The Hiding Place

By: David Bell

Narrated by: Fred Lehne

Sometimes it’s easier to believe a lie.

Twenty-five-years ago, the disappearance of four-year-old Justin Manning rocked the small town of Dove Point, Ohio. After his body was found in a shallow grave in the woods two months later, the repercussions were felt for years.…

Janet Manning has been haunted by the murder since the day she lost sight of her brother in the park. Now, with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Justin’s death looming, a detective and a newspaper reporter have started to ask questions, opening old wounds and raising new suspicions. Could the man convicted of the murder—who spent more than two decades in prison—really be innocent? Janet’s childhood friend and high school crush, who was in the park with her that day, has returned to Dove Point, where he is wrestling with his own conflicted memories of the events. And a strange man appears at Janet’s door in the middle of the night, claiming to know the truth.

Soon, years of deceit will be swept away, and the truth about what happened to Janet’s brother will be revealed. And the answers that Janet has sought may be found much closer to home than she ever could have imagined.

Critic reviews

Praise for The Hiding Place

“An artfully constructed tale that charts the devastating, life-changing effects over twenty-five years on the people most affected by the murder of a four-year-old boy….a powerful, provocative novel.”—Publishers Weekly

“David Bell does a masterful job of crafting a crime story, with the guilty and innocent existing next to each other, whether they realize it or not. He has also created a tense drama of emotions and relationships. It is a riveting book with surprising but believable twists on every page.”—Suspense Magazine

“A gem of a book….Bell has written another winning thriller that is certain to entertain, frighten and swiftly climb bestseller lists.”—Bowling Green Daily News

More Praise for David Bell

“One of the brightest and best crime fiction writers of our time.”—Suspense Magazine

“A natural storyteller and a superb writer.”—#1 New York Times Bestselling Author Nelson DeMille

“David Bell writes spellbinding and gripping thrillers that get under your skin and refuse to let go."—New York Times Bestselling Author Linwood Barclay

Love this book!!

This book was very entertaining and kept you wanting to read and read. It kept your mind thinking and wondering. Looking forward to reading more by David Bell.

So confused

The mother dies after son went missing. The sister tasked with watching her brother when he went missing just seems to have vanished, no mention of the sister - that I’ve heard. The story is concentrated on the niece of the murdered child. So much seems to be missing. Not enjoyable. Returning.

FIRST FOR ME WITH THIS AUTHOR AND NARATOR

What did you love best about The Hiding Place?

KEPT ME GUESSING UNTIL ALMOST THE VERY END

What does Fred Lehne bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

GOOD JOB OF VOICES AND INFLECTION

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NOT IN THE BEGINNING BUT THE 2ND HALF YES

Any additional comments?

MOSTLY A SAD STORY

Avoids all the mystery novel cliches

What made the experience of listening to The Hiding Place the most enjoyable?

This is a great mystery/thriller primarily because it avoids all of the well-worn grooves that most mystery writers fall into. I feel that, in a mystery novel, it's important that the conclusion be plausible, but even more so that the events leading to it are independently plausible and not transparently constructed just to lead to that conclusion. This novel satisfied my plausibility appetite more than most, and the dialog was genuine. I can sometimes live with a mediocre plot if the dialog is right, but never the other way around.

Great Mystery!!

What did you love best about The Hiding Place?

Kept you on your seat. Just when I thought I figured it out, whoops another twist.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. Didn't quite know when one would find what that "hiding place" was for.

Which scene was your favorite?

When granddaughter and grandfather became as should be.