The Art of Hiding - Amanda Prowse (pub. Lake Union )

Nina McCarrick has it all: a loving husband, two beautiful boys, a well-appointed home and more time than she knows what to do with. Life is perfect. Until her husband, Finn, is killed in a car accident and everything Nina thought she could rely on unravels.

Alone, bereft and faced with a mountain of debt, Nina’s life of luxury quickly disappears and she begins to question whether she ever really knew the man she married. Forced to move out of her family home, Nina returns to the rundown Southampton council estate—and the sister—she thought she had left far behind.

But Nina can’t let herself be overwhelmed—her boys need her. To save them, and herself, she will have to do what her husband discouraged for so long: pursue a career of her own. Torn between the life she thought she knew and the reality she now faces, Nina finally must learn what it means to take control of her life.

I'm sat on the sofa on holiday, in front of open patio doors, trying to hide the tears just in case people walk past wondering what on earth has happened. That's my first thought about The Art of Hiding; make sure you've got some tissues handy because if you don't shed a tear or two (okay, okay, so maybe a few more), then you have a heart of steel.

I couldn't help but root for newly bereaved Nina, and not in that repressed way either; I'm talking American game/chat show encouragement with the hollering and whooping. Plagued by insecurities and doubt, she transforms herself from the vacuous 'yummy mummy' (I apologise, I hate that turn of phrase too!) to a thoroughly likeable, strong woman. Actually perhaps it is a little unfair to brand her that way in the first place; she essentially doesn't change, it's her persona that undergoes a transformation brought about by the death of her husband Finn and the subsequent events. I'm assuming that it's this ability to tap into everyday characters that makes Amanda Prowse fans keep coming back for more, certainly it's a major part of the appeal to me. The fact that I can easily identify with those presented to me makes me become more invested in their journey; I do actually care about what happens to them. Coupled of course with a style of writing that is well structured and controlled, which in this case makes The Art of Hiding a pleasure to read.

I enjoyed the way the novel entwined the grief of the family, together with their strength and the working through of the relationship between Finn and Nina. The question surrounding the death of Finn and whether the weight of what he was hiding bore any relation to it, was handled with sensitivity and honesty. It would be all to easy to blame him, but he's written in such a way that, particularly by the end, it's clear to see why he did what he did even if we don't agree with it. The family dynamics are realistic too; her two boys were delightful and once again I felt slightly envious of my lack of a sister with the bond shared between Nina and Tiggy.

So once again Amanda Prowse shines with The Art of Hiding - a terrific (if slightly emotional) read.