Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts
Publisher: Cahoots Publishing
Publication Date: PB - January 19, 2018 / eBook - February 1, 2018
Format: Paperback - 323 pages
Kindle - 1459 KB
ISBN: 978-1976862816
ASIN: B078XK95S1
Genre: Psychological Thriller
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author/publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Partners In Crime Virtual Book Tours.
Book Description:
This is the story of two families. One living under the threat of execution in North Carolina. The other caught up in a dark mystery in the Scottish Highlands. The families’ paths are destined to cross. But why? And can anything save them when that happens?
Book Excerpt:
Excerpt | Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts
Chapter 2
Death Row
June 2021
There was a walk now. They passed doors, like random choices. They all looked the same, all the color of pale nicotine. But some of those doors were in the business of living and some were not. As you walked past them, you could feel hope slipping away. Which door? Which one? It was like a game the devil might play as you entered hell. Eventually the passengers reached the end of their journey and were shown into another room which was similar in size to the last but with what looked like a window on one side. The window was dark for the moment, with a black blind pulled down and opposite, there was a gallery with seating. The seating was slightly raked, like a theatre. They were here for a performance.
‘That’s 11.30 gone now,’ someone said from the far end.
‘Show must go on.’ Keller mumbled.
There was a crackle and then an audio test from the speaker in the corner. Keller imagined that President Descher had arranged a televised viewing and that all over the State the people could see and hear this: factory workers, grandmothers, schoolchildren, stopping what they’re doing and watching. From the audio speaker, Keller recognized words from the phonetic alphabet, then the date, today, June 23rd, 2021, the location, the prisoner’s name and number HCI 72259-931 and the time scheduled for execution.
Keller knew that the duration for the poison to act was ten minutes maximum and that the ratio to be injected was set against the inmate’s weight and height.
Somewhere behind him, Keller could hear mumbling about the victims’ families and an officer explained that they were seated separately, in another viewing room. He imagined that the families’ room was crowded since eight victims had lost their lives that day.
At 11.45 am, the time was announced once more on the speaker and the blind was pulled up manually, revealing the execution chamber. Keller had forgotten who was seated directly next to him now, but whoever it was flinched.
The prisoner was already strapped onto the gurney. There was a sheet over his body but you could see where the constraint buckles jutted up into the clean white cotton. His left arm was exposed however and the intravenous tube was already in. He was clean shaven. Keller had never seen him without a beard. He could almost pretend he did not know him.
Three Harfield guards came into the chamber now. They did not look at the window, which to them was a mirror. Who would want to see themselves doing what they were about to do, even if it was their duty. The three guards were each handed a syringe. The content of one of the syringes was deadly and the other two contained a harmless fluid. The guards would never know who among them administered the lethal injection.
The condemned man’s chest began to rise and fall. He blinked rapidly and his Adam’s apple bulged in his throat, as he struggled to find an impossible place between dignity and the screaming of his nerves to stay alive.
Keller murmured, ‘There is nothing to do now but die.’
A man in the chamber who had been out of their view moved into sight. He was dressed in a plain dark suit. He identified himself as Warden James and held up a chart. His hand was steady enough, his white knuckles though suggested a very tight grip on that chart.
Keller stared down at the inmate who seemed to be staring back, though Keller knew that the glass was one way and that all the condemned could see was a reflection of his own final scene. All the same, their eyes met.
Warden James turned to the prisoner. ‘Is there anything you would like to say or read before we administer this lethal injection?’
‘Yes.’
Keller frowned down at the neighboring lap. It was the redhead next to him, the Ph.D. student, twisting that engagement ring. The girl who more than likely had it all, the girl who could not cope without her cell, was barely coping at all. Keller could feel her trembling against the length of his torso and the anger in his veins burned. The young woman held her hand up to her mouth and whispered into it, ‘God, dear God.’
The Warden lowered his eyes to Prisoner HCI 72259-931 on the gurney and blinked several times. He said to the inmate, ‘Go ahead, what do you want to say.’
‘I would like to ask a question.’
‘What is your question?’
‘I would like to ask a question and have it answered.’
Warden James looked around the room at the other officials.
‘Go ahead and ask your question.’
‘Not until you tell me that I will have an answer.’
Keller smiled and nudged the redhead. ‘You see? Make the most of every goddamned moment.’
The young woman was on the edge of her seat and on the edge of tears.
In the chamber, the suits and uniforms huddled and muttered amongst themselves and the Warden came free of the pack once more.
‘We shall try to answer your question. And cannot commit beyond that. I ask you therefore again, is there anything you would like to say?’
The inmate tried to lift his head but the strap across his brow was held tight. He cleared his throat and said in that thick Carolina accent that Keller thought he’d forgotten but which now reignited in his memory and ripped through his heart.
‘I want to know if my son can see me.’
***
Excerpt from Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts. Copyright © 2018 by Jenny Morton Potts. Reproduced with permission from Jenny Morton Potts. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2
Death Row
June 2021
There was a walk now. They passed doors, like random choices. They all looked the same, all the color of pale nicotine. But some of those doors were in the business of living and some were not. As you walked past them, you could feel hope slipping away. Which door? Which one? It was like a game the devil might play as you entered hell. Eventually the passengers reached the end of their journey and were shown into another room which was similar in size to the last but with what looked like a window on one side. The window was dark for the moment, with a black blind pulled down and opposite, there was a gallery with seating. The seating was slightly raked, like a theatre. They were here for a performance.
‘That’s 11.30 gone now,’ someone said from the far end.
‘Show must go on.’ Keller mumbled.
There was a crackle and then an audio test from the speaker in the corner. Keller imagined that President Descher had arranged a televised viewing and that all over the State the people could see and hear this: factory workers, grandmothers, schoolchildren, stopping what they’re doing and watching. From the audio speaker, Keller recognized words from the phonetic alphabet, then the date, today, June 23rd, 2021, the location, the prisoner’s name and number HCI 72259-931 and the time scheduled for execution.
Keller knew that the duration for the poison to act was ten minutes maximum and that the ratio to be injected was set against the inmate’s weight and height.
Somewhere behind him, Keller could hear mumbling about the victims’ families and an officer explained that they were seated separately, in another viewing room. He imagined that the families’ room was crowded since eight victims had lost their lives that day.
At 11.45 am, the time was announced once more on the speaker and the blind was pulled up manually, revealing the execution chamber. Keller had forgotten who was seated directly next to him now, but whoever it was flinched.
The prisoner was already strapped onto the gurney. There was a sheet over his body but you could see where the constraint buckles jutted up into the clean white cotton. His left arm was exposed however and the intravenous tube was already in. He was clean shaven. Keller had never seen him without a beard. He could almost pretend he did not know him.
Three Harfield guards came into the chamber now. They did not look at the window, which to them was a mirror. Who would want to see themselves doing what they were about to do, even if it was their duty. The three guards were each handed a syringe. The content of one of the syringes was deadly and the other two contained a harmless fluid. The guards would never know who among them administered the lethal injection.
The condemned man’s chest began to rise and fall. He blinked rapidly and his Adam’s apple bulged in his throat, as he struggled to find an impossible place between dignity and the screaming of his nerves to stay alive.
Keller murmured, ‘There is nothing to do now but die.’
A man in the chamber who had been out of their view moved into sight. He was dressed in a plain dark suit. He identified himself as Warden James and held up a chart. His hand was steady enough, his white knuckles though suggested a very tight grip on that chart.
Keller stared down at the inmate who seemed to be staring back, though Keller knew that the glass was one way and that all the condemned could see was a reflection of his own final scene. All the same, their eyes met.
Warden James turned to the prisoner. ‘Is there anything you would like to say or read before we administer this lethal injection?’
‘Yes.’
Keller frowned down at the neighboring lap. It was the redhead next to him, the Ph.D. student, twisting that engagement ring. The girl who more than likely had it all, the girl who could not cope without her cell, was barely coping at all. Keller could feel her trembling against the length of his torso and the anger in his veins burned. The young woman held her hand up to her mouth and whispered into it, ‘God, dear God.’
The Warden lowered his eyes to Prisoner HCI 72259-931 on the gurney and blinked several times. He said to the inmate, ‘Go ahead, what do you want to say.’
‘I would like to ask a question.’
‘What is your question?’
‘I would like to ask a question and have it answered.’
Warden James looked around the room at the other officials.
‘Go ahead and ask your question.’
‘Not until you tell me that I will have an answer.’
Keller smiled and nudged the redhead. ‘You see? Make the most of every goddamned moment.’
The young woman was on the edge of her seat and on the edge of tears.
In the chamber, the suits and uniforms huddled and muttered amongst themselves and the Warden came free of the pack once more.
‘We shall try to answer your question. And cannot commit beyond that. I ask you therefore again, is there anything you would like to say?’
The inmate tried to lift his head but the strap across his brow was held tight. He cleared his throat and said in that thick Carolina accent that Keller thought he’d forgotten but which now reignited in his memory and ripped through his heart.
‘I want to know if my son can see me.’
***
Excerpt from Hiding by Jenny Morton Potts. Copyright © 2018 by Jenny Morton Potts. Reproduced with permission from Jenny Morton Potts. All rights reserved.
My Book Review:
In Hiding, author Jenny Morton Potts weaves a riveting psychological thriller that easily draws the reader in with its dark storyline that follows the complex connection between Rebecca Brown and Keller Baye.
The story begins in 2007 with the tragic death of Rebecca Brown's parents in an auto accident. At the age of four, Rebecca and her brother Austen and sister Colette were sent to live with their paternal grandparents in Scotland. But the siblings' family history is held in secrecy; their grandparents refuse to answer any questions about what has happened in the past.
In 2021, Keller Baye plans revenge after watching his imprisoned father be put to death in a North Carolina jail. Keller crosses the pond with a new identity in search of Rebecca, who is now a grown woman and a successful standup comedian. Keller plans to destroy Rebecca's life.
This captivating and gritty tale is rich in detail and vivid descriptions and has intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of psychological thrillers, I must admit that this story exceeded my expectations. The dark intensity of the alternating storylines and the complexity of the intertwining connection between Rebecca and Keller's families kept me thoroughly riveted and so engrossed, that I literally had to finish the story in one sitting.
With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of delving into both families' long-held secrets, lies, and betrayals; Rebecca's quest for the truth; and Keller's need to stalk and plan revenge for his father's death. The author transports the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline with her creative interweaving of a psychological cat-n-mouse game between the characters that leaves the reader's heart palpating while holding their breath until the surprise ending. It just doesn't get any better than this!
Hiding is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard psychological thriller junkie!
RATING: 5 STARS
About The Author
Jenny Morton Potts is a novelist, screenplay writer, and playwright. After a series of 'proper jobs', she realized she was living someone else's life and escaped to Gascony to make gîtes. Knee deep in cement and pregnant, Jenny was happy. Then autism and a distracted spine surgeon wiped out the order. Returned to wonderful England, to write her socks off.
Jenny would like to see the Northern Lights but worries that’s the best bit and should be saved till last. Very happily, and gratefully, settled with family.
She tries not to take herself too seriously.
Author Website
Amazon Author Page
Google+
Goodreads
Contest Giveaway
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This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Jenny Morton Potts. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on May 1 and runs through June 2, 2018.
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Virtual Book Tour
Tour Schedule:
05/01 Review/Showcase @ CMash Reads
05/02 Showcase @ Lauras Interests
05/03 Review @ Tales of a Book Addict
05/04 Showcase @ Bound 2 Escape
05/05 Review @ The World As I see it
05/06 Review @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
05/07 Showcase @ The Pulp and Mystery Shelf
05/08 Interview @ Quiet Fury Books
05/09 Guest post @ Aurora Bs Book Blog
05/10 Interview @ BooksChatter
05/10 Review @ Lilly's Book World
05/11 Interview @ A Blue Million Books
05/12 Showcase @ Mythical Books
05/14 Review @ Alinas Reading Corner
05/15 Excerpt @ Suspense Magazine
05/16 Review @ everywhere and nowhere
05/19 Guest post @ Loris Reading Corner
05/22 Review @ Stacking My Book Shelves!
05/23 Review @ Cheryl's Book Nook
05/25 Showcase @ The Bookworm Lodge
05/27 Guest post @ That's What Shes Reading
05/28 Review @ Simply Kelina
05/29 Review @ That's What Shes Reading
05/30 Interview @ Quiet Fury Books
05/30 Review @ A Room Without Books is Empty
05/31 Review @ Jersey Girl Book Reviews
08/01/18 Blog Talk Radio w/Fran Lewis
08/01/18 Review @ Just Reviews
Great post. I really enjoyed this book!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl! Thank you for the opportunity to host the VBT. I really enjoyed reading this psychological thriller. It kept me riveted throughout the whole book. :)
DeleteThank you for a great review of this book!
ReplyDelete