BOOK REVIEW: The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

One of the first books I read this year was The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty, author of Three Wishes and What Alice Forgot. Released last year, The Husband's Secret is a dark yet beautiful story of one secret that can alter lives. That is, if it's ever told...

Cecilia is in the attic of the house she shares with her children and husband John-Paul when she accidentally discovers an envelope addressed to her. An envelope, in her husband's handwriting, which states it should be 'opened only in the event of my death'.

Instantly curious, Cecilia puts off opening the envelope until her curiosity finally takes over. But when she finally reads the letter contained inside, a secret is revealed that will change her life forever.

In the same town, not a day goes by in Rachel's life without thoughts of Janie, her daughter, who was murdered in 1984. Despite never finding her daughter's killer, Rachel is adamant that he still lives, and that she has an idea of who may have been responsible all those years ago. When her son and daughter-in-law decide to head to New York, taking the grandson that she adores, Rachel might have to face the prospect of even more loneliness.

Then there's Tess, whose husband has just revealed he is in love with someone else - someone much too close to home, turning her world into one of loss and confusion. Tess's son begins at the school where Rachel works, the school that Cecilia's young daughters attend.

The lives of these three woman intertwine throughout the novel, with each of their personal stories coming together, and eventually linked by one secret - the secret in Ceclila's letter.

By revealing, Cecilia could change one life for the better - but ruin others. Can she go through life without telling, or is she willing to lose everything and confess?

The Husband's Secret is an addictive, clever tale of family secrets and consequences, which I found very hard to put down. It's full of suspense from the very beginning, which left me desperate to know what would happen next in the lives of each character. Admittedly, I found Tess's story to be not as gripping as those of Rachel and Cecilia - however, the way the three women's lives are linked eventually becomes very interesting towards the end of the novel. I finished this book very quickly as it was so hard to stop reading!

Rating: 5/5

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