering the truth, wasn’t really a professional investigator.
Lots of little secrets are revealed, but still nothing memorable.
Until we get to the last 25% of the book, which is the best part, and I can easily rated it 5 stars.
e-book (Kobo): 295 pages (default), 91k words, 68 chapters
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (but 5 stars for the concept and conclusion)
Good writing. Good premises. Good timeline structure.
Unfortunately the storytelling wasn’t gripping enough and I didn’t connect with any of the characters.
The pace is very slow. I kept waiting for that redemption point, but it took forever to get there.
The line of inquiring was very repetitive, but then, the main protagonist who was obsessed with discovering the truth, wasn’t really a professional investigator.
Lots of little secrets are revealed, but still nothing memorable.
Until we get to the last 25% of the book, which is the best part, and I can easily rated it 5 stars.
e-book (Kobo): 295 pages (default), 91k words, 68 chapters
April 13, 2022
I read this very quickly after being approved for it on Netgalley, primarily because I have really enjoyed the author’s previous thrillers and I hoped this would be another propulsive read. I’m pleased to say it was. This was for me perhaps her best thriller yet, up there with The Sleeper Lies.
Shortly after Joanna, her husband and three children move into a new house in a mature, middle class estate in Dublin, Joanna discovers that the house was the former home of Lily Murphy. Lily disappeared when she was three years old during a neighbourhood game of Hide and Seek and was never found.
Joanna is determined to find out more about Lily and the circumstances of her disappearance, not least because Joanna is harbouring secrets of her own that may have some bearing on the unsolved case.
From the moment I picked it up, I found it very hard to put this book down - it was everything I wanted from a thriller. A smart, well-plotted, tense and suspenseful read with a cast of characters about whom you’ll find yourself constantly second-guessing. Is Joanna herself a reliable narrator I began to wonder? There is some deliciously dark humour in it too that I loved.
Hide and Seek will be published on 4 August and is available to pre-order from all good bookshops and on Kindle. It would make for a super holiday read - except that you’ll have it read by the second day of your holiday! 😅 Recommended. 4/5 ⭐️
Shortly after Joanna, her husband and three children move into a new house in a mature, middle class estate in Dublin, Joanna discovers that the house was the former home of Lily Murphy. Lily disappeared when she was three years old during a neighbourhood game of Hide and Seek and was never found.
Joanna is determined to find out more about Lily and the circumstances of her disappearance, not least because Joanna is harbouring secrets of her own that may have some bearing on the unsolved case.
From the moment I picked it up, I found it very hard to put this book down - it was everything I wanted from a thriller. A smart, well-plotted, tense and suspenseful read with a cast of characters about whom you’ll find yourself constantly second-guessing. Is Joanna herself a reliable narrator I began to wonder? There is some deliciously dark humour in it too that I loved.
Hide and Seek will be published on 4 August and is available to pre-order from all good bookshops and on Kindle. It would make for a super holiday read - except that you’ll have it read by the second day of your holiday! 😅 Recommended. 4/5 ⭐️
May 20, 2025
Set in Dublin, and narrated by two women (Mary and Joanna) in two different decades (1985 and 2018), Hide and Seek started off painfully slow. I gave up at one point but decided to give the story another go. And, honestly, patience is key here because once all the pieces came together, I was devastated in the best way possible.
Mary, an American, is married to Robbie Murphy. They have a 3-year-old daughter named Lily and appear to be the perfect couple. Robbie is quite the host, a real charmer. But from the beginning, we can sense Mary's dread and her fear. There is something dark lurking just around the corner.
And in the summer of 1985, the unthinkable happens. Little Lily Murphy disappears during a game of hide and seek and is presumed drowned. "Presumed" because her body is never found.
Fast forward some four decades, and Joanna, along with her husband and three young kids, moves into the Murphys' old house and is determined to get to the bottom of Lily's disappearance. Lily reminds her of another young girl she used to know, one who deserved better than what she got.
There are so many secrets here, so many twists, so many half-truths spread through gossip and memories warped by time. Nothing is as it seems, and the character you hate may turn out to be the hero after all.
Thank heavens I didn't give up on this book because in the end it was brilliant.
Mary, an American, is married to Robbie Murphy. They have a 3-year-old daughter named Lily and appear to be the perfect couple. Robbie is quite the host, a real charmer. But from the beginning, we can sense Mary's dread and her fear. There is something dark lurking just around the corner.
And in the summer of 1985, the unthinkable happens. Little Lily Murphy disappears during a game of hide and seek and is presumed drowned. "Presumed" because her body is never found.
Fast forward some four decades, and Joanna, along with her husband and three young kids, moves into the Murphys' old house and is determined to get to the bottom of Lily's disappearance. Lily reminds her of another young girl she used to know, one who deserved better than what she got.
There are so many secrets here, so many twists, so many half-truths spread through gossip and memories warped by time. Nothing is as it seems, and the character you hate may turn out to be the hero after all.
Thank heavens I didn't give up on this book because in the end it was brilliant.
July 18, 2022
This book is one belter of a crime thriller which I devoured in an afternoon, I just had to keep on reading I HAD TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!! The Steadman family have just moved into their new home. Unbeknownst to them this is the same house that three year old Lily Murphy disappeared from thirty years ago. Now that I have set the scene. The story is set in two time periods 1985 when Lily disappeared and the present day. Each chapter is given over to a little more of what actually happened 30 years ago. The truth, lies and so many heart in your mouth moments. Heartbraking, intense and so much more.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 26, 2022
Hide and Seek by Andrea Mara
Andrea Mara writes twisty turny domestic thrillers like no other and her latest one, Hide and Seek, is out in August.
I pre-ordered it the minute it was announced and was fortunate to receive a digital ARC and a proof copy.
May 1985: Lily Murphy (age 3) goes missing playing hide and seek in the woods near her home in South County Dublin (‘SoCoDu’)
June 2018: Joanna Murphy (mother of 3) moves into a new house in the SoCoDu suburbs, only to learn that it was the home of Lily Murphy before she disappeared.
Joanna is curious, has some time on her hands, and draws somewhat tenuous links to her own childhood. So unfolds the tale of two timelines, interweaving the past, the present and the secrets of the residents of Rowanbrook.
It’s so clever with many characters whose lives overlap; it will keep you on your toes.
I don’t want to say too much; it’s killing me not to comment on some of my favourite parts of the story but it would give it away.
Definitely one to pre-order or pick up when it’s released, ideally when you have a day free to read it in one sitting.
The only problem now is I’ll have to wait for Mara’s next release but the good news is she’s signed a deal with Transworld for two more books!
Hide and Seek will be published by Transworld - an imprint of @penguinbooksireland - on 2 August 2022. I received an advance digital copy courtesy of the publishers.
#NetGalley #HideAndSeek #AndreaMara #NetGalleyShelfDestruction
#TiredMammyBookClub #NotJustForMammies #TiredMammy30minutes
Andrea Mara writes twisty turny domestic thrillers like no other and her latest one, Hide and Seek, is out in August.
I pre-ordered it the minute it was announced and was fortunate to receive a digital ARC and a proof copy.
May 1985: Lily Murphy (age 3) goes missing playing hide and seek in the woods near her home in South County Dublin (‘SoCoDu’)
June 2018: Joanna Murphy (mother of 3) moves into a new house in the SoCoDu suburbs, only to learn that it was the home of Lily Murphy before she disappeared.
Joanna is curious, has some time on her hands, and draws somewhat tenuous links to her own childhood. So unfolds the tale of two timelines, interweaving the past, the present and the secrets of the residents of Rowanbrook.
It’s so clever with many characters whose lives overlap; it will keep you on your toes.
I don’t want to say too much; it’s killing me not to comment on some of my favourite parts of the story but it would give it away.
Definitely one to pre-order or pick up when it’s released, ideally when you have a day free to read it in one sitting.
The only problem now is I’ll have to wait for Mara’s next release but the good news is she’s signed a deal with Transworld for two more books!
Hide and Seek will be published by Transworld - an imprint of @penguinbooksireland - on 2 August 2022. I received an advance digital copy courtesy of the publishers.
#NetGalley #HideAndSeek #AndreaMara #NetGalleyShelfDestruction
#TiredMammyBookClub #NotJustForMammies #TiredMammy30minutes
April 28, 2024
although the story line was good there was way to many characters it became really confusing trying to keep track of who was who. this ruined the book for me unfortunately. the ending was okay, didn’t see it coming but due to so many different story lines running again, it became confusing.
April 30, 2022
I was delighted to see that Andrea Mara had written a new book, given that the other three of hers that I've read have all been bangers. I was even more delighted to be approved for an ARC from @NetGalley and got stuck in straight away.
Joanna Stedman and her family move into what they hope will be their forever home. Joanna quickly learns that it was once the home of Lily Murphy, a three year old girl who went missing during a neighbourhood game of hide and seek, some thirty years ago. Joanna is determined to get to the bottom of the little girl's disappearance but as she begins to snoop, it becomes apparent that she has some pretty dark secrets of her own.
Andrea Mara is the queen of suspense, twists and turns, of that there is no doubt. I couldn't put this down as I just HAD to know what had happened to both Lily and Joanna. I loved the duel timeline aspect and the pacing was such that we learnt about the lead up to Lily's disappearance and Joanna's childhood at the same time. All strings were tied up by the end but we're left to decide about one particular plot point, in a deliciously wicked way.
If you're looking for a brilliantly paced page turner, then look no further.
*Thanks to the author @andreamaraauthor, the publishers @randomhouse, @penguinrandomhouse, Bantam Press and TransWorld Publishers for the digital ARC via @netgalley. Hide and Seek will be published on 04/08/22 and is available to pre-order now*
Joanna Stedman and her family move into what they hope will be their forever home. Joanna quickly learns that it was once the home of Lily Murphy, a three year old girl who went missing during a neighbourhood game of hide and seek, some thirty years ago. Joanna is determined to get to the bottom of the little girl's disappearance but as she begins to snoop, it becomes apparent that she has some pretty dark secrets of her own.
Andrea Mara is the queen of suspense, twists and turns, of that there is no doubt. I couldn't put this down as I just HAD to know what had happened to both Lily and Joanna. I loved the duel timeline aspect and the pacing was such that we learnt about the lead up to Lily's disappearance and Joanna's childhood at the same time. All strings were tied up by the end but we're left to decide about one particular plot point, in a deliciously wicked way.
If you're looking for a brilliantly paced page turner, then look no further.
*Thanks to the author @andreamaraauthor, the publishers @randomhouse, @penguinrandomhouse, Bantam Press and TransWorld Publishers for the digital ARC via @netgalley. Hide and Seek will be published on 04/08/22 and is available to pre-order now*
July 31, 2025
3,75 STARS
Une lecture haletante et addictive. J’ai adoré l’intrigue, autour d’une enfant disparue il y a plusieurs années. Joanna s’installe avec sa famille dans la maison du drame, elle devient alors obsédée par cette affaire et fait tout pour découvrir ce qu’il s’est passé.
Dès les premières pages on a des rebondissements ce qui nous plonge directement au cœur de l’histoire. Chaque fin de chapitres donne envie de poursuivre la lecture.
J’ai été perdue à plusieurs reprises à cause du grand nombre de protagonistes. Parfois, l’intrigue se perdait un peu, je pense que c’est pour perdre le lecteur, mais ça m’a un peu déstabilisé.
Le dénouement est smart, je ne m’y attendais pas, mais ça ne retourne pas le cerveau, je ne suis pas tombée des nues non plus. Mais jusqu’à la dernière phrase on apprend des choses !
Cependant j’ai passé un bon moment. C’est un thriller sympa à lire qui nous tient en haleine, avec une ambiance parfois pesante ! Je recommande.
Une lecture haletante et addictive. J’ai adoré l’intrigue, autour d’une enfant disparue il y a plusieurs années. Joanna s’installe avec sa famille dans la maison du drame, elle devient alors obsédée par cette affaire et fait tout pour découvrir ce qu’il s’est passé.
Dès les premières pages on a des rebondissements ce qui nous plonge directement au cœur de l’histoire. Chaque fin de chapitres donne envie de poursuivre la lecture.
J’ai été perdue à plusieurs reprises à cause du grand nombre de protagonistes. Parfois, l’intrigue se perdait un peu, je pense que c’est pour perdre le lecteur, mais ça m’a un peu déstabilisé.
Le dénouement est smart, je ne m’y attendais pas, mais ça ne retourne pas le cerveau, je ne suis pas tombée des nues non plus. Mais jusqu’à la dernière phrase on apprend des choses !
Cependant j’ai passé un bon moment. C’est un thriller sympa à lire qui nous tient en haleine, avec une ambiance parfois pesante ! Je recommande.
June 26, 2022
Hide and Seek - Andrea Mara
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Andrea Mara is one of those authors who as soon as I hear she has a new book out I just have to drop everything and get stuck in.
I pre ordered this one months ago (as soon as it was announced) and so could not believe my luck when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks so much to the author Andrea Mara, publishers Bookouture and Netgalley.co.uk for the opportunity to read it prior to it's publication on August 4th 2022.
There is no denying Andrea Mara is the QUEEN of Irish Thriller Writers.
I have read every single one of her books and have never been left disappointed... and dare I say it, but I think this latest one could be her best yet!!!!
Where do I start on this one without giving too much away -
Set in a Dublin suburb using two different timeliness, the story of missing child Lily Murphy unfolds. The two timelines flow seamlessly. It is so cleverly plotted with many characters whose lives overlap, though its written so well its easy to keep up. It's fast paced, full of twists and turns on every page and I just couldn't put it down. I'd think I had it all figured out then bam another twist and I was clueless again. Not a bit predictable like some in this genre can be - this one has everything you could want in a thriller.
My only advice guys is only start it when you have a free day or a free few hours to devour it cos you won't wanna put this one down.
I raced through it in one sitting. What a glorious way to spend a rainy Sunday.
It's out August 4th guys so get pre ordering - it will make a super holiday read (even if it only lasts yas the first couple of days 😅)
An unpredictable, twisty read from start to finish. Any fans of the thriller genre this is one you don't wanna miss!!!
An easy (and worthy) 5 Stars 🌟
#HideAndSeek #Netgalley
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Andrea Mara is one of those authors who as soon as I hear she has a new book out I just have to drop everything and get stuck in.
I pre ordered this one months ago (as soon as it was announced) and so could not believe my luck when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks so much to the author Andrea Mara, publishers Bookouture and Netgalley.co.uk for the opportunity to read it prior to it's publication on August 4th 2022.
There is no denying Andrea Mara is the QUEEN of Irish Thriller Writers.
I have read every single one of her books and have never been left disappointed... and dare I say it, but I think this latest one could be her best yet!!!!
Where do I start on this one without giving too much away -
Set in a Dublin suburb using two different timeliness, the story of missing child Lily Murphy unfolds. The two timelines flow seamlessly. It is so cleverly plotted with many characters whose lives overlap, though its written so well its easy to keep up. It's fast paced, full of twists and turns on every page and I just couldn't put it down. I'd think I had it all figured out then bam another twist and I was clueless again. Not a bit predictable like some in this genre can be - this one has everything you could want in a thriller.
My only advice guys is only start it when you have a free day or a free few hours to devour it cos you won't wanna put this one down.
I raced through it in one sitting. What a glorious way to spend a rainy Sunday.
It's out August 4th guys so get pre ordering - it will make a super holiday read (even if it only lasts yas the first couple of days 😅)
An unpredictable, twisty read from start to finish. Any fans of the thriller genre this is one you don't wanna miss!!!
An easy (and worthy) 5 Stars 🌟
#HideAndSeek #Netgalley
July 19, 2022
What's not to love about Andrea Mara? As usual with a twisty, turny thriller I feel lost for the first 50 pages or so but then when who's who and what's gone before clicks I'm glued.
Another confession is that Andrea's books sometimes give me the creeps. I'm easily disturbed and the most annoying part about a great thriller like this that you don't want to stop reading is that I have to when night falls. I admit it. If this was on the telly I'd be behind the sofa with my eyes shut.
However, my irrational fears aside, no one does thrillers quite as well as Andrea Mara. I've loved all her other books (some only slightly more than others) so when I got an advance copy from Netgalley I started reading straight away.
The story revolves around the disappearance of 3 year old Lily Murphy and the connection it has to Joanna Stedman who now lives in her house. Lily was never found and Joanna believes she knows more about this case than most because Joanna has a whole closet full of secrets herself.
As she tries to unravel her own past and that of the Murphy family the twists keep coming. In fact the very last twist is on the final page.
As usual a brilliantly conceived and tautly plotted thriller from an author at the top of her game.
Very highly recommended to anyone who loves thrillers and who has or hasn't read Andrea's previous books.
Plus if anyone is listening can you put my name on the list for the next one please.
Another confession is that Andrea's books sometimes give me the creeps. I'm easily disturbed and the most annoying part about a great thriller like this that you don't want to stop reading is that I have to when night falls. I admit it. If this was on the telly I'd be behind the sofa with my eyes shut.
However, my irrational fears aside, no one does thrillers quite as well as Andrea Mara. I've loved all her other books (some only slightly more than others) so when I got an advance copy from Netgalley I started reading straight away.
The story revolves around the disappearance of 3 year old Lily Murphy and the connection it has to Joanna Stedman who now lives in her house. Lily was never found and Joanna believes she knows more about this case than most because Joanna has a whole closet full of secrets herself.
As she tries to unravel her own past and that of the Murphy family the twists keep coming. In fact the very last twist is on the final page.
As usual a brilliantly conceived and tautly plotted thriller from an author at the top of her game.
Very highly recommended to anyone who loves thrillers and who has or hasn't read Andrea's previous books.
Plus if anyone is listening can you put my name on the list for the next one please.
July 30, 2022
I found it so hard to put this book down - I was hooked from the first page!
Joanna has moved into a new home with her husband and three children in a mature housing estate in suburban Dublin. Her sense of contentment at finding their "forever home" soon subsides when a new neighbour tells her that her home once belonged to the family of Lily Murphy, a three-year-old who went missing in the mid-80s while playing a game of Hide and Seek. Lily was never found and the peaceful suburb was forever changed.
When Joanna sees a photograph of Lily, her own past resurfaces, and in an attempt to uncover the sense of familiarity and the link between her own past and Lily's, Joanna begins to pull at the threads of the close-knit community. What she discovers makes for a twisty, thrilling and riveting read!
I couldn't get enough of this story. It's so well weaved, and despite a large cast of characters, the meticulousness with which it is put together makes it an easy read. It moves back and forth between the 80s and present day effortlessly, and the authentic depiction of the characters and their conversations made for such an engaging experience. It was so convincing!
Honestly, I can't fault it. A brilliant, gripping, compelling read, and one that I recommend you get your hands on immediately. One of my favourite thrillers of the year so far. 4.5 stars.
Joanna has moved into a new home with her husband and three children in a mature housing estate in suburban Dublin. Her sense of contentment at finding their "forever home" soon subsides when a new neighbour tells her that her home once belonged to the family of Lily Murphy, a three-year-old who went missing in the mid-80s while playing a game of Hide and Seek. Lily was never found and the peaceful suburb was forever changed.
When Joanna sees a photograph of Lily, her own past resurfaces, and in an attempt to uncover the sense of familiarity and the link between her own past and Lily's, Joanna begins to pull at the threads of the close-knit community. What she discovers makes for a twisty, thrilling and riveting read!
I couldn't get enough of this story. It's so well weaved, and despite a large cast of characters, the meticulousness with which it is put together makes it an easy read. It moves back and forth between the 80s and present day effortlessly, and the authentic depiction of the characters and their conversations made for such an engaging experience. It was so convincing!
Honestly, I can't fault it. A brilliant, gripping, compelling read, and one that I recommend you get your hands on immediately. One of my favourite thrillers of the year so far. 4.5 stars.
October 24, 2024
*Appearances*
For some reason I kept putting off starting this book. It was much better than I expected and a lot of the chapters ended on a slight cliffhanger which kept me hooked.
Joanna and Mark move into their new home and are just settling in with their children. Things change when Joanna finds out that the house they have bought has a past.
This past is about a little girl Lily Murphy who went missing seemingly without a trace. When Joanna searches for an image of Lily she wishes she never started.
We are treated to snippets of the past life and the house itself carried its own dark secrets. Joanna has secrets of her own that even her husband and family are unaware of.
Now, as she starts to ask questions she has trouble holding in her own secret. She speaks to the one person that she knows has some answers, this person is a secret that she aims to take to her grave.
But, tragedy strikes just as Joanna was getting some answers. But how long before her own past catches up with her?…
There is one final reveal at the end that I was not expecting…
For some reason I kept putting off starting this book. It was much better than I expected and a lot of the chapters ended on a slight cliffhanger which kept me hooked.
Joanna and Mark move into their new home and are just settling in with their children. Things change when Joanna finds out that the house they have bought has a past.
This past is about a little girl Lily Murphy who went missing seemingly without a trace. When Joanna searches for an image of Lily she wishes she never started.
We are treated to snippets of the past life and the house itself carried its own dark secrets. Joanna has secrets of her own that even her husband and family are unaware of.
Now, as she starts to ask questions she has trouble holding in her own secret. She speaks to the one person that she knows has some answers, this person is a secret that she aims to take to her grave.
But, tragedy strikes just as Joanna was getting some answers. But how long before her own past catches up with her?…
There is one final reveal at the end that I was not expecting…
April 25, 2022
Andrea Mara has done it again! Hide and Seek, her fifth novel, is her best yet! Mara is one of the undisputed champions of twisty, gripping thrillers that will leave your heart racing and your nerves shot!
Set in a leafy suburb in Dublin, Lily Murphy disappears in 1985 while playing the age-old favourite children’s game of hide and seek. Many years later, a new family has moved the house once occupied by the Murphy family. When Joanna realises that Lily once lived there, she is immediately overcome with an awful sense of dread that she just can’t shift. She thinks she knows that happened to the little girl and if the truth comes out, her world will also be turned upside down.
This fast-paced crime thriller will have your literally on the edge of your seat with turning of each page. Mara’s ability to hit you with one revelation after another ensures that you will not want to put this book down.
One of my favourite aspects of Mara’s writing is the way she brings the characters to life on the page and draws the reader into the story. You feel a connection to each of the protagonists and are invested in their outcomes and the solving of the mysteries within the story.
Jumping between time periods, Mara seamlessly ties the various timelines of the story together perfectly. She isn’t afraid to delve into some very dark topics in her books and Hide and Seek is no exception.
I never saw the ending coming and her ability to make me as a parent think about what it would be like to lose my child was truly terrifying. Any parent will feel their stomach drop when the story unfolds before their eyes!
Be prepared to not be able to put this book down!
Hide and Seek is her best book yet and I can’t wait to see what stories she can create next! Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the arc. Hide and Seek will be released on August 4th- add it to your preorder list now!
Set in a leafy suburb in Dublin, Lily Murphy disappears in 1985 while playing the age-old favourite children’s game of hide and seek. Many years later, a new family has moved the house once occupied by the Murphy family. When Joanna realises that Lily once lived there, she is immediately overcome with an awful sense of dread that she just can’t shift. She thinks she knows that happened to the little girl and if the truth comes out, her world will also be turned upside down.
This fast-paced crime thriller will have your literally on the edge of your seat with turning of each page. Mara’s ability to hit you with one revelation after another ensures that you will not want to put this book down.
One of my favourite aspects of Mara’s writing is the way she brings the characters to life on the page and draws the reader into the story. You feel a connection to each of the protagonists and are invested in their outcomes and the solving of the mysteries within the story.
Jumping between time periods, Mara seamlessly ties the various timelines of the story together perfectly. She isn’t afraid to delve into some very dark topics in her books and Hide and Seek is no exception.
I never saw the ending coming and her ability to make me as a parent think about what it would be like to lose my child was truly terrifying. Any parent will feel their stomach drop when the story unfolds before their eyes!
Be prepared to not be able to put this book down!
Hide and Seek is her best book yet and I can’t wait to see what stories she can create next! Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the arc. Hide and Seek will be released on August 4th- add it to your preorder list now!
July 12, 2025
Hide And Seek is my next read in my Andrea Mara back catalogue venture.
The Irish thriller author gives her audience an eventful suburban domestic drama that will keep you turning the pages way into the night.
In 1985, in a quiet Dublin street a missing child is set to create havoc amongst the community.
A children’s game of hide and seek turns to tragedy when Lily Murphy disappears.
The town is in shock and Lily is never found.
Many decades later Joanna and her family move into the district.
Soon she learns that the house they move into used to be when Lily lived.
Then Joanna begins to feel uncomfortable and as she sets out to solve the mystery and things slowly begin to unravel…….
A clever, well plotted, tension filled and entertaining read.
The twists in this book are very well done and I didn’t guess them at all.
A great read for anyone who likes a good psychological thriller with an eerie atmosphere and a puzzle to solve.
Can you unfold the secrets before the climatic ending……
The Irish thriller author gives her audience an eventful suburban domestic drama that will keep you turning the pages way into the night.
In 1985, in a quiet Dublin street a missing child is set to create havoc amongst the community.
A children’s game of hide and seek turns to tragedy when Lily Murphy disappears.
The town is in shock and Lily is never found.
Many decades later Joanna and her family move into the district.
Soon she learns that the house they move into used to be when Lily lived.
Then Joanna begins to feel uncomfortable and as she sets out to solve the mystery and things slowly begin to unravel…….
A clever, well plotted, tension filled and entertaining read.
The twists in this book are very well done and I didn’t guess them at all.
A great read for anyone who likes a good psychological thriller with an eerie atmosphere and a puzzle to solve.
Can you unfold the secrets before the climatic ending……
April 25, 2022
this is my second book buy this author and very much enjoyed I love a mystery and it certainly delivered. Joanna and her husband Mark move to a bigger house with there three children Joanna and her youngest daughter are playing hide and seek in the garden but Joanna panic s as she can't find Sophie but then her new neighbour Fran says she hiding in her garden and Fran tells her that the occupants that used to live there lost there daughter Lily playing hide and seek and was never found. Joanna husband Mark is from this area and he never thought that this was the house. and as Joanna gets talking to her mother -in-law they where good friends with the parents the Murphy s .so Joanna decides to play detective and find out what happened to Lily as Joanna has a secret and will do anything to protect it wont say no more but so good will keep you guessing until the end
March 19, 2025
1.5 stars rounded up for the ending. I've loved other books by this author so this one was a disappointment for me. Too many characters/names that I struggled to keep track of. The main character is dull and has no real personality, she only thinks about the 'case' she's trying to solve and in real life would definitely be viewed suspiciously for asking so many questions. For 90% of the book nothing actually happens and then ending (while it does wrap all the different stories up in a neat little bow) is so rushed and convoluted it felt out of place. If you like reeeaallllyyyy slow burns and analysing every tiny detail of every interaction between characters you can barely keep track of, this might be a good one for you.
October 1, 2024
3.5 - this was a bit too much for my little brain to comprehend. It was really interesting reading from 2 time periods, as secrets were revealed gradually, but there were just SO many characters and storylines to keep track of. I found myself getting confused quite a lot between who was related to who and who was important etc. It took me out of the story a bit as I got bogged down with trying to decipher who was who.
Still a very enjoyable read that had me pretty hooked from the get go
Still a very enjoyable read that had me pretty hooked from the get go
December 30, 2023
Part of me wonders how this entire community did not guess that Joanna was “involved” given how many questions she asked 🤣 went way further than new homeowner curiosity. She was obsessive 🙈. All in all though a good mystery, with the usual twists and turns I am beginning to see from this author. 3*
August 13, 2022
Having loved All Her Fault by Andrea Mara, I had preordered Hide and Seek as I couldn’t wait to read it! All Her Fault was one of my favourite books of 2021 and I’d even lent it to my daughter who took it on holiday with her and also said it was one of the best books she’d ever read! So Andrea Mara had a lot to live up to and I’m pleased to say she absolutely did-Hide and Seek is bloody brilliant!
When Joanna, her husband and family move back to Marks hometown of Ravensbrook, she loves their new house. But when she finds out that it once belonged to the Murphy family who’s daughter Lily went missing when she was 3 years old, Joanna feels unsettled and upset that it wasn’t mentioned before. Lily was never found and has always been presumed drowned in the local river after disappearing whilst out playing. But what really happened to Lily! Joanna feels connected to the case and starts playing detective herself in a dangerous but unstoppable investigation…
Hide and Seek is every mothers worst nightmare! It’s a game that I have never liked as I always panicked when my children were out of sight! Lily went missing in different times though, those glorious days when children from the neighbourhood played out from dawn to dusk, only coming home when an empty stomach forced their return! Usually the children look after their own so it was surprising when things started to come out that maybe that wasn’t the case here! But there were so many red herrings, twists and turns that it was impossible to work out what had happened to Lily so I gave up and just immersed myself in this wonderfully involving book!
Andrea Mara is an amazing storyteller and weaves a thoroughly enjoyable tale where you think you know what’s happening and then BAM! a plot twist throws everything you thought you knew out of the window! The characters in Hide and Seek are hiding so many secrets from each other that I learned to trust no one. And Joanna also has a past she doesn’t want to reveal, not even to her family, and is much closer to the truth about what happened to Lily than she wants to admit! But the whole community needs to look within and Joanna may be the catalyst needed to solve the mystery once and for all.
As soon as I finished Hide and Seek I messaged my daughter to tell her that she needed to come back to the “library of mum” and read Hide and Seek! And I know she’s going to love it just as much as I did!
When Joanna, her husband and family move back to Marks hometown of Ravensbrook, she loves their new house. But when she finds out that it once belonged to the Murphy family who’s daughter Lily went missing when she was 3 years old, Joanna feels unsettled and upset that it wasn’t mentioned before. Lily was never found and has always been presumed drowned in the local river after disappearing whilst out playing. But what really happened to Lily! Joanna feels connected to the case and starts playing detective herself in a dangerous but unstoppable investigation…
Hide and Seek is every mothers worst nightmare! It’s a game that I have never liked as I always panicked when my children were out of sight! Lily went missing in different times though, those glorious days when children from the neighbourhood played out from dawn to dusk, only coming home when an empty stomach forced their return! Usually the children look after their own so it was surprising when things started to come out that maybe that wasn’t the case here! But there were so many red herrings, twists and turns that it was impossible to work out what had happened to Lily so I gave up and just immersed myself in this wonderfully involving book!
Andrea Mara is an amazing storyteller and weaves a thoroughly enjoyable tale where you think you know what’s happening and then BAM! a plot twist throws everything you thought you knew out of the window! The characters in Hide and Seek are hiding so many secrets from each other that I learned to trust no one. And Joanna also has a past she doesn’t want to reveal, not even to her family, and is much closer to the truth about what happened to Lily than she wants to admit! But the whole community needs to look within and Joanna may be the catalyst needed to solve the mystery once and for all.
As soon as I finished Hide and Seek I messaged my daughter to tell her that she needed to come back to the “library of mum” and read Hide and Seek! And I know she’s going to love it just as much as I did!
July 27, 2025
J’hésite entre un 4 ⭐️ et un 4,5 ⭐️. C’était vraiment bon, « fast-paced » et différent. J’ai aimé le fait qu’on voyait deux histoires en parallèles; celle du passé et celle du présent. À la fin, les chapitres sont plus courts et le rythme plus rapide, ça devient difficile d’arrêter de lire. Il y a eu quelques twists plus surprenantes. Une belle découverte cette autrice!
January 4, 2025
I love Andrea Mara’s books. Lots of twists and red herrings and surprises.
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