‘The Secret History meets The Capture – No Place To Hide is an intelligent and inventive thriller that grips to the very last page.’ J.P.DELANEY
“This retelling of Dr Faustus is compelling, relentless and genuinely frightening – a must-read for psychological thriller fans.” SIMON RUSSELL BEALE
You can shut the doors. Adam lives a picture-perfect life: happy marriage, two young children, and a flourishing career as a doctor. But Adam also lives with a secret. Hospital CCTV, strangers' mobile phones, city traffic cameras – he is convinced that they are watching him, recording his every move. All because of something terrible that happened at a drunken party when he was a student.
You can close the blinds. Only two other people knew what happened that night. Two people he's long left behind. Until one of them, Clio – Adam's great unrequited love – turns up on his doorstep, and reignites a sinister pact twenty-four years in the making...
But once it begins, there'll be no place to hide.
Praise for J.S. Monroe:
'Intelligent writing, disturbing and original ideas.' Daily Mail
'Cunning, captivating and creepy.' J.P. Delaney
'Full of unpredictable twists, topped by a savage climax.' The Times
'Intricately woven and heart-stoppingly believable.' Clare Mackintosh
J.S.Monroe is the pseudonym of British writer Jon Stock, author of The Sleep Room and Dead Spy Running. As J.S.Monroe, he is the author of five psychological thrillers, including the international bestseller, Find Me, which has been translated into 14 languages. Dead Spy Running was optioned by Warner Bros. The Sleep Room, his first non-fiction book, is about the British psychiatrist Dr William Sargant, and will be published in the UK (Little, Brown) on 3 April 2025 and in America (Abrams) on 22 July 2025. It is currently being developed for TV.
No Place to Hide, Jon's latest psychological thriller, was published by Head of Zeus (Bloomsbury) in April 2023 and came out in paperback in March 2024. A standalone, contemporary novel set in London, Wiltshire and Cornwall, it's a loose retelling of Dr Faustus. “Clever, convincing and wickedly twisty - Highly recommended,” according to Mick Herron. "Compelling, relentless and genuinely frightening," says Simon Russell Beale. "A must-read for psychological thriller fans."
Jon's previous book, The Man On Hackpen Hill (Head of Zeus, 2021,) was the third J.S.Monroe thriller to feature DI Silas Hart (head of Swindon CID) and DS Strover. "Original and brilliantly plotted, with not so much a twist as a seismic shifting of the ground under your feet ... Amazing." - Rosamund Lupton; “Impeccably researched… An unusual mystery told with exceptional skill” – Daily Mail; “A kind of Wiltshire Da Vinci Code, with crop circles, mathematical equations and shadowy figures from Porton Down. A real page turner.” – Tom Bradby.
The Other you (Head of Zeus, 2020) was the second in Jon's DI Hart series. "I doubt many other psychological thrillers published this year will be as propulsive and fun" - Daily Telegraph; "A clever mash-up of psychological thriller and police procedural with a dash of sci-fi" - Daily Mail; "You won't be able to turn the pages fast enough" - Heat Magazine; "Brilliantly original and intriguing ... Kept me hooked, enthralled and guessing to the very end" - Peter James.
Forget My Name (Head of Zeus, 2018) was the first thriller to feature DI Hart. It was published in America as The Last Thing She Remembers (HarperCollins, 2018). “An absorbing novel full of unexpected twists, topped by a savage climax” – The Times; “A book that will send thrills down your spine, even on the hottest beach” – Sunday Express.
Find Me (Head of Zeus, 2017), Jon's first J.S.Monroe thriller, was a standalone set in London, Cornwall, Cambridge and Norfolk. It has sold more than 150,000 copies and been translated into 14 languages. “Intricately woven and heart-stoppingly believable, this has bestseller written all over it” – Clare Mackintosh; “The most ingenious thriller you will read his year.” –M.J.Arlidge. "Cunning, captivating and creepy" – JP Delaney.
Dead Spy Running (HarperCollins, 2009) has been published in five languages and was the first in the Daniel Marchant Trilogy. It was followed by Games Traitors Play and Dirty Little Secret (2012). The movie rights to Dead Spy Running were acquired in 2008 by Warner Bros and the film was later in development with the director McG. Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan wrote the original script.
Jon is the author of two other spy thrillers: The Riot Act (Serpent's Tail, 1997), which was shortlisted for the Crime Writer's Association debut crime novel award, and The Cardamom Club (Blackamber/Arcadia, 2003). Both titles were republished in the UK as ebooks by Head of Zeus (The Cardamom Club as The India Spy). He has also written a spy novella, To Snare A Spy (2018), which was commissioned by the Nare Hotel in Cornwall and features a 15-year-old spy.
‘Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you’.
Paediatrician Adam Pound seems to have a good life with his wide Tania and two young children. He believes he is being watched , this feeling seems confirmed by the appearance of a large camera at the bottom of his road. When his son Freddie wanders off in the park he’s found by old friend Clio who Adam knew at university- a case of unrequited love. The novel backtracks to 1998 to Cambridge where Adam does his medical degree. He meets Clio when both act in a production of Dr Faustus and through Clio Adam meets Louis. What happens in Cambridge in 1998? Does the developing danger in the present day emanate from there and why has it resurfaced 24 years later??
The storytelling alternates between Then and Now which works very well with the two blending seamlessly with lots of oddities, off notes and things that don’t add up. I’m wowed by the clever, complex, intelligent plot with an enveloping sense of claustrophobia, growing paranoia and of nets closing in. At times situations feel bizarre but it becomes scary with a building fear and dread as lovely lives implode. The plot has real momentum throughout and aspects of it are very sobering and believable. There are some jolting revelatory twists and high voltage shocks with some scenes of sky high tension as the drama escalates.
I absolutely love the use of Dr Faustus in the storytelling which becomes a modern day Faustian tale. Who is the devil? Who is Mephistopheles? Who will collect? What will they collect? This is a gripping go with the flow aspect of the novel and some great settings such as the Minack Theatre in Cornwall add an extra dimension to the dramatic effect. The novel comes together well at the end and the strands from both timelines fuse and make perfect sense. It’s dramatic and almost Hollywood worthy!
Overall, a cracking read from an author who sure can write psychological thrillers!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Aria and Aries - Head of Zeus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Inspired by Christopher Marlowe’s play, Doctor Faustus, No Place to Hide explores the consequences of a bargain entered into with a fellow student many years before which turns out to be akin to a pact with the Devil of Marlowe’s play. Okay, so Adam doesn’t quite get twenty four years of ‘absolute knowledge and infinite power’ in exchange for his soul but he does get a successful career as a consultant paediatrician, untarnished by any whiff of scandal associated with the tragic event that occurred at a party whilst he was a medical student. Until, that it is, the person he entered into the agreement with decides it’s time to claim his prize.
Alternating between Adam’s time at college in 1998 and the present day, we get a keen sense of his increasing paranoia as he begins to believe he is being secretly filmed, and not just by someone with a camera, but by all the surveillence technology we see (or perhaps don’t see) around us. It puts a strain on his marriage, especially when the intrusion comes a little too close to home, threatening the safety of his young family as well as his career.
Having commenced with a theatrical performance – Adam’s starring role in Doctor Faustus – it’s fitting that the book’s closing scenes are full of melodrama. I liked how the author keeps Adam, and through him the reader, constantly unsure about who to trust. For instance, is Clio, the object of Adam’s unconsummated student lust, a willing accessory or an innocent pawn in a devilish game? This is particularly cleverly done when it comes to Ji, Adam’s friend from university who has progressed from video game addict to technology supremo.
The book’s equivalent of Hell is the so-called ‘dark web’ which turns out to be a very dark place indeed, the stuff of nightmares in fact. Adam’s adversary is not perhaps Marlowe’s Devil, the incarnation of pure evil, but a manipulative, damaged individual with demons of his own, and a very particular motive for tormenting Adam.
No Place to Hide is a skilfully crafted, thought-provoking thriller that is also an unsettling insight into the extent to which technology, and surveillence technology in particular, has become part of our everyday lives and the capacity for its misuse. Maybe you haven’t noticed how many security cameras there are in your high street or local shopping centre? You probably will after reading this.
Ever had that feeling that someone’s watching you?
Adam is a successful paediatrician, happily married with two young children. But he’s also as paranoid as hell. He’s forever looking over his shoulder, checking cctv, traffic cameras, even random stranger’s mobiles, convinced they’re watching him. But why?
Rewind back to his university days, in Cambridge, when as a young medic he witnessed a terrible event that he did his best to forget. But as we all know, sometimes the past won’t stay in the past. After Adam bumps into an old flame from his university days, the events of the past start to catapult into his present, threatening his job, his marriage - even his life.
This was a superbly well plotted psychological thriller. Recounted over two timelines, current day and 1998 back when Adam was a student, this story is both fascinating and terrifying. Both timelines had me gripped - the account of Adam’s student days is so vivid and realistic that I could almost see the images in front of me. His lack of confidence in contrast to the swagger of the second and third generation medics pitiful but also heart warming. The current day story is as equally as compelling, Adam’s increasing paranoia really cranks up the tension and the events that start to unfold create an escalating sense of fear, drama and darkness. The story is told from just Adam’s viewpoint, which I actually really loved. No unreliable narrators, I trusted Adam implicitly, he was a hugely likeable character.
J.S. Monroe has created an exceptionally clever and very well researched novel here. His characterisation is outstanding so if you have that alongside such a fast paced and original plot, well you know you’re onto a winner. And this definitely is a winner for me.
I must just go and shut those curtains though… you never know who could be walking past..
A first time read from this author, I liked the premise of a modern spin on the 'Faustian pact'.
The protagonist Adam has a heightened sense of constantly being watched through surveillance, which is very effectively portrayed in the opening characters.
Now a successful medical and a happy marriage, we learn that he had made some deal 24 years ago whilst at Cambridge University.
The dual timeline slowly reveals the relationships he had with other students and the impact that those events back in 1998 are finally going to catch up with him.
This technology driven world with cameras constantly watching us is effective and ominous. Moves along at a brisk pace, this psychological thriller certainly makes you wonder how far the web will go.
I definitely enjoyed this book a little too much!! It was just that good!! I really like reading this type of books. The story was amazing and the characters were written very well
No Place To Hide is an odd, if original psychological thriller. It starts off feeling very much like a typical example of the genre. Adam is now a successful paediatrician, happily married with two children, but his past secrets from his time as a medical student at Cambridge come back to haunt him when a woman he used to know suddenly reappears. The narrative switches between the present and the past as things gradually start to unravel. From this perspective, No Place to Hide is a very slow burn. Nothing much happens until at least a third of the way through the novel, by which time I was losing patience with both Adam and JS Monroe. But then it switches into more interesting territory, as Adam's Cambridge friend Ji introduces him to the dark web and suggests that his life may be being filmed as part of a horrific game that is linked to what happened at the university all these years ago. This gripping section of the book enters a kind of Black Mirror territory - I was especially reminded of the excellent 'Shut Up and Dance'. But then, it wheels back round to a pretty unsatisfying psychological thriller resolution, where a lot seems to have been swept under the carpet.
Tonally, the book also feels like it's stuck between several kinds of narrative. The writing is noticeably more ambitious than is the case with most psychological thrillers, and Monroe seems to be attempting a nuanced, literary portrait of Adam and his social circle. But then, once the plot kicks in, much of this is lost, and Adam becomes more simplistically heroic. I actually preferred the Adam we got later in the novel, as the early, darker version didn't seem to fit into the thriller-esque narrative - but this makes the ending feel weak, again. Monroe also moves between third-person present-tense in the present-day sections, and first-person diary-style entries in the past, even though we're always in Adam's head. I found this extremely distracting, especially as the unrealistic conceit of Adam writing a diary is swiftly abandoned, and wonder if straightforward first-person throughout would have worked better. Finally, there's a bizarre coincidence in the middle of the book that seems to have no bearing on the plot and could have been abandoned.
Having said all this, I would read more by Monroe. I admired his attempt to do something different with the thriller genre, even if it didn't quite work for me. 3.5 stars.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
No Place to Hide by J.S. Monroe is a psychological thriller about a man with a past that is coming back to bite him.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Aria & Aries - Head of Zeusand of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions) Adam Pound is a pediatrician, is happily married to Tania, and has two small children. But Adam is a little paranoid, convinced he is being watched. By every camera in the city. The CCTV cameras in the hospital, the city traffic cameras, cell phone users....
When Clio, a woman he fell for in university turns up under strange circumstances, he's even more anxious.
Perhaps Adam is right to be concerned. After all, 24 years ago, something awful happened at a party he was at. And Clio is one of two other people that know what happened. Then there's the fact that he may have made a deal with the devil to keep his secret safe.
My Opinions: This was an intricately woven tale, told in two time-lines, which worked well. It did, however, move very slowly, as the suspense built, and then it was quite good.
It was rather creepy, and I'm not sure I liked ANY of the characters. The baby was fine, but Freddie should have been old enough to know about stranger-danger. Tania was a little wishy-washy, and Clio....well, I think she just needed psychiatric help. Louis, of course, was evil, and Adam came across as rather full of himself. I wish Ji had played a bigger role in the book. He was probably the most interesting.
The book was about technology, and how software today can be used against you. But I think, more importantly, it is about secrets, and trust. I liked the references to the Elizabethan play about Dr. Faustus, as well as MacDougall's weight of a soul experiment.
Overall, the writing was good, and the actual plot was very good. As well, although I did see a couple of the twists coming, I was definitely surprised by one!
For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
If you weren't paranoid before reading this book you will be now. A slow burner but I just had to keep on reading I HAD TO KNOW THE TRUTH!!!! It definitely picked up and kept me entertained. A good read and a well deserved three stars. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Epic dark brilliance, absolutely terrifying and sinister beyond belief. I love the way that classical prose mingles with contemporary dark web and technology and human psyche is explored with themes of good and evil. The characters are very real and easy to love / fear and this makes the terrifying pace and drama unfolding even more compelling. The level of detail portraying student life in Cambridge is brilliant as are the dilemmas and balances of study versus partying and relationships. The premise and unfolding of the tales, alongside the twists is genius. A very satisfying read overall and pretty much unmissable.
Firstly, before I start my review I need to say a massive thank you to Aria and Aries at Head of Zeus for gifting me the eARC of this book on NetGalley - I'm so, so, so grateful!
This book really shocked me; I went in blind but had some incline about the fact it was based on stalking and CCTV due to the quote on the front "You might be paranoid. But that doesn't mean they're not watching you" and there's CCTV cameras on the cover, but this was the extent to my knowledge. I feel like blurbs always give me some judgement beforehand and I don't like this about myself so that's why I tend to avoid reading them!
I was not in any way, shape or form prepared for this book though, and it actually quite scared me in a sense that things like this could probably happen, and may have already happened! The whole concept of hacking, the black web, cryptocurrency etc. scares me so there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that the events that occur in this book could definitely be someone's truth; especially within those individuals that are the richest in the world!
J.S. Monroe's writing style was excellent; the right amount of suspense and detail were carefully crafted within the paragraphs so that I was physically sat on the edge of my seat wondering what on earth was going to happen next! I'm really glad some of the scenes were set at the Minack Theatre because it helped me with picturing them scenes so well - I went to the Minack when I was younger and it's picturesque; if you've never been definitely add it to you bucket list! I definitely wouldn't want to be hanging around there in when it's dark and windy though, so I was genuinely fearful when reading that scene!
Am I going to be paranoid about hackers and CCTV and blackmail for a little while, most probably, but will I be recommending this book to everyone I know anyway, absolutely! I actually thought this book was delivered so well and I can't wait for others to read it when it's released on the 13th April 2023. If you haven't got this on your pre-orders you should definitely add it. This is one of the best psychological thrillers I've read this year!
Holy smokes was this book good!!!! Careful around cameras and who you make friends with. I have no words to describe how fantastic this storyline was. And even though some characters are unlikeable I liked them, everything about them, the good and the evil. I could not put this book down.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.
A very clever and complex plot, with interesting characters, which kept me guessing right to the end of this dark, suspenseful, psychological thriller. I had absolutely no idea where it was going and couldn’t even hazard a guess!
Written across two timelines of 1998 and the present. I love a dual timeline, and this went back and forth giving just a bit of the back story away each time. The level of suspense was just right. Had me absolutely glued to the book until I finished it. Plenty of twists and turns and revelations along the way.
Adam is a successful paediatrician. Married with two children, but cracks are beginning to show in his marriage as his wife struggles with being a stay at home mum and a new baby who doesn’t sleep.
24 years ago, when he was studying his medical degree at Cambridge university, Adam agreed to let a fellow student film him going about his life for an ‘a day in the life of’ short film. A lot of the filming was done from a distance when Adam was unaware. Following an incident at a party, he made a Faustian pact with this same student. Adam had played the part of Dr Faustus in a university play, which is where the idea came from. Of course, he didn’t imagine after 24 years they would remember the agreement. How wrong he was.
During a family visit to the local park in the present, his son disappears and is found by Clio, an almost girlfriend he hasn’t seen since university, who just happens to be visiting the area. This can’t be a coincidence. It is 24 years to the day since that party. The party where he can’t quite remember what happened. Adam becomes increasingly paranoid that he is being constantly watched through CCTV and street cameras which appear to turn to face him as he passes. And is that man in the playground filming him on his phone? His wife can’t cope with his paranoia and takes the children to stay with her parents. Adam must try to get to the bottom of the bad things which are happening to him as his reputation, and even his life, are on the line.
A gripping thrill ride of a read. It’s a full on not sure who to trust story that gets more and more dark as we become embroiled and involved in Adam’s life. Each of the characters are vividly described and add so much to the story, with the history between them adding that tense atmosphere in all interactions. I found the dual timeline narrative fascinating- Adam now and 24 years earlier showed such a clever way of retelling the story or what he thought as of the story. His paranoia and the claustrophobic manner of the flashbacks just made it seem more twisted and confused. Stories of the dark web make this a sinister story and gripped me from the very beginning.
"No Place to Hide" by J.S. Monroe is a slow-burning dual-timeline thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. There is an air of suspicion and suspense in every chapter as the story delves into the paranoia many people feel in our modern digital age. It may leave you rethinking how much information you voluntarily choose to put online. What happens in this book is shady, seedy, and is likely happening under our noses at this very minutes. Can you even imagine?! I certainly can't. It was like having an anxiety attack reading this book (in the best way, not in a detrimental one). There is a bit of a lull in the middle of the book after a strong opening and very strong ending. I think it could have been a smidge shorter. Luckily, I was left guessing about what was happening and didn't figure out what was going on right away (which is a good thing for a psychological thriller!). The twist was excellent! Overall, I found this book to be very enjoyable. Don't read any reviews or spoilers before reading: go in without any preconceived notions and let yourself stew in just how twisted the internet and dark web are!
Thank you to NetGalley, J.S.Monroe, and Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. I requested it because a favourite author of mine, Mick Herron, had 'highly recommended' it, and I think I was therefore assuming it would be like his novels...
This was dark, with a strong sense of menace - I had to take a break from it at one point. I didn't really enjoy it, partly because I found it oppressive and partly because I didn't warm to or identify with any of the characters. The women in particular remained opaque to me. Tania seemed to flip between supporting Adam and refusing even to speak with him. Mainly her character seemed to consist of moodiness, and as for Clio - even now I've finished the book I'm not really sure what she ever felt about anything.
Things that troubled me while I was reading (why some one would hate Adam so much for example) were revealed at the end, and I think this might be a better book for a different reader.
I read this modern-day thriller through my online bookclub, Pigeonhole. It tells a story now, 24 years after a pact was made between two students at Cambridge University. The one is a doctor who sadly exhibited much stupidity and little common sense and the other an evil, conniving wannabe filmmaker with his own reasons for revenge. The story is a take on Dr. Faustus, who made a pact with the devil, never believing the devil would collect on his promise. In this version, we see lives through the eyes of cameras that are constantly watching us, ready to expose our us on the dark web, where the more macabre the higher bids will go to give people a rush. Entertaining and disturbing at the same time. 4 stars
A thrilling read fuelled by paranoia, tension and a mind-blowing twist. 🔥
When I read the blurb for this book I just knew it would be for me and I wasn’t wrong. The ideas were fresh and different and the theming was ultramodern. I really loved this read!
Paediatrician Adam lives a happy life with his family but he suspects that CCTV is constantly surveilling him, all stemming from a terrible situation that happened at a drunken party as a medical student at Cambridge. Someone from the past infiltrates his life and he recognises there’s no point running from the Faustian pact he made years ago. The game has begun and there’s no place to hide.
Monroe has truly gone and furnished us with a brilliant psychological thriller with short chapters, a unique premise, and an alternating dual timeline of 1998 and the present day. I have never read or watched Doctor Faustus and I was dubious when this was repeatedly mentioned at first, but it’s themes were cleverly interwoven into this novel to deliver an enjoyable read.
Adam’s paranoia lifted straight off the page and surfed straight into my veins and I felt myself twitching whilst reading this. The idea that CCTV cameras are watching your every move at the train station or that somebody’s mobile phone and doorbell are keeping an eye on you was nerve racking and frightening. I loved the tension this framed and the idea around hyper-vigilance. The opening of this book really set this tone and I loved it!
I liked the sprinkling of medical themes with Adam being a paediatrician and I loved his protection over his family. His best friend Ji was a legend. We all need a friend like Ji.
I think the thrilling nature dipped a little in the middle, but I was hooked for the final third. I was TENSE! I had no idea where the book was going and how it would end with 20 pages left and I love that it kept on delivering.
This thriller was very different and made a fantastic read. Thank you to @headofzeus of and @jsthrillers for this copy of No Place to Hide which is out now. ❤️
I highly recommend you go and surveil this book! 😍
💬: -‘I'm already trapped in a web of deceit. A lifetime of lies.’ -‘Keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.’
*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from the Publisher.
Compelling and fresh, NO PLACE TO HIDE by J.S Monroe is a well-paced psychological drama that will have you second-guessing the tech that many of us have become so reliant on.
Adam has a wife he loves, two kids he adores, and a career as a paediatric doctor which has always been, not only his dream but that of his parents. But when an old flame from his university days bursts back into his life unexpectedly, he cannot help but feel that something isn't quite right. Add in the fact that he feels he is being watched at every turn, it isn't long before he starts to feel paranoia creep in. It's all just a coincidence, right? But as Adam's life quickly starts to unravel, he will soon discover that the past is now firmly back to destroy his present, and in ways that are beyond what anyone could imagine. A sinister pact, tragic encounters, and the pure evil side of the online world, all come crashing together to make NO PLACE TO HIDE a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. I liked the way the story is laid out, flashing from Adam's past to his present as it fleshed out all of the characters and their backstories without giving too much of the story away too soon. The plot is fresh and I have to admit terrifying, and it will make you question just how much privacy society has sacrificed for modern technology.
NO PLACE TO HIDE by J.S. Monroe is a must-read for psychological thriller fans and I cannot wait to read more from this author.
More of a 4.5 Deducted half a point as I found Adam's naivety very annoying. This was a gripping thriller, especially the last few staves (staves are what sections are called on the Pigeonhole where I read this), I was left wanting to read on after finishing the daily stave, so I think I would have read this in a day or two had I had a complete copy. The plot of a Faustian-style pact after the main protagonist, Adam played Dr Faustus in a university production was very clever, as was the use of what is many people's nightmare of the dark web/hacked cctv cameras. As I said above, Adam's naivety in the face of this nightmare situation was incredibly annoying, as he often then made his situation worse. The author did though make a good job of making me suspect others of being co-conspirators right up to the ending. Would definitely read more by this author, will explore his back catalogue when the TBR allows. With thanks to the author and the Pigeonhole for the opportunity.
Oooh I do love a JS Monroe book. It’s been a while since I read a thriller as well so I feel like I was more into it than usual - does that make sense?
The story follows Adam, married father of two who is convinced he’s being filmed. I thought that this was a little slow starting and allow I enjoyed it throughout I felt that there may have been a few bits that made it feel a little longer than necessary. I loved the main characters through and the way the book flips between past and present to piece things together.
When I got nearer to the end of the book it was clear that something more sinister was happening and what had started out as an early night ended up me sat up till 1am reading as fast as I can to get it finished. It gave me that can’t read quick enough suspense feeling.
Having read and enjoyed Forget My Name, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read No Place to Hide. Dr Adam Pound, a successful paediatrician, seems to be obsessed with security cameras - how they are everywhere, watching. With two young children, his wife is feeling the strain and their marriage is suffering, Suddenly, a blast from the past, an old flame suddenly appears having found Freddie wandering alone in the park. This is a slow burner which gathers pace. Adam's dislike of cameras becomes apparent as his past catches up with him. Gradually Tania, his wife, learns the secrets Adam has been keeping and begins to understand her husband more. Big Brother is definitely watching! Many thanks to Netgalley/J.S. Monroe/Aria & Aries for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
A super suspense novel that deals with modern paranoia of “who’s watching and listening?” Cleverly told across two timelines, the picture begins to fill in like a puzzle becoming clear. I veered, with certainty, this way and that as to what was going on and how reliable Adam’s narrative is… And I was wrong, wrong, wrong! And happily—and, in the end, breathlessly—so.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read hugely enjoyable book.
Another NetGalley ARC that didn’t disappoint! Very suspenseful and lots of drama but was noticing at times it felt a little too descriptive and drawn out. Nevertheless, this was definitely a solid read and kept me entertained and intrigued throughout. I also really enjoyed the ending, which redeemed the previous over describing for me. Would definitely recommend reading this book!
2.5 ☆ Didn't really like the main character too much. I didn't really want there to be a happy ending? It just took away for the drama and seriousness of the story, I think. I liked G, though.
What do you do when your past haunts you, worse than you could ever imagine? Adam Pound had an encounter in 1998 when he was a medicine student, and in order for his secret not to be revealed, he made a compact with a guy named Louis. Twenty-four years later, Adam is now a successful pediatrician with a wife and two kids, and his past began to remind him of the pact he made. He must do everything he can to save not only his reputation and career, but mist importantly, his family.
I liked the story, especially that some the aspects of it can happen in real life, given how much technology has advanced throughout these years. You cannot be too complacent to expose yourself in this day and age, as anything can not only be used to your advantage, but on the contrary how it can be used against you. I personally liked the nature of each character, although some parts seem a little far-fetched. Overall, I enjoyed every cliffhanger that it has on almost every end of the chapter as the timeline goes back and forth. I work in the medical field, so it was nice to be reading some aspects of the book that I believe were thoroughly researched by the author.
Thank you Netgalley and Aria and Aries for a copy of this ARC!
I will be honest there were some parts of this that really seemed to lull or drag and so I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked to, however it was still an enjoyable read and all the psychologial parts of a thriller were completely there and I loved those aspects, I just didn't vibe with the writing 100%
Adam a succesful paediatrician who is a first generation medic and studied at Cambridge is suddenly very paranoid about CCTV, certain they are watching him.
As we go through the book we find out the reason as we go back and forth with Adam at uni and in the present day.
An interesting read that I enjoyed, very easy to get in to
“No Place to Hide” by J.S. Monroe is a psychological thriller about what happens when paranoia turns real. Ever since Adam’s university days he’s felt uneasy at the sight of cameras. Even though 24 years have passed since his incident in college, he starts to notice more CCTVs and cameras pop up in his life. Soon after, strange things start happening Adam him and his family. Maybe he feels like people are watching him because they actually are….
This review contains spoilers.
What I liked: All medical facts in this book are accurate based on my medical and psychological knowledge. This novel was really unique and it seemed to have many interwoven layers. As the story kept going, I felt it got more and more intense which really drew me in. I also enjoyed the references to other novels within the book, and how those were incorporated. The ending was great and I believe it really tied everything together in a satisfying yet still interesting way.
What it could improve on: I do feel Ji was a little overly convenient, but I liked his presence in the story overall. Also, Adam saved Louis’s life and his ‘soul’ years ago, so if anything you would’ve thought that may even the score. But I suppose it wasn’t the deal Adam made…
Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for the ARC of this book.