You Need to Know by Nicola Moriarty

‘Secrets can be dangerous.’

Sydney, Australia. An extended family is heading away for the Christmas holidays. There’s Jill, the family matriarch, her three sons, Pete, Tony and Darren, her daughters-in-law Mimi and Andrea and her grandchildren Callie, Tara, and twin girls Elliot and James. Jill, recently widowed, is still grieving her husband Frank’s unexpected death.

The story unfolds through multiple points of view, mostly in the month leaving up to Christmas. Each of the families has issues. Mimi is struggling with four children, especially as her eldest daughter Callie has become remote and moody. Tony and Andrea have decided not to have children, but Andrea might want to revisit that. Darren’s partner has left him, although he has not yet accepted it. Each of the brothers is a published author, but right now both Tony and Darren are struggling to write. Every family has secrets: some secrets are more toxic, more dangerous than others.

Jill insists that the family travel in convoy: she is trying to keep them all safe. But an accident along the way leads to tragedy, and to some painful secrets being revealed.

Ms Moriarty has delivered a fast paced, utterly engrossing story full of surprises. Highly recommended if you enjoy domestic drama with a twist.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

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