Book Review: Hide and Seek by Amy Shojai

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Blurb:

A STALKER hides in plain sight.
A VICTIM faces her worst fear.
AND A DOG seeks the missing—and finds hope.

Eight years ago, animal behaviorist September Day escaped a sadistic captor who left her ashamed, terrified, and struggling with PTSD. She trusts no one—except her cat Macy and service dog Shadow.

Shadow also struggles with trust. A German Shepherd autism service dog who rescued his child partner only to lose his-boy forever, Shadow’s crippling fear of abandonment shakes his faith in humans.

They are each others’ only chance to survive the stalker’s vicious payback, but have only 24 hours to uncover the truth about Macy’s mysterious illness or pay the deadly consequences. When September learns to trust again, and a good-dog takes a chance on love, together they find hope in the midst of despair–and discover what family really means.

My Review: I received an ARC of this book from the author the weekend before Christmas, and it's a good thing I had some extra time off from work during the holiday because this book kept me captivated the moment I started reading.

I was a huge fan of Amy Shojai's debut thriller Lost and Found and have been eagerly awaiting it's sequel, especially as I had been told that September's cat Macy played a prominent role in this one. She certainly does, and my concern for the furry darling's safety was just one of many reasons I continued to swipe my Kindle screen furiously.

Even if you're like me and you gravitate towards the cozier side of mysteries instead of thrillers, if you enjoy really well-crafted stories with a strong female character, I highly recommend picking this book up. September has suffered through some traumatic events in her life, the full extent of which is made clear in Hide and Seek. Because of this she has sought solace and shelter in the comfort of her beloved pets. She needs them more than ever when a sadistic ghost from her past comes back to haunt her and she's forced to deal with a truly frightening scenario: the possibility of Alzheimer's disease based on food. Who knows what we're eating, really? Another part of the book that grabbed my attention was the fact that Macy is diagnosed with a heart issue, having just lost a cat myself to heart disease.

Amy Shojai is a certified animal behavior consultant and it shines through when she writes about the power of the human-animal bond. If you're looking for an action-packed, suspenseful ride you can't go wrong with this one.

Full Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author with the request for a review.