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Tell the Truth
TELL THE TRUTH
Or they’ll tell it for you…
Rachel’s childhood is a mess of fragmented memories, and her adult life is no less chaotic.
Her mother and daughter were her only concrete links to the past and now they are slipping through her fingers. Fuelled by the fear of losing them both, she delves into her mother’s past, fast becoming entangled in her own tragic history.
With eerie friend requests filling Rachel’s phone and shocking flashbacks filling her mind, she is plagued by her mother’s past, and soon realises that her entire life might just be a lie.
Will she ever discover the truth?
Or they’ll tell it for you…
Rachel’s childhood is a mess of fragmented memories, and her adult life is no less chaotic.
Her mother and daughter were her only concrete links to the past and now they are slipping through her fingers. Fuelled by the fear of losing them both, she delves into her mother’s past, fast becoming entangled in her own tragic history.
With eerie friend requests filling Rachel’s phone and shocking flashbacks filling her mind, she is plagued by her mother’s past, and soon realises that her entire life might just be a lie.
Will she ever discover the truth?
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2018
226 people are currently reading
753 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Brittany
15 books204 followersAmanda Brittany is the best selling author of psychological thrillers NOW YOU ARE MINE, HER LAST LIE, TELL THE TRUTH, TRACES OF HER, I LIE IN WAIT, I'M WATCHING YOU and THE ISLAND HOUSE
LET ME OUT is out on June 29th 2025 with Boldwood Books.
Her debut, HER LAST LIE has so far raised £9000 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister from eBook royalties.
Amanda lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and her crazy, cute dog. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, travelling, walking her dogs, reading & sunny days. She also has a soft spot for snow, which features in HER LAST LIE & I LIE IN WAIT.
Amanda has studied psychology and criminology, has a diploma in creative writing, and a BA(Hons) in English Literature.
She also writes psychological suspense novels with Karen Clarke. THE SECRET SISTER, THE PERFECT NANNY and THE NEW WIFE.
You can follow her on:
Twitter: @amandajbrittany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabrittany2
Instagram: @amanda_brittany_author
LET ME OUT is out on June 29th 2025 with Boldwood Books.
Her debut, HER LAST LIE has so far raised £9000 for Cancer Research UK in memory of her sister from eBook royalties.
Amanda lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and her crazy, cute dog. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, travelling, walking her dogs, reading & sunny days. She also has a soft spot for snow, which features in HER LAST LIE & I LIE IN WAIT.
Amanda has studied psychology and criminology, has a diploma in creative writing, and a BA(Hons) in English Literature.
She also writes psychological suspense novels with Karen Clarke. THE SECRET SISTER, THE PERFECT NANNY and THE NEW WIFE.
You can follow her on:
Twitter: @amandajbrittany
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandabrittany2
Instagram: @amanda_brittany_author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
November 7, 2023
An new author for me, and I’m happy to report that liked the book. It was quite memorable, not you’ll type typical thriller, with enough unique angles to keep me invested. Sometimes it maybe dragged a bit when it came to the past, and you don’t really get why you need to know everything that happened with her mother before the end (which means I didn’t see the twist coming at all). It was a wild goose chase that left me as confused as the main character. I had some reservations with the MC having problems with boundaries in her clinical work, but they weren’t so bad.
All in all a book worth reading, especially when the first twist came. The last twist didn’t offer much for me however, it could have ended without the last revelation.
All in all a book worth reading, especially when the first twist came. The last twist didn’t offer much for me however, it could have ended without the last revelation.
March 8, 2019
4.5 Stars
Told in multiple POV, in both 1st and 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel. Alternating between past and present, it’s a twisty read (some of them I didn’t see coming), well-written, fast-paced with short chapters. A real page-turner with a satisfactory ending (albeit a bit rushed)! This was my second read by this author and like the previous one, I enjoyed this, even more than that! Overall, loved it and hope you enjoy it as well!
Told in multiple POV, in both 1st and 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel. Alternating between past and present, it’s a twisty read (some of them I didn’t see coming), well-written, fast-paced with short chapters. A real page-turner with a satisfactory ending (albeit a bit rushed)! This was my second read by this author and like the previous one, I enjoyed this, even more than that! Overall, loved it and hope you enjoy it as well!
December 14, 2018
Tell the Truth by Amanda Brittany is a thriller that deals in digging deep into the past to uncover secrets buried long ago. This means the format is one in which you have a current timeline and flashes back into the past to follow along together until they finally intertwine.
The story centers around Rachel who is a psychotherapist who has her own issues in her life going on. Her husband has left her for another woman leaving her to raise her daughter now as a single mother and Rachel’s own mother is suffering from dementia and barely recognizes her.
When Rachel makes an appearance on a local talk show a strange call comes through but as she tries to put that incident out of her mind Rachel then begins receiving friend requests on Facebook with ominous messages. Rachel knows the only way to figure this out is to dig deep into the past that her mother has refused to talk about and find out just what happened when Rachel was a child.
I will admit that yet again we have an author who has come up with a great story but it took a while for me to settle into the book. The beginning of Tell the Truth jumps around times quite a bit and that held me back from becoming immediately immersed but as the book goes on it becomes much easier to follow and distinguish the characters from each era. I had my guesses going on as to how it would all turn out and while I was getting close the wrap up did elude me from completely figuring it all out which is always fun too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story centers around Rachel who is a psychotherapist who has her own issues in her life going on. Her husband has left her for another woman leaving her to raise her daughter now as a single mother and Rachel’s own mother is suffering from dementia and barely recognizes her.
When Rachel makes an appearance on a local talk show a strange call comes through but as she tries to put that incident out of her mind Rachel then begins receiving friend requests on Facebook with ominous messages. Rachel knows the only way to figure this out is to dig deep into the past that her mother has refused to talk about and find out just what happened when Rachel was a child.
I will admit that yet again we have an author who has come up with a great story but it took a while for me to settle into the book. The beginning of Tell the Truth jumps around times quite a bit and that held me back from becoming immediately immersed but as the book goes on it becomes much easier to follow and distinguish the characters from each era. I had my guesses going on as to how it would all turn out and while I was getting close the wrap up did elude me from completely figuring it all out which is always fun too.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
December 4, 2018
Tell The Truth... wow...so many characters who need to do just that. This book has me hooked and the ending knocked me for six!! This was the first book by Amanda Brittany that I have read and her first book is now sitting on my kindle waiting for me to get stuck into. Shady characters, alternate timelines and a story that keeps twisting.. this book is 5 stars all the way for me.
Rachel is feeling lost. Her mother is in a home and dying and her marriage had ended. And now sh is starting to get eerie friend requests on Facebook and weird but vivid flashbacks. As she starts to look into her mums past she learns that her past is not what she thought it was. And maybe she is not who she thought she was.
Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Rachel is feeling lost. Her mother is in a home and dying and her marriage had ended. And now sh is starting to get eerie friend requests on Facebook and weird but vivid flashbacks. As she starts to look into her mums past she learns that her past is not what she thought it was. And maybe she is not who she thought she was.
Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
December 11, 2018
Hey, sometimes when you review its easy to write one as the book is either ‘fantastic’ or well, the other way....then you get the books that are adequate,a goodish read and have elements that you loved and they I find the most difficult!
‘Tell The Truth’ is one of those, it has the firm basis for a psychological thriller and well let me tell you a bit about the story...
Rachel’s life is chaotic, her Mum has dementia and her partner has just left her....she starts to receive strange friend requests via Facebook...this leads her to ( eventually ) realise her life and her family are not quite what they seem...
The book goes from present to past and with, at times, 3 characters doing this...this led to me being confused at times ( not hard 😃 ) and I would say until about 40% through I wasn’t really sure who was who and why it was all linked...the story at times is muddled and vital points in the book not viable ( at one point a living toddler is swopped for a dead one and no one seems to notice), when the truth comes out it was for me a relief and not a WOW moment, at 80% it was all over and yet there was still quite a lot to go, IMO it should have ended there as the rest of the book added little and was just repetitive
Saying all that I didn’t at any time consider not finishing it, as elements and some characters I did really enjoy and maybe to be fair if I didnt read so much this would have been more enjoyable, but I do read a lot and so you cant help compare recent books etc
I would gladly though read other books by the author
5/10 2.5 Stars ( 3 on Amazon )
December 10, 2018
A very slow burn for me that at multiple times I thought about putting down. But then a little twist or turn that I didn’t expect would happen and it would make me carry on reading until the end. A book that if you stick with it turns out to be rather cleaver.
December 4, 2018
I got this as a arc e book from net galley. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. It is my first book by this author. I liked the variety of characters in it. I hope to read more books by this author.
May 3, 2020
I only picked up this book as I’m such a fan of Stephanie Racine’s narration skills. And I’m glad I did, as I’ve found a really great author in Brittany. This is a twisty thriller that keeps you wondering throughout. Some of the twists were quite easy to figure out, but that doesn’t take away from the story.
I enjoyed all the characters, though found Rachel a bit whiney.
I enjoyed the switching back from past to present with small cliff hangers at the end of each chapter to keep you engaged in both story lines.
There was a lot going on in this book, but Brittany kept everything nicely delineated so it didn’t feel too chaotic.
This was a real page turner that I enjoyed a lot. Will definitely look for more by Brittany.
I enjoyed all the characters, though found Rachel a bit whiney.
I enjoyed the switching back from past to present with small cliff hangers at the end of each chapter to keep you engaged in both story lines.
There was a lot going on in this book, but Brittany kept everything nicely delineated so it didn’t feel too chaotic.
This was a real page turner that I enjoyed a lot. Will definitely look for more by Brittany.
January 19, 2019
Wow what a fantastic book! So many twists and turns, I thought I had worked it out a few times only to have the wind knocked out of me as the story unfolded. Storytelling at its absolute best. I read this very quickly, I just couldn’t put it down. The story over three different voices and timelines and it all comes together in a riveting finale which left me breathless. I can’t wait to read more from Amanda Brittany. #NetGalley
January 20, 2020
Good read was not expecting the ending.
October 29, 2020
This book was a masterpiece. The writings great, the time jumping is clear and not confusing, and the story was just great. I was captured from the start, and I enjoyed it very much. Best book by Amanda Brittany.
May 26, 2019
I was very impressed by Her Last Lie (review here) by the same author and so I went into this one ready to enjoy. I will admit I had a few slight niggles but I really enjoyed it overall and will definitely be looking out this author again.
Now. I mention the niggles because we were introduced to them early on- to start with we have the voice of a murderer vaguely telling us about people they had killed. I’m sorry to everyone this annoys, but in general I don’t need this pov. I’m so sorry but I never need a murderer we know nothing about laughing at how/why they did what they did unless it adds something explosive to the story and in this case I found it unnecessary. I’m sorry, it’s probably totally just me and it’s probably just that I’ve read so many books with such an unknown person but just letting you know. The second was where we were introduced to Rachel, a mother of a little girl, Grace, getting over a relationship where the father of her child has left. She is a psychotherapist but I needed a lot more from her as a result of this, I wanted analysis, background, and I suppose more technicality but we didn’t get it. The last was the use of nursery rhymes(which I know can be creepy as hell!). Again, just being picky here but it didn’t work for me.
Moving onto everything that did-this book was a bit of a rollercoaster where Rachel gets a phone call on air from someone threatening her and begins to get beyond freaky friend requests! I know, yeeks, right? As you begin to join them together and figure them out you start to get a road map as to who this is leading to and yet you get surprise after surprise, almost huddling with Rachel as you wonder who she can trust. It is a book with many characters, a few povs and the story of a few people that interconnect to lead you to a climatic finish. Very enjoyable and sorry about the mini rant, I just felt it needed to be said!
Now. I mention the niggles because we were introduced to them early on- to start with we have the voice of a murderer vaguely telling us about people they had killed. I’m sorry to everyone this annoys, but in general I don’t need this pov. I’m so sorry but I never need a murderer we know nothing about laughing at how/why they did what they did unless it adds something explosive to the story and in this case I found it unnecessary. I’m sorry, it’s probably totally just me and it’s probably just that I’ve read so many books with such an unknown person but just letting you know. The second was where we were introduced to Rachel, a mother of a little girl, Grace, getting over a relationship where the father of her child has left. She is a psychotherapist but I needed a lot more from her as a result of this, I wanted analysis, background, and I suppose more technicality but we didn’t get it. The last was the use of nursery rhymes(which I know can be creepy as hell!). Again, just being picky here but it didn’t work for me.
Moving onto everything that did-this book was a bit of a rollercoaster where Rachel gets a phone call on air from someone threatening her and begins to get beyond freaky friend requests! I know, yeeks, right? As you begin to join them together and figure them out you start to get a road map as to who this is leading to and yet you get surprise after surprise, almost huddling with Rachel as you wonder who she can trust. It is a book with many characters, a few povs and the story of a few people that interconnect to lead you to a climatic finish. Very enjoyable and sorry about the mini rant, I just felt it needed to be said!
January 4, 2019
Tell The Truth by Amanda Brittany is a fabulous contemporary psychological thriller that will have your heart racing as you read towards its conclusion. Your suspicion level will rise as you try to predict the outcome before the ‘wow’ jaw-dropping moment.
Amanda Brittany is a new author to me but I am now a big fan and cannot wait for her next book. Her style is engaging, drawing me in from the start, as I began to question who was the killer?
The novel has two different time periods – the 1980’s and now – and three different voices including the killer’s, who opens the novel. The reader then spends the novel trying to decipher the voice. Once again I was completely barking up the wrong tree.
Twisting this way and that, Amanda Brittany holds the reader’s attention with her well thought out and intricate plotline. The two distinct voices, one in the third person in the past and one in the first person in the present, both invite confidences from the reader who questions the truth.
Themes of truth and lies, friendship and identity run throughout the novel. There are also the uncomfortable topics of abuse, cruelty and the distressing theme of Alzheimer’s.
The past has a habit of catching up with us especially if there are unresolved issues. Sorting out the truth from the lies is never easy.
Tell The Truth was a fabulous read and one that I could not put down – I went to bed late and got up early just to read on and finish the book. It was utterly brilliant. I could not predict the outcome. I am looking forward to reading more by Amanda Brittany.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Amanda Brittany is a new author to me but I am now a big fan and cannot wait for her next book. Her style is engaging, drawing me in from the start, as I began to question who was the killer?
The novel has two different time periods – the 1980’s and now – and three different voices including the killer’s, who opens the novel. The reader then spends the novel trying to decipher the voice. Once again I was completely barking up the wrong tree.
Twisting this way and that, Amanda Brittany holds the reader’s attention with her well thought out and intricate plotline. The two distinct voices, one in the third person in the past and one in the first person in the present, both invite confidences from the reader who questions the truth.
Themes of truth and lies, friendship and identity run throughout the novel. There are also the uncomfortable topics of abuse, cruelty and the distressing theme of Alzheimer’s.
The past has a habit of catching up with us especially if there are unresolved issues. Sorting out the truth from the lies is never easy.
Tell The Truth was a fabulous read and one that I could not put down – I went to bed late and got up early just to read on and finish the book. It was utterly brilliant. I could not predict the outcome. I am looking forward to reading more by Amanda Brittany.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
November 24, 2018
I read this book in just over a day as I just couldn’t put it down it’s so good !!
The story is written with two timelines, past and present and mostly between Rachel and Laura making it a compulsive page turner in wanting to find out what and who is at the heart of this totally addictive psychological mystery thriller. The ending is superb and for me it was unexpected making this a very well written novel full of twists and surprises and very well recommended as it’s a brilliant read.
My thanks to NetGalley and H Q Digital for giving me a chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Merged review:
I read this book in just over a day as I just couldn’t put it down it’s so good !!
The story is written with two timelines, past and present and mostly between Rachel and Laura making it a compulsive page turner in wanting to find out what and who is at the heart of this totally addictive psychological mystery thriller. The ending is superb and for me it was unexpected making this a very well written novel full of twists and surprises and very well recommended as it’s a brilliant read.
My thanks to NetGalley and H Q Digital for giving me a chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The story is written with two timelines, past and present and mostly between Rachel and Laura making it a compulsive page turner in wanting to find out what and who is at the heart of this totally addictive psychological mystery thriller. The ending is superb and for me it was unexpected making this a very well written novel full of twists and surprises and very well recommended as it’s a brilliant read.
My thanks to NetGalley and H Q Digital for giving me a chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Merged review:
I read this book in just over a day as I just couldn’t put it down it’s so good !!
The story is written with two timelines, past and present and mostly between Rachel and Laura making it a compulsive page turner in wanting to find out what and who is at the heart of this totally addictive psychological mystery thriller. The ending is superb and for me it was unexpected making this a very well written novel full of twists and surprises and very well recommended as it’s a brilliant read.
My thanks to NetGalley and H Q Digital for giving me a chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 9, 2018
I absolutely loved this. One of those books that once you start you have to finish. It's about a woman called Rachel who starts getting odd messages and phone calls. She goes back to the place she grew up to try and unravel the mystery. Someone is trying to tell her something about her past.
Would highly recommend this book and I'll be looking out for more from this author.
Would highly recommend this book and I'll be looking out for more from this author.
January 11, 2019
I read the synopsis for this book and I just knew that I had to read it as soon as possible. It sounded like just the sort of read I would enjoy. I eagerly started to read and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading it but more about that in a bit.
I can’t say that I warmed to Rachel much during the story. That said I did feel for her when she becomes seriously freaked out by some strange happenings. Rachel is a psychotherapist who works from home. She is a single mother, who dotes on her child. Rachel is very protective of her daughter and she is very careful as to what she allows the daughter to do. Sometimes I did think that perhaps she was too protective of her. Rachel has the added problem that her mother, who resides in a care home, is suffering with dementia. Sometimes she is quite lucid and can remember things from years back and at other times she is in her own little world. Some of the scary happenings have links to the past and Rachel has to work out how and why the past is impacting on the present so to speak.
Oh my word, I was literally hooked on this book from the moment I read the synopsis and so I eagerly started to read. Goodness me, it was one hell of a story. I have to admit that to start with the story is a bit of a slow burn but much like a snowball going down a hill, the story gathers momentum and culminates in a tense conclusion. The author uses such powerful and vivid descriptions that I felt as though I was going through each and every emotion that the different characters were going through. I really did feel as though I was on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the contrasting feelings.
For me, ‘Tell The Truth’ is superbly written. The author’s writing style is such that you cannot fail to be drawn into the story and much like a fisherman reeling in a catch, the author reels you in and keeps you interested until the moment you finish reading. The story is basically written in two different timelines- one being that of Rachel and the other timeline focuses on Laura’s story. (Laura is the mother of Rachel). I became so entranced by the story that I simply couldn’t put the book down. My Kindle might as well have been glued to my hand because it went everywhere with me. I had to keep reading to see what fate had in store for Rachel and Laura. I became so involved with the book that I started to interact with it as if the story was real.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Tell The Truth’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I can’t wait to read what Amanda Brittany comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I can’t say that I warmed to Rachel much during the story. That said I did feel for her when she becomes seriously freaked out by some strange happenings. Rachel is a psychotherapist who works from home. She is a single mother, who dotes on her child. Rachel is very protective of her daughter and she is very careful as to what she allows the daughter to do. Sometimes I did think that perhaps she was too protective of her. Rachel has the added problem that her mother, who resides in a care home, is suffering with dementia. Sometimes she is quite lucid and can remember things from years back and at other times she is in her own little world. Some of the scary happenings have links to the past and Rachel has to work out how and why the past is impacting on the present so to speak.
Oh my word, I was literally hooked on this book from the moment I read the synopsis and so I eagerly started to read. Goodness me, it was one hell of a story. I have to admit that to start with the story is a bit of a slow burn but much like a snowball going down a hill, the story gathers momentum and culminates in a tense conclusion. The author uses such powerful and vivid descriptions that I felt as though I was going through each and every emotion that the different characters were going through. I really did feel as though I was on an emotional rollercoaster ride with all the contrasting feelings.
For me, ‘Tell The Truth’ is superbly written. The author’s writing style is such that you cannot fail to be drawn into the story and much like a fisherman reeling in a catch, the author reels you in and keeps you interested until the moment you finish reading. The story is basically written in two different timelines- one being that of Rachel and the other timeline focuses on Laura’s story. (Laura is the mother of Rachel). I became so entranced by the story that I simply couldn’t put the book down. My Kindle might as well have been glued to my hand because it went everywhere with me. I had to keep reading to see what fate had in store for Rachel and Laura. I became so involved with the book that I started to interact with it as if the story was real.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Tell The Truth’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I can’t wait to read what Amanda Brittany comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
December 11, 2018
What an apt title ....... Tell The Truth !! So many lies and betrayals, who really knows the truth.
Rachel is a psychotherapist who struggles to remember much of her childhood. Her Mother is suffering from Dementia so cant give Rachel the answers she is craving. Then one day Rachel starts to receive friend requests from people she doesn’t know. They have no other friends and strange status updates. Who are they ? And what do they want with Rachel ?
For me this book started off quite slow and I wasn’t really sure where it was headed but then the pace suddenly picked up and I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. Full of lots of twists and turns this book will keep you on your toes. A real page turner that will keep you guessing.
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
Rachel is a psychotherapist who struggles to remember much of her childhood. Her Mother is suffering from Dementia so cant give Rachel the answers she is craving. Then one day Rachel starts to receive friend requests from people she doesn’t know. They have no other friends and strange status updates. Who are they ? And what do they want with Rachel ?
For me this book started off quite slow and I wasn’t really sure where it was headed but then the pace suddenly picked up and I was desperate to find out what was going to happen next. Full of lots of twists and turns this book will keep you on your toes. A real page turner that will keep you guessing.
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.
June 17, 2020
I really loved 'Tell The Truth'. It was a true mystery/ thriller in every sense of the word and kept you guessing right up until the very end. It was interesting to see a professional psychotherapist, then begin to doubt her own mind and what she was seeing happen around her. I liked that the story was told from three different narrators, serial killer, the main character in real time and then her mother in the past. Really interesting and kept things fresh.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2020
Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I feel like I've read many thrillers similar to this and this one felt a bit mediocre to me. The plot was overly complicated and some of the reveals are obvious and unthrilling. The main character Rachel was annoying and gullible, and I wanted to shake some sense into her multiple times.
By the time I got to the end, I didn't care enough about the resolution. It just felt like the book went on far too long. We get a sort-of ending and then there's still more chapters and I was just so eager for the book to finish.
By the time I got to the end, I didn't care enough about the resolution. It just felt like the book went on far too long. We get a sort-of ending and then there's still more chapters and I was just so eager for the book to finish.
January 4, 2019
This book will keep you guessing until the end! I thought I had it figured out multiple times and each time I was pleasantly surprised. Looking forward to reading other books by this author.
January 15, 2019
This was an interesting book and I have to say I was very surprised and shocked by the ending. I think the majority had to do with the writing and storytelling, but part of me was shocked because the whole book was slow up until the end. I felt like I was just going through the motions, and then it flipped into an intriguing, suspenseful novel. I wish the whole novel was written like the last few chapters and then I think I would have been more into it. Still worth a read because of the ending.
Thanks to Amanda Brittany and HQ digital for providing me with an advanced reading copy.
Thanks to Amanda Brittany and HQ digital for providing me with an advanced reading copy.
April 30, 2019
If the past could explain the present, then the dark secrets lurking in Rachel’s childhood would explain the chilling flashbacks she’s been getting, and creepy friend-requests on social media. The only person who knows the truth is her mother, currently residing in a care home, suffering from early-onset dementia. Some days she knows her daughter, some days she doesn’t, and some days she lets slip little clues to what that truth might tell.
Rachel’s modern-day story alternates with her mother’s younger years in Ireland, and as the two come together the shocking reality is slowly revealed.
This story had me hooked. Brittany’s characters are believable and likeable, and I very much wanted them to prevail. She also writes a compelling plot, which left me doubting everything I thought I’d worked out, over and over again.
Rachel’s modern-day story alternates with her mother’s younger years in Ireland, and as the two come together the shocking reality is slowly revealed.
This story had me hooked. Brittany’s characters are believable and likeable, and I very much wanted them to prevail. She also writes a compelling plot, which left me doubting everything I thought I’d worked out, over and over again.
December 3, 2018
Thank you Amanda, the publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this exciting novel. I read and enjoyed Amanda's debut novel, so was looking forward to read her new novel and it was worth it.
The book pulled me in from the beginning and literally didn't let go.
It is told through different time frames adding layers to the mystery.
The pace is really good and the charters are well drawn.
I loved that I couldn't predict the outcome, as the revelations were clever and shocking all the same. Highly recommended.
The book pulled me in from the beginning and literally didn't let go.
It is told through different time frames adding layers to the mystery.
The pace is really good and the charters are well drawn.
I loved that I couldn't predict the outcome, as the revelations were clever and shocking all the same. Highly recommended.
December 5, 2018
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It was engaging thrilling ride.
It took me minute to get into but as I kept reading it got really good.
Rachel is a psychotherapist with fractured memories. When she starts to receive strange messages and phone calls she realize it's connected to her past.
With her mother having dementia she decided to investigate their past as she get closers to the truth she realize her entire life might be a lie.
It has some great twist and turns even though some I guess the ending wasn't want I wanted but it made sense.
It was engaging thrilling ride.
It took me minute to get into but as I kept reading it got really good.
Rachel is a psychotherapist with fractured memories. When she starts to receive strange messages and phone calls she realize it's connected to her past.
With her mother having dementia she decided to investigate their past as she get closers to the truth she realize her entire life might be a lie.
It has some great twist and turns even though some I guess the ending wasn't want I wanted but it made sense.
December 30, 2019
This is my first read by this author. It was a bit all over the place with events not fitting together well. The story moves between the 1980’s and the present time. The voice of the killer is heard in the first page with the rest of the story trying to figure out who it is.
Rachel is a real drippy moaner type character She keeps getting weird facebook friend requests which freak her out but despite being told how to change her settings to stop them she lets them continue. There was a really good twist at the end, but the whole thing was seriously odd. Overall an average read.
Rachel is a real drippy moaner type character She keeps getting weird facebook friend requests which freak her out but despite being told how to change her settings to stop them she lets them continue. There was a really good twist at the end, but the whole thing was seriously odd. Overall an average read.
November 24, 2018
Tell the Truth by author Amanda Brittany. What a page turner! The twists were real, like it’s VERY Believable and intense throughout the story. A quick read due to not putting it down, I recommend this book to thriller/mystery/psychological genre lovers.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Tell the Truth in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Tell the Truth in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2019
Before I was asked to join the blog tour, I had already been approved for this book on NetGalley. The eye-catching, sinister cover had already grabbed my attention.
The story moves through two arcs in two times.
In the past we meet Laura, a scorned and pregnant young lady left alone in an isolated farmhouse in Ireland. Once the baby is born (Rachel), we see Laura struggle with her mental health and also with Rachel's unusual and concerning behaviours. Her only 'friends' are a nearby family with their own issues to deal with.
Jump to the present and we follow an adult Rachel, who has been left by her long-term partner and has a four-year old daughter to care for. Rachel's mother is now in a nursing home and is suffering from Alzheimer's.
Despite not knowing her father, Rachel has a happy memories of her childhood and her time with her mother until some strange calls and Facebook messages begin to trigger disjointed and haunting memories confusing Rachel, who now finds herself confused unsure of what is real.
Following clues from the messages and digging into her past, Rachel begins to uncover things that contradict the beautiful memories of her childhood. In addition to this, the messages and calls become more and more sinister and frightening and Rachel has nobody to turn to. Can Rachel find out the truth? And, does Rachel really want the truth?
This story is told at a really good pace and moves fluidly between the two storylines. Amanda does a fantastic job of making every character look suspicious and devious, including Rachel herself. There are several surprising twists and turns throughout the story and although some are easier predicted than others, they still make for a thrilling and entertaining story where you have no idea who is genuine and who has an ulterior motive.
I highly recommend this books if you are fans of C.L.Taylor, Clare Macintosh and other suspense/thriller novels.
The story moves through two arcs in two times.
In the past we meet Laura, a scorned and pregnant young lady left alone in an isolated farmhouse in Ireland. Once the baby is born (Rachel), we see Laura struggle with her mental health and also with Rachel's unusual and concerning behaviours. Her only 'friends' are a nearby family with their own issues to deal with.
Jump to the present and we follow an adult Rachel, who has been left by her long-term partner and has a four-year old daughter to care for. Rachel's mother is now in a nursing home and is suffering from Alzheimer's.
Despite not knowing her father, Rachel has a happy memories of her childhood and her time with her mother until some strange calls and Facebook messages begin to trigger disjointed and haunting memories confusing Rachel, who now finds herself confused unsure of what is real.
Following clues from the messages and digging into her past, Rachel begins to uncover things that contradict the beautiful memories of her childhood. In addition to this, the messages and calls become more and more sinister and frightening and Rachel has nobody to turn to. Can Rachel find out the truth? And, does Rachel really want the truth?
This story is told at a really good pace and moves fluidly between the two storylines. Amanda does a fantastic job of making every character look suspicious and devious, including Rachel herself. There are several surprising twists and turns throughout the story and although some are easier predicted than others, they still make for a thrilling and entertaining story where you have no idea who is genuine and who has an ulterior motive.
I highly recommend this books if you are fans of C.L.Taylor, Clare Macintosh and other suspense/thriller novels.
January 6, 2019
You’re going to have to stay on your toes with this book. Not only does the author take the reader in and out of multiple time-frames and decades during the story, there is also a few huge twists towards the end of the tale. Just when you think you have it all figured out Brittany rips the rug right out from under you.
Aside from being in the midst of a bitter break-up, having to deal with an obnoxious ex with no regard for her feelings, and the fact her mother can no longer remember her own daughter, Rachel is living a good life. At least she is until she starts being stalked online, followed in the streets and tormented at work. Suddenly her simple life is full of strange messages, threatening poems and odd events.
It makes her paranoid to the point of looking unstable, which isn’t a good look when your ex is trying to make a whole new life for their daughter without Rachel. She realises everything is somehow linked to her mother and the past she doesn’t quite remember. When Rachel goes looking for answers she discovers more than she bargained for and plenty she can’t explain.
It’s a fast-paced ride through a quagmire of self-doubt, paranoia, suspicion and repressed memories. Nobody is who they appear to be and the person you most suspect is probably the least guilty in this disturbing psychological thriller.
I think Brittany is starting to make a mark in the genre, perhaps because she isn’t afraid to let the emotional chaos and disturbed mind of her characters rule the outcome of her plots. It doesn’t have to be a happy fluffy ending when you can just as easily leave your reader looking over their shoulders. I guess that is what gives her stories an edge – the fact you don’t trust the outcome even when it has been presented to you on a golden platter.
*I received a copy via NetGalley*
Aside from being in the midst of a bitter break-up, having to deal with an obnoxious ex with no regard for her feelings, and the fact her mother can no longer remember her own daughter, Rachel is living a good life. At least she is until she starts being stalked online, followed in the streets and tormented at work. Suddenly her simple life is full of strange messages, threatening poems and odd events.
It makes her paranoid to the point of looking unstable, which isn’t a good look when your ex is trying to make a whole new life for their daughter without Rachel. She realises everything is somehow linked to her mother and the past she doesn’t quite remember. When Rachel goes looking for answers she discovers more than she bargained for and plenty she can’t explain.
It’s a fast-paced ride through a quagmire of self-doubt, paranoia, suspicion and repressed memories. Nobody is who they appear to be and the person you most suspect is probably the least guilty in this disturbing psychological thriller.
I think Brittany is starting to make a mark in the genre, perhaps because she isn’t afraid to let the emotional chaos and disturbed mind of her characters rule the outcome of her plots. It doesn’t have to be a happy fluffy ending when you can just as easily leave your reader looking over their shoulders. I guess that is what gives her stories an edge – the fact you don’t trust the outcome even when it has been presented to you on a golden platter.
*I received a copy via NetGalley*
March 8, 2019
Tell the Truth - Amanda Brittany
I have to admit that this book was a bit of a struggle to get into but on saying that I definitely didn’t hate it and I will say that it won’t be the last from this author. I found it to be a little all over for me, things didn’t seem to slot naturally for me. What I did like was the well thought approach to some rather sensitive issues.
We travel between the nineteen eighties and the present. From the first page we have the voice of the killer and we spend the rest of the book try to figure out who it is, let me tell you its not who you think it is.
Following a difficult break up Rachel is now a single parent of a four year old child, Rachel who works as a psychotherapist has a happy but fragmented memory of her childhood and the time she had with her mother. The only other blight in her life if that sadly her mother suffers from Alzheimer’s and is in a nursing home being cared for.
One day she begins to get FB friend requests from people she doesn’t know their profiles show that they have literally no friends. Then comes the messages and then the phone call while she’s doing s slot on live television knocks her for six.
Things gather pace and the book comes to a decent ending and I have to be honest and admit that I got it wrong which pleased me.
Read for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and HQ Digital Publisher
I have to admit that this book was a bit of a struggle to get into but on saying that I definitely didn’t hate it and I will say that it won’t be the last from this author. I found it to be a little all over for me, things didn’t seem to slot naturally for me. What I did like was the well thought approach to some rather sensitive issues.
We travel between the nineteen eighties and the present. From the first page we have the voice of the killer and we spend the rest of the book try to figure out who it is, let me tell you its not who you think it is.
Following a difficult break up Rachel is now a single parent of a four year old child, Rachel who works as a psychotherapist has a happy but fragmented memory of her childhood and the time she had with her mother. The only other blight in her life if that sadly her mother suffers from Alzheimer’s and is in a nursing home being cared for.
One day she begins to get FB friend requests from people she doesn’t know their profiles show that they have literally no friends. Then comes the messages and then the phone call while she’s doing s slot on live television knocks her for six.
Things gather pace and the book comes to a decent ending and I have to be honest and admit that I got it wrong which pleased me.
Read for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and HQ Digital Publisher
August 21, 2023
I found it an interesting, if somewhat unlikely story.
It was clever and kept me wanting to read on, but a tale that rather pushed the bounds of reality to the edge. However, it was well conceived and the continuity was excellent. It offered many options as to who dunnit and why. The psychological implications were excellent.
What agitated me was the moments of the story where fear should have shaken the reader, it sort of didn't. An air of predictability surrounded those sections. (Perhaps, as an avid thriller reader, it may be that I am so conditioned to them so I might be losing the impact).
The most annoying part of the tale was the depiction of the lead character who acts and thinks rather stupidly a lot of the time. Sadly, this is seemingly a common trait with modern thrillers .
Here is a woman who is a trained psychotherapist yet ploughs through the story reacting in the most ridiculous ways. I found myself shouting at her (how sad) when she did, or reacted to things no normal human being would if faced with the evidence that she was. Or putting herself in situations that only a simpleton would.
In her voyage of detection and discovery she failed to ask obvious questions and ignored the answers to the good ones. Likewise her appalling level of assessing the characters in her life, if she were real, would certainly prevent me from using her services.
Readable but, for me, not entirely enjoyable.
It was clever and kept me wanting to read on, but a tale that rather pushed the bounds of reality to the edge. However, it was well conceived and the continuity was excellent. It offered many options as to who dunnit and why. The psychological implications were excellent.
What agitated me was the moments of the story where fear should have shaken the reader, it sort of didn't. An air of predictability surrounded those sections. (Perhaps, as an avid thriller reader, it may be that I am so conditioned to them so I might be losing the impact).
The most annoying part of the tale was the depiction of the lead character who acts and thinks rather stupidly a lot of the time. Sadly, this is seemingly a common trait with modern thrillers .
Here is a woman who is a trained psychotherapist yet ploughs through the story reacting in the most ridiculous ways. I found myself shouting at her (how sad) when she did, or reacted to things no normal human being would if faced with the evidence that she was. Or putting herself in situations that only a simpleton would.
In her voyage of detection and discovery she failed to ask obvious questions and ignored the answers to the good ones. Likewise her appalling level of assessing the characters in her life, if she were real, would certainly prevent me from using her services.
Readable but, for me, not entirely enjoyable.
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