Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Penguin (2019), 368 pages
Description
"The thrilling second novel from the author of The Chalk Man, about a teacher with a hidden agenda who returns to settle scores at a school he once attended, only to uncover a darker secret than he could have imagined. Joe never wanted to come back to Arnhill. After the way things ended with his old gang--the betrayal, the suicide, the murder--and after what happened when his sister went missing, the last thing he wanted to do was return to his hometown. But Joe doesn't have a choice. Because judging by what was done to that poor Morton kid, what happened all those years ago to Joe's sister is happening again. And only Joe knows who is really at fault. Lying his way into a teaching job at his former high school is the easy part. Facing off with former friends who are none too happy to have him back in town--while avoiding the enemies he's made in the years since--is tougher. But the hardest part of all will be returning to that abandoned mine where it all went wrong and his life changed forever, and finally confronting the shocking, horrifying truth about Arnhill, his sister, and himself. Because for Joe, the worst moment of his life wasn't the day his sister went missing. It was the day she came back. With the same virtuosic command of character and pacing she displayed in The Chalk Man, CJ Tudor has once again crafted an extraordinary novel that brilliantly blends harrowing psychological suspense, a devilishly puzzling mystery, and enough shocks and thrills to satisfy even the most seasoned reader"-- "A suspense novel about a teacher returning to his hometown"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Twink
I added C.J. Tudor to my 'must read' list of authors after devouring her debut novel The Chalk Man. (my review) I couldn't wait to read her newly released second book, The Hiding Place.
Joe became a teacher after leaving his hometown of Arnhill. He left behind heartache, loss and more. It was this
"Because for Joe, the worst moment of his life wasn't the day his sister went missing. It was the day she came back."
And so Joe goes back to Arnhill to work as a teacher. But he has his own reasons for returning. He's in a bit of trouble himself...
Arnill is a place full of secrets where the past seems to be repeating itself. Tudor paints a darkly vivid setting. Joe's cottage, the school, the abandoned mines and the rest of the town are places you wouldn't choose to be. And the inhabitants? Just as dark and duplicitous.
But through it all is the question - what happened to Joe's sister?
"And that's when I feel it. A sudden wave of dread like vertigo, that hollows out my stomach from within and saps the strength from my bones. I will not let that happen. It's happening again."
And Joe. He's a deeply flawed character, but I was drawn to him and happily alongside as he plumbed both the past and present for answers. I absolutely loved his voice - his acerbic wit and sarcasm are perfect, but don't always serve him well.
Tudor drops hints about what happened to Annie as the book progresses through flashback to the past chapters. About two thirds of the way through, I had a good idea of what transpired. And I was right (a nod to Stephen King), but it didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of this book.
Tudor's writing makes for addictive reading and I can't wait for book number three.
Joe became a teacher after leaving his hometown of Arnhill. He left behind heartache, loss and more. It was this
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descriptor that had me hooked...."Because for Joe, the worst moment of his life wasn't the day his sister went missing. It was the day she came back."
And so Joe goes back to Arnhill to work as a teacher. But he has his own reasons for returning. He's in a bit of trouble himself...
Arnill is a place full of secrets where the past seems to be repeating itself. Tudor paints a darkly vivid setting. Joe's cottage, the school, the abandoned mines and the rest of the town are places you wouldn't choose to be. And the inhabitants? Just as dark and duplicitous.
But through it all is the question - what happened to Joe's sister?
"And that's when I feel it. A sudden wave of dread like vertigo, that hollows out my stomach from within and saps the strength from my bones. I will not let that happen. It's happening again."
And Joe. He's a deeply flawed character, but I was drawn to him and happily alongside as he plumbed both the past and present for answers. I absolutely loved his voice - his acerbic wit and sarcasm are perfect, but don't always serve him well.
Tudor drops hints about what happened to Annie as the book progresses through flashback to the past chapters. About two thirds of the way through, I had a good idea of what transpired. And I was right (a nod to Stephen King), but it didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of this book.
Tudor's writing makes for addictive reading and I can't wait for book number three.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Teacher Joe Thorne returns to his hometown where he obtains a position as an English teacher in the school where he was once a student. Arnhill hasn’t changed much in the time he’s been away, and he hasn’t missed the town or the people. In fact, he once vowed never to return. So, what brought
Recognizing that there are a finite number of actual mystery/thriller plots, readers of “The Chalk Man” might have excused the similarities in plot with the stories of another well-known author, but that’s much more difficult with “The Hiding Place” since this story feels more like a copy-cat than a similarity.
The depressing atmosphere of the town and its people creates a tension that is, at times, almost palpable; both the characters and the town impart a sort of grimness to the occasionally gritty narrative. The requisite bully, present in most mystery/thrillers these days, is smarmy and odious. Joe is more complex, but his constant sarcasm jumps off almost every page, eventually becoming both tiresome and off-putting. Although the characters are, for the most part, believable, readers may be hard-pressed to find a likable one in all of Arnhill.
The slowly-unfolding narrative is definitely creepy, but never ventures into true horror. The switching between past and present, effective in the telling of some tales, does not work well here as the backstory unfolds far too slowly to maintain a continual building of the reader’s sense of uneasiness.
Despite the tantalizing prologue, the narrative never adequately addresses the story of Julia Morton and her son Ben. The story’s supernatural elements may be cringe-worthy, but they never become integral to the story and do little more than bewilder the reader and obfuscate the narrative. Ultimately, the unfolding story, suffused with unresolved plot lines, leaves readers with far too many unanswered questions, especially since the denouement of the epilogue is more vexatious than it is satisfying.
Unfortunately, a much-overused and offensive expletive peppering a plethora of conversations in this story mars the narrative and lowers the rating for this book.
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him back to Arnhill? And how does that involve the townspeople, the school, and the long-closed coal mine?Recognizing that there are a finite number of actual mystery/thriller plots, readers of “The Chalk Man” might have excused the similarities in plot with the stories of another well-known author, but that’s much more difficult with “The Hiding Place” since this story feels more like a copy-cat than a similarity.
The depressing atmosphere of the town and its people creates a tension that is, at times, almost palpable; both the characters and the town impart a sort of grimness to the occasionally gritty narrative. The requisite bully, present in most mystery/thrillers these days, is smarmy and odious. Joe is more complex, but his constant sarcasm jumps off almost every page, eventually becoming both tiresome and off-putting. Although the characters are, for the most part, believable, readers may be hard-pressed to find a likable one in all of Arnhill.
The slowly-unfolding narrative is definitely creepy, but never ventures into true horror. The switching between past and present, effective in the telling of some tales, does not work well here as the backstory unfolds far too slowly to maintain a continual building of the reader’s sense of uneasiness.
Despite the tantalizing prologue, the narrative never adequately addresses the story of Julia Morton and her son Ben. The story’s supernatural elements may be cringe-worthy, but they never become integral to the story and do little more than bewilder the reader and obfuscate the narrative. Ultimately, the unfolding story, suffused with unresolved plot lines, leaves readers with far too many unanswered questions, especially since the denouement of the epilogue is more vexatious than it is satisfying.
Unfortunately, a much-overused and offensive expletive peppering a plethora of conversations in this story mars the narrative and lowers the rating for this book.
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LibraryThing member susan0316
This is the second book by C.J. Tudor. I loved her first book, The Chalk Man, and was hoping that her new book would be as good. I shouldn't have worried about it because even though this book is very different, it was suspenseful and scary and a real page turner.
Joe Thorne moved back to the town
As with The Chalk Man, this author does a great job of character development. She created a main character who was very driven but very believable. Her descriptions of small town life in England are also a strong reason that this book was so fantastic.
This was a fantastic page-turner with a touch of horror. I found it well written and addictive and a fantastic book.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Joe Thorne moved back to the town
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he grew up in after promising himself that he would never return. He has two reasons for returning - he needs a job and there was a teaching job available and he needs to try to stop what is happening to children in the town. When Joe was young, his sister Annie disappeared for 2 days and then returned as a totally different child. Now he sees it happening again to other children in the town and he knows that he has to put a stop to it. Despite the enemies that Joe left in town he believes that there is evil in the town that must be stopped. The town tries to get Joe to leave and his enemies work against him at every turn. The ensuing story is creepy and spine-tingling and will keep the reader turning pages to the surprising end.As with The Chalk Man, this author does a great job of character development. She created a main character who was very driven but very believable. Her descriptions of small town life in England are also a strong reason that this book was so fantastic.
This was a fantastic page-turner with a touch of horror. I found it well written and addictive and a fantastic book.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
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LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
Tudor is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I loved her newest book. Joe returns to his old school as a teacher, one with an agenda. He comes back because of all of the unsolved horrible things that occurred there throughout the years. As we read on, we discover more and more about what
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happened then and is still going on today. There are major creepy twists in this spooky tale that keeps the reader on the edge of their seats until the very end. I just loved it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
The main character is a liar and a jerk so I never really cared what happened to him one way or the other. I formed some vivid suggestions about what could happen to him but the author never took me seriously:) I thought the book was very much like her first novel, [Chalk Man] which I really liked
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but this one is even better. The story gradually turns supernatural which really made the story for me... the ghost story fanatic. It's well written and the narrative flows along nicely including the chitterlings in the bathroom walls. If you like stories that have a weird twist you'll like this one. Show Less
LibraryThing member nicx27
This book is absolutely awesome! I just didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed The Chalk Man but I think The Taking of Annie Thorne is even better. There's a theme that appears in both books though and that is one of childhood innocence being destroyed by sinister happenings and cocky teenagers.
Joe
Back in 1992, Joe's 8 year old sister, Annie, disappeared for two days and then returned. Should be great, right, but things were never the same after that. Annie wasn't the same. The reasons are embedded deep into the story but suffice to say that it's all rather disturbing and eerie. More than once I found myself shuddering, particularly because I don't like caves and being underground at all. I'm glad I didn't read those bits just before going to sleep. Oh, and I have to say I won't lift the toilet lid without trepidation again!
Joe is a walking car crash, on a collision course heading for disasterville, living almost on his wits and his wisecracks. With problems of his own, he's also caught up with the prospect of what happened to Annie happening to other children. Trying to stop it means crossing paths with his old 'friend' Hurst and other members of his teenage gang. This never works out well in books and this story is no exception.
The whole thing is utterly compelling. It's creepy, the plotting is skilful and the characterisations are fantastic. The ending threw up some questions as well as some answers, but I loved that it had a spine-chilling ending that left me with shivers down my spine.
From start to finish The Taking of Annie Thorne is a masterpiece. Read it. Now!
Joe
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Thorne is the primary reason I loved this book so much. He's a fantastic character. He's flippant and sarcastic, and I know they say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit but it amuses me. I had to smile many times at things that he said. He's returned to his childhood home town of Arnhill, a pit village in Nottinghamshire. I thought this was a great setting, giving a closed and claustrophobic feeling to it, not to mention the spectre of the closed pit hanging over everyone.Back in 1992, Joe's 8 year old sister, Annie, disappeared for two days and then returned. Should be great, right, but things were never the same after that. Annie wasn't the same. The reasons are embedded deep into the story but suffice to say that it's all rather disturbing and eerie. More than once I found myself shuddering, particularly because I don't like caves and being underground at all. I'm glad I didn't read those bits just before going to sleep. Oh, and I have to say I won't lift the toilet lid without trepidation again!
Joe is a walking car crash, on a collision course heading for disasterville, living almost on his wits and his wisecracks. With problems of his own, he's also caught up with the prospect of what happened to Annie happening to other children. Trying to stop it means crossing paths with his old 'friend' Hurst and other members of his teenage gang. This never works out well in books and this story is no exception.
The whole thing is utterly compelling. It's creepy, the plotting is skilful and the characterisations are fantastic. The ending threw up some questions as well as some answers, but I loved that it had a spine-chilling ending that left me with shivers down my spine.
From start to finish The Taking of Annie Thorne is a masterpiece. Read it. Now!
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LibraryThing member Lauranthalas
Joe finds himself back in his hometown of Arnhill after swearing he’d never come back. During high school, his sister went missing and he fell out with his old gang. But what happened to his sister seems to be happening again and Joe must go back to try and stop it. Now back in his hometown, Joe
Another well done book by C.J. Tudor and I found myself liking this book even more than The Chalk Man. This dark, mysterious, creepy novel (with elements of horror) will keep you reading until the end!
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is facing off with old friends and he must confront his past. The past where his sister went missing and the most horrific part was when she came back.Another well done book by C.J. Tudor and I found myself liking this book even more than The Chalk Man. This dark, mysterious, creepy novel (with elements of horror) will keep you reading until the end!
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LibraryThing member lostinalibrary
*This review may contain spoilers
When Joe left his hometown, he never wanted to go back. While he was in high school, his younger sister, Annie, had disappeared. She eventually returned or perhaps something did because whatever it was, it was not Annie. Oh, it looked like her and sounded like her
The Hiding Place by author C. J. Tudor is sort of a horror/mystery hybrid and it reminded me of her last book, The Chalk Man. Don't get me wrong - this is a huge compliment. They are definitely different books providing their own compelling tale but she has found a formula that works amazingly well at keeping the reader glued to the page. But, like in Chalk Man, the story goes back and forth between before and after, in this case Annie's disappearance and Joe's later attempts to solve the mystery before more children die. We meet the main protagonist when he's an adult trying to solve a mystery from his youth. While doing so, he must deal with both his own weaknesses and accesses as well as people from his past who would prefer that past stayed in the past. He is both extremely likeable and flawed. They are also both real page-turners as the story builds to the twist at the end. And they are both as creepy as...well, they are both very very creepy.
If you are a fan of well-written, well-plotted, and wonderfully creepy mystery-slash-horror stories with great protagonists, this is definitely one for you. Personally, I can't wait for the next C. J. Tudor page turner. Loved it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
When Joe left his hometown, he never wanted to go back. While he was in high school, his younger sister, Annie, had disappeared. She eventually returned or perhaps something did because whatever it was, it was not Annie. Oh, it looked like her and sounded like her
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but it definitely didn't act like her. He blamed himself and the people he hung out with and with whom he'd fallen out over her. But now he has returned because it seems whatever happened back then is happening again and he may be the only one who can stop it.The Hiding Place by author C. J. Tudor is sort of a horror/mystery hybrid and it reminded me of her last book, The Chalk Man. Don't get me wrong - this is a huge compliment. They are definitely different books providing their own compelling tale but she has found a formula that works amazingly well at keeping the reader glued to the page. But, like in Chalk Man, the story goes back and forth between before and after, in this case Annie's disappearance and Joe's later attempts to solve the mystery before more children die. We meet the main protagonist when he's an adult trying to solve a mystery from his youth. While doing so, he must deal with both his own weaknesses and accesses as well as people from his past who would prefer that past stayed in the past. He is both extremely likeable and flawed. They are also both real page-turners as the story builds to the twist at the end. And they are both as creepy as...well, they are both very very creepy.
If you are a fan of well-written, well-plotted, and wonderfully creepy mystery-slash-horror stories with great protagonists, this is definitely one for you. Personally, I can't wait for the next C. J. Tudor page turner. Loved it!
Thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
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LibraryThing member feeroberts64
The Hiding Place by C.J. Tudor is her second novel. Joe is going back to where he was born, but does he really want to? No...not after what happened. Can he face his past, or will it consume him?
Tudor does it again! With her writing, solid characters, and her infusion of horror mixed with mystery,
Tudor does it again! With her writing, solid characters, and her infusion of horror mixed with mystery,
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this story will keep you on the edge of your seat while quickly turning the pages. This is an excellent tale of fear, confusion, and self loathing. I highly recommend this story to anyone looking for an intense read. Show Less
LibraryThing member GirlWellRead
A special thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The last thing that Joe Thorne wants is to return to his hometown. There's nothing there for him except regrets, painful memories, and tragedy. And he thought he would never go back,
Joe is a bit of a mess—he's got a drinking problem and a gambling problem—and his former friends are not happy he's back, nor are his enemies. But the hardest part of returning home will be going back to the abandoned mine where it all went wrong and his life was forever changed. For Joe, the worst moment of his life wasn't the day his sister went missing, it was the day she came back.
I assume this is a homage to Stephen King, otherwise, her plot twist was too familiar to anyone that has read Pet Cemetery.
That being said, there were parts that were extremely clever and tight, and then there were times where the narrative rambled and completely went off the rails. But what caught me the most off guard were the supernatural/horror elements in a book that I assumed was in the thriller/mystery/suspense genre. If this is your bag, and you are a fan of Stephen King, than this book will totally be your bag.
The last thing that Joe Thorne wants is to return to his hometown. There's nothing there for him except regrets, painful memories, and tragedy. And he thought he would never go back,
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especially not after what happened to his sister, Annie, all those years ago. But Joe doesn't have a choice because it appears to be happening again and he needs to set things right.Joe is a bit of a mess—he's got a drinking problem and a gambling problem—and his former friends are not happy he's back, nor are his enemies. But the hardest part of returning home will be going back to the abandoned mine where it all went wrong and his life was forever changed. For Joe, the worst moment of his life wasn't the day his sister went missing, it was the day she came back.
I assume this is a homage to Stephen King, otherwise, her plot twist was too familiar to anyone that has read Pet Cemetery.
That being said, there were parts that were extremely clever and tight, and then there were times where the narrative rambled and completely went off the rails. But what caught me the most off guard were the supernatural/horror elements in a book that I assumed was in the thriller/mystery/suspense genre. If this is your bag, and you are a fan of Stephen King, than this book will totally be your bag.
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LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
This was a good book.
Typically this would be a positive thing, to have read a good book. And this being a good book, I did enjoy reading it.
But I was also definitely disappointed. I had such high expectations for this book, because of how much I loved Tudor's first book The Chalk Man. The Chalk Man
The Hiding Place had so many of the qualities that made The Chalk Man so great-suspense, mystery, twists, secrets from the past, and horror. It tells the story of a man who returns to the small town he grew up in, a town where his sister disappeared, reappeared, and died. Now whatever terrible thing happened back then seems to be happening again, all connected to a horror from the past that refuses to stay buried.
The supernatural elements just do not work in this book, however. They seem unexplained and unresolved, and not as well integrated as I would have liked. This kept taking me out of the story, which was suspenseful and scary enough on its own without the supernatural elements.
From many other authors, a good book would have left me happy and content. But I just wanted so much more from Tudor's second story. I've got my fingers crossed about the third.
Typically this would be a positive thing, to have read a good book. And this being a good book, I did enjoy reading it.
But I was also definitely disappointed. I had such high expectations for this book, because of how much I loved Tudor's first book The Chalk Man. The Chalk Man
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was one of my favorite books of the year when I first read it.The Hiding Place had so many of the qualities that made The Chalk Man so great-suspense, mystery, twists, secrets from the past, and horror. It tells the story of a man who returns to the small town he grew up in, a town where his sister disappeared, reappeared, and died. Now whatever terrible thing happened back then seems to be happening again, all connected to a horror from the past that refuses to stay buried.
The supernatural elements just do not work in this book, however. They seem unexplained and unresolved, and not as well integrated as I would have liked. This kept taking me out of the story, which was suspenseful and scary enough on its own without the supernatural elements.
From many other authors, a good book would have left me happy and content. But I just wanted so much more from Tudor's second story. I've got my fingers crossed about the third.
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LibraryThing member tamidale
Wow, this was one creepy story! I do believe CJ Tudor has stepped things up a notch since writing The Chalk Man. I love a good mystery and the addition of a main character with a past always brings a certain appeal. Add in the suspense and this story does not disappoint.
High school teacher Joe
There are very few likable characters in this story. As the book unfolds, readers also discover that not every one is the person they seem to be. As Joe gets deeper into the connection between past and present, things get very intense and at times, very dark.
For sensitive readers, triggers include bullying, gambling, and physical violence.
This book will give readers the shudders, so may be best not to read when you’re home alone!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing to allow me to read an advance copy and offer my honest review.
High school teacher Joe
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Thorne is headed back to his old stamping grounds--the place where he grew up and vowed to never return. Right away we learn that Joe has some bad blood between old friends of his. Joe also has had some family tragedy. More recently, he is running away from other troubles, which is how he ends up back in the town he never wanted to see again.There are very few likable characters in this story. As the book unfolds, readers also discover that not every one is the person they seem to be. As Joe gets deeper into the connection between past and present, things get very intense and at times, very dark.
For sensitive readers, triggers include bullying, gambling, and physical violence.
This book will give readers the shudders, so may be best not to read when you’re home alone!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing to allow me to read an advance copy and offer my honest review.
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LibraryThing member AdonisGuilfoyle
'Britain's female Stephen King' is an appropriate title for C J Tudor, because both of her novels to date have reminded me of King classics. The Chalk Man, which I loved and gave five stars, was similar to The Body/Stand By Me, and now we have The Taking of Annie Thorne, which is like a mash-up of
Teacher Joe Thorne returns home to the mining village of Arnhill, haunted by ghosts of the past and chased by hoodlums from the present. He wants to find out whether a school friend jumped or was pushed from the roof of the school 25 years ago, and also if what happened to his little sister Annie might be happening again. Remind you of another book yet? How about something unspeakable lurking underground which has the power to bring the dead back to life - with a vengeance. I'd forgotten all about the King connection in Tudor's previous book, but when the flashbacks started, I thought, 'Is she really going to turn this into some Pet Sematary knock off?' But yes, if you've read King's novels, then nothing about the plot or the characters will surprise you. There's even a 'amateur local historian tells the hero about all the mysterious events dating back to the 1600s' subplot, including witch hunts and mine cave-ins.
What The Chalk Man held onto, and why I liked Tudor's first novel so much, was the 'Britishness' of the storytelling. Tudor is obviously so keen to emulate her 'constant inspiration', Mr King, that she's turned American, like a bad episode of CSI. Joe the drinking and gambling loner who moves into the murder house, Gloria the hitwoman and the laughable twist in the tale, Beth the manic pixie dream girl - go back to your roots, CJ! And all the twee philosophising made my teeth ache - 'But that's all life ever is. A promise. Not a guarantee', 'Time is simply a great eraser', 'Grief is personal. It isn't something you can share like a box of chocolates', 'Happiness is overrated'.
If I give book three the benefit of the doubt, I'll have to borrow it from the library!
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It and Pet Sematary and not in an imaginative way. I was hopeful about this second novel, even though I waited until the price dropped to 99p on Kindle before downloading, but whatever charm carried her debut story for me quickly decomposed into a rotting corpse of cliches and bad dialogue. (She's even got me writing like King now!)Teacher Joe Thorne returns home to the mining village of Arnhill, haunted by ghosts of the past and chased by hoodlums from the present. He wants to find out whether a school friend jumped or was pushed from the roof of the school 25 years ago, and also if what happened to his little sister Annie might be happening again. Remind you of another book yet? How about something unspeakable lurking underground which has the power to bring the dead back to life - with a vengeance. I'd forgotten all about the King connection in Tudor's previous book, but when the flashbacks started, I thought, 'Is she really going to turn this into some Pet Sematary knock off?' But yes, if you've read King's novels, then nothing about the plot or the characters will surprise you. There's even a 'amateur local historian tells the hero about all the mysterious events dating back to the 1600s' subplot, including witch hunts and mine cave-ins.
What The Chalk Man held onto, and why I liked Tudor's first novel so much, was the 'Britishness' of the storytelling. Tudor is obviously so keen to emulate her 'constant inspiration', Mr King, that she's turned American, like a bad episode of CSI. Joe the drinking and gambling loner who moves into the murder house, Gloria the hitwoman and the laughable twist in the tale, Beth the manic pixie dream girl - go back to your roots, CJ! And all the twee philosophising made my teeth ache - 'But that's all life ever is. A promise. Not a guarantee', 'Time is simply a great eraser', 'Grief is personal. It isn't something you can share like a box of chocolates', 'Happiness is overrated'.
If I give book three the benefit of the doubt, I'll have to borrow it from the library!
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LibraryThing member RowingRabbit
Sooo….my best advice before cracking the cover is take a deep breath. And prepare to be shoved into the deep end. If the prologue to this book doesn’t grab you, find a mirror. You might be in a coma.
Initially Arnhill seems like a million other small towns. Slightly faded, nothing much to do &
So it’s surprising to find him applying for a job at his old high school in the present. Turns out there are a couple of very good reasons. HIs current situation is a little dicey & he urgently needs to make himself scarce. He’s also come to realize you can’t outrun ghosts when they live in your head. It’s time to head back & learn the truth about what happened to his little sister Annie.
If you’ve read The Chalk Man, this may have a familiar ring to it. A guy returns to his home town to face the friends, bullies & trauma of his past. But the similarities end there. This is a decidedly darker story. Where the first book was more mystery/suspense, this one lands squarely in horror territory. But “Sandy” you say, “how icky could it be?” Just wait ’til the bathroom scene (told ya 😏).
The other big difference is Joe himself & the relationships he left behind. His character is nothing like Eddie. Joe is a damaged, cynical man whose main coping strategy is booze. And as we quickly discover, his old school chums have rather firm opinions about his return.
It’s a bit of a slow burner because there’s a lot of back story to establish. Joe’s present day life is complicated & it inevitably catches up with him in Arnhill. The historical story line is chock full of events that only get creepier as we learn what happened to Annie, Joe & others. For me there was a lull in this middle section. I was turning the pages thinking it was a solid read. Then I hit the the last few chapters. And that’s all I’ll say about that. Just know it made me bump up my rating.
The author excels at describing small town life & the grim, claustrophobic setting hangs over the whole story like low storm clouds. The characters are well defined & I was particularly fond of Joe’s colleague Beth Scattergood, a teacher with funky clothes & a gift for sarcasm.
We’re all freaked/grossed out by different stuff so there may be a few scenes that make you check under the bed. Whether or not you’re a horror fan, I bet you’ll keep reading just to find out what happened to Annie Thorne.
Initially Arnhill seems like a million other small towns. Slightly faded, nothing much to do &
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everyone knows your business. It’s a place that inspires people to leave which is exactly what Joe Thorne did. But Joe’s reasons were a little more personal. There are 2 time lines that alternate & as the story of his childhood progresses, we become acquainted with the ghosts that drove him away. So it’s surprising to find him applying for a job at his old high school in the present. Turns out there are a couple of very good reasons. HIs current situation is a little dicey & he urgently needs to make himself scarce. He’s also come to realize you can’t outrun ghosts when they live in your head. It’s time to head back & learn the truth about what happened to his little sister Annie.
If you’ve read The Chalk Man, this may have a familiar ring to it. A guy returns to his home town to face the friends, bullies & trauma of his past. But the similarities end there. This is a decidedly darker story. Where the first book was more mystery/suspense, this one lands squarely in horror territory. But “Sandy” you say, “how icky could it be?” Just wait ’til the bathroom scene (told ya 😏).
The other big difference is Joe himself & the relationships he left behind. His character is nothing like Eddie. Joe is a damaged, cynical man whose main coping strategy is booze. And as we quickly discover, his old school chums have rather firm opinions about his return.
It’s a bit of a slow burner because there’s a lot of back story to establish. Joe’s present day life is complicated & it inevitably catches up with him in Arnhill. The historical story line is chock full of events that only get creepier as we learn what happened to Annie, Joe & others. For me there was a lull in this middle section. I was turning the pages thinking it was a solid read. Then I hit the the last few chapters. And that’s all I’ll say about that. Just know it made me bump up my rating.
The author excels at describing small town life & the grim, claustrophobic setting hangs over the whole story like low storm clouds. The characters are well defined & I was particularly fond of Joe’s colleague Beth Scattergood, a teacher with funky clothes & a gift for sarcasm.
We’re all freaked/grossed out by different stuff so there may be a few scenes that make you check under the bed. Whether or not you’re a horror fan, I bet you’ll keep reading just to find out what happened to Annie Thorne.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
Going home is not always a great idea as Joe soon finds out. Some things are just best forgotten and never brought back into the light of day. This story had all the creep-factors that make for a good mystery with a paranormal flavor. If you are one that enjoys a well-written crime story with a
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strong dose of horror...then this is diffidently for you. Show Less
LibraryThing member marykuhl
I spent most of this book trying to figure out what happened to Annie. Was this a supernatural story or not? Sadly I struggled with this book and it didn't hold my attention until about the last 3rd of the book.
So a group of 5 teenagers find their way into a cave in a mine and something happens
So a group of 5 teenagers find their way into a cave in a mine and something happens
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there. 25 years later, 1 of the 5 returns. Apparently whatever happened then is happening again. That's pretty much the way this story goes. It wasn't poorly written, I just had too many questions as I was reading that weren't answered at the time. I was really having a hard time figuring out what was going on. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolesrandomlife
I didn't like this one nearly as much as I had hoped I would but I did like it. I absolutely loved C.J. Tudor's first book, The Chalk Man, so I was really eager to read her newest book. This was not a bad book by any means but for me, it was missing that essential spark that I had hoped to
This is really Joe's story. Joe goes back to teach at his hometown high school. This town doesn't hold the best memories for him but he needs a job and there is one available at his old high school so he does what he needs to do. It is obvious right from the start that Joe knows how to work a situation and can fake it when needed. Joe has a few, okay more than a few, gambling debts so he is in desperate need of a job.
As a reader, you know that Joe has some history in this town, including whatever happened to his sister, Annie, but it takes a long time to find out exactly what happened. This book is told both in the present day and the past. I felt like a lot more of the book was set in the present day but I liked the story from the past a lot more. As the story came together and things were revealed, I just never felt all that surprised. I wanted something in this story to really shake things up but it seemed somewhat predictable for me.
I had a hard time connecting to Joe and really all of the characters in this book. I never felt like Joe could be trusted and he really just felt like a mess to me. I really have no problem liking flawed characters and often feel that they feel more realistic but Joe just seemed to be missing that redeeming quality that I needed to see. All of the characters in this book felt rather flat to me.
I think that a lot of readers will like this one a lot more than I did. I was looking forward to a dark story which I got but unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the characters and felt that the story was somewhat predictable. I did like the book and plan to read more from C.J. Tudor just as soon as it is available.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Crown Publishing Group via NetGalley.
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find.This is really Joe's story. Joe goes back to teach at his hometown high school. This town doesn't hold the best memories for him but he needs a job and there is one available at his old high school so he does what he needs to do. It is obvious right from the start that Joe knows how to work a situation and can fake it when needed. Joe has a few, okay more than a few, gambling debts so he is in desperate need of a job.
As a reader, you know that Joe has some history in this town, including whatever happened to his sister, Annie, but it takes a long time to find out exactly what happened. This book is told both in the present day and the past. I felt like a lot more of the book was set in the present day but I liked the story from the past a lot more. As the story came together and things were revealed, I just never felt all that surprised. I wanted something in this story to really shake things up but it seemed somewhat predictable for me.
I had a hard time connecting to Joe and really all of the characters in this book. I never felt like Joe could be trusted and he really just felt like a mess to me. I really have no problem liking flawed characters and often feel that they feel more realistic but Joe just seemed to be missing that redeeming quality that I needed to see. All of the characters in this book felt rather flat to me.
I think that a lot of readers will like this one a lot more than I did. I was looking forward to a dark story which I got but unfortunately, I couldn't connect with the characters and felt that the story was somewhat predictable. I did like the book and plan to read more from C.J. Tudor just as soon as it is available.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Crown Publishing Group via NetGalley.
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LibraryThing member Monkeypats
A timeline of reading this book: Boring. Boring. Generically boring. Weird moment. Boring. Boring. I do not like a single character in this book. Boring. What the hell?! Boring again. Slight suspense. Good twist. Good twist. ... overall though, I wouldn’t recommend.
LibraryThing member kbranfield
The Hiding Place by C. J. Tudor is a suspense-laden mystery with supernatural and horror elements.
Joe Thorne's return to his hometown of Arnhill is not exactly altruistic. He is going back to hopefully get a job teaching at his alma mater Arnhill Academy. And yes, he has received an eerie message
Joe does not make much effort to overcome the demons that he brings with him to Arnhill. He drinks too much, sleeps too little and often goes to work with vicious hangovers. He has long avoided facing the tragedies that occurred during his teen years, but it does not take long for him to realize he will have to confront the events that forever altered his life. Joe harbors many regrets about what happened to Annie and his friend, Chris Manning. Once he realizes that history is repeating itself, Joe reluctantly returns to the place that was essentially the beginning and the end of the horrific events that have forever changed him.
At one time, Arnhill was a prosperous town with the local coal mine providing jobs for the community. The town barely survived the mine's closure and years later, the abandoned mine still looms in the distance. It is also a source of fascination for the teenagers due to the unsubstantiated rumors that swirl around it. In 1992, Joe and his friends were unable to resist exploring an entrance to the mine. Their explorations lead them to a terrifying discovery that sets them on a path of unending heartache and pain. After the heartbreaking events that occur in the aftermath, Joe is certain he has made it impossible for anyone to enter the mine. Or has he?
The Hiding Place is a very atmospheric and increasingly spooky novel. Joe is a surprisingly reliable narrator whose growing unease forces him to revisit his heartrending past. He also manages to elicit readers' sympathy in spite of his all too human flaws. With otherworldly elements and an gradual sense of overwhelming dread, C. J. Tudor brings the novel to a twist-filled conclusion. Fans of horror novels will enjoy this spine-tingling novel.
Joe Thorne's return to his hometown of Arnhill is not exactly altruistic. He is going back to hopefully get a job teaching at his alma mater Arnhill Academy. And yes, he has received an eerie message
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that what happened to his sister, Annie, is happening again. However, the impetus for his decision is to escape a loan shark's increasingly threatening efforts to force Joe to repay his debts. Upon his return, a sense of dread overcomes him as he settles in at the cottage whose occupants met a horrific end. Joe is also quickly target by his former friends, Stephen Hurst and Nick Fletcher, who resort to violence as they attempt to convince him to leave town. Despite his increasing discomfort and unease, Joe must revisit the worst time in his past in order to hopefully put an end to the malevolent force threatening the town's children.Joe does not make much effort to overcome the demons that he brings with him to Arnhill. He drinks too much, sleeps too little and often goes to work with vicious hangovers. He has long avoided facing the tragedies that occurred during his teen years, but it does not take long for him to realize he will have to confront the events that forever altered his life. Joe harbors many regrets about what happened to Annie and his friend, Chris Manning. Once he realizes that history is repeating itself, Joe reluctantly returns to the place that was essentially the beginning and the end of the horrific events that have forever changed him.
At one time, Arnhill was a prosperous town with the local coal mine providing jobs for the community. The town barely survived the mine's closure and years later, the abandoned mine still looms in the distance. It is also a source of fascination for the teenagers due to the unsubstantiated rumors that swirl around it. In 1992, Joe and his friends were unable to resist exploring an entrance to the mine. Their explorations lead them to a terrifying discovery that sets them on a path of unending heartache and pain. After the heartbreaking events that occur in the aftermath, Joe is certain he has made it impossible for anyone to enter the mine. Or has he?
The Hiding Place is a very atmospheric and increasingly spooky novel. Joe is a surprisingly reliable narrator whose growing unease forces him to revisit his heartrending past. He also manages to elicit readers' sympathy in spite of his all too human flaws. With otherworldly elements and an gradual sense of overwhelming dread, C. J. Tudor brings the novel to a twist-filled conclusion. Fans of horror novels will enjoy this spine-tingling novel.
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LibraryThing member purple_pisces22
So many mixed reviews on this one. I read The Chalk Man, and really liked it. I think that there was a little bit of unexplained phenomenon in that book also with the chalk chalk. I’m glad I didn’t read the reviews before I start this one because I was pretty surprised with how it turned out
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but I don’t think it went too far. It had just enough of a supernatural aspect to it that it wasn’t hard to suspend my belief in reality for a short time. And I’m sure we’ve all known that one kid that gets away with everything all the time and wish that he/she would finally get what they deserved. So score one for the good guys. Show Less
LibraryThing member Luminous-Path
DNF. I don't normally review my DNFs but as I got to 68% on this one I think I'll allow it. Obvs so disappointed. I adored The Burning Girls, then I liked The Chalk Man, and then...this mistake. Two thirds through it and it still doesn't know what story it wants to tell. Is it about children who
I don't care about Joe's damage or his childhood or even his poor sister. Not even the cottage he rents, in which a woman murdered her son and then died by suicide, manages to successfully convey a creepiness factor - even with constant sounds of scuttling beetles that may or may not be real!
Look, I get it. Banal evil is still evil. The evil of playground politics and adults who aren't there for you and shit like that, and the lingering trauma into adulthood, yeah go ahead make that part of your evil. But it doesn't work here. It's all rendered so dully. And I am one hundred percent certain that the supernatural evil, which I know is coming, isn't going to be any better. One star.
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disappear and come back wrong? Is it about addiction and attempted recovery? Is it about bullying, trauma, and becoming the bully? Is it about a supposedly creepy deserted mine that somehow manages to not be creepy or scary in the slightest? Is it about over the top townies who circle the wagons when a prodigal son returns? Is it about a violent, vengeful gambling debt collector/enforcer who may be a figment of the MC's imagination because he seems to picture her as some Dom woman he's DTF?I don't care about Joe's damage or his childhood or even his poor sister. Not even the cottage he rents, in which a woman murdered her son and then died by suicide, manages to successfully convey a creepiness factor - even with constant sounds of scuttling beetles that may or may not be real!
Look, I get it. Banal evil is still evil. The evil of playground politics and adults who aren't there for you and shit like that, and the lingering trauma into adulthood, yeah go ahead make that part of your evil. But it doesn't work here. It's all rendered so dully. And I am one hundred percent certain that the supernatural evil, which I know is coming, isn't going to be any better. One star.
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LibraryThing member IreneCole
"Happiness is overrated; it’s far too short-lived, for a start. If you bought it on Amazon, you’d demand a refund. Broke after a month and impossible to fix. Next time will try misery—apparently that shit lasts forever."
Joe Thorne left his hometown under a cloud of grief and guilt. Never to
Most of the people who remember Joe are not happy to see him, and slowly we learn why the feeling is mutual. I loved the flashbacks to Joe's childhood and the supernatural overtones.
C.J. Tudor has officially cemented her place on my list of must read authors.
I received an advance copy for review.
Joe Thorne left his hometown under a cloud of grief and guilt. Never to
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return, or so he thought. Part time teacher, full time heavy drinker and gambler, he tries to block out what happened all those years ago, and some days he even succeeds. When he gets a strange message that reminds him of his tragic past, and with nowhere to escape his mounting gambling debts he heads home to Arnhill to hide from the thugs who want to collect, and to uncover what really happened all those years ago.Most of the people who remember Joe are not happy to see him, and slowly we learn why the feeling is mutual. I loved the flashbacks to Joe's childhood and the supernatural overtones.
C.J. Tudor has officially cemented her place on my list of must read authors.
I received an advance copy for review.
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LibraryThing member zmagic69
I really liked this authors first book The Chalk Man. I think the publisher did too and then signed the author to a fat contract. The problem as I see it is, after having read this book and the authors 3rd book- The Other People, I would have to say the author was a one trick pony, I am not
This book drags on far too long, just like the third book did, the ending is ridiculous, and the bulk of the storyline is a total Pet Cemetery ripoff, a book Stephen King did first and far better. For this story the author applied the bringing back from the dead, to people.
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impressed with the second book anymore than I was with her 3rd book! This book drags on far too long, just like the third book did, the ending is ridiculous, and the bulk of the storyline is a total Pet Cemetery ripoff, a book Stephen King did first and far better. For this story the author applied the bringing back from the dead, to people.
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LibraryThing member lisally
It's hard to tell from the blurb alone, but The Hiding Place is actually more of a horror story than the murder mystery/thriller it seems at first glance. This kind of mix is actually right up my alley, and I enjoyed the hell out of reading it, but there was something about this book that seems
A major issue is with the horror bits; they're integral to the plot, but they aren't explored enough to really be satisfying. There are hints here and there of a larger story about the town of Arnhill and the mysterious pit beneath the coal mine, but because our protagonist, Joe, is less interested about this than his own personal issues, the reader never gets the full picture. I enjoyed the way Joe's story tied together, but there was so much unanswered, including details about the prologue characters whose house Joe ends up renting.
This was still a fun story with a mix of crime, mystery and horror, and the ending is wonderfully creepy/ominous. I'll definitely be checking out more works from this author.
A review copy was provided through the Goodreads First Reads program.
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just shy of being great.A major issue is with the horror bits; they're integral to the plot, but they aren't explored enough to really be satisfying. There are hints here and there of a larger story about the town of Arnhill and the mysterious pit beneath the coal mine, but because our protagonist, Joe, is less interested about this than his own personal issues, the reader never gets the full picture. I enjoyed the way Joe's story tied together, but there was so much unanswered, including details about the prologue characters whose house Joe ends up renting.
This was still a fun story with a mix of crime, mystery and horror, and the ending is wonderfully creepy/ominous. I'll definitely be checking out more works from this author.
A review copy was provided through the Goodreads First Reads program.
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LibraryThing member Danielle.Desrochers
3.5 stars rounded up.
I liked this, I just didn’t love it. It likely won’t stick with me and I felt like I’d read it before.
The way it was written was very engaging, and I read it pretty quickly, but there was too much going on in the background for me to really be invested in Joe and his
I liked this, I just didn’t love it. It likely won’t stick with me and I felt like I’d read it before.
The way it was written was very engaging, and I read it pretty quickly, but there was too much going on in the background for me to really be invested in Joe and his
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story. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019-02-21
Physical description
368 p.
ISBN
1405930977 / 9781405930970
Local notes
One night, Annie went missing. Disappeared from her own bed. There were searches, appeals. Everyone thought the worst. And then, miraculously, after forty-eight hours, she came back. But she couldn't, or wouldn't, say what had happened to her.
Waterstones edition with red paper people sprayed on the page edges.
Waterstones edition with red paper people sprayed on the page edges.