How will ‘The Secrets She Keeps’ saga end?

However, the creative spark for compelling Aussie mini-series The Secrets She Keeps came from a lot closer to home – the north of England.

Australian writer Michael Robotham knows all about appealing to audiences in both countries; he honed his writing skills in London on tabloids during the 1980s and 1990s, and penned a string of celeb biographies, from Geri Halliwell/Horner to Lulu and Ricky Tomlinson.

Robotham’s novels also went down a storm with the masses. Tomes such as The Suspect, Lost and Shatter were all popular page-turners; The Suspect alone sold a million copies around the world, while The Secrets She Keeps, originally published in 2017, left many fans hanging on every word.

You might not have read the source material, but over the past few weeks this six-part adaptation has left millions perched on the edge of their sofas.

“The Secrets She Keeps is an absolutely riveting read,” enthuses producer Helen Bowden. “It’s one of those books that you start and you just can’t put it down. It’s a real page-turner.”

It was the degree of character development that attracted Helen to the project.

“We chew up plot in television, but we love characters. Interesting, bold, identifiable characters, and that’s what Michael has achieved in his book.”

Director Catherine Millar thought Michael’s insider knowledge about women was fascinating.

“I just think Michael has a remarkable grasp of female psychology,” she explains.

Robotham lived in Blighty for about a decade before returning Down Under. Now his Aussie fans tend to think he’s English; many have approached him at book fairs and asked how long he’s visiting for.

The idea for TSSK came to Robotham after the aforementioned case in the north of England. He was fascinated by the idea of two pregnant women whose lives collide.

The head of Network 10 in Australia read his book overnight and rang a gobsmacked Helen Bowden next day to green light the project. Michael was thrilled, and torn between handing over his “baby” for other writers to do what they wanted with, or to get involved in adapting the project with others; he chose the latter option.

The saga comes to a close this week, and once more it features mesmerising performances from Downton Abbey veteran Laura Carmichael and Jessica De Gouw (from TV comic book saga Arrow).

With no money and Rory’s health faltering, Agatha finds refuge in the storeroom of her old workplace. Meghan and Jack are at breaking point until Agatha takes a phone call from Hayden, who is in police custody. How will the saga be wrapped up?

Well, Game of Thrones proved that not all literary conversions turn out the same way on screen (especially when the source material isn’t finished).

The Secrets She Keeps has kept viewers on tenterhooks so far, and fans of the novel will be on tenterhooks to see if this plays out in the same way.

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