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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, Blood
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Rape
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Readers of “Where the Truth Lies” intuitively suspect what happens without it explicitly being said, however, that perception is not always accurate. The narrative also hints that everyone in this small town knows what others do not; that is absolutely not correct.
Abigail Blake, seventeen, went to a party. Emma Alvarez left her there; Abigail did not make it home. The police question everyone, and by the end of the week, Abigail’s face grins emptily from a hundred flyers tacked to telephone poles and church billboards, flapping in the Rocky Mountain breeze. She still does not come home.
This is the story of people, both adults and children, and a town. It points out the things that people take for granted and the things they should not. The narrative goes back and forth in time, before all “this” happened, setting the scene for what actually did happen. Everything appeared to be ordinary, usual, blissful, and not dangerous at all, but once people started down that path, the situation proved to be none of those things.
“Where the Truth Lies” is a thought-provoking look at how things can go so wrong for so many so quickly. No one wins in this scenario. The story is focused and evenly paced. Details are important because one small modification along the way could have changed things. But in the end, there are just too many secrets in this town for anything but a self-imploding tragedy.
I received a review copy of “Where the Truth Lies” from Anna Bailey, Simon & Schuster, and Atria Books. It is a story of viciousness and exploitation by evil-minded people. It is thought provoking, but perhaps not for every reader.
Where the Truth Lies is described as a slow burn, and it certainly is, except I don't think it ever moved past that. The premise is strong. The description grabbed me immediately -- seventeen-year-old Abigail disappears during a party in the woods with her best friend, Emma. It starts off being an intense family drama with the mystery of the missing girl. Then it becomes more about the small town of Whispering Ridge, the preacher, and the secrets that everyone holds.
It fell short for me. While the writing was engaging, I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. The story felt like it focused more on the town, their church, and Samuel Blake's past and love of religion. At about the 65% mark, I was concerned that the story of Abigal wasn't going to be wrapped up. It did, but it felt a bit anti-climatic, even a little predictable (still very sad, just predictable.)
All in all, I'd say it's probably a 3 star read for me. It was an okay debut and I certainly would like to read more from Anna Bailey.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
It fell short for me. While the writing was engaging, I couldn't really connect with any of the characters. The story felt like it focused more on the town, their church, and Samuel Blake's past and love of religion. At about the 65% mark, I was concerned that the story of Abigal wasn't going to be wrapped up. It did, but it felt a bit anti-climatic, even a little predictable (still very sad, just predictable.)
All in all, I'd say it's probably a 3 star read for me. It was an okay debut and I certainly would like to read more from Anna Bailey.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
Thank you Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for honest review
The book's premise is simple: Abigail, a teenage girl, disappears in the woods after a party, leaving her friends and family full of questions and having to confront their own pain and demons. But the execution will blow your mind because it is a thriller that answers the right questions. Sure, we have the underlying whodunit present in every thriller, but the book's real strength lies in the wonderfully crafted cast of characters and the rural setting.
The plot unspools through two timelines, now and then, and in the process, the reader gets to know, love, and despise the characters and their unique stories. We have Abigail's best friend Emma, a mixed-race girl who seems doomed to be left behind without an explanation, first by her father then by her friend. Noah, Abigail's brother who has to fight for his right to be himself. Rat, the Romanian boy that has to pay the price of being the outcast, the pariah in a society that blames the "outsiders" for their own miseries.
Excellent prose, great rhythm.
It's a very solid debut novel, and I will definitely going to check out what Anna Bailey writes in the future.
The book's premise is simple: Abigail, a teenage girl, disappears in the woods after a party, leaving her friends and family full of questions and having to confront their own pain and demons. But the execution will blow your mind because it is a thriller that answers the right questions. Sure, we have the underlying whodunit present in every thriller, but the book's real strength lies in the wonderfully crafted cast of characters and the rural setting.
The plot unspools through two timelines, now and then, and in the process, the reader gets to know, love, and despise the characters and their unique stories. We have Abigail's best friend Emma, a mixed-race girl who seems doomed to be left behind without an explanation, first by her father then by her friend. Noah, Abigail's brother who has to fight for his right to be himself. Rat, the Romanian boy that has to pay the price of being the outcast, the pariah in a society that blames the "outsiders" for their own miseries.
Excellent prose, great rhythm.
It's a very solid debut novel, and I will definitely going to check out what Anna Bailey writes in the future.
⭐️Review⭐️
Title: Where the Truth Lies
Author: Anna Bailey
Pub Date: 8/3/21
•
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book!
I struggle to rate this book as it was a tough one.
Loved:
- Very slow to start but once the story got going it took off.
- The writing builds the tone and atmosphere well.
- How many characters connected into one story was enjoyable— though no topics in this book were.
Didn’t:
- Literally this is every stereotype of a small town thrown into one book.
- Time hops in the middle of chapters was a tad annoying.
- The adults in this book were legit the worst people ever. It’s easy to name the main ones, but I had major problems with Melissa as a mother.
- A few random plot danglers thrown in that never got answered or made Abi’s story almost take a back seat.
Overall: This is a very dark book with many trigger warnings. The writing is well done, the topics just might be hard for some.
Title: Where the Truth Lies
Author: Anna Bailey
Pub Date: 8/3/21
•
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book!
I struggle to rate this book as it was a tough one.
Loved:
- Very slow to start but once the story got going it took off.
- The writing builds the tone and atmosphere well.
- How many characters connected into one story was enjoyable— though no topics in this book were.
Didn’t:
- Literally this is every stereotype of a small town thrown into one book.
- Time hops in the middle of chapters was a tad annoying.
- The adults in this book were legit the worst people ever. It’s easy to name the main ones, but I had major problems with Melissa as a mother.
- A few random plot danglers thrown in that never got answered or made Abi’s story almost take a back seat.
Overall: This is a very dark book with many trigger warnings. The writing is well done, the topics just might be hard for some.
4.5 stars - there are some upsetting themes throughout the whole book.
Despite some dark recurring themes, this one goes in the unputdownable category for me. In her impressive debut, Anna Bailey had me on the edge of my seat, continuously lying to myself saying I'd read "just one more chapter." With an entire host of unlikeable characters and too many twists to count, I couldn't walk away until I knew what happened to Abigail.
Thank you to Anna Bailey, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Where the Truth Lies in exchange for my honest review!
Despite some dark recurring themes, this one goes in the unputdownable category for me. In her impressive debut, Anna Bailey had me on the edge of my seat, continuously lying to myself saying I'd read "just one more chapter." With an entire host of unlikeable characters and too many twists to count, I couldn't walk away until I knew what happened to Abigail.
Thank you to Anna Bailey, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Where the Truth Lies in exchange for my honest review!
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Where the Truth Lies operates on two levels. On the surface, it is a suspenseful mystery about the disappearance of a high school girl, her family’s trauma, and the determined efforts of her best friend to find out what happened to her. On another level, it explores the pathology of secrets and expectations that make small-town life so oppressive.
Whistling Ridge is one of those hollowed-out tourist towns dominated by one powerful employer and a powerful church pastor. When Abigail disappears, the police assume she ran away and the investigation seems haphazard and desultory. Her best friend, Emma, is certain Abi would never leave without saying goodbye and tries hard to find out what happened. As the frequent target of bullies, this requires her to go far out of her comfort zone.
Abi’s family seems broken by her loss, but it becomes clear that the family has been broken for a long time. Her father is abusive to his wife and sons, though he adored his daughter. The abuse they suffer is an open secret, but so long as they don’t talk about it, the rest of the town can ignore it, can’t they? Besides, when Abi’s mom asked for help after her husband broke her son’s nose and crippled her younger son in a rage, his response was to ask her what she did to provoke him. Abi’s older brother is in love with a Romanian immigrant living at the trailer park. But being gay is not an option in this insular town.
Where the Truth Lies succeeds on both levels. As a mystery, it is fair and we have what we need to know what happened to Abi. As social commentary, it is heartbreaking and very real. The misogyny that is the foundation of this town’s social structure is realistic. There is a communal act of violence that may seem outrageous and unlikely, but that’s only if you ignore our history of communal violence.
This was a slow book for me to get through because it was often painful, there was just too much heartbreak and pain and I had to stop for air. The writing, though, is beautiful and melancholy. At times it felt like poetry, but grievous and sorrowful poetry.
Where the Truth Lies will be released on August 3rd. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.
- Where the Truth Lies at Atria Books | Simon & Schuster
- Anna Bailey on InstaGram
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2021/07/28/9781982157166/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Sexual violence
Minor: Bullying
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to NetGalley, Anna Bailey and Penguin Random House Canada for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Honestly, I found this one a bit trying. There is a lot of characters and it's hard to keep them all straight in the beginning. Then you just keep reading and reading to try to find out what's going on in this town. The back and forth between the past and present with each character got me confused and I just found that the confusion made me enjoy the book less. The writing is quite good and could be really compelling if I had have been more interested in the characters. If you enjoy novels heavy on the characters and not so much the plot, this is definitely for you.
Honestly, I found this one a bit trying. There is a lot of characters and it's hard to keep them all straight in the beginning. Then you just keep reading and reading to try to find out what's going on in this town. The back and forth between the past and present with each character got me confused and I just found that the confusion made me enjoy the book less. The writing is quite good and could be really compelling if I had have been more interested in the characters. If you enjoy novels heavy on the characters and not so much the plot, this is definitely for you.
Full of stereotypes- particularly religious groups/ people are evil