THESE THINGS HIDDEN – Heather Gudenkauf
MIRA
ISBN: 978-0-7783-2829-7
February 2011
Women's Fiction

Linden Falls, in the United States – Present Day

Five years ago, sixteen-year-old Allison Glenn was the golden girl of her high school and her home town, Linden Falls.  She was Miss Perfect .  Until she makes one terrible mistake that sends her straight to prison.

Allison's sister, Brynne, is just one year younger, and she's the invisible member of the family.  Sometimes she's Allison's punching bag and sometimes Allison protects her.  Now, five years later, she still bears the brunt of Allison's terrible mistake.  People don't know Brynne or remember her name, but they do remember that she's Allison's sister.

Claire Kelby has everything she ever wanted:  her happy little bookstore, a wonderful marriage to her husband, Jonathan, and her son, Joshua.

Charm Tullia is working hard to get through nursing school, care for her dying step-father, Gus, and stay out of her mother's way.  Charm's mother moved out when she got tired of marriage and Gus, but Charm stayed behind while Reanne found another man to make her life exciting.  Now, she only calls Charm when she wants something, which is usually money.

Allison is leaving prison after five years of good behavior.  But she can't leave Linden Falls .  Just one word, or even a smile from her parents would go a long way, but they've erased her from their lives as effectively as if she were a streak of chalk on a blackboard.  Now, living in a halfway house and looking for a job, Allison only wants to finish her time here, then she'll be gone, off to a new life where she can put the past behind her.  But first, she needs to talk to Brynne.  Just one conversation.

THESE THINGS HIDDEN is a story of four women whose lives run parallel until the day when they are suddenly entwined together as their paths cross.  Each woman is struggling to make sense of her past and plan her future, but one tie binds them: a five-year-old child.  Allison has never once talked of her crime, but her secrets are the key to unraveling this story.  The fast moving scenes are told in four voices:  Allison's, Brynne's, Claire's and Charm's.  Each short chapter builds a crescendo that leads to the explosive ending.  The characters are dynamic, and the suspense is palpable.  Even though the subject matter is troublesome, the author crafts a story that is addicting all the way.

A dramatic telling of a frightening subject, THESE THINGS HIDDEN is captivating and a book not to be missed!

Diana Risso