Review: The Hidden Hours by Sara Foster

Eleanor is a lonely young Australian woman who is keen to escape the demons of her past. Living with her Uncle and his family in London, she has found a position at a prestigious publishing house. Then Arabella, a glamourous and charismatic employee is found dead in the River Thames after the work Christmas party. No one knows how she died, but Eleanor may have the answers ... if only she could remember what happened that night.

The Hidden Hours is certainly an intriguing novel. In some respects, Arabella reminded me of the title character from Daphne Du Marier's Rebecca (a novel I love,) but this is a very different story, with different outcomes. Eleanor is an interesting protagonist whose life is weighed down by some fairly traumatic events. The author weaves between the past and the present to offer readers a sympathetic portrait of a young woman whose life has been shaped by a tragic event, and her portrayal of Eleanor is commendable. That said, much like London weather in December, parts of this story left me feeling cold. (Then again, I doubt some scenes were suppose to leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy.) 

The eventual answers to the mystery are as satisfying as they are believable.

If you have enjoyed Sara Foster's previous novels then I have no doubt that you will enjoy this one.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for my copy of The Hidden Hours.

This book was read as part of the Aussie Author Challenge 2017


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