5+ stars for Hide and Seek by Jo A. Hiestand #britishmystery #mystery #bookreview
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  • N. N. Light
    • Aug 14, 2020
    • 2 min read

5+ stars for Hide and Seek by Jo A. Hiestand #britishmystery #mystery #bookreview



Title: Hide and Seek

Author: Jo A. Hiestand

Genre: British Mystery

Book Blurb:

Playing a mystery game seems the perfect way to celebrate Jamie Kydd’s promotion to Detective Sergeant rank. But the game turns real when a body turns up in the pretend crime scene. Perhaps worse than spoiling the party, the corpse is someone Jamie knows.

Even though the police take on the case, Jamie asks his friend, former police detective Michael McLaren, to also investigate—concerned that the victim’s criminal past may dampen the Constabulary’s usual fervor to nab his killer. It seems to have been a smart decision, for the police aren’t expending a lot of energy on the inquiry.

Suspects float around McLaren…half truthful, hard to find. More like wraiths than flesh and blood. If the victim’s burglary partner, ex-wife, or childhood friend didn’t kill Dan, who did?

It’s a desperate game between McLaren and a killer who’s playing Hide and Seek.

My Review:

The McLaren series is one of my fave mystery series on the market today. This is the third book of the series I have been blessed to read. Hide and Seek is one of the best mysteries I have ever read.

If you want a classic British who-dun-it then this book is for you. I have read/watched more than 100 mysteries (probably close to 500) and invariably I can know who did it within 20% of a book. Hide and Seek had me guessing all the way. I never knew who did it until it was revealed. That is the sign of a superb mystery.

The author gracefully brings a new reader up to date with what is going on with the main characters. This is a superb read for a fan of the series and an easy read for a newbie. The twists and turns of the investigation keep the reader on edge. The myriad possibilities keep the reader excited. Truly a terrific mystery book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I recommend this to every fan of mystery novels. A great read for everyone.

My Rating: 5+ stars

Buy it Now:

Trade paper –

E-Book –


Author Biography:

A month-long trip to England during her college years introduced Jo to the joys of Things British. Since then, she has been lured back nearly a dozen times and lived there during her professional folksinging stint.

Jo’s insistence for accuracy--from police methods and location layout to the general “feel” of the area--has driven her innumerable times to Derbyshire for research. These explorations and conferences with police friends provide the details filling both her Peak District mysteries and the McLaren mystery series.

In 1999 Jo returned to Webster University to major in English. She graduated in 2001 with a BA degree and departmental honors.

Her cat, Tennyson, shares her St. Louis-area home.

Social Media Links:

Reviewed by: Mr. N

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