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The Hush

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The Hush

By: Sara Foster
Narrated by: Cathi Ogden, Tamala Shelton
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About this listen

"The novel everyone will be talking about." (Natasha Lester)

Everything can change in a heartbeat...

The pulse-pounding new thriller from the best-selling author of You Don't Know Me.

Lainey's friend Ellis is missing. And she's not the only one.

In the six months since the first case of a terrifying new epidemic - when a healthy baby wouldn't take a breath at birth - the country has been thrown into turmoil. The government has passed sweeping new laws to monitor all citizens. And several young pregnant women have vanished without trace.

As a midwife, Lainey's mum, Emma, is determined to be there for those who need her. But when 17-year-old Lainey finds herself in trouble, this dangerous new world becomes very real. The one person who might help is Emma's estranged mother, but reaching out to her will put them all in jeopardy...

The Hush is a new breed of near-future thriller, an unflinching look at a society close to tipping point and a story for our times, highlighting the power of female friendship through a dynamic group of women determined to triumph against the odds.

"Smart and considered, this is the book I wish I had written. Sara Foster is one of my favourite writers." (Dervla McTiernan)

"Magnificent. Writer envy. Foster is changing the game." (Nikki Gemmell)

"Right from the first page, Foster had me gripped. The Hush will be the thriller of the year." (Meredith Jaffe)

"Terrifyingly plausible - and utterly compelling." (Wendy James)

©2021 Sara Foster (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Domestic Thrillers Political Spies & Politics Suspense Thriller & Suspense Espionage Exciting Heartfelt Scary

Critic Reviews

"Brilliantly imagined and superbly told, this story reaches out and grabs you right from the outset. It's impossible to put down, not just because of the gripping plot but because the three women at the centre of the book wind themselves around your heart as they struggle to comprehend the increasingly frightening world they're living in. This is the novel everyone will be talking about this year." (Natasha Lester)

"Highly original and thought-provoking, The Hush is a compelling page-turner." (Anna Downes)

"A terrifying premise, compelling characters and a plot that had me racing to finish." (Kayte Nunn)
All stars
Most relevant  
Insane book - it was beautiful, painful, infuriating, hopeful, kind, brutal and all the other words you can use to describe women and women's experiences/suffrage in the 2020s. The thing that stuck out to me the most was how real it all seemed - it was such a believable premise, and it almost felt like a harbinger of what's to come post-COVID and abortion banning. The stakes were high from the get-go, the tension even higher. Partway through when you want one thing to happen, there is something in the back of your mind that tells you it can and will go pear-shaped. This book promises to not stop until the end, to not be safe until the last page. I felt like a deer being hunted in the woods throughout most of it. So clever - I could never think of something like this. Huge huge kudos to Sara and big thanks for the read (or listen, as I did this one on Audible). I save five-star reviews for the books that really stick with me, and this one did.

Marvellous - insane book

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I haven’t been caught up like this in a book for a while. The mystery/ adventure draws you in and on. Extremely enjoyable. Lovely voices.
Important message for this time for those that have ears to hear.

Current dystopia

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Disturbingly believable, particular due to the invasion of citizens' human rights due to terrorism and the conformity brought on by the pandemic - good on the whole but open to misuse and abuse.
Fast moving, exciting story with two narrators.

A feminist dystopian novel

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Listened to this as Roe vs Wade is being dismantled in the US, and trans children are being vilified as election fodder here in Australia.
It's easy to love this strong feminist portrayal of brave and supportive women's networks sticking it to the patriarchy, and I was hooked on the story for the most part. As a mother, I found the descriptions of intervention with teen pregnancies especially terrifying.
I'm giving it only four stars as the moral is delivered with quite a heavy hand and I would prefer being shown not told. EG the story could have given us all we needed without including the lectures by Geraldine.
The performances were wonderful, and I love the clever cover art.

A timely story

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The story is believable: a pandemic and security measures that can be seen as safeguarding or oppressive. The characters are interesting and it’s well narrated. I felt for the protagonists. Great book!

A credible dark version of our modern world

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I so enjoyed this book, it’s gripping, page turning, intelligent and inspiring.Thank you Sara! Awesomeness!

Wow! Fabulous!

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This book is a view of a possible future and the power we all have to keep fighting for the greater good. I loved the fierce friendship of the girls and the power those relationships had to change the stasis. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone wanting a gripping read.

A Celebration of the Power of Us

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Cathi Ogden’s stop start reading of the story can’t be described as a performance. It’s as though she didn’t even pre-read the book and can’t read ahead, resulting in constant illogical pauses.

Audiobook spoiled by poor performance from Cathi Ogden

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This book kept me awake most of the night, confronting and unsettling to the point I felt so uncomfortable I thought to not continue. But so glad I kept going. A book of love and a warning of what can happen when liberties are removed. Thank you Sara I can’t wait to read more of your work.

Blown away

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excellent
too many parallels with what is happening today. green ticks, watches. lets pray it is sorted soon

scary too like what is happening in the world toda

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