Christine Butcher is born to be a secretary. A graduate of the secretarial college, she learns the necessary office skills, but it is the experience that shows her how to become invisible while still watching and listening to everything around her. She quickly masters the art of becoming indispensable. When Christine is sent on a temp assignment to work at the head office for Appleton's supermarket chain, she is assigned to work for Lord Appleton, the chief executive, and his daughter and heir, Mina. Mina is also a celebrity with her own column where she writes about dinners and parties she attends with other celebrated personalities. Christine is a fan and excited she may get to meet the successful Mina Appleton.

But when Christine notices Mina going through the Financial Director's office and then trying to make copies, Christine helps Mina at the copy machine and offers to return the papers to the office. Mina is grateful for the help and has Christine promoted to her personal secretary. Well paid with many perks, Christine loves her job. She works long hours and travels first class with Mina to many exciting places. Hardly ever home, her husband divorces her and later her 4-year-old daughter moves in with him. Christine is unable to say no to Mina, becomes known around the office as "the Gatekeeper," and knows many of Mina's well-hidden secrets. Christine soon finds herself lying to cover for Mina, burning papers from the company's archives, and deleting dates from Mina's calendar...

Until one day, the police arrive to search Christine's office and Mina's entire estate. All evidence points to Christine as the person who destroyed evidence that could prove Mina is guilty of perjury. What's worse - during the trial, Mina's testimony again makes it seem like Christine is the one behind everything...

I enjoy Renee Knight's writing style, her characters, along with an exciting, sterling plot held me captive. Mina Appleton is a selfish people user who always has to win. She throws loyal and devoted Christine under the bus after so many years of dedicated service and complete loyalty. Christine's revenge is well-choreographed, clever, and diabolic. I re-read the ending several times and each time gave me the chills. A fantastic read, THE SECRETARY goes to the top of my Best Books of 2019. High praise for this gripping story about obsession and how duty was repaid in full. You will think about it long after the last page. I did!

Book Summary

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 Personal Assistant to the celebrated Mina Appleton, Christine Butcher understands what is expected of her. Absolute loyalty. Absolute discretion. For twenty years, Christine has been a most devoted servant, a 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 there, invisible—watching, listening, absorbing all the secrets floating around her. Keeping them safe.

Christine is trusted. But those years of loyalty and discretion come with a high price. And eventually Christine will pay.

Yet, it would be a mistake to underestimate such a steadfast woman. Because as everyone is about to discover, there’s a dangerous line between obedience and obsession.