50 pages • 1 hour read
Sally HepworthThe Mother-in-Law
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 17-31Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 17 Summary: “Lucy”
Lucy and Ollie relax after their children fall asleep. Ollie receives a call from one of the homicide detectives, who informs him that they have received the autopsy report. The detective requests both Lucy and Ollie come to the police station to discuss the results.
Chapter 18 Summary: “Diana”
About a year after the baby monitor incident, the estranged family gathers at Tom and Diana’s home. Lucy is eight months pregnant with her second child. Tom informs Diana that Ollie is starting a new business with his childhood friend Eamon. This choice worries Diana as she confesses, “I’d never liked that smarmy boy” (128). As the family chats, Diana notices a bruise on Nettie’s stomach. Also doubtful of Eamon’s intentions, Nettie questions Ollie about Eamon’s role in the business.
Diana visits Ghezala, who is pregnant with her second child. After questioning Hakem about his job search, Diana argues with him about his lack of effort. Angry, Hakem accuses Diana of being privileged and not understanding the struggles of refugees who abandoned successful careers in Afghanistan to work menial jobs in Australia. Ghezala interrupts the argument. As Hakem storms off, Diana wonders what Hakem might do to her out of his bitterness.
