Member Reviews
See How They Hide is the Sixth installment in author Allison Brennan's Quinn & Costa series. Detective Kara Quinn, formerly of the LAPD, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Matt Costa, have a mystery on their hands. The FBI Mobile Response Team has been asked to investigate the deaths of two people who were murdered in the exact same way, one in Virginia and another in Oregon, with red poppies covering their bodies. Quinn and her partner, FBI Agent Michael Harris, investigate the murder of Jane Merrifield in Oregon.
Meanwhile, Matt and Agent Sloane Wagner, who is new to the team, are in Virginia looking into the murder of Robert Benson. What is his connection to Jane? As they investigate, they pinpoint Jane’s roommate, Riley Pierce, as the link between the two and other victims who appear to have been given new identities. Eventually, they learn that Riley, who arrived from Paris, has information about an isolated cult-like community called Havenwood in the Colorado mountains that might be the key to solving the murders.
Riley grew up in Havenwood, a commune started by her grandmother, where people could live a much simpler life. It was a place for people who wanted to live a simple life. But when Riley got older, she discovered that her mother, Calliope, had taken control and refused to allow anyone to leave. Those who tried, died. Those who escaped were tracked down. While Riley escaped to Paris to study art, her best friend, Jane stayed behind. Now she's dead. Riley is devastated to learn that friends who escaped with her help are now being targeted by Calliope.
The suspense rises throughout the investigation as Matt gets himself kidnapped as a way to send a message to Riley. Kara, Michael and the rest of the FBI/MRT team are determined to find Matt and save Riley (whose mother wants her back). Unfortunately, Kara once again faces scorn from her teammate, Catherine Jones, who thinks she's unhinged and out of control. Catherine's issues have always bothered me because she's sanctimonious, like most politicians, believing that her truth is one everyone should agree upon. Even Dean Montero, who takes over while Matt is gone, seems to have issues with Kara.
The good thing is that Kara develops a bond with Riley, one of the bright spots in this series. Riley is a character who not only escaped her own mother but now may have answers as to how to find Havenwood and how to rescue Matt and others who might want to leave. Dean Montero is an expert in cults but he hasn't been out in the field for years, which allows Kara to do what she does best. Kara is well aware of her shortcomings in the eyes of the FBI, but no one has her instincts, and that counts for a whole lot, especially when things go sideways and Matt is in danger.
On the brighter side, it has taken a few books for Matt to realize that Catherine's opinion is just that—her opinion. Matt loves Kara, who is now looking to move ahead with her life without worrying about her past issues with the LAPD or her issues with Catherine. There is a bit of hope when it comes to that, but I won't spoil it. Let's hope this means that the author intends to give the couple time to explore if they are meant to be together.
See How They Hide by Allison Brennan is a gripping thriller that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. Brennan expertly crafts a tense and suspenseful narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns. The characters are well-developed and relatable, with their flaws and motivations adding depth to the story. The plot moves at a brisk pace, combining psychological intrigue with action-packed moments that make it hard to put down. Brennan’s attention to detail and ability to build a chilling atmosphere elevate the book, making it a standout in the genre. A must-read for fans of fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrillers!
Allison Brennan belongs in the class of top notch thriller writers.... her characters are just so relatable, there's never a dull moment.
So Kate and Matt are trying to piece together what connects different murders in different states. The killer or killers leave a signature of poppies. When Riley comes into the picture, they get brought into a hidden world of a cult ruled by a terrifying figures with a connection to Riley.
Lives are at stake especially when someone from the team gets taken! It's a race against time to prevent another WACO like tragedy!
THANKS NetGalley and Harlequin. Beyond grateful and humbled for this ARC!!!
SEE HOW THEY HIDE, OUT JANUARY 7TH 2025
SOLID 4.5 STARS!!!!
Let me start with saying I would rate it 3.75/5 stars!
This was my first book by Allison Brennan, I realize this is a series but I didn’t feel lost at all coming in at book 6!
This was a great and exciting police procedural story, dealing with many characters including a deadly cult-like community.
Overall, this story was exciting and kept me entertained most of the time. There was lots of details regarding lots of different aspects in the book, I felt some aided in the story and some felt like filler.
This detective lead story thought felt unlike anything else I’ve read recently, which I really appreciated. I would recommend this story to anyone that likes a mystery or thriller, and especially anyone that likes the inns and outs of detective work. Think the script of Law&Order!
Title: See How They Hide
Author: Allison Brennan
Genre: Mystery/thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5
No matter how far you run, some pasts never let you go…
Two people were murdered—at the exact same time, in the same gruesome manner, bodies covered in the same red poppies…but on opposite sides of the country.
With Detective Kara Quinn investigating in Oregon and Special Agent Matt Costa in Virginia, the Mobile Response Team digs deep to uncover more about each victim. What is the link between the two, and why were they targeted?
Yet their search unearths more questions than answers—until they meet Riley Pierce, the only person still alive who might be able to help them find the killers.
Soon, it becomes clear this case is nothing like they’ve seen before as their investigation leads them to the hallowed grounds of Havenwood—an eerily beautiful place rooted in a terrifying past.
As more bodies turn up, all tied to the same community, Kara and Matt are desperate to piece the puzzle together before Havenwood’s leader sacrifices everything to keep her secrets buried.
I’ve enjoyed all the Quinn & Costa books, and I liked this one, too. Books about cults always creep me out a bit, and this one was no exception. I liked seeing how the team made connections and linked thinks I would never have thought of, but the glimpses of live within Havenwood was creepy and unsettling at best. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt—the part after the resolution with Havenwood—but the rest was a solid read.
Allison Brennan is a bestselling author. See How They Hide is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/MIRA in exchange for an honest review.)
(Blog link live 1/29).
This book follows the FBI's mobile response team as it investigates two murders with eerie similarities that were committed on opposite sides of the country.
What I liked: I love the teamwork and camaraderie of the Mobile Response Team, as well as the continued progress in the romantic relationship between Kara and Matt, as well as the working relationship between Kara and Catherine, who have always rubbed each other the wrong way. Brennan is great at exploring complex characters. I also enjoyed the team's investigation into the mysterious, cult-like community of Havenwood. The second half of the book was particularly exciting.
What I disliked: For me, this book was slow at the beginning. It took me longer than usual to immerse myself in the world and become invested in what happened, and I never enjoyed this book as much as I did some of the others in the series.
Overall: This is a good addition to the series. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the others in the series, but it's still a solid police procedural that explores complex characters and relationships.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
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Fans of gripping, fast-paced mysteries and thrillers will devour this story, as it masterfully weaves together dark, adventurous, and suspenseful elements to create a page-turning ride that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Thank you NetGalley! I throughly enjoy this series by Allison Brennan. I love the dynamics between the characters. This book drew me in right away and had me hooked the entire time
This is book 6 in the Quinn and Costa series and I loved it! A fast-paced read and great story. I have enjoyed watching the relationships between the characters develop over the course of the series. Can be read as a stand-alone but highly recommend you read the series from the beginning.
Thank you #netgalley and #htp #mira for the eARC.
I picked this book up not even realizing it was books 6 in a series. I think one of the great things about it is that you don’t have to read the books that came before this one to be completely engaged with the stories and characters.
I will plan on going back and reading from the start of the series just so I can see how the develops happened over time though as the FBI team dynamic is what made this book stand out for me. Not to mention Riley who has amazing strength in the face of some severe PTSD.
So no spoilers…..just if you like fbi procedurals with a fun and interesting cast and a truly devilish bad guy/gal you should give this one a read. A solid 4.25/5 stars for me.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.
This book IMMEDIATELY drew me on, however, I hadn't realized it was part of a series! I did stop partway through so I could start from the beginning, but I HIGHLY recommend the series!
See How They Hide is the sixth book in the Quinn and Costa series, focusing on Kara Quinn, Matt Costa, and the Mobile Response Team (MRT).
OMG OMG I’ve been waiting for this book! My girl Kara Quinn is back! I fell in love with this series, mainly because of the incredible characters Allison has once again brought to life and I've been anxiously awaiting this book!.
The story begins with two murders occurring at opposite ends of the country. As bodies start piling up, there seems to be nothing connecting the victims—except that they were all killed in the same manner and found with red poppies. Before long, the team is fully immersed in investigating a previously unknown cult called Havenwood. At the heart of the mystery is Riley, a former cult member who escaped after being an unwilling participant in its inner circle.
Kara is in Oregon while Matt investigates in Virginia, meaning they don’t spend as much time together as I’d like. That said, there’s plenty of Ryder and Dean in this book, which more than compensates. AND Catherine finally stops being an insufferable PITA—but only by the end, after annoying Kara at least twice. Despite her attitude, Catherine proves useful in the investigation, though I still despise how she speaks to Kara.
Kara and Matt’s growth throughout this book was so satisfying, and Riley plays a huge role in that. The picture she draws of them makes Kara realize that people see her in ways she never expected. Riley was also an exceptional secondary character, and I absolutely loved her conclusion in the story.
As always, I’d read anything Allison Brennan writes—even her grocery list—but See How They Hide delivers all the hallmarks of a classic AB novel: a tight, twist-filled police procedural, deeply compelling characters, and a villain who is as cruel as they come.
"See How They Hide" by Allison Brennan is the 6th book in her Kara Quinn series. This book hooks you on the first page and keeps you guessing throughout.
Kara is working a case with her team trying to figure out attacks that are miles apart and happen at the same time. As they dig deeper into the case they find more attacks that match but the clues are not adding up to help them solve the crimes. Matt is trying to coordinate his team to best solve the crimes and when a witness is found they start to make some headway. However, things beyond their control start to happen and they have to work fast before others end up hurt.
Highly recommend this book and the whole series.
So so good! Awesome police procedural with edge of seat ending.
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I love this series with Matt and Kara. My chief complaint is that we never get enough alone time with these two and Kara is such a tough nut to crack. She will not let her barriers down. That comes in handy when she’s working at what she does best, which is solving crimes.
This particular plot was super intriguing. I love the plot of this murder mystery. Twisted people have been emotionally stripped by a cult-type leader and the race to stop the crime spree is edge-of-your-seat action.
When it comes to police procedurals with crime, mystery, and all of the twists, Brennan does it right. You have characters that you love, characters you love to hate (for me, it’s Katherine), and plenty of twists to keep you on your toes.
See How They Hide is fast-paced and loaded with the unexpected. I just have to beg the author to please let Matt and Kara finally get some alone time and give them the relationship they truly deserve. You’re killing us all here.
This edge-of-your-seat murder mystery exposes the horrific truth behind a seemingly peaceful hidden community.
Kara was on top of her game. She read their witness, Riley, like a familiar, well-known book, and knew just what to ask and when. Even when Catherine tried her best to throw shade her way. Riley had so much stacked against her, but she came through for everyone when they needed her to.
The cult aspect of the story was interesting and disturbing and provided an excellent setting for this thrilling tale. Things started off kind of slow, but the pace picked up as more and more details were revealed. There were some flashbacks to the past through the eyes of Riley and some of the other cult members.
I loved Kara and Matt together and the way their relationship was progressing. They kept things as professional as they could when they were on the job, but their feelings for each other still came through in small but meaningful ways. Matt's trust in Kara was a beautiful thing to behold.
This series keeps amazing me at how the recurring characters get a chance at one point or another to experience serious personal growth in the midst of all the mayhem. I can recommend this book and this series if you like suspense, fast-moving police procedurals, and a bit of romance. It is definitely best to read these books in order.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Two similar murders on opposite sides of the country have Detective Kara Quinn and Special Agent Matt Costa and their team trying to figure out how the murders are connected and the significance of the red poppies covering the bodies. As more bodies are found, clues lead them to a place called Havenwood, a hidden compound nestled deep in the Rocky Mountains. Can they locate Havenwood and solve the crimes before anyone else is killed?
An edge-of-your seat thriller!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was another excellent outing with Quinn and Costa, blending a gripping thriller with growth from our main characters. I love the FBI team in this series but Brennan never neglects the other characters. They may only appear for a book but they are fully developed, people you can root for or against.
What a complicated case! I was hooked from the beginning. Kara and Matt and the team are back and I felt like I was right alongside them. There's action, suspense, twists, and great characters. Some you will love, some you will love to hate. *Cough* Catherine *cough* This is a must read author for me and this story is a prime example of why!
Pulse pounding adventure! Quinn and Costa are at it again when a few familiar looking cases catch their eye and let them know they have a connection on their hands to explore across the country. From the first page the drama is high and we go along for the ride as more pieces fall into place to show that each scene is connected and how. Once the core group is uncovered and we begin to learn the set up, it really gets intriguing. I really enjoyed the case and the outcome. I liked seeing the Quinn and Costa connection as always, but felt like it was a little light this time. We saw them thinking about each other and their life together more than we actually got to see them in the same room. I look forward to more to come from these two as their relationship deepens and life continues.
I recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a cop procedural with gritty crimes occurring as they race against time to solve the case.
The case in this book was interesting. There were a lot of pieces to getting to the resolution. It was paced well and had an enough going on to keep me turning pages. This is the first book in the series that have read. The personal lives of the main characters is interesting but there wasn't a lot of backstory. While the book was good without reading the others, I think it would be better if I had read the others first. I like the author's writing style and will go back and read the others in this series. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.