In the Hidden we follow Ruby who is neighbors with Gregor and her mother Joanna, who is investigating what happened to Gregor that led to him being found injured and unconscious in his bathtub. 

Told in a THEN/NOW format through multiple POVs, The Hidden examines what it is to be a mother and what lengths you will go to in order to protect your family. 

I’ve yet to read a thriller that also threw in mythology, but Melanie Goulding did this with the inclusion of the Selkies- mythological seal people. This probably could have gone pretty bad, but it was done surprisingly well! You’ll spend most of the book wondering if they’re real or not and that is half the fun! 

Early on in the book, Ruby finds herself in a depressive episode after a familial spat. On many sleepless nights she finds herself watching her neighbor practice yoga through his window. And as her luck would have it she soon meets Gregor in public. 

They quickly go from strangers to friends to… something else? 

After all, Ruby is helping Gregor care for his agoraphobic ex (Constance) and their daughter (Leonie). And while Ruby adores Gregor, the congenial nature eventually gives way to a man far more dangerous than she could’ve ever imagined. So when Constance asks Ruby to help her and Leonie escape Ruby agrees. Things just don’t go the way they expected when Gregor shows up… 

I have to say, this book was super fun for me to read! I didn’t want to put it down last night. I really enjoyed how we got to view Gregor’s character through the eyes of the others before viewing things from his POV, which gives us a gritty glimpse into who he really is.

I’ll admit I didn’t particularly enjoy the epilogue and actually wish it had been left out entirely. It felt too much like a Q&A to answer reader’s questions. Similarly, the ending felt a bit… lackluster. There was a surprising lack of tension in the climax that left it feeling empty. I just wish we had gotten more from that scene!