I admit there was just something about this book that I was drawn to immediately. I do love a good mystery with an isolated setting, and the promise of the Pennines wilderness and what seemed like a survival angle sold this story for me. This is probably one of the reasons why The Hiker ended up being a bit underwhelming for me, because there is hardly any hiking or 'surviving in the wild' going on at all. In fact, I wonder just how fitting the title is in the first place... Anyhow, I do have to stress that The Hiker is not necessarily a bad read, but there were quite a few things that didn't work as well for me personally.

First of all, I think that both title and blurb are misleading. The whole 'in the wilderness it's kill or be killed' quote doesn't seem to fit the story at all, and there are various inconsistencies with the actual story. Gemma never went on a solo hike and was never even reported missing... And I wondered about how credible it would be for Sarah to travel all the way up North to look for a sister she has fallen out with years ago. The blurb also makes things sound way more exciting than the plot actually is... Especially the first half of the book dragged considerably, and the pacing was off for me.

The story switches between the POV of Sarah and Gemma, one in the present and one set during the weeks leading up to Gemma's disappearance. I personally struggled to connect to both POVs, which probably had a lot to do with the fact that the characters weren't developed enough and their personalities felt rather flat and riddled with cliches. I never felt like I got to know them, and the rest of the cast of characters were mostly walking cliches as well. And why on earth did the cheating angle have to pop up? It added literally nothing to the plot and only made me enjoy this story less.

I was exited for a second with the mention of the mysterious creature and what seemed like a folklore element. It had that supernatural feel to it (and gave me The Hound Of The Baskervilles vibes), and I truly hoped the story would take that direction. What could have been the perfect angle to turn this story into something that truly stands out, soon petered out and I can't say I was satisfied with how things were wrapped up instead. The last part of the plot felt simply too over the top to be credible.

All in all, there were quite a few things that didn't work for me in The Hiker, which is a shame because the premise itself as well as that remote setting both had a lot of potential. Like I said before: it's not a bad read, but sadly nothing memorable either.

The Hiker M J Ford


5 stars

This is a tale of two sisters and the author uses alternate chapters to tell the story. The two sisters could not be more different. Sarah is a successful divorce lawyer a week away from getting married and looking forward to the rest of her life. She has been estranged from her younger sister, Gemma, since their mother’s funeral 5 years ago. Despite this Sarah sends a wedding invitation to her sister although she is pretty certain that Gemma will not come.

Gemma has been with her boyfriend, Mark for a few years, but their life is one of surviving from pillar to post doing dead end jobs and always on the verge of becoming homeless and broke. When Mark finds out that he may be able to make a large amount of money by blackmailing some local people in a small village in Durham, he cannot resist the opportunity.

Sarah receives a phone call telling her that Mark has been found dead in a burnt out car and her sister Gemma has disappeared. Despite their estrangement she immediately decides to go up to where Gemma has disappeared in an effort to find her. Once she is there she is enveloped in the strange customs and people in this small community. She discovers that 15 years before another young girl had also disappeared in similar circumstances and had never been found.

This becomes a spooky story full of rumours of kidnapping, murders and a wild animal prowling the countryside. I really enjoyed the unravelling of the plot and the way we switch between the two sisters as we learn what has really happened. This was an unusual mystery thriller and I would recommend it for anyone interested in this genre. It was fast-paced and well written and I will be looking out for any other books by this author.


Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

It’s been five years since Sarah last had contact with her sister Gemma. In all that time, Sarah has had to take care of their alcoholic mother. A duty that Sarah resented. But Sarah had the means. Sarah was a successful divorce attorney, while Gemma was a struggling memory caregiver whose boyfriend Mark had loser written all over him.

Tragedy then strikes when Sarah and Gemma’s mom passes away. But tensions between the sisters still remained taut, which curtailed any hopes of Gemma getting any funds from their mother’s estate. Funding that Gemma so desperately needed to stay afloat and avoid being kicked to the streets.

As a last ditch effort to get the money for overdue rents and to survive, Mark concocts a plan that could lead to immediate funding and get he and Gemma off to a fresh start. It was a plan that would leave him dead and Gemma missing without a trace.

The Hiker was a decent read. Not quite the adrenaline filled mystery, but more of an atmospheric read.

The characters aren’t that memorable and I didn’t think that any of them were developed enough to really get a flavor for their respective personalities. Though I do think that Sarah and Gemma were a little more developed than the rest of the cast.

The plot is revealed in layers as the story unfolds from Sarah’s and Gemma’s point of view. A lot of back and forth between Sarah and Gemma, but I think that it was the best way to uncover the truth.

Since the events take place in the UK, I did stumble somewhat with the dialect and terminology, i.e., boot, nick, cuppa…Other than that, I found The Hiker to be a pretty good mystery. Three likable stars.

I received a digital review copy from Avon Books UK through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

I’d like to thank Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Hiker’ written by M J Ford in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Sarah is told that her sister Gemma is missing and drives to Hartsbridge where she was last seen staying in a youth hostel with her boyfriend Mark. Is it a coincidence that a local girl, Alice, vanished in the same location sixteen years ago and was never found?

‘The Hiker’ is a haunting and dark thriller set in the atmospheric setting of the Moors at County Durham. The storyline is menacing as Sarah gets the feeling the local residents aren’t being completely truthful about seeing her sister and she senses they’re being deliberately unhelpful and secretive about what’s happening at Brockenhurst Hall. The story is full of intrigue as the locals tell her of a wild black predator on the Moors, suspense as the story is narrated by Sarah and Gemma, an abundance of menacing characters, and twists and turns as Sarah tries to enlist the help of the local police. This is the first standalone thriller I’ve read by this author and have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Interesting read. The backstory, once it begins to unravel has several main themes— betrayal, complicity, rage, and revenge.
Two sisters, one estranged, must put aside their differences to survive the ordeal.
The plot was intricate, yet simplistic, and sometimes the dialogue was pendantic.

There's a constant sense of dread and doom in this novel, a menacing environment, and hostile people.
An excellent thriller that kept me hooked and on the edge.
Good plot and character development, solid mystery that kept me guessing. I liked the storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

It took a while to get into this book but then it became addictive with the need to know how the story would end..
Set mainly in Cumbria it follows the attempts of a high flying London lawyer to find her estranged sister. The plot twists and turns and the setting in a small Pennines village is very atmospheric.Although the ending seems obvious from early in the story nothing prepares us for the final outcome.

I struggled to finish it. I found the story a tad boring and implausible, especially the ending -

No idea what it was, but I had a hard time getting into the story; I put the book away frequently, - I really had to push myself to continue reading.

The blurb:
Gemma and her boyfriend Mark are in debt and need to get money fast. They come up with the crazy idea of blackmailing a bunch of drug criminals - well, how naive, stupid, idiotic can you be. And of cours, it goes wrong.
The other storyline follows Sarah, the older sister. She goes in search of her sister Gemma. and sets off to The Pennines, - where Gemma was last seen -

The storyline of Gemma is slightly behind and moves towards the point of her going missing, the dual storylines come together again in a fantastic climax, - which for me was a a bit of an anticlimax, - and a bit, well, odd.
Pity, I had hoped for more, in the end the book was a bit disappointing, I guess this story was not for me, but others might enjoy it all the same..

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. I leave this review voluntarily.

When a burned out car containing a male body is discovered on the Yorkshire moors, the police contact, solicitor, Sarah Kline. They believe the victim is the boyfriend of Sarah's sister, Gemma. Gemma is missing. Although they are estranged, Sarah feels it is her duty to go to Yorkshire to try to find her sister.

This was an odd read for me as I found the basic premise of why Gemma and her boyfriend were in Yorkshire rather unrealistic. Having said that, it was quite an entertaining read with some interesting characters.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thought the description sounded interesting but the book was really hard to get into and I ended up not finishing it 1/3 of the way through. There wasn’t anything I really disliked about the book, other than Gemma’s boyfriend, Mark, being an idiot and her going along with it out of desperation. That basically leads you to the main storyline, Gemma going missing and her sister, Sarah, looking for her.
I wasn’t drawn into the story and had no interest in continuing to spend time on it.
If you like missing person thrillers with family drama, illegal drugs, a mysterious English manor, and a secretive small town, you’ll enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon books for this eARC.

A book of two halves, told in alternating stories of the two sisters Sarah and Gemma Kline. I say two halves as the book seems to take forever to get going - but I'm glad it finally did!

Set mainly in the remote Pennines, the book's main character is Sarah a single successful divorce soon to be married, who ends up looking for her sister who has fallen in with a 'bad lot' with a boyfriend and they both need money. His moneymaking scheme is wild to say the least. This search takes Sarah up north and the adventures really start then. Sarah becomes an amateur sleuth and there is plenty of well described action in her efforts to find her sister.

They all end up in and around a Pennine small village with plenty of diverse characters who really liked. As opposed to Sarah's boyfriend who she finally managed to ditch before the wedding.

Overall an enjoyable read with lots of excellent descriptive scene setting.

Thanks to Net Galley and Avon Books UK for the chance to read and review.

When Gemma Kline goes missing on a solo hike in the remote Pennine hills her sister, Sarah, is dumbfounded that she has disappeared without a trace. As Sarah investigates deeper she finds that other young women have also vanished.

The story is well written but, initially, it didn't grip me like I feel it should. It begins at quite a pedestrian pace building the character profiles. Then the story begins to take shape well. The pace increases as the story moves forward. It's a good read with a good ending with a twist at the end.

Plenty of twists and turns in this gripping thriller. Thank you to the publisher for giving an advance copy.

Sarah has a successful, normal life in London and a wedding in a week.  But when the police show up at her office and let her know her estranged sister Gemma is missing, normal goes out the window.  In attempt to answer questions that the police cannot, Sarah heads to the remote village where her sister was last seen. Each piece of the puzzle she uncovers leads to more and more questions – is there a large beast in the moors taking women?

I enjoyed this novel even though it plays on my worst fears as someone who likes to go backpacking… is there something out there watching me?  I liked the flow of the novel -- how each snippet of Sarah and Gemma’s stories complement each other and build to the point where they connect.  The premise of the story was unique and engaging and kept me guessing right up to the big reveal.  Some of the supporting characters were a bit one dimensional, but not distracting from the main story as they fell right into place.  I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller with a bit of supernatural.  4 stars.

Review based on a digital Uncorrected Proof provided by Avon Books UK and NetGalley. Thank you!

3.5 Stars. I wish to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read The advance copy of The Hiker. The book focuses on two very different estranged sisters who have been out of touch following an argument three years ago.

Sarah is living a privileged, contented life as a successful divorce lawyer. She lives in a comfortable home with her fiance, and they are scheduled to marry in a week. Wedding invitations have been sent out to many guests, and she decided to send one to her sister, not expecting a reply.

Gemma left home when she was a teenager. She fell into a bad group of friends. Her boyfriend has exhibited some criminal behaviour. Gemma works in a nursing home and quite enjoys caring for the elderly. She and her boyfriend have fallen into debt, and some whom they owe are threatening the impoverished, desperate couple.

In the beginning, I found the story slow-paced and tedious. It recounted the sister's childhood and past arguments. and contrasting attitudes. I thought the book's title was misleading. I was expecting a story of a hiking mystery, adventure and survival, but hiking was barely mentioned. We do get a story of menacing, dark foreboding, creepy and sinister townspeople, illegal drug manufacturing and trade,
police corruption, blackmail, murder, abduction, cover-ups, secrets, folklore, and a rare mental disorder.

Sarah is surprised to receive a postcard from Gemma, who may be intending to come for the wedding celebration. Then she learns that Gemma's boyfriend has been found dead in a burned-out car and that Gemma has disappeared. The postcard was mailed from a small town to the north, located in the British wilderness. The area is surrounded by misty moors, marshlands, swamps, underground mining tunnels, and forests. It is a place where one could vanish without a trace.

Sarah is determined to find her sister. She starts her search in the town from where Gemma's postcard was sent. The story now becomes gripping, picking up its pace. The townspeople are not welcoming nor forthcoming with information. The police seem reluctant to put forth any effort in looking for Gemma and have no answers about the murder of her boyfriend, whose body was found in the torched car. Has Gemma also been murdered? Why? The police tell Sarah they are working on the case and warn her not to get involved. Despite her fiance's objections, Sarah's dedication and resolve to find her sister should give her the heroine role, but I did not find her particularly likeable. Sarah is now horrified as a young woman's body parts have been discovered.

On the edge of the town sits an eerie, crumbling old mansion. It is vacant except for its caretaker/groundskeeper and an occasional helper. Both men give off malevolent, frightening vibes. The wealthy owners left it vacant fifteen years before and fled in despair and sadness following a tragedy. Their popular teenage daughter disappeared while out for a walk. She was to be taken out of the local school and sent away to a boarding school. Despite a massive search effort, no trace of the girl was found. The owner had a large menagerie of exotic animals and had them euthanized as the zoos had no room for them. There are folktales that a large predatory animal escaped and still roams the wilderness.

I found the story became more compelling and intense as the mysteries began to unravel. There were twists and unexpected surprises.

Set in the rugged and remote Pennines, The Hiker is chock full of suspense, particularly in the second half. It is told in alternating perspectives of two sisters. Sarah is a prosperous and successful lawyer who is engaged to be married; Gemma is struggling financially and lives with a man who dabbles in this and that. The sisters live completely different lives but when Gemma suddenly disappears where a young woman disappeared years earlier Sarah becomes rabid about finding her. Legends are rife on the island and some of the local characters are a bit eclectic. They protect their own.

My favourite aspects of the book are the relationship dynamics, gorgeous writing and the eerie setting which is drenched with atmosphere so thick you can taste it. Though the story itself is incredibly interesting, parts of it are implausible to me. I did not like most of the characters but their imperfections add reality. It is not necessary for me to like characters to deeply enjoy a book. Quirky really grabs my attention. That cover, though! Stunning.

Thriller readers who enjoy snippets of legends and slivers of the supernatural would especially be drawn to this book. Do know there is quite a lot of colourful language which can be distracting.

My sincere thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this enjoyable mysterious book.

I thought this book was okay, but somehow it didn't really grab me in the way I expected it to. I found it a bit slow, and I didn't really get swept away with the story.

I enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and held my attention. I will be reading more from this author :)

The story revolves around the relationship between two sisters who have become estranged over a number of years then one holds out an olive branch in the form of a wedding invitation which is, sadly not replied to. The next thing we know, the police are on the doorstep concerned for the welfare of one of them and presuming the worst, which is sadly realised.
This leads to her sister desperate to find out what happened and on a trail to the depths of the Pennines to try and discover the truth.
The characters she meets along the way are apprehensive of her and colourful which provides some interest. I wasn’t, however, compelled by the storyline unfortunately and found the number of people hard work to keep up with and to capture my interest fully.
Worth a read but not completely ‘for me’ this one.

‘The police are here to see you.’

Sisters Gemma and Sarah Kline live very different lives. An argument over money after their mother’s funeral has left them estranged, although Sarah who is about to marry, has sent Gemma an invitation to her wedding.
But a week before her planned wedding, Sarah is contacted by the police. Gemma is missing. She had been hiking in the remote Pennines and seems to have disappeared without a trace. Her boyfriend’s body is found in a burnt-out car.

Sarah travels from her home in London to the isolated town where Gemma was last seen. While some of the locals seem friendly, many are not. There is an abandoned estate nearby, and Sarah is told about exotic animals which were released into the wild. She is also told that Gemma is not the first young woman to go missing in the area.

The story shifts between Sarah and Gemma, enabling the reader to understand aspects of the story Sarah is unaware of. While Sarah finds many locals unhelpful (and some downright dangerous) she refuses to be deterred from finding answers.

As the story moves to its conclusion, there are two twists which I had not anticipated. One of the twists adds another dimension to the story. The second twist annoyed me (I thought it unnecessary), but it didn’t undermine my enjoyment of the main story.

I enjoyed the way in which Mr Ford ratcheted up the tension in this thriller: unforgiving country and unfriendly locals really set the scene.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith