“The husband’s secret” was first published in 2013 by Australian author Liane Moriarty. The novel follows three women whose lives interconnect after one of them discovers a secret that will have disastrous consequences.
The story
Cecilia has three kids and is happily married, having an ideal life in appearance. Tess returns to Sydney with her son after her husband admits that he is in love with her cousin Felicity. Cecilia’s children and Tess’s son are enrolled in the same school, where a good part of the plot takes place. Connor Whitby is a PE teacher there, and Rachel, the school secretary, still suspects him to have killed her daughter thirty years ago.
The intrigue starts when Cecilia finds a letter of her husband Jean-Paul stating “to be opened only in the event of my death”… She spends a good period questioning herself about opening it or not, and that part of the book was a bit slow in my opinion. Because honestly, we all know that she will – and we cannot wait to discover what is inside. I struggled to like the characters at first, some of them lacking a bit of depth. But once I finally found out what the letter reveals, I could not stop reading anymore.
So what happens next?
The secret Cecilia uncovers is going to have catastrophic consequences on her life, and the people around her. Even though it takes a bit of time, it is still revealed pretty early in the book. So, unlike most thrillers, the question is not really about who did it and why, but what will happen next? The atmosphere is not dark, with all characters having a good sense of humour. The story is suspenseful and addresses topics like love, guilt, and redemption. I guess I could compare this book with the TV show “desperate housewives” that I used to watch; where even the perfect family has its secret.
On a deeper level, this book got me thinking about the choices we all make in life and what will be the result of it. If you believe in “karma”, this story is a perfect example of it. Overall, this is a good page-turner and you will be impatient to know the consequences of the secret – which are terrible. Apparently, the film rights have been acquired and the future movie will star Black Lively: I am keen to watch it!
So, are you tempted by this book?
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