4 Stars from me
I am new to this author and read this book as part of a book group. I am therefore not already one of Lucinda Riley’s army of fans, and to my shame I have not read the Seven Sisters. Am I the only person in the world, it feels like it…
I was touched to appreciate that the book was one of the author’s previous titles that had been published early in her career and that has now been lovingly rewritten by her son and published anew. Others in the book club tell me it isn’t as good as the Seven Sisters.
Taking this book at its on merits therefore I can say that A LOT happens in this story! I am used to the fast paced thrillers that tend to span a brief period of time, or sometimes even just an event, but The Hidden Girl covers many story arcs, time zones, relationships and themes.
The author(s) skillfully immerse the reader in a variety of worlds, each as captivating as the last before whisking the story into a whole new direction. I loved each of them, although, for me, there was a lot of changes to adapt to and I found that each time I had settled into a storyline everything would change and I’d find myself dropped into a new one.
Overall this was a very engaging read and it created some really good questions and conversations at our book group.
Blurb: Sweeping across two generations, from the ghettos of Europe during the Second World War to the enclaves of New York’s Fifth Avenue, The Hidden Girl traces the life of Leah Thompson, who rises from humble beginnings in rural Yorkshire to take the modelling world by storm. But her fateful association with the Delancey family dominates her life. The secrets they hide from one another start to explode into nightmares of thwarted ambition, forbidden love, revenge and murder . . . culminating in a fatal, forgotten prophecy from the past. This title was previously published as Hidden Beauty by Lucinda Edmonds, and has been rewritten and reimagined by her son, Harry Whittaker, for Lucinda Riley fans the world over.
Read and Rated 