Hidden tells the story of Jen, who has spent her adult life thinking she killed a girl after the great UK storm of ’87. Jen’s secret threatens to be exposed when the dead child’s mother (now dying of cancer) asks for her help in uncovering the truth. Jen, with a former school friend in tow, must tread a fine line in both helping and hindering the investigation to cover her tracks. But, as new revelations come to light, is Jen’s involvement really the whole story?

Jen, now in her 40s, grew up in a UK council estate, and the book does a great job of capturing the flavours of the 1980s. From Charles and Diana’s wedding to Live Aid, the landmark moments of the decade and their effects on the residents are brought to life on the page. The Rembrandt estate is a character in itself; the various streets and social strata provide the skeleton, and the families the nerves and muscle.
The estate displays an outward mentality of ‘sorting out its own problems’ and shunning the authorities, when in reality it does nothing of the sort. Child and spouse abuse go unchallenged, people turn a blind eye to injustice, and families mistrust each other’s motives. This is highlighted in the treatment of Kelly, whose tragic story unfolds as the book progresses. Shunned by children and adults alike for her family, odd appearance and behaviour, her loneliness and longing for acceptance seep through the narrative. Jen too, has a difficult upbringing, as the daughter of an overbearing and cruelly controlling mother who dotes on her son and leaves Jen and her sister to fend for themselves. Most of the characters, with a few exceptions, aren’t exactly nice people which adds to the air of being prisoners of the estate and their own choices.

The story alternates between the present and flashbacks to various events in the 80s (usually corresponding to a related event in the present timeline). These are out of order, though, and I found the jumping about a bit disorientating at times. It also has the effect of making the children’s developing relationships with each other a little less impactful. The present is told in first person for Jen, but switches to third for the flashbacks to expand the views of the other characters.

I can’t really talk much about the plot without spoiling things but overall I enjoyed the story, which twists and turns with revelations and false leads throughout. The only thing that didn’t quite click was that there seemed to be a few too many witnesses to a particular event.
Still, for me, the mark of a good book is if the characters and situations stay with you after the final page, and these certainly did.
4* : Recommended.

Hidden is available from Amazon