Scan barcode
thisislauraw's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Starting with the immediate aftermath of a shooting at a Welsh hospital, the book uses multiple points of view and flips back and forth between timelines (before the shooting and day of the shooting) to bring everything together.
The plot was great, very twisty and intricate, and dealt with some complex issues. The suspense built right from the start and didn’t let up.
I really enjoyed the writing style, as well as the narration of the audiobook. The sections from the shooter’s point of view were especially well done.
I’ll definitely be reading more of Emma Kavanagh’s books in future.
katiebee995's review against another edition
2.0
towards the end, wanted to finish it just so i could say that i had finished it, not because i wanted to. too many missing personal pronouns. could have overlooked a few missing where they were supposed to be, but not on the scale that they were
clairereviews's review
4.0
Publication Date: 23rd April 2015 (HB), 5th November 2015 (PB)
Publisher: Century (HB), Arrow (PB)
ISBN: 978-1780892047 (HB), 978-0099588535 (PB)
Source: NetGalley, via publisher
Rating: 4.5*
Synopsis:
A gripping psychological thriller by a former police psychologist. Perfect for fans of Nicci French, Tana French and S. J. Watson.
HE'S WATCHING...
A gunman is stalking the wards of a local hospital. He's unidentified and dangerous, and has to be located. Urgently.
Police Firearms Officer Aden McCarthy is tasked with tracking him down. Still troubled by the shooting of a schoolboy, Aden is determined to make amends by funding the gunman - before it's too late.
SHE'S WAITYING...
To psychologist Imogen, hospital should be a place of healing and safety - both for her, and her young niece who's been recently admitted. She's heard about the gunman, but he has little to do with her. Or has he?
As time ticks down, no-one knows who the gunman's next target will be. But he's there. Hiding in plain sight. Far closer than anyone thinks...
Review:
A plethora of complex characters and a distinctive writing style really make this novel stand out. The author's extensive work experience is evident on every page, in the gritty detailing and the psychological insights.
The timeline flits around, which is slightly confusing, but this doesn't detract from the plot. Hidden is a slick, well maintained novel full of suspense and crammed with fear. Each character is inextricably wound into the plot, each playing an essential role. The descriptive detailing is fantastic, so you get to know all the main players really well. There are red herrings galore, so when the identity of the gunman is finally revealed, it comes as a real shock.
Hidden had me reading until well into the early hours - I finished it at 2.45am after a mammoth reading session! It's a real page turner filled with action. I'm so looking forward to reading more by Emma Kavanagh.
Publisher: Century (HB), Arrow (PB)
ISBN: 978-1780892047 (HB), 978-0099588535 (PB)
Source: NetGalley, via publisher
Rating: 4.5*
Synopsis:
A gripping psychological thriller by a former police psychologist. Perfect for fans of Nicci French, Tana French and S. J. Watson.
HE'S WATCHING...
A gunman is stalking the wards of a local hospital. He's unidentified and dangerous, and has to be located. Urgently.
Police Firearms Officer Aden McCarthy is tasked with tracking him down. Still troubled by the shooting of a schoolboy, Aden is determined to make amends by funding the gunman - before it's too late.
SHE'S WAITYING...
To psychologist Imogen, hospital should be a place of healing and safety - both for her, and her young niece who's been recently admitted. She's heard about the gunman, but he has little to do with her. Or has he?
As time ticks down, no-one knows who the gunman's next target will be. But he's there. Hiding in plain sight. Far closer than anyone thinks...
Review:
A plethora of complex characters and a distinctive writing style really make this novel stand out. The author's extensive work experience is evident on every page, in the gritty detailing and the psychological insights.
The timeline flits around, which is slightly confusing, but this doesn't detract from the plot. Hidden is a slick, well maintained novel full of suspense and crammed with fear. Each character is inextricably wound into the plot, each playing an essential role. The descriptive detailing is fantastic, so you get to know all the main players really well. There are red herrings galore, so when the identity of the gunman is finally revealed, it comes as a real shock.
Hidden had me reading until well into the early hours - I finished it at 2.45am after a mammoth reading session! It's a real page turner filled with action. I'm so looking forward to reading more by Emma Kavanagh.
jbaronn's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mpr2000's review against another edition
3.0
Hidden because he has hidden all his "dark" feelings quite from everyone; and now, tired of them he has an objective: to kill.
All will start with a shooting, a horrible murder mass at the hospital. Charlie, a press reporter, is one of the survivors of the massacre, and through her we will start living this sad day from 6 days ago till now.
You will start the book knowing that almost everyone is dead, the bodies lie at the hospital without life and you need to know why, who, for what? Emma Kavanaugh will disentangle the story from the beginning. The story is written where every chapter is the vision of one of the characters making easy to understand the plot and knowing all the connections between them. Sometimes is a little bit complicated following the story because it's not chronological written, but it helps that while you are reading you could make your own theories and suspects of who the murderer is in the fateful day.
I have some non-answered questions now that I have finished the book, but I will not share them with you because some of them have spoilers!
This is a book of mixed feelings, you want to know why someone can make this kind of murder mass, but instead you are on his mind, you will never know for sure the motives. Sad isn't it?
Will you stop the killer before it's too late?
All will start with a shooting, a horrible murder mass at the hospital. Charlie, a press reporter, is one of the survivors of the massacre, and through her we will start living this sad day from 6 days ago till now.
You will start the book knowing that almost everyone is dead, the bodies lie at the hospital without life and you need to know why, who, for what? Emma Kavanaugh will disentangle the story from the beginning. The story is written where every chapter is the vision of one of the characters making easy to understand the plot and knowing all the connections between them. Sometimes is a little bit complicated following the story because it's not chronological written, but it helps that while you are reading you could make your own theories and suspects of who the murderer is in the fateful day.
I have some non-answered questions now that I have finished the book, but I will not share them with you because some of them have spoilers!
This is a book of mixed feelings, you want to know why someone can make this kind of murder mass, but instead you are on his mind, you will never know for sure the motives. Sad isn't it?
Will you stop the killer before it's too late?
millysleep's review
2.0
It could have been a much more satisfying read. Despite the fact that there were constant place name checks I really didn’t believe it was set in Swansea. I found the characterisation quite thin, the twists fairly obvious and the structure annoying. That said, I didn’t hate it and the opening chapter was superb just a shame that it didn’t continue with that level of tension and writing.
myrdyr's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the interconnectedness of the characters. The book kept me guessing the whole way through. Just as I thought I had The Shooter figured out, something new in the plot or about a character would be revealed, and I would have to rethink my suspicions. I will definitely read others by Kavanagh.
rad_reads_123's review against another edition
3.0
While others seem to rave about the supposedly powerful opening, I was somewhat unconvinced. I found it rather messy and confusing. Although it is a point of reference throughout the book, I didn't exactly get me hooked straightaway. As for the rest of the book, however...it wasn't bad.
Seeing as this is Kavanagh's second novel, she does well to keep the reader guessing as to the shooter's identity. The use of multiple perspectives throughout the book bring to light the darker sides to numerous characters; towards the end of the book, it appears almost no one is completely innocent.
The dramatic introduction of Charlie and Aden in the book's opening pages doesn't seem to fit with the rest of Kavanagh's construction of the two characters. Their budding romance is simple and understated. Apart from the unnecessary extremity in her introduction, Kavanagh strikes the balance between normalcy and great tragedy rather well.
Although we are given pieces to the puzzle of the shooter, the final reveal does not quite come together as Kavanagh perhaps had hoped. There are links between numerous characters and the shooter, however the identity of the shooter is rather underwhelming. Yes, we have been given his motivations for becoming a shooter, yet no hearts are seriously wrenched in the concluding actions of this story.
Seeing as this is Kavanagh's second novel, she does well to keep the reader guessing as to the shooter's identity. The use of multiple perspectives throughout the book bring to light the darker sides to numerous characters; towards the end of the book, it appears almost no one is completely innocent.
The dramatic introduction of Charlie and Aden in the book's opening pages doesn't seem to fit with the rest of Kavanagh's construction of the two characters. Their budding romance is simple and understated. Apart from the unnecessary extremity in her introduction, Kavanagh strikes the balance between normalcy and great tragedy rather well.
Although we are given pieces to the puzzle of the shooter, the final reveal does not quite come together as Kavanagh perhaps had hoped. There are links between numerous characters and the shooter, however the identity of the shooter is rather underwhelming. Yes, we have been given his motivations for becoming a shooter, yet no hearts are seriously wrenched in the concluding actions of this story.
faysieh's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the audio version of this book and was metaphorically blown away by the storyline brought to life by narrators Charlotte Stevens and Iestyn Arwel. Iestyn narrates the character we know only as The Shooter and quite frankly I could have listened to his lilting Welsh voice far longer than the 11 or so hours the auudibook lasted!
The story is divided into time frames before and after the shooting takes place at a hospital in Swansea, and jumps backwards and forwards in a countdown style, giving the time, date and how many days before and after the catastrophic event.
Aden McCarthy is a firearms officer suffering from PTSD along with fellow officers Rhys and Tony. The latter two are facing a civil suit after the IPCC cleared them of any wrongdoing. Aden hesitated so was never in trouble but his doubt in the moment has led him to question himself mercilessly. One wet night shots were fired and Dylan Lowe, a teenager ends up in hospital in a persistent vegetative state and his father Steve wants people to pay.
Trying to come to terms with this, Imogen as a psychologist based at the hospital works with the officers. There are links with a local journalist Charlie who swims with Aden but is also reporting on the fact that a gunman is on the loose in the hospital.
Imogen is a twin and trying to support her sister Mara when Amy, her niece is admitted to thd hospital following a seizure.
At times it was hard to keep up with all the different points of view, but it did make for a very intense, engaging read. Add into that the fact that something is not right with Imogen's partner Dave, Mara is accused of something terrible and an old friend of Charlie's, a nurse at the hospital, Emily, is found dead on the M4.
How are these events linked and who is the person joining all these events together?
I was so taken with this book, so well written and genuinely 'thrilling' is it, that I have already hunted out Falling by the same author. Fantastic!
The story is divided into time frames before and after the shooting takes place at a hospital in Swansea, and jumps backwards and forwards in a countdown style, giving the time, date and how many days before and after the catastrophic event.
Aden McCarthy is a firearms officer suffering from PTSD along with fellow officers Rhys and Tony. The latter two are facing a civil suit after the IPCC cleared them of any wrongdoing. Aden hesitated so was never in trouble but his doubt in the moment has led him to question himself mercilessly. One wet night shots were fired and Dylan Lowe, a teenager ends up in hospital in a persistent vegetative state and his father Steve wants people to pay.
Trying to come to terms with this, Imogen as a psychologist based at the hospital works with the officers. There are links with a local journalist Charlie who swims with Aden but is also reporting on the fact that a gunman is on the loose in the hospital.
Imogen is a twin and trying to support her sister Mara when Amy, her niece is admitted to thd hospital following a seizure.
At times it was hard to keep up with all the different points of view, but it did make for a very intense, engaging read. Add into that the fact that something is not right with Imogen's partner Dave, Mara is accused of something terrible and an old friend of Charlie's, a nurse at the hospital, Emily, is found dead on the M4.
How are these events linked and who is the person joining all these events together?
I was so taken with this book, so well written and genuinely 'thrilling' is it, that I have already hunted out Falling by the same author. Fantastic!
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
5.0
Hidden is one of the books I have read this year recently that I expect to be among my top ten favourite books of the year. From the opening few pages I was hooked.
Starting with a shooting in a hospital it then goes back a few days and introduces the reader to some of the characters who have been killed or wounded and also to the shooter who remains anonymous throughout.
All of them are linked in someway, and I don't think I will be the only one not knowing who the shooter was until the final few pages.
Well written, gripping, believable characters and a great story. I will be definitely be reading Emma Kavanagh's debut novel very soon.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy via Netgalley
Starting with a shooting in a hospital it then goes back a few days and introduces the reader to some of the characters who have been killed or wounded and also to the shooter who remains anonymous throughout.
All of them are linked in someway, and I don't think I will be the only one not knowing who the shooter was until the final few pages.
Well written, gripping, believable characters and a great story. I will be definitely be reading Emma Kavanagh's debut novel very soon.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy via Netgalley