Family Secrets

Family Secrets is the eighth novel by British-born Australian author, Liz Byrski. When seventy-three year-old Gerald Hawkins dies after a long illness, he is survived by his wife Connie and their two adult children, three grandchildren and his long-estranged younger sister, Flora. And now that this forceful presence in their lives has gone, things will change for everyone. But perhaps not as expected.

Believing they need to take their mother's future in hand, Andrew and Kerry are surprised at Connie's vehement disagreement with their plans. Firstly, she is going to England and France, to catch up with Flora, and to find the Connie that she was before Gerald came along. And she has absolutely no intention of selling up to move closer to her children and grandchildren, thank you very much!

As the title implies, this is a family with secrets, and lots of them. Unstated bitterness at a life not lived, hidden sexual preferences, secret lovers, worries about mental disposition, resentment at disloyalties, guilt about betrayals, fears of rejection, all these and more are concealed from those who have a right and a need to know. The catalyst of Gerald's death sees many of them exposed, but the biggest secret of all is one revealed to Connie during her time away.

Byrski uses several narrators to tell her tale and easily conveys the perspective of both young and old. Her characters are all familiar and believable in their attitudes and reactions, although Connie's self-absorption at a certain point may leave readers gasping. Any woman would want a Chris to love and support them, but few would envy the latter years of Connie's marriage. Byrski touches on a myriad of topical issues including the assimilation of refugees and the effect of a long terminal illness on the spouse/carer. Another brilliant Byrski book.