Relative Secrets

Lucy finds a locket in her grandmother's room that contains a shameful family secret, and she must keep it from her mother, who is struggling with her mental health.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2021
Publisher: Fairlight Books

Mary, a woman with a secret that she must keep hidden, finds herself in a care home, where her mind wanders, and she begins to slip up. As she clears out her grandmother's old room, Lucy discovers a locket that holds a shameful family secret. She knows she cannot tell her mother, as their father is gone, one brother is absent, and another is acting up. Her mother had struggled with her mental health just a few years ago, and Lucy is left to make sense of it all on her own.

The story unfolds in a small village in England, where Mary and her family live a quiet and uneventful life. However, beneath the surface, there are hidden tensions and secrets that are about to be revealed. Mary's secret is one of the most intriguing aspects of the story. She has been keeping a dark secret from her family for years, and it is only now that she is beginning to feel the weight of it.

As Mary's mind wanders in the care home, she begins to slip up and reveal bits and pieces of her secret to those around her. Lucy, her granddaughter, is the first to notice the changes in her grandmother's behavior. She is concerned and tries to help her grandmother, but Mary is resistant to her efforts.

Lucy discovers the locket while cleaning out Mary's room. It is a beautiful piece of jewelry, with a small photograph of a woman inside. Lucy is curious and decides to open it. Inside, she finds a letter that was written by Mary's mother many years ago. The letter reveals that Mary's father had an affair with another woman, and that Mary was the result of that affair.

Lucy is shocked and overwhelmed by the news. She knows that she must tell her mother, but she is afraid of the consequences. She also knows that her mother's mental health is fragile, and she is not sure how she will react.

Despite her fears, Lucy decides to tell her mother the truth. She arranges a meeting with her mother and presents her with the locket and the letter. Her mother is initially shocked and angry, but as she reads the letter, she begins to understand the pain that Mary has been carrying for so many years.

Together, Mary and her mother begin to confront their past and work through the secrets that have been holding them back. It is a difficult and emotional journey, but they are determined to heal and move forward.

As the story unfolds, we see the impact of the family secrets on each of the characters. Mary's secret has caused her a great deal of pain and shame, and it has strained her relationships with her family. Lucy, on the other hand, is caught in the middle of the drama, trying to help her grandmother and protect her mother from the consequences of the truth.

Through their journey, Mary and her mother learn to forgive each other and to let go of the past. They also learn to appreciate the importance of communication and honesty, and how these can help to strengthen their relationships.

In the end, the family secrets are revealed, and the characters are able to move forward with their lives. Mary and her mother are able to repair their relationship, and Lucy is able to find peace and closure in the knowledge that she has helped her family to heal.

Helen Stancey's writing is beautiful and evocative, and she has a talent for picking through the everyday of life to uncover poetry, pain, and ultimately love. "The Locket" is a powerful and moving story that will resonate with readers of all ages. It is a testament to the strength of family bonds and the power of forgiveness.

Weight: 268g
Dimension: 130 x 198 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912054862