THE HUSBAND'S SECRET: LIANE MORIARTY

I am not sure where I heard about this novel, perhaps in the pages of The Week magazine, where I find  many of my selections.  The story is a bit different because it's set in Australia.  It takes place in contemporary times, following three women: Rachel Crowley, who never recovers from the death of her teenage daughter, Janie, some twenty five years ago.  Tess, a happily married wife until her best friend and husband Will sit her down at the dinner table one night to tell her they are in love.  And Cecilia, another happily married wife, with three wonderful daughters, a successful and happy Tupperware saleswoman discovers that her husband murdered Rachel Crowley's daughter in a fit of anger/passion when he was 17 years old.

Tess ends up leaving her husband, going home to Mom and having a two week affair with an old high school flame, Connor Whitby.  Rachel, having kept her pent up anger towards whom she suspects has murdered her daughter, attempts to run him down on a side road, but ends up hitting Polly, the young daughter of Cecilia and John Paul, ironically the killer of her daughter.  John Paul eventually confesses to Rachel, who decides not to turn him in to the police after all these years.  He has suffered enough and, in fact, holds himself responsible for his daughter's accident.  John Paul and Cecilia marshall on, their daughter having lost an arm.  Tess and her husband live on together, but I assume not happily ever after.  And Rachel must live with the thought that she's responsible for a young girl having lost her arm.  The book ends with all kinds of what might have beens, interesting but beside the point.  They did not happen.

This too may sound silly but I liked it.  Imagine finding out after twenty five years of marriage that your husband was a killer?  How would you deal with it?  Would you turn him in?  Divorce him? That's what is interesting about all three women, thinking about what you would done had you walked in their shoes. I am tempted to read her new best seller, BIG LITTLE LIES.