First 80%, 4.5 stars. Last 20%, 3 stars. You know those movies where you yell at the screen, “Don’t go out there alone”? But then they always do? This is that. A page-turning, entertaining thriller with immersive descriptions that make you forget you’re reading. The mountains are described like a character. But man, I never want to hear the phrase “lactic acid” ever again.

‘The Hike’ is part character study, part adventure, and fully engaging. We follow these friends who reunite, each with separate emotional baggage, to revel in each other’s company along with wading through their issues while hiking in the mountains. At times, it seemed that the handling of each character’s problem, dilemma, or emotional turmoil was slowing the stories pace. Luckily, the adventure - and the fact that we knew something terrible happened - propelled the story to it’s climax. Knowing what we were to discover only added to the anticipation of finding out who this tragedy befell, how it happened, and importantly, who caused it. Quite a journey.

I was a HUGE fan of Lucy Clarke’s previous book, One of the Girls so I was thrilled to receive an early copy of The Hike. While it didn’t resonate in the same way as her previous novel, Clarke continues to write compelling thrilling tales and the complexities of female friendships.

The Hike follows four lifelong friends who are attempting a difficult hike in the Norwegian wilderness. Told in varying timelines and perspectives, readers find out early that a female’s body has been discovered in a ravine. But who is it? How did they die? Who is the killer on the trail?

The Hike wasn’t the twisted complex story I was looking for. However, it was a great popcorn thriller! The setting was perfection and the added layer of surviving in the elements with a killer on the loose was a fun twist. For those who prefer adventure, check out The Hike!

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced copy!

I enjoyed the Norwegian mountain setting and the dynamics of the friend group as they embarked on their trip. A few points in the last third stretched credulity for me, but overall it was a fun read!

📚Book Review 📚
The Hike
by Lucy Clarke
Pub Date 8/29/23

Liz, Maggie, Helena, and Joni have been friends since young children. Each year they take turns choosing a destination. This year Liz chooses the Norwegian wilderness.

Each women has their own personal journey and this hike will challenge themselves and in their relationship with each other. The locals have warned them about the mountain and told them about a women, who looks a lot like Maggie, that was never found.

I was hooked and invested right away. I liked the different characters and their point of views in each chapter. A nice ending and good escape book.

Thank you @netgalley @lucyclarke_author and @putnambooks for an electronic book ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

#lucyclarke #thehike #thriller #putnambooks #penguin #fiction #NetGalley
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A survivalist mystery told from multiple points of view, The Hike by Lucy Clarke is an easy-to-read thriller that takes place in the Norwegian wilderness. The unique atmosphere makes this story unique compared to other thrillers, and after a bit of a slow start as you get to know the four main characters, the story unwinds more quickly as their hiking begins and question of 'how many women will come back from this?' lingers in the reader's mind. Recommended for those looking for an isolated mystery novel with a focus on female friendships. Thanks to Lucy Clarke and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC through NetGalley.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this e-Arc! I have a planned review of this on my Instagram and will also review on Goodreads once I get to this read. Until then I am giving a star rating as a placeholder on Netgalley. Stay tuned for my in depth review on all my social media platforms!

I enjoyed The Hike, as I do most Lucy Clark books. I saw some complaints about the end but I’ve got no problem with it or the book @ all. It’s a fictional book, to be read for entertainment. The last 25% of it, I could not put it down, was so intense & suspenseful. I did keep getting a couple Norwegian male names interchanged but I’m just not familiar. This is a great story, I enjoyed it more than her previous two even. 4 solid stars!!

This book gave me so much anxiety. I loved it. I'm not sure if I have any desire to go hiking any time soon though. I enjoyed trying to figure out if the narrators are unreliable or not. It was quite a ride. I can't wait for this to come out, so I can read it again.

***Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.***

This was a hike! Such a fantastic read. Couldn't put it down and the twists weren't obvious. Loved the writing style and really enjoyed this book! 4.5/5

4 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Lucy Clarke’s newest release. I have some other Lucy Clarke titles on my TBR, but this one was my first. Four women embark on a hike for their annual girls vacation, but they encounter all kinds of obstacles on the way. This was a very quick read, the chapters were only a few pages each, and differed between the four women. I didn’t guess the “twist” but I wasn’t necessarily shocked by it when it happened. Overall a solid read, I will definitely be checking out some of Clarke’s other titles!

Another Lucy Clarke that worked for me! I loved her book I read last year (ONE OF THE GIRLS) so I was excited to get to this one. It's similar in its structure (short chapters, multiple POVs) and has the same overall tone of mystery, suspense, secrets, etc. Though this is one of those "thrillers" where you will find yourself saying "WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?!" I just leant into the fiction of it all. Also, the ending was a bit of an eye roll, but again, overall, didn't take about from the experience. If you enjoy hiking, this would be a great pick for you.

I am still sitting here, staring at my phone, wondering how on earth this book could have wrecked me in less than 25 pages. I enjoyed the way this thriller was written so so much. My heart is still a little tender from that ending but...
Never ever will I go hiking alone ever again. These four friends trekking across the Norwegian wilderness stalked by not only people but their own inner turmoil kind of sealed the deal on me being an inside person.
Overall, this was one of the best thrillers I've read this year.
Thoroughly impressed and I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time. I am a sucker for anything set in Norway so I may be a little biased, and no matter how creepy those woods seemed I loved every tense moment of this book.

Liz, Maggie, Helena, and (sometimes) Joni take turns picking destinations each year for their annual friends trip. Typically it’s a relaxing beach, but this time Liz is picking something adventurous; desperate to incorporate some change and control in her life. Off the ladies go on an isolated hike up a Norwegian mountain that a couple locals have warned them about. Not everyone is who they seem out in the wilderness, and the friends may be in even more trouble than they thought.

Overall, I think this was a solid 3 ⭐️ read for me for a survivalist thriller. The plot seemed to have intermittent slow pacing. I did enjoy the multiple POV and the conflict of secrets/resentments among friends. There was also something about the resolution at the ending that was just okay for me, but it wasn’t bad by any means.

This book was a very unexpected thriller. What I mean by that is, with a few exceptions, I did not predict this story and nothing went the way I thought it would. It was gripping and suspenseful, I would highly recommend it! Definitely a strong five star read!

A group of friends reunite each year for a trip. Typically, they enjoy sandy beaches and cocktails. This year, they are hiking a mountain in Norway. From the start, it becomes clear that the women, and the wilderness, are hiding secrets which may put them in danger.

I had a copy of this book for a while, and I kept procrastinating on reading it for a while. I am so disappointed with myself for not jumping to read it sooner. Once I started, I could not put it down! I tend to avoid books focused on nature adventure, but I loved the descriptions of the setting. We also get a small glimpse into Norwegian culture when we meet locals. I loved the pace of the book which felt suspenseful from start to finish. Would recommend, especially if you’re looking for something to read during a cold, rainy/snowy season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the opportunity to review this ARC!

This book was just okay for me, it is a standard survivalist thriller. It did have some interesting twists and I liked that it was set in Norway which did make it a bit different for me! I think this was one step up from most domestic thrillers for me, as I really couldn’t put it down. I just wish somehow the ending had been a little less predictable. All in all, I liked the characters a lot

Lucy Clarke consistently produces books that are like a bag of white cheddar popcorn - I do not have the willpower to put them down and will glut myself on it with no remorse.

Clarke pieces together solid thrillers with well-rounded characters and fast-paced plots. I also love how she hints at another story line as she goes, leading the reader one way and then directing them another. It's very satisfying to be along on that ride.

"The Hike" is no exception. Much like "One of the Girls", we are taken along on a trip with four friends, and the book is revealed slowly through all of their perspectives. Spliced in are short segments about a woman's body, having been seen on a ledge beneath a precipitous drop and a man who goes out to find out whether she is dead or alive. As a reader, you are left to wonder who that body might be, which of our characters has fallen victim to a fall?

Clarke's books are solid summer reads, hitting a spot that few thriller authors hit for me. It was a pleasure to receive this ARC, and I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for my copy. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

The Hike
By Lucy Clarke
Pub Date: 29 Aug 2023
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons
General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers
Rating: 4/5

Lucy Clarke's The Hike is an intricate story of friendship and survival. True to Clarke's writing style it is a slow burn that quickly ignites. It is a gripping and suspenseful tale with well-developed characters. Psychological thriller fans will enjoy the plot twists in this book.

Synopsis:
Neither Liz's marriage nor her job are fulfilling her. She plans a daring journey to regain control of her life and redefine her destiny. As a result, she convinces her three closest friends to join her for four days together backpacking in Norway's extraordinary mountains. However, the group quickly discovers that they are not the only ones seeking solitude in the mountains as they travel further from society. There are many sinister secrets and dangers in the wilderness. Will their vacation become a life-or-death struggle?

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for allowing me to experience this exciting novel. Lucy Clarke's books are always highly enjoyable.

#TheHike

Honestly, this book had me from the start. Four friends with a ton of secrets, drama and history on a hike in Norway - what could go wrong? I feel like this book was super fast past for being a thriller. I feel like those are the best kinds of thrillers, because you don’t want to put down. You want to see what the outcome is for the girls. My only but is, part of me feels like this reminded me of something I’ve read or seen in the past. This was my first Lucy Clarke book and it won’t me my last! This definitely didn’t let me down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for allowing me to read this book before it’s published for my honest review. Needless to say when this releases I will be adding this to my library