Mystery
![Melanie Golding - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B07PPW1YRG.jpg)
The Hidden: A Novel
Following her acclaimed debut Little Darlings, Melanie Golding's newest folkloric suspense is a spine-tingling twist on Celtic mythology.
One dark December night, in a small seaside town, a little girl is found abandoned. When her mother finally arrives, authorities release the pair, believing it to be an innocent case of a toddler running off.
Gregor, a seemingly single man, is found bludgeoned and left for dead in his apartment, but the discovery of children's toys raises more questions than answers.
Every night, Ruby gazes into Gregor's apartment, leading to the discovery of his secret family: his unusually silent daughter and his mentally unstable wife, Constance, who insists that she is descended from the mythological Selkies. She begs Ruby to aid in finding the sealskin that Gregor has hidden from her, making it impossible to return to her people.
DS Joanna Harper's investigation into Gregor's assault leads her to CCTV footage of the mother-daughter pair from town. Harper realizes she knows the woman almost as well as she knows herself: it's her estranged daughter, Ruby. No matter the depth of Ruby's involvement, she knows she will choose her daughter over her career.
Steeped in local legend and exploring the depths of what it means to be a mother, Melanie Golding's newest novel is "a lyrical and atmospheric folktale for the modern age." (Bustle, on Little Darlings)
One dark December night, in a small seaside town, a little girl is found abandoned. When her mother finally arrives, authorities release the pair, believing it to be an innocent case of a toddler running off.
Gregor, a seemingly single man, is found bludgeoned and left for dead in his apartment, but the discovery of children's toys raises more questions than answers.
Every night, Ruby gazes into Gregor's apartment, leading to the discovery of his secret family: his unusually silent daughter and his mentally unstable wife, Constance, who insists that she is descended from the mythological Selkies. She begs Ruby to aid in finding the sealskin that Gregor has hidden from her, making it impossible to return to her people.
DS Joanna Harper's investigation into Gregor's assault leads her to CCTV footage of the mother-daughter pair from town. Harper realizes she knows the woman almost as well as she knows herself: it's her estranged daughter, Ruby. No matter the depth of Ruby's involvement, she knows she will choose her daughter over her career.
Steeped in local legend and exploring the depths of what it means to be a mother, Melanie Golding's newest novel is "a lyrical and atmospheric folktale for the modern age." (Bustle, on Little Darlings)
Editorial Reviews
Praise for The Hidden:
"Golding smoothly mixes folklore with an insightful exploration of motherhood."
-Publishers Weekly
"As dexterously shape-shifting as the legends it draws from."
-Kirkus Reviews
"Intense and unflinching...irresistible to the last page."
-Foreword Reviews
"A beautifully original thriller. Melanie Golding injects lonely, mournful Celtic myth into a breathless tale of murder, desperation, and the nature of motherhood. The result is seamless, and utterly compelling."
-Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and Ararat
"A dark, intense tale that sinks its teeth into the reader and won't let go."
-Camilla Sten, author of The Lost Village
"A lush, hypnotic page-turner that illuminates the beauty of Selkie mythology and the horror of real monsters. Dark, twisty, and absolutely chilling."
-Rachel Harrison, author of The Return
"Wonderfully original, full of heart and often suspenseful and surprising, [The Hidden] breathes new life into the thriller genre with its mashup of crime and myth. Golding is a terrific talent who sweeps you off your feet and carries you away on her words. I can't wait to read more from her. I loved this."
-C. J. Skuse, author of the Sweetpea mystery series
"The Hidden is a dark and captivating blend of folktale and thriller. Beautifully written with compelling characters, it grabs you from the very first page. Melanie Golding has crafted a riveting story difficult to put down and impossible to forget."
-Damien Angelica Walters, author of The Dead Girls Club
"A modern mythological thriller for those who miss Grimm Brothers fairy tales."
-Rea Frey, author of Secrets of Our House
Praise for Little Darlings:
"Unforgettable . . . One suspects that the real sorceress here is Golding, whose writing has given a voice to every wronged mother."
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"Golding smoothly mixes folklore with an insightful exploration of motherhood."
-Publishers Weekly
"As dexterously shape-shifting as the legends it draws from."
-Kirkus Reviews
"Intense and unflinching...irresistible to the last page."
-Foreword Reviews
"A beautifully original thriller. Melanie Golding injects lonely, mournful Celtic myth into a breathless tale of murder, desperation, and the nature of motherhood. The result is seamless, and utterly compelling."
-Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and Ararat
"A dark, intense tale that sinks its teeth into the reader and won't let go."
-Camilla Sten, author of The Lost Village
"A lush, hypnotic page-turner that illuminates the beauty of Selkie mythology and the horror of real monsters. Dark, twisty, and absolutely chilling."
-Rachel Harrison, author of The Return
"Wonderfully original, full of heart and often suspenseful and surprising, [The Hidden] breathes new life into the thriller genre with its mashup of crime and myth. Golding is a terrific talent who sweeps you off your feet and carries you away on her words. I can't wait to read more from her. I loved this."
-C. J. Skuse, author of the Sweetpea mystery series
"The Hidden is a dark and captivating blend of folktale and thriller. Beautifully written with compelling characters, it grabs you from the very first page. Melanie Golding has crafted a riveting story difficult to put down and impossible to forget."
-Damien Angelica Walters, author of The Dead Girls Club
"A modern mythological thriller for those who miss Grimm Brothers fairy tales."
-Rea Frey, author of Secrets of Our House
Praise for Little Darlings:
"Unforgettable . . . One suspects that the real sorceress here is Golding, whose writing has given a voice to every wronged mother."
-
Readers Top Reviews
Samantha
"The Hidden" is a mystery-crime-thriller with a touch of magical-realism. The thread of the selkie myth is interwoven with the story of a lost little girl and a man with a head injury. Our protagonist is Ruby who is a bit of a lost soul but finds purpose making a friend with her neighbor and his odd little family until she gets tangled too far up in their lives. I loved reading about the Celtic mythology and all of the selkie elements. This reading was a little jarring at first but once I got used to the writing style it pulled me in. It was entertaining, dark and satisfying. While I wasn't fully blown away by it, I am fascinated enough to read Golding's debut novel.
M. BennettSamanth
Pleasantly surprised by this one. It is a mystery/thriller with folk lore mixed in. The folk lore involves Selkies, aka Seal Folk. I really didn't think something like that could be pulled off but decided I would give it a go. So glad I did. The book starts of when a little girl wanders into a shop and no parents are around. Then in another part of town, a bloodied body is found in a bathtub. These incidents end up coming together throughout the book. The story keeps flowing with twists, turns and wonderful characters. The villain really gave me the creeps. Looking into reading more by Golding.
J. KimbelM. Benne
The Hidden is a twisty, haunting domestic thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Adding a touch of magic to the story, Constance believes she is a “selkie”, part seal with the ability to breathe underwater. She convinces Ruby to help her steal back her skinsuit from Gregor so she can return to her people. Ruby’s estranged mom, Detective Jo Harper is called to investigate when Gregor is found unconscious and realizes her daughter is involved. While solving the crime, Jo unveils more shocking murders and must hurry to find the escaped Gregor before more are injured. I had no clue who done it for so long in this book, it was quite the suspenseful adventure!
JCJ. KimbelM. Ben
Absolutely loved the story! Great combination of mystery with old folklore from the UK islands. A definite read for those who love folklore.
BuyLotsOfStuffJCJ
Ms. Golding's debut set the bar very high indeed, so I was eager to read here sophomore effort and I was not disappointed. It's a well-plotted and well-paced thriller with mystical elements referencing one of the oldest fairy tales around (the selkie). The cast of characters was kept nice and tight, the surprises were sufficiently shocking, and the ending satisfying. There was much depth to plumb here for book clubs as well, mostly centering around motherhood and its endless demands and rewards. An excellent read. **Side note: As I typed this review, "selkie" was autocorrected to "selfie". That was depressing indeed. Read the book; it'll make you feel better for having escaped.
