EXCERPT: December 2016
The body bobs lightly against the grey stone wall, snared by something unseen, resisting the current. A police diver slowly untangles it, and gently pushes it towards the waiting boat. People watch from the footbridge, transfixed. Some cover their mouths with gloved hands, pointing, gasping, retching. Others clutch their phones in a chokehold. One woman takes furtive pictures. They are all relieved it hangs face down in the cold, murky river. No one wants to see the person to whom that long blonde hair once belonged.
The body floats towards waiting hands. A tiny crab scuttles down the slim line of one of those ghostly white legs and disappears into the gloom.

ABOUT 'THE HIDDEN HOURS': Keeping her secret may save her family.

But telling it may save her life.

Arabella Lane, senior executive at a children’s publisher, is found dead in the Thames on a frosty winter’s morning after the office Christmas party. No one is sure whether she jumped or was pushed. The one person who may know the truth is the newest employee at Parker & Lane – the office temp, Eleanor.

Eleanor has travelled to London to escape the repercussions of her traumatic childhood in outback Australia, but now tragedy seems to follow her wherever she goes. To her horror, she has no memory of the crucial hours leading up to Arabella’s death – memory that will either incriminate or absolve her.

As Eleanor desperately tries to remember her missing hours and uncover the events of that fateful night, her own extended family is dragged further into the dark, terrifying terrain of blame, suspicion and guilt.

Caught in a crossfire of accusations, Eleanor fears she can’t even trust herself, let alone the people around her. And soon, she’ll find herself in a race against time to find out just what happened that night – and discover just how deadly some secrets can be.

MY THOUGHTS: The Hidden Hours moves between two time frames, 2016 and 2005 and is told exclusively from the viewpoint of the main character, Eleanor.

It is frustrating enough to not remember small things, like where you put something or someone's name. Imagine if you have a whole night missing from your memory, particularly if it resulted in someone's death and you were there . . . This is the situation Eleanor finds herself in. Unfortunately it's not the first tragic death with which she has been involved. She suffered from PTSD after the first one, and Arabella's death is bringing it all back to the surface.

Add in being in a foreign country, with extended family she doesn't really know - and can you hear the time bomb ticking? Do the police believe her that she can't remember a thing? Or do they think she's lying? . . . tick . . . tick . . . what's going on with her Uncle Ian and his wife Susan, who works for Arabella's husband? . . . tick . . . tick . . . why has Will, one of her co-workers, suddenly decided to befriend her? . . . tick . . . tick . . . and come to that, why did Arabella pick her? . . . tick . . . tick . . .

Sara Foster has a way with her characters. They are perfectly depicted, realistic and enticingly unreliable. I trusted no one; suspected everyone.

Intense, gripping and suspenseful.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#TheHiddenHoursSaraFoster #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Sara is passionate about developing strong women characters and female-led stories, She has a PhD, looking at maternal representation in fiction with young adult heroines, and she lives in Western Australia with her husband and daughters.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Simon & Schuster via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Hidden Hours by Sara Foster for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

arabella is found dead, and the only person who knows the truth of what happened is the temp worker Eleanor. I found this to be well-written and engaging, though the change in time-narrative part way made things a bit confusing to follow. Overall a good story.

This was my second Sara Foster book, and I enjoyed it far more than the first. This story was twisty, with the dual storylines from the past and present adding to the tension as Eleanor tries to remember what happened in the hidden hours when she was drugged on the night of the office party and Arabella Lane was killed. I wasn't sure who had done it until the reveal at the end, which is always the mark of a superior thriller. The story from Eleanor's past, too, was gripping and heartbreaking.

***Disclaimer: This e-ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to them. ***

Thank you Sara Foster and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Keeping her secret may save her family.

But telling it may save her life.

Arabella Lane, senior executive at a children’s publisher, is found dead in the Thames on a frosty winter’s morning after the office Christmas party. No one is sure whether she jumped or was pushed. The one person who may know the truth is the newest employee at Parker & Lane – the office temp, Eleanor.

Eleanor has travelled to London to escape the repercussions of her traumatic childhood in outback Australia, but now tragedy seems to follow her wherever she goes. To her horror, she has no memory of the crucial hours leading up to Arabella’s death – memory that will either incriminate or absolve her.

As Eleanor desperately tries to remember her missing hours and uncover the events of that fateful night, her own extended family is dragged further into the dark, terrifying terrain of blame, suspicion and guilt.

Caught in a crossfire of accusations, Eleanor fears she can’t even trust herself, let alone the people around her. And soon, she’ll find herself in a race against time to find out just what happened that night – and discover just how deadly some secrets can be.

Oh this one was fantastic and well written, a story that hooked me right away. I'm a real sucker for anything set in London. Looking forward to reading more from Foster.

Love Sara Foster books and read this ages ago but obviously forgot to do a review. Like her other books it is one of those books you can’t put down

I read this book as soon as it was released, and I cannot believe I forgot to do a review!! This was one fabulous story that I could not put down!! READ IT!!

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Arabella Lane, senior executive at a children’s publisher, is found dead in the Thames on a frosty winter’s morning after the office Christmas party. No one is sure whether she jumped or was pushed. The one person who may know the truth is the newest employee at Parker & Lane – the office temp, Eleanor.
Eleanor has travelled to London to escape the repercussions of her traumatic childhood in outback Australia, but now tragedy seems to follow her wherever she goes. To her horror, she has no memory of the crucial hours leading up to Arabella’s death – memory that will either incriminate or absolve her.
As Eleanor desperately tries to remember her missing hours and uncover the events of that fateful night, her own extended family is dragged further into the dark, terrifying terrain of blame, suspicion and guilt.
Caught in a crossfire of accusations, Eleanor fears she can’t even trust herself, let alone the people around her. And soon, she’ll find herself in a race against time to find out just what happened that night – and discover just how deadly some secrets can be.

Definitely filed under "psychological thriller", this story encompasses all of the things you would expect from a great suspense novel - a murder, multiple suspects, hidden secrets and a horrifying past. All the good stuff!

The one thing that really won me over with this book, however, was the construction of the story. Every page, every chapter, built the sense of impending doom. The anticipation for the next reveal was almost impossible to bear. This is the sort of story-telling one lives for if they are a reader of thriller novels.

The thing that was a tad disappointing was the focus on Eleanor's past. I just think it was probably just a bit too much (although it did tie into the story perfectly), and the story of Arabella's death could well have been enough story to tell.

Overall, I highly recommend this brilliant story to anyone who loves a good psychological crime thriller.


Paul
ARH

What a great read that keeps you guessing to the end. In the vein of the girl on the train, the reader never knows who to believe until the end.

I loved Sara Foster’s All That is Lost Between Us, a mystery novel centred around relationships. The Hidden Hours has once again highlighted Foster’s incredible talent for mystery however this has a psychological thriller slant.

The reader is privy from the beginning that Eleanor was under psychiatric care as a teenager but why this was the case is slowly unfolded throughout the story as it is told in two time frames; then and now.
Now- 21 year old Eleanor is living with her Uncle, Aunt and 2 cousins in London. Her paranoia never seems to leave her but when a colleague is found dead the morning after the work Christmas party Eleanor cannot remember a single thing about the night and her paranoia spirals out of control.

This is a gripping story as the two mysteries, what happened to Eleanor in her younger years to make her so anxious and withdrawn and who killed Arabella, slowly unravel and the tension builds like a tightening spring to come to an unexpected explosive climax.

I am now a fully fledged Foster fan and would be happy to read any novel written by her.

Eleanor is a haunted woman, who has recently arrived in London, and within a month is swept up into the whirlwind of an unexpected death.

Eleanor herself is not hard to connect to - overshadowed by a tragedy in her past, one which has shaped and affected the whole of her life since. She remains uncertain and yet surprisingly strong when she trusts herself.

The mystery itself didn't entirely surprise me... but there's a chance I read way too much in this genre :) Despite my guessing it, I still enjoyed the journey towards the reveal, as the tension wound itself around the characters and their lives.

<i>I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review </i>

A fabulous book that I devoured in one sitting. This book is divided between two different timeframes.

The Hidden Hours is the first murder mystery I've read in a while but very much worth the wait. This story is written in the present tense, which somehow seemed more personal to me. Eleanor is a fascinating heroine whose story is told both through events taking place in her life in London at the present time, and flashbacks to a horrific time in her past. With the two stories moving along towards their eventual conclusion and with Eleanor questioning more and more who she can trust, I found myself utterly absorbed. This story is a real page turner and a credit to author Sara Foster.

The Hidden Hours took me a while to get into, but once I did, I found it was gripping reading. Most of the story is told from the point of view of Eleanor, and it’s in present tense (which I always find takes me a while to get my head around). To add to the complexity, each chapter begins with a short piece from the point of view of a minor character. There are also some shifts in tense and time which took a while to get used to, but which were used to great effect.

Eleanor is an Australian in London on her OE (that’s her Overseas Experience, a rite of passage for those of us from Australia and New Zealand). She’s living with her uncle’s family, and has a temp job as a personal assistant at her aunt’s employer. The story starts the day after the company’s Christmas party, when is discovered that an executive drowned in the River Thames following the party. The police investigate, and Eleanor finds herself in the awkward situation of being one of the last to see Arabella, but having no memory of the end of the party, or of getting home. Oh, and she’s found Arabella’s distinctive engagement ring in her handbag. Oops.

So at the most basic level, the story is a whodunit. Did Arabella fall, or was she pushed? If she was pushed, by whom? By Eleanor, who can’t remember? By Nathan, Arabella’s husband and Eleanor’s boss? But it’s also a study in messed-up families. Specifically, Eleanor’s messed-up childhood which has left her with ongoing nightmares and memories which intrude on her present life, to the point where they can get mixed up.

The writing was strong, with a unique voice and excellent characters, especially Eleanor. There was a real sense of place – the setting felt authentic to me as someone who lived in London for ten years (and I liked that feeling of recognition). My only complaint is a little swearing that I didn’t feel was necessary.

Overall, excellent.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I enjoy reading Australian fiction and also a good English thriller, so a book that combines both will always entice me in.
I liked that there were two distinct settings, both so well described you could feel the heat and discomfort of the Australian bush and the closed-in feeling of the London metropolis. Gradual development of both stories made for good suspense and kept me involved wanting to find out more. I had almost worked out what went on in Eleanor's youth, but didn't predict the explanation of Arabella's death.
One I will recommend to friends and my library customers.

Review published on http://bookloverbookreviews.com - see link below.

Alone and struggling to settle into a new country and a new workplace 21 year old Eleanor attends a work Christmas party but soon wishes she hadn't as she feels isolated and even more alone than before.     After taking some much needed time out she finds herself chatting and drinking with Arabella Lane one of the bosses of the company.         The following day she has a massive hangover and doesn't remember much of the night before.     At work all the staff are gathered and in the most solemn tones an announcement is made, one which will change everything for Eleanor and which will have her wracking her brain for those hidden hours.

I was hungry for every single word of this book, devouring chapter after chapter eagerly.    I guess this is what you'd classify as a psychological thriller but since I've never been especially big into that genre I may be wrong.    What I know is, I often felt anxious as I was reading.  I was second guessing every decision made and I had a healthy dose of paranoia going on, raising suspicions about almost all of the main characters.    Until the very end I remained uncertain about who would be revealed as the villian.

The characterisation in the story was terrific.    The backstory and slowly revealed history was equally as interesting to me as the whodunnit in the present tense investigation.      I felt for the young Eleanor and the way her family had imploded,  and for the long lasting impacts of the trauma she experienced.

I haven't read any of Sara Foster's previous works but feel inclined to do so now.      Sincere thanks to the author, Simon & Schuster (Australia) Pty Ltd and NetGalley for this digital copy of The Hidden Hours in exchange for an honest review.

Thrillers are not a genre I read often, but given how much I enjoyed Sara Foster's previous novel, All The Is Not Lost Between Us, I was keen to read this new offering.

I'm happy to report that I wasn't disappointed. This is a psychological thriller, a classic "who'd done it", that kept me reading compulsively.

Besides the great characterisations, beautiful descriptions, the story was realistic, which is always a big plus, as I often struggle to suspend my disbelief when it comes to thrillers.

Highly Recommended

The Hidden Hours begins with a suspicious death, but it is more the story of 21 year-old Eleanor Brennan. Eleanor spent time with the deceased but her drink was drugged, and she has large gaps in her memory. Eleanor is a broken character. At first, she comes off as wishy-washy in her actions. She’s lost, lonely in London since she hasn’t been there for long and staying with an uncle who she has never met before.

Gradually the layers of her past peel away and the reader learns why she is the way she is. One thing I don’t understand is that she knew her drink was drugged, but she still drank it. Given her past, why did she drink it? She desperately wants to fit in, so I suppose this played into her decision to drink from the drugged glass.

When it becomes obvious that the death is suspicious, the police swing into action, but to me, they didn’t ring true in their investigation. The investigation takes a back seat to Eleanor’s story.

Despite my quibbles, this is a compelling story. It’s not always a comfortable read, but it is a page-turner. I finished it knowing Eleanor emerged stronger, having been forced to face the truth of her traumatic past.

Four stars for me.

Love reading books by Australian authors. Sara Foster you have not disappointed me. Loved reading The Hidden Hours and you have kept me guessing all the way through the book.
The Hidden Hours is a great psychological thriller based on two stories through the eyes of Eleanor Brennan with the present as a young 21-year-old, starting a new life in London and her past during her childhood in outback Australia. The story is about Eleanor trying to remember the missing hours after a party she was at and her probably being the main witness to the death of Arabelle Lane. Tragedy seems to follow Eleanor wherever she goes which makes the story more interesting and wanting you to keep reading.
So many times in the book I wanted to slap Eleanor. I found her frustrating, immature and naïve and she easily trusted people which she then regretted but maybe that’s why I wanted to keep reading. My favourite parts were her flashbacks to her childhood in Australia and wanted to learn more about that part of her life.
I found many of the other characters frustrating and the author, Sara Foster, keeps you guessing throughout the book because they all had about motives and their own personal secrets which just made you keep turning that page.
Yes, I did enjoy reading Hidden Hours and was very excited about receiving an ARC digital copy from the publishers Simon and Schuster through Netgallery for a review.
I have now ordered some of Sara Foster’s previous books and look forward to reading them.