The Secretary by Renee Knight #book #review #TheSecretary @DoubledayUK

The Secretary by Renee Knight

Published by Doubleday UK (Penguin)

Publication Date: 21st February 2019 (hardback)

Psychological Thriller

Book Description:

Look around you. Who holds the most power in the room? Is it the one who speaks loudest, who looks the part, who has the most money, who commands the most respect?

Or perhaps it’s someone like Christine Butcher: a meek, overlooked figure, who silently bears witness as information is shared and secrets are whispered. Someone who quietly, perhaps even unwittingly, gathers together knowledge of the people she’s there to serve – the ones who don’t notice her, the ones who consider themselves to be important.

There’s a fine line between loyalty and obsession. And when someone like Christine Butcher is pushed to her limit, she might just become the most dangerous person in the room . . .

My Review:

Appleton's is one of the top 3 supermarket chain stores in the UK, led by the great Lord Appleton whose business ethic is that the farmers who provide his produce are to be valued and treated fairly. He knows that without them his stores will fail to be as well respected as they are. Sadly his daughter Mina is less bothered by this sense of responsibility and is as ruthless as they come.

Christine Butcher is excited to find herself in Mina's kitchen, being interviewed by the lady herself for the position of her PA. Christine is quickly drawn into the dream world of the Appleton's when she is offered the job and it's not long before she is going above and beyond the normal role of a secretary, regularly putting Mina's needs in front of those of her own family.

Christine's first inkling of just how ruthless and ambitious Mina can be comes when Lord Appleton is interviewed on live TV - Mina ensures the "latest" financial reports are handed to Lord Appleton moments before he is due in front of the cameras leaving him no time to go through the figures.  It's not long before the interviewing panel are undertaking a public humiliation of the businessman which proves to be the final nail in his business coffin as the board demand his removal from the company.

Christine knows in her heart that this has been a huge set up but as Mina's secretary does not feel it would be appropriate to voice her opinions.

An investigative journalist takes Mina to task for her business ethics in a national newspaper, resulting in Mina presenting a libel case against him for his allegations.  Still Christine holds her silence, despite having insider knowledge which could change the course of the trial.

Mina and Christine become a force to be reckoned with, each supporting the other to achieve their goals.  Mina's driver Dave Santini is also loyal to his employer and when it comes to the crunch all 3 of the end up in a court room together.

The book is written from Christine's perspective, justifying the role she played in Mina's running of Appleton's business and her feelings about the things she was asked to do.  The mist of loyalty finally clears and Christine realises just how much she and others have given up for Mina over the years with no respect given in return.  She knows all Mina's secrets, how she's used and abused her position regarding contracts with suppliers and other members of staff. Now the tables are turned Christine is determined to get justice for all those who Mina has wronged.  Will she now be able to use the knowledge she has of Mina's business practice to achieve her own personal goal? Has Mina really underestimated the power she has handed her secretary or does she have one final trick up her sleeve?  

The author has written some great characters, some genuinely good people with impeccable morals and on the flip side some nasty, really unlikeable souls too. The contrast between the two is written so well.  Christine is a character who gets drawn in by her desire to be outstanding at her job, she thrives on the reflected glory of being part of Mina's success. Sadly she loses sight of where the boundaries lie but it's not until she has to take a long hard look at the person she has become that she realises that she doesn't like what she sees. This book is an excellent study of human nature, which I really enjoyed.

The moral of the story: never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care. 

About the Author:

Renée Knight worked as a documentary-maker for the BBC before turning to writing. She is a graduate of the Faber Academy ‘Writing a Novel’ course, and lives in London with her husband and two children. Her widely acclaimed debut novel, Disclaimer, was a Sunday Times No.1 bestseller. The Secretary is her second novel.