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The Unspoken Truth
She won her freedom. Now someone wants her silenced.
After serving nine years of a life sentence for the manslaughter of a former beauty queen, Shona Pickton returns to her home town of Felixstowe, exonerated after an appeal quashed her conviction. She has always protested her innocence – despite being tried and convicted by the media long before her trial.
Determined to clear her name, Shona insists that one man can corroborate her well-known police informer Karl Cuskie, her alibi for the night Cassandra Norton died.
But then Cuskie is found dead, throwing the reopened case wide open.
Terrified for her life, Shona turns to police specialist Dr Cora Lael, whose insight might reveal Norton and Cuskie’s murderer. But Cora is should she help Shona behind the back of DS Rob Minshull and her police colleagues? And when a trail of corruption leads to the heart of South Suffolk CID, can Cora unmask the killer before they come for Shona?
A fast-paced, atmospheric, utterly gripping detective novel that will keep you guessing from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths, LJ Ross and Kate Ellis.
Crime thriller fans and authors love the Cora Lael Mysteries!:
‘A superb crime debut from a massive talent. Cora is a character you won’t forget.’ Steve Cavanagh
‘An unusual premise and an engaging cast of characters. What more could you want from a crime debut? I flew through it.’ Mari Hannah
‘A corker of a debut with a brilliantly drawn main character.’ Simon Toyne
‘The perfect mix of suspense, mystery and interesting plot…Gripping from the first page to the last…This is a brilliant book!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review
‘A page-turning, twisty crime thriller… one of those weekend binge reads you won’t be able to put down!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review
‘Dr Cora Lael is such an interesting character…a unique crime thriller which I would definitely recommend!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
‘‘This was excellent… There were many twists and I loved the plot development…I will pick up anything by this author in the future!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
‘Wow! What a fantastic story…I read it in a day, just couldn’t put it down.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
‘Truly could not put this down… so many twists and turns… Great characters who are also believable’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
After serving nine years of a life sentence for the manslaughter of a former beauty queen, Shona Pickton returns to her home town of Felixstowe, exonerated after an appeal quashed her conviction. She has always protested her innocence – despite being tried and convicted by the media long before her trial.
Determined to clear her name, Shona insists that one man can corroborate her well-known police informer Karl Cuskie, her alibi for the night Cassandra Norton died.
But then Cuskie is found dead, throwing the reopened case wide open.
Terrified for her life, Shona turns to police specialist Dr Cora Lael, whose insight might reveal Norton and Cuskie’s murderer. But Cora is should she help Shona behind the back of DS Rob Minshull and her police colleagues? And when a trail of corruption leads to the heart of South Suffolk CID, can Cora unmask the killer before they come for Shona?
A fast-paced, atmospheric, utterly gripping detective novel that will keep you guessing from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths, LJ Ross and Kate Ellis.
Crime thriller fans and authors love the Cora Lael Mysteries!:
‘A superb crime debut from a massive talent. Cora is a character you won’t forget.’ Steve Cavanagh
‘An unusual premise and an engaging cast of characters. What more could you want from a crime debut? I flew through it.’ Mari Hannah
‘A corker of a debut with a brilliantly drawn main character.’ Simon Toyne
‘The perfect mix of suspense, mystery and interesting plot…Gripping from the first page to the last…This is a brilliant book!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review
‘A page-turning, twisty crime thriller… one of those weekend binge reads you won’t be able to put down!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Reader Review
‘Dr Cora Lael is such an interesting character…a unique crime thriller which I would definitely recommend!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
‘‘This was excellent… There were many twists and I loved the plot development…I will pick up anything by this author in the future!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
‘Wow! What a fantastic story…I read it in a day, just couldn’t put it down.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
‘Truly could not put this down… so many twists and turns… Great characters who are also believable’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
394 pages, Paperback
Published November 14, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 24, 2025
3.5
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RTC
November 29, 2024
Shona Pickton was convicted of a crime she said she didn’t commit. She served nine years in prison for killing Cassandra Norton, but finally has won an appeal.
She is now out, but some people are less than happy.
Dr Cora Lael volunteers at the HappyKid Project, which provides educational and personal support to the children from the travelling and gypsy communities. As Shona Pickton has links to the travellering community, a fire starts in one of their campervans upon her release.
DI Joel Anderson reopens the case of Cassandra Norton and because a serious miscarriage of justice has occurred, an independent body will oversee the investigation of Anderson’s team.
Cora has emotional synaesthesia, where she can sense emotional echoes from objects. In the past, she assisted the local police in some of their cases. Can she help this time?
Ooh, this was such a good read!
This is the fifth book in the Cora Lael series and previous to this one I have only read The Secret Voices, which is the first book. It means I skipped three books in the series, but I shall rectify that as I really enjoy a good mystery, and these series have such great characters and plot.
This book raises issues of police corruption and prejudice against the minority groups. Throughout the book, we see the hate towards the gypsy and travelling community, but as we all know, it’s a prevalent issue in our society.
Overall, it’s a great and tense read with a nice twist!
She is now out, but some people are less than happy.
Dr Cora Lael volunteers at the HappyKid Project, which provides educational and personal support to the children from the travelling and gypsy communities. As Shona Pickton has links to the travellering community, a fire starts in one of their campervans upon her release.
DI Joel Anderson reopens the case of Cassandra Norton and because a serious miscarriage of justice has occurred, an independent body will oversee the investigation of Anderson’s team.
Cora has emotional synaesthesia, where she can sense emotional echoes from objects. In the past, she assisted the local police in some of their cases. Can she help this time?
Ooh, this was such a good read!
This is the fifth book in the Cora Lael series and previous to this one I have only read The Secret Voices, which is the first book. It means I skipped three books in the series, but I shall rectify that as I really enjoy a good mystery, and these series have such great characters and plot.
This book raises issues of police corruption and prejudice against the minority groups. Throughout the book, we see the hate towards the gypsy and travelling community, but as we all know, it’s a prevalent issue in our society.
Overall, it’s a great and tense read with a nice twist!
November 30, 2024
MJ White delivers another compelling thriller with The Unspoken Truth, weaving a complex narrative of crime, corruption, and the quest for justice. At the heart of the story are Shona Pickton, a woman exonerated after nine years of wrongful imprisonment, and Dr. Cora Lael, a police specialist whose unique insights prove invaluable in unravelling the truth. While the book excels in its exploration of themes such as the impact of public opinion and systemic corruption, certain elements detracted from the overall reading experience.
The procedural details of police investigations and the subplot involving Cora's volunteer project, though meticulously crafted, often felt overly detailed, disrupting the story’s momentum. These sections, while informative, slowed the pacing significantly, particularly in the first half of the novel.
Additionally, the narrative raised an abundance of questions through the protagonists, many of which were repetitive. Combined with dialogues that sometimes mirrored earlier exchanges almost identically, these elements caused the progression to feel labored at times. This repetitiveness hampered the flow and made the middle sections of the novel a slower read.
The relationship between Cora and DS Rob Minshull was another area that felt stagnant. While the series understandably prioritises its thriller aspects, the lack of meaningful development in their dynamic was disappointing. DS Minshull’s occasionally dysfunctional behaviour further detracted from his character, making it difficult to root for any romantic connection between him and Cora. Their relationship seemed frozen in time since the first installment, contributing little to the story’s evolution.
From an editorial perspective, a more rigorous trimming of stagnant scenarios and repetitive elements would have strengthened the novel, ensuring a tighter and more engaging pace.
Despite these critiques, The Unspoken Truth succeeds in delivering a thrilling mystery with a satisfying resolution. MJ White’s ability to craft layered characters and a twisting plot remains commendable. Fans of the series and genre enthusiasts will likely enjoy this latest installment, even if the journey to its climax feels a bit drawn out.
The procedural details of police investigations and the subplot involving Cora's volunteer project, though meticulously crafted, often felt overly detailed, disrupting the story’s momentum. These sections, while informative, slowed the pacing significantly, particularly in the first half of the novel.
Additionally, the narrative raised an abundance of questions through the protagonists, many of which were repetitive. Combined with dialogues that sometimes mirrored earlier exchanges almost identically, these elements caused the progression to feel labored at times. This repetitiveness hampered the flow and made the middle sections of the novel a slower read.
The relationship between Cora and DS Rob Minshull was another area that felt stagnant. While the series understandably prioritises its thriller aspects, the lack of meaningful development in their dynamic was disappointing. DS Minshull’s occasionally dysfunctional behaviour further detracted from his character, making it difficult to root for any romantic connection between him and Cora. Their relationship seemed frozen in time since the first installment, contributing little to the story’s evolution.
From an editorial perspective, a more rigorous trimming of stagnant scenarios and repetitive elements would have strengthened the novel, ensuring a tighter and more engaging pace.
Despite these critiques, The Unspoken Truth succeeds in delivering a thrilling mystery with a satisfying resolution. MJ White’s ability to craft layered characters and a twisting plot remains commendable. Fans of the series and genre enthusiasts will likely enjoy this latest installment, even if the journey to its climax feels a bit drawn out.
October 20, 2024
This is book #5 in the Cora Lael series. I've read all the books in the series, and they can be read as standalone books. However, I would recommend reading the books in series order for better understanding of the storyline and of Dr Cora Lael's abilities!
I loved this book and found this was my favourite so far! We're back meeting Dr Lael who has been caught up in the case of Shona Pickton who has just been released from prison after 9 years and had her conviction for the manslaughter of Cassandra Norton quashed. DS Rob Minshull's team have been given the task of re-opening the murder case to find new suspects but there are some big surprises along the way. There is a lot of the investigation in this latest instalment, and I found myself gripped to the storyline waiting to find out what happened to Cassandra all those years before. The storyline takes us on quite a journey, and not only do we find ourselves looking into every possibility of the murder, but we find the story broaching difficult subjects of prejudice and injustice.
The storyline flowed along very well and the investigation was fast paced. There were lots of twists, turns, red herrings and dead ends thrown in for good measure and I couldn't, try as I did, work out who was behind it all until it was revealed. Dr Cora Lael's unique abilities were featured throughout the investigation, but they weren't as forefront as they had been in previous books. However, Minshull's team was excellent throughout the investigation and I loved that little bit of humour and banter that they all had between them. I really hope there is another book to follow, and I also hope a certain character remains as I do have a soft spot for them! Fab, fab, fab!
I loved this book and found this was my favourite so far! We're back meeting Dr Lael who has been caught up in the case of Shona Pickton who has just been released from prison after 9 years and had her conviction for the manslaughter of Cassandra Norton quashed. DS Rob Minshull's team have been given the task of re-opening the murder case to find new suspects but there are some big surprises along the way. There is a lot of the investigation in this latest instalment, and I found myself gripped to the storyline waiting to find out what happened to Cassandra all those years before. The storyline takes us on quite a journey, and not only do we find ourselves looking into every possibility of the murder, but we find the story broaching difficult subjects of prejudice and injustice.
The storyline flowed along very well and the investigation was fast paced. There were lots of twists, turns, red herrings and dead ends thrown in for good measure and I couldn't, try as I did, work out who was behind it all until it was revealed. Dr Cora Lael's unique abilities were featured throughout the investigation, but they weren't as forefront as they had been in previous books. However, Minshull's team was excellent throughout the investigation and I loved that little bit of humour and banter that they all had between them. I really hope there is another book to follow, and I also hope a certain character remains as I do have a soft spot for them! Fab, fab, fab!
November 13, 2024
Brilliant gripping thriller with one of my favourite crime fighters characters Cora Lael from MJ White.
Shona has won her appeal and proved her innocence after being wrongly convicted of murder, and wants to return to her home in Suffolk, after serving 9 years in prison. The media frenzy and community unrest at her release follow around the Suffolk areas of Ipswich and Felixstowe. When the police reopen the case they find no end of discrepancies and hidden statements, finding too many flaws and things not adding up. We see a whole different side of sleepy Suffolk in the crime underworld and corruption within the police force. Fascinating!!
Cora is in danger, can she uncover the truth aswell as helping her community?!
Fantastic characters, this book is compelling and gripping from the first to the last!
Brilliant writing, unpredictable, this story grows and grows out of nowhere! The tale cleverly pulls in new information with twists and turns. Amazing!!
Great grasp on the basis nitty gritty reality of a police officer’s life.
Highly recommended for a great crime thriller!
Thank you NetGalley for the early read, totally loved it!!
Shona has won her appeal and proved her innocence after being wrongly convicted of murder, and wants to return to her home in Suffolk, after serving 9 years in prison. The media frenzy and community unrest at her release follow around the Suffolk areas of Ipswich and Felixstowe. When the police reopen the case they find no end of discrepancies and hidden statements, finding too many flaws and things not adding up. We see a whole different side of sleepy Suffolk in the crime underworld and corruption within the police force. Fascinating!!
Cora is in danger, can she uncover the truth aswell as helping her community?!
Fantastic characters, this book is compelling and gripping from the first to the last!
Brilliant writing, unpredictable, this story grows and grows out of nowhere! The tale cleverly pulls in new information with twists and turns. Amazing!!
Great grasp on the basis nitty gritty reality of a police officer’s life.
Highly recommended for a great crime thriller!
Thank you NetGalley for the early read, totally loved it!!
October 12, 2024
The fifth in the Cora Lael series, and each one gets better! You don't need to have read the previous books in the series (but I'd recommend them).
Shona Pickering has been released from her life sentence after nine years and is desperate to clear her name - except the man who can help her clear her name is found dead. And there's a hint of police corruption, too.
Lots of twists and turns; shines a strong light onto the behaviour of the media, particularly towards marginalised communities; and it's a thoroughly good read, with lots of tension and good pacing. I had my suspicions about the involvement of one character (and was very pleased to be proven right). Cora Lael is a lovely character, as is Rob Minshull - in fact, the whole of the CID is a great team and I like the way the characters are fully rounded, flaws and all.
And the ending is a really good twist, nicely done and unexpected even though the clues were there.
Thoroughly recommended and I can't wait for the next one!
Shona Pickering has been released from her life sentence after nine years and is desperate to clear her name - except the man who can help her clear her name is found dead. And there's a hint of police corruption, too.
Lots of twists and turns; shines a strong light onto the behaviour of the media, particularly towards marginalised communities; and it's a thoroughly good read, with lots of tension and good pacing. I had my suspicions about the involvement of one character (and was very pleased to be proven right). Cora Lael is a lovely character, as is Rob Minshull - in fact, the whole of the CID is a great team and I like the way the characters are fully rounded, flaws and all.
And the ending is a really good twist, nicely done and unexpected even though the clues were there.
Thoroughly recommended and I can't wait for the next one!
January 1, 2025
The fifth book in the Coral Lael Series is here and quite probably, the very best. All of the books can be read as standalone novels but to get the best out of understanding Cora’s back story, the underlying tensions between her and several characters, and the stories of some of them too, it’s a great idea to read through them all.
In book five, M J White tackles the very real and very current issue of policy corruption and prejudice against minorities groups. She doesn’t shy away from addressing the reality for many in the gypsy and travelling communities and the hate crimes directed against them those trying to help them.
There is, as always, a great attention to detail, to police procedure, and research. The sub-plot against the backdrop of the main story worked really well and throughout the book there was a great pace of quiet moments against unravellings, reveals and drama. Throw in Minshull’s team and the usual humour and banter, and you’ll feel like you’re amongst friends again. Bring on book six - I can’t wait to see what’s next!
In book five, M J White tackles the very real and very current issue of policy corruption and prejudice against minorities groups. She doesn’t shy away from addressing the reality for many in the gypsy and travelling communities and the hate crimes directed against them those trying to help them.
There is, as always, a great attention to detail, to police procedure, and research. The sub-plot against the backdrop of the main story worked really well and throughout the book there was a great pace of quiet moments against unravellings, reveals and drama. Throw in Minshull’s team and the usual humour and banter, and you’ll feel like you’re amongst friends again. Bring on book six - I can’t wait to see what’s next!
November 24, 2024
Plenty of twists and turns in this book, which covers 3 investigations for the team. Cora is less involved initially with the main investigations into the deaths of Cassandra (9 years ago) and subsequent deaths in the boo. Shona has been in prison for the manslaughter of Cassandra but has now been released.. She does have an idea about who had killed her, but is being threatened so is frightened to talk about it. Nice setting in the Suffolk town of Felixstowe.
I like the writing which is in shortish chapters and which keeps my interest and also the unusual aspect that Cora's abilities bring to the investigation. It feels believable and adds an extra dimension to a police procedural. There is lots going on in the team and crimewise, so a fairly complicated read, though I would definately recommend it
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
I like the writing which is in shortish chapters and which keeps my interest and also the unusual aspect that Cora's abilities bring to the investigation. It feels believable and adds an extra dimension to a police procedural. There is lots going on in the team and crimewise, so a fairly complicated read, though I would definately recommend it
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC
December 30, 2024
Shona Pickford has been released from prison after being cleared of a murder after nine years. Returning to Felixstowe she is wary of the police and keeps getting threats. The South Suffolk Police have to reinvestigate but they are hampered by the murder of a witness and the strange behaviour of their boss. Meanwhile Dr Cora Lael is keen to help but her project to help traveller children is being threatened by right wing extremists.
I read a previous book by White and felt exactly the same after reading this one. There is a terrific police procedural here, lots of strong themes about racism, politics and exploitation are explored. However I really don't like (or see the point of) Cora Lael and her 'auditory fingerprints'. Here the character just comes across as needy and doesn't really add anything to the plot. Having said that, it's still a strong story.
I read a previous book by White and felt exactly the same after reading this one. There is a terrific police procedural here, lots of strong themes about racism, politics and exploitation are explored. However I really don't like (or see the point of) Cora Lael and her 'auditory fingerprints'. Here the character just comes across as needy and doesn't really add anything to the plot. Having said that, it's still a strong story.
May 20, 2025
Bought as part of a mystery bundle I didn't know what to expect going into this book, especially since I haven't read any of the authors other works. As it turns out this is part of a series, although thankfully the books all appear to stand on their own, and the author gives helpful little reminders of character traits, so I wasn't as lost as I could have been.
The plot itself is a combination murder mystery and thriller, with the hook being that the murder is a cold case reopened. The true killer doesn't get revealed until the end of the book, and their identity doesn't get spoiled before then.
Despite it being well written and definitely worth the time to read there is just something missing for me. Don't get me wrong, I would have no issues picking up other books in this series and read them, I just wouldn't go out of my way to get them.
The plot itself is a combination murder mystery and thriller, with the hook being that the murder is a cold case reopened. The true killer doesn't get revealed until the end of the book, and their identity doesn't get spoiled before then.
Despite it being well written and definitely worth the time to read there is just something missing for me. Don't get me wrong, I would have no issues picking up other books in this series and read them, I just wouldn't go out of my way to get them.
October 20, 2024
Although this is book 5 in the series featuring Cora Lael, it can easily be read and enjoyed on it's own. It is another well plotted read as the team investigate the wrongful imprisonment of Shona, a young woman who served nine years. I really like the characterisation, especially Cora and Shona but the police team were interesting too. I loved the touches of humour throughout, which lightened up some dark moments and the twist at the end was one I never expected as I never guessed the killer. I would really recommend the series to lovers of crime thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
January 1, 2025
When an injustice has been revealed, the team need to work harder than ever to put old wrongs right. With all eyes on them more than ever, can they uncover the truth nine years later.
Brilliant writing, great characters and a storyline that tackles some of awful issues of todays society. The special gift of Cora’s again adds something unique to the story. I love the tension (romantic?) between her and Minshull.
A fan of the series so highly recommend reading them all but could be read as a standalone.
Brilliant writing, great characters and a storyline that tackles some of awful issues of todays society. The special gift of Cora’s again adds something unique to the story. I love the tension (romantic?) between her and Minshull.
A fan of the series so highly recommend reading them all but could be read as a standalone.
December 26, 2024
Another fabulous book in this addictive series. Could see this as a TV series.
July 1, 2025
Each book in this series gets better & better. Love all the characters.
July 30, 2025
The 2nd half predictable
October 20, 2024
I didn’t realise this was a follow on book however you don’t need to have read the others to understand this one.
I enjoyed the book, it felt a little slow in places but overall it was good, I enjoyed learning about audio fingerprints, it was interesting and I’ve never read a book like it.
The ending i never expected, I went through every scenario but never expected that.
*full disclosure I was given this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley*
I enjoyed the book, it felt a little slow in places but overall it was good, I enjoyed learning about audio fingerprints, it was interesting and I’ve never read a book like it.
The ending i never expected, I went through every scenario but never expected that.
*full disclosure I was given this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley*
July 9, 2025
Another wonderful book in the Cora Lael series that had me gripped from beginning to end. The series just gets better and better. I now need publication date for Cora Lael 6 to hurry up and arrive!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews