Secrets Mothers Keep

A brutal murder occurs on an isolated farm in the 1920's in Western Australia and the victim's wife and children are violently abused, scandalizing the whole country. The killer has no apparent motivation but admits his guilt and the abused wife has to rebuild her shattered life.

A brutal murder occurs on an isolated farm in the 1920's in Western Australia and the victim's wife and children are violently abused, scandalizing the whole country. The killer has no apparent motivation but admits his guilt and the abused wife has to rebuild her shattered life. Secrets Mothers Keep traces how three lives are entwined. A young English boy with learning difficulties and the precursors of mental illness, learns to cope with his 'black moods' and poor social skills. He faces numerous challenges and finds support and strategies that enable him to survive. Finally an event makes him crack. Lilly is a feminist with a strong social conscience; the novel follows her life and her loves until she marries her eminently capable partner Harold. Harold is murdered and Lilly and her children are subject to rape and horrific abuse. The resultant infamy of the case threatens her reputation and her core values. Her strong convictions lead her to respond in a most unlikely manner. The interplay of characters, combine to create a story reflecting the values of their time in history but with themes which still resonate today.

Linda J Bettenay is writing this novel under her birth name. Linda was born in Roleystone, Western Australia, into a pioneering orcharding family who have farmed the land since 1901 and lived in the area since 1895. Linda is 57 years old and her current occupation is owner and editor of a community magazine, The Roleystone Courier. This monthly publication has existed in Roleystone for 37 years and, along with her husband Mike, they have owned and operated this business since January, 2008. This is a labour of love, providing a much loved and important method of communication to this delightful rural community. Prior to this, Linda was in education and spent over 30 years as a teacher and more recently as a Principal, in schools across regional Western Australia. Linda and Mike have two sons, Joseph Moore and Brett Moore, a daughter-in-law Rebecca and two very cherished grandchildren Leigh and Violet.