Review of LITTLE SECRETS by Jennifer Hillier (New Release)

3.5 Stars

Marin and Derek Machado are a power Seattle couple whose lives are shattered when their 4-year-old son Sebastian is abducted.  The book focuses not on the abduction but on its aftermath.  Sixteen months later, Marin has difficulty coping with daily life, and she and Derek have drifted apart.  Then the private investigator she hired to try and find Sebastian tells her that she has discovered that Derek is having an affair with a young art student/barista.  Learning about the affair gives Marin a purpose:  she doesn’t want to lose the only family she has left and so takes steps to prevent this from happening.

It is certainly possible to have sympathy for Marin.  The loss of her son, for which she feels directly responsible, leaves her devastated.  She is not, however, a likeable person.  Instead of directly addressing the elephant in the room, she chooses to be secretive and makes morally questionable decisions.  Her only justification is that she is not thinking clearly because of her emotional state.  The problem is that virtually every character in the book carries secrets and behaves immorally.  (The title is an understatement because people have big secrets.)  The only innocent is Sebastian whose absence casts a pall.

There are several twists and turns, as would be expected in a psychological thriller.  A careful reader will not be shocked by the twists because there is ample foreshadowing.  There are certainly sufficient hints as to the identity of the master manipulator.  My objection is that so many characters are brought together by a major coincidence; even a character involved is surprised by the connections among people.  Seattle is a large city, not a small town.  I also had difficulty accepting Marin’s actions after learning about the affair; implausibility rears its ugly head.

Despite its flaws, the book makes for a compelling read.  It is a fast-paced page-turner.  It is not a book that will leave a lasting impression, but it is entertaining.  And in difficult times, good entertainment is not a bad thing.

Note:  I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley.