Cleverly written with a disturbing ending twist

The Secretary

By Renee Knight, Penguin Random House, $37

.. .. .. .. .. .. Christine Butcher loves her job as secretary and personal assistant to the high powered Mina Appleton.

In fact she prides herself on the fact that she looks after her boss so well, organising her schedule so her days run smoothly. She doesn’t mind the phone calls on the weekend or evenings. She doesn’t mind jetting off all over the world leaving her husband and young child at home.

After all it’s her job and nobody else can take care of Mina like she can.

She’s always meek and mild in the office, obeying Mina’s wishes no matter what.

Christine knows everything about Mina, she can tell just by looking at her what mood she is in.

Even when Mina asks her to do things she doesn’t really approve of, she does them. Even when her husband begs her to stay home, she walks out the door to do Mina’s bidding.

However, when she is betrayed by the very person she has given everything up for, she is no longer meek and mild.

She has a plan and she’s not afraid to go through with it.

Cleverly written with a very disturbing twist. — Linda Hall