I found this book on my Kindle app, having no recollection of purchasing or otherwise acquiring it. Accordingly, I had no idea what genre it was nor even a vague notion what it was about, and I deliberately did not look it up. A complete blind date. It became apparent early on that this slim novel is a psychological thriller, not normally my cup of tea. Hongmei is a Chinese-born woman in her 20s, living in the Bay Area with Glen, her American professor husband in a perfunctory, drifting marriage when an anonymous person begins emailing her, someone who is watching her closely, following her, knowing many intimate details about her. As their correspondence continues, the “secret talker” becomes a person to whom she is able to open up about secrets and her yearnings. It was not too difficult to figure out the secret talker’s identity, but Hongmei’s personal story from her childhood in a small Chinese village where a massacre occurred to the present was beautifully exposed in page-turning writing. ( )

A "contemporary" novel that is just a first-person monologue about a woman's relationship history. There are no other characters really, the one or two bits of drama are unmotivated, there's no sense of place -- at times it's hard to tell if it takes place in the US or China. Luckily it's short. ( )

This is a quick read that's very misleadingly advertised. It's more of an exploration of emotional intimacy than it is a thriller. I like the premise and the way the story unfolds, but the author seems to have a lot of assumptions about how readers will respond to the characters that don't really match up with how I responded. Which is a long way of saying I didn't really connect with the book. ( )

This was billed as a psychological thriller and free from Amazon some time ago. I would not classify it as a psychological thriller but as a work of fiction. Hongmei, is a Chinese student married to Glen. They live in California, San Francisco, I think. Hongmei is being stalked, primarily through the internet. The resolution has to do with her past, of course. The writing appeared to be choppy, but that could be because of the translation. I wished the characters had been fleshed out better. 160 pages ( )

The Secret Talker by Geling Yan is a novella that rewards a second read while the first read is still fresh in your mind. While grouped in some places with mysteries and thrillers this is more of a psychological study that uses a tension-producing frame with which to tell the story. For me, this worked very well.

I understand that some people have to like a protagonist in order to like a book. Limiting but more common than I ever realized. If you're one of those, this may or may not be a good book for you. If you're a reader more interested in understanding characters, whether you like or approve of them or not, this book offers a wealth of avenues into and through the work.

While not a lot of people would ever reply to an anonymous email from someone who knows who they are, some people would. I don't find having a protagonist do something I wouldn't do as a reason to dislike a book. If I did, I probably would have to dislike most books since most depend on a character doing something that is at best ill-advised and at worst down right unethical, that is part of what leads to the conflict that makes a novel or novella.

The tension here, such as it is, derives from Hongmei not being sure who the secret talker is, even after most readers have a good idea. I read this more from the perspective of trying to understand who Hongmei is and why she does what she does. By the time we finish the book, we have her life story, yet because it is told nonlinearly we have to refer back and forth in understanding her. That is why I think a reread shortly after the first read is worthwhile. I waited a couple days to read it again and really enjoyed the second time through.

Again, because the secret talker is essentially a stalker there is a creepy element, but that quickly dissipates as we read since there are periods of no contact which defuses the possible sense of danger, at least to some extent. That said, some may simply not want to learn about a character who does something the reader considers foolish and dangerous. Well, their loss, Hongmei's life story is fascinating and even though the particulars are strictly hers, they highlight many feelings and conflicts we all experience. If you have ever asked yourself why you did something and later came to understand it, you might appreciate what Hongmei goes through here.

I recommend this to readers interested in psychological studies that are not linear. This is a short read and even with a second reading will still be shorter than many other books, so well worth any time investment on your part.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )