4 out of 4 stars
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Two people, from two very different backgrounds and living on opposite sides of the Atlantic, are connected by mysterious past events in this exciting psychological thriller. Rebecca Brown, whom we first meet as a 4-year-old, is the youngest of three children orphaned when their parents were killed in a car crash. She and her brother Austen and sister Colette were raised by their grandparents, an eccentric old couple from the Scottish Highlands. Meanwhile, in the United States, a man named Keller Baye is having one of the worst days of his life. We follow him as he is picked up and transported to a highly secured facility, where eventually we find out he is attending the execution of his father, who was convicted for his involvement in a terrorist attack years ago that resulted in the deaths of dozens of people.
From the outset, there doesn’t appear to be anything linking our two main characters, who are separated by both distance and culture. Gradually though, alternating chapters between Keller and Rebecca’s perspectives reveal the full picture, bridging the gaps separating their two lives. The story isn’t told linearly either, so the puzzle pieces fall into place at different times, heightening the suspense as you wonder why Keller has suddenly decided to cut all ties with his life in America in order to hop onto a plane bound for Great Britain, where he has plans to track down Rebecca.
As it turns out, everything connecting the two of them can be traced back to this one terrible event in the past. When the details were unveiled, I was sent into a state of shock. The author had slowly, meticulously worked up to this moment of truth, so that when it finally arrived, I found myself deeply and irrevocably hooked.
Speaking of which, flashbacks don’t always work well in mysteries and thrillers, but in this book, they do. The story includes backstories for both main characters, helping readers better understand their personalities and motivations. We saw how a 4-year-old Rebecca’s precociousness and vivid imagination eventually led her to become a successful comedian, for example, or how Keller’s tumultuous childhood and experiences with his father ultimately impacted his views on family and intimate relationships.
That said, the plot did not truly begin to take off until the lives of our two protagonists collided. My heart was in my throat as Keller introduced himself to Rebecca, using a false name. At this point, I knew a lot more about Keller and his secret agenda, but Rebecca, still in the dark, began to fall hard for his charms. From that moment on, I feared for her character, and this atmosphere of suspense only increased as the narrative continued to explore the twisted and manipulative mind of Keller Baye. Tensions reached a boiling point in the climax, and from then on it was a full-throttle, action-packed thrill ride to the finish. I could hardly bring myself to put the book down after that, at least not until I was done with the final page.
The writing was also exquisite. I’m surprised that Jenny Morton Potts is not a bigger deal in the world of publishing, because with her talent and skill, she certainly deserves a lot more attention. I loved her elegant and sophisticated prose, as well as the deft way she adapted her style and language to reflect the characters’ origins, so that British terminology, accents, and slang would be used in Rebecca’s chapters while Keller’s would be filled with Americanisms. Little details like that made this book even more enjoyable and immersive, and I also didn’t come across any major errors in the text, leading me to believe that this novel was professionally edited and polished to a high standard.
All in all, I rate Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts an enthusiastic 4 out of 4 stars. I found this to be a highly addictive and entertaining novel, and I would heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven psychological thrillers and mysteries.
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'Hiding'
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I hope you guys get a chance to check it out!
