This book has an intriguing premise - Nell has received a letter from her mother's lawyer informing her that her mother, Sarah, has just passed away. Except that Nell has always been told that her mother died when Nell was just a small child! Raised by her grandmother, Lillian, Nell had no reason to doubt what she was told and now she is completely thrown. She decides to go back home to meet with her estranged grandmother and find out why she has been lied to all of her life.

She returns back to her hometown and finds that Lillian has temporarily moved into an assisted living center while a long lost cousin, Adam, has moved into Lillian's house to complete some renovations. He and Nell come to an uneasy acceptance of each other staying in the house for the time being. She's endlessly explaining that she doesn't care about any will her grandmother has, she just wants the truth. What Adam really wants, she doesn't know. She reconciles with Lillian, but can no longer trust anything that she is told after learning about her mother. Will she ever find out what really happened? Or is there someone determined to silence her questions once and for all?

The book is a quick read, told in alternating perspectives of Nell in the present and her mother in the past. The issue I had was that none of the characters are quite likable. Lillian is the devil incarnate, Sarah is weak and helpless and Nell is too forgiving of Lillian's lies while still cowering before her like a young child. It's hard to read through Sarah's narrative because you see what's happening from the beginning while she is oblivious and you're stuck just watching her being tormented. More seasoned readers will no doubt piece everything together early on, but I'm sure there are many who'll be delighted by the twists throughout the story. If we could just empathize with the characters more, I feel it would be a more satisfying read.

What We Hide by Lesley Sanderson is another dark and twisty domestic thriller from one of my must read authors. When I pick up a book by Ms Sanderson, I know that I will not be able to put it down, so compulsively readable is her writing.

Nell is shocked to receive the news that her mother has recently died. Her initial reaction is that this must be a cruel hoax. After all, her mother has been dead for thirty years. But Nell soon realizes that she has been lied to by the grandmother who stepped in to raise her. She realizes that she must confront Lilian with this unconscionable deceit, not knowing what possible motivation the older woman could possibly have for perpetuating such an horrific untruth for so many years. Decades of long hidden secrets are about to be exposed, and the truth is even more sinister than Nell could have ever imagined.

This is another gripping read by an author who has certainly established herself as one to watch within the domestic drama genre, and I will continue to devour everything she puts forth. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.