Hide Away

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.