3. Nell and Maude’s relationship intensifies throughout the novel. How else does The Hiding Place explore the theme of motherhood?

4. Events begin to ramp up when the characters discover an object hidden in Elder House. How is the idea of concealment explored – and in what way is this related to power?

5. Kym and Evie find new friendship in the novel, but how is this friendship tested?

6. Kym, Evie and Maude all face individual challenges as children/teenagers; how is coming of age explored in the book?

7. What did you think of Carolyn? Did your view of her change as the novel progressed? To what extent does she drive the events of the novel?

8. How does the history of the Elder House and the drying ground contribute to the events in the novel? Does the real danger come from the house, or the people inside and around it?

9. Were you frightened by events in the novel? Which section did you find the most unnerving?

10. What did you make of the book’s closing paragraph? Do you think Nell made the right choice?

Extract from The Wayward Girls

If you loved The Hiding Place, why not try The Wayward Girls . . .

THEN

1976. Loo and her sister Bee live in a run-down cottage in the middle of nowhere, with their artistic parents and wild siblings. Their mother, Cathy, had hoped to escape to a simpler life; instead the family find themselves isolated and shunned by their neighbours. At the height of the stifling summer, unexplained noises and occurences in the house begin to disturb the family, until they intrude on every waking moment . . .

NOW

Loo, now Lucy, is called back to her childhood home. A group of strangers are looking to discover the truth about the house and the people who lived there. But is Lucy ready to confront what really happened all those years ago?

Available now, read on for a sneak peek

1976

‘Stand still.’ Bee tugged at Loo’s petticoat, trying to straighten it.

‘I don’t like it,’ said Loo. The cotton was soft and cool but it smelt funny, as if it had been left out in the rain. It made her skin crawl.

‘Oh, shut up.’ Bee stood back, concentrating. Her own petticoat had a frill around the skirt and the top she wore – the camisole – had lace edging at the neck; she looked different, not pretty exactly, but more grown-up. She stood with her hands on her hips, her head tilted to one side, scowling, her long dark hair flopping into her eyes.

‘It’s too long.’ Loo kicked at the skirt. ‘I can’t walk in it.’