Saxton Reads! & Reviews

Narrators, reliable or unreliable, can make or break a story. The narrators in Heather Gudenkauf's These Things Hidden are possibly both, and it's up to us, the readers, to decide. In recent fiction, multiple narrator point of view, where each character tells their story, has been a bit overdone. Not the case here. Gudenkauf steps it up a notch by not only delivering relevant point of view but by giving each character the task of revealing just so much of the picture, excruciatingly at times, keeping the tension high. She is a master of this technique!

The story begins with the release from prison of twenty-one year old Allison for a crime, not immediately named, but the reader knows it's a bad one. In the ensuing chapters, the other characters are introduced, each of their stories intertwining with Allison's and demanding our attention. Slowly and painstakingly, we learn the hidden truths. 

Heather Gudenkauf''s Weight of Silence was a first rate debut. Gudenkauf's on my map with this second venture. It's an excellent examination of family dynamics. I could tell you more but read it for yourself. I'm certain you won't be disappointed.