The Hike focuses around a group of early-middle aged (depends on who you ask) women who met in high school but vacation together annually, with this year's trip being a multi-day difficult hike in Norway. Does the idea of four women with no training and ignoring all warnings seem plausible? No, but a book about prepared women doing a hike well and easy would be boring.

I loved the short chapters- it definitely made me feel like I was ripping through this book! The pace is slow at first but quickly picks up speed as the story progresses.

I will say there was a time jump that wasn't in your face at first. Which I imagine was meant to 'trick' the reader but it was almost obvious to me at the beginning, so to each their own.

There are also a LOT of characters in this book, between the four main characters and then all the people in the local town- it is a lot to keep track of. Of course as you meet the locals you realize "this isn't fluff, it has to circle back right?" it kind of feeds into the "larger" plot twist at the end. I enjoyed the dynamics of the friendship, four women that have closer ties with some more than others. It was relatable in the ways that you can often be mad at your friends but still do anything for them when push comes to shove.

With mysteries my usual complaint about books is the ending was ~too obvious~, especially if I can guess the ending chapters upon chapters before it plays out. This is not a complaint I have with this book, I was often putting the pieces together as the characters were. There was maybe extra stuff/drama added in for *what I don't know* but at least the ending wasn't obvious until well, it happened.

Although I gave this book three stars, I would recommend it to others.

With thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Four women about my age complaining about life than the only non mother sacrifices herselfs for the moms. 🙄No thank you. Boring and redundant at times

4 women who have been friends since school head to Norway as the destination for their yearly get-together. Unlike their usual beach holidays, this year the plan is to spend 4 days hiking up to Blajfell and back. A part from Liz, no-one is really prepared for this hike. Everyone is hiding something. Liz a trial separation, Maggie, a failed marriage and a fear of leaving her daughter with her ex, Helena a pregnancy and Joni, addiction to alcohol and drugs. They become separated on the hike and keep bumping into mysterious/dangerous strangers. There's a woman who disappeared a year earlier. Many twists and suspense that keep you reading until the end. An enjoyable read.

I really enjoyed this book! It is set in Norway with four long-time friends coming together for their annual trip. All of their personalities are so different and we get to hear from all of them. The setting was beautiful and eerie and I found it hard to put this book down. All of the events and twists truly had me on edge. I would recommend this book for thriller lovers! Also, the audiobook was very well done and added a lot to the story for me.

I took one star off because SPOILER ALERT:





Why did Joni get all of the flack for the cheating but the cheating husband got off easy? This part of the story really irritated me. I absolutely hate cheating partners and hate reading about it in books. I was mad at Joni and the husband but they seemed to only shame Joni for it.

This book wasn't for me. I found the characters to be unlikable and dumb. The choices that are made just didn't make sense. I found myself annoyed through most of it.

This novel gives creepy vibes almost from the get go, and I loved that!

Liz, Helena, Maggie, and Joni are close friends who meet up every year for a weekend getaway. But this year, instead of warm sunshine, sandy beaches, and fruity drinks, there is a change of plans and they end up in Norway on a hiking adventure.

The premise of the book was great and I loved the idea of not only getting to learn about Norway but also the idea that these women, who mostly had no business doing this hike, were about the get absolutely stranded.

Unfortunately, as a whole this novel fell short for me. I'm not sure exactly what it was, but I just didn't love it. I didn't hate it either. It was a solid C novel for me.

Set in the mountains of Norway, the setting becomes a secondary character framing the plot and actions of the characters. I did guess a little where this one was heading, but no one could have prepared me for some of those twists.

While the suspense is the draw in this one, it also focuses on friendship and how we view ourselves as our lives progress.

Throughout the book there are chapters on a search for a missing character, but the reader is not privy to who is missing. I was always looking for clues to figure out where this was going and see if I could figure out who was missing and what happened.

If you’re looking for an entertaining popcorn thriller, albeit maybe not memorable or a chart topper, look no further! The first quarter is slow moving as we get to know our group of friends who are hiking together, but if you can be patient, once that backstory is laid (and this part is arguably important) the real action begins and doesn’t let up until the very last page.

I’ve never been so sure of my not being a rugged, outdoor kinda gal as I was while reading this book. I guess you could call me a glamping princess, as I’d rather have access to at least some conveniences, but after reading this book I can argue with my husband that it’s just safer overall. 😇 These women are wearing the same crusty clothes for days, eating dried/preserved foods, etc.

The ending is a bit over the top, but exciting nonetheless.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Hike by Lucy Clarke. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, so when I was approved to read Clarke's latest novel, I was over the moon with glee. I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.

From the start, The Hike is extremely engaging, and I had trouble pulling myself away to do normal every day things. When I wasn't reading it, I found myself thinking about the story and the characters.

As a whole, the four main characters were likable but definitely had some traits about them that weren't amiable, just like real life. I liked the character of Helena the best as I identified with her more than the other characters. As for the secondary characters, the ones I liked in the beginning, I ended up not liking much, and the one I didn't like, or trust, ended up being an awesome character.

Five out of five stars is what I gave The Hike by Lucy Clarke. I can't wait to see what else Lucy Clarke writes . . . she is that talented. Don't miss out on this fantastic book.

This was an entertaining thriller. It was a little slow moving at the beginning, but picked up as I continued to read. I don’t think anything made it stand out to be outstanding, but it was entertaining!

Good characters and page turning to figure out what happened, but more of a predictable plot than I typically like in a thriller.

Colleen Chi-Girl on GR
4 STRONG STARS

I first discovered this book on NetGalley and was given the opportunity to read a Kindle ARC. However, I got busy and the Kindle ARC became unavailable a month or so later. But not before I had begun reading it and totally enjoyed the first couple of chapters. I got sucked into it and had to finish it! I also wanted to finish it because I felt a debt to the author, Lucy Clarke, the publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC copy, all of whom I'd like to now thank for the ARC.

I decided to read the audiobook (my 1st choice way to read) on the Libby app and just devoured it! Here's my review:
Pros: I enjoyed the 4 female friends, who vacation together once a year, in a place chosen by one of them, and I couldn't wait to find out what happens on the trails...it wasn't at all what I had expected. All women were interesting characters that I wanted to know more about - they are: Maggie, Liz, Helena & Joni (rockstar/singer). Please note: the female narrator was terrific.

Cons: I definitely liked some of the women more than others, but that's not a biggie, however, hiking in Norway, in the winter, seemed a bizarre choice for them, especially since most women hadn't trained and weren't even hikers. There were moments where I had to really suspend my disbelief, yet I still I found it to be an edge-of-my-seat-thriller that kept me up late at night. It was an exciting thriller that I highly recommend.

PUBLISHER'S BLURB: Wish you were here? Think again . . . Maggie, Liz, Helena & Joni. Old friends bound by history, adventures, old secrets. And now, bound by murder. They lace up their hiking boots for the adventure of a lifetime in the Norwegian wilderness: a place of towering mountains, glass-like lakes, log cabins and forests stolen from a fairytale. It’s the perfect place to lose yourself – until a broken body is found at the bottom of a ravine. Somewhere out there, someone knows exactly why a woman has died. And in this deep, dark wilderness, there’s a killer on the trail . . .

Special thanks you NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. This book kept me turning the pages from start to finish. Loved it!

I’ve been in a bit of a book slump so I was looking to pick up a fast-paced thriller to pull me out of it. This book unfortunately didn’t do that for me 🙃 it was honestly soooo slow and be summarized as follows: four selfish people decide to take a hike and make a string of poor decisions that ultimately gets gets them in trouble (and possibly someone killed). I almost DNFed it multiple times and I kinda wish I had, but I pushed through hoping the ending would redeem the book. It did pick up a little in the end but not enough to make me glad I finished. I may go back and try other books by this author but this was a miss for me.

I really enjoyed this read. It was easy to get into but I also found there was too much going on at the same time. Really liked that the friends are all at different stages in life. This is important to highlight as the group sees how much they need each other and how realistic this becomes with life long friendships.
The book didn't go in the direction I was thinking and it's great at keeping you guessing

The Hike focuses on four friends as they travel to Norway to hike a notorious mountain, only to learn about the mysterious disappearance of a former woman from the town and other nefarious things happening on the mountain.

I thought the premise was interesting, but the first half of the book moved way slower than I'd like for a thriller. The second half picked up and I found myself more invested in the characters, and the story, and wanting to know what was going to happen. The second half was definitely more action-packed and had me turning the pages. For some reason, stories that surround hiking mountains or treacherous peaks where there is mystery involved always seem a bit too far-fetched, BUT I'm not a hiker, so these types of things could easily be happening in remote parts of the world.

Overall, I thought it was a good story. If you like books surrounding grand adventures and vacations gone bad, you'll probably like this one.

Thank you Putnam Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

For those in search of an engaging popcorn thriller, this book is a solid choice, even if it may not leave a lasting impression or top the charts. The initial part of the story moves at a slower pace as it introduces the group of friends embarking on a hiking trip together. However, if you're patient and push through this setup (which is arguably important for character development), the narrative shifts gears, and the real action kicks in, maintaining its intensity until the very last page.

Reading this book, I became acutely aware of my preference for a less rugged, more pampered approach to the outdoors. You could say I'm a "glamping princess" who values access to certain creature comforts. After reading about these characters enduring days in the same unwashed clothes and subsisting on dried and preserved foods, I found myself reaffirming the safety and allure of my own camping style. Cheers to these women for their resilience and self-sufficiency!

The ending, while a bit over-the-top, still manages to deliver an exciting climax. This was my first experience with this author's work, and I found it enjoyable enough to pique my interest in exploring her backlist.

If you're considering the audiobook version, it's worth noting that the male narrator appears to be either a debut artist or using a pseudonym. However, the female narrator, Stephanie Racine, is a personal favorite of mine. So, if you prefer to listen to your books, I recommend giving it a try and sharing your thoughts afterward.

Lucy Clark will always take you on a wild ride. The Hike is no exception.

If you enjoy Ruth Ware or Megan Miranda, check out Lucy Clark’s latest or deep catalog. She handles a plot twist beautifully.

When a group of friends plan a getaway together, it ends up being more than any of them bargained for.

I liked this book a lot and will definitely be recommending it to my friends and family!

This was a mystery/thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat while reading. I loved the hiking/outdoor aspect but did find it a bit unbelievable that a group of inexperienced hikers would take on such a treacherous hike. Definitely some outlandish plot twists as well. But overall, a fun read full of unlikeable characters that kept me guessing.