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What I Hid From You
A DEATH - AN ACCIDENT - A STUPID MISTAKE
Traumatised by the death of a patient, and crippled with anxiety, Glaswegian dentist Radha Bakshi succumbs to an addiction to Valium she can’t acknowledge, even to herself.
In truth, she relies on the pills to juggle being the consummate professional, perfect daughter, devoted wife and a not-too-embarrassing mother to her teenage son.
When increased scrutiny of her work forces her to find a new source of supply, she stumbles into the clutches of blackmailing drug dealers.
A mistake that could cost her everything.
Traumatised by the death of a patient, and crippled with anxiety, Glaswegian dentist Radha Bakshi succumbs to an addiction to Valium she can’t acknowledge, even to herself.
In truth, she relies on the pills to juggle being the consummate professional, perfect daughter, devoted wife and a not-too-embarrassing mother to her teenage son.
When increased scrutiny of her work forces her to find a new source of supply, she stumbles into the clutches of blackmailing drug dealers.
A mistake that could cost her everything.
- GenresThriller
366 pages, Paperback
Published June 23, 2022
17 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
July 11, 2022
This was a really addictive (pun intended) read!
A book that shows just how easy it can be to slip into the vice like grip of an addiction and reliance on prescription drugs.
I felt for the protagonist Radha right from the opening pages, Kist writes an opening that hooks you immediately and doesn't let up. Radha is a conscientious dentist who is well liked and respected, until a patient dies during an appointment and it causes her to doubt her own ability and professional decisions. The trauma and stress in the aftermath is written so powerfully that I felt it with her too- her pain and guilt were palpable!
As the book progresses, it takes a darker turn as Radha has to find new means of acquiring her drugs, and I was actually split between wanting the relief of knowing she had got them, or worry about Radha needing more and more!
Gunbir's chapters were interesting, the POV didn't really explain itself until later...
This was a fantastic read, and has really resonated with me since I finished it a few months ago!
A book that shows just how easy it can be to slip into the vice like grip of an addiction and reliance on prescription drugs.
I felt for the protagonist Radha right from the opening pages, Kist writes an opening that hooks you immediately and doesn't let up. Radha is a conscientious dentist who is well liked and respected, until a patient dies during an appointment and it causes her to doubt her own ability and professional decisions. The trauma and stress in the aftermath is written so powerfully that I felt it with her too- her pain and guilt were palpable!
As the book progresses, it takes a darker turn as Radha has to find new means of acquiring her drugs, and I was actually split between wanting the relief of knowing she had got them, or worry about Radha needing more and more!
Gunbir's chapters were interesting, the POV didn't really explain itself until later...
This was a fantastic read, and has really resonated with me since I finished it a few months ago!
July 15, 2022
When are you considered a pill-popper or addict?
This slow burn is my first read by Heleen Kist. It started a little sluggish but didn’t take long to pull me into Radha’s addiction to Valium and the dark, isolated road it takes her down.
Crippling anxiety is brought on after a patient dies during treatment. One pill was all it took. She craved the euphoric and calm feeling the drug brought on. Like most women, Radha has too much on her plate. Between her dental practice and home life, the pressures of everyday life are too much. But she resists acknowledging it.
Her addiction leads her down an inevitable journey with corrupt characters that take advantage of her dilemma. This realistic element is what makes this psychological thriller so impressively suspenseful!
“‘That’s insane,’ I spat. ‘You’re criminals.’ ‘
And you’re not?’
I felt the blood drain from my face, panic rising within. ‘No, I …’
He gave his pal a boring look. ‘Of course not. Nice professional people never do anything wrong.”
Thank you to Pollok Glen Publishing and Love Books Tours for this #gifted and insightful ARC. All opinions are my own.
#whatihidfromyou #heleenkist #psychologicalthriller #ad #drugaddiction #bookstagrammer #honestreview #bookreview #justfinishedreading #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booktour #booktourhost #lovebookstours #pollokglenpublishing #bookreviewer #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew
#mysteryandthrills #thrillerafterthriller #readwithme #bookaddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #fortheloveofbooks
This slow burn is my first read by Heleen Kist. It started a little sluggish but didn’t take long to pull me into Radha’s addiction to Valium and the dark, isolated road it takes her down.
Crippling anxiety is brought on after a patient dies during treatment. One pill was all it took. She craved the euphoric and calm feeling the drug brought on. Like most women, Radha has too much on her plate. Between her dental practice and home life, the pressures of everyday life are too much. But she resists acknowledging it.
Her addiction leads her down an inevitable journey with corrupt characters that take advantage of her dilemma. This realistic element is what makes this psychological thriller so impressively suspenseful!
“‘That’s insane,’ I spat. ‘You’re criminals.’ ‘
And you’re not?’
I felt the blood drain from my face, panic rising within. ‘No, I …’
He gave his pal a boring look. ‘Of course not. Nice professional people never do anything wrong.”
Thank you to Pollok Glen Publishing and Love Books Tours for this #gifted and insightful ARC. All opinions are my own.
#whatihidfromyou #heleenkist #psychologicalthriller #ad #drugaddiction #bookstagrammer #honestreview #bookreview #justfinishedreading #thrilleraddict #thrillerlover #booktour #booktourhost #lovebookstours #pollokglenpublishing #bookreviewer #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew
#mysteryandthrills #thrillerafterthriller #readwithme #bookaddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #fortheloveofbooks
July 13, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Lovebookstours.
What I Hid From You is a gripping, slow burn thriller about Radha, a dentist who's recently been subjected to trauma in her work place after an elderly patient died in her dental chair. Radha had to be investigated and suffering flashbacks, anxiety, stress and panic attacks from the event, she has become reliant on prescription drugs. At first Radha forges her husbands signature on his prescription pad at their joint practice but soon realises this could get her found out. She then has to find another way of getting the much depended on tablets and not getting caught - this could end her career for good. I really felt for Radha and liked her character very much. This story really opened Mt eyes as to how easy falling into addiction can be and that it can happen to anyone. As the story progresses we learn Radhas elderly father Gunbir also has suffered at the hands of the same people his daughter has become embroiled with and the ending was so cleverly wrapped up and unexpected!
I wasn't so keen on Rhadas husband Arjan through the story and couldn't warm to him at all. Her son Manesh grew on me through the book. I enjoyed that this book was split into two POVs between Rhada and Gunbir and found it added to the twist at the end of the book.
What I Hid From You is a gripping, slow burn thriller about Radha, a dentist who's recently been subjected to trauma in her work place after an elderly patient died in her dental chair. Radha had to be investigated and suffering flashbacks, anxiety, stress and panic attacks from the event, she has become reliant on prescription drugs. At first Radha forges her husbands signature on his prescription pad at their joint practice but soon realises this could get her found out. She then has to find another way of getting the much depended on tablets and not getting caught - this could end her career for good. I really felt for Radha and liked her character very much. This story really opened Mt eyes as to how easy falling into addiction can be and that it can happen to anyone. As the story progresses we learn Radhas elderly father Gunbir also has suffered at the hands of the same people his daughter has become embroiled with and the ending was so cleverly wrapped up and unexpected!
I wasn't so keen on Rhadas husband Arjan through the story and couldn't warm to him at all. Her son Manesh grew on me through the book. I enjoyed that this book was split into two POVs between Rhada and Gunbir and found it added to the twist at the end of the book.
May 17, 2022
Family is at the heart of Heleen Kist’s suspense novel WHAT I HID FROM YOU.
Radha Bakshi is juggling the dental practice previously run by her father (which she now operates with her husband), plus somewhat strained relationships with her son, father and husband, and post-traumatic stress brought about by a workplace incident. Life would be challenging enough without a growing drug substance abuse problem…
With a unique set-up and a convincing family dynamic at the centre of the story, I found myself very much invested in Radha’s journey as the tension cranked up and the book reached its climax.
A brilliant read, not to be missed.
Radha Bakshi is juggling the dental practice previously run by her father (which she now operates with her husband), plus somewhat strained relationships with her son, father and husband, and post-traumatic stress brought about by a workplace incident. Life would be challenging enough without a growing drug substance abuse problem…
With a unique set-up and a convincing family dynamic at the centre of the story, I found myself very much invested in Radha’s journey as the tension cranked up and the book reached its climax.
A brilliant read, not to be missed.
June 8, 2022
An unusual premise - a professional dentist succumbs to a Valium addiction after being traumatised by the death of a patient in the treatment chair - provides a gripping story in which a clever, strong, loyal woman finds herself momentarily vulnerable, with disastrous consequences. Realistic, relateable, and frightening.
July 23, 2022
This is the first book I’ve read of Heleen Kist and I really enjoyed it.
The book follows Radha who is a dentist and who suffers from anxiety. She writes prescriptions for herself and uses her husband’s pad but soon has to stop as questions get asked.
She finds another way to get the tablets but soon realises she’s in over her head.
A nasty couple of men start to threaten her and she’s soon putting her dentistry reputation at risk.
We also find out that Radha’s Father was involved with these men a few years ago, and that ended in tragedy.
This is a gripping thriller that shows how easily things can get out of hand.
The book follows Radha who is a dentist and who suffers from anxiety. She writes prescriptions for herself and uses her husband’s pad but soon has to stop as questions get asked.
She finds another way to get the tablets but soon realises she’s in over her head.
A nasty couple of men start to threaten her and she’s soon putting her dentistry reputation at risk.
We also find out that Radha’s Father was involved with these men a few years ago, and that ended in tragedy.
This is a gripping thriller that shows how easily things can get out of hand.
July 24, 2022
If you haven’t read anything by this author then start here, and if you enjoy this then give the authors other two books a go. This one grabbed me from the start. Centred around Radha Bakshi who is juggling everything to keep everyone happy.
Radha is a dentist she has taken over her fathers surgery along with her husband Arjun who also does cosmetic work to bring in extra money to the clinic. As the story begins Radha receives a letter she has been anxiously waiting for from the GDC the General Dental Council, a patient had died whilst receiving treatment from Radha, now she will find out if they had believed it to be her fault or not. When it had happened she had been given a Diazepam also commonly known as Valium to calm her nerves. But that one tablet and the ongoing investigation had led to Radha having severe panic attacks, she had resorted to prescribing herself tablets. Until it was flagged up by the GDC that too many prescriptions of this medicationwere being given. Radha then resorted to using her husbands pad but when he got flagged she knew she needed to find a new way of getting hold of these drugs.
If she went to her GP it would be flagged on her records and she was worried that she would get struck off. But this in itself put even more pressure on the already struggling Radha. When her son Manesh came home from school one day with a letter saying drug dealers had been hanging around the school. Radha thought this could be her answer, little did she know where this could lead.
Most of the story is from the point of view of Radha, as she struggles to manage her job, a teenage son, keeping her husband happy and looking after her diabetic father. Other chapters are from the point of view of her father Gunbir whose wife had died after a fall in the garden, but was it a fall or was she pushed? Gunbir had been convinced she had been pushed. He had CCTV footage that convinced him but the police had said the footage showed nothing, but Gunbir was sure there was a hand. Was there? What had they been involved in? That could lead to someone wanting her to die.
This is a brilliantly written taut thriller, the pace gradually stepping up the more you read, gradually pulling you deeper. I felt for Radha she felt she was losing her teenage son as he was growing up, any parent with grown up children knows how this feels when they no longer need you, or that’s how you feel. As I read of her panic attacks they are so real I found myself trying to calm down with her, if you’ve had them you will know what that means as well. Heleen has written the panic/anxiety attacks so perfectly.
I enjoyed learning how Gunbir and his wife had ended up living in the UK after Idi Armeen had driven families from Uganda, they had fled the country with nothing, finding themselves in the UK having to start all over again. He still missed his late wife, loved seeing his daughter and grandson.
All the characters are believable, three dimensional, and likeable, except for the few unsavoury ones, you can picture them all perfectly. This is a gripping, emotional, suspenseful read, that will have you glued, how is Radha going to get out of the corner she finds herself in, without her family finding out, how can she protect them all. She is so afraid her husband won’t see her the same way if he finds out. I had no idea how it was going to end, but loved how it did.
A definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. I would like to thank the author for my ARC of this book, and for my spot on the blog tour.
Radha is a dentist she has taken over her fathers surgery along with her husband Arjun who also does cosmetic work to bring in extra money to the clinic. As the story begins Radha receives a letter she has been anxiously waiting for from the GDC the General Dental Council, a patient had died whilst receiving treatment from Radha, now she will find out if they had believed it to be her fault or not. When it had happened she had been given a Diazepam also commonly known as Valium to calm her nerves. But that one tablet and the ongoing investigation had led to Radha having severe panic attacks, she had resorted to prescribing herself tablets. Until it was flagged up by the GDC that too many prescriptions of this medicationwere being given. Radha then resorted to using her husbands pad but when he got flagged she knew she needed to find a new way of getting hold of these drugs.
If she went to her GP it would be flagged on her records and she was worried that she would get struck off. But this in itself put even more pressure on the already struggling Radha. When her son Manesh came home from school one day with a letter saying drug dealers had been hanging around the school. Radha thought this could be her answer, little did she know where this could lead.
Most of the story is from the point of view of Radha, as she struggles to manage her job, a teenage son, keeping her husband happy and looking after her diabetic father. Other chapters are from the point of view of her father Gunbir whose wife had died after a fall in the garden, but was it a fall or was she pushed? Gunbir had been convinced she had been pushed. He had CCTV footage that convinced him but the police had said the footage showed nothing, but Gunbir was sure there was a hand. Was there? What had they been involved in? That could lead to someone wanting her to die.
This is a brilliantly written taut thriller, the pace gradually stepping up the more you read, gradually pulling you deeper. I felt for Radha she felt she was losing her teenage son as he was growing up, any parent with grown up children knows how this feels when they no longer need you, or that’s how you feel. As I read of her panic attacks they are so real I found myself trying to calm down with her, if you’ve had them you will know what that means as well. Heleen has written the panic/anxiety attacks so perfectly.
I enjoyed learning how Gunbir and his wife had ended up living in the UK after Idi Armeen had driven families from Uganda, they had fled the country with nothing, finding themselves in the UK having to start all over again. He still missed his late wife, loved seeing his daughter and grandson.
All the characters are believable, three dimensional, and likeable, except for the few unsavoury ones, you can picture them all perfectly. This is a gripping, emotional, suspenseful read, that will have you glued, how is Radha going to get out of the corner she finds herself in, without her family finding out, how can she protect them all. She is so afraid her husband won’t see her the same way if he finds out. I had no idea how it was going to end, but loved how it did.
A definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. I would like to thank the author for my ARC of this book, and for my spot on the blog tour.
June 28, 2022
The real question to be asked from this book is … define being an addict and a real addict!
One of my favourite things about What I Hid From You was the hidden meanings. Don’t get me wrong this was one hell of an incredibly thrilling read. It had a steady pace throughout but hooked you instantly wanting, no, needing to know what happens next…
However, that being said a BIG part of this book was about addiction and anxiety. The way it was written was incredibly sensitive but also made you realise just how bad either one of these could be.
When people think of addiction they automatically think of one type of person and that is not the case. As you can see clearly in this masterpiece written by Heleen Kist.
The same with anxiety. A word that is overused if you ask me. But it is in this context where people need the help, and are too ashamed to ask for it. It was heartbreaking that the main character did not feel ok to talk.
My second favourite thing about this book and Heleen’s writing style is the impeccable description that is used … so much so that in the beginning you can feel the weight that has been lifted from The main character Radha’s shoulders before you have even had a chance to connect with her.
That being said, it didn’t take long at all to feel a strong bond and connection to Radha. She was written perfectly, dealing with sensitive subjects taken with such care and consideration.
This is an amazing book that I believe will be enjoyed by many no matter what genre they prefer. This is more than just a one genre fitting. Absolutely incredible!!
One of my favourite things about What I Hid From You was the hidden meanings. Don’t get me wrong this was one hell of an incredibly thrilling read. It had a steady pace throughout but hooked you instantly wanting, no, needing to know what happens next…
However, that being said a BIG part of this book was about addiction and anxiety. The way it was written was incredibly sensitive but also made you realise just how bad either one of these could be.
When people think of addiction they automatically think of one type of person and that is not the case. As you can see clearly in this masterpiece written by Heleen Kist.
The same with anxiety. A word that is overused if you ask me. But it is in this context where people need the help, and are too ashamed to ask for it. It was heartbreaking that the main character did not feel ok to talk.
My second favourite thing about this book and Heleen’s writing style is the impeccable description that is used … so much so that in the beginning you can feel the weight that has been lifted from The main character Radha’s shoulders before you have even had a chance to connect with her.
That being said, it didn’t take long at all to feel a strong bond and connection to Radha. She was written perfectly, dealing with sensitive subjects taken with such care and consideration.
This is an amazing book that I believe will be enjoyed by many no matter what genre they prefer. This is more than just a one genre fitting. Absolutely incredible!!
May 7, 2022
A real old-fashioned pacy thriller, with realistic characters, an unusual premise that's superbly executed, and tension that builds and builds. I devoured it in a few days and can't recommend it enough if you want something a little bit different.
July 11, 2022
What I Hid From You is a character driven, domestic noir novel told from the perspectives of Radha and her father Gunbir.
Radha is suffering from severe anxiety, and possibly PTSD, after a patient dies in her dentist's chair. She's been clear of wrongdoing, but the guilt of what happened is still weighing on her. Add on top of that a teenage son and a husband that she seems to do everything for, then it's no wonder she turns to Valium to help her. This leads her on a dangerous path and gets her involved with a drug gang, which threatens not just her livelihood but her family, too.
Gunbir was forced to retire because of his diabetes, handing over the reins to Radha and her husband, but he can't quite let go as he still comes to the dental surgery every day. He's also suffering, not dealing with his grief, after the death of his beloved wife Meena, who he still refuses to believe her death was an accident.
Both Radha and Gunbir were convincing and realistic characters. Both were flawed with a stubborn streak a mile long, each keeping their own secrets because they're trying to protect each other. There were times I felt like yelling at them, why don't you just talk to each other?? Then again, the story probably wouldn't have been half as interesting if they had.
Radha's mental health struggles and addiction were convincingly written, I could almost feel her anxiety coming at me off the page. Although by the end of the book I felt it was kind of swept to the side and not addressed as much as I would have liked, but of course that's just my opinion.
What I Hid From you is a tense novel packed with family drama and emotional turmoil which will give you plenty to think about after you've read it.
Radha is suffering from severe anxiety, and possibly PTSD, after a patient dies in her dentist's chair. She's been clear of wrongdoing, but the guilt of what happened is still weighing on her. Add on top of that a teenage son and a husband that she seems to do everything for, then it's no wonder she turns to Valium to help her. This leads her on a dangerous path and gets her involved with a drug gang, which threatens not just her livelihood but her family, too.
Gunbir was forced to retire because of his diabetes, handing over the reins to Radha and her husband, but he can't quite let go as he still comes to the dental surgery every day. He's also suffering, not dealing with his grief, after the death of his beloved wife Meena, who he still refuses to believe her death was an accident.
Both Radha and Gunbir were convincing and realistic characters. Both were flawed with a stubborn streak a mile long, each keeping their own secrets because they're trying to protect each other. There were times I felt like yelling at them, why don't you just talk to each other?? Then again, the story probably wouldn't have been half as interesting if they had.
Radha's mental health struggles and addiction were convincingly written, I could almost feel her anxiety coming at me off the page. Although by the end of the book I felt it was kind of swept to the side and not addressed as much as I would have liked, but of course that's just my opinion.
What I Hid From you is a tense novel packed with family drama and emotional turmoil which will give you plenty to think about after you've read it.
June 9, 2022
Time taken to read - as able over a few days
Pages - 366
Publisher -
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
A DEATH - AN ACCIDENT - A STUPID MISTAKE
Traumatised by the death of a patient, and crippled with anxiety, Glaswegian dentist Radha Bakshi succumbs to an addiction to Valium she can’t acknowledge, even to herself.
In truth, she relies on the pills to juggle being the consummate professional, perfect daughter, devoted wife and a not-too-embarrassing mother to her teenage son.
When increased scrutiny of her work forces her to find a new source of supply, she stumbles into the clutches of blackmailing drug dealers.
A mistake that could cost her everything.
My review
If you are any kind of medical professional, at the start, the letter from the GDC, ooft heart in my mouth. This was like a page or two in, we know very little of the character at this point but again if you know these type of professional bodies your heart skips a beat. Radha Bakshi had a massive shock when a patient dies. Trying to cope with that, the pending investigation and her normal life pressures.
I have bought Kist books before but this is my actual first one I read. Radha is such a good cautionary tale, but for the grace of god go I, here we have a business woman, family business passed over and one instant changed everything. How easy addiction can take hold, how quickly things can escalate, down the rabbit hole and everything that follows!
Tense, shocking, a cautionary tale and whilst this is a work of fiction many people can absolutely relate to how easy it can be to fall into. We also have small chapters with Radha's father and between the two get the feeling of just how important they and family are.
The book takes a few dark turns and from the beginning the reader is hooked into how this respectable professional, wife, mother, pillar of the community can fall into addiction and make so many bad decisions. We see very human emotion and behaviours in this one and I just wanted to see where we were going next. A few times going No No No Radha don't, girl what are you thinking! 4/5 for me this time and hopefully not be too long before I get to the others!
Pages - 366
Publisher -
Source - ARC
Blurb from Goodreads
A DEATH - AN ACCIDENT - A STUPID MISTAKE
Traumatised by the death of a patient, and crippled with anxiety, Glaswegian dentist Radha Bakshi succumbs to an addiction to Valium she can’t acknowledge, even to herself.
In truth, she relies on the pills to juggle being the consummate professional, perfect daughter, devoted wife and a not-too-embarrassing mother to her teenage son.
When increased scrutiny of her work forces her to find a new source of supply, she stumbles into the clutches of blackmailing drug dealers.
A mistake that could cost her everything.
My review
If you are any kind of medical professional, at the start, the letter from the GDC, ooft heart in my mouth. This was like a page or two in, we know very little of the character at this point but again if you know these type of professional bodies your heart skips a beat. Radha Bakshi had a massive shock when a patient dies. Trying to cope with that, the pending investigation and her normal life pressures.
I have bought Kist books before but this is my actual first one I read. Radha is such a good cautionary tale, but for the grace of god go I, here we have a business woman, family business passed over and one instant changed everything. How easy addiction can take hold, how quickly things can escalate, down the rabbit hole and everything that follows!
Tense, shocking, a cautionary tale and whilst this is a work of fiction many people can absolutely relate to how easy it can be to fall into. We also have small chapters with Radha's father and between the two get the feeling of just how important they and family are.
The book takes a few dark turns and from the beginning the reader is hooked into how this respectable professional, wife, mother, pillar of the community can fall into addiction and make so many bad decisions. We see very human emotion and behaviours in this one and I just wanted to see where we were going next. A few times going No No No Radha don't, girl what are you thinking! 4/5 for me this time and hopefully not be too long before I get to the others!
November 4, 2022
Not often does a book take me by surprise, but November, it appears is the month for surprises.
I don’t even know what I expected from What I Hid From You, but it wasn’t what I got.
The first half was good. Laying the groundwork, as it were, but, for me, the second half was amazing. This is where Radha’s world truly starts to unravel as she falls deeper and deeper into the seedy underbelly of crime.
WIHFY is full of suspense, tension, heartache and break as well as some scary moments that keep you on edge and, (if you’re like me) guessing as to what links the past to the present and how it will eventually end. And let me tell you, I was completely shocked at the final twist.
I loved being able to enjoy this via the audiobook. 1 because audio is a fantastic way to get lost in a book and still do housework (boring, I know, but I’m old. Lol) and 2 because I love how the narrator, Kat Harrison, was able to pull you into Radha and Gunbirs life, taking on their pain, fear and anxiety, allowing you to experience every single emotion that they felt. It made me question what would I do in their situation. Brilliant!
Plus, I do love a Scottish accent.
Although fiction, it is a very real story and shows how, even the most law-abiding of citizens, can make one decision that ultimately has devastating consequences.
Thank you, Heleen & Love Book Tours, for adding me to the audiobook tour in return for my honest review.
I’ll be reading more from Heleen and narrator Kat Harrison.
I don’t even know what I expected from What I Hid From You, but it wasn’t what I got.
The first half was good. Laying the groundwork, as it were, but, for me, the second half was amazing. This is where Radha’s world truly starts to unravel as she falls deeper and deeper into the seedy underbelly of crime.
WIHFY is full of suspense, tension, heartache and break as well as some scary moments that keep you on edge and, (if you’re like me) guessing as to what links the past to the present and how it will eventually end. And let me tell you, I was completely shocked at the final twist.
I loved being able to enjoy this via the audiobook. 1 because audio is a fantastic way to get lost in a book and still do housework (boring, I know, but I’m old. Lol) and 2 because I love how the narrator, Kat Harrison, was able to pull you into Radha and Gunbirs life, taking on their pain, fear and anxiety, allowing you to experience every single emotion that they felt. It made me question what would I do in their situation. Brilliant!
Plus, I do love a Scottish accent.
Although fiction, it is a very real story and shows how, even the most law-abiding of citizens, can make one decision that ultimately has devastating consequences.
Thank you, Heleen & Love Book Tours, for adding me to the audiobook tour in return for my honest review.
I’ll be reading more from Heleen and narrator Kat Harrison.
April 17, 2025
This was a great read. One of those books you can just get stuck into from start to finish. The book tackles really well the slippery slope into dependency on prescription pills and more importantly the need that drives it.
As things start to spiral and dangerous characters and situations threaten life and family I was riveted watching that unfold. This is very much a story of an ordinary person who finds herself in an impossible scenario. Decisions made have giant ripple effects.
I found the characters really interesting and the plot immersive. It really tapped into a lot of human emotion and degrees of suffering. I think the Author did a cracking job on this. A very solid 4 stars from me.
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Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
As things start to spiral and dangerous characters and situations threaten life and family I was riveted watching that unfold. This is very much a story of an ordinary person who finds herself in an impossible scenario. Decisions made have giant ripple effects.
I found the characters really interesting and the plot immersive. It really tapped into a lot of human emotion and degrees of suffering. I think the Author did a cracking job on this. A very solid 4 stars from me.
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
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November 6, 2022
This is a thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. I was immersed in this book from the start. Heleen Kist creates a brilliant character in Radha. I found her brilliantly developed and relatable. I got her from the start. Just the fact she is so overwhelmed with everything is so understandable. Turning to the valium creates an anxiety that snowballs from the fear of people finding out.
Such a well-written book in which Heleen Kist has brought sensitive and serious subjects. She handles them so sensitively and doesn't 'over egg' it. It's written do well it makes its impact wether or not.
It is a story that crosses genres so skilfully. A book I recommend everyone to read.
Thanks to Love Books Tours and the author.
Such a well-written book in which Heleen Kist has brought sensitive and serious subjects. She handles them so sensitively and doesn't 'over egg' it. It's written do well it makes its impact wether or not.
It is a story that crosses genres so skilfully. A book I recommend everyone to read.
Thanks to Love Books Tours and the author.
February 9, 2023
I read this book quickly as the pace pulled me in and the predicament Radha found herself in. Radha is a dentist who, with her husband, has taken over her father's dental practice. Gunbir, her father, visits the practice frequently as he is unable to relinquish his role, but this puts more pressure on Radha, who is struggling with anxiety and addiction. Radha is not someone you would think of when thinking of an addict, and I wondered how far she would go to keep this secret from her family, to whom she is striving to be a perfect wife, mother, and daughter.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more by this author.
A thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more by this author.
June 2, 2022
Moving as it is suspenseful, What I Hid From You is proof that Heleen Kist is on top of her game. With twists you won't see coming, this is a page turner that will keep you reading well into the night. Kist is a master storyteller
June 23, 2023
This was unbelievably tense, and you could almost feel Radha’s anxiety as she finds herself getting deeper and deeper. You really root for her character too. Quite easy to devour this in one go, I took a bit longer so I could savour it. A great read!
October 10, 2022
I loved this book! Felt more invovled with it as a readalong as the questions made it feel more personal and made me think about the story and the characters a bit more. I liked Radha and her relationship with Arjun, Gunbir and Manesh, she was put into a hard position and felt she had to cover herself to keep her reputation. She was a victim of lies and it's hard to come out of that but she managed it. She's a strong individual and did her best by her family.
Meena's story was heartbreaking to read and to re-live it by Gunbir's cctv footage was sad. I just wanted to hug Gunbir! Bless him!
The storyline was well written, couldn't put it down! I felt for Radha when the video surfaced and wanted to see where it would go from there. Well worth a read! Wasn't expecting the ending!
Meena's story was heartbreaking to read and to re-live it by Gunbir's cctv footage was sad. I just wanted to hug Gunbir! Bless him!
The storyline was well written, couldn't put it down! I felt for Radha when the video surfaced and wanted to see where it would go from there. Well worth a read! Wasn't expecting the ending!
July 4, 2022
Thank you to @lovebookstours and @heleenkist_author for having me on this tour of What I Hid From You.
What I Hid From You is the story of Radha Bakshi, a local dentist living in Glasgow, Scotland. After the unexpected death of one of her patients, Radha has been experiencing panic attacks in abundance but has managed them with the help of Valium. The problem? Radha doesn’t have a prescription, and has been forging notes for her patients to get her pills. After she finds a way to purchase them online, she thinks she’s finally set, until it turns out that some local drug dealers were behind the website. Now they are blackmailing Radha, and if she doesn’t do what they want, they’ll have her license to practice taken away for good.
This was an interesting story told from two POVs, Radha and her father, Gunbir. Gunbir is also hiding his own secrets from Radha, and eventually the two stories end up intersecting. I also think this was a great story to bring awareness to how easy addiction can start. Radha didn’t set out to get addicted to Valium, but it eventually took over her life in every aspect.
What I Hid From You is the story of Radha Bakshi, a local dentist living in Glasgow, Scotland. After the unexpected death of one of her patients, Radha has been experiencing panic attacks in abundance but has managed them with the help of Valium. The problem? Radha doesn’t have a prescription, and has been forging notes for her patients to get her pills. After she finds a way to purchase them online, she thinks she’s finally set, until it turns out that some local drug dealers were behind the website. Now they are blackmailing Radha, and if she doesn’t do what they want, they’ll have her license to practice taken away for good.
This was an interesting story told from two POVs, Radha and her father, Gunbir. Gunbir is also hiding his own secrets from Radha, and eventually the two stories end up intersecting. I also think this was a great story to bring awareness to how easy addiction can start. Radha didn’t set out to get addicted to Valium, but it eventually took over her life in every aspect.
June 28, 2022
I know that I bang on about loving Scottish crime fiction and those set in Glasgow but when it is literally set on the streets where I live AND it is a brilliant read you know I am going to rave about it! I had high hopes for this book as I loved Heleen’s previous ones and it truly did not disappoint as it grabbed my attention right from the start and I devoured it in one day! It also has a very unique premise - Radha is an established dentist, who owns her practice with her husband but one horrible event sends her life spinning out of control. A patient dies in her dental chair and Radha can no longer cope with the pressure this has placed on her and turns to valium to help her get through it all. However, she isn't getting them from her doctor, she has been forging prescriptions and when she can no longer do this she turns to the internet with disastrous consequences for her and her family!
I am here to tell you that Heleen nailed the ‘location’ in this book. Pollokshields, located in the southside of Glasgow, rings true and proud. Yes I know I am biased since I live in the area but the images in the book are clear and so well defined that I could even probably pinpoint which section of street that Radha lives on! It was the small details that I loved seeing being included like the piece of tablet you get given in Ollies and that the Spanish restaurant Malaga has a new sign! But it was the multicultural aspect of the area that Heleen nailed and this was actually the main reason I moved here. Who doesn't want to live in an area where you can buy naan bread as big as your head and then a few doors up get a posh bottle of wine. Side note I used to run that wine shop! I love the fact that there is a mosque, temple, churches and gurdwara all within walking distance.
I adored this book! Radha is now lodged firmly in my mind and I would love to read more about her and her family. Radha was a strong character, she was loyal, intelligent, loving and just got in over her head. It's something that can happen to anyone. Pressure and addiction can alter personalities very easily and unfortunately, this is just what happened to Radha. Trauma needs to be unpacked and treated straight away and I think Heleen got this point across with empathy and kindness. Mental health issues is something that always needs to be addressed and novels like this, whilst is primarily entertainment can also help people.
All the supporting characters were as equally well developed - can I say I wanted to slap that guitar/bike out her husband's hand and tell him to open his eyes. Also, I loved Radha’s papaji! I want to meet him for walks in Maxwell Park. I would love to learn more about this earlier life.
‘What I Hid From You’ shows that Heleen is at the top of her game! The writing was crisp and sharp, the characters were well developed and the narrative was so plausible it was scary. It was but thought-provoking book that I thoroughly enjoyed
I am here to tell you that Heleen nailed the ‘location’ in this book. Pollokshields, located in the southside of Glasgow, rings true and proud. Yes I know I am biased since I live in the area but the images in the book are clear and so well defined that I could even probably pinpoint which section of street that Radha lives on! It was the small details that I loved seeing being included like the piece of tablet you get given in Ollies and that the Spanish restaurant Malaga has a new sign! But it was the multicultural aspect of the area that Heleen nailed and this was actually the main reason I moved here. Who doesn't want to live in an area where you can buy naan bread as big as your head and then a few doors up get a posh bottle of wine. Side note I used to run that wine shop! I love the fact that there is a mosque, temple, churches and gurdwara all within walking distance.
I adored this book! Radha is now lodged firmly in my mind and I would love to read more about her and her family. Radha was a strong character, she was loyal, intelligent, loving and just got in over her head. It's something that can happen to anyone. Pressure and addiction can alter personalities very easily and unfortunately, this is just what happened to Radha. Trauma needs to be unpacked and treated straight away and I think Heleen got this point across with empathy and kindness. Mental health issues is something that always needs to be addressed and novels like this, whilst is primarily entertainment can also help people.
All the supporting characters were as equally well developed - can I say I wanted to slap that guitar/bike out her husband's hand and tell him to open his eyes. Also, I loved Radha’s papaji! I want to meet him for walks in Maxwell Park. I would love to learn more about this earlier life.
‘What I Hid From You’ shows that Heleen is at the top of her game! The writing was crisp and sharp, the characters were well developed and the narrative was so plausible it was scary. It was but thought-provoking book that I thoroughly enjoyed
October 28, 2022
This book is a fantastically written, gripping, slow burn thriller about Radha, a dentist who's recently experienced a traumatic event at work after an elderly patient passed away during a routine examination
We find out in the very first chapter that Radha was under investigation from the GDC (General Dental Council) regarding this incident, and that despite being cleared she is
suffering mentally, she suffers anxiety, flashbacks and post traumatic stress disorder, and
after being giving a prescription drug to calm her nerves at the tie of the event she has become reliant on them, spiralling through lies and deceit to get to her much need
prescription pills.
I feel this plot line did get lost towards the end of the book (I want to know if Radha was able to fight her addiction but that was never covered) and it kind of felt like an “in” for the blackmail storyline, but that is my only main issue I had with this book (other than the fact
the ending does not determine whether there was any punishment for the events that occurred throughout the book)
This novel is very well written, and completely engrossing and intriguing, there were plot twists galore, which I was there for. I took my time reading this one as I wanted to get a real feel for the characters and the story, and I really liked Bela and Manesh and probably would
have liked to see more of them, as I felt they really brought out the best in Radha. Arjun was also a decent husband, and the scene with him and Radha teasing Manesh about his
girlfriend felt really sweet and realistic. Plus, Gunbir, he was such a well written grandad figure, I could easily see him as the guy you went to when you have trouble or when you just want to learn about your history (that scene with him and Manesh was lovely!)
I like the fact that the book was from both Radha and Gunbir’s perspectives as I felt this really added to the books depth, and also made the ending more understandable, and interesting. This is a very good read that I would highly recommend to others, I would just heed the trigger warnings; death, drug use, blackmail, racism and profanity.
We find out in the very first chapter that Radha was under investigation from the GDC (General Dental Council) regarding this incident, and that despite being cleared she is
suffering mentally, she suffers anxiety, flashbacks and post traumatic stress disorder, and
after being giving a prescription drug to calm her nerves at the tie of the event she has become reliant on them, spiralling through lies and deceit to get to her much need
prescription pills.
I feel this plot line did get lost towards the end of the book (I want to know if Radha was able to fight her addiction but that was never covered) and it kind of felt like an “in” for the blackmail storyline, but that is my only main issue I had with this book (other than the fact
the ending does not determine whether there was any punishment for the events that occurred throughout the book)
This novel is very well written, and completely engrossing and intriguing, there were plot twists galore, which I was there for. I took my time reading this one as I wanted to get a real feel for the characters and the story, and I really liked Bela and Manesh and probably would
have liked to see more of them, as I felt they really brought out the best in Radha. Arjun was also a decent husband, and the scene with him and Radha teasing Manesh about his
girlfriend felt really sweet and realistic. Plus, Gunbir, he was such a well written grandad figure, I could easily see him as the guy you went to when you have trouble or when you just want to learn about your history (that scene with him and Manesh was lovely!)
I like the fact that the book was from both Radha and Gunbir’s perspectives as I felt this really added to the books depth, and also made the ending more understandable, and interesting. This is a very good read that I would highly recommend to others, I would just heed the trigger warnings; death, drug use, blackmail, racism and profanity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2022
𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁: Trauma, drug dealers, blackmail,
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: addiction, anxiety, death of close family: death of a child, harassment
“One little pill. What’s the harm? And then one little pill leads to another, and another until it becomes habit you can’t imagine ever having been without.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
I really enjoyed this fast-paced novel. I felt like all the chapters left me wanting to say, “just one more chapter” before I put it down! I was constantly left wanting to know what was going to happen next. It wasn’t quite what I expected, but it did a good job of keeping me hooked and wondering what the dealers were up to.
I liked the main character Radha, who has spent her life trying to be the perfect daughter, wife and mother. Everything she did was to protect her family from the whole secret and situation coming out. This book goes through the motions of becoming addicted to a drug and the thought process associated with wanting to break away from it, to help yourself, your family, to not be breaking the law. It’s also got this huge storyline related to tracking down dealers and further blackmail. You wonder how far she would go before she snapped.
Overall it was a really great novel, I wouldn’t quite say it was a psychological thriller, but rather a psychological drama. It’s the kind of novel that could easily be turned into a film or tv show! I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend for a fast-paced drama.
Thank you to Heleen Kist for the gifted copy and Love Books Tours for my spot on the readalong.
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: addiction, anxiety, death of close family: death of a child, harassment
“One little pill. What’s the harm? And then one little pill leads to another, and another until it becomes habit you can’t imagine ever having been without.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
I really enjoyed this fast-paced novel. I felt like all the chapters left me wanting to say, “just one more chapter” before I put it down! I was constantly left wanting to know what was going to happen next. It wasn’t quite what I expected, but it did a good job of keeping me hooked and wondering what the dealers were up to.
I liked the main character Radha, who has spent her life trying to be the perfect daughter, wife and mother. Everything she did was to protect her family from the whole secret and situation coming out. This book goes through the motions of becoming addicted to a drug and the thought process associated with wanting to break away from it, to help yourself, your family, to not be breaking the law. It’s also got this huge storyline related to tracking down dealers and further blackmail. You wonder how far she would go before she snapped.
Overall it was a really great novel, I wouldn’t quite say it was a psychological thriller, but rather a psychological drama. It’s the kind of novel that could easily be turned into a film or tv show! I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend for a fast-paced drama.
Thank you to Heleen Kist for the gifted copy and Love Books Tours for my spot on the readalong.
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲.
July 9, 2022
A compelling, tense novel that gripped my interest until the very end. My first foray into the psychological thriller genre and it was a good one. Set in Glasgow and following Radha as she stumbles further into the murkiness of addiction and drug dealers, threatening her family and work life, this novel was something different from what I would normally read. I found the premise very intriguing and, as the story unfolded and twisted, I’d say it’s a thought-provoking novel. Kist explores trauma, anxiety and addiction with compelling prose and well-developed characters that had my rapt attention from the offset, heading straight into Radha’s first person prose following the unfortunate patients death and Radha’s already compulsive need for Valium.
Radha was a believable character, and I did root for her to find a way out of her addiction and lies, but I would have to say I liked Gunbar the most. Kist keeps the pace strong and the tension gradually building throughout, with Radha’s chapters in first person prose and moving to chapters following Gunbar and her family. The family dynamics was another strong element of the novel and the scenes vividly described. I felt myself, as the story progressed, wonder at what would happen next and thought the ending cleverly written.
This is a book for fans of thrillers, one to read this year, with steadily growing suspense, an interesting plot and compelling prose.
Radha was a believable character, and I did root for her to find a way out of her addiction and lies, but I would have to say I liked Gunbar the most. Kist keeps the pace strong and the tension gradually building throughout, with Radha’s chapters in first person prose and moving to chapters following Gunbar and her family. The family dynamics was another strong element of the novel and the scenes vividly described. I felt myself, as the story progressed, wonder at what would happen next and thought the ending cleverly written.
This is a book for fans of thrillers, one to read this year, with steadily growing suspense, an interesting plot and compelling prose.
July 17, 2022
What I Hid From You by Heleen Kist
💊 Book Review 💊
💭 When I first saw this book, I thought its premise was a little unusual, but appreciated the thought-provoking nature of its contents pretty quickly.
As it turns out, this was an amazing book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I read the entire book in two sittings, and only stopped because I had to get some sleep!
Since the story deals with drug use and its repercussions, I believe that it will touch a huge portion of the general population in one way or another. This positions the book very well in terms of a possible audience.
The characters are so very human - very well developed, imperfect/flawed and
very relatable. To say that I was hoping that Radha would pull through would be an understatement.
In addition, the story is so life-like and has a number of twists and turns that are as believable and relatable as they are unexpected.
Things I liked:
* The character development
* The relatability
* The realism
* Radha's struggles
* The tension and suspense
Things I didn’t like:
* The fact that while this story is fictional, it could easily be non-fiction, and that leaves me feeling a little unsettled. This isn't anything to be held against the book, but rather society itself.
I would not only recommend but encourage anyone to read this book at least once. As I've mentioned, it is fiction, but there are definitely some life lessons to be learned here.
💊 Book Review 💊
💭 When I first saw this book, I thought its premise was a little unusual, but appreciated the thought-provoking nature of its contents pretty quickly.
As it turns out, this was an amazing book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I read the entire book in two sittings, and only stopped because I had to get some sleep!
Since the story deals with drug use and its repercussions, I believe that it will touch a huge portion of the general population in one way or another. This positions the book very well in terms of a possible audience.
The characters are so very human - very well developed, imperfect/flawed and
very relatable. To say that I was hoping that Radha would pull through would be an understatement.
In addition, the story is so life-like and has a number of twists and turns that are as believable and relatable as they are unexpected.
Things I liked:
* The character development
* The relatability
* The realism
* Radha's struggles
* The tension and suspense
Things I didn’t like:
* The fact that while this story is fictional, it could easily be non-fiction, and that leaves me feeling a little unsettled. This isn't anything to be held against the book, but rather society itself.
I would not only recommend but encourage anyone to read this book at least once. As I've mentioned, it is fiction, but there are definitely some life lessons to be learned here.
November 5, 2022
I've been a fan of Heleen Kist since we connected over the similar themes in our #metoo novels: her Stay Mad, Sweetheart, and my Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. What I Hid From You is another excellent read from a gifted storyteller.
Kist takes you into the world of dentistry and underworld drugs. It seems like an unlikely combination until you think about it and realize the potential overlap. The plot moves quickly as you wonder how Radha will get out of the pickle she's put herself in.
But while this book has all the hallmarks of a thriller and it does have you on the edge of your seat at times, at its heart it is a family drama. Pain caused by a loved one's death, trying to hang onto one's identity, parent/adult child relationships, marriage difficulties, the feeling of loss as one's children grow up, and of course secrets. They're all there, portrayed realistically and sympathetically.
You'll root for Radha. Even if you think she merely reaps what she sows, Kist does a thorough job letting us into Radha's mind so we understand why she makes the choices she does. And the ending is masterful in its reserve and understatement.
A thoroughly engaging, thought-provoking story!
Kist takes you into the world of dentistry and underworld drugs. It seems like an unlikely combination until you think about it and realize the potential overlap. The plot moves quickly as you wonder how Radha will get out of the pickle she's put herself in.
But while this book has all the hallmarks of a thriller and it does have you on the edge of your seat at times, at its heart it is a family drama. Pain caused by a loved one's death, trying to hang onto one's identity, parent/adult child relationships, marriage difficulties, the feeling of loss as one's children grow up, and of course secrets. They're all there, portrayed realistically and sympathetically.
You'll root for Radha. Even if you think she merely reaps what she sows, Kist does a thorough job letting us into Radha's mind so we understand why she makes the choices she does. And the ending is masterful in its reserve and understatement.
A thoroughly engaging, thought-provoking story!
July 12, 2022
As with any book by Heleen Kist, it gets to the heart of it’s subject.
Her central character Radha is obviously suffering from PTSD, but she’s a professional and a wife and mother and nobody notices her stress and anxiety as it spirals out of all control. Everyone in the home does their own thing, as well as work or school. Radha is the one who leaves early to catch up with the household chores, too. She seems to be seen when she’s useful. When there are parties that would further the business, or to make snacks for her husband and his sports buddies. But nobody sees Radha and her growing and worsening anxiety, grief, depression and PTSD. So much has happened to her, and does in this book. I sat there willing her not to follow certain courses of action that she took, yet I fully understood her desperation.
I wanted to hold out a hand and offer to help her as she was heartbreaking, but brilliantly written by Heleen Kist. If you haven’t read Heleen’s other books, I’d strongly recommend you read them all.
With thanks to LoveBooksGroup and the publisher and author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
Her central character Radha is obviously suffering from PTSD, but she’s a professional and a wife and mother and nobody notices her stress and anxiety as it spirals out of all control. Everyone in the home does their own thing, as well as work or school. Radha is the one who leaves early to catch up with the household chores, too. She seems to be seen when she’s useful. When there are parties that would further the business, or to make snacks for her husband and his sports buddies. But nobody sees Radha and her growing and worsening anxiety, grief, depression and PTSD. So much has happened to her, and does in this book. I sat there willing her not to follow certain courses of action that she took, yet I fully understood her desperation.
I wanted to hold out a hand and offer to help her as she was heartbreaking, but brilliantly written by Heleen Kist. If you haven’t read Heleen’s other books, I’d strongly recommend you read them all.
With thanks to LoveBooksGroup and the publisher and author for the advanced reading copy of this book.
June 29, 2022
A DEATH
AN ACCIDENT
A STUPID MISTAKE
Traumatised by the death of a patient in her chair, Glaswegian dentist Radha Bakshi succumbs to an addiction to Valium she can’t acknowledge – even to herself...
When increased scrutiny of her work forces her to find a new source of supply, she stumbles into the menacing clutches of blackmailing drug dealers.
Thank you to @lovebookstours
@heleenkist_author for sending me a copy of this book! 💙
REVIEW:
🌼 What I Hid From You is a compelling and gripping thriller, which gradually builds up tension and kept me turning the page!
🌼 The book also throws up important questions about addiction and mental health which I felt Kist dealt with realistically and sensitively.
🌼 The main character, Radha is complex and relatable. Although she makes mistakes I felt I could connect and empathise with her.
🌼 I also loved the family dynamic at the centre of the story, which I found so moving. Kist shows the effect that addiction can have on not just the addict, but those around them.
🌼 Overall, this is an exciting and clever book and I absolutely looooved the ending!
I gave this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What I Hid From You is available now so go and pick a copy up!
#ad #gifted #heleenkist #whatihidfromyou #booktour #bookreview #thriller #bookish #bookworms #bookstagram
AN ACCIDENT
A STUPID MISTAKE
Traumatised by the death of a patient in her chair, Glaswegian dentist Radha Bakshi succumbs to an addiction to Valium she can’t acknowledge – even to herself...
When increased scrutiny of her work forces her to find a new source of supply, she stumbles into the menacing clutches of blackmailing drug dealers.
Thank you to @lovebookstours
@heleenkist_author for sending me a copy of this book! 💙
REVIEW:
🌼 What I Hid From You is a compelling and gripping thriller, which gradually builds up tension and kept me turning the page!
🌼 The book also throws up important questions about addiction and mental health which I felt Kist dealt with realistically and sensitively.
🌼 The main character, Radha is complex and relatable. Although she makes mistakes I felt I could connect and empathise with her.
🌼 I also loved the family dynamic at the centre of the story, which I found so moving. Kist shows the effect that addiction can have on not just the addict, but those around them.
🌼 Overall, this is an exciting and clever book and I absolutely looooved the ending!
I gave this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What I Hid From You is available now so go and pick a copy up!
#ad #gifted #heleenkist #whatihidfromyou #booktour #bookreview #thriller #bookish #bookworms #bookstagram
July 5, 2022
I needed a few days to ponder this book review. The complex characters, situations, realistic portrayal - brought up a lot of emotions for me.
Radha juggles her life - work, family, marriage, PTSD, pressure to succeed, an aging father, grieving the sudden death of her mother. I absolutely empathized - women are expected to carry all of this and more with little support, help or thought.
This book begins with the decision of the dental board regarding the death of an elder patient in Radha's dental chair. It happened quickly - Radha was given a Valium to help cope. Since the event, she fails to cope with the experience - often experiencing panic attacks, flashbacks. Instead of seeking help - fear of further investigation, Radha writes herself prescriptions for Valium. When it generates the attention of the Board, Radha desperately searches for other means to feed her addiction.
Well written.
Radha juggles her life - work, family, marriage, PTSD, pressure to succeed, an aging father, grieving the sudden death of her mother. I absolutely empathized - women are expected to carry all of this and more with little support, help or thought.
This book begins with the decision of the dental board regarding the death of an elder patient in Radha's dental chair. It happened quickly - Radha was given a Valium to help cope. Since the event, she fails to cope with the experience - often experiencing panic attacks, flashbacks. Instead of seeking help - fear of further investigation, Radha writes herself prescriptions for Valium. When it generates the attention of the Board, Radha desperately searches for other means to feed her addiction.
Well written.
June 28, 2022
This is a brilliantly written thriller. I found the storyline incredibly intriguing. I don't think I've read anything quite like it before. I was gripped from the start and couldn't wait to see what would happen next!
All of the characters were realistic. My favourite was Radha. I thought she was such a clever, strong and loyal woman. She made some silly mistakes, but who hasn't? I was totally invested in her journey. I really liked Gunbir too.
I loved that their puppy was called Sparky. My first pet was called Sparky aswell, but he was a budgie!
I've literally just finished this and the ending has left me like 😯😯😯 What a twist?! 💉
Anyway if you fancy reading something a little different, then I'd recommend you grab yourself a copy. I really enjoyed this, so I'll definitely be looking out for more books by Heleen Kist!
All of the characters were realistic. My favourite was Radha. I thought she was such a clever, strong and loyal woman. She made some silly mistakes, but who hasn't? I was totally invested in her journey. I really liked Gunbir too.
I loved that their puppy was called Sparky. My first pet was called Sparky aswell, but he was a budgie!
I've literally just finished this and the ending has left me like 😯😯😯 What a twist?! 💉
Anyway if you fancy reading something a little different, then I'd recommend you grab yourself a copy. I really enjoyed this, so I'll definitely be looking out for more books by Heleen Kist!
July 5, 2022
Contains spoilers, racism, hate crimes, murder, drug abuse and some spice!
This is a thriller which is my favourite genre to read. This story did not disappoint.
Radha who owns a dentist practice with her husband (passed down to her from her Dad) becomes addicted to drugs due to PTSD. After witnessing a client die she was receiving the blame but later cleared. This left her with terrible anxiety and stress.
Her son who is a teenager no longer needs his mum, she tries to get involved and feels like she doesn't know what's going on. She then goes too far and buys drugs online- only she's bought this off criminals who then make her life hell!!!
Love the ending but she never told her husband the truth, makes me think what else could she get up to, it's made her more of an interesting character. All the characters were likeable and it was a fast paced read couldn't put this book down.
This is a thriller which is my favourite genre to read. This story did not disappoint.
Radha who owns a dentist practice with her husband (passed down to her from her Dad) becomes addicted to drugs due to PTSD. After witnessing a client die she was receiving the blame but later cleared. This left her with terrible anxiety and stress.
Her son who is a teenager no longer needs his mum, she tries to get involved and feels like she doesn't know what's going on. She then goes too far and buys drugs online- only she's bought this off criminals who then make her life hell!!!
Love the ending but she never told her husband the truth, makes me think what else could she get up to, it's made her more of an interesting character. All the characters were likeable and it was a fast paced read couldn't put this book down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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