Free Preview - The Husband's Secret

by Liane Moriarty

A free preview of Liane Moriarty's The Husband's Secret, including a special essay bythe author.


At the heart of The Husband’s Secret is a letter
that’s not meant to be read

My darling Cecilia, if you’re reading this, then I’ve died. . . .

Imagine that your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not just the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. Imagine, then, that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive. . . .
Cecilia Fitzpatrick has achieved it all—she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, a pillar of her small community, and a devoted wife and mother. Her life is as orderly and spotless as her home. But that letter is about to change everything, and not just for her: Rachel and Tess barely know Cecilia—or each other—but they too are about to feel the earth-shattering repercussions of her husband’s secret.

Acclaimed author Liane Moriarty has written a gripping, thought-provoking novel about how well it is really possible to know our spouses—and, ultimately, ourselves.

Genres: Book Club, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Chick Lit, Thriller, Novels

28 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2013

About the author

Liane Moriarty is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Big Little Lies, The Husband’s Secret, and Truly Madly Guilty; the New York Times bestsellers Apples Never Fall, Nine Perfect Strangers, What Alice Forgot, and The Last Anniversary; The Hypnotist’s Love Story; and Three Wishes. She lives in Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Deanna Drai Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I apologize to the author in advance. I simply did not 'need' this book. Frankly, it is beautifully written, articulate, a VERY GOOD story, well woven and spun. Moriarty did an excelled job winding 3 unrelated families under one umbrella of tangled events. Bravo really. For me however, I ended wondering why I needed to read this book. It is a contemporary story about a few families lives in Australia. There is murder, deceit, mistrust, lies, unfaithfulness, grief, children, a broken ankle, several dysfunctional marriages, lots of church moms, revelations and perhaps the beginnings of healings...I guess this really comes down to my taste. I don't enjoy these painful, stressful things in real life and I realize I certainly don't enjoy spending my time reading about yet more of it in books either. Not entertaining for this reader.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Read in 2-3 days couldn't put it down once all the characters were introduced. Really makes you think about what secrets the people you think you know maybe keeping!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet three Australian families that have no connection to each other … or do they? An old letter that was never meant to be read starts these families towards life changing actions and decisions.

Cecilia Fitzpatrick, a highly successful Tupperware consultant and a pillar in the suburban community, has a loving marriage to her husband John-Paul and three young girls: Isabelle, Esther and Polly. While searching her attic for a relic she accidentally bumps into a stack of boxes and discovers a letter by John-Paul to be opened at his death. When told over the phone of her finding John-Paul’s reaction is somewhat evasive but definitely “do not open it.” Cecilia does open it and discovers a horrible secret in her husband’s past that quickly changes their marriage and haunts both of them.

Tess and Will O’Leary have a wonderful marriage with one somewhat sensitive child, Liam. With her cousin and best-friend Felicity they have started their own marketing firm out of their house. Felicity has always been like a twin to Tess – they rarely are ever separated and their interests are similar. But it was always Tess who was the beauty while Felicity was the overweight child/adult. That is until a year ago when Felicity suddenly loses weight and becomes a beauty. So much so that one night Will and Felicity declare their love for each other and tell Tess they hope she will understand. Tess leaves that night with Liam in tow to go to her mother’s in Sydney. Another marriage suddenly begins to transform for the worst.

Rachel Crowley’s 17-year old daughter, Janie, was murdered in a park many years ago on Good Friday. The killer was never found though Connor Whitby, another 17 year old, was a suspect and Rachel still believes he is the murderer. And now he is the PE teacher at the private school where Rachel works as a secretary. Rachel has never really recovered from Janie’s death and having Connor nearby makes it worse. Rachel does have a loving and doting son, Rob. Rob is married to Lauren and they have a toddler, Jacob, who Rachel adores and cares for while Rob and Lauren work. But the two have just announced that Lauren has received a wonderful job offer in New York City and the three will be moving there for two years. Rachel is thrown for a loop and her life seems to be spiraling out of control.

Three women are faced with dilemmas of the heart and life. But it is that old letter that begins to ripple through their lives as they face changes in their relationships to each other and those around them. It is a story of how secrets can haunt many from even a distance of time and space.

This was a book that was hard to put down. While there was sometimes a bit too much angst and anger I just had to find out what would happen next. Not giving away the ending lives will not go back to “normal” but still there is hope. The Epilogue was the kicker – to me that was the perfect way to end this book and the family stories.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to read this after reading several heavier, non-fiction books. I originally gave this a four star, but then after thinking about it, realized it was not worthy. I regretted buying the book after reading the first few chapters. I had a hard time keeping up with the characters, the story was a lot of fluff and I didn't really feel a connection with any of the characters. They were all very sad. No happy relationships or happiness really at all. And, then at the end, I was confused at how the author chose to depict what would have been had the characters made other choices. At that point it was too contrived and unbelievable. Like the author was trying to shock us one last time. But, it was interesting enough to finish, and a quick read.

[Britney Britton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let me first start by saying that I truly tried to like this book. The story sounded amazing! So may lives affected by the death of one young lady truly grabbed my attention when reading the summary of the book however its taken me months to finish it. I kept putting it down then picking it up over and over but I can honestly say I just did not like it. I found it extremely depressing! The women are so self absorbed that I couldn't feel sorry for any of them. I dont know, maybe im missing something but it just ws not for me..

[Shelley Knickle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Makes you think about your interaction with others- each of us move through this life with preconceived notions about others, and misunderstanding in communication because of what lies within each of us- our inner feelings, secrets...what makes us...us.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First three chapters were confusing! I didn't realize it was the set up of how the three families become connected. It just seemed like a bunch of names i couldn't keep track of.

[Ashley Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liane Moriarty introduces her readers to many interesting characters in The Husband’s Secret. So many, in fact, that I had a difficult time remembering who was who at times. Ironically they are all connected in some way to a murder that happened 28 years ago. Amazingly, I felt empathetic toward every one of them, even the ones I didn’t particularly care for.

The Husband’s Secret is about life and death, the joy of living and the pain of losing the ones we love. The Husband’s Secret is also love—first love, parental love, and the love between husband and wife that morphs over time. The Husband’s Secret is about infidelity and blame and learning to live with our mistakes. The author hits on many important issues, but she does so in a way that’s not overwhelming. And while she takes her time in revealing the husband’s secret, it is totally worth the wait.

Theme: Life goes on, regardless of the mistakes we make and the people we hurt in the process. Living with the pain and finding it in our hearts to forgive makes us stronger and wiser.

For more of my reviews, visit my website Chronicles . . . An Avid Reader and Indie Author www.ashleyfarley.net

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, read this book in a day! Totally not what I was expecting!

The book is 3 separate stories woven together so intricately. She starts off with three different families who live in both Sydney and Melbourne. After you initally meet them, their paths start crossing and you begin to see the significance they have in each others lives; even if it's not direct.

The story is very real, the feelings in this book and the struggles are things that can and do happen everyday.I could really see my own everyday life play out in theirs. From the mundane things like early mornings with the kids, trying to keep up with everything to having doubts and questioning people you love. Life is not all rainbows and unicorns, shit happens. Marriages go through lulls, people make mistakes.

This book really makes you realize that one different decision, just ONE can impact the rest of your life. Whether it's deciding to stop or not stop by the coffee shop or simply being 10 minutes late. It can change the inital path set out for you. Is life a series of coincidences or does every sequence of events in ones life have a purpose?

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got better and better as it went along. When I started, I didn't have very high hopes, but it really delivered and then some! The story was engaging, and most of all, I really enjoyed hearing different characters' points of view about the same person. Really makes you think about how you are perceived in the world. I'll definitely check out more of Moriarty's books.

[Vicki H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I listened to three quarters of it on CD, then read the remainder in Chapters! Then bought it for other people to read. Karly, Kelly . . . . I especially enjoyed the Australian accents of the reader.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

It's been soooh long since I've liked a book i was reading! Finally found one!!! I'm actually listening to this one and it's well spoken and engaging.

It's original, interesting, thought provoking and flows along very smoothly while keeping the reader interested.

[Shelley Waller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story started very slow... once all of the families were tied together the book got more of my attention but still isn't a book I'd tell someone to run out and read.

[Antonella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it until the secret was revealed ...

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! Perfect summer book if you're looking for a page-turner. You won't lose interest, trust me! And it has a great ending, too.

[Theresa Eberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! Once finished, I kept thinking about it and how the stories intertwined.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!

[Daniele Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like this book was never going to end 😳

[Susan]

My first book by this author. I found I couldn't put it down. The main character, Cecilia Fitzpatrick, finds a letter from her husband, enclosed in an envelope that says "to be opened in the event of my death".
While the first several pages of this book are difficult to get through (the author is discussing Pandora, etc), the book opens up into a narrative about Cecilia's life....as it is, now, and the things that have shaped who she is. She loves and trusts her husband (Jean-Paul), but she is the glue that is holding the family together. She, at first, determines not to open the envelope, and even discusses it with Jean-Paul (who is out of town when she finds it). Several stories are woven into this book....and the author skillfully weaves several stories of different people into Cecilia's story. Opening the letter changes everything. This book gave me new insight into the idea that nothing is black and white.


The side-story of Tess and Will and Felicity was thought provoking too.

Some interesting observations throughout the book"
1. The marital scales would never be even again. She had the upper hand and the last word forever.
2. All his flaws seemed more significant now. It was one thing for a gentle, law-abiding husband and father to have failings. but now that these faults belonged to a murderer, they seemed to matter so much more, to define him.
3. The rules had changed: She could be just as nasty and snarky as she pleased.
4. Tess and Felicity sat on the sidelines of life, smirking at the players.
5. ..but really, when you didn't let a woman help, it was a way of keeping her at a distance, of letting her know that she wasn't family, of saying I don't like you enough to let you in my kitchen.
4. She was back on her skates, twirling expertly about the slippery surface of her life.

[Janna Wong]

I wasn't quite sure what to think when I began this book -- it was three disparate stories that I knew were going to connect but couldn't figure out how and, I wasn't sure I wanted to know as the characters seemed so ordinary and even somewhat superficial. And then, in a split-second, the book took off and I was hooked!

While some may look at this as a piece of women's fiction, I believe it runs deeper than that. To me, it is a treatise on guilt: how people live with this very strong emotion and how their feelings about guilt affect those around them.

It begins with the perfectly ordered life of Cecilia and John-Paul and their perfect little family of three beautiful girls and how this perfect family is turned asunder when Cecilia finds a letter addressed to her from her husband with a note that it should not be read until after his death. It continues with Tess whose husband Will is leaving her for her close-as-a-sister cousin Felicity, causing Tess to engage in a wild affair of her own. It ends with Rachel whose daughter Janey was found murdered decades before yet she can't get over the pain, especially when she uncovers evidence that -- to her -- shows incontrovertible proof that someone she always suspected must be guilty of the crime.

The author moves between the three stories with ease until they all coalesce. And, despite the plethora of characters, they are all treated with care and seriousness.

This was a good read -- engaging, involving, dramatic and entertaining.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness where do I start? At first this book seemed slow for me. I am one who reads books like "50 shades" and "twilight" and am so happy I bought this book. I found myself not being able to put it down after the 4th chapter and I hope to read more from this author. She has given me a new line of books to be reading.

Also, being American, I did however had a hard time understanding some of Australian language as to food and other things but that's not a negative report by any!

I do believe I sort of saw things coming between the Rachel/Conner/John-Paul scenario. I am just relieved that the author chose the less tragic storyline.

Thank you again Liane Moriarty. I look forward to reading more of your books.

[Diane Dachota · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, set in Australia, which deals with the lives of three women and the secret that ties them together. Cecilia is a super wife and mother who finds out a shocking secret about her husband, Rachel is a elderly woman whose daughter was murdered while a teen, and Tess is a wife and mother who finds out her husband loves someone else. The growth and changes each woman endures, is interesting and heartfelt.

My minor criticisms would be the long length of the book and the "what would have been ending". The ending felt tacked on, and it made no sense since none of us knows how life could have turned out if we had or hadn't done something. Still, I would recommend it for the characters, particularly Tess, who was my favorite.

[Tammy Schoen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine finding an envelope, written in your husband's hand, which you are only supposed to open in the event of his death.... Curious?

This novel explores the connections we have and the pain we can bring to one another. Characters are placed into impossible situations and must confront their darkest selves.

"It seemed to her everyone had too much self-protective pride to truly strip down to their souls in front of their long term partners. It was almost embarrassing to be truly intimate with your spouse; how could you watch someone floss one minute, and the next minute share your deepest passion or most ridiculous, trite little fears?"

A beautifully done look at the horrors we experience... While somehow still holding on to our capacity to love.

[Giving Gardener · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had Cecelia any idea of how her life would become disrupted, she probably would have never opened the letter. However, now that it is opened, its consequences creep out and into Cecelia's perfectly ordered life, upending it in a way she could never imagined. The letter's consequences also draw her into the lives of two other women, all of whom must face the harsh realities of untold secrets.

Liane Moriarty has crafted a fast-paced novel, which keeps the reader guessing at each chapter. She has entwined three characters, and their lives, into one seamless story.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Loved loved loved. It sounds like a cheesy, 99 cent novel from the title, but there's a reason Entertainment Weekly named it one of the top 10 fiction books of 2013. I couldn't put it down and found myself constantly asking people around me what they would do in the situations these characters find themselves in. Read this book but make sure you have time on your hand's because once you start, you won't want to stop.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps it was because it was one of the selections for Book of the Year for this site or perhaps because of some of the over-the-top reviews I read, I was expecting great things. I found myself wondering more than once why I was continuing to read it. Not that it was poorly written or uninteresting. It was just average-I was just expecting more. The prologue was actually far more engrossing. Have never actually seen that done before. Left the book on a good note.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting. It was like watching a movie unfold. Total page turner.

Probably everyone and your neighbor has read this book so I'll keep this short. Plus it's tough to talk about this book without spoilers. Set in modern day, the characters are interesting, the plot is great. Read it!


Read if:
You like mysteries
You like "chick lit"

[Nanci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - could not put it down. Loved that the characters were intertwined by life and the paths they took. I also liked that the author finished with an epilogue, "the rest of the story". I highly recommend it.

[Noelle Riney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Each character's story had me interested. I couldn't wait to get back to reading it every night. Would recommend this book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kept me involved all the way to the end - the epilogue was just as good!