Hidden Cove

September 9, 2019
Tilly’s third standalone romantic thriller set on idyllic Solace Island (after Cliff’s Edge) fails to deliver on its intriguing premise. When crime-fiction writer Gabe Conaghan arrives on Solace Island, he is expecting merely to fulfill his father’s request to inspect an estate. He’s hardly prepared to meet stunning gallery owner Zelia Thompson or get wrapped up in her amateur sleuthing. Though the death of Zelia’s friend and fellow gallery owner was declared a drug overdose, Zelia is sure the story is a cover-up for a murder. Enlisting Gabe’s assistance, Zelia sets to work uncovering a dark conspiracy that endangers everyone on Solace Island. An overly complex plot and exposition-laden dialogue bog down the pace and make the protagonists’ passion feel forced rather than fated. Though Tilly’s fans may enjoy returning to Hidden Cove, this installment never rises above its heavy-handed narration. Agent: Kimberly Witherspoon, InkWell Management.

A large cast of narrators comes together to tell the story of Zelia Thompson and Gabe Conaghan, that is set on Solace Island, off the Washington coast. Zelia is an art gallery owner who enlists the aid of Gabe, a crime novelist, to help her investigate the apparent overdose death of her friend. Narrator Abby Craden takes on the parts of the story from Zelia's point of view, while narrator Tad Branson handles Gabe's. Craden's voice has a breathy quality that might take the listener a moment to get past, but Branson's narration more than makes up for this. Neil Shah portrays the villain, sending chills down the listener's spine. The multiple narrators blend well with each other. S.B. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine