Book Review - The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor

 

Joe thought once he left Arnhill, he would never have to return again. He left behind painful memories of bullying, the betrayal of friends, the suicide, and what happened after his sister went missing. However, Joe has no choice but to return home, when he receives an ominous email. The sender claims to know the truth behind his sister's disappearance and claims it is happening again.

Joe decides to lie and apply to a teaching job at his former high school. Joe has to deal with a few people who aren't happy with him coming back to town including, new ones he made over the years. Joe knows he will need to come to terms with his past if he wants to help prevent another tragedy.  However, he is having hard time returning to the abandoned mine where his entire life changed forever.

I have read "The Chalk Man" and have enjoyed it. This book was equal amount of creepy and suspenseful. The novel had a few unexpected twists but, I felt that the ending was a bit lacking. It felt like it was thrown together and I felt like some things were left unexplained. However, I still enjoyed the book and look forward to read more works by the author.

Book Review - The Other People by C.J. Tudor

  

Gabe is driving home one night and he is stuck behind a rusty old car. As he stares ahead willing traffic to move faster, he sees a little girl's face appear in the car's rear window. The girl mouths "daddy" to him. He realizes it's his five-year-old daughter, Izzy. After their faithful momentary meeting, Gabe never sees his daughter again.

Three years later, Gabe spends his days and night going up and down the highway searching for his daughter. He refuses to give up hope because that would mean admitting that his daughter is dead. He receives help from an unlikely ally and discovers the car he last saw his daughter in. The car was found abandoned with a body inside. Gabe must come to terms with the day Izzy disappeared and his past.

Fran and her daughter, Alice also spends a lot of time on the road. Unlike Gabe, they are running from people who want to hurt them. It's because Fran knows the truth behind Izzy's disappearance. She knows that if they catch her, they might not make it out alive.

I thought the novel was an interesting read. I wish the author gave more details about certain things and characters. I didn't really care for some of the supernatural bits of the story. While the story took a bit to get going, I found the book to be an enjoyable read.

 **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor

Photo Credit - Amazon

In the year 1986, Eddie and his friends had been regular kids. They ride their bikes and hang out around the community while avoiding the older bullies. They create a special secret code between themselves: small chalk stick figures that only they can understand with each of the kids having their own color. However, one day their secret code leads them to a gruesome murder with a missing head.  In the year 2016, Eddie is fully grown and left those childhood memories in the past. However, he receives a message in the mail with a chalk figure. He finds himself facing the demons of his childhood. What does the code mean? Who is sending the code? Is the code connected to the murder?

The novel alternates between past and present for Eddie. The readers are given A dark, thrilling novel that left me in suspense. It was an interesting read that kept me guessing until the end, even though some portions left me stumped. I felt like it shows how the things we regret affect us as we grow up and even how it affects our behaviors and reactions. A great read for a stormy day! 

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion**