The Hidden (Golding novel)

The Hidden is a 2021 horror novel by Melanie Golding.

Background and publication history
The book is based on the folktale of "The Mermaid Bride". The novel's protagonist Detective Jo Harper had previously appeared in Golding's debut novel Little Darlings. It was published on November 9, 2021, by Crooked Lane Books.

Reception
The book received mostly positive reviews from critics, who noted its ambiguous and layered plotlines. Publishers Weekly wrote that "Golding smoothly mixes folklore with an insightful exploration of motherhood". Claire Forster, writing for Foreword Reviews, described the novel as a "superlative fairytale-infused thriller".