Our Little Secret

February 19, 2018
How does Angela Petitjean, the narrator of Nay’s captivating if contrived debut, go from being the pride of Cove, Vt., with a place waiting at Oxford University, to just eight years later a person of interest being grilled by police in her hometown about the disappearance of Saskia Parker, a vivacious young wife and mother? That’s the twisty tale that emerges, gradually, over the course of Angela’s marathon interrogation. Warming despite herself to the undivided attention of Det. J. Novak, the normally private Angela slowly embraces the opportunity to open up about her one great love—with high school golden boy and, as she sees it, soulmate, Hamish Parker, before a brash Australian force of nature named Saskia entered the picture. Though Nay’s inexperience shows in the stagy set-up, which amounts to almost an extended monologue, and a couple of key players who don’t rise above caricature—like Freddy Montgomery, the hopeless smitten and conveniently rich Oxford swain—it’s an arresting, perhaps unbelievable story that Angela spins. Nay is a writer to watch. Agent: Carolyn Forde, Westwood Creative Artists.