53 pages • 1 hour read
A. R. TorreA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Every Last Secret upholds many of the common conceits of the psychological thriller genre. The unreliable narrator is one example. The narrative alternates between Cat’s and Neena’s first-person perspectives. Only as the narrative develops does it become clear that Cat, concealing the truth of various actions—such as poisoning herself with antifreeze and blaming Neena—is a highly unreliable narrator. Only toward the end of the book does the reader learn how unreliable Cat’s narration has been.
The antifreeze incident is an example of a red herring, or a false clue, another element typical of the thriller genre. Throughout the book, Cat sprinkles fake clues designed to frame Neena. However, these red herrings also mislead the reader. While the narrative includes many false clues, it also includes real ones. Many mystery-driven thrillers provide a mix of fake and real leads, and the reader must identify which clues are authentic. One example of a real clue is Cat’s admission that she stole a key from the former next-door neighbor’s house; the stolen key later gives Cat the power to plant false evidence in the Ryder home.
As a psychological thriller, Every Last Secret also explores Neena’s and Cat’s psyches. A person who poisons herself and frames another woman for attempted murder must have some kind of motivation. The book explores Cat’s mental state, painting her as jealous, possessive, and scheming. The narrative also explores Neena’s psychology as a woman who came from poverty and is desperate to climb the social ladder. In exploring the inner workings of the two main characters’ minds, the narrative goes enters the realm of psychological thriller, taking care to consider the mentalities and motivations of the book’s key players.
Every Last Secret is set in Atherton, a real, affluent part of Palo Alto. The incredibly wealthy Winthorpes own Winthorpe Technologies, a technology or medical technology company. Through its portrayal of the wealth of Atherton, the narrative explores the troubling realities of capitalism where the “one percent” are always able to stay on top. The juxtaposition of the Winthorpes’ wealth and the Ryders’ aspirations to wealth crystalize this type of social conflict. Neena desperately attempts to climb the Atherton social ladder, but Cat, thanks to her status as the unofficial “queen” of Atherton, repeatedly thwarts her. Cat succeeds in ruining Neena’s life largely due to her personal connections; for example, thanks to the six-figure donations the Winthorpes make to the local police department, Cat has access to the chief of police and can report her suspicions about Neena directly to him. The narrative critiques the power that comes with wealth, which is concentrated so narrowly—for example, in a single couple, such as the Winthorpes, or a single community, like Atherton.