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Only the Devil Tells the Truth
In a world where success is too often defined by dollars and cents, sometimes a person has to go through hell to find out what really matters.
No one knows this better than ex-alcoholic and drug addict Nick Johnson. But while his heart tells him he’s destined for greatness, so far life has yet to deliver. That is, until the day Nick is in a horrendous car crash that almost kills him — a life-changing event that forces him to not only follow his dreams, but face the demons of his past.
Only The Devil Tells the Truth is filled with laughs, love, pain, and tears. But most importantly it’s full of inspiring reminders about how precious and short life really is.
All delivered in a driving narrative that readers say makes the book impossible to put down.
No one knows this better than ex-alcoholic and drug addict Nick Johnson. But while his heart tells him he’s destined for greatness, so far life has yet to deliver. That is, until the day Nick is in a horrendous car crash that almost kills him — a life-changing event that forces him to not only follow his dreams, but face the demons of his past.
Only The Devil Tells the Truth is filled with laughs, love, pain, and tears. But most importantly it’s full of inspiring reminders about how precious and short life really is.
All delivered in a driving narrative that readers say makes the book impossible to put down.
ebook
First published October 23, 2014
16 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
Jake Parent
4 books34 followersJake Parent is the author of Cristina, a psychological thriller. His first book, Only the Devil Tells the Truth, was a #1 Amazon Bestseller. His influences include Charles Bukowski, Stephen King, Maya Angelou, John Steinbeck, Mac Dre, Honoré de Balzac, Ella Fitzgerald, John Sanford, Jimi Hendrix, Ernest Hemingway, and many more. He grew up in San Jose, CA but now lives in the Washington, DC area.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 3, 2015
This book was much better than I expected. After seeing the cover and reading the blurb, I was intrigued, but not enough to want to dive right into it straight away.
When I did start reading it though, I found it quite hard to put down. If I wasn't so busy these past few weeks, I probably would have finished the book in a day, or maybe even just one sitting!
I didn't like the beginning of the book when it was written in small time frames with marginal spaces of time in between them (does that even make sense?), as I found that this method of writing didn't allow the story to flow as smoothly.
All in all, this book was very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to my friends. It has a bit of adult content, but not enough to bother me.
I am glad for the wonderful opportunity of receiving this book in a giveaway and reviewing it.
When I did start reading it though, I found it quite hard to put down. If I wasn't so busy these past few weeks, I probably would have finished the book in a day, or maybe even just one sitting!
I didn't like the beginning of the book when it was written in small time frames with marginal spaces of time in between them (does that even make sense?), as I found that this method of writing didn't allow the story to flow as smoothly.
All in all, this book was very enjoyable and I would definitely recommend it to my friends. It has a bit of adult content, but not enough to bother me.
I am glad for the wonderful opportunity of receiving this book in a giveaway and reviewing it.
November 23, 2014
Powerful and moving, the way this book reads is as a story within a story format which is difficult to pull off but Jake does it with skill. There are some heart wrenching scenes which keep you engaged with Nick, Henri, and Eric in this tale of redemption and recovery. While tracing years of ups and downs, it's a fast read as you find yourself cheering Nick on but wanting to smack him at the same time. I look forward to more from Jake, and would recommend this book to anybody who wants something with depth that will stay with you.
January 15, 2023
I am very un so where I fully stand with this. I liked it, but the style and story left me feeling “off” in some places.
The story is basically 2 stories in one: the story of the person writing the book narrated in third person, and the story he is writing in first person. Some of it felt ambiguous and complex at the same time. It plays with emotional charge in a really weird and forward way that feel a little cheap. I do wonder, however, if maybe it is because I related to much to the character.
That being said, I repeat, I liked it.
The story is basically 2 stories in one: the story of the person writing the book narrated in third person, and the story he is writing in first person. Some of it felt ambiguous and complex at the same time. It plays with emotional charge in a really weird and forward way that feel a little cheap. I do wonder, however, if maybe it is because I related to much to the character.
That being said, I repeat, I liked it.
July 3, 2015
From jbgarner58.wordpress.com:
Life is a hard road, something a Starving Reviewer who scrapes by from literary meal to meal understands. This week, the pantry has produced a coming-of-age tale that professes to pull no punches, to deliver a slice of realism pie for its readers. The ingredient list sounds good, but does Mr. Parent produce once he gets in the kitchen? Let’s find out!
But first, put your hand over your heart as we recite the Starving Review creed:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible.
Let’s start out by saying this: this is going to be a short one. For my long-time readers, you know what that means. This meal is a top-notch one! It’s an interesting paradox that my culinary examinations are shorter for fine dining than cheap fast food, one generated by my desire to give away little of a good book for fear of hurting the enjoyment of the other diners about to sit down for a plate, while I do not good for an author trying to find his/her voice by simply dismissing an effort as ‘bad’ without saying why so that they can improve.
With that being said, Devil is good. Not just good, I’d say top-notch cuisine. The main characters are fleshed out superbly, the pacing is perfect, and it didn’t go overlong. It mixed subtle foreshadowing, glowing and realistic interactions and dialogue, with a real sense of understanding of the decades involved and the locations explored. There is both entertainment and meaning dripping like a delicate glaze from this slice of literary pie and I loved every moment of it.
One point that deserves special praise is the use of a book-within-a-book structure. Though this is a kind of layer cake that’s easy to get wrong (so very very wrong), Mr. Parent uses it with the careful touch of an expert chef. The ‘book’ within serves as flashback and foreshadowing, never crushing the pacing and always pushing the framing story onward. Bravo to the chef for handling this oft-maligned technique so well!
So I am not doing a disservice to my fellow literary foodies, let me be plain in that this coming-of-age tale is a hard one. There are no punches pulled and nothing glossed over. However, as any proper tale, it isn’t impossibly bleak or continually set on a downward spiral. Still, if you are upset by realistic depictions of some of life’s darker sides, you might be put off by the events of Devil.
To come to a quick and final summation, Only the Devil Tells the Truth serves up a top-notch must-read coming-of-age tale filled with both tragedy and inspiration! I would strongly suggest you go to Mr. Parent’s table and get yourself a nice serving of this meal. Chew slowly … this is the good stuff!
FINAL VERDICT: ***** (A top-notch must-read coming-of-age tale filled with both tragedy and inspiration!)
Life is a hard road, something a Starving Reviewer who scrapes by from literary meal to meal understands. This week, the pantry has produced a coming-of-age tale that professes to pull no punches, to deliver a slice of realism pie for its readers. The ingredient list sounds good, but does Mr. Parent produce once he gets in the kitchen? Let’s find out!
But first, put your hand over your heart as we recite the Starving Review creed:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible.
Let’s start out by saying this: this is going to be a short one. For my long-time readers, you know what that means. This meal is a top-notch one! It’s an interesting paradox that my culinary examinations are shorter for fine dining than cheap fast food, one generated by my desire to give away little of a good book for fear of hurting the enjoyment of the other diners about to sit down for a plate, while I do not good for an author trying to find his/her voice by simply dismissing an effort as ‘bad’ without saying why so that they can improve.
With that being said, Devil is good. Not just good, I’d say top-notch cuisine. The main characters are fleshed out superbly, the pacing is perfect, and it didn’t go overlong. It mixed subtle foreshadowing, glowing and realistic interactions and dialogue, with a real sense of understanding of the decades involved and the locations explored. There is both entertainment and meaning dripping like a delicate glaze from this slice of literary pie and I loved every moment of it.
One point that deserves special praise is the use of a book-within-a-book structure. Though this is a kind of layer cake that’s easy to get wrong (so very very wrong), Mr. Parent uses it with the careful touch of an expert chef. The ‘book’ within serves as flashback and foreshadowing, never crushing the pacing and always pushing the framing story onward. Bravo to the chef for handling this oft-maligned technique so well!
So I am not doing a disservice to my fellow literary foodies, let me be plain in that this coming-of-age tale is a hard one. There are no punches pulled and nothing glossed over. However, as any proper tale, it isn’t impossibly bleak or continually set on a downward spiral. Still, if you are upset by realistic depictions of some of life’s darker sides, you might be put off by the events of Devil.
To come to a quick and final summation, Only the Devil Tells the Truth serves up a top-notch must-read coming-of-age tale filled with both tragedy and inspiration! I would strongly suggest you go to Mr. Parent’s table and get yourself a nice serving of this meal. Chew slowly … this is the good stuff!
FINAL VERDICT: ***** (A top-notch must-read coming-of-age tale filled with both tragedy and inspiration!)
January 8, 2015
Parent does a good job of navigating difficult material without causing the reader to feel that they are having their emotions toyed with by the author. More emotional scenes are well-written and well-earned. Characters (even ones who only appear for a few pages,) feel unique from each other and real.
Nick Johnson is a believable character who becomes more interesting throughout the book as more about his past is revealed. By the end, I found myself rooting for him as he faces his problems head on.
The narrative is laid out such that it switches between current-day Nick and Nick from the past. Although initially I found this switchback to be a bit jarring, the two narratives support each other nicely by the end.
Nick Johnson is a believable character who becomes more interesting throughout the book as more about his past is revealed. By the end, I found myself rooting for him as he faces his problems head on.
The narrative is laid out such that it switches between current-day Nick and Nick from the past. Although initially I found this switchback to be a bit jarring, the two narratives support each other nicely by the end.
December 12, 2019
I received this book via Goodreads first reads for review.
This book follows the story of a man who breaks his leg and writes a book as a means of coping with his loss of mobility and freedom. It’s an interesting and in depth look at his past and his desires for the future as seen through the lens of creativity.
For me, the writing was a little slow paced, but the story was compelling enough to keep me reading it. It’s worth a look if you’re interested in the writing process and how it can be used to cope with trauma.
This book follows the story of a man who breaks his leg and writes a book as a means of coping with his loss of mobility and freedom. It’s an interesting and in depth look at his past and his desires for the future as seen through the lens of creativity.
For me, the writing was a little slow paced, but the story was compelling enough to keep me reading it. It’s worth a look if you’re interested in the writing process and how it can be used to cope with trauma.
June 27, 2017
Wow!
Occasionally I read a book and think, "I want everyone I know to read this book," and this is one of those gems!!!
Occasionally I read a book and think, "I want everyone I know to read this book," and this is one of those gems!!!
July 26, 2017
A different kind of book that I really enjoyed. Lots of ups and downs with emotions and life's journeys.
March 16, 2023
i love this book so so much ggghsgsgs it was so good
April 9, 2015
Nick is unhappy with the way his life is going then a grammatical event happens and everything is turned upside down. Nick decides to write a book about his life which starts with his mother and how she coped with the cards life gave her. Nicks life has its ups and downs which he mostly causes through drugs and drink and at the extreme causes his best friend to get really hurt. Nick feels guilty and ends up losing everything especially his friends and all on his own . The book travels from present to past but does it really well and the ending is good read a d find out if Nick really does turn his life around. Would recommend this novel
July 16, 2016
If not for having to go to work, I would have finished this book in one day. Simply told yet emotionally complex, it is a raw view of one screw-up's road to redemption and fulfilling his dreams.
Read
August 10, 2017A page-turning creative work of words.
The characters in Only The Devil Tells The Truth are remarkable and deep. Each one sprung to life as the words on the pages effortlessly flowed from page to page. Painting their self portraits, and intertwining their personalities with their individual quirks that make up a strong, multi-layered and likable/unlikable character.
I found the chapter breaks a bit difficult to follow. The book was bouncing from "reality" to "story" (which is not a critique, just a fact) and it was a bit difficult for me to understand which time frame I was reading. I was able to figure it out rather quickly but it did briefly break my reading flow.
The book as a whole was very well written and edited. The words the author used painted the most vibrant and multi-layered pictures in my mind. I found it very appealing. This book could have been a perfect outlet to expound more on the relationship between a son and a single mother but unfortunately it did not. Fiction is a great way to get across facts without directly facing the opposition. That is one topic our society refuses to look at with an objective eye. That wasn't the authors point of this book of course, nor is this a criticism of the book but it would have been an added, and valuable bonus in my opinion. I am excited to read another book from this author. Overall this was a great book that was well worth my time to read and review it. Touché, Jake Parent!
The characters in Only The Devil Tells The Truth are remarkable and deep. Each one sprung to life as the words on the pages effortlessly flowed from page to page. Painting their self portraits, and intertwining their personalities with their individual quirks that make up a strong, multi-layered and likable/unlikable character.
I found the chapter breaks a bit difficult to follow. The book was bouncing from "reality" to "story" (which is not a critique, just a fact) and it was a bit difficult for me to understand which time frame I was reading. I was able to figure it out rather quickly but it did briefly break my reading flow.
The book as a whole was very well written and edited. The words the author used painted the most vibrant and multi-layered pictures in my mind. I found it very appealing. This book could have been a perfect outlet to expound more on the relationship between a son and a single mother but unfortunately it did not. Fiction is a great way to get across facts without directly facing the opposition. That is one topic our society refuses to look at with an objective eye. That wasn't the authors point of this book of course, nor is this a criticism of the book but it would have been an added, and valuable bonus in my opinion. I am excited to read another book from this author. Overall this was a great book that was well worth my time to read and review it. Touché, Jake Parent!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews