The Hiding Place

by C. J. Tudor

[kimbacaffeinate]

Reason to grab your earbuds, turn on the lights and listen to The Hiding Place

• The story pulled me in almost immediately with details from a dilapidated cottage. Tudor wasted no time setting the atmospheric tone for this tale with his description of death, decay and insects swarming around two dead bodies.



• Joe, a gambler and drunk with a teaching degree returns to Arnhill. He lies to obtain a job at the local school and rents out a dilapidated cottage with a sinister history.



• Joe had no intentions of ever stepping foot back in Arnhill. It's a depressed mining town he spent his childhood longing to escape However, he owes money to some dangerous people and his return seems to have a secret agenda.



•  Old friends, enemies and secrets lie within this sleepy town. When Joe discovers what happened to the Morton kid, he fears history is repeating itself.



• The story is told from Joe's perspective sharing both past and present timelines.



• We don't exactly know what happened to Anne, Joe's sister, but we know it freaks Joe out. Slowly Tudor reveals things and as he did the sinister atmosphere and dark undertones of the story emerged.



• There is a supernatural element, something other, something upside down. It set me on edge making me think there was just something there out of the corner of my eye. Tudor is in his element during these darker passages and brought it all life in freakish detail. 


• The time in the past increases as we learn more about the dark events of long ago Tudor succeeded in sending shivers down my spine.



• The tale reminded me of old Stephen King novels and conjured up images of the pet cemetery.



• Characters both past and present were well developed. Joe's an alcoholic and unsavory, but he has some redeemable characteristic. He looks out for the bullied. When the mood strikes, he can be a darn good teacher. He's sarcastic, complex and frustrating.  It was interesting watching his outlook change as he became aware something wasn't right with the town.



• The last chapters had me gripping my covers and listening intensely. Reveals, twists and freak-tastic moments delivered.



• Richard Armitage narrated and helped to enhance the storyline. I think parts may have read slow or maybe dry is a better word, but the narrator pushed me past those moments setting the tone and delivering unique voices. 

This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer