The Secretary: A Razor-Sharp Tale of Power, Obsession, and Revenge

“A cool, contemporary, whip-smart thriller.”—Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the Train

Renée Knight follows up her international sensation Disclaimer with this shivery tale of psychological suspense, featuring a character as disturbing and compelling as Mrs. Danvers in Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca.

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.

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.