HIDDEN, Karen Olson’s latest novel, grabbed me with
the first sentence, pulling me into a world of simple, natural beauty, intriguing
me with complicated, ambiguous relationships, then sweeping me along with
heart-pounding, ever-quickening action that held me captive till the last satisfying
page.
Idyllic Block Island, just off the coast of Rhode
Island, is Nicole Jones’s sanctuary – until it becomes her prison. Why has
Nicole isolated herself here? Why doesn’t she have a bank account, a driver’s
license, a computer – especially a computer? The answer, of course, lies in
Nicole’s past, which Olson reveals in tantalizing snippets as the story unfolds
and that past returns to threaten Nicole’s very existence.
When I began the book, I was at once reminded of the
classic suspense of Daphne Du Maurier and Mary Stewart as I relaxed into the beautiful setting,
the female protagonist with a secret, the romantic interest who may or may not
be what he seems. But as the plot began to thicken and the pace to quicken, I was turning pages faster and visualizing the
cinematic possibilities of the story. Now it was John Grisham
or Gillian Flynn who came to mind.
It's a wonderful read --- a twisting, breath-taking ride of
a novel! And I'm delighted to learn that a sequel is in the works. Nicole has more to tell us.
HIDDEN is available for pre-order HERE on Amazon (publishes in October.) It publishes in the UK, however, on July 31 and and is available early from amazonUK.
DISCLAIMER: I requested and received a review copy of this book from the publisher. Thus the somewhat formal review. But you should know I wouldn't review it if I didn't like it.
