I think that's because the author builds up a detailed picture of the kind of mental trauma that abuse can cause, where the victim hides the cracks from themselves and, as you point out, can function extremely well until forced to face the problem. In fact, the victim not only can function well but can possibly do a really great job of working somewhere where it is necesary at times to disassociate himself from the results of his work. That's why, in this story, it works for me. Doyle is far more liely to succeed in CI5 than Kathie is in art where she has to confront her feelings. And even so, she manages it, perhaps by using them, and the fall-out hits her personal life! Interesting and perceptive use of psychology. In 'worst case' scenarios victims of abuse sometimes compartmentalise their lives and memories so cleverly that they can't/won't remember what happened - and get very good at deceiving themselves. Note that I am talking about real memories and not the 'false memory' syndrome which has bedevilled the whole issue but which arose from the real memory suppression sometimes arising from trauma.