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Only the Truth
Harkening back to the writing styles and small town settings of the earlier American authors – John Steinbeck, Harper Lee, and Carson McCullers - "Only the Truth" is a psychological mystery with as many twists as the country road leading to the humble home of Billy Ray Hutchins, a lonely uneducated man living in the hills of Arkansas. Life changes little for him from day to day until he brings home a young drifter he meets at the railroad tracks, the mysterious Charlene, whose last name he never asks. He becomes her Sweet Billy Ray and his love for Charlene is steady and uncomplicated until the sheriff shows up to take her away in handcuffs. With the only woman he has ever loved behind bars for cold-bloodedly murdering the old man across the road, a confused and devastated Billy Ray sets out on a quest to find the truth, only the truth, whether it leads him to be able to save his Charlene from a death sentence or it frees him from her spell.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
June 16, 2012
I bought this not knowing for sure what I was getting into. So here's MY take...no spoilers!
Did you see the movie Winter's Bone? Whether you did or not: you get immersed in a world right here in the U.S. that seems totally foreign to you. Great characters that introduce you to ways of thought, lifestyles and depth of feeling that draw you close to them.
Our hero is illiterate and has an outhouse. He is also fiercely loyal and more intuitive than you'd think. He befriends a stranger, based on gut feelings...and refuses to accept that his instincts might be wrong.
My ONLY problem with Brown's novel is that it SUDDENLY wraps everything up in the last few pages. I wish she had put as much effort into the 'feel' of the ending as she did throughout the book. It almost felt forced & quick after so much great writing beforehand.
I read this very short book in one sitting. I had to. Because, while 'Only The Truth' is steeped in atmosphere and character development, it is first and foremost a helluva good mystery.
Did you see the movie Winter's Bone? Whether you did or not: you get immersed in a world right here in the U.S. that seems totally foreign to you. Great characters that introduce you to ways of thought, lifestyles and depth of feeling that draw you close to them.
Our hero is illiterate and has an outhouse. He is also fiercely loyal and more intuitive than you'd think. He befriends a stranger, based on gut feelings...and refuses to accept that his instincts might be wrong.
My ONLY problem with Brown's novel is that it SUDDENLY wraps everything up in the last few pages. I wish she had put as much effort into the 'feel' of the ending as she did throughout the book. It almost felt forced & quick after so much great writing beforehand.
I read this very short book in one sitting. I had to. Because, while 'Only The Truth' is steeped in atmosphere and character development, it is first and foremost a helluva good mystery.
September 6, 2012
This story of Billy Ray Hutchins, a simple and innocent soul living alone and lonely in the mountains of Arkansas until he meets and falls in love with a mysterious young woman named Charlene, is a very interesting and well-written mystery-suspense that also touches on the deeper subjects of mental illness and abuse. After a chapter or two of getting used to Billy Ray’s slangy first-person narration, I really began to appreciate how well this and the author’s excellent character development enable the reader to know and sympathize with the uneducated and possibly mentally-handicapped Billy Ray as he struggles to discover the truth about whether or not the woman who has ended his loneliness is a sociopathic liar and murderess as the police believe. I thought the story’s pacing and tone were first-rate, keeping up the suspense and leaving the reader as confused and as desperate as Billy Ray to determine why Charlene has killed the old man across the street and whether her feelings for Billy Ray were ever real or only a cover for a cold-blooded crime. Also, though the story is predominantly a sad one, revolving as it does around loneliness, deception, mental illness and abuse, it never does become oppressively dark because of its narrator’s inherent likability, his kind simplicity that seeks to see the best in someone even when it seems she may not deserve his sympathy, and the hope in the end that, perhaps, Billy Ray’s kind-hearted intelligence understands more than those whose higher IQs and education make them more ready to judge.
The only two difficulties I had with the novel that made me give a four star rating instead of a five were that, despite very much liking the story’s ending, it seemed to be wrapped up a bit too quickly and in a way that didn’t seem completely realistic as far as legal proceedings go and that, at least in the Kindle edition, some sort of formatting problem that began to center the text after about Chapter 3 caused some odd paragraph divisions. Those minor issues aside, it’s a novel I’d definitely recommend and I look forward to reading more from this author.
The only two difficulties I had with the novel that made me give a four star rating instead of a five were that, despite very much liking the story’s ending, it seemed to be wrapped up a bit too quickly and in a way that didn’t seem completely realistic as far as legal proceedings go and that, at least in the Kindle edition, some sort of formatting problem that began to center the text after about Chapter 3 caused some odd paragraph divisions. Those minor issues aside, it’s a novel I’d definitely recommend and I look forward to reading more from this author.
December 29, 2014
Billy Ray Hutchins was an illiterate street sweeper who lived just outside of a small town in the hills of Arkansas. One day Billy Ray came upon a young woman near the train tracks, standing there with her suitcase. When he spoke to her, she asked if she could come home with him. So she did. And for 2 years, Billy Ray and "Charlene" lived together. Then a murder occurred and Charlene is the suspect. But even as the evidence mounts up Billy Ray isn't ready to give up on Charlene.
This is a strange little story, told entirely from Billy Ray Hutchins' point of view. I guess you could consider this a love story of sorts but it is more of a crime drama/mystery, I guess. Something a little different from my normal reading. I actually quite liked it. The style of writing put me in mind of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Although Billy Ray is an adult he had a childlike view as he recounted the events in the story. I give it 4 stars for entertain and enjoyment.
This is a strange little story, told entirely from Billy Ray Hutchins' point of view. I guess you could consider this a love story of sorts but it is more of a crime drama/mystery, I guess. Something a little different from my normal reading. I actually quite liked it. The style of writing put me in mind of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Although Billy Ray is an adult he had a childlike view as he recounted the events in the story. I give it 4 stars for entertain and enjoyment.
August 11, 2012
Billy Ray is the narrator of the story. He is uneducated and may suffer from a disability. Parts of his character are not too brright and then attuned becomes to a moment way before others do. Billy takes in a woman who just shows up oneday. They start a relationship and everything is going well until an old man shows up and leaves Charlemagne out of sorts. One night Billy Ray heads to town for cigarettes and candy. Upon his return he finds the old mans house is on fire. Charlene says the old man was in the house and she didn't help him. This sets into motion the story. Who is charlene and why did she do nothing. Things are not as they appear for this couple and Billy must decide if he will stand by Charlene or walkaway.
This story grabbed me but at times left me wondering about Billy and his on and off again coming to conclusions and at times having to have everything spelled out for him. The ending seemed rushed and didn't have much depth otherwise I enjoyed this book. A quick read.
This story grabbed me but at times left me wondering about Billy and his on and off again coming to conclusions and at times having to have everything spelled out for him. The ending seemed rushed and didn't have much depth otherwise I enjoyed this book. A quick read.
September 1, 2012
This would have merited four and a half stars except for the ending. Fast wind-up is often a good thing but here it was too brusque and felt unsatisfactory although all the threads were tied up. Not entirely all the threads since, unless I missed something, the riddle of Billy Ray's relationship regarding the photo was not explained at all. The police also seemed a little too eager to accept their own reading of the possible crime scene.
Otherwise a well-written tale with the hero an illiterate black man living alone out in the sticks (not entirely alone since he has Big Dog). A nicely drawn character that only occasionally seems wiser than he ought to be.
I haven't read any of the reviews but there are plenty of them so I guess most aspects have been covered. The only faults (apart from the ending) were that, on my Kindle at least, most of the latter part of the text was annoyingly centre aligned. There were also two Chapter IIIs.
Otherwise a well-written tale with the hero an illiterate black man living alone out in the sticks (not entirely alone since he has Big Dog). A nicely drawn character that only occasionally seems wiser than he ought to be.
I haven't read any of the reviews but there are plenty of them so I guess most aspects have been covered. The only faults (apart from the ending) were that, on my Kindle at least, most of the latter part of the text was annoyingly centre aligned. There were also two Chapter IIIs.
May 19, 2015
When Billy Ray happens upon a befuddled little waif with a red suitcase standing by the railroad tracks, he approaches her. The girl’s name is Charlene and she asks Billy Ray if she can go home with him. He picks up her suitcase, takes her hand, and they walk the three miles down Makin Road to Billy Ray’s house.
Except for Big Dog, Billy Ray has no family. He’s lived his entire life in the same house on Makin road. Billy Ray’s daddy died before he was born and his momma shortly after. His aunty moved into their house and raised him but she passed on when Billy Ray was only fourteen years old, leaving him to fend for himself. Charlene fits right into Billy Ray’s uncomplicated lifestyle. They settle into a routine, unencumbered by past deeds or future longings—a life lived entirely in the present and bound by simple pleasures. But when an old man moves into the house across the street, the past rears its ugly head and life is forever changed. After the old man dies, Billy Ray must confront Charlene’s past and solve a mystery to save her life. The literary whodunit that follows draws the reader into a series of plot twists and turns that lead to a stunning end.
I like Pat Brown’s nonfiction, especially "The Profiler: My Life Hunting Psychopaths and Serial Killers," one of the best memoirs I've read in a long time. I was curious if her novel could stand up to it, and it did. "Only the Truth," written in a similar spirit as John Grisham’s "The Painted House," is a memorable read guaranteed to hold the reader’s attention from the first page to the last. It is a simple, honest story of unconditional love and loyalty. Billy Ray and Charlene have no preconceived expectations, no desires beyond their life together, and they share a mutual adoration cloaked in naïveté. Their small town of Whitfield Glen could be any “Smallville,” U.S.A., plucked out of Sherwood Anderson’s "Winesberg, Ohio," or the small Mississippi towns of Eudora Welty. Brown’s characters have a depth and richness that are increasingly absent in contemporary fiction and she weaves a compelling mystery into the fabric of Billy Ray’s and Charlene’s relationship.
Except for Big Dog, Billy Ray has no family. He’s lived his entire life in the same house on Makin road. Billy Ray’s daddy died before he was born and his momma shortly after. His aunty moved into their house and raised him but she passed on when Billy Ray was only fourteen years old, leaving him to fend for himself. Charlene fits right into Billy Ray’s uncomplicated lifestyle. They settle into a routine, unencumbered by past deeds or future longings—a life lived entirely in the present and bound by simple pleasures. But when an old man moves into the house across the street, the past rears its ugly head and life is forever changed. After the old man dies, Billy Ray must confront Charlene’s past and solve a mystery to save her life. The literary whodunit that follows draws the reader into a series of plot twists and turns that lead to a stunning end.
I like Pat Brown’s nonfiction, especially "The Profiler: My Life Hunting Psychopaths and Serial Killers," one of the best memoirs I've read in a long time. I was curious if her novel could stand up to it, and it did. "Only the Truth," written in a similar spirit as John Grisham’s "The Painted House," is a memorable read guaranteed to hold the reader’s attention from the first page to the last. It is a simple, honest story of unconditional love and loyalty. Billy Ray and Charlene have no preconceived expectations, no desires beyond their life together, and they share a mutual adoration cloaked in naïveté. Their small town of Whitfield Glen could be any “Smallville,” U.S.A., plucked out of Sherwood Anderson’s "Winesberg, Ohio," or the small Mississippi towns of Eudora Welty. Brown’s characters have a depth and richness that are increasingly absent in contemporary fiction and she weaves a compelling mystery into the fabric of Billy Ray’s and Charlene’s relationship.
May 8, 2012
I borrowed this book from Kindle's Owner Library, thinking to read a book outside of my normal genres. And boy did I. This book was, I guess for lack of a better definition, a psychological mystery. The character of Billy Ray in this story is touching. You can't help but to feel for him as he struggles internally with his feelings for others, himself, and mostly "Charlene". This book has so many twists. You don't really know what to make of the character Charlene. It does have at least one unanswered question. The story is ultimately about defending love and how love conquers all. I think this would make a good study in a group reading, and I would recommend this to others.
March 7, 2013
This was a very quick read. The twists and characters kept me interested all the way through.
September 10, 2018
Welcome to backwoods Arkansas. Meet Billy Ray Hutchins. Billy Ray has never left his small town, and hardly spends any time with anyone but his dog, Big Dog. He lives at the top of a road, all alone, with Big Dog. Billy Ray is uneducated and sweeps the town streets for a living. When he comes across “Charlene” standing by the railroad tracks all alone and looking lost, he takes her home, just like a stray.
Who is Charlene? Where did she come from? Why is she here in this small backwoods town? Billy Ray doesn’t question it, he accepts Charlene as his own, and they setup house together. Charlene acts as though she has always belonged to Billy Ray, though she won’t leave the house to go anywhere. All is happy and good between them until a strange old man moves into the house across the street.
This book deserves an additional half-star (3.5 total) for being a good suspense story.
Only the Truth is written through Billy Ray’s eyes and the wording is done in Billy Ray’s dialect. There is a “home-ish” feeling to the writing. A warm and cozy nature to the dialect. Billy Ray comes across as a simply sweet man, perfectly happy in his small world. Charlene’s presence brings a warmth to his home, unknown to him since his auntie passed. Little does Billy Ray know how much Charlene’s presence is going to turn his world upside down.
The element of mystery surrounding Charlene’s sudden appearance in Billy Ray’s life, and the events that follow the old man’s appearance are intriguing. Who is this woman and what is this old man to her? It’s a story that unfolds slowly and with great care. Brown writes a story that is hard to put down.
August 10, 2022
This is a short southern gothic novel, perhaps a novella, with a court case at its centre with the feel of a 1970s/80s setting in Arkansas. One day an uneducated man who lives alone in the hills finds a young woman with a small suitcase simply standing, and looking far off, at the empty train station. He takes her home with him and they live a sublime life together for two years until a man moves into a nearby home. It isn't long then until Charlene is behind bars facing capital punishment.
This was a random pick from my Kindle and I'm glad I read this little gem. The character of Billie Ray Hutchins is so endearing that I'm sorry my time with him was so short. Much heartache is found in this psychological mystery, but I did see the ending coming about halfway through. That didn't stop my enjoyment of this recommended southern fiction, though.
This was a random pick from my Kindle and I'm glad I read this little gem. The character of Billie Ray Hutchins is so endearing that I'm sorry my time with him was so short. Much heartache is found in this psychological mystery, but I did see the ending coming about halfway through. That didn't stop my enjoyment of this recommended southern fiction, though.
January 6, 2021
It's a pity half scores aren't available as I really wanted to score this one at 3.5
The story of how Billy Ray Hutchins solved the mystery around his girlfriend's arrest. He had a simple life until he allowed Charlene,a drifter, into his life. Unaware of her past and receiving no indication from her Billy Ray embarks on a journey to find the truth, help him to understand his girlfriend and what their future might be. The reader is carried along in the story which has a number of twists keeping the interest and possible solutions in mind. A book which would be enjoyed by armchair super sleuths.
The story of how Billy Ray Hutchins solved the mystery around his girlfriend's arrest. He had a simple life until he allowed Charlene,a drifter, into his life. Unaware of her past and receiving no indication from her Billy Ray embarks on a journey to find the truth, help him to understand his girlfriend and what their future might be. The reader is carried along in the story which has a number of twists keeping the interest and possible solutions in mind. A book which would be enjoyed by armchair super sleuths.
June 27, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters were very likable, even Charlene's. I found myself very involved and anxious about the outcome. The story took me in unexpected directions and had quite a few twists and turns. I really felt sorry for Char..er...Kristen when it came out what had really happened to her. I was very pleased at the final outcome. Sounds like Charlene and Billy Ray were a perfect match. And, they got new Big Dog back!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2017
Sweet and poignant
The main character in this book, Billy Ray was so well written! His innocence and naivety were captured in a way that really makes you wonder about how we are so quick to judge and lose our sense of compassion. The ending was a bit abrupt and a little to "neat" that it loss the believability factor, but overall, I really enjoyed connecting with Billy Ray.
The main character in this book, Billy Ray was so well written! His innocence and naivety were captured in a way that really makes you wonder about how we are so quick to judge and lose our sense of compassion. The ending was a bit abrupt and a little to "neat" that it loss the believability factor, but overall, I really enjoyed connecting with Billy Ray.
November 5, 2019
Incredible story, told from a unique perspective
What a sad beautiful story. Told from the perspective of an illiterate black man caught up in an increasingly crazy scenario.
Couldn’t put it down. Read In two days.
What a sad beautiful story. Told from the perspective of an illiterate black man caught up in an increasingly crazy scenario.
Couldn’t put it down. Read In two days.
October 23, 2023
A Who Done It !
If you want an easy read you'll enjoy this book. It's a roller coaster for the mind. Very enjoyable read . Small towns with interesting characters. The end was completely satisfying.
If you want an easy read you'll enjoy this book. It's a roller coaster for the mind. Very enjoyable read . Small towns with interesting characters. The end was completely satisfying.
September 20, 2017
'Don't be deceived by first impressions' is what I feel this book is telling me
July 10, 2019
Interesting
July 16, 2019
3.5 stars....good story
February 22, 2020
Short novel about Billy Ray, a simple soul who is happy with a home, a job, a dog and a woman he loves. Then everything is turned upside down.
January 24, 2021
This was an unusual book, but a gripping story, with many twists and turns. I really enjoyed it.
June 27, 2020
A quick read which I really enjoyed. Just a bit disappointed that not loose ends were tied up. Well worth reading. I got mine free on kindle
August 1, 2012
~* 4.5 Stars *~
A Simple Man, A Complex Mystery, A Great Read
He found her standing by the railroad tracks, a small suitcase at her feet. Billy Ray didn't know who she was. Didn't know how long she'd been there. When he approached her, and she gazed at him quietly, he had no idea what to do with her.
She asked him who he was. She asked him if she could go with him. So Billy Ray took her home.
Even after two years, Billy Ray doesn't quite understand Charlene, but he also doesn't much figure he needs to. He knows he is no longer alone. He knows he likes talking to her, being with her. He loves when she smiles at him, or calls him "Sweet Billy Ray." He figures he loves her and stops remembering what his life was like before Charlene came into it.
Then the old man moves in across the street. Billy Ray doesn't know if that man is responsible for the change in his Charlene, he just knows she stops smiling, stops dancing with him, and stops sitting outside altogether after the day that old man knocked on their door. Oh...and he knows that Charlene burned the old man's house down. With him in it.
Billy Ray has no idea why his Charlene would kill the man. Maybe he just isn't smart enough to ever understand why she would do something like that. But even as Billy Ray reels in shock and loss, the hits to his heart keep coming, because Billy Ray finds out Charlene hasn't been honest with him. About anything, near as he can tell. And the truth she's so carefully hidden may just kill him.
~*~
Reading as much as I do, I'm always thrilled when I stumble across surprising little gems like this one. I loved this book. It's not a perfect read. There are some technical issues, and I had a few minor quibbles with some of the story elements, but I absolutely adored Billy Ray as both the narrator and the main character of the book and his story not only kept me guessing, but had my emotions twisting and turning even more than the plot did. And that's saying something.
Billy Ray is a simple man who had led a small, solitary life until he met Charlene. He's definitely uneducated, and either he has a mental handicap or he's just slower than the majority of the world. I couldn't quite decide which, because there were moments of surprising, albeit uncomplicated, wisdom in him, and he saw to the heart of things more clearly than others in several instances. He also touched my heart with his unadorned view of the world and the people in it.
Billy Ray's almost innocent simplicity is reflected in the narrative throughout the book, and combined with the mostly rural setting of the story, it lends the read a timeless feel that made it hard to pinpoint just when the story was set. It could been set anywhere in the latter half of the twentieth century or the beginning of this one. The suspense elements of the plot, however, weren't quite so feel-good and innocent.
In fact, from the moment Charlene's past starts to catch up to her, Billy Ray's life takes a turn and his story grows more and more compelling. I enjoyed it so much, and was both intrigued and confounded by the myriad of plot twists that kept me off balance and guessing blindly along the way. Billy's emotional journey throughout, and the revelations he experiences along the way kept me riveted to the pages. I was particularly impressed with how large a role his mental disability played in making all of the darker story elements really gel.
I did have some minor concerns with the few police procedural elements alluded to in the story. I'm not sure I was completely on board with just how badly two separate murder investigations were run, even though I understood that there were two small town sheriff offices with limited experience and resources involved. It still seemed a fairly convenient reason for so many things to be handled so poorly.
More troubling to me than that, though, was the lack of a proper explanation for a plot thread that played a major role in the story. The name on the back of the picture was never explained and it stopped being mentioned entirely before the end of the book. It was just left dangling as if it was no longer important, but the action of more than one character was significantly affected by it. It was disappointing.
That said, the way Billy Ray slowly delved deeper and deeper through layer after grim and gritty layer of the details of Charlene's life - both willingly and unwillingly - was so masterfully done that I spent every minute of the last half of the book hanging on every word. I know I said it before, but I loved him so much. And I loved this book.
Disclosure: A copy of this book was provided to me by the author for review. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
A Simple Man, A Complex Mystery, A Great Read
He found her standing by the railroad tracks, a small suitcase at her feet. Billy Ray didn't know who she was. Didn't know how long she'd been there. When he approached her, and she gazed at him quietly, he had no idea what to do with her.
She asked him who he was. She asked him if she could go with him. So Billy Ray took her home.
Even after two years, Billy Ray doesn't quite understand Charlene, but he also doesn't much figure he needs to. He knows he is no longer alone. He knows he likes talking to her, being with her. He loves when she smiles at him, or calls him "Sweet Billy Ray." He figures he loves her and stops remembering what his life was like before Charlene came into it.
Then the old man moves in across the street. Billy Ray doesn't know if that man is responsible for the change in his Charlene, he just knows she stops smiling, stops dancing with him, and stops sitting outside altogether after the day that old man knocked on their door. Oh...and he knows that Charlene burned the old man's house down. With him in it.
Billy Ray has no idea why his Charlene would kill the man. Maybe he just isn't smart enough to ever understand why she would do something like that. But even as Billy Ray reels in shock and loss, the hits to his heart keep coming, because Billy Ray finds out Charlene hasn't been honest with him. About anything, near as he can tell. And the truth she's so carefully hidden may just kill him.
~*~
Reading as much as I do, I'm always thrilled when I stumble across surprising little gems like this one. I loved this book. It's not a perfect read. There are some technical issues, and I had a few minor quibbles with some of the story elements, but I absolutely adored Billy Ray as both the narrator and the main character of the book and his story not only kept me guessing, but had my emotions twisting and turning even more than the plot did. And that's saying something.
Billy Ray is a simple man who had led a small, solitary life until he met Charlene. He's definitely uneducated, and either he has a mental handicap or he's just slower than the majority of the world. I couldn't quite decide which, because there were moments of surprising, albeit uncomplicated, wisdom in him, and he saw to the heart of things more clearly than others in several instances. He also touched my heart with his unadorned view of the world and the people in it.
Billy Ray's almost innocent simplicity is reflected in the narrative throughout the book, and combined with the mostly rural setting of the story, it lends the read a timeless feel that made it hard to pinpoint just when the story was set. It could been set anywhere in the latter half of the twentieth century or the beginning of this one. The suspense elements of the plot, however, weren't quite so feel-good and innocent.
In fact, from the moment Charlene's past starts to catch up to her, Billy Ray's life takes a turn and his story grows more and more compelling. I enjoyed it so much, and was both intrigued and confounded by the myriad of plot twists that kept me off balance and guessing blindly along the way. Billy's emotional journey throughout, and the revelations he experiences along the way kept me riveted to the pages. I was particularly impressed with how large a role his mental disability played in making all of the darker story elements really gel.
I did have some minor concerns with the few police procedural elements alluded to in the story. I'm not sure I was completely on board with just how badly two separate murder investigations were run, even though I understood that there were two small town sheriff offices with limited experience and resources involved. It still seemed a fairly convenient reason for so many things to be handled so poorly.
More troubling to me than that, though, was the lack of a proper explanation for a plot thread that played a major role in the story. The name on the back of the picture was never explained and it stopped being mentioned entirely before the end of the book. It was just left dangling as if it was no longer important, but the action of more than one character was significantly affected by it. It was disappointing.
That said, the way Billy Ray slowly delved deeper and deeper through layer after grim and gritty layer of the details of Charlene's life - both willingly and unwillingly - was so masterfully done that I spent every minute of the last half of the book hanging on every word. I know I said it before, but I loved him so much. And I loved this book.
Disclosure: A copy of this book was provided to me by the author for review. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
August 16, 2023
Billy Rae is illiterate and considered stupid by many. He is taken advantage of by various people. He falls in love with a woman who is not what she seems. There is a murder. He's caught up in it and suspected of perpetrating or helping with the murder. Through many twists and turns, he ends up being the most intelligent of the people involved showing up the bigotry of the members of his community. The book is not terrible but thinly written, predictable, and ends like the author was bored and wanted to end the story prematurely.
January 22, 2018
What an abominable, sensationalistic car wreck of a book. It begins with Billy Bob, or whatever his name is, finding a lost girl who doesn't speak, and bringing her home as though she were a puppy, and then having sex with her -- but it's not creepy! The author tells us repeatedly that Billy Bob is a good man, and their love is pure; nothing creepy at all!
The murders begin in around chapter 2, with roughly as many bodies piling up as in "And Then There were None." It's hard to keep track of them all; the murders of the adults are mentioned as though in passing and are quickly forgotten. But the murders of the children are described repeatedly in lurid (I might almost say loving) detail. Ms Brown wants to be sure her audience remembers exactly how the children die.
The middle of the book is almost a country song of despair, where the girl friend is in jail, the lawyer quits, and even the dog runs away, and Billy Bob almost gives up hope.
Did I mention that the girl friend is in jail? Yes, jail; not prison, despite being held on capital charges.
I hate to write a review that doesn't say anything positive, so I will say two things: One, it's a page turner, with each chapter ending in the kind of cliff hanger popularized by Nancy Drew and other Stratemeyer books ("if I'd known then what I know now."); and the second, even better point: the book is fairly short, so if you end up reading it you won't have wasted much time.
The murders begin in around chapter 2, with roughly as many bodies piling up as in "And Then There were None." It's hard to keep track of them all; the murders of the adults are mentioned as though in passing and are quickly forgotten. But the murders of the children are described repeatedly in lurid (I might almost say loving) detail. Ms Brown wants to be sure her audience remembers exactly how the children die.
The middle of the book is almost a country song of despair, where the girl friend is in jail, the lawyer quits, and even the dog runs away, and Billy Bob almost gives up hope.
Did I mention that the girl friend is in jail? Yes, jail; not prison, despite being held on capital charges.
I hate to write a review that doesn't say anything positive, so I will say two things: One, it's a page turner, with each chapter ending in the kind of cliff hanger popularized by Nancy Drew and other Stratemeyer books ("if I'd known then what I know now."); and the second, even better point: the book is fairly short, so if you end up reading it you won't have wasted much time.
August 16, 2012
We follow along with Billy Ray as he meets Charlene and carries on with a humble little life on the mountain. Content with being a street sweeper and coming home to Charlene and Big Dog, Billy Ray doesn't question any of Charlene's oddness. She does not leave the home and is a bit of a hermit, but Billy Ray is happy and she seems so too, so that is all that matters. As the story progresses, Billy Ray becomes confused by Charlene when she suddenly is even more withdrawn. This is further confounded by Charlene being thrown in jail for murder shortly thereafter. What is Billy Ray to do, now that his only love is behind bars? He does what any man in love would do- search for the truth.
I cannot praise this novel enough. I was instantly drawn to Billy Ray and his character. Brown does a wonderful job building his character in such a short time. However, at the same time, leaving bits to ponder. Billy Ray narrates the story and his point of view and simple style was a huge part of what drew me to his character as well. It is Billy Ray's innocence and quest for answers that pulls the reader in. The mystery of Charlene is what keeps us pushing through to the very end. Charlene is a character that is developed as the story unfolds- while we are trying to decipher the mystery, Brown is feeding us bits of information about who Charlene is and where she came from. The development of the mystery is extremely captivating. I often find mystery stories predictable- while there were a few things I saw coming, most of it caught me off guard- something I love in a mystery novel. Brown did a spectacular job pulling her audience in, keeping us on our toes, and making every moment of the novel count. A fabulous read- I recommend everyone read it. Seriously!
I cannot praise this novel enough. I was instantly drawn to Billy Ray and his character. Brown does a wonderful job building his character in such a short time. However, at the same time, leaving bits to ponder. Billy Ray narrates the story and his point of view and simple style was a huge part of what drew me to his character as well. It is Billy Ray's innocence and quest for answers that pulls the reader in. The mystery of Charlene is what keeps us pushing through to the very end. Charlene is a character that is developed as the story unfolds- while we are trying to decipher the mystery, Brown is feeding us bits of information about who Charlene is and where she came from. The development of the mystery is extremely captivating. I often find mystery stories predictable- while there were a few things I saw coming, most of it caught me off guard- something I love in a mystery novel. Brown did a spectacular job pulling her audience in, keeping us on our toes, and making every moment of the novel count. A fabulous read- I recommend everyone read it. Seriously!
May 1, 2013
Only the Truth is the story of Billy Ray Hutchins, an Arkansas man who lives a simple life with his companion, Big Dog, until he meets a vagrant young woman and takes her into his home. Overall, the story is compelling. Narrator and main character Billy Ray's voice is folksy and engaging. Only the Truth definitely has its good moments, but there were a few problems with this book that I found hard to ignore.
The first issue was simply a matter of style: whether other characters in the story are always referring to Billy Ray by name, or he, as narrator, is just relating the story that way, the constant patter of Billy-Ray-this and Billy-Ray-that from everyone Billy Ray encounters, from sheriff to defense attorney to kindly widow, quickly gets annoying.
Next looms a bigger issue. Although author Pat Brown is a criminal profiler, the police and courtroom procedure in Only the Truth lacked authenticity. To explain is to give spoilers, but I will say that the "case closed" moments near the end of the book are likely to leave discerning readers scratching their heads.
The most unforgivable flaw with Only the Truth is that is leaves one detail--a part of the plot that was brought up repeatedly throughout the last half of the book and presented as a clue--unresolved. The book's ending felt rushed, leaving the reader without a satisfying, or complete, conclusion.
All in all, Only the Truth would have a lot going for it--a strong voice, some nice details, and a good sense of place. Unfortunately, it comes across as somewhat amateurish and incomplete in the end.
The first issue was simply a matter of style: whether other characters in the story are always referring to Billy Ray by name, or he, as narrator, is just relating the story that way, the constant patter of Billy-Ray-this and Billy-Ray-that from everyone Billy Ray encounters, from sheriff to defense attorney to kindly widow, quickly gets annoying.
Next looms a bigger issue. Although author Pat Brown is a criminal profiler, the police and courtroom procedure in Only the Truth lacked authenticity. To explain is to give spoilers, but I will say that the "case closed" moments near the end of the book are likely to leave discerning readers scratching their heads.
The most unforgivable flaw with Only the Truth is that is leaves one detail--a part of the plot that was brought up repeatedly throughout the last half of the book and presented as a clue--unresolved. The book's ending felt rushed, leaving the reader without a satisfying, or complete, conclusion.
All in all, Only the Truth would have a lot going for it--a strong voice, some nice details, and a good sense of place. Unfortunately, it comes across as somewhat amateurish and incomplete in the end.
September 14, 2016
A sweet story from one page to the next.
I chose this rating because the story captured me instantly. Every page I turned ,touched my heart. Charlene and Sweet Billy Ray deserve their love.
I chose this rating because the story captured me instantly. Every page I turned ,touched my heart. Charlene and Sweet Billy Ray deserve their love.
April 30, 2012
I really liked this book a lot. If I could give it 4 1/2 stars, I would do that. It centers around a man, Billy Ray Hutchins, who is determined to find out the truth about the girl he took in no matter what that truth actually entails. She just showed up one day, asked if she could go home with him, and he obliged. They live together happily for a couple of years until an old man moves in across the road from them. The girl suddenly becomes silent and sad and before too long, the old man is burned to death in a fire while Billy Ray had gone out briefly. Before long, the girl is arrested for the old man's murder. Billy Ray learns soon just how much the girl has lied to him but a large part of him still loves her. Eventually, he travels to her her home town to get to the bottom of the mystery. I love the small town character and dogged determination of Billy Ray. This book was a definite page turner. I read it all during the course of one day and would happily recommend it to a friend.
November 7, 2015
I enjoyed this rather quick and easy read.
Billy Ray is a simple minded street sweeper who meets Charlene along a country road and takes her home. They have a nice happy life for two years until someone moves in across the road from them, and ends up dying in a house fire. After the police investigate they realise he was murdered.
Charlene is arrested, and you go on this winding journey where you are not sure whether to love her or hate her. After a lot of twists and turns, Billy Ray goes in search of the Truth. I found myself judging Charlene quite early after her arrest, and Billy Ray does distrust her at times, but then goes on a journey to find out where she came from and who she is.
It wraps up rather quickly at the end, but the thing I loved about this novel was that Billy Ray's overwhelming love and acceptance of Charlene shines through. If only we could all love so unconditionally.
Billy Ray is a simple minded street sweeper who meets Charlene along a country road and takes her home. They have a nice happy life for two years until someone moves in across the road from them, and ends up dying in a house fire. After the police investigate they realise he was murdered.
Charlene is arrested, and you go on this winding journey where you are not sure whether to love her or hate her. After a lot of twists and turns, Billy Ray goes in search of the Truth. I found myself judging Charlene quite early after her arrest, and Billy Ray does distrust her at times, but then goes on a journey to find out where she came from and who she is.
It wraps up rather quickly at the end, but the thing I loved about this novel was that Billy Ray's overwhelming love and acceptance of Charlene shines through. If only we could all love so unconditionally.
June 18, 2012
I really liked this, but I also like Pat Brown. Pat is able the keep her readers captivated and curious. Billy Ray, a poor, illiterate man who stays to himself happens upon a young woman - Charlene and takes her home with him. For two years they live happily until a man moves in next door. Charlene's mood and demeanor change, she pretty much stops talking. Then one day, the old man next door mysteriously dies as his house burns to the ground. Initially, Billy Ray is accused and arrested - that is until police make a new discovery and arrest Charlene. Billy Ray is now all alone once again, feeling sad and not sure what to think.
I love how Pat was able to keep me guessing and wanting more. "Only The Truth" is a well suiting title for this book. The end didn't work out the way I thought it would, but still a surprise with a light twist. Great job Pat!
I love how Pat was able to keep me guessing and wanting more. "Only The Truth" is a well suiting title for this book. The end didn't work out the way I thought it would, but still a surprise with a light twist. Great job Pat!
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