Book Review: The Deepest Secret

I think the best word to describe The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley is intense. The book takes place over a span of a couple of weeks and focuses on the lives of the families on a cul-de-sac. The main characters are a family whose son, Tyler, has XP, a disease that makes him very sensitive to ultra-violet light.

We learn about Tyler’s neighbors in his observations when he goes out at night (the only time he can go outside without being exposed to UV light) and peeks through their windows and takes pictures. We learn things we might not necessarily know because they are happening behind closed doors. Then one of the neighbor’s daughters is killed in a hit and run accident and not only does it turn life in the cul-de-sac upside down, but also shakes up Tyler’s home life as well.

Because the story focuses on that short time frame, the author is very detailed. At times I was an invisible observer in the character’s lives. This was not a light story, but one that had me thinking about the characters, their lives, and their choices even after I put the book down. - Rosanna (Downtown)