Joanna quickly learns that it was once the home of Lily Murphy, a three year old girl who went missing during a neighbourhood game of hide and seek, some thirty years ago. As news of the disappearance filters through the quiet Dublin suburb and an unexpected suspect is named, whispers start to spread about the women most closely connected to the shocking event. This blog hosts a selection of articles written from 2013 to the present, mostly focusing on my book reviews, which are uploaded frequently. Usually the children look after their own so it was surprising when things started to come out that maybe that wasn’t the case here! With dual timelines, perspectives, and a LOT of characters, you will have to give your full attention to this book.

As Joanna unravels the secrets at the heart of this close-knit community, her own dark past begins to resurface. With some people knowing more than they were letting on, we don't find out what happened to Lily until the very end. I couldn’t work out the solution to the mystery for most of the book, even at that I only deduced part of it! Joanna is taken aback when she learns that this is the house that 3 year old Lily Murphy disappeared from 30 years ago. It seems life in the neighbourhood is not all hunky dory and apart from Lily’s disappearance that people have good reason to keep schtum about things.

Joanna becomes obsessed with Lily’s disappearance and talks to anyone in the area who knew the family. Andrea flawlessly spins a web of mystery and ensnares you into a false sense of security, in which you think you have it all figured out, you know exactly who is to blame and then she violently rips the carpet right-out from under you.

As soon as I finished Hide and Seek I messaged my daughter to tell her that she needed to come back to the “library of mum” and read Hide and Seek!There were a lot of interesting characters but I did sometimes get confused over who was who but nevertheless it gives plenty of suspects to point the finger at. Put everything aside as you delve into Joanna’s world as she struggles to uncover just what happened to a little girl who once lived in her new home. Let the bigger picture build up and watch out for every little thing mentioned no matter how small or insignificant you deem it when you are reading. Mara is one of the undisputed champions of twisty, gripping thrillers that will leave your heart racing and your nerves shot! Even though there is a smattering of males, the perspectives are all from female points-of-view, which makes sense in the context of traditional roles in the communities being portrayed.

Just when you think Andrea Mara couldn’t possibly top her last book she goes and does it with this new story Hide and Seek. Hence why despite recieving my advanced reading copy at 9am after an 11 hour night shift, I sat in bed and got through about 50% of the book in one sitting. How this could be is somewhat clumsily explained over the running of the book, but is the only plot point that stretches the patience of the imagination, in a story with an excellent reveal, as has become Mara’s signature.Joanna is determined to find out more about Lily and the circumstances of her disappearance, not least because Joanna is harbouring secrets of her own that may have some bearing on the unsolved case.