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It was an abandoned Amusement Park, closed after a five year old girl vanished within, her patent leather shoe caught on the branches of a topiary. "Slowly what didn't crumble rusted and what didn't rust leaned. All the walkways were lined with impassable shrubbery, undergrowth turned into overgrowth, wild plant life was riddled with thorns."

In an undisclosed location, Linda the game hostess, welcomed fourteen contestants to a seven day competition, the Olly Olly Oxen Free Hide-and-Seek Tournament with the chance to win $50,000. The contestants chosen were unemployed or underemployed and in their twenties. Mack was a shelter resident who hid daily from the other shelter occupants. Her backpack, left unattended on the bed, was stolen. Since she now only owned the clothes on her back, entering the contest seemed like a good idea.

A false sense of security was created by Linda, the hostess, when she sprang for an elaborate breakfast at the Star Diner where the fourteen contestants were feted and given contest documents to sign. On to the spa, to be pampered. Off to the Amusement Park. Entering through the wrought iron gate, they then proceeded to the base camp pavilion, a cement floor under a corrugated roof...neat cots...food and water provided...no cell phone signal.

The Rules
-30 minute hiding window given at the start of each day
-the game is active from dawn to dusk
-no allowance for medical, bathroom emergencies or food runs
-a beacon will shine in the sky at dusk calling the contestants back to camp
-2 contestants will be eliminated each day

Should the contestants hide individually? Form alliances? Something sinister was definitely occurring. Heavy footsteps at a slow deliberate pace...the distant scream of rusted metal...

"Hide" by Kiersten White is horror at its best. Off to a slow start, I could not imagine the grip the novel would have on my emotions. The tension and building suspense, the twists and turns and many pitfalls truly challenged and terrified the well developed cast of characters. Who would be victorious? What a chilling, unsettling, page turner filled with dark secrets, sacrifice and camaraderie! Highly recommended.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group/ Ballantine/Del Rey and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.