Liane Moriarty's BLL Sequel: Secrets Revealed

Liane Moriarty, known for resisting sequels, has written "Big Little Truths," a new novel set in the Big Little Lies universe. The book revisits Madeline, Celeste, Jane, Renata, and Bonnie a decade after the events of the first novel.

This new installment focuses on a chilling mystery: a severed finger delivered to the local high school, alongside a mysterious new teacher who has captured the children's attention. Moriarty's initial reluctance to write a sequel stemmed from her principle of not creating them.

The novel's plot will also form the basis for the anticipated third season of the HBO adaptation. Moriarty herself adapted the treatment for the show's second season, a project she initially undertook reluctantly.

Moriarty found Madeline's character easiest to revisit, while Celeste's posed the greatest challenge. The author's decision to write the novel now was partly driven by the swell of interest for a third television season.

Despite the HBO show's popularity and differences from the books, Moriarty felt at liberty to diverge from the show's plot for the novel. For instance, she deliberately omitted details about Madeline's hair color if they differed from the show's portrayal.

Moriarty has also learned from adaptations of her other works, incorporating observational details like character gestures into her writing process. She plans to maintain a "separation of church and state" for future adaptations, allowing creative teams more freedom.