Book Club "The Husband's Secret" Chapters 1-10

chase16

Good morning! I hope you're all enjoying the book so far, I couldn't put it down earlier this week! (I forget who recommended it, @salsy2012 maybe? Anyways, good call!) Here are some questions to get us started, if you have other questions you want to discuss, or you have an idea or discussion point you want to bring up, feel free to post them!

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together?
2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter?
3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding?
4. What does the letter say?
5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?"

MeganEMcG5

Great suggestion! I've been reading it every chance I get.

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together?

I would go crazy. A lot more than pour cold coffee on them crazy. And I'm not sure I'd have the mentality of preserving my marriage after they "get it out of their system." While I would be devastated to lose my family, I don't think I'd ever be able to forgive them both.

2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter?

Yep. I'm nosy as hell.

3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding?

I've read ahead, but my mind initially went to the affair place too.

4. What does the letter say?

I assumed a confession of sorts, maybe a love child or something.

5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?"

I think both Rachel and the police were desperate to place blame, and I think it was irresponsible of the police to tell Rachel they felt Connor was hiding something. Since we haven't seen much of him yet, and only have the opinions of the police and Rachel to go off of, I'm not sure what I think about him yet. But I do think that only a real psychopath could murder someone's child and then work with them like nothing ever happened.

Valancyy

I've actually already finished the book...but I'll answer these like I haven't.  (I cannot put a book down once I start it.)

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together?

I think I would have kicked them both out.  Weird situation since they all owned a business together.  I don't think I'd ever be able to forgive either of them.  Her husband should have said something at the beginning instead of letting it go on so long.  Being in an emotional relationship like that is the same as physically cheating (maybe worse).

2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter?  No.  I would feel like it would be breaking my husband's trust.  Plus...I'd be scared to read what it said!

3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding?  I thought he had committed some horrible crime.

4. What does the letter say?  I won't answer this one!

5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?"  I thought he had sexually abused a girl/girls.  "lies in his eyes" I thought meant that he was not to be trusted, that he had committed some awful crimes in his past.

I felt so bad for Rachel when she found out that her grandson was moving to New York.  I like that the setting is in Australia/New Zealand because the season's are all opposite from ours in the US/Canada.  They talk about hot Februarys and Easter taking place at the beginning of fall. 

KaleMonster

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together? This is a hard one.  I guess if they were already pretty set on being together, I would leave my husband, and probably move away.  Though, if I were as blindsided as she was, it would take awhile to actually realize that it's real.
2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter? I don't think I would open the letter or even ask H about it.
3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding? I'm ahead in the book, so I'll skip the last 3 questions!
4. What does the letter say? See answer for #3
5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?" See answer for #3

salsy2012

Okay, this book is great. I'm glad we chose this one! 

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together? I think I would have gotten a lot more angry. I mean, I think I would have escaped like she did. I wouldn't want to even be in the same town as them, but I would have done more damage on my way out. And I definitley would not be waiting around until they "get it out of their system". I would leave his sorry ass. 

2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter? Big time. I am one nosy lady. 

3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding? I read ahead, so I'll skip this one! 

4. What does the letter say? Also, I will skip this one! Whoops! 

5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?" Annnnd I have to skip this one too. I don't want to give anything away! I suck at not reading ahead. 

chase16

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together?
I would have done as PPs said, and picked up and moved. I'm not one for emotional outbursts in relationships, half due to pride, the other half due to shock at the situation. I act, and then I analyze after. Typically I'll feel anger at how the relationship ended or at the other person weeks, if not months later.
2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter? Hell yes! She has far more self control than I do!
3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding? My first thought was affair, or gay maybe. I wasn't sure how the Isabel piece fit in. That threw me.
4. What does the letter say? A confession.. Maybe a love child or something?
5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?" It seems like the author is possibly trying to lead us in a general "he's the killer" direction, but that usually means the person is innocent.. soo.. Not sure?

rstarrlemaitre

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together?

I would have kicked them out, rather than being the one to leave myself. They're the ones who need to be uprooted!

2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter?

No, but I would wait and ask my husband about it in person - you can't tell anything about what a person is or isn't saying truthfully over the phone.

3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding? Skipping this since I finished the book, but... proud to say that I guessed the secret long before the reveal!

4. What does the letter say? Ditto

5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?" Ditto

Raclla

1. BSC. Completely insane.
However, with a child in the house it might have been similar to her reaction.

2. Yes. I'd open it and then ask about it to see what the answer was. But DH knows how impossible I am with secrets and he would know with 180% certainty that I'd already read it.

3. No clue. I like pp's theory that it's related to Janie. Good call on that idea.

4. Based on #3 and what pp said I'm guessing the letter references Janie. Maybe it gives answers to her death to put everything to rest after he dies.

5. He's the one that took her virginity and he feels guilt about it. He slept with her before she does. I'm guessing if she hadn't been with him she wouldn't have been in the place to get murdered. He feels guilty.

I haven't read ahead and I'm looking forward to finding out these answers.

4PrivetDrive

I''m answering like I haven't read the whole book. Because it was awesome and I couldn't stop.

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together?

That would be the end of my marriage. Cheating is cheating to me. Emotional infidelity, like some PPs have said, can definitely be worse than physical cheating. 
2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter?

Yes. Without a doubt. Curiosity would definitely get the better of me. 
3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding?

I have no idea, but it would definitely be some deep confession for it to be read in the event of his death. 
4. What does the letter say?

I'm sure something that will strain/wreck their marriage. Clearly something terrible enough that he didn't want to say it while alive. 
5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?"

He kind of seems like he is definitely set up to be the baddie and it seems too easy. I love what @MeganEMcG5 said in response to this question. 

raquelynn714

1. If I was Tess I would have been in shock. I loved how Moriarty compares Will's expression to Tess's son pleading for chocolate. Also, the line, "Tess tried to lock eyes with Will, as if the strength of her gaze could bring him back from wherever he'd gone," really struck me. I'd feel completely in shock if tithe strength of my gaze didn't bring him back... And then likely explode into some sort of tantrum. 2./4. I would have opened the letter before having the phone conversation about it. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I def think the letter includes a secret. Something to do with the sad looks Will has been giving Isabelle. Adultery?

happylady07

What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together?

I probably would have done something similar, I tend to clam up when pissed off/overwhelmed, and I definitely would have wanted to run home to my parents house, leaving our home until I cooked down. I don't believe I would have told her to give him back when she was finished with him, more likely I would be shocked and silent, possibly with a few choice curse words thrown around. This level of betrayal is so hard to imagine though, it's difficult to say how one would react.

If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter?

No. I would have done the same thing in telling my husband I found it, but not until he was home, that's a weird thing to bring up over the phone. If he didn't want me to read it I wouldn't have.

What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding? I thought he was gay.

What does the letter say? I thought it was a confession of sorts, but wasn't sure what. I have finished the book so am trying not to spill anything!!

Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?" See above

Russiandea12

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together? Flipped out, cried hysterically.  Don't know how she could have remained calm after receiving that news, other than just pure shock.  I do understand her desire to get anyway though.
2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter? Yes, I'm a highly suspicous person and his reaction to finding it definately sealed the deal.  However, I wouldnt have told him I found it in the first place.
3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding? I've read ahead too.  However, at this point I was thinking affair, 2nd family, love child.
4. What does the letter say? I've read ahead already.
5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?"  I've read ahead already.  But I didn't think he was hiding anything.  I think Rachel just wants an Answer to why he daughter was killed and the person who did it held responsible.

DanRae801

I just had to check and see if I made it far enough to even look at these questions and I am getting ready to start chapter 11 so I have done good . I'm in the middle of another book as well and have been reading both. So far I am really liking it!. I also was a little confused by the second chapter at first but then realized these characters would have to tie in eventually. This made it more interesting for me when I'd read a line and be like oh yea so and so just mentioned this school so that's where they are connected.

1. I can see where Tess wants to keep her family together. My husband and I both come from split families (and add my mother to that too) and it makes holiday's very difficult to juggle so many families. I can see where she would think it would be eaiser to let Will experiment and get her family back together but I couldn't do it. As much as I'd want my daughter to be raised in a home with both parents I would have to separate from my husband and I'd never talk to the cousin again.

2. I am a nosey person, so I'd open it without telling my husband I found it. I would read it and try to keep it a secret that I did and eventually it would come out to my husband somehow that I read his letter. We could be talking about something completely unrelated or something that would get me thinking about that letter and I'd say something and through his questions I'd feel like I'd have to tell him.

3. I agree with him knowing something or being a part of what happened to Janie. Maybe he looks at Isabel weird because she looks like Janie.

4. I was with a pp who thought this would have been revealed by now from reading the book description and also the way the description portrays this letter I was shocked when she told him she found it. I think the letter will have info about Janie.

5. I also agree with a pp who said that the author is trying to make him look like a bad guy which would mean that he will be innocent but maybe he does know something. Tess was uneasy around him but that could be because they had dated before.

chase16

Its up to you guys- I can put it to a poll tomorrow.... I don't want to spoil it for people, but it was a pretty quick read so if the majority are finished..

Raclla

I haven't been able to read it as quickly as some of the others.  

I think a poll would be good to see how many have read ahead and how far. 

Through Ch 20

Through Ch 30

Through Ch 40

Finished

raquelynn714

I stopped at 10 lol

meggyski

I'm on chapter 34, couldn't stop listening... very good so far. Looking forward to the next set of questions!

shaylagirl

1. What would you have done if you were Tess, and faced finding out your best friend/cousin and husband wanted to be together?
DTMFA.  Seriously.  If she's so fantastic, fine.  I'm not going to stand in your way.

2. If you were Cecilia, would you open the letter?
Absolutely.  John-Paul got so weird about it, that it would have naturally set off alarm bells.  Maybe I'm just the suspicious sort.

3. What do you think John-Paul's secret is? What is he hiding?
I finished the book already, but my first thought was affair.

4. What does the letter say?
I'll decline to answer.

5. Do you think Connor Whitby is hiding something? What does Rachel mean by "Lies in his eyes?"
Initially I found him suspect and wondered about him. 

Honestly, for me, the format of the book was something I struggled with.  It was so jarring to have it bounce back and forth between characters I had no clue who they are, how they related, or anything like that. 

I think it was an okay "fluffy" read; nothing too intense or mind-engaging, which I can enjoy, if I'm not put off initially.  However, it's just unbelievable (the ending).