The Last Secret: Summary and book reviews of The Last Secret by Mary McGarry Morris, plus links to an excerpt from The Last Secret and a biography of Mary McGarry Morris.

Mary McGarry Morris has been hailed as "one of the most skillful writers at work in America today" (Michiko Kakutani, New York Times). In The Last Secret, she tells the riveting story of Nora Hammond, a woman blessed with the perfect life: a charming husband, two bright teenage children, a successful career in the family's newspaper business, and an esteemed role in the charity work of her New England town. But Nora's comfortable existence threatens to unravel when she learns of her husband's longtime affair–and when the specter of a sordid incident from her youth returns with terrifying force. Confronted by shame and betrayal, Nora suddenly feels dangerously alone. With no one to turn to, she becomes easy prey to a ghost from her past–the cunning, relentless Eddie Hawkins. A tautly told tale of psychological tension and chilling moral complexity, The Last Secret accelerates to a shattering conclusion as it explores the irreparable consequences of one family's crimes of the heart. The Last Secret burnishes Mary McGarry Morris's reputation as one of our most prodigiously gifted writers.

BookBrowse

14 BookBrowse members reviewed this book for "First Impressions" with an average review of 4.6 out of 5 stars. Read the reviews.  (Reviewed by BookBrowse First Impression Reviewers).

Full Review (781 words).

Media Reviews

The Washington Post - Jane Hamilton The Last Secret would be another depressing story of a woman discovering her husband's betrayal, but Morris pumps that old tale full of adrenaline by running a wicked psychological thriller in the background.   Los Angeles Times There are few contemporary authors whose work can absorb readers so fully and with such immediacy that the line between character and reader begins to seem dangerously thin. Among these few is the brilliant Mary McGarry Morris.   Booklist Those who follow this highly regarded author will want to read The Last Secret; those new to Morris should start with an earlier title.   Library Journal Morris offers a melodramatic plotline that develops into a memorable, cinematic novel through strong portrayals of complex personalities ... As suspense builds, Morris adds context and depth by carefully revealing inner lives dominated by deception and loneliness, creating empathy for a variety of flawed characters.   Publishers Weekly Morris knocks over a domino chain of events that, while not too surprising, confirm the importance of comprehending past mistakes to avoid future ones."

Recent Reader Reviews

Rated of 5 by Chrisanne
....breathe deep ,the gathering gloom....
This novel is a masterpiece of dialogue ... At this point in time I was loathe to read anything that would remind me of the turbulent times of modern day American society but Ms. Morris's intricate use of inter-character banter and her way of...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Kimberly
Inside Their Heads
The first and last chapters of The Last Secret both begin: "They still don't believe her." The pages between propel the reader through Nora's struggles to save her family and her very essence. Her damaged self-image is repeatedly battered by...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Vicky
The Last Secret
I believe I held my breath through this entire novel! After reading the first chapter I was spellbound as well as tense. The author has an unbelievable talent for drawing you in and keeping you beside her main character throughout this painful...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Ray
Secrets and Lies
Nora and Ken Hammond live an ideal life - house in suburban New England, two kids and work together at the family-owned newspaper. That is, until Ken's betrayal of Nora by exposing a 4-year long affair with one of their closest friends. The...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Joyce
Hang on for a Wild Ride!
When Nora discovers her husband is having an affair, her emotions begin a roller coaster ride. Mary McGarry Morris' descriptions of the stages one goes through are unbelievably accurate. What starts as a story of a family's pain, anger and...   Read More

Rated of 5 by Josephine
Hard to put down
Two secrets collide to create the tension in this book. The first, an assault years ago, comes back to haunt Nora just as she learns her husband has been committing adultery for at least 4 years with her best friend. Morris weaves the two strands...   Read More

...9 More Reader Reviews

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