The Deepest Secret by Carla Buckley

Summary:
A riveting, poignant family drama perfect for readers of Defending Jacob and The Memory Keeper's Daughter, which explores the power of the secrets people keep-the darker, hidden facets of our lives, and what happens when they come to light.

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? (from GoodReads)

Review:
I read Carla Buckley's first novel The Things That Keep Us Here because I loved the title (just kidding, the premise sounded really interesting) and I ended up really enjoying it! So when I spotted The Deepest Secret on the New Arrivals shelf at my library, I knew I had to give it a chance. This book is so much different than Buckley's previous book but it's still really good!

I thought it was fascinating that Tyler has XP, a condition that I never even heard of. I can't imagine what it would be like to not being to go out in the sun. I have really fair skin so I understand the risks but I also lifeguard outside in the summer and I enjoy being outdoors. It's almost like the sun is the enemy because Eve, Tyler's mother, is on the defensive against UV light: shutting the blinds, special sunscreen, keeping doors locked. It creates an interesting atmosphere for the whole plot.

It's hard to tell from the synopsis above, but the reader finds out very quickly what happens to the little girl, way faster than I expected. I can't say much more than that, but this book is very good character study on Eve and what she will do to protect her son.

All in all, I really enjoyed The Deepest Secret and I encourage everyone to check it out along with Buckley's first novel.

Rating: 8 out of 10.
FTC: library.

2014/Bantam/480 pages