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A review by beate251
Home Truths by Charity Norman
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for this ARC.
In 2022, Livia is in court for attempted murder. How did she get here?
Livia and Scott, with son Noah, 6, who has asthma, and daughter Heidi, 13, used to be a happy family. Livia is a probation officer and Scott a teacher. On Heidi's 13th birthday in 2019, Scott's brother Nicky who had uncontrolled type 1 diabetes, suddenly dies, and it becomes the catalyst for Scott trying to alleviate his guilt by searching for answers for his untimely death online. It is terrifying how easily he falls into a rabbit hole of videos peddling conspiracy theories and fake news, which are only exacerbated when the 2020 COVID pandemic hits and makes him seek solace in the truther community.
"Online recruiters use many of the same techniques we see in quasi-religious sects or cults. They know exactly what they’re doing. They offer community and belonging to individuals who feel disconnected. Relevance to those who feel irrelevant. Purpose and meaning to those whose lives seem pointless."
Livia tries her absolute best to bring Scott back to reality, but he has already lost his friends and his job and acts increasingly irrational.
"I was losing him to an enemy I couldn’t even see."
...
"Ooh, but they were clever. It’s almost like they reached in and grabbed him through his computer screen."
When Scott's beliefs endanger Noah's life, this becomes a high-octane, frantic race to save Noah before it's too late - but is truther Dr Jack someone much closer to home than previously thought? And how far will Livia go to save her son?
It is an all too realistic account of how even sane people can start believing that everyone is out to get them. We get Livia's POV but also Scott's and Heidi's so it's quite balanced out. The characters are believable even though Heidi sounds maybe a bit too adult for her age.
This is one heck of a book. What a powerful, engaging story! It is part family tragedy, part breathless thriller and part courtroom drama, and I was here for all of it.
This is my first book by Charity Norman but it certainly won't be the last. Absolutely gripping until the last page - I read this in a day. Loved, loved, loved. Don't skip the acknowledgements!
In 2022, Livia is in court for attempted murder. How did she get here?
Livia and Scott, with son Noah, 6, who has asthma, and daughter Heidi, 13, used to be a happy family. Livia is a probation officer and Scott a teacher. On Heidi's 13th birthday in 2019, Scott's brother Nicky who had uncontrolled type 1 diabetes, suddenly dies, and it becomes the catalyst for Scott trying to alleviate his guilt by searching for answers for his untimely death online. It is terrifying how easily he falls into a rabbit hole of videos peddling conspiracy theories and fake news, which are only exacerbated when the 2020 COVID pandemic hits and makes him seek solace in the truther community.
"Online recruiters use many of the same techniques we see in quasi-religious sects or cults. They know exactly what they’re doing. They offer community and belonging to individuals who feel disconnected. Relevance to those who feel irrelevant. Purpose and meaning to those whose lives seem pointless."
Livia tries her absolute best to bring Scott back to reality, but he has already lost his friends and his job and acts increasingly irrational.
"I was losing him to an enemy I couldn’t even see."
...
"Ooh, but they were clever. It’s almost like they reached in and grabbed him through his computer screen."
When Scott's beliefs endanger Noah's life, this becomes a high-octane, frantic race to save Noah before it's too late - but is truther Dr Jack someone much closer to home than previously thought? And how far will Livia go to save her son?
It is an all too realistic account of how even sane people can start believing that everyone is out to get them. We get Livia's POV but also Scott's and Heidi's so it's quite balanced out. The characters are believable even though Heidi sounds maybe a bit too adult for her age.
This is one heck of a book. What a powerful, engaging story! It is part family tragedy, part breathless thriller and part courtroom drama, and I was here for all of it.
This is my first book by Charity Norman but it certainly won't be the last. Absolutely gripping until the last page - I read this in a day. Loved, loved, loved. Don't skip the acknowledgements!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Gaslighting, and Grief