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The Watchful Wife
A story of unshakeable belief and unbending faith from the author of The Deceptions.
'The Watchful Wife is assured and engrossing. As our crisp, clear-eyed narrator with more than one cross to bear, Ellen guides us through a tangle of ethical and emotional quandaries that feel both timeless and immediate, keeping us on her side the whole way through.' Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Before You Knew My Name
'Leal's unusual perspective on the destructive force of an allegation gives this book real moral complexity…Nuanced, troubling and convincing.' Jock Serong, author of The Settlement
Raised by her severe parents in a punitive and authoritarian church, Ellen's narrow world is upended when she meets Gordon, a fellow teacher. Responding to his interest with curiosity and, before long, pleasure, Ellen is both transformed and beguiled by the connection, love and laughter he brings into her life.
Three years later, a knock on the door changes everything. Two police officers have come to accuse Gordon of a shocking crime. Abandoned and reviled by those around her, Ellen steadfastly refuses to believe Gordon has done anything wrong. In a world of swirling suspicion, however, she will have to fight to protect him.
But what will that cost her? And what will she discover about him along the way?
A propulsive and provocative novel about love, faith and courage from the bestselling author of The Teacher's Secret.
'Suzanne Leal's books always grab me from the very first sentence and The Watchful Wife is no exception. It is intriguing, engaging and deeply moving from beginning to end. I loved Ellen from the first moment I met her.' Jane Caro, author of The Mother
'Leal delivers an intriguing page-turner with emotional depth, nuance and moral The Watchful Wife is a truly gripping read from start to finish.' Mark Brandi, author of The Others
'The Watchful Wife is a tense Australian thriller that reminds sometimes you need an outsider to fight injustice.' Jack Beaumont, author of The Frenchman
'The Watchful Wife is assured and engrossing. As our crisp, clear-eyed narrator with more than one cross to bear, Ellen guides us through a tangle of ethical and emotional quandaries that feel both timeless and immediate, keeping us on her side the whole way through.' Jacqueline Bublitz, author of Before You Knew My Name
'Leal's unusual perspective on the destructive force of an allegation gives this book real moral complexity…Nuanced, troubling and convincing.' Jock Serong, author of The Settlement
Raised by her severe parents in a punitive and authoritarian church, Ellen's narrow world is upended when she meets Gordon, a fellow teacher. Responding to his interest with curiosity and, before long, pleasure, Ellen is both transformed and beguiled by the connection, love and laughter he brings into her life.
Three years later, a knock on the door changes everything. Two police officers have come to accuse Gordon of a shocking crime. Abandoned and reviled by those around her, Ellen steadfastly refuses to believe Gordon has done anything wrong. In a world of swirling suspicion, however, she will have to fight to protect him.
But what will that cost her? And what will she discover about him along the way?
A propulsive and provocative novel about love, faith and courage from the bestselling author of The Teacher's Secret.
'Suzanne Leal's books always grab me from the very first sentence and The Watchful Wife is no exception. It is intriguing, engaging and deeply moving from beginning to end. I loved Ellen from the first moment I met her.' Jane Caro, author of The Mother
'Leal delivers an intriguing page-turner with emotional depth, nuance and moral The Watchful Wife is a truly gripping read from start to finish.' Mark Brandi, author of The Others
'The Watchful Wife is a tense Australian thriller that reminds sometimes you need an outsider to fight injustice.' Jack Beaumont, author of The Frenchman
368 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2023
25 people are currently reading
294 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Leal
9 books64 followersI'm the author of novels THE WATCHFUL WIFE, RUNNING WITH IVAN, THE DECEPTIONS, THE TEACHER'S SECRET and BORDER STREET.
A regular interviewer and presenter at literary events and festivals, I was the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards from 2017 to 2019 and am now a board director of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. I'm also a lawyer with a background in child protection, criminal law and refugee law. I'm also the weekly host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly place to chat about books online, To join us, sign up (for free) on my website:www.suzanneleal.com.
I live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, David, my four children, a Japanese Spitz called Milly and a cat we accidentally acquired called Leo,
A regular interviewer and presenter at literary events and festivals, I was the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards from 2017 to 2019 and am now a board director of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. I'm also a lawyer with a background in child protection, criminal law and refugee law. I'm also the weekly host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly place to chat about books online, To join us, sign up (for free) on my website:www.suzanneleal.com.
I live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, David, my four children, a Japanese Spitz called Milly and a cat we accidentally acquired called Leo,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
November 20, 2023
I really enjoy books written by journalists and other professionals who begin to write books that touch on their area of expertise. In this instance the author, Suzanne Leal, an established author and lawyer, covers some very serious and topical themes in this her fifth novel.
Ellen has the extreme misfortune to be raised by religious zealots, who attend the Scottish Free Church of Kirkton. This whole idea caused my blood to boil, a group of miserable people espousing sin and simply just awful people. This was written so well as I was thoroughly invested. So much were Ellen's family committed to this way of life there was no love for their daughter, they were a miserable family.
Ellen accepted her way of dressing, long dresses, long sleeves, awful clunky black shoes two sizes too big and needing to walk an hour to church in oppressive weather. Awful! So outcast at school, her mother would not allow her to wear the sports uniform. That's hard going for a girl her age. This being riled up made me committed to the story, compelling me along.
A smart girl, she managed to attend university, although very sheltered, meek and mild, the story flowed quite quickly into her adulthood. It was no surprise she married her first boyfriend, and settled as a teacher. This was a blessing as her parents and church would have expected betrothal to the inappropriate and older congressional members. Again, awful.
Ellen ends up being most adaptive and street smart funnily enough as a dreadful tale of sexual abuse is heaped upon her husband, head of English at an exclusive school. Here we witness the usual issues that are problematic today. Teenagers lacking boundaries, boys not yet men acting badly, mobile phones and an online presence with negative consequences.
What must Ellen do to find out the truth about her husband, how can she live with the allegations against him?
I loved the courtroom scenes which created a building crescendo, wise words spoken by the presiding judge and some unexpected attitudes. Certain aspects did fall into place easily plot wise, but this didn't distract from my enjoyment. This is smart writing, with elements of the salem witch trials incorporated while the students perform The Crucible.
I listened to this via the Libby platform and my public library, well narrated Anthea Greco. Listening to the audio enabled me to fly through it, this was compelling reading.
Ellen has the extreme misfortune to be raised by religious zealots, who attend the Scottish Free Church of Kirkton. This whole idea caused my blood to boil, a group of miserable people espousing sin and simply just awful people. This was written so well as I was thoroughly invested. So much were Ellen's family committed to this way of life there was no love for their daughter, they were a miserable family.
Ellen accepted her way of dressing, long dresses, long sleeves, awful clunky black shoes two sizes too big and needing to walk an hour to church in oppressive weather. Awful! So outcast at school, her mother would not allow her to wear the sports uniform. That's hard going for a girl her age. This being riled up made me committed to the story, compelling me along.
A smart girl, she managed to attend university, although very sheltered, meek and mild, the story flowed quite quickly into her adulthood. It was no surprise she married her first boyfriend, and settled as a teacher. This was a blessing as her parents and church would have expected betrothal to the inappropriate and older congressional members. Again, awful.
Ellen ends up being most adaptive and street smart funnily enough as a dreadful tale of sexual abuse is heaped upon her husband, head of English at an exclusive school. Here we witness the usual issues that are problematic today. Teenagers lacking boundaries, boys not yet men acting badly, mobile phones and an online presence with negative consequences.
What must Ellen do to find out the truth about her husband, how can she live with the allegations against him?
I loved the courtroom scenes which created a building crescendo, wise words spoken by the presiding judge and some unexpected attitudes. Certain aspects did fall into place easily plot wise, but this didn't distract from my enjoyment. This is smart writing, with elements of the salem witch trials incorporated while the students perform The Crucible.
I listened to this via the Libby platform and my public library, well narrated Anthea Greco. Listening to the audio enabled me to fly through it, this was compelling reading.
September 8, 2023
The Watchful Wife is the fifth novel by Australian lawyer and author, Suzanne Leal. When her husband Gordon, the Deputy Head of English at the exclusive Grandborough High School, is arrested for the sexual assault of one of his students, Ellen O’Hanlon refuses to believe he could have done what they say. Can a thirty-two-year-old English teacher in the twenty-first Century be this naïve? Or is hers simply an unshakeable faith in an innocent man, the man she loves?
Ellen is the product of a strict, severe and very sheltered childhood: her father is an elder of the Scottish Free Church of Kirkton; her mother clothes her in long dresses covering to the wrist, neck and ankle; the school’s sports uniform, way too immodest, is forbidden; Ellen has no friends of her own age, but the Sabbath School teacher, the school librarian and the sewing teacher are kind and have her best interests at heart.
Eventually, with encouragement from these women, she manages to avoid the inevitable marriage to a church member, becomes a teacher, and even summons the mettle to leave home. Despite the Free Church’s rigid mindset, Ellen does miss the sense of belonging she had there, especially when she meets and marries Gordon O’Hanlon, a Catholic(!) and is ostracised by her parents and the church.
Leal’s depiction of Ellen’s upbringing is quite credible, as is the ordeal that Gordon and Ellen endure as reputations are shattered; it is several later plot points that may require some suspension of disbelief and may feel a little contrived. While initially Ellen’s back story may seem to lack relevance, that harsh upbringing is perhaps what gives her the resilience and strength to withstand the challenges she has to face. An interesting and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.
Ellen is the product of a strict, severe and very sheltered childhood: her father is an elder of the Scottish Free Church of Kirkton; her mother clothes her in long dresses covering to the wrist, neck and ankle; the school’s sports uniform, way too immodest, is forbidden; Ellen has no friends of her own age, but the Sabbath School teacher, the school librarian and the sewing teacher are kind and have her best interests at heart.
Eventually, with encouragement from these women, she manages to avoid the inevitable marriage to a church member, becomes a teacher, and even summons the mettle to leave home. Despite the Free Church’s rigid mindset, Ellen does miss the sense of belonging she had there, especially when she meets and marries Gordon O’Hanlon, a Catholic(!) and is ostracised by her parents and the church.
Leal’s depiction of Ellen’s upbringing is quite credible, as is the ordeal that Gordon and Ellen endure as reputations are shattered; it is several later plot points that may require some suspension of disbelief and may feel a little contrived. While initially Ellen’s back story may seem to lack relevance, that harsh upbringing is perhaps what gives her the resilience and strength to withstand the challenges she has to face. An interesting and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Allen & Unwin.
July 8, 2023
The Watchful Wife is the latest new release by Australian author Suzanne Leal. She tends to tackle complex social themes in her novels, touching here again on some featured in her first novel, The Teacher’s Secret - around the education system and allegations of misconduct - and that of religion, which featured in her second novel Deceptions. I very much enjoyed this book which takes on the sensitive topic of sexual misconduct but predominantly from the point of view of the wife of a man accused.
I also appreciated that she visits the he said/she said element with Ellen's open mind. She believes her husband is innocent, but she also believes his accuser has no reason to lie… knowing both cannot be true. Perhaps it’s the remnants of Ellen’s blind faith (that of the religious kind) that puts her in this difficult position. Or perhaps there are lessons here for others.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
I also appreciated that she visits the he said/she said element with Ellen's open mind. She believes her husband is innocent, but she also believes his accuser has no reason to lie… knowing both cannot be true. Perhaps it’s the remnants of Ellen’s blind faith (that of the religious kind) that puts her in this difficult position. Or perhaps there are lessons here for others.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
July 24, 2023
A crime or mystery story, somewhat in the Liane Moriarty mode. It begins with a prologue that indicates the narrator Ellen’s husband is to be charged with a crime of sexual abuse, then returns for the whole first half of the book to the narrator’s own childhood and youth as a member of a conservative church, forbidden to take part in many aspects of her school peers’ lives – dress, sport, outings etc – and who later becomes a teacher. She meets her husband, a fellow teacher, and they have a happy marriage and life until out of nowhere he is charged with this crime. I found the book quite readable and enjoyable, but also irritating. In part this is because the balance of the story seemed off: the length and detail of the first half of the book about Ellen’s background didn’t seem important to the second part about the crime and her quest to investigate what really happened – it seemed to be set up as a book about her, but then turned into a book about an investigation, and each was somewhat unsatisfying. I also found irritating some credibility gaps in the story. These included: 1. a ton of detail on Ellen’s interactions with and commitment to her own church, but then happily marries in the Catholic church without any attention to what this would have involved in relation to the Catholic church's commitments; 2. She is such a good seamstress that she not only whips up men’s trousers almost overnight, but later makes two men’s suits (quite a feat of specialist tailoring) that her husband happily wears all the time to his job in a very fancy school; 3. The trial itself seems to have such flimsy untested evidence that her husband’s lawyer should have been sued for negligence (and when he is asked if he had told anyone about tutoring the girl, he forgets to mention he had already told his wife!); 4. Changing a hairstyle is enough for Ellen to not be recognized by people she has previously interacted with reasonably closely; 5. the mystery of why he suddenly disappeared is not resolved.
July 10, 2023
Thank you Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The dedication and responsibility our teachers have in educating and grooming our future citizens is immense.
A role they carry out with loyalty and conviction, in an environment that can be scrutinised, they can be held accountable for perceived mishaps as their young charges sometimes have an air of entitlement.
Religion also moulds and influences behaviour, as moral high grounds are set and adhered to.
Ellen has grown up in a church oriented family that controlled every aspect of her life.
Shielding her from most external influences and creating a misery with many restrictions.
A solid moral foundation was laid and a desire to become a teacher was her goal.
Escaping her family and marrying a man of her choice was now the antidote.
The happy bubble was burst when police officers arrived at her door and her husband was accused of the unthinkable.
I was wowed by two stories in one.
The upbringing element was brilliant and touched on life with strict religious parameters.
The legal event and its aftermath had me enthralled and intrigued.
The two stories were cleverly immersed into one provocative and intriguing narrative that makes the reader hungry for more.
The dedication and responsibility our teachers have in educating and grooming our future citizens is immense.
A role they carry out with loyalty and conviction, in an environment that can be scrutinised, they can be held accountable for perceived mishaps as their young charges sometimes have an air of entitlement.
Religion also moulds and influences behaviour, as moral high grounds are set and adhered to.
Ellen has grown up in a church oriented family that controlled every aspect of her life.
Shielding her from most external influences and creating a misery with many restrictions.
A solid moral foundation was laid and a desire to become a teacher was her goal.
Escaping her family and marrying a man of her choice was now the antidote.
The happy bubble was burst when police officers arrived at her door and her husband was accused of the unthinkable.
I was wowed by two stories in one.
The upbringing element was brilliant and touched on life with strict religious parameters.
The legal event and its aftermath had me enthralled and intrigued.
The two stories were cleverly immersed into one provocative and intriguing narrative that makes the reader hungry for more.
August 2, 2023
The Watchful Wife was very different to what I expected. The first half of the novel is entirely backstory, laying down the foundation of Ellen’s character, the rigid and zealous religious upbringing shaping her into the woman, teacher, and wife she is when we first meet her in the prologue. While this section of the novel was interesting, it was also ‘quiet’ – in that, not a lot was happening, we were really just being told Ellen’s life story, in all its minute details. I will confess, it wasn’t what I expected, and I kept wondering where it was going.
When we arrive at the present day, back at the point of the prologue, where Ellen’s husband, also a teacher, is being questioned about a student protection claim made against him by a female student, the novel takes an interesting, and again, unexpected turn. Ellen is cast into a role that she never envisaged herself having to play out. Shame, doubt, both at herself and at her husband, shape her days. She is forced to find an inner strength and question much about what she thought about her husband, her life, and even the very nature of people. Questions that torment her: Why would someone young lie about something so heinous? But how could something so heinous possibly be true of the husband she knows and loves?
Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, is featured heavily within this novel and upon reflection after finishing, I can see the parallels between The Crucible and this story and what Suzanne Leal was aiming for. It was only once I’d finished and considered the story as a whole that I came to realise its true power as a cautionary tale, not just about the modern risks associated with being a teacher, but also the dangers that lurk for teenagers in this age where digital content can be used as a weapon and ignite behaviours that are not just unseemly, but actually ruinous to others. The consequences of one’s actions can go beyond just a simple pointing of the finger to get yourself out of a sticky situation.
The Watchful Wife would make an ideal read for a bookclubs. While the ending relied on some convenient coincidences, I still rate it highly and recommend it widely.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
When we arrive at the present day, back at the point of the prologue, where Ellen’s husband, also a teacher, is being questioned about a student protection claim made against him by a female student, the novel takes an interesting, and again, unexpected turn. Ellen is cast into a role that she never envisaged herself having to play out. Shame, doubt, both at herself and at her husband, shape her days. She is forced to find an inner strength and question much about what she thought about her husband, her life, and even the very nature of people. Questions that torment her: Why would someone young lie about something so heinous? But how could something so heinous possibly be true of the husband she knows and loves?
Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, is featured heavily within this novel and upon reflection after finishing, I can see the parallels between The Crucible and this story and what Suzanne Leal was aiming for. It was only once I’d finished and considered the story as a whole that I came to realise its true power as a cautionary tale, not just about the modern risks associated with being a teacher, but also the dangers that lurk for teenagers in this age where digital content can be used as a weapon and ignite behaviours that are not just unseemly, but actually ruinous to others. The consequences of one’s actions can go beyond just a simple pointing of the finger to get yourself out of a sticky situation.
The Watchful Wife would make an ideal read for a bookclubs. While the ending relied on some convenient coincidences, I still rate it highly and recommend it widely.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy.
July 22, 2023
Starts off well but the plot takes over the characters towards the end.
March 23, 2024
Fundamentalist Christianity, it's affect on children and families, and sexual assault in schools and how this is handled. A very accurate description of school life. A real page turner. Almost 5 stars.
July 30, 2023
Thrilling and compelling even though there are quite a few convenient coincidences. A fascinating page turner that you won’t be able to put down. Spectacular!
July 3, 2023
Raised by her severe parents in an authoritarian church, Ellen's narrow world is upended when she meets Gordon, a fellow teacher. Ellen doesn't believe her luck as they fall in love and marry (much to her families digust).
Three years later, a knock on the door changes everything. Two police officers have come to accuse Gordon of a shocking crime. Abandoned and reviled by those around her, Ellen steadfastly refuses to believe Gordon has done anything wrong. In a world of swirling suspicion, however, she will have to fight to protect him.
But what will that cost her? And what will she discover about him along the way?
I couldn't put this book down. It was fascinating and gut wrenching at the same time. Suzanne writes in such a way that you are left the whole time confused about what has actually happened and whether the accusation is true or not. It’s also a fascinating exploration of an accuser and what might lead them to making such a decision.
It's also fascinating seeing Ellen's upbringing shown in stark contrast to the life she leads as an adult. I always find it so interesting reading stories where the main character has come from a strict or interesting religious background.
It was an absolutely fascinating read!
Three years later, a knock on the door changes everything. Two police officers have come to accuse Gordon of a shocking crime. Abandoned and reviled by those around her, Ellen steadfastly refuses to believe Gordon has done anything wrong. In a world of swirling suspicion, however, she will have to fight to protect him.
But what will that cost her? And what will she discover about him along the way?
I couldn't put this book down. It was fascinating and gut wrenching at the same time. Suzanne writes in such a way that you are left the whole time confused about what has actually happened and whether the accusation is true or not. It’s also a fascinating exploration of an accuser and what might lead them to making such a decision.
It's also fascinating seeing Ellen's upbringing shown in stark contrast to the life she leads as an adult. I always find it so interesting reading stories where the main character has come from a strict or interesting religious background.
It was an absolutely fascinating read!
March 1, 2024
This was too suspenseful, I had to cheat and read the ending. Not quite a five star but an excellent crime story, that it deserves full marks. The representation of schools and teachers is accurate. Normally there’s no real sense of schools. This hits the mark. As does the court room action.
December 16, 2023
I am surprised A&U put their name on this book.
1. Unjustly accused exonerated – good topic. Grisham or Turow it is not.
2. Almost half the book devoted to narrator's backstory. A couple of chapters, or a few backstories, smoothly interlaced would have sufficed. The disappearance of the protagonist's parents in the second half, and the almost complete absence of coping with what would have been a traumatic estrangement, lacks credibility.
2. The accused man's character very cardboard. Superficial & virtually with no background.
3. Surprisingly inept handling of trials of this type. For police, and the defense team not to question the authenticity of the handwritten anonymous note, is sheer incompetence. That alone would have resulted in acquittal. Not to mention the absence of objections to the prosecutor's leading questions.
3. The dei ex machina ploys are childish and unbelievable. The protagonist's phony image transformation, the series of coincidences, are over the top.
4. Disappointing. It could have been a great read.
1. Unjustly accused exonerated – good topic. Grisham or Turow it is not.
2. Almost half the book devoted to narrator's backstory. A couple of chapters, or a few backstories, smoothly interlaced would have sufficed. The disappearance of the protagonist's parents in the second half, and the almost complete absence of coping with what would have been a traumatic estrangement, lacks credibility.
2. The accused man's character very cardboard. Superficial & virtually with no background.
3. Surprisingly inept handling of trials of this type. For police, and the defense team not to question the authenticity of the handwritten anonymous note, is sheer incompetence. That alone would have resulted in acquittal. Not to mention the absence of objections to the prosecutor's leading questions.
3. The dei ex machina ploys are childish and unbelievable. The protagonist's phony image transformation, the series of coincidences, are over the top.
4. Disappointing. It could have been a great read.
July 21, 2023
Powerful, insightful and emotional are three of many words I could use to describe this novel. Also un-put-downable. The main character leads a difficult life, but finds love despite this. Only to have her life and beliefs uprooted.
It was also an insightful look at the legal system and it’s problems.
It was also an insightful look at the legal system and it’s problems.
May 11, 2024
I liked the premise and plot of the book but the writing style was painful at times, for my personal likings. The use of the word “for” to start so many sentences was just too much, it was incessant and I don’t think it added anything.
May 9, 2025
I was tossing up whether this was 3.5 or 4 stars, but I did really enjoy the book, and it had me on the edge of my seat more than once. I really loved that it was split into parts, instead of being one continuous story, while I thought the first part went on for a bit long, I did think it was great for context setting and understanding Ellen’s character. I really did feel for her so many times, and loved the ‘interference’ from her school teachers and particularly her Sunday school teacher, who was an avid supporter and encourager of Ellen’s throughout, I was quite sad when she passed away. While I did suspect something would happen with a student, I was shocked by the twists and turns it took, and liked that it weighed on Ellen’s moral compass when she came to be the teacher of her husband’s accuser and the actions she took to exonerate him. I also LOVED her transformation (not so much the circumstances forcing it). What did get me throughout was that I felt Ellen was quite naive and I kept hearing her “child voice” in my mind as I was reading, from the first part when it is set in her childhood. I did love the ending!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2024
ummm so you can tell by my start date compared to my finish date it took me ages to finish this book. no hate towards the book this is not why i rated it 2 stars. amazing story, great plot, i was very hooked at the start and when i did have the time to sit down and read i was hooked it, but with everything going on in my life recently everytime i did sit down i wouldnt know what the hell was going on. so unfortunately i had to only rate it 2 stars as i was so busy, unwell, stressed, all over the place, to have the time it even motivation to read, i was in a bit of a reading slump hoping to get right on track by the end of april, but i would 100% recommend this book was an amazing plot and an amazing ending and if i wasn’t so busy i would of rated it about a 3.5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2023
I couldn't put this down. It was well written, engaging from the start and had some interesting facts in around biblical stories I didn't know. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel - I had heard the author talk about it and the main theme of the book but where it was going and where it would end up surprised me. The main character, Ellen, was well rounded and her background was clearly well researched and offered something new to readers. I have read all Suzanne Leal's books and I think this is my favourite so far.
August 5, 2023
Another fabulous read.. This one is a slow burn but very thought provoking. The first half is about main protagonist Ellen and her strict religious upbringing. The gears move up a notch in the second half where her school teacher husband is accused of sexually abusing a student.. thanks @happyvalley_booksread @debbish @tesssmithwrites for recommending this new release… 4.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ @suzannelealauthor #reading #bookstagram #bookshelf #books #aussieauthors
May 25, 2024
Suzanne Leal's depiction of the various authoritarian systems and the impact their distortions can have on the lives of the innocent is a fine read. She brings the vagaries of morality within the institutions of religion, education and law to light, and invites the reader to challenge the ethics around personal responsibility for one's actions.
Limiting the number of characters was effective in allowing the reader to deep dive into their influence and impact, and comes through as a strength in her writing.
It certainly provokes thoughtful reflection long after the final paragraph.
Limiting the number of characters was effective in allowing the reader to deep dive into their influence and impact, and comes through as a strength in her writing.
It certainly provokes thoughtful reflection long after the final paragraph.
November 18, 2024
I devoured this read. Suzanne’s writing style is simple and addictive- making it a genuine page-turner. I felt for Ellen the whole way through and loved the insights into the different characters within her life. A very powerful read.
August 6, 2023
We follow Ellen who was raised by her strict parents heavily involved in an authoritarian church. Breaking away Ellen meets Gordon and develops a fun, loving relationship. However years later Gordon is accused of a crime and Ellen has to make some tough decisions.
This is a really interesting book and it had me hooked from the start. You are totally immersed in Ellen's hideous childhood and really you do hope she can escape her parents and the church.
You are then pulled into her adult world with Gordon that is actually turned upside down when he's accused of a crime.
Leal writes with such an authentic feel and as the suspense builds you find yourself turning the pages as quickly as you can!
Thank -you Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy to read and review.
This is a really interesting book and it had me hooked from the start. You are totally immersed in Ellen's hideous childhood and really you do hope she can escape her parents and the church.
You are then pulled into her adult world with Gordon that is actually turned upside down when he's accused of a crime.
Leal writes with such an authentic feel and as the suspense builds you find yourself turning the pages as quickly as you can!
Thank -you Allen and Unwin for sending me this copy to read and review.
August 12, 2023
Very clever twist at the end. Very entertaining and a real easy page turner read
October 1, 2023
Loved this book
May 9, 2024
Audiobook
February 7, 2025
The easy-to-read writing style, the fascinating storyline, the intriguing and likeable characters…. I enjoyed it all! This book is everything I most love about reading. 4.5 stars.
August 7, 2023
Going by the description, I thought I was going to read a story about a wife coming to terms with her husband being accused of a crime. The prologue sure starts off that way. However, after the prologue, the story goes back all the way in time to her childhood and spends a good chunk of the book, 30-40%, there. And no, she does not meet her husband until college so all this stuff ends up being inconsequential.
Even the drama, when it comes, is hampered by all the unrealistic events that occur. For example, in the courtroom, the prosecutor asks the husband a leading question and there isn't any objection from the defense. And when the wife stumbles upon some evidence, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the ineptitude of the police that missed it in the first place.
Even the drama, when it comes, is hampered by all the unrealistic events that occur. For example, in the courtroom, the prosecutor asks the husband a leading question and there isn't any objection from the defense. And when the wife stumbles upon some evidence, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the ineptitude of the police that missed it in the first place.
March 29, 2024
First of Leal’s books I have read. Enjoyed. Story came together quite well.
July 31, 2023
Sensational book! Couldn't put it down.
It's one of the best of 2023 so far!
It's one of the best of 2023 so far!
August 26, 2023
I thought this was an excellent book and I was surprised by the ending. Its neither a thriller nor a romance, but it has elements of these. Its just a well written story
March 17, 2024
Two major themes in this novel- fundamentalist Christianity and sexual assault in schools. I knew nothing about the Free Church of Scotland (and its place in Australia) and am perturbed to think about its influence on young minds happening not far away from me today.
Easy reading and a page turner.
Easy reading and a page turner.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews