Secret Talker

Desperate and self-destructive, she embarks on an investigation into her emailer’s secret history…one that may tear her life and marriage apart forever.
A psychological story at its core, The Secret Talker elegantly examines how repressed desire and simmering silence can upend even the most idyllic marriage.

Reviews

"The Secret Talker is a profound meditation on love, the difficulties of communication and the agonizing joy and brutality of commitment."  — New York Times"A riveting tale of suspense. . . . Yan’s pacing is impeccable as she delicately but inexorably builds toward a thought-provoking finale. Readers of tense literary fiction will find much to like." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)"[A] masterful tale driven by Yan’s brisk pacing and evocative writing and details that pulse with truth. . . . An adventurous and emotionally engaging story, which ultimately unlocks the transformative power of listening and honesty for recovery and redemption from tribulations of the past." — New York Journal of Books"A suspenseful, intriguing tale of a woman in her psychological crisis." — The Millions"Geling Yan has crafted a slow-burn psychological thriller in The Secret Talker . . . a cat and mouse game that will keep you guessing to the last page." — CrimeReads“With simple but powerful prose, Geling Yan evokes electrifying scenes of great cruelty and sensuality.“  — San Francisco Chronicle"Searing and delicately brutal, [The Secret Talker] strikes at the heart of what makes a relationship implode."— Popsugar"The combination of emotional intimacy with long-hidden secrets often makes for a compelling thriller, and The Secret Talker delivers ...For readers looking for a brisk and neatly plotted mystery, this novel has plenty to offer."— Words Without Borders "The Secret Talker bring[s] the mood of an existential novel to a hair-raising thriller. Yan is a fan of stories where interlopers disrupt stable relationships — among her screenplay credits is an adaptation of ‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses.’ But she also sees a third party as a way to patch a fractured relationship. ‘Whatever roles human beings played by day, if they didn’t have a moment like this when they could reveal themselves, they’d surely be driven mad,’ Yan writes. And her hero is intriguingly close to that edge.” — Washington Post