From television, to plays, to books across a variety of genres, Stella Duffy has shown she is a woman of many talents.
The Hidden Room, her 15th novel, signals her return to crime writing after a 12-year break.
Laurie is a woman who keeps secrets. Although she has achieved success in the world of work and is blessed with wife Martha and children Hope, Jack and Ana, her past life in ‘the community’ threatens to overwhelm her.
To stay sane, she parcels off physical and mental space for herself where old wounds can pulse with the dull pain of remembrance.
Unfortunately, memories slowly become reality as ghosts from her past become intimately involved with her family.
There’s nothing wrong with Duffy’s storytelling, which kept the pages steadily turning throughout. However, the most intriguing moments came so close to the end, it was difficult to feel the full strength of them.
There is a cliff-hanger, but it feels gratuitous and unsurprising. Perhaps a sequel is in the offing to answer all the questions we are left with.
