Something to Hide

Something to Hide follows multiple storylines that intersect through connections to West Africa. The novel begins in London with Petra, a divorced woman in her sixties who becomes romantically involved with Jeremy, the husband of her best friend Bev. In Texas, Lorrie falls victim to an online scam that costs her life savings. With her military husband deployed to Iraq, she secretly agrees to become a surrogate mother for a Chinese businessman, using medications sourced from West Africa. The various plot threads converge in West Africa, where Jeremy's activities come under scrutiny, and both Petra and Lorrie find themselves drawn into an increasingly complex situation. The story moves between London, Texas, and West Africa as the characters' separate worlds collide. The novel explores themes of deception, loyalty, and the unexpected ways lives become entangled across cultural and geographical boundaries. Through its interconnected narratives, it examines how secrets and choices ripple outward to affect seemingly unrelated individuals.

Readers describe Something to Hide as a light, entertaining read that tackles serious themes around aging and relationships. Many found the multiple storylines engaging, though some struggled to connect them until later in the book. Readers appreciated: - Authentic portrayal of older characters - Blend of humor with weightier subjects - Well-developed side characters - Insights into different cultures - Satisfying resolution of plot threads Common criticisms: - Too many characters to track initially - Slow start before plots converge - Some storylines feel rushed or underdeveloped - Cultural elements could be stereotypical Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.1/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.0/5 (900+ ratings) "The characters feel like people you know," notes one Amazon reviewer, while another states "it took 100 pages before I could keep everyone straight." Readers who enjoyed Moggach's The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel found similar appeal in this book's treatment of aging and relationships.

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🔹 Deborah Moggach OBE is also the author of "These Foolish Things," which was adapted into the hit film "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" starring Judi Dench and Bill Nighy. 🔹 The novel's West African segments were inspired by Moggach's own travels to Nigeria, where she witnessed firsthand the impact of internet scams on both perpetrators and victims. 🔹 Surrogacy tourism in Asia, a key plot element in the book, has become increasingly common, with countries like Thailand and China experiencing significant growth in international surrogacy arrangements. 🔹 The book's exploration of later-life romance reflects a growing literary trend, with studies showing a 62% increase in divorce rates among adults over 50 in the past decade. 🔹 The parallel narrative structure used in "Something to Hide" is a technique Moggach perfected over her 19 previous novels, allowing her to weave complex stories across multiple continents and perspectives.