It's Christmastime in Port Sentinel, the tiny English town where Jess Tennant has been living for more than a year now. Jess wasn't sure how she felt about moving to Port Sentinel when her mom dragged her there right in the middle of high school, but even Jess has to admit the town has completely outdone itself for the holidays. There's a Christmas market complete with a mini ice-rink and fairy lights, and the bare trees stand stark against the sky. But for Gilly Poynter, one of Jess's classmates, the Christmas season is anything but magical. She's disappeared, leaving behind only her diary and a lot of questions. Has she run away from her unhappy home, or has something more sinister happened? And will Jess be able to find her before it's too late? Hide and Seek is another cleverly crafted, charming mystery from acclaimed author Jane Casey. Gr 9 Up—In the latest entry of this female-led mystery series, Jess has embraced life in a small English town, especially amid the bustle of the holiday season. When one of her classmates is kidnapped, it's up to the teen sleuth to find her before it's too late. The relatable protagonist, the quaint setting, and the well-done mystery will entice fans of whodunits. “I fell in love with Jess Tennant. Jess is feisty, fierce and incapable of backing down-even when her pursuit of the truth might get her killed.” ― April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen “Casey creates a stark, immersive setting and believably despicable teenage characters...The clever banter and the truly devious side characters will keep readers invested...[A] page-turner.” ― Kirkus Reviews “Irish crime author Casey makes a foray into YA with this fast-paced thriller...Jess is hard-edged, blunt, and aggressive-the kind of heroine who doesn't cower when she's met with hostility by some of the local teens who knew Freya, and who isn't going to be dissuaded from finding out what really happened to her cousin.” ― Publishers Weekly “ How to Fall is a very gripping book, it just makes you want to read it all in one go.” ― The Guardian (UK) JANE CASEY is the author of the Maeve Kerrigan novels ( Let the Dead Speak , After the Fire ) and the Jess Tennant Mysteries ( Hide and Seek , Bet Your Life ). A graduate of Oxford she also has received a M. Phil from Trinity College, Dublin. Born and raised in Dublin, she lives in London where she works as an editor. Hide and Seek By Jane Casey St. Martin's Press Copyright © 2015 Jane Casey All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-250-04067-1 CHAPTER 1 As parties went, it was a fairly typical Port Sentinel night out: too many people crammed into a large, expensive house, most of them in some sort of costume, all of them determined to have fun. If there was one thing I'd learned in the five months I'd been living in Port Sentinel, it was that any excuse for a party would do. The mere fact that it was Friday night counted. When it was only a week until the end of term and the start of the Christmas break, a party was inevitable, and it couldn't be anything other than Christmas-themed. There was fake snow dappling the picture windows that overlooked Port Sentinel's pretty bay. Fairy lights decorated the mantelpiece of the feature fireplace, and a twelve-foot Christmas tree stood at the foot of the stairs, rocking slightly as people pressed against it on their way to the kitchen. "Jess." The hostess appeared in front of me and wrapped her arms around my neck. Her eyes weren't completely focused and her mouth was stained pink: one too many Christmas cocktails. "Thanks for coming." "I wouldn't have missed it." I patted her back, wondering if and when she would let go. "How are things, Claudia?" "Oh, you know." She looked around vaguely. "Everyone seems to be having fun, but you can't tell." "Everyone is having a great time," I assured her. It was true. The music was louder than God's heartbeat, there was more than enough to drink, and I'd just seen a reindeer kissing a very pretty snowflake. It was the point in the evening before things started to go wrong, I found myself thinking, and told myself off for being so cynical. There was no reason to think that anyone was going to cause trouble — except that it was as much a part of Port Sentinel's social scene as music. Port Sentinel was a small town full of rich, spoiled kids, and arguments blossomed as easily as love affairs. It was hard to avoid people you didn't want to see. It was proving impossible to stay out of trouble for long, if you were me. Claudia sagged against me, shedding glitter from her fairy-on- the-Christmas-tree costume. I straightened her wings for her. " Such a relief," she whispered. "I don't know what I was thinking, having a party tonight. The pressure. " "I can imagine." "This is it, you know?" She leaned sideways to take a gulp from her glass, still clinging to me. "The last big party of the year. Everyone's away for Christmas and New Year." "Not everyone," I s