Why we’re excited
Barred from studying science, a well-born young woman named Helena Bowen meets a Quaker wheelmaking family, the Llewellyns, in 1850s Wales. Steady Lloyd impresses her; his ambitious cousin Johnnie charms her. Johnnie flees to London after a scandal and builds an empire, and his greed sets up a second, worse fall.
Ken Follett, born in Cardiff, is best known for The Pillars of the Earth and the Century trilogy, so a Victorian family saga set in Wales plays to his strengths. It is a standalone. Readers who like long historical novels with industry, class and a likeable rogue should plan for it.
On our most-anticipated list since 21 October 2026. See all the most anticipated books →
What to know about The Deep and Secret Things
Circle of Days is the one Ken Follett book we have reviewed, at 4 out of 5.
It sits at No. 12 on our September 2027 most-anticipated list, which ranks the month's books by how many readers have saved them.
From the publisher
Bound by family and belief. Separated by greed and ambition.
1853, South Wales. Helena Bowen, a young noblewoman, longs to study science, a wish that society denies her. When Helena first meets the Llewellyns, she knows little about their Quaker beliefs. The Llewellyns run a successful wheelmaking business, but despite their financial achievements, their religion calls for a life of simplicity, truth and equality between all. Lloyd Lewellyn, the owner's son, epitomises all these values and his forward way of thinking deeply impresses Helena.
But then she encounters Lloyd's cousin Johnnie, the beau of the clan, who - unlike Lloyd - is fiercely ambitious. His charming manner makes him irresistible to women and Helena also falls under his spell. But Johnnie is a risk taker. When a young teacher in the village falls pregnant with his child, and Johnnie makes an embarrassing and detrimental mistake in the company's accounts, he runs away to London, to start fresh and build the empire he's always longed for.
At first, all goes according to plan, and on his way up Johnnie's path crosses again with Helena's. But Johnnie's insatiable greed for lust and money is the cause for another, unspeakable scandal which may lead to his ultimate downfall.
The Deep and Secret Things tells the rise and fall of a young man and his legacy, set against the backdrop of the Victorian era, at a time of immense social and industrial change.
Description supplied by the publisher.
We haven’t read The Deep and Secret Things yet. When our review goes up, it will replace this page.