First of all, I would like congratulate each of these women for having 3 other friends and being able to go on annual vacations. (Or is that why this book is fiction?) I was jealous of them, not going to lie. Having three other long term friends, being able to trust other person with choosing the right location, and booking those tickets without complaining much require a lot of commitment and compassion.

But also I knew that, it was all facade! I know they rather went to Ibiza than Norwegian mountains and sipped on posh drinks instead of having blisters. All four women were in some sort of crisis, but only one believed that walking for four days and climbing mountains would solve the problems they were all hiding. But guess what, as the trip progressed, they accumulated more problems instead.

The trip was a test of patience and endurance both physically and mentally. I wished certain words were not said and certain actions were not taken. If you want anxiety, please go ahead and read it. It has both happy and sad ending, but it’s better than completely bad one

I love this kind of trapped in the middle of nowhere story. And Lucy Clarke is becoming my favorite author of this type of book. This story centers around 4 best friends taking an adventurous hike through the mountains of Norway together. I love the setting of this book! Each friend is running away from something in their lives and they are all keeping secrets. As with most of her books, an unexpected guest joins their adventure in a surprising way. This is my third book by this author and I cannot wait to read more.

Four best friends, Liz, Joni, Helena, and Maggie, are starting off on their yearly getaway. This year, however, instead of cocktails by a pool, ocean and beach, Liz has chosen a hike and camping in Norway. While it’s an unusual choice for them, Liz, after difficulties in her marriage, needs something physically challenging, exhilarating; also, it’s the location from geography class that she and Joni vowed they’d one day visit. All four women are facing issues in their personal lives, adding a great deal of drama in this destination mystery/thriller by Lucy Clarke, The Hike.

The Hike began with the usual introduction of characters: Liz, organized and disciplined, a doctor; Joni, the out-of-control rock star; Helena, serious, promiscuous, searching for love; Maggie, whining, unfocused, an artist. My favorite character was Joni because she owned herself, her mistakes, which also meant that when/if any of these hikers died, she would be the first to go. Unfortunately the author pushed Joni into stereotype-mode after a bit, which added nothing, but did subtract. In fact, characterization offered no surprises as these felt like stock characters.

Which leads me to, yes, The Hike was far too predictable for me. Even the twist at the climax didn’t feel that twisty. The plot/action felt formulaic, lending itself to an average read–good if you’re looking for a mystery that won’t keep you up all night but not if you’re looking for a thrilling read.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy.

I loved this book as much as I loved Lucy Clarke's first book ONE OF THE GIRLS. The atmosphere of suspense grabs the reader early on. The reader quickly gets a feeling that this adventure is not going to turn out well. The characters are well drawn - some likeable, some not, which makes for good reading. The pace of the book was fast and unpredictable. Clarke's writing reminds me of Rachel Hawkins and will appeal to any reader that likes a good psychological thriller.

Thank you Lucy Clarke, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and NetGalley for allowing me read this ARC e-book. Another great Lucy Clarke novel. I binge read this book in almost one sitting. I loved how all the friends told each of their sides of the story and how all the drama spilled over between them and into present day, This was one of my favorite new books of the year.

The Hike is a gripping thriller penned by Lucy Clarke, unfolding against the stunning backdrop of the Norwegian wilderness. It follows the journey of four lifelong friends who embark on a hiking holiday together. While hiking might not have been the top choice for some of them, they adhere to their tradition of taking turns to choose the destination, and this year, Liz is determined to make the trip a success. Unbeknownst to them, the location they’ve selected has a dark history, with an unsolved mystery surrounding a previous year’s discovery of a body.

What truly captivated me was how the author skillfully utilized the setting to craft an eerie atmosphere, intensifying the suspense as the friends navigate the unfamiliar terrain during their hike. Adding to the tension is the lurking presence of an unknown observer. As the story races toward its climax, the tension escalates not only from external threats but also from internal conflicts within the group. The revelation of long-held secrets among friends reaches a boiling point, heightening the story’s intensity and kept me on edge.

This was a good thriller. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so much potential and had many good elements, but ultimately it had a difficult time keeping my attention. Particularly, it felt as thought it was very slow moving and that the characters, who had to carry most of the story, we're not particularly likeable or fleshed out enough. I did however feel that the author did an amazing job with conveying their environment and communicating the overwhelming isolation and the atmosphere

Lucy Clarke is becoming an auto buy author for me. I loved this book. I loved the dynamics between all the friends. The secrets that each of them held back and then how they revealed themselves. Throughout the book, I thought I knew what was going to happen but I was so wrong. These four women are strong and stronger together, even with all their baggage. Their hike together brought them to their limits and that was before the villains even showed up! Great book

This is such a fast paced and enthralling thriller. Our family does ALOT of hiking so I kind of love that whole adventurous/outdoorsy part of this book. I also loved the POVs all four friends and the concurrent storytelling from another POV as well.

I love thrillers where you don’t know who the ‘victim’ is until the end. It keeps you on your toes and trying to figure out who it is and who did what to get them there. There are a lot of great twists and turns and unexpected secrets that come along that really keep you wanting more and more.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and also got a copy on audio and the narration was fantastic and I would highly recommend it.

This book had everything I love in a thriller. It had me on the edge of my seat, binge reading because I needed to know what was going to happen! Four friends, who meet up for an annual trip, go on a four day hike in Norway. I loved the dynamics of the friend group and how they all came into this trip with secrets or baggage. And the atmospheric setting had me wanting to go to Norway.

I loved all of the misdirection that made me unable to put everything together on my own, but it still all made sense after it came together. This is a binge worthy thriller, that kept me reading to find out answers. I cannot recommend it enough.

First sentence: Her body lies broken on the mountainside.

That's an attention grabber! Having enjoyed "One of the Girls" by Clarke, I had an idea of the suspense to await me in "The Hike." I have to say, I enjoyed that the book didn't follow the standard 4 girls go in and 1 comes out trope.

Brief synopsis: No help. No cell coverage. No one to hear them scream.
Burned-out by both her marriage and work, Liz is desperate for an escape. More than that, she craves an adventure, a total reset. So, when she plans a vacation with her three best friends, she persuades them to spend four nights camping in the stunning mountains of Norway. Following a trail that climbs through lush valleys, towering peaks, and past jewel-blue lakes, Liz is sure that the hike is just what they need.

"The Hike" blended a murder mystery that kept you guessing right until the end. The possibility of supernatural elements at play added further to the tense atmosphere and backdrop of the wilderness. With alternating chapters giving us a backstory of the characters, we get to know the four women as people with doubts and insecurities.

This is a mystery thriller with a real focus on female friendship and relationships. The setting really enhances the strain and tensions in the group and mirrors the isolation and rawness that is revealed by the women via the trip. Clarkedemonstrates that sometimes a vacation away from the everyday doesnt always go how you thought it would.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for a mystery thriller that engaged me and will those who pick up this book.

THE HIKE review

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

🥾As someone who really enjoys both hiking and thriller books, I was so pumped for this one! As peaceful as hiking in nature can be, if you’re alone or in a smaller group, it can also be scary (is someone hiding behind that tree and gonna pop out and get me?!). That was the vibe I was expecting for this book but it wasn’t really the vibe I got from it.

🥾Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Four lifelong best friends set out on a multi-day hike through the Norwegian mountains. They’re expecting a blissful trip but they soon discover something in the wilderness that will change their lives forever.

🥾There were definitely some moments in this book that had me on the edge of my seat! While I did predict the ending/who the “bad guy” was the author’s writing still gave me the creeps which is always a plus in thrillers! Some of the characters made choices that made zero sense to me (why wander off alone when the group just decided to stick together for safety?!). However, this was still a solid read overall in my opinion. Not my favorite thriller ever but still worth checking out especially if you enjoy hiking and/or thrillers set out in nature.

This was ok. Took me a while to get into it but I enjoyed the end. Wasn’t my favorite book as parts of it were boring especially in the middle but towards the end it got better and I enjoyed the ending. The characters were ok. Didn’t love them but didn’t hate them.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

The Hike is about 4 lifelong friends who go on a non traditional girls' trip hiking in Norway! This is definitely not my type of trip, but I really enjoyed learning about each character as they went on this trip/hike. You get to really see who everyone really is deep down inside (when you read it, you'll know what I mean), as they are faced with adversity on what is an incredibly difficult path to travel, both physically, and emotionally.

The scenes were easy to visualize, and I felt like I was part of the quad.

I truly enjoyed this thriller! Lots of twists, gut wrenching developments, and enough loops to keep you guessing. I was pretty close to figuring out how the end would go, although the finale was not at all what I was expecting. I have read other thrillers, and the events in this one, are memorable.

This was my first by this author, and I will be on the look out for other titles!

I just reviewed The Hike by Lucy Clarke. #TheHike #NetGalley

If you're looking for a solid thriller - I recommend! I rated a solid 3.5.

First off I love Lucy Clark books and this one was no different. Thank you #NetGalley for the opportunity t read this book in exchange for an honest review! The setting in this book is perfect and I lived the character develop. This book will keep you hooked as you try to sort out secrets and deceit. Definitely a fun read.

Maggie, Liz, Helena, and Joni are four best friends that reunite each year with a vacation to reconnect and relax. This year however, they are trading in cocktails poolside for hiking boots in the Norwegian wilderness. As they begin their adventure tensions run high as they struggle to make it to their destination. They believe bad weather to be the only danger in their path but little do they know there is something far more sinister lurking in the woods. The discovery of a body throws the women in the midst of danger as secrets between the friends come to light None of them are safe from anything or anyone, not even from each other.



I really enjoyed how this one was written and what made it stand out to me compared to other books with similar tropes was the friendship between the four women, there is careful detail that really makes you feel the connection they all have. This was fast paced and filled with suspense, I really enjoyed the setting and the detail which allowed you to picture everything perfectly in your mind. The book is written in multiple POV and it flowed effortlessly and was very easy to read, each chapter states the name of the character’s POV. I enjoyed how the main focus of this book was the friendship between all four women, the good and the bad. All four women are flawed giving them a realistic feel, the book also give you the feeling of not knowing who to trust which really added on to the suspense. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This title is now available to purchase.

The Hike by Lucy Clarke is my second book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Each character's flaws were relatable and both complimented and conflicted with their group, setting up really good tension and moments where you were left wondering what could happen next. The first 25% I thought was a little slow, but the rest really wove together in such a great, simmering way. The ending left me a bit teary eyed and emotional. Really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for this advance copy.

Four friends set out on a hiking holiday, which is drastically different than the sun and booze trips they usually take. Only Liz, the one in charge of choosing this years trip, seems to be very excited about it. But the others go along, anxious for time away and time together. Against numerous warnings from locals, the ladies take off to climb a mountain. What they run into is not only the elements, but secrets that people will do anything to protect.

This was a pretty good suspenseful book. It was told in a way that made me want to keep reading to find out what the women would face next and how their friendship would continue to evolve.

The Hike
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Author: Lucy Clarke

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Penguin Group and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: No help.

No cell coverage.

No one to hear them scream.

Burned-out by both her marriage and work, Liz is desperate for an escape. More than that, she craves an adventure, a total reset. So, when she plans a vacation with her three best friends, she persuades them to spend four nights camping in the stunning mountains of Norway. Following a trail that climbs through lush valleys, towering peaks, and past jewel-blue lakes, Liz is sure that the hike is just what they need.

But as they stride farther from civilization, it becomes clear that the women are not the only ones looking to lose themselves in the mountains. The wilderness hides secrets darker than they could ever have imagined, and if they’re not careful . . . not all of them will return.

My Thoughts: The four friends like to meet up for holidays through the years. Liz convinces the friend group to go hiking for four days in Norway, providing the most beautiful landscape for an adventure. Soon into their hike, they realize they may not be alone, being on the lookout for weather issues may not be the only thing they have to pay attention too. Each lady carries her own secrets and personal issues and the others are not aware of the secrets buried deep. Things really begin to take a creepy turn when someone is reported missing that looks exactly like one of the foursome. Will the hike be as fulfilling as the ladies hope? Or will things go south on the mountain?

The beginning is slow with character build ups, divulging their secrets, and laying out the groundwork for the hike. There are also two plot lines occurring at the same time that will eventually merge together. You have Maggie with a daughter at home and just a pure heart. Helena finds out some news right before the hike that has her preoccupied. Liz brought everyone on this hike because she needed a break and didn’t have a discussion on the holiday with the others. Then we have Joni, famous music star, who has done some questionable things. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, emotion, and intriguing. Not all of the characters were likable, which played into the plot well. There were personal conflicts within each lady but also within the group, but there were also those golden friendship moments that were endearing. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, action packed, and kept you engaged. The characters were slowly built up with their backstories and the plot was delivered excellently in twisty layers, and the ending was not what I expected. I do love how the author spins a mystery into a mystery. The author does an amazing job at describing the mountains in Norway, really makes you feel like you on the hike with the friend group.

This was more of a survival thriller which was a nice break from the domestic or psychological thriller. It was still compelling, twisty, and keeps you guessing, although there was some predictability. I would say once you get at about the 25% mark, it really picks up and has some excellant action related moments. Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I would recommend to other readers looking for something different.

I tried this on audio and kindle and just couldn’t get into it at all, I didn’t connect with any characters or what was going on