Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes

February 25th, 2016 Kimberly Review 72 Comments

25th Feb
Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes
Hidden Bodies
by Caroline Kepnes
Series: You #2
Narrator: Santino Fontana
Length: 13 hours and 3 minutes
Genres: Thriller
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Narration: 4 cups

Charmingly murderous antihero Joe continues his twisted quest for the perfect love in this thrilling follow-up to the “deeply dark yet mesmerizing” You (Booklist). When Joe follows the woman he wants to marry to the West Coast, he never imagines that his obsession will lead him to such tragedy…After the heartbreak of losing his girlfriend, Beck, Joe Goldberg thought he’d never love again. But when mysterious Amy Adam begins working for Joe at Mooney Books, he finds himself obsessed with his new employee. Amy is Beck’s opposite—she hates Twitter, she doesn’t even have an email address, she's completely unsearchable online—and she quickly captures Joe’s heart. But just before Joe can ask Amy to marry him, she disappears, leaving a trail of clues in her wake. Joe is then forced to do something so vile, so awful that he nearly loses his mind: he moves to Los Angelesto find Amy. He is tortured by a series of aspiring Angelenos—an insufferable stand-up comedian, philistine booksellers, a money-hungry nanny, and a slutty ghostwriter—before meeting his ticket to a more luxurious world: a surgically enhanced, social media–savvy heiress named Love Quinn. But Joe can’t stop stalking Amy, despite the world opening up to him with Love on his arm. Will Joe finally escape his sordid past? Or is Love just the latest casualty in Joe’s unrelenting search for the perfect match?

ADDICTIVE thriller twisted well written

Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes returns to the story that began with the book, You. Twisted, oddly humorous and strangely addictive it still amuses me that Kepnes actual made me like a serial killer as twisted as Joe Goldberg.

I actually tried to read Hidden Bodies,  but found I was missing the narration of Santino Fontana. I set the book aside and grabbed my earbuds. I am so glad that I did, because I instantly slipped into the mind of Joe.

Five reasons to listen to Hidden Bodies

  • Caroline Kepnes weaves a wicked, sometimes disturbing tale around her protagonist Joe Goldberg. Joe is a sociopath who falls for the perfect girl. That is until she disappears, and Joe finds himself leaving the East Coast and traveling to Los Angeles in search of Amy. As he settles in LA, he meets characters who drive him insane. In his pursuit of Amy, he meets Love Quinn, a social media goddess who may just be his perfect match.
  • Kepnes weaves humor, murder and stalking into her story. Somehow, she manages to make the listener laugh aloud even as they shiver at Joe’s cold calculating ways. Joe’s thought process is eerily clever and diabolical, but Kepnes adds snark and an over the top narrative that allows you to get Joe.
  • Just getting inside Joe’s head and seeing how his thought process works makes Hidden Bodies and the You series worth a listen. Seeing how he manipulates, justifies his actions and works around problems will send shivers down your spin. We also see just how volatile Joe is and sense that at any moment he could completely lose his shit. Joe is hilarious and twisted but being inside his head is quite the experience. His inner dialogue is some of the best I have ever read. I found myself rooting for him and getting angry at the characters who messed with his plans. I had to remind myself that he would kill me without an ounce of remorse. This odd cocktail of a character makes him memorable.
  • Kepnes delivers an intense plot as Joe hunts for Amy, and ultimately meets Love Quinn. She introduces a cast of colorful and unique characters from LA hippies to a cop who longs to rub shoulders with the “Hollywood in crowd. “ The story was addictive, and while I felt it dragged a little in the middle, the last three-fourths of the book had me listening non-stop as Joe’s world faces peril.
  • Listening to Hidden Bodies intensified the story. Santino Fontana brilliantly portrayed Joe making our trip inside Joe’s mind a total mind f@ck. Fontana also did a bang up job with the other characters from their voices to the intense situations.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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72 Responses to “Hidden Bodies by Caroline Kepnes”

  1. Tanya

    This series has been on my list since I saw your review of You. Every time I see it at the book store my fingers get twitchy!

  2. Cynthia

    I loved this one too! Caroline Kepnes does such a great job with her writing. She actually makes me root for the sociopath. Weird, I know. I did think this book dragged a little in parts, but otherwise I thought it was a great conclusion to You.

  3. Francesca

    I was disturbed by how much I enjoyed YOU and liked Joe as a character. I had no idea Caroline Kepnes was planning on continuing Joe’s story!

  4. Deborah

    I’ve had this on m y NetGalley shelf for a few months but it’s not out here until May so I’ve been delaying getting to it until closer to the release date!

    I’m looking forward to it though!

  5. Gwen

    I read and loved You and I bought Hidden Bodies this week. Your review has me so excited to read it. Yes, I had to remind myself several times that Joe was a not nice person and I shouldn’t be feeling sorry for him. After I read it I might go back and listen to both books on audio. I usually struggle with audiobooks but I might give it a shot.

  6. Lorna

    I remember when you reviewed the first one because it sounded so different. I read a review earlier today where the reviewer didn’t like this one. Each to his own! I don’t think this would be one for me but I have two sisters that I need to tell about these. Glad it was a good one again for you!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      In You we also got the perspective of the girl, and it was much more suspenseful. This did drag a but in the middle, but when an author has me rooting for, and defending a killer you cannot help but be impressed. The audio adds an element to the story.

  7. Grace MyBookSnack

    Oh, I do like how the narrator sounds! I’ve had this series on my TBR and plan to read this series this year. I’ll listen to the audiobooks for sure. Awesome review, Kim!

  9. Kristin

    I kind of remember y’all having problems getting into this book so it’s awesome that the audio totally hooked and drew you in. I just had an epiphany while reading your review, too! I’m going to get my mom on Audible. Since this is an author I think she’d enjoy, I think she needs to start listening to books 🙂

  12. Braine

    I’m going against the grain here. I started reading this earlier this week and had to pause it midway because I was getting bored. I like Joe, but Amy’s storyline was too slow for my taste. I’m not giving up though, I’ll pick it up again at some point. Maybe I just need a break

  13. Tyler H. Jolley

    I have to say, I’m relieved you mentioned there’s humor weaved in and out through the book because when I read the synopsis I chuckled a bit toward the end. But then I thought, “wait, was that meant to be funny? Is there something wrong with me?” Phew.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      You are not crazy. Book one was more thriller, but Hidden Bodies made me laugh a lot, even as I shivered. Being inside Joe’s head is one heck of a trip.

  14. Kathy

    I liked this one as a thriller but really missed the second point of view that made You so scary for me. I wish I had listened to the audio instead of the book. I think I might have had a better experience with this one.

  16. Angela Adams

    “Joe continues his twisted quest for the perfect love ” — Joe needs to learn that nothing is perfect. Thanks for the post.

  18. Heidi

    I just finished this one last night and it was lacking for me. I loved the first half all full of Joe’s humor and psychotic behavior, but then it lost steam about halfway through and it went downhill for me. Still Joe continues to fascinate me.

  19. Candace

    Okay wow, I’m really, really curious about these. A main character this twisted is so different. And a great monologue is always good.

  20. Laurel-Rain Snow

    I didn’t manage to finish You…I hated Joe, and couldn’t find anything redeeming about him. But maybe I am looking at him all wrong. Maybe I should give him another chance. Uh-oh, this sounds a bit like the thinking of abused women….LOL

  27. AngelErin

    I’ve got to read the first one soon! It looks so good and I love a good dark story. I’m glad you liked this one. 🙂

  28. Bookworm Brandee

    This is the 3rd review I’ve read of Hidden Bodies and I’ve already gone to check my library to see if they have a copy of You. I’d not heard of Kepnes but I’m certainly curious about a serial killer whom I’m going to love? I like getting into the minds people like Joe – in books anyway. 😉 I’ll be sure to check out Kepnes. Great review, Kimberly!

  29. Grace

    I really enjoyed this one. I think at some point I want to listen to both of them since everyone raves about the audio. Great review!

  30. Quinn's Book Nook

    I had NO idea that Santino Fontana narrated audiobooks? I love him! i saw him on Broadway in Cinderella and loved him. And of course he’s great in Frozen. Have you ever seen that hilarious youtube video of his audition tape for Hans? If not, you should go watch it, because it’s perfect.

    Glad you liked this book.

  32. Jeann

    Joe is such a fascinating protagonist and I can’t wait to continue reading his story! I loved You and it sounds like this has the same charm.

  33. Nick

    I haven’t read YOU yet, but I’m going to get to that one and this one before the end of the year. It’s good to know that the narrator is good! I might go the audio route once some of credits renew!
    I love a twisted murderer stalker story and the fact that you root for him is very intriguing to me!
    Great review, Kim!

  36. Melliane

    I keep seeing this one everywhere and well the reviews are different so I don’t really know but the idea is quite intriguing.