This is a beautifully written book told across two timelines that explores how far a mother will go to protect her child. There is mythology and mystery and wonderfully written characters. I was swept along.

I still haven't read Melanie Golding's first novel Little Darlings so I had no idea what to expect going into The Hidden. I loved that it was mysterious as well as having a story rooted in folklore. I don't know anything about Selkies, and I was happy that Golding included an author's note mentioning where she got the idea for the book from. This is definitely a slower burn, but it isn't so slow that you feel like you want to set it aside. The pacing was pretty spot on for me despite being on the slower side, and I think the fact that I listened to the audiobook helped a lot. It was a really atmospheric read and I REALLY enjoyed the switches among a few different viewpoints. Having one of them be a DS with the police was great as well since that gave it a bit of a procedural feel which I always enjoy.

It took me a while to figure out what was going on with the story, and I think a big part of that is because I didn't know what Selkies were going into this book. I probably would have caught on way sooner if I had, but if anything, it just made this a more memorable experience. I would recommend listening to the audio like I did since it helped me become even more invested in the story. Penelope Rawlins was a great narrator, and she made the book really come alive in a good way. The mystery of Gregor and the mysterious quality of Constance made this a great whodunnit that really kept me guessing. Parts of it were a bit heartbreaking as well, and there was an emotional aspect that I had not been expecting. I don't know if I would call this a horror novel, but I would definitely recommend it to fans of mysteries and police procedurals, especially if you enjoy folklore.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“The Hidden”, by Melanie Golding, is an eerie story with dark undertones.

I listened to it on audiobook. The narrator, Penelope Rawlins, drew me into the book with her tone and accents. Her toddler voice, Leonie, impressed me the most.

“The Hidden” is told in various points of view, with a then/ now timeline that flowed well. Background that was important to the story came from the past timelines. “The Hidden” is a mystery with Celtic mythological folklore

Golding weaves just enough mythology into the novel to pique the reader's interest. I needed to know more. After talking to Marcy, I sat down and googled everything.

If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this is not for you. There are moments that the book slows down and lingers in the lives of the characters. Just go with it. The two distinct storylines connect in the most fascinating way.

After finishing “The Hidden”, I started listening to the prequel, “Little Darlings”

This was a brilliant blending of folklore with a mystery-thriller. Kept me wanting to read more and get to the end of it. Other than the compelling mystery, the story also raises some clever, yet discomforting questions about motherhood - how often do we see mothers for who they really are, or were, before they became mothers? Overall, a highly riveting and quick read!

TW: Child abandonment, Domestic Violence, Alcoholism, Teen Pregnancy, Depression, and Serial Killings.

This is the first book I read from this author and it surprised me in a good way. The story was engaging and the characters believable. A perfect combination of mystery with old folklore.

This was a solid read for me. Nothing about the book really stood out for me or captured my attention.

Two cases that seem to be related to DS Joanna Harper, and it becomes personal. The story also has a mythical element which adds to the mystery. I was hooked from page 1.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This series is scary-good. Scary because it never tells you whether the people seeing or experiencing fantastical things are sane or not. It's up to your own interpretation and there is A LOT to interpret.

This is the second Joanna Harper book and it deals with her own estranged daughter-raised-as-a-sister, Ruby. After her last case, in which a sleep-deprived mother was convinced faeries swapped her twins for changelings, this one is just as wacky and terrifying. This time, it's a woman convinced she's a selkie and needing to get back to her clan-The Rowans.

I can't even say if I like these or if they're just amazingly thought-out. I shall be thinking about this one for a while and if there's another, I'll probably read it, too. A good series for ponderers...

This story was such a neat blend of folklore, mythology, and mystery. The twists came at key points in the story, and I loved the flashbacks and multiple points of view well-used to advance the story. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book for an honest review.

There is something exceptional about Goldings writing that completely gets me hooked into the story. Loved the mystery and suspend that this story tells you. I couldn't put this book down.

What started as a predictable read definitely did not disappoint. With a touch of mytholofy/folklore thrown in, I was surprised at the twists that had me second guessing where I originally thought the story was going. Decent thriller.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hidden is an engaging psychological thriller blended with folklore featuring Selkies. This book had me hooked from page one. The writing was fantastic. It was well paced. The setting was very atmospheric. The plot was captivating. Especially with the added bits of folklore, and the characters were well developed. My only real complaint about the book is that I wish something happened in the time jump epilogue that didn't. However, I understood the reasoning why it didn't. All in all, this was a wonderful read!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Ugh, I wanted to love this one so much. I loved Golding's debut novel from the creepy atmosphere to the questioning reality, but this one just fell so flat. Oh well.

This was a decent read, it did not WOW me, but it was okay. This was definitely my definition of a slow burn, as I really did not get engaged in the story until about half way through the book.

With four POV's and dual timelines it was somewhat hard for me to follow all that was going on. I found myself often times wanting to nod off, or distracted, so I can easily say that this was not one to keep my full attention.

I did enjoy the mix of domestic suspense, a bit of mystery, police procedural as well as mystical realism.

I am excited to see what others think of this one, as I believe there will be a lot of mixed responses.

Before I wrote this review, I wanted to go back and look at my review from Golding's debut, Little Darlings, which I remember only vaguely. So color me surprised to notice that DS Joanna Harper is a common link between the two - with Harper once again going totally rogue (but at least this time we get a very good understanding of why, though I still think she needs some more consequences). Though I love that she's bi/pan and absolutely kicks ass. Petition for more queer detectives!

Like Little Darlings, we tie folklore, this time selkies, to a modern mystery. While The Hidden doesn't have nearly as much of the beautiful imagery and the really well-done creepy factor, it felt more grounded and also more believable. The situations in the story were objectively verifiable - unlike with Little Darlings, where so much hinged on the main character being mad and only our superstar cop believing her.

I will say that things got increasingly hard to believe as we dug into "the injured man" and his past, but it never quite made it to the "too far" category where my suspension of disbelief would be shattered.

The Hidden by Melanie Golding is an intriguing sophomore novel from an English author who doesn't shy away from including a bit of folklore into her plots. This is the first novel I read by Golding and I was impressed with her writing style, Her writing evokes well pictured scenes and the descriptive language gives the readers a very deep understanding of the surroundings.

I would categorize The Hidden as a definite page turner with chilling writing and compelling characters. Anyone wanting a good scare should grab this book right away.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Publishing for a copy of this novel.

Bleh. Sophomore slump at it's worst. This book was a little all over the place for me. It was hard to follow and the multiple timelines did not work well for me at all. A bummer because I liked her first so much.

She can run, but she cannot hide...

When Ruby Harper can't sleep, she likes to watch her strikingly handsome neighbour through the window opposite to her apartment. In her loneliness, she daydreams about him. Her curiosity is sparked even further when she sees a woman and a child in his apartment that she's never seen before. On a chilly December day, the man is found severely injured in the tub and a toddler is found alone near the beach. Ruby finds herself tangled in a mess and DS Joanna Harper is determined to find out how, and why. When the line between personal and professional is blurred, the stakes are higher than ever.
There were so many things about this book that absolutely fascinated me, between the Celtic mythology that is explored in the storyline, and the character development. Each main character is fleshed out so well, and I felt like I knew them. I hated, I loved, I cared, and I cried. This novel made me feel so many emotions and you couldn't have pried my kindle from my fingers. I could not stop reading!! I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a thriller with a little side of mythology!

I am disappointed with this book. I was expecting one thing and received another. It had potential but it was not well written.

I loved this book! Melanie did such a wonderful job at creating such an engaging story and a world worth staying in. I am really hoping for a followup to this magnificent read!