Hidden Rooms
Welcome to the Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson book tour hosted by Suzy Approved Book Tours.
About Hidden Rooms
Long distance runner Riley has been fighting various bewildering symptoms for months, from vertigo to fainting spells. Worse, her doctors can’t tell her what’s wrong, leaving her to wonder if it’s stress or something more threatening. But when her brother’s fiancée is killed—and he becomes the prime suspect—Riley must prove his innocence, despite the toll on her health.
As she reacquaints herself with the familiar houses and wild woods of her childhood, the secrets she uncovers take her on a trail to the real killer that leads right back to the very people she knows best and loves most.
Book Blurbs
“Featuring genuinely moving depictions of women facing chronic, mysterious illnesses, this fresh debut will be welcomed by those who love strong women protagonists and small-town mysteries.” — Library Journal
“With a fresh voice and gorgeous writing, Hidden Rooms by Kate Michaelson is a stunning debut mystery that sweeps the reader along until the surprising conclusion.” —Connie Berry, USA Today bestselling author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries
“This remarkable debut novel expertly combines a compelling mystery with a richly drawn cast of characters and a strong, beautifully portrayed sense of place. An engaging, gripping read.” —Andrew Welsh-Huggins, Shamus, Derringer, and International Thriller Writers award-nominated author
“Michaelson’s witty eye, sharp portrayal of illness, and twisty case make for a standout debut!” —Erin Flanagan, Edgar Award-winning author of Come with Me
“Hidden Rooms is a suspenseful tale full of interesting characters. This well-told story with its unexpected ending will leave the readers begging for more.” —L. C. Hayden, award-winning author of the Bronson Thriller Series and the Aimee Brent Mystery Series
Review for Hidden Rooms
This debut novel was a total page-turner. If you love amateur sleuths, a juicy mystery with twists, and a dash of family drama, you’re in for a treat.
Riley, our determined main character, dives headfirst into a murder mystery that hits close to home—her brother is accused of killing his fiancé, her best friend. The story flips timelines, which adds a layer of depth. And the setting? Picture peaceful farmland, a historic castle, and the kind of close-knit community where everyone has secrets.
Riley’s health struggles do get a lot of attention—maybe a bit too much. It started to feel like the same beat was being hit again and again. Still, props to the author for weaving in chronic illness and not sugarcoating the challenges. And I really appreciated that Riley stayed strong and didn’t spiral into substance use when the going got rough.
The family dynamics are messy; deception, trust issues, and emotional baggage, but there’s also love and unexpected help. Honestly? I suspected everyone at some point. The suspense kept me on my toes. Overall, this was a solid debut. Michaelson’s writing is engaging, the plot has layers, and Riley is a character you root for. I’ll be keeping an eye out for her next book!
About The Author
Growing up in rural Ohio, Kate Michaelson simultaneously developed a love of nature and a strong desire to live closer to a mall. Pursuing the latter, she attended Ohio State, where she studied English and Psychology. After earning her MFA in Creative Writing, Kate worked as a technical writer and taught English at St. Petersburg College in Florida and, later, the University of Toledo in Ohio.
Over the years, she has published academic articles, creative nonfiction, poetry, and short stories. Her debut novel, Hidden Rooms, follows a distance runner who returns to her rural Ohio hometown and must clear her brother of murdering his fiancée while also seeking answers to her own medical mystery. As someone with Lyme disease and dysautonomia, Kate’s writing uses humor and suspense to explore the experience of coping with chronic illness. Ultimately, she wants to portray the reality of the challenges that invisible disabilities pose while also demonstrating that “ability” is not a binary concept—that illness does not equal a loss of self or agency.
Kate enjoys traveling, hiking, and trying (fruitlessly) to tire out her Labrador mix. She works in curriculum design and holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. She lives with her husband and pets in Toledo, Ohio, only ten minutes from a mall she now avoids whenever possible.
Hidden Rooms Book Tour
Follow along on the tour hosted by Suzy Approved Book Tours to see what others have to say!
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