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Her Hiding Place

Writer's picture: Judith D CollinsJudith D Collins

Narrator: Kelly Burke

ISBN:9781836185031

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 01/31/2025

Format:Audiobook

My Rating: 3.5 Stars (ALC)



“Okay sweetheart,” I whisper, giving my little girl Alice a final kiss. “Now remember, after I’ve locked the door, be quiet like a mouse. I’ll come back later, I promise.” Her little face crumples as I turn to leave and my heart breaks. But I have no choice. I have to work, and I have to keep her hidden.


It’s just ten days until the new hotel opens. As I push my cleaning cart into the chandeliered honeymoon suite, I wonder how it would feel to stay here as a guest. To watch the sun rise over the ocean, to fall asleep with no fear. I’ll never know, of course. Instead, I work twelve-hour days as a maid, constantly frightened of discovery.


Alice is just three, and she’s already seen more than any child should. Hiding on this isolated island resort, where she can only come out at night, is so hard for her. But the other staff can’t know she’s here, let alone the guests when they arrive. And no one can know my secret—or what we’re really running from.


But when a massive storm cuts the island off from the mainland, my darkest fears become real. A body is found and in the shocking aftermath, someone finds out about Alice… With no means of escape, I know we are stuck on the island with a killer.


Someone has been hiding in plain sight, waiting for an opportunity to make their move. Then my worst nightmare comes true and Alice disappears. I know I can trust no one. How far will I have to go to find her? And what will happen when they find out who Alice really is…?


Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, John Marrs and Daniel Hurst, Her Hiding Place is a totally gripping thriller that will have you hooked from the very first page until the final jaw-dropping, heart-racing twist.









My Review


Shannon Hollinger's latest slow-burn domestic suspense, HER HIDING PLACE, follows Charlotte, an unreliable narrator escaping a nightmare; however, where she winds up may be just as dangerous or more.


About...


Charlotte is on the run (but readers are not sure from what situation) with three-year-old Alice and makes her way to the Florida Keys.


She needs money, a place to stay, and a job. She finds a job as a housekeeper at a resort in the Keys. However, she cannot tell them about Alice, so she makes her hide in her room all day (which is unrealistic for a three-year-old - but this is fiction).


Alice does not know whom to trust with a cast of secondary characters at the resort. On top of this, now there is a hurricane (you cannot be in Florida without one). So, how will she and Alice get off the island?


But there's more than just a hurricane to watch out for. Danger lurks in unexpected places, adding a thrilling element to the story.


My thoughts...


HER HIDING PLACE is a slow-burn suspense thriller that keeps you wanting to know more about the past, constantly guessing where the author is leading you. The revelation of what happened in the past adds to the intrigue.


Even though I enjoy Hollinger's writing and a good story, some may give up before they get to the plot twist (if you are listening to the audiobook, in particular). The novel truly shines towards the end when the past and present converge, unraveling all the mysteries with a jaw-dropping twist. This convergence brings a satisfying conclusion to the story.


I am sure the book would be better for reading than the audiobook. The intensity was missing due to the narrator. For this reason, I would recommend the book over the audio version. I think a different narrator would have delivered a different experience.


Audiobook...


I am a huge audiobook fan, but if the narrator is not good, it will dampen the performance and experience. (I did not have the digital reading copy). In summary, the narrator did not express fear or emotion and was flat, with no sense of urgency or suspense, which took away from the story.


Recs...


If you enjoy suspense, mysteries, and hurricanes set in the Keys, I would recommend Margot Hunt's The Guests, narrated by Amy McFadden, Sarah Naughton, Michael Crouch, Soneela Nankani, and A.J. Beckles. or Storm Warning by David Bell.


I have lived in Florida for 20 + years and gone through many hurricanes, as well as in NC and Atlanta, GA. I have also lived and worked in the Florida Keyes on the water for two years (to open a private residence club resort and marina), and when you evacuate for a hurricane, there is no waiting as the Keys go first before the other parts of Florida and trust me you do not want to be sitting on those two lane roads with water coming across the road washing them or sitting for 20 hrs at a standstill to evacuate that puts you in more danger.


I once spent 22 hrs on the road for a 3 hr normal distance. You cannot make it out of Florida. Then the hurricane hit there, and the entire state ran out of gas, with the governor forcing us to stay put for a week in an expensive hotel with no power, food, or flooding. Then another 20+ hrs to get back with no power for another month.


But again, this is fiction (hurricane in the Keys and 3 yr old).


Thanks to Bookouture for an ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

Pub Date: Jan 31, 2025

My Rating: 3.5 Stars







About the Author



With degrees in Crime Scene Technology & Physical Anthropology, Florida author Shannon Hollinger hasn't just seen the dark side of humanity - she's been elbow-deep inside of it! She deals with the psychological trauma by torturing others... on the page.


In her psychological thrillers, she enjoys writing characters readers love to hate and twists that pack a visceral punch. In her Chief Maggie Riley series, everyone in the small town of Coyote Cove, Maine has a secret - some darker than others. (Her editor insists that the series isn't about the dogs, but the dogs would disagree.)


​Her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among a number of other magazines and anthologies.


Be sure to follow her on BookBub for the latest on new releases and sales!


Find Shannon at your favorite hangout!


https://www.tiktok.com/@shannonhollinger

https://www.facebook.com/thiswritersays

https://www.twitter.com/thiswritersays

https://www.instagram.com/thiswritersays

http://www.pinterest.com/thiswritersays



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