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novelesque_life 's review for:
The Secretary
by Renée Knight
RATING: 4 STARS
2019; Harper/HarperCollins
After reading a few disappointing suspense novels in a row, I almost passed on this one to take a break to cleanse my palate. When my audiobook hold came in, the hold list seemed long so I went ahead and decided to try it. The Secretary drew me right in and I didn't realize how much I was really into the story until I finished. "What? It's done?" While I wasn't completely thrilled with the ending, I still liked this novel a lot.
It's a slow burn psychological suspense, that is rightly compared to [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg|46663]. This a modern take on the relationship between Mrs. Danvers and Rebecca (mistress of an estate and her faithful housekeeper), set in a business world. A secretary/housekeeper/assistance stays in the background, she is barely noticed unless things go wrong. They are the ones that know how it all works and keeps it working...and they know, and mostly keep, the secrets that threaten their employer. This is the person you never want to piss off, but are often overlooked, taken for granted and thought to be replaceable.
As this story moves slowly, told through "the secretary," Christine's point of view, you do see some things coming before they take place and are predictable. But being so invested in Christine, her effort and wanting to see how it unfolds you will feel the enthrall of the story. This book pulled me away from other things just to see what is happening next. I might be in the minority with this one but I really liked it.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
2019; Harper/HarperCollins
After reading a few disappointing suspense novels in a row, I almost passed on this one to take a break to cleanse my palate. When my audiobook hold came in, the hold list seemed long so I went ahead and decided to try it. The Secretary drew me right in and I didn't realize how much I was really into the story until I finished. "What? It's done?" While I wasn't completely thrilled with the ending, I still liked this novel a lot.
It's a slow burn psychological suspense, that is rightly compared to [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg|46663]. This a modern take on the relationship between Mrs. Danvers and Rebecca (mistress of an estate and her faithful housekeeper), set in a business world. A secretary/housekeeper/assistance stays in the background, she is barely noticed unless things go wrong. They are the ones that know how it all works and keeps it working...and they know, and mostly keep, the secrets that threaten their employer. This is the person you never want to piss off, but are often overlooked, taken for granted and thought to be replaceable.
As this story moves slowly, told through "the secretary," Christine's point of view, you do see some things coming before they take place and are predictable. But being so invested in Christine, her effort and wanting to see how it unfolds you will feel the enthrall of the story. This book pulled me away from other things just to see what is happening next. I might be in the minority with this one but I really liked it.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog