“Pinter is in fine form with Hide Away. You’ll burn through the pages.” —David BaldacciFrom the bestselling author of the Henry Parker series comes a page-turning thriller about a vigilante who’s desperate to protect her secrets—and bring a killer to justice.On the surface, Rachel Marin is an ordinary single mother; on the inside, she’s a fierce, brilliant vigilante. After an unspeakable crime … vigilante. After an unspeakable crime shatters her life, she changes her identity and moves to a small town in Illinois, hoping to spare her children from further trauma…or worse. But crime follows her everywhere.
When the former mayor winds up dead, Rachel can’t help but get involved. Where local detectives see suicide, she sees murder. They resent her for butting in—especially since she’s always one step ahead. But her investigative genius may be her undoing: the deeper she digs, the harder it is to keep her own secrets buried.
Her persistence makes her the target of both the cops and a killer. Meanwhile, the terrifying truth about her past threatens to come to light, and Rachel learns the hard way that she can’t trust anyone. Surrounded by danger, she must keep her steely resolve, protect her family, and stay one step ahead, or else she may become the next victim.
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It’s been a while since I recommended a book. I guess I’ve been busy with my own work. I have been reading in between – I should catch up with a few of these.
But Hide Away was one of those books I found hard to put down. It’s not some deeply original story or phenomenally profound piece of literature, but it is very effective in what it’s aiming for. And it does so extremely well.
I found this to be a great read. Intriguing character, a twist on the Sherlock Holmes trope of the civilian investigator with incredible natural insight, coupled with cops who are not dumb by any means, but whose thinking is too cop-like to see the finer points of the crime. Oddly, it has a feeling of being fresh yet well-trodden territory, and I predicted the killer by the two-thirds mark (from a writer’s perspective rather than a reader’s), but that somehow didn’t dampen my enjoyment. I guess it’s a great read if you’re looking for something not too taxing, characters you want to spend time with, and well put together in terms of prose and story… which was exactly what I wanted from this.
I will be looking out for the next in this series.
HIDE AWAY (Rachel Marin Thriller Book #1) by Jason Pinter is the start of a new thriller series featuring a single mother turned vigilante that had me so engrossed I could not put it down. Rachel Marin is a compelling new main character and I cannot wait for more books in this series!
After an unspeakable crime shatters a mother and her small children’s lives, she changes their identities and moves from the east coast to a small town in Illinois. Rachel Marin emerges from this tragedy changed not only emotionally, but physically. She vows that she will always be able to protect her children in the future.
The disgraced former mayor of Rachel’s town is dead. To all the first responders it appears to be a tragic suicide, but not to Rachel when she sees the pictures from the scene on the news. The former mayor was kind to Rachel when she first moved to town and she will not let authorities believe this was anything but a murder that needs to be solved.
Rachel inserts herself into the investigation because she has reason to distrust law enforcement, much to Sergeant Seranno and Tally’s displeasure. She finds herself in the crosshairs of the police as well as a killer.
This is an amazing new female kick-butt character to love! How she transformed her body and brain to protect her children was fierce. Even as she works to find justice for others, she has to find her own equilibrium between blind anger, true justice and the emotional fall-out on her children. The plot is intricate and intense even as flashbacks pop up to show how Rachel became the woman she is in the present.
I highly recommend this fast paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller with a strong female protagonist!
Rachel Marin is a bold and complicated woman, running from a tragic past while caring for her two children. A super-sleuth, she’s sort of a cross between Wonder Woman and Sherlock Holmes. When a friend appears to have committed suicide, Rachel can instantly see that it was murder and tips off the police. Not happy with their lackadaisical response, she investigates on her own with the cops just one step behind her. It all comes to a heart-pounding climax when Rachel zeroes in on the murderer. If you’re a fan of Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite, you’ll love this first book in the Rachel Marin series.
Pinter’s Rachel Marin Thriller Book #1 gives a new character for Pinter to develop and further her antics in another book. I think I might read the second one. However, this one was just a little too much of ‘then/now’ back and forth. Yes, we need the back story of Rachel (Olivia), but did we need to draw it out so much?? I do know I got confused at one point was I there or here…. reading on a Kindle does have some disadvantages to quickly ‘reread’ a section. More my fault than the story’s probably.
The story was well connected to the past and present with the exception of the snag I seemed to have. The ending was tidied up and that is something I like in my mystery reading. The immediate mystery is done, but a door is open for the next adventure of Rachel and maybe her favorite detective.
Good read.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that will keep you up past bedtime. I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre.
Not since ‘The Mark’ have I ripped through the pages of a Jason Pinter book so fast!
Wow. Such an intense page turner!
When the book first started, I could kinda see a couple directions the story would take and I geared myself up for any of those avenues. But I never saw the direction it actually took! From the first chapter on, the action didn’t stop and my mind was reeling.
Rachel Marin is a bad ass!! Mentally and physically!
I can’t wait to read future books in the Rachel Marin series. If they are all as good as this one, it has major potential to be better than the Henry Parker series… and that would be a huge task!
This was an awesome un-put-downable book!
kept me on my toes very well written about a family who can’t trust the police I had to go to a new town
I liked the main character although I thought her thinking got off kilter about two thirds of the way through the book. Belongs in the page-turner category.
Never turned the pages in a book so quickly to find out what happens.
Fast-paced and brimming with dark surprises, Jason Pinter’s THE BROKEN WOMEN is a wild ride from beginning to end. The first in a new series, THE BROKEN WOMEN is a top-rate thriller laced with intrigue, suspense and expertly drawn characters including complex, sympathetic and fiercely independent, Rachel Maren – a mother on a mission and my new favorite heroine. I can’t wait to see what Pinter has in store for us next.
Rachel Marin met the former mayor a while back .. before she was murdered. The police think this was either an accident or suicide … but Rachel knows it was murder.
Now all she has to do is to convince the detectives who are leading the investigation. But Rachel has no love of the cops … she doesn’t trust them to do what’s right.
Rachel has a secret … one that traumatized her and her young children. She’s changed their names, moved across the country, and started a new life for them.
She’s afraid her secrets may be uncovered, but she can’t just walk away. She inserts herself into the investigation … much to the cops’ displeasure. They resent her for butting in … but what she tells them makes them take a second look.
Her sheer determination to get at the truth makes her a target of both the cops … and a killer.
This is a great start to what looks like will be a terrific series. Rachel is a unique character… and one who will bear watching in the future. As a crime fiction, this is well written with deftly drawn characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep the fingers moving at a fast pace … just to see what happens next. Looking forward to the next book in this series!
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this terrific crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Even though the main character does some foolish and unnecessary things, I absolutely loved this book. It’s by far my favorite book of 2020 so far. The mystery around the character and the murder is deep, and the action and pacing are on point. There are some intense and touching moments as well, even for someone who doesn’t have kids. The twists are good and keep you guessing. I look forward to reading more of Jason Pinter’s books.
This is the first book in Jason Pinter’s new series and I absolutely loved it. I had the pleasure of meeting Jason at Bouchercon and was so excited to pick up a print copy of his book, but I also had the chance to get the audio…and so to me, it was the perfect combo…this book is good, no matter which way you decide to read it.
I love nothing more than a good thriller with a kicka** female protagonist and this one has it in spades! Rachel Marin is one female vigilante that you just can’t help but want to know more about right from the start. What has turned her into such a tough, secretive person, completely focused on not only protecting her children, but also wanting to see justice for the former mayor? I couldn’t wait to dig into her past.
I loved the way this book balances the past with the present, ever so slowly giving us the answers we want about what is going on. The pieces start coming together, with the suspense ramping up ever so slightly to keep you hooked all the way until the very end. It also balances the police procedural with Rachel’s story, and I really liked the way this was done. It’s definitely not all police procedural, nor is it all character-driven, but rather a nice balance of the two. I’m not sure what direction this series will take, but I do hope we see more of Detective Serrano in future books.
Jason Pinter is a new-to-me author, but I can tell I will certainly be looking into his other books while I wait for the next book in this series to come out.
Audio thoughts: This audio was fantastic! I’ve been a fan of Angela Dawe for a while and she really nailed this book, bringing the story to life, giving each character their own personality, even Rachel’s children. Angela was able to infuse just the right amount of emotion and tension into her voice at just the right time to make this book a great listening experience. I hope she continues to narrate this series as I am such a fan of narrator consistency whenever possible.
In Hide Away, the present day mystery involves the death of the former mayor in what, at first glance, appears to be suicide. In a separate timeline we learn how single mom Rachel turned into the vigilante she is today, and what that means to her. This is the start of a new series. The main point of view is Rachel’s, but we also hear from the investigating detectives; all three are intriguing characters I look forward to reading more about in the future. The mystery is fast paced which is a nice balance to the slow burn of learning about Rachel. I recommend Hide Away to those who enjoy character driven mysteries.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #HideAway #mystery #thriller
Hide Away by Jason Pinter is a superbly written mystery filled with suspense and raw need.
Who killed Constance, and why is Rachel involved?
Rachel Marin
Rachel is this wonderful character that has had her life completely turned upside down and inside out. She is so realistic that you can’t help but root for her. Rachel’s past is haunting not only her present but that of her children. However, moving her family and starting over isn’t as easy as it sounds since she can see injustice in her new city.
I loved that Rachel chose not to give up and that she was able to make life changes that are benefitting for her children. You can see the love for her children in most of the things that she does. However, Rachel gets a bit cocky, and that can be dangerous. Rachel sees something that the cops don’t at first, and she will figure it out before the detectives or die trying.
The Mystery
This mystery is top-notched and kept me guessing throughout. I couldn’t read fast enough to see what had happened in the past and what was unfolding presently. The clues were laid out expertly and kept me on my toes. Well done, Mr. Pinter. I will be looking forward to the next Rachel Marin installment.
Five Stars
The characters are superbly realistic, and the plot is impressive. There is no doubt that Hide Away by Jason Pinter rating is five stars. I highly recommend this book to all thrilling mystery readers out there.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Hide Away by Jason Pinter.
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book on your site.
Until the next time,
~Jen
If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Hide Away” by Jason Pinter, Thomas & Mercer, March 1, 2020
Jason Pinter, author of “Hide Away” has written an intense, captivating, intriguing, edgy, suspenseful mystery and chilling thriller. The Genres for this novel are Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery and Suspense, and Fiction. The timeline for this story is set in the present and concentrates on the past 7 years, where it pertains to the characters and events. The author describes his dramatic characters as complex, and complicated. Some characters are determined and relentless. There are betrayals, dangers, threats, and murders. I was so engrossed in reading this face-paced, challenging novel, that I finished it in one sitting.
The author is a great storyteller and writes using vivid descriptions of his characters, and events. I appreciate that he writes about a strong woman who is protecting her children at any cost.
Rachel Martin is a mom of two young children, that was forced to move to a new location, after a major tragedy. Rachel works for a regular company and is dependent on child care so that she can get to her job. Surprisingly, Rachel has made it her mission to keep her family safe and has gone through major effort and training.
When a woman, that Rachel knows is found dead, Rachel starts to investigate the circumstances. The law enforcement warns Rachel to stay away from this case. Rachel is a determined woman, and as more clues are uncovered, she can’t imagine the danger that she is putting herself and her children in. One thing that Rachel understands is secrets, and as she continues to analyze and investigate, she realizes that she can’t trust anyone but herself. How is Rachel going to be able to survive this situation? I would highly recommend this powerful chilling thriller for readers who enjoy this genre. Happy Reading!
Bringing an Injustice to Light
For Mature readers
Some sexual content
Some harsh language including a few F-bombs – Not continuous.
Violence
Intense situations
Rachel suffered through a traumatic loss in the past. Since then she has vowed never to be a victim again. She’s changed her lifestyle, worked out to change her body, and and has moved to a different town. At the scene of an apparent suicide, she quickly calculates that it was murder. She informs authorities and over the next few days and weeks inserts herself into the investigation putting herself and her family in peril. Of course the police are not appreciative of her “meddling,” but they must admit that she’s right every time. Refusing to heed their warnings to stay out of the way, Rachel continues.
Yes, it’s an amateur-sticking-her-nose-into-police-business scenario, but Rachel is no Jessica Fletcher like in the light TV series “Murder She Wrote.”
With flashbacks to explain what had happened to Rachel and her family years before, the story kept me turning pages.
Recommended, but not to the faint-hearted.
Hide Away is the latest novel from Jason Pinter, the bestselling author of the Henry Parker series, about single mother Rachel Marin, who is new in town and raising two kids–spunky daughter Megan and dour teenager Eric. But out of plain view, she’s a fierce, brilliant vigilante with the ability to kick a hulking mugger’s ass and a sharp eye for clues that would help solve criminal cases. While watching TV news coverage of the suicide of the town’s former mayor and Rachel’s friend, her keen eye for detail tells her this was no suicide; it was murder. She anonymously calls the town PD and dishes the clues she has discovered. The detectives learn Rachel is the caller and she becomes swept up in the investigation. All the while, her horrifying past (which brought her to town in the first place and motivated her to learn to kick ass and take names) threatens to come back and reveal Rachel’s true identity.
With this setup, the story blasts off and doesn’t let up. Pinter has an excellent grasp of plotting and keeps the story on track, occasionally diverting readers with brief bits of backstory for Rachel and Detective Serrano, although I wished there was a little more of that. The writing is crisp and efficient, not getting in the way of the narrative or slowing down plot points. There are several surprise elements revealed throughout the novel and, just when you think you have the rest of the story figured out, Pinter pulls the rug out from under you. It makes for a fun and thrilling read.
I only have a couple of quibbles with the novel’s premise. Rachel’s desire to protect her children above all else and her dedication for justice of Mayor Wright’s murder are contradictory ideas that are not answered with a satisfactory rationale. If Rachel moved to this town, changed her identity, and wanted to protect her children, then sticking her neck out to assist the PD detectives and leaving her children repeatedly at night were not the best way to protect her family. Detective Serrano eventually wrestles with this very dilemma in the story, and as I waited for a very convincing reason from Rachel of why she was doing it, she doesn’t really give one. “Wright was kind to me,” she explains. That’s the reason? Hmmm.
Second, if Rachel is going to leave her children at night with babysitters that want her home on time, then why doesn’t she just secure her home with remotely controlled locks (Schlage locks using the alarm.com app)? Who needs a babysitter anyway? She can monitor her kids remotely with an app on her phone connected to her home surveillance cameras. I feel someone of her intellectual caliber should have done a better job securing her home and children without relying on unsympathetic babysitters.
But these are only minor quibbles. Rachel as a character has a ton of potential for a series of thrillers and some more elaboration of her backstory (along with Serrano’s backstory) would be a welcome addition to subsequent books. The interaction between Rachel and the two detectives, Serrano and Tally, is fun and realistic, and an ass-kicking heroine who is also a single mom is an intriguing idea. The two quibbles I mentioned could be shored up nicely in subsequent books. I look forward to seeing where Pinter goes next with Rachel Marin. I give this novel 4 ½ stars out of 5. Highly recommended!
I was provided an ARC from the publisher for this book review.
“Sometimes behind the kindest eyes lay the darkest hearts.”
Seven years ago Olivia Powell and her children devastated and life would never be the same again.
Rachel Marin and her two children have changed their identities and moved to the small town of Ashby, Illinois. Rachel has spent the last seven years preparing herself so no one will ever hurt her or her children again.
Then one day, as she tries to live a quiet, unassuming life, she sees that a friend of hers is dead – the ex-mayor of their small town. While the police see suicide, Rachel sees murder.
I’ve enjoyed author Pinter’s books in the past and this is a winner – and the start of a new series featuring Rachel. In the past seven years she has trained vigorously and has become a part-time vigilante.
This was an exciting story, sad but fulfilling. I liked the characters – not just Rachel but the two detectives she becomes acquainted with. There are twists I didn’t see coming until almost the end of the book. I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for book two in the series.
I received this book from Thomas & Mercer through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.