You’re always looking for a gripping story when you buy a book – but Dean Cuthbert got more than he bargained after a charity shop purchase.
Dean bought a second-hand copy of The Best A Man Can Get by John O’Farrell from the Age UK shop in Walmgate, York.
Inside was a Post-It note written by a woman called Sarah, who lays into her boyfriend or husband Chris for having an affair while leaving her ‘completely unawares’ bringing up their children.
What the note said
“Chris, is this what you thought you could do with me? Lead a double life with your so-called ‘recreational relationships’.
“Leaving me completely unaware, bringing up our children, and thinking you were just a workaholic and that’s why you were away from home so much.
“What a bastard you have been to me. Sarah.”
Dean shared the note on Twitter with the author. John O’Farrell told the Telegraph: “I think Sarah’s plan was ‘Chris will read this note and this book and then feel shame’ and Chris just thought ‘Oh, she gave me a book. Well, that can go straight to the charity shop’.”
The Best A Man Can Get is the comic story of a man, Michael Adams, who is leading a double life.
He shares a secret flat with friends who spend their days lying in bed and playing computer games. Occasionally, Michael travels a few miles back to his unsuspecting wife and children. Eventually his deception is exposed.
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Dean, 43, originally thought the handwritten note was part of an elaborate publicity stunt for the book, but the author said he knew nothing about it.
Lots of messages were posted online in support of Sarah, with many speculating whether or not she left Chris.
Age UK York want to know what happened too. “Does anyone know who these people might be?” they wrote on Facebook. “An interesting note was found in a book bought from our Walmgate shop recently. We’ve had some media interest in tracing Sarah. Or Chris.”