Book Review: A Secret Rage by Charlaine Harris

A Secret Rage by Charlaine Harris
The Berkley Publishing Group
198 Pages
Copyright 2007 (originally 1984)

A Secret Rage isn’t like any of the other books by Charlaine Harris that I’ve read. First, it is a stand-alone. Second, there’s nothing paranormal involved; no vampires, no psychics, no mysterious characters of any kind. Instead, Harris examines a tough topic – rape – and does it fairly well.

Nickie Callahan is a former New York model, dropped by her agent in search of a ‘new, fresher face’. She is at loose ends at the ripe-old-age of 27. After receiving a phone call from her best childhood friend, Mimi Houghton, Nickie returns to Knolls, Tennessee to resume her college career.

Once home, Nickie settles in with Mimi, who is recovering from a broken marriage, and begins to reconnect with old friends, including Mimi’s older brother Cully, Nickie’s childhood crush. Knolls, however, proves not to be the sleepy little town that Nickie remembers. The violent rape of a co-ed is soon followed by the equally violent rape of an instructor. Then, the unthinkable happens, changing Nickie and Mimi’s lives forever.

Harris handles the topic head-on. The rape scene, is a gritty, first person examination of what it must be like. Harris also, I think, handles the fallout of such an experience fairly well. The victim doesn’t bounce back like nothing’s happened. She struggles to regain control of her life and rebuild her relationships. She doesn’t trust but she does fight to keep her rapist from achieving his ultimate victory – the destruction of her entire life.

Recommendation: It is, in places, a tough read but it rings true. Beyond that, I’m not entirely sure what to say about this one. I’m glad I read it but if you’re looking for a fun read, this isn’t it. There are a few flaws but what Harris gets right, she gets very right.