Bookish Thoughts: The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley

Birthdays are supposed to be happy occasions, so Eve plans a party.  ~ Opening to The Deepest Secret

The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley

Bantam, 2014

Crime Fiction; 448 pgs

From the Publisher:

Diagnosed with XP, a rare medical condition which makes him lethally sensitive to light, Tyler is a thirteen-year-old who desperately wants just one thing: to be normal. His mother Eve also wants just one thing: to protect her son. As Tyler begins roaming their cul-de-sac at night, cloaked in the safety of the darkness, he peers into the lives of the other families on the street-looking in on the things they most want hidden. Then, the young daughter of a neighbor suddenly vanishes, and Tyler may be the only one who can make sense of her disappearance…but what will happen when everyone's secrets are exposed to the light?

I did not know much about Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) going into this novel, nor how limiting survival with this genetic defect could be.  Not only does Tyler have to stay indoors during the daylight hours, but certain types of light, including from car headlights, can be detrimental to his health.  Extreme care must be taken for Tyler to get to doctor's appointments and the like. His mother, Eve, has gone out of her way to make life as comfortable and safe for her son as possible.  She's gotten most of the neighbors on their cul de sac to avoid halogen bulbs and advocated to get the street lights in their vicinity turned off.  She will take no chances at keeping her son safe--and alive.  

The Deepest Secret is an engrossing novel that takes the reader into the life of Tyler's family.  Tyler dreams of being a photographer, and often ventures out into the night without his family's knowledge to capture photographs of nature and life.  He peeks into the windows of his neighbors, and probably knows more about what goes on behind closed doors than anyone else.  His older sister, Melissa, is the "perfect" child.  The one without the genetic defect.  Her own life has begun to spiral out of control, something her mother doesn't at first realize.  Eve's attention and concern has always mostly fallen on Tyler.  She's had to play the role of father more often than not too, her husband living and working in another city, only coming home on the weekends or when he can.  

The novel is told from alternating viewpoints, giving the reader multiple perspectives into the lives of the Lattimore family.  The author takes her time setting up the story, making sure the reader has a clear and in-depth picture of the players involved.  As a result, The Deepest Secret is not a fast paced novel.  However, it was difficult to put down.  I became so invested in the characters, in their lives, and in their fate.  I felt for Eve's friend whose daughter was missing, and I felt for Eve and her family, who seemed to be at the center of it all.

I often forgot as I read just how young Tyler is--only 14.  At times he seemed older, and then he would do or say something that would remind me just how young and innocent he is.  I can't imagine living like he does, how lonely an existence he has, even with his few friends.  And to know that your life could be cut short any day . . .

I did not warm to Eve, Tyler's mother, right away.  It's easy to see why the neighbors and outsiders might have a poor attitude about her, given her obsession with keeping her son safe.  She often has to be assertive and sometimes even aggressive about it.  As annoying as that might be, it's a necessary evil.  Wouldn't any of us do the same in most situations, knowing our child's life depends on it?

I felt from the start for not only Tyler, but also his sister, Melissa.  She too has been impacted by the shut in life her brother has had to lead.  In many ways, she has been shut in too.  It is no wonder she has begun to act out.

As for the father, David, well, I have mixed feelings about him even now.  He was so often absent, and when he began to realize just how much he didn't know or understand about his own family, his first reaction was to run away.  I know that people cope in different ways, but I often found his reactions disappointing.  At the same time, I did feel for him on some level, knowing it was not easy on him either.  And I felt that Eve could have been more flexible in some things than she was. Honestly though, I cannot imagine it was easy on any of them.

The way the story unfolds, the fate of the missing girl, and the roles the Lattimores and their neighbors play make this thrilling novel all the more intriguing.  This is one of those books I am having difficulty reviewing for risk of spoiling any part of it.  It's such a good book on many levels, one I enjoyed thoroughly--and one that left me wondering what I would have done in the same situation. Or, at least, understanding why certain choices were made, even if I did not quite agree with them.  I am still thinking of this book weeks after finishing it.

Recommendation: Read it!

Rating:   (Very Good)

You can learn more about Carla Buckley and her books on the author's website.

Source: E-copy of the book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

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