Case In Truth: A mystery romance

by Emily Camp

The Suspect of the most recent homicide? Yeah, Zoe knows him. He’s been her crush for years.

Zoe is always the responsible one. She picks up shifts when her mom is too sick to work. She helps with her younger siblings as well as attends community college full time. When Case, the son of her boss, pulls her into a bush on her way to work. Covered in blood and begging for help, she can’t say no. Because Case has always been her weakness. Determined to prove his innocence, Zoe uses knowledge from her true crime obsession. She breaks rules, lies, and ignores warnings to discover what really happened. However, will her feelings for Case cloud her judgment, putting not only herself but her family in danger? All for a boy who may not be telling the truth.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Romance

231 pages, Paperback

Published August 31, 2023

About the author

Emily is the author of several young adult, new adult, mystery and romance novels. She lives in a small town in Ohio similar to the towns in her stories. Her favorite place to read is in her pool.

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Zoey taking over for her mom was sweet, I hated what happened with Chase! Also, can we discuss how he asks for her help because her love for true crime?? Loved that. It gave Knives Out vibes because you constantly wanted to keep knowing more clues and keep reading to see if you were right!

I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/ opinions above are completely my own!

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic mystery for me! I enjoyed every minute of this book and story!

I enjoyed the back story that Emily gave Zoe & Case. The tension is real between Zoe & Case you can sense it! Emily did a wonderful job at having like 4-5 suspects who could’ve done this and then for myself reading it, it narrowed down to 3 and then it switched for just a MOMENT to someone but it didn’t last long! Zoe is going to get to the bottom of things and get answers!

That last page….Thats why it landed at a 5 for me. I thought it was wrapping up happily and I wouldn’t need to start book two immediately….. Boy, was I wrong! I picked it up immediately!

[J.J. J. Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh so truthfully good. It kept me on the edge of my literal seat the whole time. I love Miss Emily Camps writing. Cannot wait to start the next book.

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a cozy mystery romance. It was very low on the spice meter, which I prefer, but the slow burn was good. Emily Camp has a very easy writing style. The pages and the story just flowed from start to finish. I would consider this a YA book. The book starts with Case hiding covered in blood and asks Zoe for help. They haven’t been friends for years. Her mom cleans his family’s home. Zoe loved crime podcasts and is ready to solve this crime. As you read you realize it could be numerous people that murdered Case’s step mom, including Case. Without giving spoilers, there are lots of family dynamics at play too. When we find out who the murder is, I thought, yes, he was acting funny and should have tipped me off. And can I say, the cliff hanger canes out of left field. Wait! What? Oh boy we’re ready for book 2. This was a fun, enjoyable story. I highly recommend.

I want to thank the author, Emily Camp, who I connected with on TikTok, for the e-book in exchange for my honest review, that I give voluntarily.

[Ashley Book.markedbyash · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

-romantic thriller
-childhood crush
-murder mystery
-opposite sides of the track
Arc Review
FMC Zoe has known MMC Case almost all of her life. She has had a crush on him for most of that time. However Case and Zoe come from opposite sides of the track. Case is wealthy and lives in a mansion. Zoe is low income and her family is the one that cleans Case's family home. Basically Zoe is the help. Another thing is that Case and Zoe have become estranged.
One day Zoe is on her way to work and Case suddenly appears with blood all over him asking Zoe for her help. A murder has happened and Case is the main suspect.
Zoe agrees to help Case. She helps hide him and begins an investigation of her own.
Secrets come out that alter their non existing relationship.
Did Case do it? or is Zoe blinded by a childhood crush that never really went away.

I really loved Case In Truth. It was very good. My theories kept changing throughout the story. In some parts of the story I did feel that the characters were acting younger than they were. The story was written beautifully. The suspense was very good. I did not realize this book was going to be a series. I will definatly read the next one because the cliff hanger was intense.

[Kearstyn Kutik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! didn’t expect the outcome.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait to start the second book.

[Brandi Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read this as a beta reader and it was an amazing story. My favorite genre is suspense romance, and this hits the mark. It's not a spicy romance but it is sweet. It's about 2 childhood friends that had a crush on each other but lived completely different lifestyles. They felt like they couldn't be together so they drifted apart. What happens when he shows up covered in blood and being accused of murder? She has to decide if she believes him and is going to help him or if he did it. Does she follow her head or her heart? I connected so much with her and her love of true crime podcasts, I was drawn to their story and loved every minute!

[Christine Fancher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great YA cozy murder mystery with a splash of romance, this book gave me Lois Duncan vibes, which I LOVED. The story kept me wanting to read!
Zoe's ex best friend comes to her asking for help when his step mom is found murdered and he is the prime suspect! Did he do it or was it one of the many other people who look suspicious?
Case in Truth definitely kept me guessing the entire time, and it has so many suspects!
I was left with an excellent cliff hanger to lead into the next book, which I will definitely be reading!

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe falls head over heels for this boy name case but what happens when case comes out of a bush with blood all over him asking her for help? Do you think she will put her feelings aside and help him or not? A great mystery romance to read you definitely will not be disappointed!

[Kira Felder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Case and Zoe have my heart. I love this book i don't read much mystery but this one has me rethinking that cause it's for sure a page turner. I would definitely recommend

[Books with Jen B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoe and Chase were inseparable growing up until one day – out of the blue - Chase stopped talking to Zoe. This broke Zoe’s heart because she had started to develop a huge crush on Chase and even after he acted like she didn’t exist those feelings never went away. Zoe’s mom was the housekeeper for Chase’s wealthy family and had been for a long time. When Zoe’s mom was diagnosed with cancer and started chemo, Zoe would pick up the shifts her mom was too sick to take. She figured that, because of this, Chase saw her as beneath him and cut all ties with her.

After not having spoken much in almost 7 years, one day on her way home from work she is pulled into a bush where she finds Chase shaking with fear and covered in blood. There has been a murder and Chase is the prime suspect. With Zoe’s obsession with true crime, she agrees to help Chase find the killer and clear his name. After all, her feelings for Chase were still there and only grew stronger the more they were together. Zoe starts to dig deep and doesn’t realize she is not only putting herself in danger but her family as well. Will this killer stop at nothing to keep from being caught? Will Zoe become the next victim?

This book pulled me in almost from the start. I literally could not put it down! The characters are very likable and the relationships they have with one another are very relatable. Each chapter is written in a way that you will keep saying “just one more chapter”. The ending was definitely not what I had expected. If you like a good edge of your seat mystery/whodunit with a little romance mixed in, then this book is perfect for you. Highly recommend this one!!

[bookish_jonni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little mystery with a hint of romance! Well written, great characters, good pacing, and it keeps you sucked in from the beginning. Once I started I had a hard time putting it down. Zoe and Case are adorable and I love how their relationship developed. The mystery was great and no spoilers but, that ending! Definitely recommend this book!

[Heather Mylek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Emily Camp! This is a romance mystery! Loved this story! Hard to put down! It takes you on twists and turns and pulls on heart strings! It is about Zoe a newer college study who lives at homes and helps her sick mother with her siblings! She loves murder mystery podcasts! Then one day her old bestie Chase grabs at her as she is on way to work! He is wanted for his step mothers murder! Zoe has been in love with chase since she was little! She does everything to help solve it! I never seen the ending coming! Such a great book and a must read!!!

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book! Kept me guessing the whole time!!! Can't wait to start the next one!

[Sharon B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a well written thriller that kept me turning each page wanting to know what's next. I didn't pick the murderer and l love that about this book. I was kept guessing and the ending .... Emily Camp l didn't see that comming either. Five star read for me and l will be recommending this book to everyone.

[Kelci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC - If you're looking for a cozy murder mystery romance this is a good one to pick up to read over a nice long afternoon. I absolutely loved the overall premise and the whodunit reveal definitely surprised me.

[Rachel Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fast paced in the beginning which I loved!! Such a good book! Fast read, couldn’t put it down!

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great mystery! I felt like I really didn’t know for sure who the baddie was all the way up to the reveal! This story follows Zoe who is a housekeeper that works in the home of her childhood crush. One day as she trots along listening to a true crime podcast on her way to work she is dragged into the bushes by that very crush who is covered in blood and claiming not to have committed murder. Can you say for certain who the murderer is before the police do? I can’t, and no one thinks Zoe can but she damn sure tries!

Con: I feel like this book could have used one more round of proofreading. The mistakes were minor but there were more in there than I typically would let slide without mention.

This was a cozy and quick read. I liked the way the author used Zoe’s situation with her family life which was struggling, but loving, and compared it to that of Case who wanted for nothing but love. Also, as someone who loves true crime, being thrown in the middle of an investigation and trying to solve a case is both my dream and my worst nightmare. I honestly had a hard time putting down this book and I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is room for a sequel!

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride...
This story starts with a murder. And during the course of the book two old friends became close again and starts working together to solve the crime and find out who and why is trying to set up one of them. This story is told from a dual point of view of both main characters which makes the story even more interesting. Because of Emily's amazing writing I had a lot of questions about the past and what happened in it like for example why is the sheriff so significant to one of the main characters. I'm truly happy that this story is somewhat realistic and shows that it's not that easy to solve a crime without being an actual detective and having an easy access to any possible evidence. It made it way harder to guess who is the actual killer but in my opinion that is also what made this story so intriguing. The way this book has ended was unexpected. I wasn't ready for the cliffhanger that we got. And I'm thrilled to know that there will be a second book. I have so many questions about that ending and I can't wait to get the answer that I need.

[jenniferlea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoe & Case

This was my first read by this author & I need to go back & read the others…this was definitely a YA book but had a little bit of everything…mystery, suspense, young love, murder & attempted murder & enough family drama to last a lifetime

Zoe & Case were childhood friends to enemies to lovers…well more like boyfriend girlfriend…& not really enemies…more like misunderstanding & miscommunication…don’t you hate when that happens

About the time you think you have it figured out the story takes a turn….I thought I had it figured out at least twice & was wrong both times….it had an ending I didn’t see coming

Give it a read…just know on a spicy scale it mainly smooching….there was attempted SA but just attempts

[Nora Weirich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It was my first by Emily Camp book. This was a YA who done it. Emily has a way in truly getting you into the mind of the Young Adult's she is writing about. Zoe is a 19/20 year old who has a lot on her plate. An ill mother and her little brother and sister to look after. Not to mention her old childhood best friend who was now the chief suspect to a murder. Zoe who loves true crime and eats up all the podcast she can on the subject has decided that she is going to prove her old crush innocent.
Not wanting to give anything away I will stop there. I only want to add that this may have been my first Emily Camp book, but it wont be my last.

[Nicole (all_bookedup) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

This was really good. If you like amateur detectives, this is one for you. This was fast-paced and keeps you guessing until the very last page. I was able to figure it out but it still shocked me. It is definitely worth the read

I loved Daisy and Thaxton. They were adorable. I really loved the family element. Zoe and her mom had an amazing relationship, as did Zoe and her brother and sister. I did feel bad for Case, he didn't have that family support that he wanted or needed.

But after reading the Epilogue, I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Thank you to Emily Camp for this ARC.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Case in Truth is a YA mystery romance; very little spice, slow burn. Case and Zoe were childhood friends, however, after years of being across the tracks from her crush, Case shows up at Zoe's doorstep covered in blood and asking for help. This would qualify as a cozy murder mystery romance to me; sweet, but still keeps you wondering 'who dunnit'. I liked that I didn't know everything as I read it.
This is just the beginning.

I love Emily's writing style and look forward to reading more of her work!

- Childhood crush
- Romantic thriller
- Opposite sides of the tracks
- Amateur sleuth
- True crime enthusiast

[ChristinaStanton76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written thriller. It kept me on the edge the whole time and didn’t want to put it down. Zoe and Case grew up together as her mom worked for his parents growing up. They eventually grew apart and didn’t speak until the day Case comes to her with blood all over his clothes. So Zoe had to put her feelings for Case aside and determine if she is willing to help him and whether or not he is the killer and if he isn’t, who is? This is the perfect whodunit. It’s a definite read if you love to read thrillers.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was given the opportunity to arc read a digital copy of this book for an honest review*

To put it simply, wow!

The characters and the plot had me hooked from page one. I loved trying to piece together all of the clues to try and figure out who committed the crime. It felt like with each new piece of evidence, a different suspect was top of my list! Ultimately, I did guess correctly, but the last quarter or so of the book was still so gripping that I truly struggled to stop reading.

I cannot wait to read more by Emily Camp, and I will be eagerly awaiting a sequel!

[Kathi Simmons-Kuebler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this Author. It will not be the last. I knew nothing about this book going in. Zoe is the daughter of a housekeeper who helps her mom when she is too sick from Chemo.her childhood crush Case is covered in blood and asking for house. This book is a Rollercoaster of a suspense ride for sure. Zoe tries to figure out the killer is it Case or someone else? Can she figure it all out before it's too late? That's what goes through your mind as you are reading this book. Must read. Couldn't put it down.

[BooklovingLou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive this book as an ARC and the first book of Emily Camps I have read and it will not be the last.

FMC Zoe has a very full life helping to look after her brother and sister while her mother is ill while receiving chemo. One day her childhood friend/crush Case turns up covered in blood.

Zoe, a true crime enthusiast, sets out to prove Case in innocent.

I will not give away what happened but I will say I was on the edge of my seat.

I cannot wait to see what happens next.

[Kathy Gioxaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I literally could not put it down! Each chapter had me saying “just one more chapter”!
I particularly enjoyed how family and friends pull together to help one another through tough times.
Loved the characters (wanted to go in and help them) especially Zoe’s little siblings of their bravery and how they came to her rescue.
The ending had me saying “WHAT NO!!”
A good edge of your seat mystery/whodunnit with a little romance.
Highly recommend.

[Emily Ducky Ducky · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic thrill ride!!! I was not expecting the ending at all. Plot twist are pretty damn hard to pull off and this Author does it well. This was my first read of the Author and definitely will not be my last. This is a NA read, but the writing was mature and planned brilliantly. It started off with a jump right in feel. The emotional journey was climactic and left you feeling complete. Well done.