Every year the four friends Liz Maggie Helena and Joni all go on vacation together this year Helena has picked the beautiful mountains of Norway because she wants to disperse her mother‘s ashes Liz is using this vacation as a trial separation from her husband Patrick Maggie just needs this vacation from being a busy single mom and Joanne needed to be with her friends and to get clean but this vacation will bring more than just a respite from their lives it will bring them close the danger from the environment drug dealers and each other. The resort where they’re staying is run by Liam he just lost his dad in search and find accident and worries about his brother The girls are there to hike the beautiful trails but when they decide to make camp on the beach they run across something they shouldn’t have and one of them puts them further in danger but when they go back to the campsite and seen a rock avalanche has buried their things they have more of to fear than they thought they have so much happening in this book and I thought it was a top notch the thriller there’s also a missing girl who Liam theaters is missing because of his brother there’s so many surprises and twists and turns I couldn’t put the book down I have read many books by Lucy Clark and think this is one of her best. A definite five star read I want to thank NetGalley and penguin group Putnam for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I had high hopes for this book. I've read Clarke's Swimming at Night almost 10 years ago, and I remember enjoying it. In addition, I liked the idea of the book's setting - a remote mountain in Norway - and there were parts of all four of the hikers to which I could relate (which doesn't always happen when different characters are meant to embody different Life Struggles). And though in some books with a multitude of characters/narrators, there's too much Over the Top Drama, I didn't feel like this was excessive, it was understandable given where the women are in their lives.

However, I was prepared for a suspenseful, stay-up-at-night book, and I was left feeling like this wasn't quite it, In some ways, I feel like I've read this book before: for example, there was a plot device used that I figured out before maybe I was meant to. In addition, I had an idea of who died very early on, so that part was kind of a whiff for me.

Besides that, there were lines in the book that were just lovely, like when Helena is remembering her mother: "Loneliness wasn't the absence of people. she realized. It was the absence of people who understood you."

If you're reading this book because you want a character-driven book, this might be for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lucy Clarke for this chance to read and review!

4.25 🌟

This book had me wanting to hike - beautiful mountain peaks, amazing landscape and views you can't see anywhere else... and then I started reading the book and immediately canceled my order of hiking boots.

This thriller gave you just enough on every page to make you want to continue turning to the next. I enjoyed reading the multiple POVs and the friendship dynamic among these 4 women.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

A really fun thriller that had me guessing a different outcome throughout. I struggled at times to find reasons to root for this group of hikers as they all came off as a bit petty and frankly whiny at the beginning. By the time the story moved to the wilderness and the hike was truly underway I found myself understanding the characters and rooting for them. Great story!

This was a page turner and a solid thriller. Really kept me guessing. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between the four women. Even though there was some betrayal I believe the character was remorseful and wanted to mend the relationship. Mostly I loved seeing the women supporting each other. I will be checking out Lucy Clarke's other books.

Three days, one mountain - who will survive?
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I was so excited to get a copy of Lucy Clarke's newest book, The Hike. I enjoyed her 2022 release and I am always looking to solidify new auto-buy thriller authors. The Hike follows four women who have been friends since childhood, and while their lives have taken them in different directions, they always come together for their yearly vacation. This year, it's Liz's turn to choose. In desperate need for a change, she plans an advanced hike in the mountains of Norway. When things take a turn for the worst, it's not just the threat of the wilderness the women need to be afraid of.

I loved so much about this one. First off, the setting. I don't know if I have ever read a book set in Norway but I guess I'll need to start. The author's description of the remote setting made visualizing the danger so easy I felt like I was right there beside them on their hike. The book's characterization was also far above what I typically see in thrillers. By the end, you feel like you know each of these women and the struggles they are going through. The book depicts what real female friendship can be like - the good and the bad. I also noticed how you got to know each of their unique relationships with each other in a way that some books don't really drill down to.

The plot was pretty straight forward. There are some predictable reveals and the concept is not trying to be overly original. But if you like character driven stories this tension-filled thriller is definitely for you. Thank you #netgalley for the advanced copy!

I would give this 4.5 stars if a half star was a thing! The Hike was a first class thriller, that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The pacing of the story, with short chapters told from Multi Point of View, almost always ending in just enough of a cliff hanger, kept me reading into all hours of the night, flying through the story.

The Hike revolves around 4 girlfriends who set off on their yearly girls trip, only this year the plan is to hike on of the largest and beautiful mountains in Norway. This trip is frowned upon by 3/4ths of their party along with all of the locals they encounter, but since it was Liz's year to pick, all four of them set off on adventure that will ultimately change their lives.

Each of these 4 ladies brings something of their middle age lives as a burden on the trail: marriage problems, babies, divorces, addictions, and even issues they have with one another, but together, they have to put those things aside and fight for their physical lives as they find themselves hunted by someone or something that doesn't want them up on the mountain.

This story is a beautiful nod to friendships, and I greatly enjoyed that age of the MCs, being in their 30s. I enjoyed their relatable issues. Character development was top notch. I felt like I had an acute sense of every player in this story.

I enjoyed The Hike greatly, and would recommend it to anyone who loves adventure, nature, and/or thrillers.

This book completely devastated me. We find out right in the beginning that there is a woman's body on the side of a mountain and that only one other person knows how this happened. This story follows four women who are all struggling with some aspect of their life. They go on annual vacations together and this year it is Liz's turn to pick the location. Liz and her friend Joni have always dreamed of hiking Blafjell, a mountain in Norway since they were young. This book takes us on their adventure of personal struggles, adversaries on the mountain, and the strife of handling all that Mother Nature places on them. The whole time while I was reading, I was trying to figure out which woman is the one on the side of the mountain and who did this to them. At one point I wondered if one of their friends may even have done it. This story was a page turner, and by the end I was left completely shaken by the outcome.

This book started off a little slow, but as we got into the actual hike, I found that I was holding my breath waiting to find out what would happen next. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and getting to know each character individually and as a group. There was one phrase repeated throughout the book that really started to irk me, but I can look past that because the rest of the book was quite enjoyable.

I am surprised with how much I enjoyed this thriller! Though this was quite slow in the beginning, the pace really ramped up half way through. The four friends are an interesting group with complex relationships that I did enjoy reading about. I also loved the almost creepy atmosphere this was set against.

While I don't think this was too surprising with its twists, there were still some that I wasn't expecting.

This was a fun and fast paced read and I'm exited to pick up more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

Another entertaining read from Lucy Clarke! She is such a solid author. Her stories are well plotted, with interesting characters, stunning settings, and twists you don’t see coming. The Hike is a perfect example of why I love this author. The friendships between the main characters were relatable and just tense enough to keep me riveted. And now I’m desperate for a Norwegian adventure! 4 solid, dependable stars. I will read anything Clarke writes!

I thought Lucy did a great job at the character development in this one. You got a great look at each of the four friends who are all so different and by the end, you were rooting for them so hard. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read about hiking, mountain landscapes, childhood best friends, and personal development. This made me excited to read more by her!

As per usual, Lucy Clarke did not hold back on delivering the suspense her readers are accustomed. The latest of Clarke’s novels held my attention to the very end. I usually prefer first person narratives, but Clarke’s writing is so effective that the multiple point of view approach did not bother me in the slightest. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone in need of a good mystery thriller to bring with them on vacation.

The Hike is a fast paced thriller focused on a group of friends trying to survive a hike in the mountains.

The four women have been friends since childhood and now take turns choosing a holiday each year. This year, Liz chooses a four day hiking experience, thinking completing the hike wi help her mental health, which is suffering in the wake of a trial separation. The other three woman have their own issues- singer Joni is struggling with addiction, Helena is still in the shadow of grief after her mother’s death, and Maggie is saddened to be away from her young daughter for the first time. When things begin to go awry on the hike, past resentments begin to boil over in the friend group.

The storytelling was compelling, full of great descriptions of the hike itself and excellent dialogue between the characters. The locals at the lodge add some great flavor to the story, making us unsure if we could trust any of them.

The dynamics between the friends were the best part of the book for me. These women have known each other since childhood, and seeing how their relationships evolved over time was interesting. Each woman had her own secrets that came out during their journey.

There is something about a survival story that is just tense and thrilling to read. These women aren’t mountaineers, they are just regular people hiking a trail who get stuck in a bad position. It feels like it could happen to anyone, making for a great entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A fast-paced survival thriller about four friends on a hiking holiday together in the wilds of Norway. Maggie, Liz, Helena, and Joni were all strong characters, and this book did a great job alternating among the women. From the start, we know there's a dead body, but we don't know whose or how it happened. The friends have plenty of backstory, secrets, and personal challenges, and the short chapters kept me turning the pages. The story did get a little over-the-top towards the end, but it was still a really fun ride. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for a digital review copy.

Four friends decide to set off into the Norwegian wilderness for their next girls trip instead of their usual beach or city vacation. Each of them is facing a hardship in her personal life; a trial separation for one, an early pregnancy with an unknown father for another, addiction for a third. As these secrets come to light, among other big twists, the women's place in one another's lives seems as harrowing as their adventure into the unknown.

The Hike was a lot of fun, with plot twists and enough interpersonal drama to keep readers excited. I felt like it dragged a little though, maybe around the 60% mark. There are some locals who are introduced, and they all seem relatively interchangeable, to the point where when the 'Big Bad' was revealed I had to go back to remind myself who that was. The interplay between the four main characters was strong, however, and I felt that things tied up very nicely.

Note: I received a free ebook copy of the Hike from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Book : The Hike
Author : Lucy Clarke
Pub Date : 29 Aug 2023

Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, & the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This read was quite the thrilling adventure & I thought the location was such a fun setting. The setting takes place on a large mountain in Norway where one of our characters Liz chose that years trip to happen (annual girls hike). I love stories about a group of girlfriends especially when that group has some kept secrets from each other and they have to work through those together...or not. Each of these characters are so different from one another and each bring something to the table.

I def loved how fast paced of a read this was and how easy it was to follow along with the story. I didn’t see the ending coming that was one thing I loved (it’s always such a bummer when you’ve guessed it before the end). I will absolutely recommend this to my book friends who I feel would love this type of book/setting etc. I cannot wait for this books release in August.

Synopsis: Four close friends reunite for their annual girls trip. Only this time, instead of a beach vacation, they are set to hike a treacherous mountain in Norway. From the start we know that one person does not return alive and with many secrets exposed, the big question is who can it be ?

Thoughts: This book follows a similar format to One of the Girls, Clarke’s previous novel, but ultimately it fell a bit flat for me. I enjoyed the slow burn suspense, alternating POVs and interesting cast of characters. The audiobook also made for easy listening! However, the ending and plot twists were a bit too over the top/ silly. Also, how can a group of friends go on a trip like this with zero training, prep, or equipment?!

Thank you Putnam/ PRH Audio for the ARC and ALC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

This books follows four friends on a yearly vacation. On this particular trip, the foursome are going on a four day hike- much to the dismay of most of the group. On this particular hike in Norway, a girl previously had gone missing and her disappearance haunts the current visit. The book goes back and forth between the four friends and the different day of the trip. I will say I was not expecting the twist and overall really enjoyed this book!

Four lifelong friends embark on a challenging 4-day hike in Norway, each with their own secrets and personal issues. Some are more eager to get on the trail than others, but when they hear about a missing girl who looks strikingly similar to Maggie, things take a sinister twist. But we know not everyone will return alive! What exactly happened up on that mountain trail? The pace of the novel is slow initially but picks up considerably once the hike has got underway and then it varies from a brisk walking speed to hurtling pell mell down the mountainside. This heightens and deepens the group dynamics which are in constant flux with moments of joy and liberation which contrasts effectively with the building fearful dread and suspense. None of the characters are especially likeable but this adds to the plot rather than detracts with some of the Norwegian characters giving cause for concern and worse. #NETGALLEY #THEHIKE