The TV series left me feeling underwhelmed, so how did the book fare? With a cast including Laura Dern, Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, and given all the hype surrounding the series, I was looking forward to viewing the small screen adaptation of Moriarty’s book. Three episodes in and I gave up. I found the series slow and unexciting. Why all the hype? Was I missing something?
Not wanting to give up I decided to read the book and perhaps that is where I should have started. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel. The story revolves around the lives of 3 very different woman who have children at the same primary school. Madeline is the dynamic second time wife who speaks her mind and never forgives anyone their past or present sins. Jane is a single mum, new to town with a secret to hide. Finally there is Celeste, a strikingly beautiful ex-lawyer who appears to have the perfect life with her adoring and rich husband. But is all as it seems? The three woman forge a friendship, which at times seems an unlikely one.
The story opens with a murder investigation following a death at a school trivia night. If that did not grab my attention as a school mum, who has attended many school functions over the years, nothing would. The writing was witty and clever. The author did not reveal who was murdered, or who was guilty of the murder, until one of the closing chapters of the book. Moriarty leaves you guessing as to who was involved in the crime. I thought I had worked out who was dead, but was surprisingly wrong and happy to be found wrong. Each chapter has comments made by attendees at the trivia night to the detective conducting the investigation and this assists in the development of the many characters in the book whose lives intersect with the three main female characters. This style of writing invited you into the world of the women and helped you begin to understand the dynamics of the school community.
The book kept me engaged from beginning to end. Whilst entertaining from the school parent perspective it did deal with the serious issue of domestic abuse. I would recommend the book and may even have another go at watching the TV series.
