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Alles behalve de waarheid
Het begon allemaal met een e-mail. Het scherm van Jacks iPad lichtte midden in de nacht op. Het was niet Rachels bedoeling om te kijken. Ze houdt van Jack en draagt zijn kind. Ze vertrouwt hem, ook al kennen ze elkaar nog maar kort. Maar nu Rachel het bericht gezien heeft, laat het haar niet meer los en stort haar leven als een kaartenhuis in. Waarom loog Jack over zijn verleden? Wat heeft hij precies te verbergen? Heeft Rachel niet het recht om de waarheid te weten? Maar is ze zelf wel oprecht naar Jack over haar eigen verleden?
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2017
303 people are currently reading
8210 people want to read
About the author
Gillian McAllister
18 books11.7k followersAs you find me, it's autumn 2025 and my latest novel is Famous Last Words, a thriller with a marriage at its centre. It asks the question: what would you do if your husband is caught up in a siege in central London? Only, the police tell you he isn't one of the hostages: he is the gunman... I hope you like the answer!
Upcoming in spring 2026 is Caller Unknown, a thriller about a woman whose teenage daughter is kidnapped, and she decides to pay the ransom, meet the kidnappers direct, and not tell the police.
As to me, otherwise, I am the author of these novels:
Everything But The Truth (2017)
Anything You Do Say (2018) called The Choice in America
No Further Questions (2018) called The Good Sister in America
The Evidence Against You (2019)
How To Disappear (2020)
That Night (2021)
Wrong Place Wrong Time (2022)
Just Another Missing Person (2023)
Famous Last Words (2025)
My most popular novel is probably Wrong Place Wrong Time, which was selected for the Radio 2 book club and was the Reese's Book Club August '22 pick. It debuted at number 4 on the Sunday Times Bestseller List and number 2 on the New York Times Bestseller List.
When not writing (which is basically never), I can be found walking my dog Wendy and parenting my small toddler. The best moments of my day always are the first sip of my coffee, the moment I step into the bath at night, and my son telling me he loves me. And that rare thing that happens only once a year - a novel idea.
Upcoming in spring 2026 is Caller Unknown, a thriller about a woman whose teenage daughter is kidnapped, and she decides to pay the ransom, meet the kidnappers direct, and not tell the police.
As to me, otherwise, I am the author of these novels:
Everything But The Truth (2017)
Anything You Do Say (2018) called The Choice in America
No Further Questions (2018) called The Good Sister in America
The Evidence Against You (2019)
How To Disappear (2020)
That Night (2021)
Wrong Place Wrong Time (2022)
Just Another Missing Person (2023)
Famous Last Words (2025)
My most popular novel is probably Wrong Place Wrong Time, which was selected for the Radio 2 book club and was the Reese's Book Club August '22 pick. It debuted at number 4 on the Sunday Times Bestseller List and number 2 on the New York Times Bestseller List.
When not writing (which is basically never), I can be found walking my dog Wendy and parenting my small toddler. The best moments of my day always are the first sip of my coffee, the moment I step into the bath at night, and my son telling me he loves me. And that rare thing that happens only once a year - a novel idea.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 642 reviews
July 26, 2017
I bought this book "Everything But The Truth" for a couple of reasons - I'd heard so many good things about it on social media and the fact that I live in NE England and love the Highlands of Scotland - both places where the story is set.
There were times I felt like I was actually standing in Oban's harbour smelling the fish and chips and then standing in Newcastle's city centre looking at the Monument, so well had the author captured and portrayed these places I know so well. I love when you can truly relate to places in books, it makes it so much more realistic.
The story is quite slow and steady in its plot but straight away you feel you are encircled in a bubble of intrigue and secrets that you don't want to escape from until the book is finished. I read this over the period of a weekend and was perfect for lazy sunny reading in the garden.
I was totally bewildered by what secrets the main protagonists' Rachel and Jack could have been harbouring, although towards the end I did start to suspect what was coming in the end. Told in the first person by Rachel you really feel her paranoia, distrust and emotions, although I did find it hard to totally endear to her.
There is a lot of emotion in this book and at times it did make me feel sad and cause me to pause and think about life but the author wrote about these sensitive subjects tactfully and with sympathy. There are also a couple of moral issues/dilemmas at the heart of the story which would make for quite a debate.
This was a really gripping, easy to read psychological thriller that I did thoroughly enjoy and found very compelling. I'm getting more and more impressed by debut author's work these days and Gillian McAllister is no exception - coming across as a much more experienced writer. Her words flow effortlessly, the dialogue perfect and I would have no hesitation in recommending her work or reading future books. 5 stars for this beautifully written book!
There were times I felt like I was actually standing in Oban's harbour smelling the fish and chips and then standing in Newcastle's city centre looking at the Monument, so well had the author captured and portrayed these places I know so well. I love when you can truly relate to places in books, it makes it so much more realistic.
The story is quite slow and steady in its plot but straight away you feel you are encircled in a bubble of intrigue and secrets that you don't want to escape from until the book is finished. I read this over the period of a weekend and was perfect for lazy sunny reading in the garden.
I was totally bewildered by what secrets the main protagonists' Rachel and Jack could have been harbouring, although towards the end I did start to suspect what was coming in the end. Told in the first person by Rachel you really feel her paranoia, distrust and emotions, although I did find it hard to totally endear to her.
There is a lot of emotion in this book and at times it did make me feel sad and cause me to pause and think about life but the author wrote about these sensitive subjects tactfully and with sympathy. There are also a couple of moral issues/dilemmas at the heart of the story which would make for quite a debate.
This was a really gripping, easy to read psychological thriller that I did thoroughly enjoy and found very compelling. I'm getting more and more impressed by debut author's work these days and Gillian McAllister is no exception - coming across as a much more experienced writer. Her words flow effortlessly, the dialogue perfect and I would have no hesitation in recommending her work or reading future books. 5 stars for this beautifully written book!
February 23, 2017
** 4.5 Big Fat Stars**
Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin UK Michael Joseph for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
Rachel is pregnant with Jack's child, and she really loves him deeply, but an email on his ipad is about to take her on a journey - and it's a journey fraught with lies and fear that will pose the question, just how much can you trust ANYONE?
Jack has, without doubt, a very dark secret, one which, regardless of the fact that Rachel's having his baby, she may not be able to forgive or forget. But then, doesn't Rachel herself have something that she's hiding - something that she can't forgive herself for? If there's no trust within a relationship, then you have a recipe for disaster right there!
Rachel and Jack haven't known each other very long, something of a whirlwind romance, and there's still so much they don't know about each other - the minor things like favourite band /song / meal etc, but there are much more important matters to be revealed along the way. After Rachel reads the dreaded email while Jack is asleep, she starts to dig little by little into his past, even resorting to the dark web in order to find things that have been removed from a normal search of the internet.
It's hard not to put yourself in Rachel's position, wondering how you yourself would come to terms with the discoveries she's making, but it sure makes for a compelling read.
The characters were totally believable, and the narrative was suffused with an air of menace, that had me turning the pages ever more quickly, impatient to discover what was coming next - it had me gripped right the way through.
Gillian McAllister has produced a well crafted phsychological thriller here, and yes, yet another debut novel that could have come from a very experienced hand, so well done Gillian.
Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin UK Michael Joseph for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*
Rachel is pregnant with Jack's child, and she really loves him deeply, but an email on his ipad is about to take her on a journey - and it's a journey fraught with lies and fear that will pose the question, just how much can you trust ANYONE?
Jack has, without doubt, a very dark secret, one which, regardless of the fact that Rachel's having his baby, she may not be able to forgive or forget. But then, doesn't Rachel herself have something that she's hiding - something that she can't forgive herself for? If there's no trust within a relationship, then you have a recipe for disaster right there!
Rachel and Jack haven't known each other very long, something of a whirlwind romance, and there's still so much they don't know about each other - the minor things like favourite band /song / meal etc, but there are much more important matters to be revealed along the way. After Rachel reads the dreaded email while Jack is asleep, she starts to dig little by little into his past, even resorting to the dark web in order to find things that have been removed from a normal search of the internet.
It's hard not to put yourself in Rachel's position, wondering how you yourself would come to terms with the discoveries she's making, but it sure makes for a compelling read.
The characters were totally believable, and the narrative was suffused with an air of menace, that had me turning the pages ever more quickly, impatient to discover what was coming next - it had me gripped right the way through.
Gillian McAllister has produced a well crafted phsychological thriller here, and yes, yet another debut novel that could have come from a very experienced hand, so well done Gillian.
May 31, 2017
This is an excellent atmospheric psychological thriller that is essentially a character driven suspense novel with a strong sense of location in Oban and Newcastle. Rachel works in a law office and Jack is a freelance journalist. They met, fell in love super fast, and Rachel is now expecting a baby. She is convinced Jack is the one, until one night Rachel cannot stem her curiosity and looks at an incoming email on Jack's Ipad, this brings to the surface doubts as to whether she really knows Jack at all. Now Rachel is a mass of nerves, paranoia, mistrust and heightened emotions. Instead of letting things go, she becomes this driven, and obsessed woman who will do whatever it takes to find out about Jack's past and his secrets. The story is told through Rachel's perspective.
However, Rachel is less than upfront about her own past and secrets, and a concurrent storyline drip feeds her history as a paediatric doctor whose career ends. Her family history, particularly her mother, predisposes her to be fearful, less than trusting and judgemental. Amidst this background, can Rachel and Jack's relationship survive? This is a twisted and well plotted story with a tense and suspenseful narrative. It is morally ambiguous, and the author provides keen insights into the nature of human behaviour and emotions. It raises the all encompassing role played by social media today. Rachel is not a particularly likeable woman but I could not help but be gripped by her character. In fact, the author does all the characters remarkably well and makes them feel real and authentic. Great read that I highly recommend. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
However, Rachel is less than upfront about her own past and secrets, and a concurrent storyline drip feeds her history as a paediatric doctor whose career ends. Her family history, particularly her mother, predisposes her to be fearful, less than trusting and judgemental. Amidst this background, can Rachel and Jack's relationship survive? This is a twisted and well plotted story with a tense and suspenseful narrative. It is morally ambiguous, and the author provides keen insights into the nature of human behaviour and emotions. It raises the all encompassing role played by social media today. Rachel is not a particularly likeable woman but I could not help but be gripped by her character. In fact, the author does all the characters remarkably well and makes them feel real and authentic. Great read that I highly recommend. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
October 10, 2020
I'm at the point now where I'll read anything by Gillian McAllister. She's that good.
Something about the way she writes, the way she explains things. Something about the details, just enough, nothing wasted. Her writing is also so... human. No character is 100% good or 100% bad.
Rachel hasn't known Jack that long. Their relationship has been sped up by a surprise pregnancy, but they are very much in love and are making a go of it.
One night, an email pops up on Jack's mobile device which is lying on the nightstand. When the screen lights up in the dark bedroom, Rachel happens to see the subject line, and what she sees is.... disturbing. It further underlines the fact that, no, she really doesn't know her unborn baby's father.
In this novel, there are moral dilemmas, and I would argue that if you polled people, you would get all sorts of different opinions and takes on what the correct decisions would have been under these circumstances.
What's great about this author is that she entertains you while also making you think... which is an AMAZING combination.
Something about the way she writes, the way she explains things. Something about the details, just enough, nothing wasted. Her writing is also so... human. No character is 100% good or 100% bad.
Rachel hasn't known Jack that long. Their relationship has been sped up by a surprise pregnancy, but they are very much in love and are making a go of it.
One night, an email pops up on Jack's mobile device which is lying on the nightstand. When the screen lights up in the dark bedroom, Rachel happens to see the subject line, and what she sees is.... disturbing. It further underlines the fact that, no, she really doesn't know her unborn baby's father.
In this novel, there are moral dilemmas, and I would argue that if you polled people, you would get all sorts of different opinions and takes on what the correct decisions would have been under these circumstances.
What's great about this author is that she entertains you while also making you think... which is an AMAZING combination.
May 20, 2017
In the Highlands of Scotland two people fell in love like two peas in a pod. Only to discover that they're going to have a baby and don't really know anything about each other, apart from knowing that they were meant to grow old together.
In the picturesque little village, Oban, an old mansions and its inhabitants had a secret to protect, and in the city of Newcastle the young woman had her reasons for leaving her dream world of being a dedicated doctor. Relationships within Rachel's own family handicapped her efforts to move on and just be happy, trust people, fall in love with love and commitments in itself and feel comfortable with the life she chose to share with Jack, the freelance journalist.
The harder Jack tried to escape his history, the more obsessively Rachel delve into his past. She just could not stop herself, yet could not scrape enough courage together to tell him her own secret.
This atmospheric psychological thriller centers around forgiveness. In order to forgive others, one has to forgive oneself first and before that can actually happen, many mistakes are made and bad memories created. Lives can get ruined and futures can become meaningless, null and void, in the process.
Richly textured and complex in character, the secrets in the book are slowly revealed. This beautifully written book leaves the reader with thought-provoking questions for which there are no easy answers. I did not like Rachel for most of the book, but in the end it was easy to understand her, and most IMPORTANTLY ... forgive her for rubbing me the wrong way.
The ending was just perfect. I closed the book with an 'awwwwwww' that left me feeling optimistic and excited about life.
Thus, a wonderful entertaining, suspenseful, compelling read; tense and intriguing, without ripping my guts out.
An absolute YES! YES! YES!
In the picturesque little village, Oban, an old mansions and its inhabitants had a secret to protect, and in the city of Newcastle the young woman had her reasons for leaving her dream world of being a dedicated doctor. Relationships within Rachel's own family handicapped her efforts to move on and just be happy, trust people, fall in love with love and commitments in itself and feel comfortable with the life she chose to share with Jack, the freelance journalist.
The harder Jack tried to escape his history, the more obsessively Rachel delve into his past. She just could not stop herself, yet could not scrape enough courage together to tell him her own secret.
This atmospheric psychological thriller centers around forgiveness. In order to forgive others, one has to forgive oneself first and before that can actually happen, many mistakes are made and bad memories created. Lives can get ruined and futures can become meaningless, null and void, in the process.
Richly textured and complex in character, the secrets in the book are slowly revealed. This beautifully written book leaves the reader with thought-provoking questions for which there are no easy answers. I did not like Rachel for most of the book, but in the end it was easy to understand her, and most IMPORTANTLY ... forgive her for rubbing me the wrong way.
The ending was just perfect. I closed the book with an 'awwwwwww' that left me feeling optimistic and excited about life.
Thus, a wonderful entertaining, suspenseful, compelling read; tense and intriguing, without ripping my guts out.
An absolute YES! YES! YES!
March 4, 2017
Everything but the Truth is a bit like a visit to a theme park. Lots of twists and turns, ups and downs, confusion where you think you are on level ground and have it sussed, only to have something come out of nowhere and for you to realise you've been blindsided.
Rachel lives in Newcastle and used to be a medical doctor. She now works in an office for a medical litigator. She's going out with Jack and expecting his baby. The only issue is she doesn't really know Jack all that well. She became pregnant after only a few months of seeing him, and realisation is now dawning that she actually knows very little about him.
She didn't really think too much about this until in the middle of the night she spots an email on his iPad which rouses her curiosity and starts her thinking. When she eventually meets his friends, why do they call him a nickname that makes no sense, why doesn't he drive anymore, and why is he so protective of his mobile? These plus lots of other little niggling doubts race around her thoughts.
However as the reader, we don't know too much about Rachel's recent past. Why did she really quit her job as a doctor? We know her mother died from cancer and after her death, Rachel's father discovered she had been having an affair with another man for years. She then became suspicion about her then boyfriend Ben of seeing other people. So maybe Rachel is just paranoid because of what's happened in her own past? Although there just seem to be too many coincidences, hidden secrets and odd happenings for that to really be the case.
This is kind of like a British noir. Set in slightly dark and menacing environments - Newcastle with its rain and Oban with its mists and drizzle - the bleak, gloomy and at times oppressive setting is perfect for this type of book. The book purposefully goes between the present day and a year ago - before Rachel met Jack. A clever way of confounding the reader and making you doubt whether Rachel is simply paranoid and irrational or has legitimate concerns.
This pace of the writing really keeps you on the edge of your couch, and up reading until way past when you should be sleeping. If you like psychological mysteries and books that keep your instincts on edge, this is book for you. You may think you have it all worked out, only to be surprised again. It really is fast moving and will keep you guessing right until the end, while you ponder about what you would do if you ever found yourself in a similar situation.
Thanks to NetGalley, and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Rachel lives in Newcastle and used to be a medical doctor. She now works in an office for a medical litigator. She's going out with Jack and expecting his baby. The only issue is she doesn't really know Jack all that well. She became pregnant after only a few months of seeing him, and realisation is now dawning that she actually knows very little about him.
She didn't really think too much about this until in the middle of the night she spots an email on his iPad which rouses her curiosity and starts her thinking. When she eventually meets his friends, why do they call him a nickname that makes no sense, why doesn't he drive anymore, and why is he so protective of his mobile? These plus lots of other little niggling doubts race around her thoughts.
However as the reader, we don't know too much about Rachel's recent past. Why did she really quit her job as a doctor? We know her mother died from cancer and after her death, Rachel's father discovered she had been having an affair with another man for years. She then became suspicion about her then boyfriend Ben of seeing other people. So maybe Rachel is just paranoid because of what's happened in her own past? Although there just seem to be too many coincidences, hidden secrets and odd happenings for that to really be the case.
This is kind of like a British noir. Set in slightly dark and menacing environments - Newcastle with its rain and Oban with its mists and drizzle - the bleak, gloomy and at times oppressive setting is perfect for this type of book. The book purposefully goes between the present day and a year ago - before Rachel met Jack. A clever way of confounding the reader and making you doubt whether Rachel is simply paranoid and irrational or has legitimate concerns.
This pace of the writing really keeps you on the edge of your couch, and up reading until way past when you should be sleeping. If you like psychological mysteries and books that keep your instincts on edge, this is book for you. You may think you have it all worked out, only to be surprised again. It really is fast moving and will keep you guessing right until the end, while you ponder about what you would do if you ever found yourself in a similar situation.
Thanks to NetGalley, and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
June 14, 2020
A very suspenseful read.
A very enjoyable read.
A whirlwind romance.
Get pregnant, settle down.
But what and how much do you know about each other?
A message on his iPad turns everything upside down.
But is he the only one hiding secrets?
This kept me on my toes so much.
So many questions I wanted answered right away so read, read, read. I couldn’t leave it alone.
I’m off to read book 2
A very enjoyable read.
A whirlwind romance.
Get pregnant, settle down.
But what and how much do you know about each other?
A message on his iPad turns everything upside down.
But is he the only one hiding secrets?
This kept me on my toes so much.
So many questions I wanted answered right away so read, read, read. I couldn’t leave it alone.
I’m off to read book 2
March 4, 2018
This is an exceptional book.If I could write one day with the same depth and finesse as Gillian I'd be deliriously happy. She is one very talented writer. This book sucked me in, held me close, tossed me around and helped me escape the world as I got lost in it.
Lies. Secrets. Untruths. Trust issues...
Not a good thing in any relationship, never mind a very new one. But this is exactly what faces our starring couple - Jack and Rachel. Nothing is clear. In fact things are muddied. This is a plot that enticed and excited me.
Two people. A timeline that moves between then and now. Things unspoken. Secrets.
This novel is penned with great depth, insight into human nature, extremely realistic characters and fantastic reveals that took my breath away. It just threw up more and more surprises. Every moment I got I picked up this book to read. Desperate to know what was coming next.
It's a book that made me think often...what would I do if I was Rachel? I spent so much time in her world I felt close to her by the end of the book. She surprised me often. Just when I thought I had both Jack and Rachel worked out...bam! I was hit with another curve ball.
It's consistently good. Not a lull or dull moment. Nothing is rushed here. I imagine the author to be a perfectionist and I say that as a compliment. Such a great book!
There was nothing not to like. Great plot, characters that stuck with me, reveals that surprised me. Articulate and clever writing with detail and care woven in everywhere. An intelligent book. Highly readable, hugely entertaining and totally recommended to you dear reader.
Everything But The Truth enters my long list of Top Books of 2017 - worthy of its place there and a contender for one of my top 17 books of 2017. I'm hungry for more from Gillian. A favourite author now, insta-love.
Oh! It also features a very cool cat. Marvellous!
I received a paperback ARC thanks to the author and publisher. All review opinions are entirely my own and completely unbiased.
Lies. Secrets. Untruths. Trust issues...
Not a good thing in any relationship, never mind a very new one. But this is exactly what faces our starring couple - Jack and Rachel. Nothing is clear. In fact things are muddied. This is a plot that enticed and excited me.
Two people. A timeline that moves between then and now. Things unspoken. Secrets.
This novel is penned with great depth, insight into human nature, extremely realistic characters and fantastic reveals that took my breath away. It just threw up more and more surprises. Every moment I got I picked up this book to read. Desperate to know what was coming next.
It's a book that made me think often...what would I do if I was Rachel? I spent so much time in her world I felt close to her by the end of the book. She surprised me often. Just when I thought I had both Jack and Rachel worked out...bam! I was hit with another curve ball.
It's consistently good. Not a lull or dull moment. Nothing is rushed here. I imagine the author to be a perfectionist and I say that as a compliment. Such a great book!
There was nothing not to like. Great plot, characters that stuck with me, reveals that surprised me. Articulate and clever writing with detail and care woven in everywhere. An intelligent book. Highly readable, hugely entertaining and totally recommended to you dear reader.
Everything But The Truth enters my long list of Top Books of 2017 - worthy of its place there and a contender for one of my top 17 books of 2017. I'm hungry for more from Gillian. A favourite author now, insta-love.
Oh! It also features a very cool cat. Marvellous!
I received a paperback ARC thanks to the author and publisher. All review opinions are entirely my own and completely unbiased.
March 15, 2017
Everything but the Truth is a debut thriller with oodles of mystery and a story arc laced with deceit, secrets and lies. The female protagonist is on a quest to uncover the truth about her boyfriend after stumbling across an email she was never meant to see. Trust should be at the heart of any relationship, but for Rachel trust is not an easy thing to accomplish and as the story unfolds the reader gains full understanding as to why pivotal moments in her life may cloud her judgement.
The narrative toggles randomly between the present action and a past event in Rachel’s life. I was particularly drawn to the events in her past, I found myself always longing to go back to that moment in time and would have enjoyed more of that part of the story. Initially I was highly engaged in the narrative, it felt pacey, I liked the characters and was intrigued with the happenings and wanted to know whether her boyfriend could indeed be trusted. As it progressed, however, I found the female protagonist in present day mode to be paranoid and a little whinny for my tastes which in itself should not put one off reading a novel and certainly in the thriller genre I do not always warm to the protagonists depicted.
I must convey that I enjoyed surmising what may or may not have happened in the past of both lead characters and although nothing was particularly shocking when discovered, I could not deduce fully the outcome of what the story would be and I believe readers will enjoy unravelling and deducing throughout their read.
I was drawn to this story from the premise, I thought it sounded utterly intriguing and in many ways, it lived up to that thought and will be enjoyed by readers who appreciate a good mystery with a few twists and turns along the way.
Advance copy provided by Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, via NetGalley, for my honest review thoughts.
September 19, 2023
Everything but the Truth the debut novel of British author, Gillian McAllister, was first published a few years ago.
Rachel is a pregnant, former medical registrar, having worked on the paediatric ward of an NHS hospital. Her boyfriend, “Jack”, is a journalist and the father of the developing little bundle of joy growing inside her. A bundle they lovingly call ‘Wally”. These two are madly in love and share some warm, adorable, funny moments. However, all is not well. The reason is that Jack seems to be hiding something. Rachel first notices this when she first meets his rugby mates (after many months together) – where they call him ‘JD’. Why? His surname is Ross. What follows is a suspicious Rachel, crossing quite a few ethical boundaries, to find out more about her beau.
This makes one think – what is acceptable when trying to find out more about a partner? Particularly if he/she is not forthcoming, or obviously hiding something, something terrible. Would you check their emails, if you could work out their password? Would you use confidential records – legal or health records for example, to find out more? Well, this story, soon develops a head of steam, and asks plenty of ethical questions like this to the reader. It was riveting, but unsettling.
Perhaps Rachel has a dark secret too? Also, who is to judge when someone (partner or not) commits a terrible act, or any act that had tragic consequences? Are we too quick to judge? There’s also the question, does our partner need to know everything about us?
This was a rollicking ride, I was riveted. I couldn’t put the bloody thing down, even my Colleen McCoullough read about Caesar has been pushed aside because of this story. There is nothing sadder than a fully grown, hardcover 900-page book, sobbing in a bedroom – while its owner pays 100% of his attention to a new book on the block. Anyway, rest assured I will climb into bed tonight and beg for forgiveness – I have no shame.
There’s an interesting parallel here between the two main characters. They both have a thorny past – even though the author makes some sort of comparison between their previous deeds, I think it was a long bow to draw, as to me, they are very different scenarios. However, it does go to show – no two situations are the same.
The importance of forgiveness also raises its head as the story progresses. The power of forgiveness – the hurt involved in not forgiving. But heck, are we obliged to forgive anything or everything?
I like this author and will certainly read her again.
4 Stars
Rachel is a pregnant, former medical registrar, having worked on the paediatric ward of an NHS hospital. Her boyfriend, “Jack”, is a journalist and the father of the developing little bundle of joy growing inside her. A bundle they lovingly call ‘Wally”. These two are madly in love and share some warm, adorable, funny moments. However, all is not well. The reason is that Jack seems to be hiding something. Rachel first notices this when she first meets his rugby mates (after many months together) – where they call him ‘JD’. Why? His surname is Ross. What follows is a suspicious Rachel, crossing quite a few ethical boundaries, to find out more about her beau.
This makes one think – what is acceptable when trying to find out more about a partner? Particularly if he/she is not forthcoming, or obviously hiding something, something terrible. Would you check their emails, if you could work out their password? Would you use confidential records – legal or health records for example, to find out more? Well, this story, soon develops a head of steam, and asks plenty of ethical questions like this to the reader. It was riveting, but unsettling.
Perhaps Rachel has a dark secret too? Also, who is to judge when someone (partner or not) commits a terrible act, or any act that had tragic consequences? Are we too quick to judge? There’s also the question, does our partner need to know everything about us?
This was a rollicking ride, I was riveted. I couldn’t put the bloody thing down, even my Colleen McCoullough read about Caesar has been pushed aside because of this story. There is nothing sadder than a fully grown, hardcover 900-page book, sobbing in a bedroom – while its owner pays 100% of his attention to a new book on the block. Anyway, rest assured I will climb into bed tonight and beg for forgiveness – I have no shame.
There’s an interesting parallel here between the two main characters. They both have a thorny past – even though the author makes some sort of comparison between their previous deeds, I think it was a long bow to draw, as to me, they are very different scenarios. However, it does go to show – no two situations are the same.
The importance of forgiveness also raises its head as the story progresses. The power of forgiveness – the hurt involved in not forgiving. But heck, are we obliged to forgive anything or everything?
I like this author and will certainly read her again.
4 Stars
October 15, 2017
This was not to much a thriller as a meditation on consequences. Not that much even happens, but I was never bored. The characters were multi-dimensional and intriguing and I look forward to McAllister's next book!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
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December 11, 2016
Wow! Just….Wow! Shall I just leave it there? A book reviewed in just one word?! If I could I would but I need to tell you all why I have been blown away by this beautifully written debut by Gillian McAllister. She has written an intriguing and intelligent psychological suspense that has been perfectly plotted to make yourself ask “what would I have done?”
Have you ever picked up a book and had that weird feeling that it was written especially for you? That the author has somehow been stalking your social media as there is so much in their book that you can relate to your own life? Well, that was how I felt here! From mentioning my favourite drink in Starbucks, a medical story that brought back some funny (painful!) memories and a “game” that I often play with my family and friends, Everything But the Truth felt personally tailored to our current obsession with social media and its involvement in our everyday lives. At one point Jack says “It was of its time” and that pretty much sums up the whole rounded experience of reading this book. There was just so much fascinating information regarding current issues in it that I often stopped to Google things so I could investigate further!
I loved this authors writing style and settled into her unique storytelling “voice” almost immediately as I was drawn into the lives of Rachel and Jack. One of the things I especially liked was the use of shorter sentences structures which quickly evoked a feeling of time and place. I thought all the characters were well rounded but not over exposed and I could actually feel the authors affection for some of them radiating out from the page, mainly for Rachel’s Dad whom I definitely had a soft spot for! I did get incredibly frustrated by Rachel at times though as the author teased us with snippets throughout before revealing the full facts behind Jacks mysterious past and the email that sparked off Rachel’s quest for the truth at any cost. But I also felt a strong motherly connection to her as well where I wanted her to have the “happy ever after” that she so desperately desired.
Gillian McAllister is a real find for me and I predict HUGE success for her in 2017. Everything But the Truth is a strikingly brilliant debut with a moral dilemma that has stayed with me since I finished the perfectly executed last few pages. Put it on your 2017 wishlist right now. It’s OUTSTANDING!
Have you ever picked up a book and had that weird feeling that it was written especially for you? That the author has somehow been stalking your social media as there is so much in their book that you can relate to your own life? Well, that was how I felt here! From mentioning my favourite drink in Starbucks, a medical story that brought back some funny (painful!) memories and a “game” that I often play with my family and friends, Everything But the Truth felt personally tailored to our current obsession with social media and its involvement in our everyday lives. At one point Jack says “It was of its time” and that pretty much sums up the whole rounded experience of reading this book. There was just so much fascinating information regarding current issues in it that I often stopped to Google things so I could investigate further!
I loved this authors writing style and settled into her unique storytelling “voice” almost immediately as I was drawn into the lives of Rachel and Jack. One of the things I especially liked was the use of shorter sentences structures which quickly evoked a feeling of time and place. I thought all the characters were well rounded but not over exposed and I could actually feel the authors affection for some of them radiating out from the page, mainly for Rachel’s Dad whom I definitely had a soft spot for! I did get incredibly frustrated by Rachel at times though as the author teased us with snippets throughout before revealing the full facts behind Jacks mysterious past and the email that sparked off Rachel’s quest for the truth at any cost. But I also felt a strong motherly connection to her as well where I wanted her to have the “happy ever after” that she so desperately desired.
Gillian McAllister is a real find for me and I predict HUGE success for her in 2017. Everything But the Truth is a strikingly brilliant debut with a moral dilemma that has stayed with me since I finished the perfectly executed last few pages. Put it on your 2017 wishlist right now. It’s OUTSTANDING!
February 14, 2017
Rachel and Jack have recently discovered that they are going to have a baby,they have only been together for a few months and don't really know a lot about each other but Rachel is sure that Jack is The One and they love each other so everything is going to be ok.Then one night her happy world is blown apart when she catches a glimpse of a email on Jacks IPad and discovers that Jack has been keeping secrets from her.When Jack refuses to open up to her she begins a obsessive quest to find out what he is hiding from her,after all she is carrying his baby so surely she has every right to know the truth.
As someone who suffers from anxiety and paranoia I could totally understand Rachel's reaction to the email.Once the tiny seed of doubt is planted your brain goes into overdrive and goes all out to convince you that something is going on and no matter what anyone says you are totally convinced that you are being lied to.So I had a lot of sympathy for Rachel but I also felt very frustrated with her because she was constantly going on at Jack about being honest with her while she was keeping a major secret from him.
The story flips back and forth between the present day and a year before,it is in the chapters that are set in the past that you find out about Rachel's life before she met Jack and what her big secret is.I enjoyed the chapters set in the past more than the present day chapters,I felt there was more mystery and intregue to Rachel's story.
It's an engaging character driven story,the characters are realistic and it has a believable ending that doesn't go down the happily ever after route that spoils so many good books.I really enjoyed reading this entertaining thriller and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Penguin House UK for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
As someone who suffers from anxiety and paranoia I could totally understand Rachel's reaction to the email.Once the tiny seed of doubt is planted your brain goes into overdrive and goes all out to convince you that something is going on and no matter what anyone says you are totally convinced that you are being lied to.So I had a lot of sympathy for Rachel but I also felt very frustrated with her because she was constantly going on at Jack about being honest with her while she was keeping a major secret from him.
The story flips back and forth between the present day and a year before,it is in the chapters that are set in the past that you find out about Rachel's life before she met Jack and what her big secret is.I enjoyed the chapters set in the past more than the present day chapters,I felt there was more mystery and intregue to Rachel's story.
It's an engaging character driven story,the characters are realistic and it has a believable ending that doesn't go down the happily ever after route that spoils so many good books.I really enjoyed reading this entertaining thriller and look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Penguin House UK for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
March 2, 2017
Everything but the Truth is a story full of suspense and intrigue.
Rachel’s mind goes into over drive after seeing an email come through late at night on Jack’s ipad. I have to say it’s quite obvious that Rachel has some trust issues, from that point on she makes it her mission to find out exactly what Jack is hiding.
Throughout the story I kept wondering whether sometimes it’s better to not know the truth, though like Rachel, I was desperate to know. The further into the story it’s obvious that Rachel was right to go with her gut instincts.
Other than Jack’s secret, him and Rachel make a great couple. They are expecting a baby which both are excited about and I was really hoping that what ever it was, wasn’t going to be enough to split them up.
I have to say when it all comes out, whilst it didn’t shock me, it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting. Some parts, if anything, were extremely thought provoking which I liked as it really puts you into the characters shoes and makes you think about what you would do if you were them.
Everything but the Truth is without a doubt a read that will have you totally engrossed in it. The author weaves a story that will have readers hooked from start to end. I’m not sure what I was actually expecting from this book as I thought it sounded like it could be a psychological thriller from the description, which it isn’t by the way. What it is though is a story that is shrouded in lies and suspense and without a doubt makes for an engaging read. Hard to believe this is the authors debut novel and very excited to read more by her in the future.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK – Michael Joseph for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and biased in anyway.
Rachel’s mind goes into over drive after seeing an email come through late at night on Jack’s ipad. I have to say it’s quite obvious that Rachel has some trust issues, from that point on she makes it her mission to find out exactly what Jack is hiding.
Throughout the story I kept wondering whether sometimes it’s better to not know the truth, though like Rachel, I was desperate to know. The further into the story it’s obvious that Rachel was right to go with her gut instincts.
Other than Jack’s secret, him and Rachel make a great couple. They are expecting a baby which both are excited about and I was really hoping that what ever it was, wasn’t going to be enough to split them up.
I have to say when it all comes out, whilst it didn’t shock me, it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting. Some parts, if anything, were extremely thought provoking which I liked as it really puts you into the characters shoes and makes you think about what you would do if you were them.
Everything but the Truth is without a doubt a read that will have you totally engrossed in it. The author weaves a story that will have readers hooked from start to end. I’m not sure what I was actually expecting from this book as I thought it sounded like it could be a psychological thriller from the description, which it isn’t by the way. What it is though is a story that is shrouded in lies and suspense and without a doubt makes for an engaging read. Hard to believe this is the authors debut novel and very excited to read more by her in the future.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK – Michael Joseph for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and biased in anyway.
February 4, 2017
I'm not feeling the love for this that other reviewers seem to be. I just failed to be gripped by any of it. It's billed as a psychological thriller with the story building to the ultimate crescendo. Except really it's about one woman's nosiness and tendency to over-react descending into paranoia accusing her partner of lying despite the fact that she herself constantly withheld information and lied to him. It's just full of double standards.
Don't get me wrong. What Jack did was a bad thing - at least on the surface. The more you learn the more the lines get blurred but yet the more Rachel gets on her high horse and creates her own judgements. I found it hard to have any sympathy for her when it's not the first time this behaviour has led to the destruction of a relationship. At the end it's brushed off as caring too much. That doesn't sit right either.
Her own secret is woven throughout the book and becomes sort of easy to guess. I figured out the event but got the how wrong. Too much of that story was obvious for the big reveal to have any impact.
I liked that the ending was ambiguously happy. A happy with a caveat that they still can't fully trust each other rather than the Hollywood ending of everything being perfect and rosy.
It's k, not quite a page turner but it goes quite quickly. I didn't hate it but I couldn't love it. Thumbs in the middle
Don't get me wrong. What Jack did was a bad thing - at least on the surface. The more you learn the more the lines get blurred but yet the more Rachel gets on her high horse and creates her own judgements. I found it hard to have any sympathy for her when it's not the first time this behaviour has led to the destruction of a relationship. At the end it's brushed off as caring too much. That doesn't sit right either.
Her own secret is woven throughout the book and becomes sort of easy to guess. I figured out the event but got the how wrong. Too much of that story was obvious for the big reveal to have any impact.
I liked that the ending was ambiguously happy. A happy with a caveat that they still can't fully trust each other rather than the Hollywood ending of everything being perfect and rosy.
It's k, not quite a page turner but it goes quite quickly. I didn't hate it but I couldn't love it. Thumbs in the middle
March 20, 2017
A Must Buy, Must Read for any suspense thriller readers. This really is a stunning debut. It hooks you in from the very first page. Slowly spoon feeding you little nuggets of information and takes you on a twisty turnie rollercoaster ride where is deposits you at the end where you are left staring at the book for a few minutes going wow. I might be in a little bit of a reading slump after this book. The other thrillers that I read this year really have allot to live up to.
Rachel is a doctor who looks after cancer patients. On her rounds she befriends a patient. But is there a line that must be drawn in the sand of how close Doctors should get to their patients? In a split moment Rachel makes a judgement call that leads to her catastrophic secret.
Rachel has been dating Ben since they were at uni. But when Rachel's mother dies of cancer and the family discover they didn't really know their mother. Discovering a web of lies and a cheating wife. The line between trust and suspicion are blurred and Rachel starts accusing Ben of all sorts of things which causes them to break up. A few months after the break up Rachel meets Jack. They fall in love instantly and they decide to start a family together. Rachel trusts Jack. But one evening she sees an email on his phone and discovers a slither of a secret. Once Something is seen it cannot be unseen and uncovering the email sends a chain of motion into effect that could change everything. Why has Jack been lying about his past? And what is he hiding? Does Rachel have the right to know?
This book is set into three parts who? What? Why? Each section unravelling to answer each of these questions. Which I thought was fascinating and really clever.
Rachel really makes you think about how well you can really truely know someone. Is there an invisible line in the sand of the things we know and don't know about a person. Could we all confidently 100% certainly say that we know the people that we love and that are the most important to us? Do we know what they would do in a difficult situation? Do we know how they would act? Would we be happy with this? Or would it shock us to the core and rock the solid foundations?
The book also shines a light on our public and private personas. In the world of Facebook, instagramme, twitter where people seem to want the world and its wife to know all their private sordid details. Is there a line that shouldn't be crossed where we shouldn't put things on the internet for the whole world to see? If so where is it? And how much information is too much? Do people know that all of your private information no matter if you delete a post/page event ect can still be seen on the darkest areas of the net? If you dug deep enough. Me personally I know that there is a line to not cross and I'm not one of those people who share every single thought and feeling for the whole world to see. I find people who do this fascinating. As I can't understand why you would want to do this? With regards to the internet side of this book I found out quite a few things that I didn't know before. It was an eyeopener in more ways then one. Which was fascinating.
The title of the book for me is really fascinating. That and the cover and bio really caught my attention. I know why it has such a big score on here. The title however is intriguing in itself. Is it always important to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Or is there again a line where telling the truth can be far more harmful then a little white lie?
I really loved all the characters in this book. I took all of them into my heart and wanted the best for each and everyone of them. Where at times I found myself confused by what had happened in the past and all the secrets that people were hiding. I never ended up hating anyone. Which in itself is fascinating to me and opens up lots of questions like what is the difference between good and right? Is there a difference? Can the two coincide along Side each other?
There is a lot of different layers of relationship in this book. All with their own layers. It was a story about love, friendship, family, wrong and right, good and bad, respect, trust, compassion, understanding, self discovery, honesty, integrity and hope. It is a story that has many different layers and many different sub story's and issues. Not just Jack and Rachel. But jacks mum and dad and his little brother And family. The cute little cat. Rachel's father, her best friend and husband, her sister and her husband. The hospital staff and the different places Newcastle and Scotland breaking down the difference between the class system and the difference between someone rich and someone less well off.
It is a fantastic book. One that really will make you think. I know that I will be thinking of this book long after tonight.
Make sure you don't miss out on this book. It really is that good.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Happy first day of spring to you. Happy international happiness day and as always happy reading. Have a magic day and rest of the week.
Rachel is a doctor who looks after cancer patients. On her rounds she befriends a patient. But is there a line that must be drawn in the sand of how close Doctors should get to their patients? In a split moment Rachel makes a judgement call that leads to her catastrophic secret.
Rachel has been dating Ben since they were at uni. But when Rachel's mother dies of cancer and the family discover they didn't really know their mother. Discovering a web of lies and a cheating wife. The line between trust and suspicion are blurred and Rachel starts accusing Ben of all sorts of things which causes them to break up. A few months after the break up Rachel meets Jack. They fall in love instantly and they decide to start a family together. Rachel trusts Jack. But one evening she sees an email on his phone and discovers a slither of a secret. Once Something is seen it cannot be unseen and uncovering the email sends a chain of motion into effect that could change everything. Why has Jack been lying about his past? And what is he hiding? Does Rachel have the right to know?
This book is set into three parts who? What? Why? Each section unravelling to answer each of these questions. Which I thought was fascinating and really clever.
Rachel really makes you think about how well you can really truely know someone. Is there an invisible line in the sand of the things we know and don't know about a person. Could we all confidently 100% certainly say that we know the people that we love and that are the most important to us? Do we know what they would do in a difficult situation? Do we know how they would act? Would we be happy with this? Or would it shock us to the core and rock the solid foundations?
The book also shines a light on our public and private personas. In the world of Facebook, instagramme, twitter where people seem to want the world and its wife to know all their private sordid details. Is there a line that shouldn't be crossed where we shouldn't put things on the internet for the whole world to see? If so where is it? And how much information is too much? Do people know that all of your private information no matter if you delete a post/page event ect can still be seen on the darkest areas of the net? If you dug deep enough. Me personally I know that there is a line to not cross and I'm not one of those people who share every single thought and feeling for the whole world to see. I find people who do this fascinating. As I can't understand why you would want to do this? With regards to the internet side of this book I found out quite a few things that I didn't know before. It was an eyeopener in more ways then one. Which was fascinating.
The title of the book for me is really fascinating. That and the cover and bio really caught my attention. I know why it has such a big score on here. The title however is intriguing in itself. Is it always important to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Or is there again a line where telling the truth can be far more harmful then a little white lie?
I really loved all the characters in this book. I took all of them into my heart and wanted the best for each and everyone of them. Where at times I found myself confused by what had happened in the past and all the secrets that people were hiding. I never ended up hating anyone. Which in itself is fascinating to me and opens up lots of questions like what is the difference between good and right? Is there a difference? Can the two coincide along Side each other?
There is a lot of different layers of relationship in this book. All with their own layers. It was a story about love, friendship, family, wrong and right, good and bad, respect, trust, compassion, understanding, self discovery, honesty, integrity and hope. It is a story that has many different layers and many different sub story's and issues. Not just Jack and Rachel. But jacks mum and dad and his little brother And family. The cute little cat. Rachel's father, her best friend and husband, her sister and her husband. The hospital staff and the different places Newcastle and Scotland breaking down the difference between the class system and the difference between someone rich and someone less well off.
It is a fantastic book. One that really will make you think. I know that I will be thinking of this book long after tonight.
Make sure you don't miss out on this book. It really is that good.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Happy first day of spring to you. Happy international happiness day and as always happy reading. Have a magic day and rest of the week.
December 27, 2016
**4.5 stars**
Everything But the Truth is a bang on target domestic noir, a page turner of the highest order and, thank the book Gods, manages to avoid all the dull as ditch water standard cliches of the genre whilst playing brilliantly into all the reasons why we readers love this stuff.
Jack and Rachel have not been together that long, but for Rachel it has been one of those “this is right” life moments – so an early in the relationship pregnancy does not seem as daunting as it might have done. Preparing to settle down to domestic bliss, one night Rachel catches a glimpse of an email, one that suggests there may be horrific hidden secrets in Jack’s past.
Now here’s what I loved – we all have secrets and that is true – Gillian McAllister uses that to great affect, Jack may be hiding something but so is Rachel and the yin yang of how much honesty is actually required for a successful relationship was at the heart of this for me. Rachel becomes obsessed, perhaps even going slightly mad in her quest for the truth but her own truth lies hidden in the mire also. Everything But the Truth is a beautifully drawn character study, a love story with a twisted path and an occasionally haunting glimpse into human psyche.
There is real depth to the plotting, exploring all the layers underneath that one thing we are waiting to find out, this is not a novel that sets out to shock with THAT moment (the one that, lets face it, most of us see coming a mile off these days) but more a slow unwinding of the personalities involved until they face themselves head on. It is that gentle yet utterly gripping unravelling that will keep you reading this long into the night. Cleverly done, genuinely compelling.
Excellent. Really excellent. Highly Recommended.
Everything But the Truth is a bang on target domestic noir, a page turner of the highest order and, thank the book Gods, manages to avoid all the dull as ditch water standard cliches of the genre whilst playing brilliantly into all the reasons why we readers love this stuff.
Jack and Rachel have not been together that long, but for Rachel it has been one of those “this is right” life moments – so an early in the relationship pregnancy does not seem as daunting as it might have done. Preparing to settle down to domestic bliss, one night Rachel catches a glimpse of an email, one that suggests there may be horrific hidden secrets in Jack’s past.
Now here’s what I loved – we all have secrets and that is true – Gillian McAllister uses that to great affect, Jack may be hiding something but so is Rachel and the yin yang of how much honesty is actually required for a successful relationship was at the heart of this for me. Rachel becomes obsessed, perhaps even going slightly mad in her quest for the truth but her own truth lies hidden in the mire also. Everything But the Truth is a beautifully drawn character study, a love story with a twisted path and an occasionally haunting glimpse into human psyche.
There is real depth to the plotting, exploring all the layers underneath that one thing we are waiting to find out, this is not a novel that sets out to shock with THAT moment (the one that, lets face it, most of us see coming a mile off these days) but more a slow unwinding of the personalities involved until they face themselves head on. It is that gentle yet utterly gripping unravelling that will keep you reading this long into the night. Cleverly done, genuinely compelling.
Excellent. Really excellent. Highly Recommended.
May 4, 2017
Dull, repetitive and utterly predictable. The whole thing just irritated me beyond belief.
May 20, 2017
For Jack & Rachel it was almost love at first sight. They seemed to suit each other so well & when Rachel found out she was pregnant they were both delighted & took it as a sign that they were meant as a couple & as a family.
But all is not quite as it seems.We know early on that Rachel was a doctor but something happened to end her career. And why does Jack always pull funny faces in every picture?
When Rachel sees an email sent to Jack she begins to sense some dark secret in his past. Once the worm of doubt is sown she cannot leave it alone. She starts snooping into his past. Even when she thinks she finds what she is looking for & shocking as it is, she has some understanding, she can't stop prying.
At times I felt so angry with Rachel! I wanted to yell at her to leave things alone! At other times I wanted to beg Jack to just tell her everything-even if I didn't know exactly what that was!
This was a totally engrossing five star read. thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for introducing me to Gillian McAllister, I'll be looking out for more of her stories if they are as good as this one!
But all is not quite as it seems.We know early on that Rachel was a doctor but something happened to end her career. And why does Jack always pull funny faces in every picture?
When Rachel sees an email sent to Jack she begins to sense some dark secret in his past. Once the worm of doubt is sown she cannot leave it alone. She starts snooping into his past. Even when she thinks she finds what she is looking for & shocking as it is, she has some understanding, she can't stop prying.
At times I felt so angry with Rachel! I wanted to yell at her to leave things alone! At other times I wanted to beg Jack to just tell her everything-even if I didn't know exactly what that was!
This was a totally engrossing five star read. thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for introducing me to Gillian McAllister, I'll be looking out for more of her stories if they are as good as this one!
March 27, 2017
I love how this was written alternating time periods. It builds up slowly, adding different facets until you keep changing your mind how you feel about the story. Which literally left me undecided until the last few pages were read. Really enjoyed this one! Definitely worth buying from across the pond!
April 26, 2017
BLURB
It all started with the email.
Rachel didn't even mean to look. She loves Jack and she's pregnant with their child. She trusts him.
But now she's seen it, she can't undo that moment. Or the chain of events it has set in motion.
Why has Jack been lying about his past? Just what exactly is he hiding? And doesn't Rachel have a right to know the truth at any cost?
MY THOUGHTS
I was completely absorbed by this book. It's quite a steady story, but it really gets under your skin. An outstanding debut by, Gillian McAllister, and I genuinely hope there is more to come.
The story is very believable and all the main characters are as close to real life as you can possibly imagine. I related to the storyline instantly and I can imagine a high percentage of people will feel the same once they have read this book. Learning to trust, forgive, accept and move on, are things we all have to deal with, and Gillian manages to portray this impeccably throughout the whole book.
If you put it down, I guarantee you'll be picking it back up as soon as you can. An engrossing read, highly enjoyable, and I would definitely recommend it!
It all started with the email.
Rachel didn't even mean to look. She loves Jack and she's pregnant with their child. She trusts him.
But now she's seen it, she can't undo that moment. Or the chain of events it has set in motion.
Why has Jack been lying about his past? Just what exactly is he hiding? And doesn't Rachel have a right to know the truth at any cost?
MY THOUGHTS
I was completely absorbed by this book. It's quite a steady story, but it really gets under your skin. An outstanding debut by, Gillian McAllister, and I genuinely hope there is more to come.
The story is very believable and all the main characters are as close to real life as you can possibly imagine. I related to the storyline instantly and I can imagine a high percentage of people will feel the same once they have read this book. Learning to trust, forgive, accept and move on, are things we all have to deal with, and Gillian manages to portray this impeccably throughout the whole book.
If you put it down, I guarantee you'll be picking it back up as soon as you can. An engrossing read, highly enjoyable, and I would definitely recommend it!
March 11, 2017
Everything But The Truth is a psychological thriller but not of the ilk that you might be expecting from the genre. This superb read is a quieter more thoughtful book with moral dilemmas at its heart rather than the fast paced action packed books that is now the norm for books marketed under this heading. That doesn’t mean this book isn’t gripping, far from it!
Rachel is pregnant, one that wasn’t planned, well there was hardly enough time for that in her new relationship with Jack, but the pregnancy isn’t a disaster, both are thrilled about the baby on the way and Rachel is delighted to have found ‘the one.’ Rachel works in a law firm as an administrator having left her job as a paediatric doctor while Jack is working as a journalist in Newcastle having moved for a temporary role from his hometown of Oban. All is going well although the couple have yet to move in together in readiness for the forthcoming baby.
Then late one night Jack’s iPad lights up and half-asleep Rachel reads the email sent which mentions an event that she knows nothing about. Rachel begins to wonder how well she knows Jack especially when the short reply he gives the next morning, isn’t wholly convincing.
The book then follows Rachel and Jack forward from this moment where Rachel is determined to find out the truth whatever the cost, but is she right to keep digging? And what is she going to do if she ever finds out? We also see what Rachel’s life was like before Jack, when she was working I the hospital, this strand takes a while before the relevance of this becomes clear, but all is revealed later Beyond that I can’t say anything about the plot because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else.
There is no doubt that Gillian McAllister knows how to weave a tale that is complex and has space built into the narrative that allows the reader to put themselves into the character’s shoes, and yes to make judgements on that tricky morality scale. All the characters are exceptionally well drawn, Rachel and Jack behave in ways that felt absolutely realistic, but so do the secondary characters who are varied and memorable in their own right. I often think that social situations are the hardest to transfer to the page, after all those family walks where in reality no-one says anything particularly scintillating are rarely found in books, but when Jack and Rachel went for a walk with Jack’s parents and brother, it was an evocative scene full of Scottish mist with convincing everyday ordinariness.
One of the strands of Everything But The Truth linked to a personal experience of mine which meant that this is one of those magical books that really ‘spoke to me’ . In this part I had predicted the outcome, but that made it no less devastating to read the words I didn’t want to see on the page. Yes, this book had me sobbing, but it also entertained me, made me think and painted a picture of a young couple that imprinted themselves onto my memory. I won’t forget this book in a long while it had that big an impact on me. There is so much packed into this book that I really do think that there are going to be few readers that are not drawn into some aspect of this clever, fresh-feeling addition to the genre.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book for review purposes from Penguin Books and this honest review is my thanks to them.
Rachel is pregnant, one that wasn’t planned, well there was hardly enough time for that in her new relationship with Jack, but the pregnancy isn’t a disaster, both are thrilled about the baby on the way and Rachel is delighted to have found ‘the one.’ Rachel works in a law firm as an administrator having left her job as a paediatric doctor while Jack is working as a journalist in Newcastle having moved for a temporary role from his hometown of Oban. All is going well although the couple have yet to move in together in readiness for the forthcoming baby.
Then late one night Jack’s iPad lights up and half-asleep Rachel reads the email sent which mentions an event that she knows nothing about. Rachel begins to wonder how well she knows Jack especially when the short reply he gives the next morning, isn’t wholly convincing.
The book then follows Rachel and Jack forward from this moment where Rachel is determined to find out the truth whatever the cost, but is she right to keep digging? And what is she going to do if she ever finds out? We also see what Rachel’s life was like before Jack, when she was working I the hospital, this strand takes a while before the relevance of this becomes clear, but all is revealed later Beyond that I can’t say anything about the plot because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else.
There is no doubt that Gillian McAllister knows how to weave a tale that is complex and has space built into the narrative that allows the reader to put themselves into the character’s shoes, and yes to make judgements on that tricky morality scale. All the characters are exceptionally well drawn, Rachel and Jack behave in ways that felt absolutely realistic, but so do the secondary characters who are varied and memorable in their own right. I often think that social situations are the hardest to transfer to the page, after all those family walks where in reality no-one says anything particularly scintillating are rarely found in books, but when Jack and Rachel went for a walk with Jack’s parents and brother, it was an evocative scene full of Scottish mist with convincing everyday ordinariness.
One of the strands of Everything But The Truth linked to a personal experience of mine which meant that this is one of those magical books that really ‘spoke to me’ . In this part I had predicted the outcome, but that made it no less devastating to read the words I didn’t want to see on the page. Yes, this book had me sobbing, but it also entertained me, made me think and painted a picture of a young couple that imprinted themselves onto my memory. I won’t forget this book in a long while it had that big an impact on me. There is so much packed into this book that I really do think that there are going to be few readers that are not drawn into some aspect of this clever, fresh-feeling addition to the genre.
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book for review purposes from Penguin Books and this honest review is my thanks to them.
October 27, 2017
Everything But The Truth is a debut psychological thriller release that manages to prove there is still life in the “how much can I trust my partner” question that has spawned a legion of crime fiction novels. Whilst many psychological suspense novels focus on unleashing an onslaught of twists with multiple revelations, Gillian McAllister’s well-crafted novel approaches the genre from a more subdued angle and the rather mundane scenario of simply catching a brief glimpse of a partner’s email and scratching the itch to know what it is all about. Whilst this story opens with a fairly unexciting incident and doesn’t immediately spark the readers interest it steadily takes hold and really does captures the imagination due to its plausibility. To what extent can we every truly know someone, and does there come a time when an individual has to take the plunge and open themselves up to the possible heartbreak and disappointment in every relationship? Wide in scope and thoughtfully explored, this novel touches upon so many areas that are fundamental to every relationship.
Narrated in entirety by former paediatric registrar and Newcastle lass, Rachel Anderson, as the novel opens she in the early months of a burgeoning relationship with Jack Ross, a Scottish travel journalist working freelance in the city. Narrated over two timelines, the present day and one year previously, Rachel and Jack are seven-months into their affair with an unplanned, but not unwanted, pregnancy already at the three-months stage. Certainly not an ideal situation but after splitting from make-do boyfriend, Ben, losing her mother suddenly to cancer and then discovering that she wasn’t quite the woman the family always thought, things finally feel like they are looking up... Until a late night email appears on Jack’s iPad and Rachel happens to catch a glimpse of its subject matter. Despite Rachel not being particularly likeable, her response is entirely understandable and realistic as she is set on an escalating course of finding out everything about the father of her child. Whilst most people would be satisfied with a simple Facebook or Google search, Rachel isn’t and resorts to data retrieval via the dark web and accessing law reports. However she herself hasn’t been entirely forthright about everything in her past, particularly surrounding her sudden career change and as McAllister takes her readers back to one year previously she captures Rachel’s own underlying guilt for an ethical dilemma that led to a huge error of judgement. As this narrative slowly unfolds readers are able to see how the choice Rachel made weighs on her conscience, which along with her mother’s unfaithfulness to her father has conditioned her towards a state of paranoia and distrust.
Jack’s history and the unravelling intricacies of his story prove infinitely more fascinating than those of Rachel, whose mistake will be fairly apparent from the off for any astute reader. She is certainly guilty of double standards regarding her instinctive response of hauling Jack over the coals and yet singularly fails to make mention of her own situation. Jack’s mistake surrounds a piece of controversial legislation which frequently provokes a vociferous and angry public response and depending on the readers personal opinion, sympathy is readily understandable and it was Rachel’s error that I was less able to empathise with. Gillian McAllister proves adept at wringing out the differences between the Scottish and English legal constitutions and tackling the irresistible lure of the internet to ensure the past never stays buried.
Narrated in entirety by former paediatric registrar and Newcastle lass, Rachel Anderson, as the novel opens she in the early months of a burgeoning relationship with Jack Ross, a Scottish travel journalist working freelance in the city. Narrated over two timelines, the present day and one year previously, Rachel and Jack are seven-months into their affair with an unplanned, but not unwanted, pregnancy already at the three-months stage. Certainly not an ideal situation but after splitting from make-do boyfriend, Ben, losing her mother suddenly to cancer and then discovering that she wasn’t quite the woman the family always thought, things finally feel like they are looking up... Until a late night email appears on Jack’s iPad and Rachel happens to catch a glimpse of its subject matter. Despite Rachel not being particularly likeable, her response is entirely understandable and realistic as she is set on an escalating course of finding out everything about the father of her child. Whilst most people would be satisfied with a simple Facebook or Google search, Rachel isn’t and resorts to data retrieval via the dark web and accessing law reports. However she herself hasn’t been entirely forthright about everything in her past, particularly surrounding her sudden career change and as McAllister takes her readers back to one year previously she captures Rachel’s own underlying guilt for an ethical dilemma that led to a huge error of judgement. As this narrative slowly unfolds readers are able to see how the choice Rachel made weighs on her conscience, which along with her mother’s unfaithfulness to her father has conditioned her towards a state of paranoia and distrust.
Jack’s history and the unravelling intricacies of his story prove infinitely more fascinating than those of Rachel, whose mistake will be fairly apparent from the off for any astute reader. She is certainly guilty of double standards regarding her instinctive response of hauling Jack over the coals and yet singularly fails to make mention of her own situation. Jack’s mistake surrounds a piece of controversial legislation which frequently provokes a vociferous and angry public response and depending on the readers personal opinion, sympathy is readily understandable and it was Rachel’s error that I was less able to empathise with. Gillian McAllister proves adept at wringing out the differences between the Scottish and English legal constitutions and tackling the irresistible lure of the internet to ensure the past never stays buried.
“We all rewrite our own narratives constantly. How we see things. Tragedies and successes. They change, like shifting sands, when viewed from different points in our lives.”The two central characters of Rachel and Jack are exceptionally well-realised with McAllister serving up three-dimensional characters with immense depth meaning hence the reader is able to identify with their emotions, motivations and mitigating circumstances. That Rachel and Jack are both flawed and not perfect makes this scenario all the more believable. Crucially the author also manages to show sensitivity and the reader really does feel like they are a part of Rachel’s dilemma and can appreciate her evolving view of Jack. Everything But The Truth is awash with more minor moral dilemmas along the way, from public versus private education choices to the double edged sword of social media and freedom of information and has clearly been thoroughly researched. Separated into three parts (who, what and why), this debut explores the grey areas that can come between lovers and families and is a nuanced study of perspective and context under pressure, along with eventual compromise and acceptance. The secondary characters, particularly best friend, Audrey and brother-in-law, Mez prove critical in shaping Rachel’s opinions with their own input and views being factored in. Aside from minor niggles of the overly drawn out and rather trite final chapters to the philosophy quoting sixteen-year-old patient whose dialogue made me cringe, Everything But The Truth is a brilliantly measured and intelligent debut. On the basis of this first effort from Gillian McAllister I will definitely seek out her future novels.
April 3, 2017
I wish I had loved this story, I really do, but unfortunately it was all to similar to other books I've read recently but not quite so well done.
The story was a little slow for me, and if I'm being honest, it didn't quite deliver what was promised. The whole 'mystery' was more a woman's paranoia than anything else. As for the ending, I was so disappointed with it. I expected so much more.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.
The story was a little slow for me, and if I'm being honest, it didn't quite deliver what was promised. The whole 'mystery' was more a woman's paranoia than anything else. As for the ending, I was so disappointed with it. I expected so much more.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.
February 7, 2017
Everything but the Truth is a fabulous psychological thriller that I devoured over the weekend. The main character Rachel has had some life-changing events happen which have caused her to re-evaluate her life and after splitting with her long term boyfriend she meets Jack and quickly becomes pregnant with his child. One night she sees a private email to Jack and thus begins her downward spiral into doubt and suspicion, and becomes determined to uncover everything about him whatever the cost. The reader is made aware early on that Rachel has secrets of her own and this makes this book all the more compelling and emotional as we uncover the truth throughout the book . A wonderful debut to keep you on the edge of your seat. Gillian McAllister is a talented author who captures the reader and takes them on a tense journey.
February 28, 2017
Rachel loves Jack. She is pregnant with his child. She trusts him. But then Rachel sees an email. She did not mean to look. But it's started off a chain of events she can't forget. Why is Jack lying about his past?
The story flips back and forward from the previous year to the present. We also find out about Rachel's past, before she met Jack. The characters are realistic and the storyline gripping. A well written, thought out plot.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Gilliam McAllister for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story flips back and forward from the previous year to the present. We also find out about Rachel's past, before she met Jack. The characters are realistic and the storyline gripping. A well written, thought out plot.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Gilliam McAllister for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2019
I enjoyed this book quite a lot, even if the first thirds extremely captivating atmosphere did let up and that the story took off in a different direction than I expected. The likewise unexpected ending I kind of liked though - it worked well with the established protagonist and their quite complex personas. What did not work for me was that the main character was supposed to be a (quite experienced) MD. I found the character not convincing - rather in the same way as Denise Richards wasn’t as Dr. Christmas Jones, Nuclear Physicist in The World is Not Enough. Oddly enough, I managed to overlook this integral part and wasn’t too distracted.
All in all a good and a bit surprising read with really good characters (except the Doctor part) and I will not hesitate to pick up another one by this author.
All in all a good and a bit surprising read with really good characters (except the Doctor part) and I will not hesitate to pick up another one by this author.
April 1, 2017
A must buy - must read. I'm really pleased that I've just found a new author to follow Gillian McAllister. I can't believe this is Gillian's first novel. Everything but the Truth is one of the best tense stories that I have read. About the novel Rachel has trouble with trusting any of her boyfriends. She's just had one relationship that finished due to her being so paranoid and not trusting Ben. When Rachel starts a new relationship with Jack she loves everything about him, but then she gets pregnant rather quickly without really knowing much about him. Suspense builds up as Jack has lied and lied to Rachel about his name and his past and much more. Don't miss out reading this first brilliant page turning novel. I really do highly recommended Everything but the Truth. You can all count me in I'm going to read Gillian McAllister's new book Anything You Do Say that will be published early 2018.
June 5, 2017
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I really enjoyed this great psychological thriller. It’s a pacey, fun read which kept me completely absorbed.
The characters are great; I really liked Rachel and felt for her, even though she made some questionable decisions at times. Gillian McAllister has a great way of presenting the characters because she makes you think about the human side to their decisions – I can’t say much without giving too much away but she manages to make you think about whether what her boyfriend Jack may or may not have done is actually as bad as we may think, given the circumstances. And that is a key theme in this book, I felt – the idea that behaving in a certain way might not be quite so bad depending on the context surrounding it. I definitely enjoyed the moral questions it threw up, and felt that McAllister really portrayed Rachel’s conundrum in a great, convincing way. Rachel loves Jack, that much is obvious, but things that have happened in her past (as well as his) which threaten to ruin what seems like a perfect (albeit whirlwind) relationship, and that coupled with what seems to be lies, begins to ruin her trust in Jack.
There are questions at every turn in this book, and I liked that it seemed quite realistic, overall – the storyline, though dramatic at times, wasn’t overly ridiculous or unbelievable. It was crazy enough without making me think, “this is stupid” – something I unfortunately do feel a lot with books in this genre. It had just the right balance, and it makes you think about human nature and what you’d do in this situation.
I hugely enjoyed this novel and found it was a brilliant, riveting read which left my feeling satisfied.
Many thanks to Michael Joseph UK for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
I really enjoyed this great psychological thriller. It’s a pacey, fun read which kept me completely absorbed.
The characters are great; I really liked Rachel and felt for her, even though she made some questionable decisions at times. Gillian McAllister has a great way of presenting the characters because she makes you think about the human side to their decisions – I can’t say much without giving too much away but she manages to make you think about whether what her boyfriend Jack may or may not have done is actually as bad as we may think, given the circumstances. And that is a key theme in this book, I felt – the idea that behaving in a certain way might not be quite so bad depending on the context surrounding it. I definitely enjoyed the moral questions it threw up, and felt that McAllister really portrayed Rachel’s conundrum in a great, convincing way. Rachel loves Jack, that much is obvious, but things that have happened in her past (as well as his) which threaten to ruin what seems like a perfect (albeit whirlwind) relationship, and that coupled with what seems to be lies, begins to ruin her trust in Jack.
There are questions at every turn in this book, and I liked that it seemed quite realistic, overall – the storyline, though dramatic at times, wasn’t overly ridiculous or unbelievable. It was crazy enough without making me think, “this is stupid” – something I unfortunately do feel a lot with books in this genre. It had just the right balance, and it makes you think about human nature and what you’d do in this situation.
I hugely enjoyed this novel and found it was a brilliant, riveting read which left my feeling satisfied.
Many thanks to Michael Joseph UK for providing a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
November 5, 2019
Rachel and Jack appear to have the ideal relationship, even though they’ve known each other less than a year. She is already expecting their first child – tentatively called “Wally”. However, a short glance at one of his emails leads her to suspect that there is much about Jack that he hasn’t told her.
The story builds very slowly as Rachel’s suspicions begin to reach paranoid intensity. Also, we soon learn, she has secrets of her own she wishes to remain buried. Up until the midway point I found the story engaging enough and full of possibilities. However, from there on, although I liked Jack and could perfectly understand his wish to forget about a dreadful incident from his past, I found Rachel’s self-righteousness and total lack of empathy thoroughly irritating. The final chapters, instead of culminating in any plot-twisting revelations, just sort of petered out into an unstable and barely credible detente.
The story builds very slowly as Rachel’s suspicions begin to reach paranoid intensity. Also, we soon learn, she has secrets of her own she wishes to remain buried. Up until the midway point I found the story engaging enough and full of possibilities. However, from there on, although I liked Jack and could perfectly understand his wish to forget about a dreadful incident from his past, I found Rachel’s self-righteousness and total lack of empathy thoroughly irritating. The final chapters, instead of culminating in any plot-twisting revelations, just sort of petered out into an unstable and barely credible detente.
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