I can never resist an unreliable narrator, so I was quickly drawn in by Owen, a reclusive mute who lives for most of his childhood and teenage with only his eccentric mother for company, and then, seven years after her death, decides at last to venture out into the world, “ to learn about the human heart”.

Owen’s story however, is not so much about his own life as about the life of the woman he loves, a scientist named Eva. Even though he considers himself part of the world, in fact, for the most part, Owen experiences life vicariously by spying on Eva. Owen builds his life around Eva, concocting a variety of schemes in order to get close to her and though he knows his behaviour is not honourable, he justifies it because of his love for her.

Owen sounds like a character we ought to dislike, in the same league as Clegg in John Fowles’ The Collector. But Owen lacks Clegg’s sinister intent and thus his obsession seems harmless, endearing even. And though, as a reader we know Owen is an unreliable narrator and that his account is shaded by his passion, his jealousy and confusion, we cannot help but be swayed by his way of seeing and thus we see Eva through his eyes, grow to love her as he does.

But The secret Cure is a mystery as well as a love story. While it is Owen’s love for Eva that underpins the novel, it is the mysteries of Eva’s life in the science laboratory which drive the story and keep you turning the pages. Why is the eminent scientist Professor Mueller so interested in autism when his research is supposed to be in immunology? What is the secret of his past and how is it connected with the Nazi regime? And who is the mysterious “t” who sends Professor Mueller Owen’s memoir?

Reading Owen’s memoir is like reading someone’s diary. He is an acute observer of people, including himself, and his chronicle of obsessions and secrets, strengths and failings makes for compelling reading.