Every family holds secrets, some small, some life-altering, and while they may begin as acts of protection, they often ripple into places no one expects. In Conflicts of Interest, Hannah Wall captures this universal truth through the lens of Cassie, a mother whose choices are rooted in love yet shadowed by fear. Determined to shield her son from pain, she conceals a past that cannot stay hidden forever. When the truth resurfaces, it forces Cassie to confront the fragile balance between loyalty and honesty, reminding readers that silence can protect hearts, but it can also break them.
The Weight of Silence
Cassie’s life is built on a choice she made years ago, a choice to keep her son’s father, Matt, in the dark. To outsiders, it may look like deception, but Hannah Wall carefully peels back the layers to show readers the truth; Cassie acted out of fear, love, and a fierce instinct to protect her child. Matt was never ready to be a father, and Cassie believed silence was the safest option. Yet silence carries its own cost. Every day she shoulders the weight of that hidden truth, knowing it could shatter the little world she’s built with her son. The emotional intensity of her journey is what makes Conflicts of Interest so gripping. It’s not only about what secrets do to families, but about what they do to ‘the people who keep them: how silence can feel both like protection and imprisonment.’
The Ripple Effect of Secrets
Secrets rarely stay contained. What Cassie hides doesn’t just affect her, it ripples outward, touching everyone around her. When Theo, Matt’s brother, re-enters her life, the truth edges closer to the surface. Suddenly, Cassie is caught in an impossible position: protecting her son’s innocence while confronting the reality that family connections can’t be untangled so easily. Harrison, bright and curious, begins asking questions no mother can avoid forever. Theo, compassionate but conflicted, becomes both ally and complication. And Matt, with his anger and denial, adds fire to an already fragile situation. Hannah Wall doesn’t treat these dynamics lightly; she shows how secrets can fracture trust, strain relationships, and change the course of lives. Each revelation carries emotional weight, proving that silence is never just silence. It is action, it is choice, and it leaves echoes in every relationship it touches.
At the heart of Conflicts of Interest is not just a story about romance or betrayal, but about motherhood as a quiet act of heroism. Cassie’s every choice circles back to her son, Harrison. She sacrifices comfort, companionship and even honesty to give him the stability she believes he deserves. Hannah Wall paints motherhood not as flawless or easy, but as a series of difficult decisions that require courage and resilience. Cassie’s strength isn’t loud; it’s found in late-night worries, in shielding her child from harsh truths, and in standing her ground when others try to shake her resolve. Readers will see pieces of their own lives in Cassie’s determination, the moments where love means choosing the harder road. By honouring these struggles, the novel reminds us that mothers are often unsung heroes, carrying not only their own burdens but also the unspoken weight of protecting the ones they love most.
While Cassie’s story belongs to the world of fiction, the dilemmas she faces echo realities many readers know too well. Who hasn’t wrestled with the tension between honesty and protection, or felt the heavy responsibility of choosing what’s best for family? Conflicts of Interest takes those private struggles and places them on the page with honesty and compassion, allowing readers to see themselves in Cassie’s journey. Hannah Wall’s writing doesn’t just tell a story, it holds up a mirror to the sacrifices, fears, and hopes of everyday life. And with the Mum’s Chain series continuing, even deeper truths await.
The Takeaway
Conflicts of Interest reminds us that secrets are never silent, they shape the lives we build, the love we accept, and the futures we protect. Through Cassie’s journey, Hannah Wall shows that resilience is born from love, even when choices are impossible. A story of truth, sacrifice, and unbreakable bonds.