A heartwarming mystery filled with books, secrets and second chances, perfect for fans of Freya Sampson, Evie Woods and Sally Page – and everyone who loves books about books.

Sometimes the right story leads you home . . .  

When bestselling author Helen finds herself at the centre of a scandal, she escapes to Rathbrooke Hall on a remote island off the Northumberland coast. Tasked with cataloguing the books of a reclusive collector she’s relieved to be out of the glare of publicity, even if the locals are less than welcoming.

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But as she spends more time among the dusty bookshelves and rare first editions, she uncovers clues to a secret collection of books that could save the island – and the community that she’s begun to feel part of. Can she unravel the mystery of the hidden library and can she trust Thiago, a charming librarian with secrets of his own?

My Review

Until I’d finished this book, I didn’t realise that this isn’t the first time I’ve read this author. I read The Forgotten Garden two years ago. In fact I was on the blog tour and it was one of my favourite books of the year.

The Hidden Library is probably a bit too ‘romancy’ for me and I would have liked a more sinister, Gothic element. Maybe hidden skeletons buried in the walls (you’ll know where I mean when you get to it), whispering galleries and warnings written in condensation on the mirror. But I still read it in two sittings and couldn’t wait to turn the pages. If I was on holiday I’d probably have read it in one go.

I felt really sorry for Helen when the film contract for her best selling novel is pulled because she had an affair with a famous, married actor. Her friend Melanie suggests she was completely taken in by his lies and he’s basically thrown her under the bus. She says that no, she is entirely responsible, but I’m with Melanie. She was very young when she met him and totally naive.

I really enjoyed it and the other characters were well drawn and relatable. Rufus is the wizened old gardener who lives in the lighthouse. Martha is the housekeeper, whose daughter Cora is a teenage brat. Rathbrooke Hall was the domain of the late Cyril Gissing who collected rare and ancient books, aided by Spanish ‘pirate’ Thiago Montera. Helen, escaping the fallout of her disastrous life is there to catalogue the books and artefacts. But she finds a lot more than she bargained for. Highly recommended holiday read, when you want something mysterious, but not too scary.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #TheHiddenLibrary #blog tour

About the Author

Sharon started her career as an entertainment journalist, writing non-fiction books about film and television. She is also the author of multiple children’s books. Sharon and her husband live in a small village in northern Cumbria. She can be found on Instagram @sharongoslingauthor