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The Secret Cure
[From Inside Jacket]
This is the story of Eva, the cleaning lady in a small Australian scientific laboratory. No one from the lab remembers her from the junior technician who worked there years ago, and know one knows she is on a secret mission to discover a cure for her autistic child.
The only one who knows the full story is reclusive Owen, and he's not telling anyone because he knows there's no honour in spying.
But the day he saw Eva at the hospital was the day his life changed forever...
The Secret Cure is a profoundly moving novel which explores new ways of what it means to be human, to be normal, to be honourable, to discover, and above all what it means to love.
This is the story of Eva, the cleaning lady in a small Australian scientific laboratory. No one from the lab remembers her from the junior technician who worked there years ago, and know one knows she is on a secret mission to discover a cure for her autistic child.
The only one who knows the full story is reclusive Owen, and he's not telling anyone because he knows there's no honour in spying.
But the day he saw Eva at the hospital was the day his life changed forever...
The Secret Cure is a profoundly moving novel which explores new ways of what it means to be human, to be normal, to be honourable, to discover, and above all what it means to love.
429 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
1 person is currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Sue Woolfe
13 books17 followersSue Woolfe has worked as a teacher, scriptwriter, TV subtitle editor, documentary maker and cook. She is the author of the bestselling novel about mathematics and motherhood, Leaning Towards Infinity, published in five countries and won the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction in 1996 and was shortlisted for many other prizes, including the Commonwealth Prize and the prestigious US TipTree Prize. She re-wrote it for the stage, and it’s been workshopped in New York and produced at the Ensemble, Sydney. It’s currently optioned to an American film producer.
Sue Woolfe’s other works include the novel Painted Woman, published in Australia in 1989 and in translation in France in 2008 (also produced twice as a stage play) and co-authored with Kate Grenville Making Stories: How Ten Australian Novels Were Written.
After attaining her BA, Sue taught at high schools and TAFE, and then became a journalist for Choice Magazine. Following huge sales of her best-selling textbook, Language and Literature, she bought 16mm film equipment and set up her own editing suite and wrote/produced or directed 44 short documentary films, many specially commissioned, and all of which sold to commercial TV channels or to SBS. Now, at Sydney University, she teaches fiction writing for post-graduates by a revolutionary method she calls “dangerous writing”, and has designed and coordinates a course to highlight the work of those film underdogs, the screenwriters. In this course, local screenwriting celebrities talk about the triumphs and tribulations of the craft.
Sue lives in Sydney with her partner and daughter.
Sue Woolfe’s other works include the novel Painted Woman, published in Australia in 1989 and in translation in France in 2008 (also produced twice as a stage play) and co-authored with Kate Grenville Making Stories: How Ten Australian Novels Were Written.
After attaining her BA, Sue taught at high schools and TAFE, and then became a journalist for Choice Magazine. Following huge sales of her best-selling textbook, Language and Literature, she bought 16mm film equipment and set up her own editing suite and wrote/produced or directed 44 short documentary films, many specially commissioned, and all of which sold to commercial TV channels or to SBS. Now, at Sydney University, she teaches fiction writing for post-graduates by a revolutionary method she calls “dangerous writing”, and has designed and coordinates a course to highlight the work of those film underdogs, the screenwriters. In this course, local screenwriting celebrities talk about the triumphs and tribulations of the craft.
Sue lives in Sydney with her partner and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 16, 2012
I can never resist an unreliable narrator, so I was quickly drawn in by Owen, a reclusive mute who lives for most of his childhood and teenage with only his eccentric mother for company, and then, seven years after her death, decides at last to venture out into the world, “ to learn about the human heart”.
Owen’s story however, is not so much about his own life as about the life of the woman he loves, a scientist named Eva. Even though he considers himself part of the world, in fact, for the most part, Owen experiences life vicariously by spying on Eva. Owen builds his life around Eva, concocting a variety of schemes in order to get close to her and though he knows his behaviour is not honourable, he justifies it because of his love for her.
Owen sounds like a character we ought to dislike, in the same league as Clegg in John Fowles’ The Collector. But Owen lacks Clegg’s sinister intent and thus his obsession seems harmless, endearing even. And though, as a reader we know Owen is an unreliable narrator and that his account is shaded by his passion, his jealousy and confusion, we cannot help but be swayed by his way of seeing and thus we see Eva through his eyes, grow to love her as he does.
But The secret Cure is a mystery as well as a love story. While it is Owen’s love for Eva that underpins the novel, it is the mysteries of Eva’s life in the science laboratory which drive the story and keep you turning the pages. Why is the eminent scientist Professor Mueller so interested in autism when his research is supposed to be in immunology? What is the secret of his past and how is it connected with the Nazi regime? And who is the mysterious “t” who sends Professor Mueller Owen’s memoir?
Reading Owen’s memoir is like reading someone’s diary. He is an acute observer of people, including himself, and his chronicle of obsessions and secrets, strengths and failings makes for compelling reading.
Owen’s story however, is not so much about his own life as about the life of the woman he loves, a scientist named Eva. Even though he considers himself part of the world, in fact, for the most part, Owen experiences life vicariously by spying on Eva. Owen builds his life around Eva, concocting a variety of schemes in order to get close to her and though he knows his behaviour is not honourable, he justifies it because of his love for her.
Owen sounds like a character we ought to dislike, in the same league as Clegg in John Fowles’ The Collector. But Owen lacks Clegg’s sinister intent and thus his obsession seems harmless, endearing even. And though, as a reader we know Owen is an unreliable narrator and that his account is shaded by his passion, his jealousy and confusion, we cannot help but be swayed by his way of seeing and thus we see Eva through his eyes, grow to love her as he does.
But The secret Cure is a mystery as well as a love story. While it is Owen’s love for Eva that underpins the novel, it is the mysteries of Eva’s life in the science laboratory which drive the story and keep you turning the pages. Why is the eminent scientist Professor Mueller so interested in autism when his research is supposed to be in immunology? What is the secret of his past and how is it connected with the Nazi regime? And who is the mysterious “t” who sends Professor Mueller Owen’s memoir?
Reading Owen’s memoir is like reading someone’s diary. He is an acute observer of people, including himself, and his chronicle of obsessions and secrets, strengths and failings makes for compelling reading.
April 16, 2013
Whilst I found this book a good read, I was annoyed by a total lack of information about the actual 'cure'. Yes, I know there is no cure for autism/Asperger's ( I have a son with AS), but seeing as a great part of the book was devoted to science-type information, I expected at least a stab at describing Eva's hypothesis and cure. It's probably best enjoyed by readers who aren't affected by AS, or who aren't scientists like me.
July 22, 2012
"The Secret Cure" is an outstanding novel. It comfortably earns five stars from me, storytelling at its best.
The character development is full, intense and thorough. The characters speak directly to the reader.
The plot is intriguing and aided by the way the storytelling is so cleverly constructed. There are neat little surprises along the way, some you could easily miss.
(Hint for reader pleasure: resist the urge to read anything on the outside or inside covers...spoilers lurk there)
I loved the structure of the story, being told from two different perspectives, almost as two novels in one, whilst leaving the reader wondering "Who is really telling this story?"
The first part of the book is deceptively captivating, in a way that made me squirm at one stage and I had to remind myself "I'm just the reader. I'm not condoning what this person is doing." So there's a strong engagement factor possible for the reader.
The writing style is just so readable, seemingly effortless, flowing, humorous at times, compassionate.
Obviously a novel of this nature has required a huge amount of research to allow the content to be plausible and this shows.
My only query was around the email hacking. I wasn't sure that the character had the ability to do what she claimed. There was no history in the novel to back this.
But some things we just have to let go to fantasy. It's a novel, after all.
The character development is full, intense and thorough. The characters speak directly to the reader.
The plot is intriguing and aided by the way the storytelling is so cleverly constructed. There are neat little surprises along the way, some you could easily miss.
(Hint for reader pleasure: resist the urge to read anything on the outside or inside covers...spoilers lurk there)
I loved the structure of the story, being told from two different perspectives, almost as two novels in one, whilst leaving the reader wondering "Who is really telling this story?"
The first part of the book is deceptively captivating, in a way that made me squirm at one stage and I had to remind myself "I'm just the reader. I'm not condoning what this person is doing." So there's a strong engagement factor possible for the reader.
The writing style is just so readable, seemingly effortless, flowing, humorous at times, compassionate.
Obviously a novel of this nature has required a huge amount of research to allow the content to be plausible and this shows.
My only query was around the email hacking. I wasn't sure that the character had the ability to do what she claimed. There was no history in the novel to back this.
But some things we just have to let go to fantasy. It's a novel, after all.
February 26, 2018
The front cover and even the blurb on the back didn't inspire me to read this book, but I gave it a go anyway and was pleasantly surprised. Owen was an interesting narrator and his story was as interesting as Eva's story. The other characters in the book were all interesting and engaging - from Shirley, to Grace, to Gunther's father, and all formed a piece of the puzzle.
March 8, 2025
Tender and whimsical Australian fiction. Beautiful ending. Agree with the other reviewer regarding The Cure - no closing details regarding it and in reality there isn’t a cure. However The Cure is the driving force behind this story and I’m willing to overlook this flaw for the sake of the story. 4.7/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2018
I am a big fan of Sue Woolfe’s writing and The secret cure did not disappoint. While I understand that the first two parts were fundamental to the story, I did not feel as engaged with them as I did with part 3. Having said that, the writing is beautiful and evocative throughout.
February 1, 2026
Felt like two quite different books joined together. I really liked the first 2/3 which is written as a memoir by Owen, an unreliable narrator with mental health issues & obsesses about a woman at the laboratory, Eva. Nicely quirky & challenging to assess the reliability of each event described. I didn't like the last 1/3 which is written as a letter by Eva to her daughter. This felt rushed & less involving. Probably 3.5 stars for the first part but only 2.5 for the second, hence 3 stars overall.
July 12, 2017
The cover and blurb would not inspire me to read this book. I did however, as it was a gift, and am very pleased to have done so. Not at all what you'd expect. Think author should fire publisher.
January 12, 2011
Sophisticated and artistic from cover to eloquently glowing reviews on the back, this book is somehow enchanting even though the author does not once mention the word stalking, even though this is what this fairytale-like book is all about! The stalked become stalkers themselves in this believably poignant tale.
I really enjoyed reading this because I couldn't predict what would happen next. I was also very surprised to find it was about autism (showing I don't really read everything on the back of a book unless I get really sucked in!) For me, it highlighted the then current medical viewpoint on Aspergers Syndrome as being nurture shaping the child so it must be the parent's fault, and the implications this has on parents of autistic children - all twisted into a clever tale of deceit and aspirations, morals and good intentions.
Under the characters voices and quirky humour- all Australian except for the German doctor / genius - we experience the pursuit of science and love at all costs with one of those twists of fate endings.
The front cover boldly states, Extraordinary" and yes, I agree; this book is worth reading, and one that stays living within you in some way... marvelous (to put it mildly LOL)
I really enjoyed reading this because I couldn't predict what would happen next. I was also very surprised to find it was about autism (showing I don't really read everything on the back of a book unless I get really sucked in!) For me, it highlighted the then current medical viewpoint on Aspergers Syndrome as being nurture shaping the child so it must be the parent's fault, and the implications this has on parents of autistic children - all twisted into a clever tale of deceit and aspirations, morals and good intentions.
Under the characters voices and quirky humour- all Australian except for the German doctor / genius - we experience the pursuit of science and love at all costs with one of those twists of fate endings.
The front cover boldly states, Extraordinary" and yes, I agree; this book is worth reading, and one that stays living within you in some way... marvelous (to put it mildly LOL)
April 4, 2011
The story of Eva is a love story with a difference. It is told with insight and depth whilst unravelling the day to day challenges of a girl who falls for someone initially beyond her reach; but ultimately one who is destined to return only a portion of the love she is willing to give. Eva's job as a cleaner in a science lab bring's her into contact with technician's, professors and other professionals. But it is the life of a recluse, an ardent admirer, an unusual young man; who teaches her much about love and keeps the reader turning the pages, keen to see how it will all unfold. I did feel though, that the story was built around great research on autism, rather than a great story line backed up by excellent research.
December 20, 2010
The Secret Cure is a story that unfolds like a flower. The language is so beautiful. The blurb describes this book as the story of Eva the cleaning lady but it is much deeper than perceived in its exploration of love and what it is to be human. For most of the book, the story is told through Owen's eyes as he writes his memoir of his time in the world. The second part is Eva's account through a letter she writes to her daughter, Tina In this part of the story I longed to hear Owen's voice again. The last part of the story is told by Tina.
September 2, 2012
Was a bit slow to get going, but boy it was worth continuing with. I loved the way it threaded real history around the medical acceptance of autism with narrative. The way it was written made drew you in to the characters and you really invested in them.
Was happy with the ending too - too often modern fiction lets you down with a weak ending, this didn't.
Was happy with the ending too - too often modern fiction lets you down with a weak ending, this didn't.
December 22, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written with beautiful writing style. I was a little bias as it was science but it also has such a wide appeal to more than just people like myself. To people with disability or kids with disability, mothers, science enthusiasts, scientists and anyone who ever graced a lab.
July 29, 2015
I would give this no stars as I couldnt get past the first 5 chapters, this was WEIRD! Weird book which originally sounded great, but owen sounded weird, the main character eva was weird!! I didnt like the style of writing it was boring and confusing. Gave up on this story.
August 28, 2013
I read this book years ago, and all I remember is thinking : this is a great book. Must read again.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews