NOWHERE TO HIDE
Author: Nell Pattison
Year: 2021
Edition: 2021 Paperback
Pages: 354
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Additional info: USA Today Bestseller
Summary
The holiday hike is meant to bring their nature group together.
Emily, the sister who never lets her hearing loss hold her back.
Lauren, the sister who always feels a step behind.
Morna, who doesn’t get on with Lauren.
Ben, whose feelings for Emily border on obsession.
Dan, the quiet newcomer to the group.
Kai, who isn’t just on the hike to enjoy the wildlife.
And Alec, the one who knows all their secrets.
As the sun sets, a gunshot rings out on the nature reserve. One of the seven is dead. And one of their number killed them…
Why I chose to read this book
This looked like a great whodunit murder mystery, Clue-style. I couldn’t wait to start reading it and begin my own investigation!
Thoughts & Opinions
When I started reading this book, my first impression was how calm it made me feel. The portrayal of how beautiful and valuable wildlife is made me want to go out and enjoy what nature has to offer. This book even managed to make birdwatching actually sound interesting!
Each chapter is narrated by one of the 7 characters featured in this psychological thriller. Pattison did a great job in setting the foundation for each of these characters; setting the mood for what’s about to happen. You need to read almost 100 pages before the action truly starts. And even once the action has begun, the pace is extremely slow and steady. As the summary explains, someone is murdered. Who could have done it? Well, the more you read, the more you realize each person could have had a motive. This also brings into question everyone’s motive for being part of this birdwatching group. Is everyone sincere in their enthusiasm and passion?
What I really appreciated about this story is Emily’s character. She has a hearing impairment and you get an immersive first-hand account of what it’s like to live with an impairment. It’s scary enough to be in a nature reserve at night, during harsh winter conditions, but imagine if you were deprived of one of your senses. Emily has cochlear implant processors and I learned so much about them and about deaf awareness.
“Without sound, everything around me seems surreal – no pounding of my feet, no tearing of breath, no whistling of the wind around me. I don’t feel like I’m making any progress, as if I’m trapped underwater and fighting my way through the depths.”- Nell Pattison, Nowhere to Hide
What I also liked about this book was the tangible environment and atmosphere, I truly felt trapped, uneasy, and frustrated, just like the characters. Every single decision, painstakingly taken, had an important consequence. Although it felt at times that they were taking one step forward and two steps back. The finish line felt far away, always out of reach.
The ending felt a bit rushed for a story that was so slow-paced, but it will definitely throw you off.
Discussion Points
- Have you read this book? If so, what did you think?
- What did you think of the ending?
- Was this book too slow-paced for your liking?
- I’d love to discuss this book with you in the comments below, looking forward to reading you!
- Which book should I review next?