Review - The Hike by Susi Holliday

The Hike by Susi Holliday

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Release date: 1 October 2022

Back cover blurb: Four hikers enter the mountains. Only two return. But is it tragedy? Or treachery? When sisters Cat and Ginny travel with their husbands to the idyllic Swiss Alps for a hiking holiday, it’s not just a chance to take in the stunning scenery. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with each other after years of drifting apart—and patch up marriages that are straining at the seams. As they head into the mountains, morale is high, but as the terrain turns treacherous, cracks in the relationships start to show. With worrying signs that someone might be following them, the sun begins to set and exhaustion kicks in. Suddenly, lost high on a terrifying ridge, tensions spill over—with disastrous consequences. When only two of the four hikers make it down from the mountain, the police press them for their story—but soon become suspicious when their accounts just don’t add up. What really happened up on that ridge? Who are the survivors? And what secrets are they trying to hide?

This is one of the best thrillers that I've had the pleasure of reading recently. From the first page, it will have you gripped and wondering what could possibly happen next.

The Hike's blurb reads like the plot of a movie, and it is as atmospheric and tense as any good cinematic thriller. 

Cat and Ginny are sisters, but it would probably be fair to say that they don't like each other very much. There is a lot of complicated family history between them, but they agreed to go on a hiking holiday together with their husbands, who they also don't appear to like very much in an attempt to patch things up. 

The planned hike is a last ditch opportunity for them all to try and reconnect with each other. A make or break kind of scenario. And it soon becomes apparent that things are very broken between them, and could be about to get worse.

The four set out with the best of intentions, they are looking forward to the spectacular scenery surrounding them, and a nice relaxing lunch in an alpine lodge, followed by a relaxing soak in the hot tub when they return to their accommodation. 

When a wrong direction is taken, tempers begin to fray and each of the group wonder why they agreed to the hike in the first place. And then the unthinkable happens, only two of the group make it off the mountain.

As the local police try to piece together what has happened, its clear that at least of them isn't telling the truth. But what could they possibly have to hide. Surely there has just been the most tragic accident on treacherous terrain?

Or is it something more sinister?  

The Hike is now available via Amazon First Reads and from everywhere else on 1 October. 

You can pre-order now via Amazon online and all good book shops.

Big Thank You to Susi (and the publishers) who approved my request for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.