Exposure: A Gripping Literary Tale of Family Secrets, Hidden Past, and One Man's Web of Lies

by Talitha Stevenson

A brilliantly observed modern morality tale, Talitha Stevenson’s Exposure explores the terrible effects of deceit, obsession, and shame on a dangerously complacent family.

Alistair Langford, a respected and powerful barrister, has been hiding his past since he left his hometown of Dover to study at Oxford in the late 1950s. Embarrassed by his working-class upbringing in a guesthouse run by his single mother, with whom he has not had any contact for forty years, he has lied about himself to everyone in his life since Oxford, including his wife, Rosalind, and his two children, Luke and Sophie. But after the death of his mother and a one-night stand with a devious defense witness, his tightly woven tapestry of lies begins to unravel.

Exposure is a deftly plotted, psychologically suspenseful, and compulsively readable novel from one of the most exciting young fiction writers today.

Genres: Fiction

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her descriptions are so vived and emotive. I love them!

[ANTC · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up, purely based on my enjoyment. The writing quality was good, but this was a very woman's fiction focused book, so lots of side characters and plots and boring prose. I skimmed a lot. The husband was definitely remorseful in this one, and this is one of the few cheating books where I believe the HEA and didn't hate the husband at the end. What's bringing down the rating is the fact that this book is very very long with a lot of stuff and introspections that I didn't care about.

I'm rounding up to 3 stars instead of 2 stars due to the fact that the author handled the cheating plot super well. I need this replicated in other books. When the husband cheats - and it's on page - he's not blinded by lust or inconsolable passion or emotional attachments, instead he's doing it for reasons we understand that relate to his past and needing to do something crazy. We get his POV throughout, and thankfully, unlike in other cheating books, we know for sure that the cheating was only one time, that he didn't even enjoy the sex, and that he has better sex with his wife.

I've read so many cheating books where the OW is some sexpot where the husband has the best sex of his life, but then returns to the wife because family and emotional attachments. I hate that!!! Thankfully, the husband receives satisfaction in both respects from his wife.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't get into this one, but I also couldn't stop reading it. That's a good author for you.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember how I came across this book. Maybe because the write-up makes it sound so much more exciting than it actually is? Not that I need a ton of action in a book, but this one veered a little too much towards the introspective a few too many times. the characters are kind of sticking with me, though, which is a good sign. Reading as much as I do I tend to really quickly forget books if they don't resonate. I guess maybe I like this one more than it seemed at the time I was reading it??

[Jeannine · Rating 1 out of 5]

AWFUL!!!

[Melissa Chown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much introspection and not enough plot for me.

[Gretel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A psychologically rich novel with interesting relationships and character development. I also enjoyed Stevenson's use of imagery.

[Hilary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfinished

[Cathryn]

Realized I already read this. It seems it's not memorable.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long, windy, interesting book. Full of nooks and crannies and perfect for a rainy day in. Well-rounded ending.