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A Little Something To Hide
Some people want to take their secrets to the grave.
On the Briscola Coach Service to Albuquerque, that's just not possible.
"All manner of people ride a Briscola coach. Some travel toward dreams, others are escaping horrors, each carries their secrets and the belief that they harbour truths known only to themselves"
Craig Brown's debut novel, 'A Little Something To Hide', takes a peek into the lives of the passengers on the Briscola Coach Service from San Francisco to Albuquerque. Every traveller believes they’re harbouring a secret that none of the world can see. Some secrets are darker than others and none of them are truly hidden.
Climb aboard to learn more and remember, never trust the person you’re next to, no matter how sweet they look.
On the Briscola Coach Service to Albuquerque, that's just not possible.
"All manner of people ride a Briscola coach. Some travel toward dreams, others are escaping horrors, each carries their secrets and the belief that they harbour truths known only to themselves"
Craig Brown's debut novel, 'A Little Something To Hide', takes a peek into the lives of the passengers on the Briscola Coach Service from San Francisco to Albuquerque. Every traveller believes they’re harbouring a secret that none of the world can see. Some secrets are darker than others and none of them are truly hidden.
Climb aboard to learn more and remember, never trust the person you’re next to, no matter how sweet they look.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2024
2 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 28, 2025
A Little Something to Hide, by Craig Brown, masterfully intertwines a series of short stories centered on the passengers of the Briscola Coach Service, traveling from San Francisco to Albuquerque. Each traveler carries not just their physical baggage but also an array of personal struggles, aspirations, and closely guarded secrets. Through their intertwined journeys, Brown delves deeply into the complexities of the human psyche, weaving a narrative where trust, deception, and self-discovery converge. The themes he explores feel at once deeply personal and strikingly universal, offering an insightful commentary on the human condition.
The characters are diverse, each grappling with challenges that shape their lives in unique ways. Robert, or Bobbie, rejects the expectations of his conservative upbringing, finding liberation and self-expression within San Francisco’s vibrant drag and LGBTQ+ community. Sandra, once settled in a seemingly stable life, is thrust into upheaval as a single mother, dedicating two years to the search for her son’s father. Toby, burdened by his mother’s unfulfilled Hollywood dreams, struggles to reconcile borrowed ambitions with his own sense of self.
Brown’s storytelling shines in its ability to capture the delicate balance between hope and despair, trust and betrayal. His characters are vividly drawn, their emotional journeys so intricately rendered that they feel achingly real. Every page resonates with authenticity, thanks to his keen insight into emotions and the connections that bind us.
A standout feature of Brown’s writing is his gift for articulating emotions that many experience but few can put into words. This relatability, coupled with a deft balance of weighty themes like racism and violence alongside moments of intelligent humor, makes the dialogues sparkle. Every interaction feels natural, reinforcing the immersive realism.
For readers seeking literary fiction that provokes thought and stirs the soul, A Little Something to Hide is a triumph. Brown provides an exploration of the human experience, wrapped inside engaging tales that captivate and linger long after the final page.
The characters are diverse, each grappling with challenges that shape their lives in unique ways. Robert, or Bobbie, rejects the expectations of his conservative upbringing, finding liberation and self-expression within San Francisco’s vibrant drag and LGBTQ+ community. Sandra, once settled in a seemingly stable life, is thrust into upheaval as a single mother, dedicating two years to the search for her son’s father. Toby, burdened by his mother’s unfulfilled Hollywood dreams, struggles to reconcile borrowed ambitions with his own sense of self.
Brown’s storytelling shines in its ability to capture the delicate balance between hope and despair, trust and betrayal. His characters are vividly drawn, their emotional journeys so intricately rendered that they feel achingly real. Every page resonates with authenticity, thanks to his keen insight into emotions and the connections that bind us.
A standout feature of Brown’s writing is his gift for articulating emotions that many experience but few can put into words. This relatability, coupled with a deft balance of weighty themes like racism and violence alongside moments of intelligent humor, makes the dialogues sparkle. Every interaction feels natural, reinforcing the immersive realism.
For readers seeking literary fiction that provokes thought and stirs the soul, A Little Something to Hide is a triumph. Brown provides an exploration of the human experience, wrapped inside engaging tales that captivate and linger long after the final page.
October 10, 2024
Craig Brown’s book “A Little Something to Hide” is delivered in a series of eleven vignettes – one self-contained story for each character. Each of the characters featured in the book is travelling on a low budget bus service from San Francisco to Albuquerque, all of them escaping a life they want to leave behind for a better future at their destination.
Craig Brown has succeeded in creating interesting and engaging characters in his book, the concept and delivery of the individual story lines is effective and compelling. The characters in the book have strong individual personalities; some have been terribly mistreated by family members and associates. Others are escaping from wretched and dangerous situations. Craig has shown remarkable insight into the lives of these characters, aptly portraying the impact on those characters and their various reactions to the abuses they have suffered. Others characters are perpetrators that are looking to conceal their history by seeking a new life.
The subject matter is sometimes sleazy and immoral, however Craig has rendered the narrative in a non-judgemental manner, leaving the reader to form their own opinion of the morality of each character.
Although each chapter is a stand-alone story, there is some interaction between the various characters as the stories unfold, offering further insight into each character’s personality and relationships.
The ending is strong and effective, providing a fitting outcome to the series of narratives.
I have scored the book 4 stars out of 5. I was fully engaged with the story and the
individual characters. Unfortunately there are several editing and spelling errors that detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, but generally it is a compelling story that kept my interest to the last page.
The book will appeal to a broad range of readers who enjoy crime stories and contemporary fiction.
Craig Brown has succeeded in creating interesting and engaging characters in his book, the concept and delivery of the individual story lines is effective and compelling. The characters in the book have strong individual personalities; some have been terribly mistreated by family members and associates. Others are escaping from wretched and dangerous situations. Craig has shown remarkable insight into the lives of these characters, aptly portraying the impact on those characters and their various reactions to the abuses they have suffered. Others characters are perpetrators that are looking to conceal their history by seeking a new life.
The subject matter is sometimes sleazy and immoral, however Craig has rendered the narrative in a non-judgemental manner, leaving the reader to form their own opinion of the morality of each character.
Although each chapter is a stand-alone story, there is some interaction between the various characters as the stories unfold, offering further insight into each character’s personality and relationships.
The ending is strong and effective, providing a fitting outcome to the series of narratives.
I have scored the book 4 stars out of 5. I was fully engaged with the story and the
individual characters. Unfortunately there are several editing and spelling errors that detract from the overall enjoyment of the book, but generally it is a compelling story that kept my interest to the last page.
The book will appeal to a broad range of readers who enjoy crime stories and contemporary fiction.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews