My book club chose Siri Mitchell’s romantic suspense novel, Everywhere to Hide for this month’s discussion. There were mixed feelings on the book, but I loved it. I found the unique main character and the complex plot fascinating. Some of my group thought that the author stretched reality, but I had no problems with it. I give this one a thumbs up!
How does a woman protect herself from an enemy she can’t see?
Law school graduate Whitney Garrison is a survivor. She admirably deals with her mother’s death, mounting student debt, dwindling job opportunities, an abusive boyfriend, and a rare neurological condition that prevents her from recognizing human faces.
But witnessing a murder might be the crisis she can’t overcome.
The killer has every advantage. Though Whitney saw him, she has no idea what he looks like. He knows where she lives and works. He anticipates her every move. Worst of all, he’s hiding in plain sight and believes she has information he needs. Information worth killing for. Again.
As the hunter drives his prey into a net of terror and international intrigue, Whitney’s only ally, Detective Leo Baroni, is taken off the case. Stripped of all semblance of safety, Whitney must suspect everyone and trust no one—and fight to come out alive.
Siri Mitchell is the author of 18 novels. She published 2 historical novels for the general market with Sourcebooks under the pseudonym Iris Anthony.
Siri graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and has worked in government at the local, state, and federal levels. As a military spouse, she lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo.
She has become known as a master storyteller, painting pictures of places her readers have never been and lives they’ve never lived. As one reader has said, Siri’s books are, “unexpected, haunting, and powerful,” and they are known for lively dialogue and honest emotion.
Kirkus has noted that Siri writes a well-paced and interwoven story… creates a narrative that subtly educates, poses stimulating questions and entertains.” Publishers Weekly pointed out that she is “adept with flashbacks and withholds certain key bits of information until the right moment, which adds punch to the narrative.” RT Reviews has given her books their Top Picks designation, “Siri Mitchell writes spellbinding novels, with some element of mystery and surprise for readers to discover.”
Siri is a speaker to women’s and writing groups both large and small. She has also taught fiction writing courses at regional and national writing conferences.
My Impressions:
I have long been a Siri Mitchell fan. When she began writing suspense novels, I said yes please! Everywhere to Hide is a complex novel that features a unique character. Whitney Garrison has face blindness. I had never heard of it before and found it challenging to wrap my mind around it. I wasn’t alone. The other characters in the book did too. 😉 Mitchell does a great job at showing the reader the difficulties Whitney faced. I Googled face blindness to get a rudimentary understanding, but Whitney’s own actions gave me true insight. I can’t imagine the vulnerability someone like Whitney must feel all the time! Add to that her role as a witness to a murder and the subsequent threats she faces — well the tension and fear she felt translated to this reader too. Whitney’s other struggles — a looming bar exam, deep student debt, and no close family or friends — just added to her stress. I loved how Detective Leo Baroni stepped in to help Whitney through all she was going through, as well as investigate the murder. Whitney is targeted for something she knows, but of course she has no clue what that something is. I found her persistence in uncovering the mystery admirable in the light of all she faced. Like Whitney, I trusted no one. Elements of Chinese hackers, digital currencies, and block-chain technology made this one a thinking man’s mystery. I loved the challenge! The setting of Arlington, Virginia was a favorite as well. My son’s family lives there, and I enjoyed recognizing landmarks. In fact I read the book while on a visit there. What a treat.
I highly recommend Everywhere to Hide if you like twisting suspense with a touch of romance and intriguing subject matter. You won’t be disappointed.
Highly recommended.
Audience: adults.
( I borrowed the ebook through Amazon Prime. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Recent Comments