Every Last Secret

“Pull out that prom-queen smile. […] Only no poison this time.’”

William says this to Cat, teasing her about an old high-school rumor: that she was elected prom queen because she poisoned the other contestants with laxatives. The reference to a “prom-queen smile” implies her smile is fake while the mention of poison foreshadows Cat’s poisoning herself with antifreeze.

“Dana had paid for her loose lips with an accidental electrical fire in her she shed, followed by a well-timed Great to see you again, hope all is well note on embossed Winthorpe stationary.”

Here, Cat describes her reaction to Dana, a high-school classmate, telling William about the rumor that Cat poisoned the other prom queen candidates. The rumor reveals Cat’s ruthlessness (or at the very least, that others believed her capable of sabotage) and foreshadows her revenge against Neena.

“There were men you owned. There were men you borrowed. And there were men you took. I would ever let anyone take him from me.”

In this excerpt, where she reflects on William, Cat reveals her jealousy and possessiveness. These traits motivate Cat’s revenge against Neena and incite much of the book’s action; they are also a strong example of how a psychological thriller explores the protagonists’ psyches to explain the book’s events (typical of the genre).

“My needs had increased, and I was starting to become desperate for the life I didn’t have.”

Neena’s reference to the “life [she] didn’t have” reveals her desire to ascend the social ladder. This desire motivates Neena’s actions. Exploring a character’s motivations; the psychological thriller lives up to its name by exploring this inner motivation fully throughout the work. The words hint at the book’s anti-capitalist stance, which is fully realized when both Neena and Cat, after aspiring to a picture-perfect life of wealth, status, and marital bliss, end up disappointed.

“The women who lived inside these gates all partied together, shopped together, vacationed together. And already, things were clicking into place. I had a job with one of the most promising tech companies in Silicon Valley. An office adjacent to William Winthorpe’s. We’d made dinner plans for next week. The proximity that our houses would grant and the potential social introductions from Cat could be the keys to the kingdom I deserved to live in.”

Here, Neena describes the women in Atherton and her plans for infiltrating their world. Her description demonstrates how the wealthy stick together and protect themselves—for example, by circulating in the same (gated) communities, country clubs, and vacation locales. While “inside these gates” is meant literally here, it’s also a nod to the boundaries that exist between the haves and the have-nots.

“I was overwhelmed by the discrepancies between us. Cat and me. William and Matt. Their gorgeous showcase mansion and our ugly foreclosure.”

Neena’s observation highlights the symbolic significance of the differences between the Ryders’ and the Winthorpes’ homes. The houses represent the “have” versus “have-not” polarity the book explores: The Winthorpes have everything a person could desire, from a private jet to a mansion in Atherton and a vacation home in Hawaii. The Ryders can afford their home in Atherton only because it’s rundown and in foreclosure.

“That was the secret to success in this town. Presenting a picture of effortless perfection with behind-the-scenes, ruthless hard work. Everyone thought I woke up as Cat Winthorpe one day, but I had clawed and scraped for every piece of this life. Still did.”

Cat’s words highlight the book’s theme of Obsession with Wealth and Status. Cat reveals that her life may look picture-perfect, but it takes “ruthless hard work” to present that image. Keeping up appearances not only requires hard work, as the book will reveal, but also can inspire questionable moral decisions such as Neena’s seeking affairs with married men or Cat’s framing a woman for murder.

“William was easily recognizable and understood to be off-limits. Matt was a fresh face, and the single vultures scattered around his pool wouldn’t care if he was balding and a little chubby. What they would be scared off by, and why Neena had absolutely no need for concern, was the guest wristband he had on. Neena was displaying hers proudly, unaware that it was a giant ‘Not Rich Enough to Be Here’ red flag.”

Cat’s recognition that the guest wristband is a “red flag” indicates her preoccupation with wealth and status. The “not rich enough” comment can also be seen as a nod to the book’s subtle anti-capitalist agenda. Cat—but not Neena—understands that Atherton’s women wouldn’t be romantically interested in Matt because he isn’t wealthy enough despite his career as a developer. He presumably makes good money even if it isn’t enough for ostentatious show of wealth or status.

“The newest member of Winthorpe Tech needed to be gone.”

This moment is the turning point for Cat; she implicitly begins her war against Neena. Her comment comes after a conversation with William in which he says he needs Neena. To Cat, her husband “needing” another woman, even for professional purposes, is threatening and indicative of The Complexities of Marital Relationships.

“This was it. William Winthorpe was touching me. Practically caressing me.”

Here, Neena describes her reaction to William brushing against her knee as he shifts gears. It’s a glimpse of the her painstakingly detail-oriented and obsessive mind. Neena’s infatuation with William becomes clearer, elevating the tension around her mission to seduce William.

“Rumors like that can kill someone’s reputation.’”

Cat tells Neena there are rumors swirling about Neena’s pursuit of married men. The words foreshadow Cat’s plans to ruin Neena’s reputation. The word choice “kill”—where “ruin” or “destroy” also could have worked—adds a sinister tone.

“A sociopathic blonde with boundary issues wasn’t going to bring down my house.”

Cat’s word choice here, “to bring down my house,” is not meant literally; she simply means to protect her household, which consists of her and William. However, given the symbolism of the Ryder versus Winthorpe houses, the word choice gains greater significance, especially considering that, at the book’s end, the Ryders’ house is razed. In the end, Cat brings down Neena’s house instead.

“William Winthorpe had been the right mark, targeted with a well-oiled execution, but I had made the horrible assumption that I was the smartest person in this game.”

Here, Neena is looking back at what’s happened, realizing that Cat set her up and framed her for attempted murder. Neena’s admission that she is not “the smartest person in the game” reveals that she’s been humbled. Throughout the book, Neena is convinced she’s smarter than Cat. In this pivotal plot point and moment of character development, the tables have turned.

“You’re that insecure about this? You want me to fire her, too? Is that what you want? Should we move to a different house?’”

William’s words to Cat here speak to his own deceit; he essentially gaslights his wife when she brings up her valid concerns about his proximity to Neena. His attitude highlights the book’s theme of deceit.

“I lifted my coffee to my lips, making sure to use the hand with the diamond, the huge stone impossible to miss. He’s mine.”

Here, Cat uses her diamond ring to subtly communicate to Neena her ownership of William. The ring is a symbol of marriage; Cat wants to believe that the ring firmly establishes her and William’s bond. However, wedding rings come off—and they in no way speak to the complexities of marriage.

“When did you decide your husband needed to die?’”

The detective asks Neena this question. It’s a pivotal plot point because, up to this point, there is no clear reason the police are questioning Neena. Even when it becomes more evident that someone may have been hurt or killed, it’s not clear who.

“That’s your insecurity and paranoia talking.’”

William highlights two of Cat’s prominent traits: insecurity and paranoia. These traits drive much of Cat’s behavior and provide evidence that Every Last Secret is a psychological thriller. This quote also drives home the book’s argument regarding Manipulation and Deceit. At this point, William has been physically intimate with Neena, yet he still denies their liaison to Cat.

“Jealousy twisted my gut, and I fought the urge to hide my own ring. It was barely two carats, a size I used to be joyous over—but it was starting to feel smaller and smaller with time.”

Neena expresses this jealousy when she sees the new ring that William gives Cat. The moment speaks to several themes. First, there’s the complexity of marriage; William has given Cat this ring shortly after beginning a sexual relationship with Neena; being unfaithful may have inspired him to recommit (quietly) to Cat. Neena’s focus on the ring also shows that she views it as symbolic of the strength of Cat and William’s union when that union is anything but stable. Neena also demonstrates her weakness of character; she thinks less of her own ring by comparing it to Cat’s new ring. Finally, Neena’s thoughts speak to the book’s anti-capitalism thread. The more Neena gets, the more she wants—such as a bigger and better ring. It’s the capitalist trap of buying more, growing dissatisfied, then buying something bigger or better, only to become dissatisfied with each successive purchase.

“This is why we shelled out six figures last year for the police department.”

Cat has this thought after she describes her suspicions about Neena to the chief of police. Her conversation with him leads the police to investigate the hitman incident as an attempted murder, not a robbery-gone-wrong. Cat’s wealth and connections bring her privilege, which she uses to her advantage. In this scene, money grants power and privilege; that power and privilege then help the wealthy stay in their positions of power and privilege.

“Of course I wouldn’t leave him. That was why, after all, I had done all of this.”

This is the bombshell moment when Cat admits she has set up Neena—framing her for Matt’s attempted murder and Cat’s poisoning. This kind of plot twist in the final act is a common element of thrillers.

“My husband, my sweet, stupid husband, had betrayed me.”

Neena’s words here speak to the book’s thematic argument regarding marriage and its complexities. Neena’s contradictory feelings—that Matt is both “sweet” and “stupid”—are indicative of the range of emotions that exist, sometimes simultaneously, within a marriage. While she feels betrayed by him, she still wants to be with him—as is later revealed.

“Drinking a shot of antifreeze had been risky but well worth it.”

This is the moment Cat confirms that she poisoned herself to set up Neena. The moment of foreshadowing from the first chapter, when William alludes to Cat’s poisoning the potential prom queens at her high school, is realized.

“Goodbye, reputation. Goodbye, career. Goodbye, husband.”

Cat summarizes her revenge plot against Neena in one breath. Her objectives show how fixated Cat is on the trappings of social status: Rather than putting Neena away for attempted murder, Cat seeks to destroy her reputation, personally and professionally. Maybe in Cat’s world, the loss of social status is a harsher punishment than incarceration.