Secrets
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Secrets
Narrated by:
Bessie Holland
Buy Now for €17.71
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Narrated by:
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Bessie Holland
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By:
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Judi Morison
Guardian's 25 best Australian books of 2025
Ruth, the widowed matriarch of a grown family, has only months to live, and a secret she’s kept for sixty years. Now she must put things right before she dies. But as she has learned, the longer something is kept hidden, the harder it is to bring out of the shadows.
With her grandson in gaol and her family fractured, Ruth must address the past, present and future. She must reveal her secret, reconcile her family, and find a way to keep her beloved homestead, Cora, in the family – and her family in Cora.
A sweeping saga spanning more than half a century, Secrets has a cast of indelible characters whose lives have been devastated by racism, trauma, addiction, incarceration, loss and shame. Yet for all that their secrets break your heart, Ruth and her family ultimately leave it stronger. This spirited, compassionate novel is a testament to the power of truth-telling and the possibility of healing.
‘An instant Australian classic.’ Hayley Scrivenor
'A powerful debut of love and loss.’ Petronella McGovern
‘Epic, compelling and moving.’ Inga Simpson
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Reviews
'an epic saga ... [and a] compassionate, touching story of familial complexity and truth-telling.'
'Exploring trauma and addiction, Secrets is an unflinching account of what can happen when we care for others and let our true selves be seen. Judi Morison’s debut novel is at once a testament to how far we’ve come in this country, and in the same breath, a searing indictment of just how far there is yet to go. An instant Australian classic.' (Hayley Scrivenor, internationally bestselling author of Dirt Town and Girl Falling)
'Judi Morison’s Secrets is a gripping and heartfelt novel that draws you deep into a world shaped by family bonds, hidden truths, and the enduring strength of Indigenous women. With a deft hand and deep empathy, Morison lays bare the heartbreak of racism and the resilience it breeds. This is a murder mystery layered with history, love and quiet power – one that stays with you long after the final page.' (Larissa Behrendt, award-winning author of After Story)
'A powerful debut of love and loss. Secrets takes us inside a family of heartbreaking secrets. Judi Morison’s characters are true-to-life with all the complexities of human nature – they made me laugh and they made me cry. Ultimately, Secrets shows the power of truth to heal.' (Petronella McGovern, bestselling author of The Last Trace)
'Ruth, a mother and matriarch, is reminiscent of the great characters of modern literature. Like Ma Joad of Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Ruth is "the citadel that cannot be taken". We are indebted to Morison’s both subtle and searing craft in producing an unforgettable novel.' (Tony Birch, award-winning author of Women & Children)
'Epic, compelling and moving. A classic Australian saga centred around a farm house and its native gardens in northern New South Wales, rich in wildlife and memories. Secrets illustrates the ways trauma is passed on from generation to generation, but also the power of truth, and the strength of women, love and family.' (Inga Simpson, author of The Thinning)
'A poignant and powerful story about family connections and Indigenous recent history.' (Julie Janson, author of Compassion)
'Morison writes with skill and heart. I devoured this engrossing novel in one rush, by turns moved, angry and, ultimately, hopeful.' (Delia Falconer, author of Signs and Wonders)
'Here are two women who might believe they are worthless if not for small and large acts of human kindness. But it is their longing for each other that transforms them, and from the page, I felt their beauty and their grace.' (Courtney Collins, author of The Burial)
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