The Deepest Secret

Starred review from December 2, 2013
In Buckley’s (Invisible) superb third novel, ordinary human nature and extraordinary circumstances collide to powerful effect. The story offers the intricate suspense and surprise of a thriller, along with rich characterizations and nuanced writing. Teenager Tyler Lattimore has xeroderma pigmentosum, which makes the slightest exposure to ultraviolet light potentially fatal. His mother, Eve, shapes their lives around his safekeeping, struggling to nurture her husband and daughter while managing Tyler’s complex needs. On the way to the airport one rainy night, Eve’s car hits something as she is texting. Horrified, she discovers not an animal but her best friend Charlotte’s young daughter, dead, alongside a deserted road. If she simply drives on, Charlotte will suffer terror, confusion, perhaps even accusation. Yet reporting the accident risks jail time and depriving Tyler of Eve’s protection, and Eve of precious moments in his fragile life. As Eve faces her choice, Tyler reaches for freedom and normalcy under cover of darkness. The story’s suburban world is beautifully observed, its characters convincing, flawed, and sympathetic. Ultimately, Buckley delivers a gripping read and a memorable reflection on the conflicting imperatives of love.

December 15, 2013
Yes, everybody has secrets in Buckley's third novel (Invisible, 2012, etc.), about an Ohio woman who will go to any lengths to protect her impaired son, but some secrets are uglier than others. Fourteen-year-old Tyler suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum, a genetic condition that means he must avoid any exposure to the sun or any UV light. He stays in his room all day, but he likes to sneak out at night and photograph his neighbors through their windows, capturing their secrets. Tyler's ferociously protective mother, Eve, has devoted her life to caring for Tyler, whose chances for surviving into adulthood are slim. Absorbed in her concern for Tyler, Eve pays little attention to Tyler's 15-year-old sister, Melissa, who is going through an adolescent rough spot. Nor does Eve have any patience or empathy for her husband, David, who commutes from their Ohio neighborhood to his job in Washington, D.C., to support them all, given Tyler's extra expenses. One rainy August evening, Eve rushes to the airport to pick up David (who is having his own professional and personal crises). Her attention wavers while texting, and she hits something: Amy, the 11-year-old daughter of Eve's best friend, Charlotte. After a moment of horror when she realizes Amy is dead, Eve resolves not to own up and take responsibility. After all, who would care for Tyler if she went to prison? Once Amy is declared missing, then dead, suspicion falls everywhere but on Eve, who struggles intermittently with her guilt even while she offers emotional support to Charlotte. The dialogue between the two--and between Eve and David when they're not at each other's throats--is often blandly chirpy. As for Eve's neighbors' secrets, they are pretty low-grade as secrets go. Despite its high concept, the plot never rises to a temperature above lukewarm.

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November 15, 2013

Eve Lattimore's every waking moment is consumed with care for her teenage son, Tyler, who suffers from Xeroderma pigmentosa (XP), a rare condition that makes sunlight deadly. Eve is vigilant in keeping Tyler under wraps 24/7. But how far should a mother's protection go? And at what cost? When a horrific accident is covered up, family lies are revealed, and Eve's safe haven and conscience start to disintegrate. VERDICT This latest title from Buckley (The Things That Keep Us Here) intertwines many different stories, creating a mix of a family drama and thriller. However, there are too many story lines to follow, and the list keeps growing: the husband's questionable fidelity, the creepy boyfriend, the rebellious sister, the messed-up divorcee, and the strange new neighbor. While Buckley depicts the struggles between teens and parents well, her characters are not written strongly, and none are likable. Purchase for fans of Jodi Picoult (The Storyteller) or Kim Edwards (The Memory Keeper's Daughter). [See Prepub Alert, 8/26/13.]--Marianne Fitzgerald, Severna Park H.S., MD

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2014
Every family is vulnerable, but Eve's might be more fragile than most. Her son's incredibly rare medical condition means any exposure to UV light could be fatal, forcing Eve to change the way her son lives, learns, and plays. Since Tyler's only able to experience the outdoors after the sun goes down, Eve is forced to form close relationships with her neighbors, requesting that they use UV-free lightbulbs on porches and garages. Though most of the neighbors happily comply, some new additions to the cul-de-sac prefer to make things difficult. When a young girl disappears, suspicion among the neighbors flows freely, and the most unlikely suspect turns out to have all the answers. Buckley highlights the power of community in The Deepest Secret, the story of a mother's desire to protect her child from the dangers of the outside world at any cost. Eve, her husband, and Tyler narrate the story in turn, weaving personal bias and suspicion into the overarching drama. Fans of Lisa Scottoline and Lisa Gardner will appreciate Buckley's unique blend of poignant emotion and thrilling suspense.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)