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giul_'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Death, Violence, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Incest, Gun violence, Rape, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual content and Vomit
brittanyisbooked's review
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I struggled with wanting to write a review for this at all. This book was a lot. If it had only been a novel about two gay men still trying to find their way in the world in a small town run by God and Jesus, it would have been a lot. But there was also so much more. The many, many, content warnings make this a book that simply not everybody will be able to get through, and that’s a turnoff for me. Additionally, I felt like the book was trying to thread many people together, but the connection fell a bit short.
In the book, Abigail goes missing and the police department doesn’t seem to be putting in a deep effort, so her best friend Emma starts her own investigation. Emma becomes closer to Abigail’s friends and family throughout the novel, in an effort to solve a mystery the police won’t. The majority of the novel spends time uncovering the secrets of the friends and family, rather than directly solving the mystery behind Abigail’s death. It was a unique approach, but part of me felt like it was too much. Everybody had their own secrets, and none of the secrets intertwined too much. It was a lot to take in , especially since most secrets are linked to content warnings.
In the book, Abigail goes missing and the police department doesn’t seem to be putting in a deep effort, so her best friend Emma starts her own investigation. Emma becomes closer to Abigail’s friends and family throughout the novel, in an effort to solve a mystery the police won’t. The majority of the novel spends time uncovering the secrets of the friends and family, rather than directly solving the mystery behind Abigail’s death. It was a unique approach, but part of me felt like it was too much. Everybody had their own secrets, and none of the secrets intertwined too much. It was a lot to take in , especially since most secrets are linked to content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Drug use and Sexual content
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
chymerra's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Review can also be found at Read with Me (https://readwithme2018.com/2021/08/03/where-the-truth-lies-by-anna-bailey/)
I am going to be very blunt. This was not an easy book to read. It disturbed me on such a level that I had to take a break from it. While on that small break, I thought about what I read and how it was so relevant to what goes on in small, secular towns and, to be honest, not so small and not so secular towns. So, I will say this: Read this book and keep in mind that places like Whistling Ridge exist and in those towns, people like the ones portrayed.
The pacing of Where the Truth Lies started at a fast pace and kept gaining momentum until the ending. There were points in the book where it was almost too much (because of everything that was going on). For a fast-paced book, there was little lag which surprised me. I expected more because of how frantic the pacing got at the end.
The book starts with Abi disappearing from a bonfire and Emma beginning to look into it. She befriends a Gypsy man who was among the last people to see Abi alive. Then the author let’s open the gates of “WTF.” The racism that is shown to both Rat (the Gypsy) and Emma was disturbing to read. My heart hurt for them both.
Noah, Jude, Dolly, and Samuel are then introduced. They are Abi’s older brother, younger brother, mother, and father. Samuel is a Vietnam Veteran with PTSD coupled with severe anger and violence issues. He is a devout Christian who follows the Scripture closely. I couldn’t stand him, and I couldn’t find a little bit of pity when the author went into his backstory. I will warn that the abuse he puts his family through is graphic. There were a few times where I had to put my Kindle down because I was getting triggered. But I kept going.
Noah’s story arc was the saddest (well, besides Abi). He was gay, living with a homophobe, and a mother would couldn’t (and wouldn’t) protect him. He was forced to go to conversion therapy with the very slimy preacher, and when it didn’t work (because, you know, you can’t change who someone is), he was almost forced to go through it again. No wonder he wasn’t more screwed up. But, his relationship with Rat was beautiful to read. Not getting more into it, but I was moved by the depth of devotion Rat had for Noah.
The rest of the town is introduced, and I couldn’t get over how small-minded they were. Distrustful and racist of anyone who wasn’t white (and that included Emma, who was raised there), they were also quick to follow the lead of the preacher and Hunter’s father. So, I wasn’t surprised at the scene in the middle of the book when mob mentality took over, and the mob burned Rat’s trailer. But I was surprised at Dolly’s sudden change of heart when it came to Noah.
Abi’s disappearance is still the main storyline. I figured, like the police, that she had taken off until the police found something. Then my focus shifted to who would have killed her.
The end of the book had a lot going on. There was a massive twist in Abi’s storyline. One I didn’t see coming and surprised me when it showed it. I also didn’t see the twist that came with the Blake family storyline. If only Jude had come forward with what he had seen earlier and if only Dolly had the guts to do what she did much, much earlier.
I was a little confused by the very ending of the book. It was almost surreal, and honestly, it was a little anticlimactic after the events in the book. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t what was written. I reread those last paragraphs quite a few times before giving up.
Where the Truth Lies is a dark book that doesn’t hold back any punches. It doesn’t sugarcoat any of the events in the book. I did enjoy reading it but at the same time, it disturbed me on a level that very few books have been able to.
I would recommend Where the Truth Lies to anyone over the age of 21. There are graphic (and often disturbing) scenes of domestic violence and child abuse. There is homophobia. There are graphic scenes of racism. There is also graphic violence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
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