Does anyone else get that itch at the base of their neck when a case just doesn't add up? You know, that "nurse intuition" doctors pretend doesn't exist until you save their patient? That's the energy I needed after a twelve-hour shift in the trauma bay. I picked up Simon Says... Hide hoping for something to keep my eyes open on the drive home, and honestly? It did the job.
When the "Woo-Woo" Actually Lands
I'm usually a stickler for realism. If you describe a code blue wrong, I'm yelling at my dashboard. But this? This is different. It blends police procedural with psychic stuff—the "Sight." Usually, I roll my eyes at this genre because it feels like a cheat code for lazy writing. But here, it works.
It reminds me a bit of those old Medium episodes, but darker. Other Side of the Pillow had that same blend of supernatural elements grounding a mystery, though this one's got sharper teeth. Kate Morgan is a detective who's dealt with enough victims to be cynical (relatable), and Simon St. Laurant is the psychic who can't look away. The dynamic isn't instant lovey-dovey nonsense, which I appreciate. It's friction. It's messy. Like a shift change where the incoming nurse is already annoyed.
The Voice in the Driver's Seat
Let's talk about Kristi Alsip. I hadn't listened to her before. She's got energy. Serious energy.
Driving down the I-10 at 4 AM, I need a narrator who punches through the fatigue. Alsip does that. Her pacing is swift—maybe a little fast for some, but perfect for me. She does distinct voices for the characters, and her accents hold up. There's nothing worse than a narrator dropping an accent halfway through a sentence—it pulls you right out of the story faster than a pager beeping. Alsip stayed consistent. She kept the tension high without making it sound like a melodrama.
(Fair warning: if you prefer those slow, soothing voices to fall asleep to, this isn't it. This is "stay awake and check the locks" narration.)
Dark, But Not "Trauma Bay" Dark
The plot involves children in danger. As a mom and a trauma nurse, that's usually my "nope" button. I see enough bad things happen to kids in real life; I don't need it in my entertainment.
But here's the thing—Mayer keeps it intense without getting gratuitously graphic. It's suspenseful, sure. My knuckles were white on the steering wheel a few times. But it doesn't wallow in the gore. It respects the subject matter without traumatizing the listener. It felt like a safe thrill, if that makes sense. If you want something darker and more atmospheric, Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Raven Edition, Volume 2 goes full gothic—but you lose the modern procedural edge I appreciated here.
Kate Morgan is a bit prickly at the start—hard to warm up to—but honestly? I get it. She's protecting people. When you're dealing with the worst of humanity, you build a shell. I've got one. Every nurse on my unit has one. So I cut her some slack.
Who's This For?
If you like your mysteries with a supernatural twist and don't mind fast-paced narration, this one's solid. Great for commutes, night shifts, or any time you need to stay alert. Skip it if psychic elements make you check out, or if you need something gentler—kids-in-danger plots, even handled carefully, aren't for everyone.
Charting My Assessment
Is it high literature? No. Is it a perfect medical procedural? No (it's got psychics, for crying out loud). But for a post-shift decompression where I need to shut off my "medical brain" and just ride the wave of a mystery? It hit the spot.
Carlos asked me why I was sitting in the driveway for ten minutes after I got home. I told him I was just finishing a chapter. Truth is, I just needed to see if Simon and Kate figured it out before I faced the chaos of making breakfast. Night shift approved.
