Synopsis: When teenager Allison Glenn is sent to prison for a heinous crime, she leaves behind her reputation as Linden Falls' golden girl forever. Her parents deny the existence of their once-perfect child. Her former friends exult her downfall. Her sister, Brynn, faces whispered rumors every day in the hallways of their small Iowa high school. It's Brynn—shy, quiet Brynn—who carries the burden of what really happened that night. All she wants is to forget Allison and the past that haunts her.
But then Allison is released to a halfway house, and is more determined than ever to speak with her estranged sister.
Now their legacy of secrets is focused on one little boy. And if the truth is revealed, the consequences will be unimaginable for the adoptive mother who loves him, the girl who tried to protect him and the two sisters who hold the key to all that is hidden.
Type: Fiction
Quick Take: This story is told from two different points of view, Allison and Brynn (sisters), moving easily from current day to events leading up to the night everything fell apart.
I read (listened) to this novel in two days. I found myself creating reasons to listen just so I could find out what happened. The author revealed just enough details to keep me wanting more, the parents in this book are terrible people... worried about perception more than their children. The children know what's expected and play their roles perfectly. It's all a terrible mess leading to an end you won't see coming (unbelieveable, in a good way).
My heart broke for Allison when she's living at the halfway house, working at the bookstore and trying to figure out what the future has in store.
These Things Hidden is a story about family expectations, secrets kept for years... and the consequences. How far are you willing to go to cover up a crime?
Rating: 4/5 stars
Source: Library (Audio Book)