Hidden (A Bone Secrets Novel) [Kindle Edition]

Kendra Elliot (Author)

Book Description

Eleven years ago, the Co-ed Slayer murdered nine female students on the Oregon State University campus. Lacey Campbell barely escaped his attack, but lost her best friend whose remains were never found. As the sole surviving victim, Lacey helped send the sadistic serial killer to prison for life.

Now a forensic odontologist examining teeth and bones for the state Medical Examiner, Lacey is devastated when she arrives at a crime scene and identifies the skeletal remains as her college friend’s.

The remains are discovered on the land of ex-cop Jack Harper. Sparks fly between him and Lacey, even as they realize that the prosecution’s witnesses from a decade ago are now being murdered one by one. All the evidence points to the Co-ed Slayer as the culprit—only, he’s long since dead. So who’s the new killer? And is Lacey next in line to die?

Golden Heart finalist Kendra Elliot combines chilling suspense and steamy romance in a gripping tale, uniting in-depth forensic knowledge with a passion for thrillers. Set in the snowy winter of Oregon, Hidden creates spine-tingling chills.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A] thrilling tale of passion and suspense...Realistic characters and a frightening plot will keep readers spellbound with numerous twists and turns...Wraps up with a love scene that's hot enough to make a polar bear sweat." --RT Reviews, 4 1/2 stars HOT

"A page-turning blend of romance, thrills, and danger! Hidden is a winning debut from a new star in romantic suspense." - Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author

"Make room on your keeper shelf! Hidden has it all: intricate plotting, engaging characters, a truly twisted villain. I can't wait to see what Kendra Elliot dishes up next!" – Karen Rose, New York Times bestselling author

About the Author

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Kendra Elliot has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on classic female sleuths and heroines like Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Laura Ingalls before proceeding to devour the works of Stephen King, Diana Gabaldon, and Nora Roberts. She graduated with a degree in journalism but went on to become a licensed dental hygienist. Now a Golden Heart, Daphne du Maurier, and Linda Howard Award of Excellence finalist, Elliot shares her love of suspense in her first novel, Hidden. She still lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three daughters.

Product Details

• File Size: 863 KB
• Print Length: 388 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: B00819O9VI
• Publisher: Montlake Romance (July 17, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007BSFWIY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #556 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #35 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Romance > Mystery & Suspense > Suspense
  • #36 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense
  • #55 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers > Suspense

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars promising debut, intriguing romantic suspense July 17, 2012

By Virginia Campbell VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Kendra Elliot's debut work, "Hidden: A Bone Secrets Novel", is an intriguing romantic suspense with plenty of cold hard facts and sparks-fly, steamy sensuality. The perfect combination for lovers of this genre, told by a new voice. Lacey Campbell is a forensic odontologist, a highly experienced, specially trained dentist who uses her expertise to help identify unknown remains and trace bite marks to a specific individual. Forensic odontologists, or forensic dentists, are typically called in to identify human remains that cannot be identified using fingerprints or other means, and also to estimate the age of skeletal remains. They may be called to work on a case by police officers, the medical examiner, or the coroner. When Lacey is called to an unusual crime scene to examine skeletal remains, she is distraught to discover that the bones are all that is left of her college friend Suzanne. More than a decade has passed since Suzanne was kidnapped by the infamous Co-Ed Slayer. Her fate had remained unknown until now, when her carefully placed remains were sure to be found. The property where Suzanne's skeleton was found is owned by former policeman Jack Harper, who left the force after a tragic incident where he was injured. Intelligent Lacey and instinctive Jack are a high-octane combination, complementing and completing each other in unexpected ways. There are those who wish to come between Jack and Lacey, including her unpleasant ex-husband, Frank, and also a former boyfriend, Michael, neither of whom are fond of Jack's increasing importance in Lacey's life. When new murders begin to occur, suspicion is cast in all directions. The Co-Ed Slayer died in prison, so who is playing this macabre game? "Hidden: A Bone Secrets Novel", is a perfect Summer suspense read, and it is also just the thing for a reading "all-nighter". I look forward to more "sensational secrets" in upcoming works by Kendra Elliot.

Review Copy Gratis Amazon Vine

69 of 80 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Toothless July 16, 2012

By Richard Stoehr VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Kendra Elliot's 'Hidden' is billed as a romantic thriller. I just finished the book last night, and I'm still trying to figure out where the "thriller" part comes in.

Is it perhaps in the thrill Lacey feels when she first sees Jack Harper's steel blue eyes or catches a whiff of his "clean male" scent or intuits his "cut abs"? Is it in Jack's appreciation of Lacey's curves "in all the right places," even when he first notices her at a murder scene?

Because, certainly, it's not in the heavy repetition of those descriptions, thrown at us over and over again. It's definitely not in the obvious signals of who's going to end up with who, starting from page 12 and never letting up. I didn't see it in Lacey's profession as a forensic odontologist (teeth expert, basically), which is important in the first chapter and then never comes up again. And I sure didn't see it in the impending serial killer investigation, which takes place mostly in the background of Lacey and Jack's budding and tempestuous romance.

I could have at least respected all of this if the story had held any surprises or unexpected turns at all - but alas, it was not to be. I give Elliot credit for at least being consistent and telling a story that played out. The problem(s) being that the conclusion was predictable, the writing ham-handed, the villain bland, and the romance was locked into a track more steadily than a freight train, and about as interesting.

To put it simply, don't go into this expecting a thriller on the level of Jackson, Reichs, Jance or Cornwell. There's none of that here. I tend to like my thrillers dark, twisty, and unpredictable, and 'Hidden' hits none of those marks.

It's a book without a bite.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, good first effort July 4, 2012

By Angela Risner VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

This is Kendra Elliott's first novel, and I think she has a promising future.

The story follows Lacey, who is a forensic odontologist, as she uncovers the bones of her former gymnastics teammate, Suzanne. Lacey was there when Suzanne was taken by the Co-Ed Slayer years ago, but Suzanne's bones were never found. Now Lacey is caught up in the mystery of why they were recently placed to be found while more bodies pile up. Also working the case is former cop, Jack Harper, who is battling demons of his own.

I really like the characters in this book. Lacey may be tiny physically, but she has personality and spunk to spare. Plus, I can honestly say that I have never read about a former gymnastics star turned forensic odontologist - refreshing! Jack is a bit more fleshed out than most male sidekicks, although in typical mystery/thriller fashion, he failed to protect someone before and now fears failing at it again. The supporting cast includes a couple of cops who have great sarcastic senses of humor.

The writing was well-done, and although I thought I had guessed who our antagonist was several times by the middle of the novel, I was wrong. The pacing was just right.

It sounds as though Elliott means for this to be a series (just based on the title) and I certainly hope so. I think Elliott is a fresh new voice in this genre and I look forward to reading more.

Highly recommend.

More About the Author

Kendra Elliot grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her husband, three daughters, two cats, and a Pomeranian. She left the dental world after sixteen years to write full time in 2012. She's always been fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and loves a strong Mai Tai on the beach on Kauai. Visit Kendra at kendraelliot.com.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#12 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Suspense

#13 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

#41 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers

#47 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

#52 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

#12 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Romance > Suspense

#13 in Books > Romance > Romantic Suspense

#41 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers

#47 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

#52 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense