These Things Hidden
Author: Heather Gudenkauf
Genre: General Adult Fiction
Publication Date: January 25, 2011
Publisher: Mira
ISBN: 978-0778328797
Page Count: 337
Source: ARC/E-Galley from the publisher
My Thoughts:
As the novel opens, 21-year-old Allison Glenn is being released from prison and into a halfway house in her hometown of Linden Falls, Iowa. Having served five years for a heinous crime, she is ready to start her life over again. But, secrets from the past have a way of hanging on…and never letting go.
Brynn Glenn is Allison’s 20-year-old sister; a young woman tormented by the secrets of the night of Allison’s crime. She tried to start over by moving in with her grandmother in another town and going to college, but she is consumed by what happened that horrible night five years earlier…
Charm Tullia is a 20-year-old nursing student who is taking care of her ailing stepfather and dealing with her aloof mother, who only seems to care about herself and what she can get from Charm.
Claire Kelby is a wife, mother, and the owner of Bookends, a local bookstore in Linden Falls. She has struggled with infertility, but her and her husband are finally settled into life with their new family.
Allison. Brynn. Charm. Claire. Four women with one thing in common – a five year old boy named Joshua.
The book is told from the perspective of each of these women. The beginning of each chapter indicates who is narrating that particular section. I was a bit concerned that I would get confused by four different characters telling the story, but that wasn’t the case at all. Each character is so unique and well-developed, with their own storyline expertly weaved into the narrative, that it was very easy to distinguish between them. The author is able to make each character come alive on the page, which is not easy to do, especially with four narrators!
At first it seems that it is just a novel about Allison and Brynn coming to terms with Allison’s crime five years prior, but it is so much more than that. It is confusing at first, trying to figure out how Charm and Claire fit into the story, but as the book moves along, and more information is revealed, the reader begins to see how each of these women fits into the larger picture. All four women play an integral role in the plot, which is centered around a little five year old boy named Joshua. So, what links an ex-con, her sister, a nursing student, and a bookstore owner to this innocent child? Sorry, I can’t tell you! :D You will have to read it and find out for yourself!
The plot of the book is utterly mesmerizing. I couldn’t put it down. The author has a way of revealing just enough information at the right times to keep the reader entranced in the story, wondering what will happen next. As the pieces started to fall into place, I found myself gasping out loud, shocked at each morsel that the author revealed.
This novel is stunningly executed and masterfully told – it should definitely go on your “must-read” list for 2011! It gets a well-deserved CRAZY AMAZING rating from this crazy reviewer!
Follow Heather Gudenkauf on Facebook and Twitter, and visit her website to learn more about her! And don’t forget to check out her first novel, The Weight of Silence
Be Crazy – Buy the Book
Great review. Definitely need to bump this up on the TBR pile.
Yes you should, girlfriend! It's awesome!!
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
I'm intrigued, I'm adding it to my to read list
Thanks for the review!
You definitely should! It's a page turner!!! Come back and let me know your thoughts when you are done!
I think I gasped out loud too, LOL!
I know! It was crazy!
Oh Yea. I agree. Thanks for the review. This story sounds like something I would love to read.
I loved her 1st book so maybe my expectations were to high, this one was not executed as well I thought. I love the gasp out loud moments but it was only for the reader, I think it should have been for the characters also. You must read Weight of Silence since you loved this one Jennifer.
Actually in case you are interested, I gave it 3 1/2
http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-t…
I thought Weight of Silence was very good, particularly for a first book so I've been hoping to read some reviews of Heather's new book. It sounds wonderful and I'm happy her ability to write very real characters continues in her new book. I'm glad you enjoyed this book so much. Thank you for a terrific review!
~ Amy
Wow, Jennifer! Your enthusiasm for this book is contagious. I need to add this book to my TBR stacks.
Reading this review, all I could say was yes yes yes! I want to read this!
I love books told from multiple perspectives.
Yes, I have The Weight of Silence in my TBR. I will have to read it soon. I devoured this one and I've heard awesome things about her first book, so I'm excited to dig into that one, too!
So glad you loved this one. I’ve had my eye on it for a bit. Now I’ll have to make reading it a must.
Wow, you really loved this one! I just finished it and definitely enjoyed it myself. I thought the way all four women were connected was really well done, it kept me guessing the entire time!
This book beyond doubt sounds painfully intense. I have added this book to my wish list and most likely will be reading it soon.
I LOVE this book. It is definitely a 5 star read. Very emotional, with lots of twists and turns.