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Sarah Robinson asked this question about The Secrets She Keeps:
alright, have to shamefully admit the ending is completely lost on me!!! I enjoyed the book SO MUCH that it is eating me alive not understanding the meaning of Agatha’s last entry... Was she schizophrenic? Was she possessed? Her memories seem in tact so in what state are we hearing from her?? can someone please help explain the meaning of the last chapter? I’m seriously re reading and killing myself over this!
Lindi My take on it (and I'm sure they left it unclear for people to discuss and draw their own conclusions) was that she had a split personality of sorts. …moreMy take on it (and I'm sure they left it unclear for people to discuss and draw their own conclusions) was that she had a split personality of sorts. Maybe she was schizophrenic. But I think at the moment in the church when she was having sex with Creepy Old Dude and she first felt something "slither" into her, was the start of her psychotic break. This other person living in her mind allowed her to escape the trauma of her life when things got too hard.

I don't think she was possessed in the traditional sense since there were no other paranormal elements in the book. But the mind can certainly play tricks that make it seem like someone is. Like her voice coming out not sounding like her own in the hospital.

Someone had mentioned in another thread that Agatha looking into her favorite painting toward the end, envisioning her children with her, was her break from reality. Her mind at that point dissociated itself from reality and created an alternate fantasy world, probably to protect itself and as a result of whatever mental illness she had. Agatha really believes her daughter is coming. She really believes that she's been to Tahiti. It's her new reality - the one she wants.(less)
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The Secrets She Keeps
by Michael Robotham (Goodreads Author)
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