The Secretary by Zoe Lea

Let's be honest here. If I had noticed 'school run revenge' I would never have picked this book up. I didn't even know that such a genre existed.  But the opening is a letter from prison. The story has murder and disturbing psychological stuff. I'm okay with that.

Most of the story centres around petty gossip, spiteful actions, wide eyes and blanching, but the deeds become more menacing as the book progresses. The Secretary  has a one-night stand with the husband of one of the parents of the school where she works. That betrayed parent also happens to be head of the PTA and very popular amongst the other parents and staff.

Both the eponymous mother and her eight-year old son suffer from extreme anxiety, low self-esteem and bullying, as well as other psychological issues from the past. This serves to hinder any attempts to deal with the current situation and at times it appears that the mother and her son are their own worst enemies.

The story is written in the first person, informal, raw and authentic, fast-paced and fairly believable in some instances. Ultimately this easy to read book  is full of suspense, unpleasant, immature characters - and the perfect revenge trope. The inserted letters from prison are a great touch.

Published by Little, Brown Book Group on 20 August 2020.
Advanced review copy provided by the publisher