This is my first book to read by Laura Griffin but definitely won't be the last. This book was extremely entertaining and had so many great suspense moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. I also really enjoyed the characters and felt like they were extremely relatable which made me want to continue reading this one.

As a longtime fan of Laura Griffin’s Tracers series, I was happy to see that she’s branching out with The Texas Murder Files. The first book, Hidden, follows investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads and Detective Jacob Merritt as they try to solve the murder of a young woman on a popular jogging path. They soon realize this probably isn’t a crime of opportunity but something far more sinister. 

The FBI wants Jacob and his partner off the case. Jacob wants Bailey to back away from it. Both persevere because there’s another woman somewhere who’s connected to the victim, and her life may be in danger. They are determined to find and warn her. For Jacob, there’s also a need to hold accountable the person who murdered a woman in his city. 

Along the way, Bailey stumbles across a new form of technology that has potentially disastrous ramifications for personal privacy. It’s particularly dangerous for anyone who has a good reason to hide. Bailey resolves to find out how it’s connected to the murder and whether it can help locate the woman she believes is the killer’s intended second victim. 

This review originally appeared on The Romance Dish: https://www.theromancedish.com/2020/08/review-hidden.html

The premise is timely and intriguing, and I liked the ways Bailey and Jacob pursue the case from their different angles. They’re easy to root for, especially when they’re trying to save someone they believe is in danger and doesn’t know it. I particularly enjoyed seeing Bailey pursue leads that didn’t occur to Jacob. 

The supporting characters were also very likable. Bailey has friends at the newspaper and is close to her sister’s family. She also is on not-quite-friends terms with a skip tracer who becomes important later in the book. He doesn’t have many scenes, but his personality comes across immediately. Jacob’s partner is equally determined to see justice delivered for their victim. She and Jacob function well as buddies with no hint of any desire for more on either one of their parts. 

There are also scenes involving the woman Bailey and Jacob are seeking. She’s likable, smart, and brave, and the ultimate solution to her problem felt like a great one. 

Bailey’s source for the tech issue is also likable but not always understandable. He initially refuses to help her beyond a basic level, then agrees to do so, then helps her still more. All that’s fine, but  even after warning her there’s someone at his company, where surveillance is ubiquitous, with an axe to grind over this tech, he takes no precautions. That felt like a stretch. 

Although the romance between Jacob and Bailey was satisfying overall, it didn’t entirely work for me. They’re both dedicated, hot, and likable, but I was never sure what either of them saw in the other. Why this person instead of some other dedicated, hot, likable individual? Jacob knew dating a reporter could be a problem with his fellow cops, Bailey withheld information because of his job, and he wasn’t entirely honest with her because he wanted her to back off of the story. Yet they kept coming back to each other. I would’ve liked more insight as to why. 

Issues like these and some others make the book feel less polished than it might have. It’s just not quite as solid as other books of Griffin’s I’ve read. I did enjoy it, though, and I do recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is the first book in “The Texas Murder Files,” and is another winner for Laura Griffin. The story is a fast-based thriller about a killer who is loose in Austin. It includes a lot of action, intrigue and romance with loving sex.

Bailey Rhoads is an investigative reporter who just happens to be on the scene of a murder before she realizes what is going on. Jacob Merritt is the lead detective on that murder case. Bailey and Jacob are working on the same case. This causes a lot of tension between the two as they stubbornly refuse to help each other. In spite of this, Bailey refuses to give up her investigation.

During this action packed page-turner, the author makes an interesting comparison between Jacob, as he follows a legal investigation, and that of Bailey, who, as an investigative reporter, uses no rules at all.

3.5 stars

This grabbed me from the beginning, lost me for a bit in the middle, then revved up again at the end. "Hidden" is a solid mystery with a romantic subplot. The MCs are a police detective and a journalist who start out at odds but end up working together. The romance was slow at first, then moved quickly. It felt a bit too quick, but still believable. I liked how Bailey and Jacob worked together and how their relationship developed. They made a good investigative team, and then romantic couple. The mystery was a little convoluted but it worked and there was plenty of action. "Hidden" is a good start to this new series, The Texas Murder Files.

I really enjoyed this book, and reviewed it as part of a roundtable discussion with another reviewer on All About Romance. You can find that discussion here:

https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/hidden-by-laura-griffin/

Thank you to NetGalley, Laura Griffin and Berkley Publishing for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I was surprised just how quickly I read through this novel and enjoyed it! I didn't want to put it down! It was really nice to have a few different sides of the story and for some reason I really enjoy hearing from the reporters point of view when they are looking into cases. This one got really dark and twisted pretty early on and I loved it! I really enjoyed the main characters and their relationship. I was shocked by the ending and I can't wait to see what comes next from Griffin - especially if it involves these two!

This was a really fun romantic suspense thriller!!! This was so fast paced and even though it did take a bit to get into, once it did, it was hard to put down. I think when it got more intense and took that darker tone, I was really captivated. I really liked watching Bailey try so desperately to solve the case, and  I was right there with her and Jacob trying to figure out what was happening! I loved the romance!! The tension was so good!! It felt like it was dripping off my kindle, the amount of tension I felt from these two killed me! I was frustrated at times with Jacob but I really loved his loyalty! Overall this was really good and I’m definitely interested to read from Laura Griffin!

Hidden by Laura Griffin is like a grittier version of the books that I cut my teeth on, it's more than a cozy mystery but not quite gory romantic suspense either. The fact that the book takes place in Texas, where I live, was just the icing on the cake.

I loved the tenacity of Bailey, she put in a lot of footwork on a case that the police were determined not to let her interfere with but she didn't let that stop her. Instead she kept pushing and pushing until she broke through the walls of one Austin Detective, Jacob Merritt.

Of course, no matter how sexy and how much Jacob liked Bailey he was cautious because she was a reporter and didn't know if he could trust her not to run what he tells her in private. But the more she investigate and the more he's compelled to keep her safe. I love the internal struggle that he has where he wants her out of the investigation for her safety, but at the same time knows he can't keep a determined woman down.

The suspense aspect of Hidden, was the best part, the mystery of this who-dun-it of a story was completely unexpected and I never would have guessed who was behind it all, well except later in the story as the author begins to lay it all out.

If you're ready to start a fun new, thrilling romantic suspense series, Hidden is one you want to jump out in front of and start now.

Laura Griffin is kicking off her Texas Murder Files duo with HIDDEN, and man is it great. She’s a perennial favorite of mine, and I feel a real affinity with her because of our shared background of newspaper reporting. She writes from the perspective of an observer, taking in all elements of the surrounding details. I love that her stories often feature investigative reporters. Like Stan Lee always used the newspaper to add to the plot (Peter Parker is a photographer, Clark Kent is a reporter), Griffin uses the news to tell the story. She balances the stubbornness, drive, and empathy between investigative journalist Bailey Rhoads and Detective Jacob Merritt, which makes for a powerful combination.

*Originally published at Frolic: https://frolic.media/must-read-romantic-suspense-for-fall/

One reason i always come back to Laura Griffin is that she delivers. Once again, HIDDEN is the perfect blend of suspense, a great plot and mystery that keeps you guessing. It's just the romance that's a bit lacking for me...plus the lies and omissions the H/h had going on throughout the book as part of their professions, although I thought they might have a good start at turning this around when they agreed to be honest with each other as long as they don't violate ethical considerations that go with their jobs.

I don't really like reporters as protagonists but Bailey grew on me, plus she has integrity and principles, which I love. She's also tenacious in going after what she wants, i.e. investigating the story, and not giving up even when it seems dead ends abound.

Jacob is the kind of cop you wish more of them exists. He fights for the victim's justice, even when he was already taken off the case, and he (and his partner) continues investigating at the risk of his (their) career. I'm not even sure such a person does exist. I think his character is a bit idealistic, though he's written realistically.

Laura Griffin has long been on my auto-buy list, and the consistent great stories she releases over the years cements her place there. Can't wait to get my hands on her next book!

Hidden was such a fun and enjoyable read. It was fast and entertaining and the characters were a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the story even though it seemed a little jumpy at times. I loved how fast paced the story was and it felt like it was a TV episode with even more entertainment to come. I’m excited to read more from Griffin in this series!

I am proud to announce that for once I remembered not to get too attached to the POV character that the book started with, since with a Laura Griffin book, chances are about 99.99% that they're about to die.

Go, me!

(And yeah, she dies. Spoiler alert. :( )

I enjoyed this start to a new series (The Texas Murder Files) from Ms Griffin (and book two-- Flight --excerpted at the end, sounds like another winner as well). Bailey and Jacob are characters it's easy to root for, and I really enjoyed their chemistry as well. The crime beat reporter/lead detective dynamic was solid--though they might have been able to solve the crime faster if they'd done a better job of collaborating, it's 100% believable that they probably shouldn't have, all things considered. Their respective jobs will definitely make their life together interesting going forward... ;)

I don't want to go into too much detail about the actual mystery--there's a whole lot here that I know I wouldn't have wanted to be spoiled ahead of time. I'll just say that the way the antagonist was able to locate his victims creeped me the heck out--because it's 100% plausible. Technology. Not always our friend...

Counting the days until book 2!

Rating: 4 stars / A-

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

As an investigative reporter, Bailey Rhoads is good at her job - she knows how to find information and how to get what she needs from informants and interviewees. When a young woman is found murdered at the local lake trail, Bailey is determined to get answers. Unfortunately, she's met her match with the lead detective, Jacob Merritt. Jacob is steadfast in his own work, doggedly searching for answers to prevent another murder and put the perpetrator behind bars. Both of them are in way over their heads, though, with this case and with each other. While it gets more difficult for them to deny their mutual attraction, the case gets more dangerous and their entanglement more complicated. Bailey and Jacob will have to figure out a way to trust one another before one of them ends up as the next headline.

Thoughts: The plot, the chemistry, the action -- all of it worked so well together that I found this story difficult to walk away from when I had to get back to the "real world". The action was fast-paced yet didn't feel rushed, Jacob and Bailey are both really likable characters on their own and also likable together, and the plot was an intriguing investigative crime story. No fictional relationship would be complete without miscommunication, so Jacob and Bailey have to navigate some tricky conflict-of-interest terrain, which is my own reasoning for the four stars -- as a reader, I would've appreciated a bit more conversation of this relationship negotiation, especially given Bailey's dating history (not a spoiler - it is mentioned very early on in the story that she used to date a cop and it didn't turn out well). Despite this, though, I enjoyed the two characters together as well as their own story lines. I'm looking forward to reading more about Jacob's detective partner in the next book, as well. I would recommend this to any reader who enjoys a good crime story with a simmering PG-13-ish romance.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.**

3.5 Stars

A woman is murdered on a running/hiking trail capturing the attention of reporter Baily Rhoades, and Detective Jacob Merrit.  Each are wary of the other, the press and cops are usually a bit at odds in my reading experience and it’s no different here, which makes the attraction brewing between these two a little inconvenient. Uncovering details about the victim soon reveals that a lot more is going on that just a random assault on a runner and digging puts Bailey in danger. 

I’m usually not a huge fan of investigative reporters because they seem to be out for the story instead of justice, but Bailey is an exception. She’s principled and doesn’t just report without regard for the investigation and I liked that. I really liked her. Jacob and Bailey are a reluctant team, but I enjoyed the pairing and really liked how it all turned out. 

I have to say this scenario wakes up my personal awareness, as I hike and run alone, and this situation is something I worry about often. I carry pepper spray as I go, but still. I feel it’s so unfair that men don’t have to worry about this, women are so often prey in so many situations. Why can’t we just enjoy the outdoors in peace?! My personal rant aside, I really enjoyed Hidden. Laura Griffin is a staple in the romantic suspense/crime procedural genre. Her stories are consistently entertaining and captivating.

I was not familiar with Laura Griffin's work so I did not know what to expect. But this book did not disappoint. This is a face-paced thriller/murder mystery that will keep you turning the page to know more. Splash in a little romance and you have a great book to escape in to.

Witness protection program, US Marshalls, FBI, biometrics, faceprinting are just a few of the twists and turns that this book will take you on. Add in another character that I will not mention as to not give away anything made this book a fun read. I tend to gravitate towards more historical fiction or women's fiction but I will definitely check out past and future books by Griffin.

Really enjoyed this first title I have read by Laura Griffin and certainly has encouraged me to look at more by this author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, one I couldn’t put down. The storyline was intriguing and the characters were well thought out., especially Jacob and Bailey. The chemistry between the two added just enough romance to the book. Can’t wait for the second book in this series.

Griffin’s new series includes memorable characters and an intricate plot. Perfect for fans of her Tracer’s series or Allison Brennan.

4.5 stars

Investigative reporters are akin to ambulance-chasing lawyers, their ear next to the ground so they don’t miss any breaking stories. In an era where jobs in journalism are precarious, there’s an urgency to be the one, on the regular, who ferrets out what police would prefer to stay hidden. Austin, Texas based reporter Bailey Rhoads feels the pressure.

It was time for Bailey to get creative. It had been a slow month, and rumor had it the newsroom was in for another round of layoffs. She should spend her Sunday brainstorming feature ideas. Something about local law enforcement that wouldn’t be interchangeable with a story pulled off the wire. Maybe an innovative new forensic technique. Or budgets overruns. Or official corruption. She had to dig up something. For months she’d been hanging on to this job by her fingernails. 

Max, her editor, calls her on Saturday—where is she? There’s something in his voice that makes her pulse quicken

“Some chatter on the scanner,” Max said. “Lance heard something about a code thirty-seven.”

A thirty-seven is a shooting. Max tells her it’s out at Lady Bird Lake. Austin’s Lady Bird Lake is a mecca for outdoor activities, from hiking and biking, to kayaking and rowing, with everything else in between. Austin stands out in Texas, with its keep Austin weird vibe, a vibrant indie music scene, great-paying high tech jobs, and a reputation of being very liberal. An enclave of sorts. When Bailey arrives at Lady Bird Lake, she heads to a trailhead near the nature center where she knows the territory. She immediately notices that the usually packed Jay’s Juice Bar is deserted.

She spotted a patrol car in the parking lot. Bingo.

 

As she hurried closer, she saw not just one but four police cars in the lot behind the place, along with an unmarked unit with a spotlight mounted on the windshield—probably a detective’s car. How had this stayed off the scanner? Someone must be trying to keep a lid on the story.

When Bailey spots a detective talking to a juice bar employee, she goes right up to him, even knowing “she was about to get stonewalled.” And she was—the detective won’t tell her who he is, won’t tell her what happened, on or off the record, officially or unofficially. He finally says he’s Detective Merritt and tells her to talk to his PR officer. Come on, can’t he cut her a break—what’s she supposed to tell her editor?  In the end, it was the please and a pleading look that did it. Jacob Merritt is aware of Bailey’s reputation for “being sneaky and pushy as hell,” but he still shares some valuable inside information: it wasn’t a shooting. 

“About five fifty, one of our units responded to a call about an unresponsive female near the hike-and-bike trail,” Jacob said. “The officers—”

 

“Wait, ‘unresponsive’?” She glanced up from her pad.

 

“The officers confirmed that the woman was dead.”

That’s all she gets. Her editor is not impressed with her sketchy information. But Bailey has an extensive toolkit of resources and people to tap, and she uses them all. The police have proprietary methods too. Jacob and Bailey overlap over their initial inability to identify the dead woman. She was killed with great precision by someone wielding a military-grade knife. Since she was jogging when she was killed, perhaps it’s not unusual that she wasn’t carrying her ID. But to be carrying absolutely nothing? Jacob’s partner Kendra says it’s a “bizarre” case all round. Jacob presses her, asking her what jumps out most? It’s the lack of ID.

“No license, no keys, no abandoned vehicle. No missing-person report. This thing’s been all over the news, and yet no one’s called to say maybe it’s their roommate or their girlfriend who hasn’t been home all weekend.” Kendra jabbed a button and a bottle of water thunked down. “Normally, I’d think maybe she’s a transient.”

 

“Evidence doesn’t back that up,” he said.

 

“Exactly. Expensive teeth, shoes, clothing. Hell, those designer running shorts alone cost eighty-five bucks.”

 

Jacob shot her a look. “Eighty-five bucks for shorts?”

 

“Yeah, at least. I’ve got a pair just like them. I—” She halted. “Damn, I just thought of something.”

You take your breaks where you find them. They go to the morgue, glove up, and Kendra examines the inside pocket and pulls out a “white plastic card with a black magnetic strip on the back.” It’s their first break. Things start tumbling into place, but the victim’s life is unusually empty. Bailey and Jacob explore the possibility that she was part of the Witness Protection program. 

Bailey has a hunch that the victim wasn’t who she claimed to be and believes this mugging-turned-murder could have been a targeted hit. When she digs deeper, the trail leads her to a high-tech fortress on the outskirts of Austin, where researchers are pushing the boundaries of a cutting-edge technology that could be deadly in the wrong hands.

Complicating the delicate dance of trading, sharing, and collaborating between a reporter and a detective is the attraction Bailey and Jacob feel for each other. We’re in Texan writer Sandra Brown territory: Hidden is a compelling, complicated mystery infused with some serious heat.

You won’t be able to stop thinking about what it means to go off the grid in 2020. Can a person stay hidden once they’ve made that decision? Author Laura Griffin discussed this recently on Criminal Element. Just consider all the faces that are being captured on Zoom calls these past six months. Hidden is a one-degree of separation book from issues that we’re living with and confronting right now.

I enjoyed Hidden however it was a bit predictable. The little love brewing between reporter Bailey and detective Jacob was entertaining. I found myself rooting for them. The mystery was good however it didn't wow me. I would be interested to see what she does with book 2.