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What Lies Hidden
Isobel McKenzie is an experienced and intuitive psychotherapist who is on sabbatical while recovering from illness. Reluctantly she goes to London to help out an old friend, solicitor Paul Wright, who is uneasy about the partisan nature of a proposed divorce settlement. He asks her to meet the couple, Thomas and Anne Banks, to assess the situation. Is Anne, a recovering alcoholic, possibly being coerced into signing an agreement which not only gives Thomas control of all their assets but also sole custody of their son?
Isobel immediately senses that something is awry and, despite herself, finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the case. She joins forces with Patricia King, a resourceful and imaginative secretary at the law firm. As they talk to family and friends of the couple they discover conflicting tales of alcoholism, coercion and possible abuse.
With the divorce settlement set to be signed in ten days’ time, Isobel and Patricia find themselves plunged into a dark world of lies and subterfuge where they are in a race to uncover and prove the truth.
Isobel immediately senses that something is awry and, despite herself, finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the case. She joins forces with Patricia King, a resourceful and imaginative secretary at the law firm. As they talk to family and friends of the couple they discover conflicting tales of alcoholism, coercion and possible abuse.
With the divorce settlement set to be signed in ten days’ time, Isobel and Patricia find themselves plunged into a dark world of lies and subterfuge where they are in a race to uncover and prove the truth.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2020
282 people are currently reading
1531 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 94 reviews
December 19, 2020
I received a copy from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
My main issue was the writing. It was awkward and the dialogue was unrealistic sounding. It all felt a little forced and unnatural. (And you could make a drinking game of every time Patricia blushes or Isobel bites her lip...) Likewise, the characters did not behave in a natural, believable way. Things just happened, way too conveniently. Of course the protagonist has friends in both DNA analysis and one with a cadaver dog willing to help her out on the sly despite it risking their jobs... Someone else knows a forensic gait analyst. A waitress/witness is friends with a homeless man who conveniently dumpster dives for the burner phone the suspect tosses. Everything was so effortless and convenient. Also, there were some minor editing issues. It was a first novel, though, and I think future books will definitely improve in this area.
The story, though. I am not a fan of domestic thrillers. At all. But this kept my attention. Yes, the plot was incredibly improbable, but that made it kind of fun. It had a great concept, and that was enough to keep me reading. So, overall, not a ad first offering.
My main issue was the writing. It was awkward and the dialogue was unrealistic sounding. It all felt a little forced and unnatural. (And you could make a drinking game of every time Patricia blushes or Isobel bites her lip...) Likewise, the characters did not behave in a natural, believable way. Things just happened, way too conveniently. Of course the protagonist has friends in both DNA analysis and one with a cadaver dog willing to help her out on the sly despite it risking their jobs... Someone else knows a forensic gait analyst. A waitress/witness is friends with a homeless man who conveniently dumpster dives for the burner phone the suspect tosses. Everything was so effortless and convenient. Also, there were some minor editing issues. It was a first novel, though, and I think future books will definitely improve in this area.
The story, though. I am not a fan of domestic thrillers. At all. But this kept my attention. Yes, the plot was incredibly improbable, but that made it kind of fun. It had a great concept, and that was enough to keep me reading. So, overall, not a ad first offering.
July 2, 2020
What a great read! I loved hearing about Isobel and Patricia’s investigation. The two of them asked insightful questions and opened up more and more areas to be addressed. I thought the author was wise in the way the story unfolded, managing to avoid cliche plotting. I am impressed and will definitely look for future work from Fran McDonnell. I highly recommend this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am grateful to BookSirens for the pleasure of reading this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I am grateful to BookSirens for the pleasure of reading this book.
July 15, 2020
This is a pretty good story. I would give this book 3.5 stars but because I enjoyed the plot I will give it 4 stars. I think with some editing this book could be a great story.
This book had elements of a story that I personally look for when choosing what to read. Strong female characters... yup. Interesting plot... yup. The writing was not rediculously descriptive which interferes with my imagination and stops me from fully immersing myself in the work (a huge pet peeve of mine). All together this was a nice easy read.
An area for consideration on future projects is that I felt the conversations tended to stall a bit. If they could be sharpened a bit I believe it would help to help improve the flow. However, the book had an interesting plot and quick enough pacing to keep my focus.
I believe with some changes this book could easily be a 5 star novel. I would read this author's work again and I would recommend this book to certain readers.
I recieved an ARC through BookSirens for review.
This book had elements of a story that I personally look for when choosing what to read. Strong female characters... yup. Interesting plot... yup. The writing was not rediculously descriptive which interferes with my imagination and stops me from fully immersing myself in the work (a huge pet peeve of mine). All together this was a nice easy read.
An area for consideration on future projects is that I felt the conversations tended to stall a bit. If they could be sharpened a bit I believe it would help to help improve the flow. However, the book had an interesting plot and quick enough pacing to keep my focus.
I believe with some changes this book could easily be a 5 star novel. I would read this author's work again and I would recommend this book to certain readers.
I recieved an ARC through BookSirens for review.
August 11, 2020
I struggled with this one. I received my copy through #GoodreadsGiveaways in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, if not for that fact, I probably would have put this one down as did not finish.
There were a few things bothering me throughout this book:
- There were many grammatical/spelling errors throughout from sentences missing words to a character's name being misspelled. I was surprised to discover this book was not self published because I would have thought a publisher would have caught these little errors. However, I did receive my electronic copy prior to the publishing date so some of these might be fixed.
- The dialogue was awkward and didn't seem authentic. Also it tended to over explain things for the reader's benefit (telling the reader rather than showing).
- The timeline of the story was not very realistic so much so that I found it distracting. The divorce process can take months so it struck me as odd how fast this one was moving and did not seem to have a real reason/explanation. Without giving out spoilers, other technical elements regarding police procedures were also incredibly fast. I think most distracting was the speed at which friendships/relationships/bonds/alliances were built. After hardly just meeting characters were spilling their hearts out over coffee, grasping hands, etc. It didn't feel like a true natural progression of interpersonal relationships.
- Character responses were not always very realistic or logical. I have no personal insight into law enforcement procedures, however, I do think it is unrealistic that a couple of civilians would be provided such access and authority in an active investigation (particularly ones who also have no law enforcement background). The civilians also were painted to be the only ones pushing the investigation towards very obvious/standard avenues while law enforcement pushed back in frustration. I am confident law enforcement have standard procedures and basic background checks they must do and any detective would do as second nature. Also the confidence with which some forensic evidence is given (and accepted) was unrealistic considering a quick Google search of these techniques will show you that while the techniques are used they are used with caution and as supportive evidence (not like a fingerprint).
- There were unnecessary subplots that did not really add to the story nor to the character development. There was a character's prior cancer treatment which was only briefly mentioned throughout the book and was oddly hidden from other characters as if it is something people would be ashamed of. There was also a budding romantic relationship that just seemed out of place and distracting.
I would consider reading another of Fran McDonnell's books. She's a new author and has a lot of potential. She definitely deserves praise for the siginifcant work and creativity that went into writing this book. I think this book just needed better editing.
There were a few things bothering me throughout this book:
- There were many grammatical/spelling errors throughout from sentences missing words to a character's name being misspelled. I was surprised to discover this book was not self published because I would have thought a publisher would have caught these little errors. However, I did receive my electronic copy prior to the publishing date so some of these might be fixed.
- The dialogue was awkward and didn't seem authentic. Also it tended to over explain things for the reader's benefit (telling the reader rather than showing).
- The timeline of the story was not very realistic so much so that I found it distracting. The divorce process can take months so it struck me as odd how fast this one was moving and did not seem to have a real reason/explanation. Without giving out spoilers, other technical elements regarding police procedures were also incredibly fast. I think most distracting was the speed at which friendships/relationships/bonds/alliances were built. After hardly just meeting characters were spilling their hearts out over coffee, grasping hands, etc. It didn't feel like a true natural progression of interpersonal relationships.
- Character responses were not always very realistic or logical. I have no personal insight into law enforcement procedures, however, I do think it is unrealistic that a couple of civilians would be provided such access and authority in an active investigation (particularly ones who also have no law enforcement background). The civilians also were painted to be the only ones pushing the investigation towards very obvious/standard avenues while law enforcement pushed back in frustration. I am confident law enforcement have standard procedures and basic background checks they must do and any detective would do as second nature. Also the confidence with which some forensic evidence is given (and accepted) was unrealistic considering a quick Google search of these techniques will show you that while the techniques are used they are used with caution and as supportive evidence (not like a fingerprint).
- There were unnecessary subplots that did not really add to the story nor to the character development. There was a character's prior cancer treatment which was only briefly mentioned throughout the book and was oddly hidden from other characters as if it is something people would be ashamed of. There was also a budding romantic relationship that just seemed out of place and distracting.
I would consider reading another of Fran McDonnell's books. She's a new author and has a lot of potential. She definitely deserves praise for the siginifcant work and creativity that went into writing this book. I think this book just needed better editing.
September 4, 2023
The story was good and kept me interested however I laughed because every single scenario, everything seemed to worked out perfectly. The intricate investigation wrapped up in a weeks time. There were literally NO obstacles. Every single person Isobel needed to track down, she found easily and promptly. Every person was home or came home within hours. She was able to get appointments with everyone that day or the next. Every person spilled the beans and told her every single detail she needed to know. Every detective was available right away and tests were run and results obtained promptly. Totally unrealistic and made the story unbelievable. I did still enjoy it though.
August 7, 2023
Difficult for me to review this because I feel it has been categorized incorrectly; it's not a psychological thriller. I'd say it's more of a "cozy mystery" (not that I've read one, but I'm assuming). It's like those Hallmark TV Series that star the lady from Full House, when she is solving neighbourhood crimes. Very light stuff. I'll start by saying the plot was decent enough but not to my liking in terms of structure; I prefer a crime story where I have to figure out who the criminal is along with the investigators. I want to be surprised when they are revealed ...(as a character we have already met). The characters here were all 1 dimensional. The two leads, Isobel and Patricia, were generic Nancy Drew types and the police and investigators whom they interact with were interchangeable. They were just all part of the "good guys" team. They could have been called Good Guy 1, Good Guy 2 etc. And I roll my eyes at this common trope where these civilian "investigators" just show up on the doorstop of possible witnesses and are welcomed in for a chat with tea and biscuits. And the professionals were always ready to accommodate these two at the drop of a hat. And of course the 2 civilians are way better at solving the crime than the cops. Another eye roll. So bottom line for me this was just an average read. Nothing special.
April 26, 2024
A gripping who-done-it!
Phew! That was something else!
A Mom is missing, soon to be, probably, divorced. Her husband says she's away and is an unfit drunk who shouldn't have contact with her son.
It starts here, all nice and normal like, goes there, goes around, mind-your-own business, comes back, goes Wowza!, red-herrings, totally confused (sort of), I'm stressed, then WHAT!???! ☕️🤔☕️😐💇♀️☕️ 😲🐕👑🌻🌷🗑🚚 ❗️🚔BAM!
This was one I really enjoyed. I read the book Broken Silence first, which made me go back to the beginning.
Looking forward to reading Victim Impact next.
Phew! That was something else!
A Mom is missing, soon to be, probably, divorced. Her husband says she's away and is an unfit drunk who shouldn't have contact with her son.
It starts here, all nice and normal like, goes there, goes around, mind-your-own business, comes back, goes Wowza!, red-herrings, totally confused (sort of), I'm stressed, then WHAT!???! ☕️🤔☕️😐💇♀️☕️ 😲🐕👑🌻🌷🗑🚚 ❗️🚔BAM!
This was one I really enjoyed. I read the book Broken Silence first, which made me go back to the beginning.
Looking forward to reading Victim Impact next.
July 4, 2020
This was a very good debut novel. The two protagonists worked well together and were well developed. The antagonist was evident from the beginning but the extent of his crimes were not known until Isobel and Patricia dug into his past. There were many twists and turns throughout, along with dreams which were very realistic and went along with the events of the day. Gladys an elderly neighbor was a hoot while Thomas Sr. was a very empathetic character. This novel could be developed into a series with the two protagonists solving cases for police departments. I would certainly follow these two. An excellent first novel. I received an advanced copy of this novel through BookSiren for my honest review.
August 4, 2023
No limit to evil
When an evil businessman defrauds everyone he meets to cover his own sins, its up to a psychotherapist to track down the truth. Great suspense and good use of details. The characters are believable, the descriptive prose made me feel like I was there. And I've never been to England!
When an evil businessman defrauds everyone he meets to cover his own sins, its up to a psychotherapist to track down the truth. Great suspense and good use of details. The characters are believable, the descriptive prose made me feel like I was there. And I've never been to England!
May 1, 2024
this book went on and on…. Got a bit boring and predictable. 3/5 stars
November 28, 2023
This was a very difficult book to get through, not because of the subject matter but because the book droned on. I also wouldn’t classify this as a mystery, psychological thriller or suspense book. This was a cozy mystery, at best. The whole plot is super unrealistic and implausible. Halfway through the book the “mystery” is solved and yet takes a very long time to come to a conclusion. I really wish the author used different descriptors- if I had to read about someone blushing or biting their lip one more time, I was going to scream. The conversations are stilted and not very lifelike. Overall, I would not recommend this book, nor would I read anything else by this author.
August 2, 2023
Ok but highly unlikely...great protagonists though
The handling of the realities of domestic abuse...warning signs. progression, etc was done very well however the suspension of disbelief required to regard Isobels 's involvement in the case as allowed and professional is pretty sketchy. Great plot and a pleasant read, very likeable characters....a writer to watch
The handling of the realities of domestic abuse...warning signs. progression, etc was done very well however the suspension of disbelief required to regard Isobels 's involvement in the case as allowed and professional is pretty sketchy. Great plot and a pleasant read, very likeable characters....a writer to watch
August 11, 2020
Review of eBook
Psychotherapist Isobel McKenzie travels to London to help a friend, solicitor Paul Wright, who has some concerns about a pending divorce settlement. Paul is concerned that the husband, Thomas, has coerced his wife, Anne, a recovering alcoholic, into signing the agreement that gives him complete control of all assets and sole custody of their son, Tommy.
The meeting and some investigating convince Isobel that something is amiss with the situation and, before long, finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the case. Determined to find the answers she needs, Isobel partners with Peter’s secretary, Patricia King, and together they set out to investigate. But will they find the truth before it’s time for Anne and Thomas Banks to sign the divorce papers?
Strong, relatable characters and an intriguing premise pull readers into the telling of the tale from the beginning. An underlying sense of foreboding keeps the tension building while new revelations change understandings and create new challenges. The twisty, unpredictable plot helps build the suspense as does the looming deadline. Although some things seem to fall into place a bit too conveniently, the compelling, unputdownable narrative is sure to keep the reader guessing.
Psychotherapist Isobel McKenzie travels to London to help a friend, solicitor Paul Wright, who has some concerns about a pending divorce settlement. Paul is concerned that the husband, Thomas, has coerced his wife, Anne, a recovering alcoholic, into signing the agreement that gives him complete control of all assets and sole custody of their son, Tommy.
The meeting and some investigating convince Isobel that something is amiss with the situation and, before long, finds herself drawn deeper and deeper into the case. Determined to find the answers she needs, Isobel partners with Peter’s secretary, Patricia King, and together they set out to investigate. But will they find the truth before it’s time for Anne and Thomas Banks to sign the divorce papers?
Strong, relatable characters and an intriguing premise pull readers into the telling of the tale from the beginning. An underlying sense of foreboding keeps the tension building while new revelations change understandings and create new challenges. The twisty, unpredictable plot helps build the suspense as does the looming deadline. Although some things seem to fall into place a bit too conveniently, the compelling, unputdownable narrative is sure to keep the reader guessing.
August 26, 2020
The idea for this book was fantastic and original. However, it’s the details that really make this story lag. First off, Isobel keeping her cancer a secret was strange, adding an unnecessary and trivial “secret” that would have been much better just out in the open. Second, her bossy brother was irritating, as was the way Isobel let him and other men talk to her, it was frustrating reading her getting walked all over with no character development that led to her eventually standing up for herself. Third, I’ve never read a more emotional book, and not that it made me emotional, but it felt like someone was always close to tears or crying. It was just a bit much. It also didn’t quite add up why a psychotherapist was doing all this detective work, often with the help of a receptionist. The clues and evidence were often too tidy and fit together too well, or far-reaching but somehow still managed to work out in their favor. I ended up skimming or skipping the majority of the dream sequences because they added little to the actual plot.
This book could have done better with a lot more editing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book could have done better with a lot more editing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 22, 2023
Psychotherapist Isobel helps a lawyer friend who wants to know if his client in a divorce is being railroaded.
Isobel discovers that Thomas has been violent toward women, including his wife. Furthermore he’s not really Thomas because he stole a dead friend’s identity many years ago and, for several months his wife has not been his wife, but an actress playing the part. And, yes, his young son could be in danger.
But neither the lawyer nor the police will confront the fake Thomas until his “wife” signs the divorce papers. Why? I have no idea. Furthermore everyone keeps wanting more evidence concerning what Thomas is really doing. Why? Who knows.
Toward the end, the story turns into a murder investigation and we discover “Thomas” murdered his friend, his mother and his wife. He’s caught trying to dispose of the body of his wife, which he’d never have had a chance to do if he’d been arrested sooner.
There are interesting parts to this depressing story, but it has too much detail and drags somewhat. Above all, the unbelievable unwillingness to more quickly put a stop to the charade “Thomas” is perpetrating constantly grated me.
Isobel discovers that Thomas has been violent toward women, including his wife. Furthermore he’s not really Thomas because he stole a dead friend’s identity many years ago and, for several months his wife has not been his wife, but an actress playing the part. And, yes, his young son could be in danger.
But neither the lawyer nor the police will confront the fake Thomas until his “wife” signs the divorce papers. Why? I have no idea. Furthermore everyone keeps wanting more evidence concerning what Thomas is really doing. Why? Who knows.
Toward the end, the story turns into a murder investigation and we discover “Thomas” murdered his friend, his mother and his wife. He’s caught trying to dispose of the body of his wife, which he’d never have had a chance to do if he’d been arrested sooner.
There are interesting parts to this depressing story, but it has too much detail and drags somewhat. Above all, the unbelievable unwillingness to more quickly put a stop to the charade “Thomas” is perpetrating constantly grated me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2020
I really enjoyed What Lies Hidden! It is a psychological thriller that starts out simply enough, when Isobel goes to help a friend with a case. However what ensues is an unexpected series of twists and turns until it reaches the conclusion.
I loved trying to guess what would be uncovered next. Sometimes I was correct and sometimes I was not. The book left me guessing, which I really like. It was somewhat predictable but not always.
The main character, Isobel was quite likable, and I wanted her to be successful on the case. I did find that she was almost too emotional, as she cried a lot throughout the book. Perhaps that is what makes her good at her job.
I did find the conclusion a bit anticlimactic, although perhaps it is the way things may have ended in real life. That being said, I did enjoy it and was satisfied with the resolutions at the end of the book .
I would recommend this book. I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved trying to guess what would be uncovered next. Sometimes I was correct and sometimes I was not. The book left me guessing, which I really like. It was somewhat predictable but not always.
The main character, Isobel was quite likable, and I wanted her to be successful on the case. I did find that she was almost too emotional, as she cried a lot throughout the book. Perhaps that is what makes her good at her job.
I did find the conclusion a bit anticlimactic, although perhaps it is the way things may have ended in real life. That being said, I did enjoy it and was satisfied with the resolutions at the end of the book .
I would recommend this book. I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 7, 2020
This is a brilliant book. But 426 pages in electronic media is quite a hefty time investment. However, it was unputdownable. The author has executed the story brilliantly and you can well imagine the situations as the story progresses. The narration is captivating and keeps the readers engaged. I did think in between if it could have been a little shorter. But overall I was well impressed with the story. The characters are well developed and relatable, in the sense that if I were in Isobel or Patricia's shoes, I would do the same things they did. Yeah, I do that a lot. Imagine myself in a character's shoe.
The premise is made all the more interesting when there is a deadline involved. The race against time in the back of your head, keeps you wondering what happens next. Another interesting thing was the inclusion of Patricia in the story. Usually such positions are overlooked in most stories. Loved both the characters.
All in all a totally recommended book.
I received this book as an advanced reader copy and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
The premise is made all the more interesting when there is a deadline involved. The race against time in the back of your head, keeps you wondering what happens next. Another interesting thing was the inclusion of Patricia in the story. Usually such positions are overlooked in most stories. Loved both the characters.
All in all a totally recommended book.
I received this book as an advanced reader copy and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
August 17, 2023
3.5 stars I Wouldn’t describe this as a psychological thriller, it felt more Nancy Drew than a hard hitting thriller. I quite like the characters in it, they were likeable. Though I found the whole cancer background and the brother who pestered constantly really weird and unnecessary, I didn’t see why it needed to be in there.
I really liked the premise of the story, there was a lot of potential and I thought the story unravelled quite well, I was hooked to be fair! It was different and not far fetched at all. I like how the storylines linked together.
What I did find a distraction was the timeline, I know this is fiction but Jesus everything happened do easy and so fast! People just meg and randomly became bezzies, hugging each other and running around like Nancy Drew and gang. I found the two protagonists running round solving mysteries and liaising with police a bit far fetched but overall it was a decent read and I was happy with how it ended. I would definitely read another Fran McDonnell book again, she has potential.
I really liked the premise of the story, there was a lot of potential and I thought the story unravelled quite well, I was hooked to be fair! It was different and not far fetched at all. I like how the storylines linked together.
What I did find a distraction was the timeline, I know this is fiction but Jesus everything happened do easy and so fast! People just meg and randomly became bezzies, hugging each other and running around like Nancy Drew and gang. I found the two protagonists running round solving mysteries and liaising with police a bit far fetched but overall it was a decent read and I was happy with how it ended. I would definitely read another Fran McDonnell book again, she has potential.
August 29, 2020
This book has so much promise. The storyline is actually quite interesting, however, it needs some work. Things just happen way too easily; I don’t believe that folks could easily get these “favors” done for them on the side as easily as they do in this book.
The writing was also touch and go for me. Sometimes the detail was too much and sometimes there seemed to be abrupt stopping points.
Overall I think this book has the potential to be quite excellent because the story itself is intriguing. But I couldn’t rate higher than 3 stars because of the unbelievable luck these characters had in getting not only the favors they needed with no qualms but also getting complete strangers to just spill their life stories after randomly showing up on their doorstep. Too far-fetched to rate higher.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing was also touch and go for me. Sometimes the detail was too much and sometimes there seemed to be abrupt stopping points.
Overall I think this book has the potential to be quite excellent because the story itself is intriguing. But I couldn’t rate higher than 3 stars because of the unbelievable luck these characters had in getting not only the favors they needed with no qualms but also getting complete strangers to just spill their life stories after randomly showing up on their doorstep. Too far-fetched to rate higher.
Thanks to the author and BookSirens for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 31, 2020
I loved everything about this book-the characters, the setting, the action, the suspense, just everything. The characters were fully developed three-dimensional characters that could be people the reader knows; no superheroes or amazing talents, just people who use their professional skills to do what needs to be done. I love British mysteries, so having the story set in London was extremely enjoyable for me. There were plenty of surprises, suspense, and a great investigation.
According to the front matter, this is Ms. McDonnell's first novel, but I sure hope that it won't be her last. I will be looking for her name on future books and I will be sure to read them.
I received a review copy from Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. I want to thank them and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
According to the front matter, this is Ms. McDonnell's first novel, but I sure hope that it won't be her last. I will be looking for her name on future books and I will be sure to read them.
I received a review copy from Book Sirens and this is my honest opinion. I want to thank them and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
August 15, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. WOW, what a storyteller this author is.
She had me hooked from the first page, and just had me turning the pages. To the extent that I finally had to 'close the book' at 1:20am to get some sleep, not because I was tired as I could have carried on reading, but because I needed to sleep.
Great character development of both the villain and the main characters. Brilliant introduction of new characters, and then melding those characters in to form excellent relationship buidling.
Great suspense, although I did figure out a few things before the reveal, but I somehow don't think the author wanted us to wait for the reveal, but rather to come to the conclusions on our own.
The only small irritation was the main characters emotional reactions, perhaps there was foundation for it, but it did get a bit on my nerves.
Highly recommended!
She had me hooked from the first page, and just had me turning the pages. To the extent that I finally had to 'close the book' at 1:20am to get some sleep, not because I was tired as I could have carried on reading, but because I needed to sleep.
Great character development of both the villain and the main characters. Brilliant introduction of new characters, and then melding those characters in to form excellent relationship buidling.
Great suspense, although I did figure out a few things before the reveal, but I somehow don't think the author wanted us to wait for the reveal, but rather to come to the conclusions on our own.
The only small irritation was the main characters emotional reactions, perhaps there was foundation for it, but it did get a bit on my nerves.
Highly recommended!
August 4, 2023
I did like this book and I read to the end as I wanted to see the perpetrator get their comeuppance but it felt so rushed.
I understood there was a deadline as part of the storyline but everyone was always available immediately, neighbours were trusting and accommodating and everyone was invited in for so many cups of tea. All the professionals were never too busy, there were no existing appointments to change, and they gave their phone numbers to whoever.
Also the descriptions of Isobel’s bad dreams every night became too repetitive and I started to roll my eyes at her going to bed for another restless nightmare laden sleep.
It was all tied up very neatly but I’m not sure the police would be so open and relaxed about civilians sitting in on as much as they did.
An interesting read but everything was just too unproblematic and rapid to be realistic.
I understood there was a deadline as part of the storyline but everyone was always available immediately, neighbours were trusting and accommodating and everyone was invited in for so many cups of tea. All the professionals were never too busy, there were no existing appointments to change, and they gave their phone numbers to whoever.
Also the descriptions of Isobel’s bad dreams every night became too repetitive and I started to roll my eyes at her going to bed for another restless nightmare laden sleep.
It was all tied up very neatly but I’m not sure the police would be so open and relaxed about civilians sitting in on as much as they did.
An interesting read but everything was just too unproblematic and rapid to be realistic.
July 9, 2020
Actually, I give this a 4.5 star! I loved the book. I felt it was well-written with a smooth, fast-paced plot that developed logically. The characters were believable and relatable. I felt Isobel's questions and reactions were role appropriate for a psychotherapist. My only criticism is that the tale had a natural ending a few pages before the actual end. I felt the added summation was unnecessary and added a "sweet"/saccharine element that detracted from the preceding thriller feel. I would be interested in reading more by this author.
I must note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book is good enough that I would have paid for it.!
I must note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book is good enough that I would have paid for it.!
August 21, 2020
What Lies Hidden was a debut novel by Fran McDonnell, I did enjoy the book overall although I did feel like it could have been better with a little more editing. I found the plot line to be engaging, and I enjoyed the characters. At times there was some repetation which the editing could have fixed. This is one of my favorite genres, so I did continue reading where I may have stopped with other genres. I usually suggest everyone read and make their own decisions about a book, because every book isn't for everyone.
Thank you BookSirens and the author for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you BookSirens and the author for a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 18, 2020
If I hadn't read that this was a debut novel, I would never have suspected it! Fran McDonnell is a name you will hear about. She created a fantastic mystery in London, leading a mis-matched group to investigate a concerning divorce case. The story took many turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat. I loved the characters, the plot, and the ending. The main characters are so realistic I feel like I know them personally. I loved this book!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest review.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my open and honest review.
August 16, 2020
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It was a good first effort. The plot was engaging, and even though the reader knows the antagonist from the beginning, the story is still compelling.
As others have noted, there are some issues with the writing It can be choppy in places, and can be a bit repetative. However, this could be ironed out with more editing, and I am sure will also improve with the author's future efforts.
I receieved an advanced review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As others have noted, there are some issues with the writing It can be choppy in places, and can be a bit repetative. However, this could be ironed out with more editing, and I am sure will also improve with the author's future efforts.
I receieved an advanced review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 15, 2020
Fran McDonnell's enjoyable debut novel is immensely gripping. The main characters are engaging, relatable and sympathetic, which is important for a story to have that authentic believable feel. I felt that I was immersed in a fast paced whodunnit movie, and literally couldn't put the book down. It has all of the ingredients for a successful TV mini series, with plenty of opportunity for EastEnders style "Dun Dun Dun" cliffhanger closing scenes! Perfect lockdown reading material. More please! I'm looking forward to a sequel already ..
August 1, 2023
Deception!
Peter has a really interesting divorce case, he thinks that something is off about it, but he decides to call in an old college friend to help him uncover if there is truly something deceptive going on. Isobel is definitely catching a weird vibe and her instincts are telling her this is much more at stake here than a woman being robbed of her lawful rights and custody of her son. What a trail they uncover along with Peter’s secretary and others. A must read if you like intrigue and sleuthing.
Peter has a really interesting divorce case, he thinks that something is off about it, but he decides to call in an old college friend to help him uncover if there is truly something deceptive going on. Isobel is definitely catching a weird vibe and her instincts are telling her this is much more at stake here than a woman being robbed of her lawful rights and custody of her son. What a trail they uncover along with Peter’s secretary and others. A must read if you like intrigue and sleuthing.
July 6, 2020
What a fantastic debut novel. I love to read psychological thrillers and this book did not disappoint. I instantly fell in love with Isobel and Patricia and could relate to them almost immediately. An absoloute page turner from the minute I picked it up I didn’t want to put it down. With plot twists all the way through and a real attention to detail from the author the book concludes perfectly. I cannot wait to read more from this author!!
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