The Secretary: A Novel

Review “A scintillating double psychological portrait. . . . Knight conjures an arresting ending reminiscent of Ruth Rendell at her flintiest.” — London Times “Knight builds tension in this page-turning story about misplaced loyalty, secrets, manipulation, and class with an alternating time line, slowly revealing what happens when one woman’s desire to be helpful and needed ruins her life. Highly recommended.” — Library Journal (starred review) “British author Knight follows 2015’s Disclaimer , her well-received debut, with a decidedly creepy psychological thriller...Readers are sure to be left breathless.” — Publishers Weekly “A cinematic page-turner steeped in atmosphere and just awaiting its adaptation to miniseries.” — Kirkus Reviews “You will devour this gripping tale of obsession and duty with an ending as dark as it is astonishing. Deliciously addicting!” — Liv Constantine bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish “A cool, contemporary, whip-smart thriller.” — Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train “Knight, whose debut, Disclaimer (2015), was highly praised, again shows her skill in creating an absorbing psychological thriller.” — Booklist “Woah, you are in for a treat with The Secretary ! Dark and intriguing with utterly compelling characters. I genuinely couldn’t put it down.” — —Laura Marshall, author of Friend Request “Deceptively clever and so unsettling. I love the way she casually slips in a twist that makes you shake your head at how wrong you were!” — —Lesley Kara, author of The Rumour “I started reading The Secretary last night and couldn’t put it down… Such a deliciously dark, hugely satisfying read.” — —Paul Burston, author of The Black Path “ The Secretary is an excellent, dark and clever thriller with a compelling central character. The story draws you in from the start and builds and builds to an intense and unsettling conclusion. I loved it.” — —Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing Girl From the Back Cover A novel of psychological suspense about the intricate power struggle between a prominent female executive and her faithful personal assistant—and its explosive consequences. From her first day as Mina Appleton’s assistant, Christine Butcher understands what is expected of her: Absolute loyalty. Absolute discretion. For nearly twenty years, Christine has been a devoted servant and silent witness to everything in Mina’s life. So quiet you would hardly know she is there. Day after day, year after year, Christine has been invisible—watching, listening, absorbing all the secrets floating around her and keeping them safe. But there is a dangerous line between loyalty and obsession, and it would be a mistake to underestimate her. When someone like Christine Butcher is pushed to her limit, she may just turn out to be the most dangerous person in the room. The Secretary is a razor-sharp, twisting tale of power, obsession, obedience, and revenge. About the Author Renée Knight worked for the BBC directing arts documentaries before turning to writing. She has had TV and film scripts commissioned by the BBC, Channel Four, and Capital Films. In April 2013, she graduated from the Faber Academy “Writing a Novel” course, whose alumni include S. J. Watson. She lives in London with her husband and two children. Read more