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Only Truth
A woman moves to the country to flee a troubled past, but finds familiar fears lurking inside her new home
A successful artist with a doting husband, Isabel Dryland knows she should be grateful for her happy life. It’s a complete reversal from the one she led before, when normalcy seemed out of reach, after a violent assault she cannot remember left her shattered and scarred. Even though the memory was lost, the nagging feeling that she was damaged goods and the lingering effects of her injuries kept her questioning her sanity at times.
Tom, her husband, thinks a move will be the fresh start they need, and has even found the perfect house: a country estate that reminds him of one he admired in his youth. But all Isabel feels when she visits is an overwhelming sense of dread. Betrayed by her instincts so often before, she decides to trust Tom’s, to accept the move and learn to love their new home over time.
Instead, she learns that beneath the pretty façade of their new home lurk dark secrets powerful enough to bring her own trauma back to the fore. There is an uncanny familiarity about the place, as if it were infected by the experiences she hoped to escape. And the recurring presence of a mysterious stranger further disturbs her, giving her the sensation of being a predator’s stalked prey.
Isabel struggles to determine whether her fear is caused by memory alone, or by threats existing very much in the present. To find out, she’ll have to finally close the book on what occurred so many years ago—but how do you heal from a past you cannot recall, when only the truth about your past can set you free?
A successful artist with a doting husband, Isabel Dryland knows she should be grateful for her happy life. It’s a complete reversal from the one she led before, when normalcy seemed out of reach, after a violent assault she cannot remember left her shattered and scarred. Even though the memory was lost, the nagging feeling that she was damaged goods and the lingering effects of her injuries kept her questioning her sanity at times.
Tom, her husband, thinks a move will be the fresh start they need, and has even found the perfect house: a country estate that reminds him of one he admired in his youth. But all Isabel feels when she visits is an overwhelming sense of dread. Betrayed by her instincts so often before, she decides to trust Tom’s, to accept the move and learn to love their new home over time.
Instead, she learns that beneath the pretty façade of their new home lurk dark secrets powerful enough to bring her own trauma back to the fore. There is an uncanny familiarity about the place, as if it were infected by the experiences she hoped to escape. And the recurring presence of a mysterious stranger further disturbs her, giving her the sensation of being a predator’s stalked prey.
Isabel struggles to determine whether her fear is caused by memory alone, or by threats existing very much in the present. To find out, she’ll have to finally close the book on what occurred so many years ago—but how do you heal from a past you cannot recall, when only the truth about your past can set you free?
312 pages, Hardcover
First published October 13, 2020
53 people are currently reading
632 people want to read
About the author
Julie Cameron
2 books16 followersJulie A Cameron was born and grew up in the United Kingdom. She currently lives in a small village in the Berkshire countryside – a location that provided the inspiration for the setting of the psychological thriller Only Truth, also published in German as Das Landhaus.
She is presently working on her next two books, balancing her time between family, her writing and her full-time career in the NHS.
She is presently working on her next two books, balancing her time between family, her writing and her full-time career in the NHS.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
December 10, 2020
3.5 stars
This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/re...
Thirty-something artist Isabel Dryland and her husband Tom have been happily married for four years, living in London and trying to have a child.
Isabel fears her inability to conceive may be linked to an attack when she was fourteen, a horrific incident that left Isabel with brain damage, partial amnesia, and blindness in one eye. Isabel recalls nothing about the actual assault, and has only vague memories of her long and difficult recovery.
It took years for Isabel to attain a semblance of normality, a quest that seemed in sight when she met Tom at one of her gallery shows. Tom appears to be the perfect husband - loving, caring, protective, and solicitous when Isabel suffers one of her frequent headaches or anxiety attacks.
Now Tom wants to move to the country, thinking the quiet atmosphere might be salubrious to Isabel's health, and might even lead to a pregnancy. Tom finds the perfect estate, complete with a coach house Isabel can convert to a painting studio.
Tom takes Isabel to view the house, which she finds vaguely discomforting. Moreover, Isabel doesn't want to leave London. However Tom is SO enthusiastic and insistent that Isabel feels she has to agree to the relocation.
As soon as Isabel and Tom are ensconced in their new home, Isabel starts to get creepy feelings, hang-up phone calls, and a vague sense of being watched....and we soon learn why.
A psychopath is stalking Isabel.
Isabel's chapters are interspersed with the narrative of the psychopath, who has a compulsion to abduct and torture women. The maniac's story starts back in 1994, when he stalked a sweet-faced blond teenager. Now the evildoer is after Isabel. (Warning: the psychopath's chapters are graphic and disturbing, and may contain triggers for sensitive readers.)
Isabel's sense of discomfort is heightened when she discovers a small hidden room in the back of the coach house, with writing scratched into the floor.
Isabel tries to speak to her husband Tom about her apprehensions, but he's dismissive, and even suggests Isabel speak to her psychoanalyst.
As the story unfolds Isabel goes about her business: redecorating the house; fixing up her studio; speaking to the estate's previous owner; meeting the neighbors; hiring a gardener; teaching art classes; inviting her twin sisters for a visit; traveling to London; taking commissions for paintings; and so on.
Through it all, Isabel collects anecdotes and clues that make her suspect serious wrongdoing.
In essence this is a traditional cat and mouse story, which is compelling if a bit slow-moving. It's nice to see Isabel go from doubting herself to taking matters into her own hands, all of which leads to an exciting climax.
The story is set in modern times, but has a gothic feel, and would probably appeal to fans of vintage mysteries and serial killer books.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
July 17, 2020
4.5 rounded up. Get in and buckle up. You are in for one helluva ride!!
Isabel (Izzy) Dryland-Weir has become an artist. A rather successful artist. She met her husband Tom in the art gallery during a showing. He recognized her. She was that girl. The girl that survived. The girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. The girl that had tried to act more mature, more cool, more experienced. The girl, at the age of 14, who was savagely brutalized, her skull bashed in and left for dead.
Izzy has put in the work. She still suffers from migraines and acute anxiety. Tom is not only her husband, but her caretaker. He believes he knows what's best for Izzy. That is how they end up living in the country at the homestead known as The Lodge, where Izzy can focus more on herself and begin painting again.
But, something doesnt feel right. She doesnt feel comfortable at The Lodge. She feels like she is being watched. She moved more for Tom than for herself. She gave this to him. Why cant he believe her when she voices her concerns? She strikes out on her own to find the answers.
I absolutely love the character of Izzy. Regardless of her disability, she perseveres. She does not stop no matter the circumstance. Julie Cameron writes her so well. There is some redundancy, and working with a character that has a TBI, there would be repetition. She makes it work beautifully. This was a ride I did not want to end.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Julie Cameron for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Isabel (Izzy) Dryland-Weir has become an artist. A rather successful artist. She met her husband Tom in the art gallery during a showing. He recognized her. She was that girl. The girl that survived. The girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. The girl that had tried to act more mature, more cool, more experienced. The girl, at the age of 14, who was savagely brutalized, her skull bashed in and left for dead.
Izzy has put in the work. She still suffers from migraines and acute anxiety. Tom is not only her husband, but her caretaker. He believes he knows what's best for Izzy. That is how they end up living in the country at the homestead known as The Lodge, where Izzy can focus more on herself and begin painting again.
But, something doesnt feel right. She doesnt feel comfortable at The Lodge. She feels like she is being watched. She moved more for Tom than for herself. She gave this to him. Why cant he believe her when she voices her concerns? She strikes out on her own to find the answers.
I absolutely love the character of Izzy. Regardless of her disability, she perseveres. She does not stop no matter the circumstance. Julie Cameron writes her so well. There is some redundancy, and working with a character that has a TBI, there would be repetition. She makes it work beautifully. This was a ride I did not want to end.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and Julie Cameron for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2021
Well Only Truth by Julie Cameron isn't disturbing at all - said no one ever. This book is CRAZY people! And it was such an odd mix of gross and chilling, with some parts being more descriptive than others. I really liked the way it moves between a couple of different timeframes, and I also liked the alternating viewpoints. And I LOVED the quote at the beginning of each chapter which pretty much set the tone. There are tons of short chapters, and it made it feel like the book was flying.
The audiobook is narrated by Rebecca Gibel and she did an amazing job, especially considering she had to narrate a man's POV as well. As stated above, some parts of this book are more descriptive than others, and there are parts that do get fairly graphic, so this is not a book for the faint of heart. I would liken it a bit to a Karin Slaughter novel in that respect, but not the same if that makes any sense. Only Truth was a quick read and it really gives you an isolated feel thanks to the setting. It was V disturbing, and one of those books you just don't want to put down until you see how it ends. If you want a disturbing, bingeable thriller, look no further than this book. A pretty impressive debut and I will be looking forward to seeing what Cameron writes next!
The audiobook is narrated by Rebecca Gibel and she did an amazing job, especially considering she had to narrate a man's POV as well. As stated above, some parts of this book are more descriptive than others, and there are parts that do get fairly graphic, so this is not a book for the faint of heart. I would liken it a bit to a Karin Slaughter novel in that respect, but not the same if that makes any sense. Only Truth was a quick read and it really gives you an isolated feel thanks to the setting. It was V disturbing, and one of those books you just don't want to put down until you see how it ends. If you want a disturbing, bingeable thriller, look no further than this book. A pretty impressive debut and I will be looking forward to seeing what Cameron writes next!
July 15, 2020
A suspenseful book about a young woman, Isabel, who suffered an act of violence she can’t remember when she was young. Now she is being stalked again, seemingly by the same I identified man, but no one (including her possibly up-to-no-good husband) believes her. Others believe she may be cracking up. Is she being stalked or is she mentally ill?
One of my favorite parts about this book was the way every chapter started out with a quote. The quotes are more literary than the ones you usually find in a suspense book. The one I liked best that apparently inspired the title of the book was a quote from Voltaire - “To the dead we owe only truth.”
I liked the main character Izzy. I found the book a bit slow until about halfway through when it took an interesting turn. The “is she being stalked or is she mentally ill?” theme has been done a lot these past few years, so between that and the slow pace I didn’t get much out of the first half. I did like better where things went in the second half and found the book to be well-written overall, and liked the resolution, albeit a bit predictable.
I’d give the book 3.75 stars. Well-written, and likely to appeal to suspense fans, but there are other books with this same plot that provide more thrills and a faster pace if you’re a true thriller adrenaline junkie.
Thanks to Scarlet Publishing, Julie Cameron and NetGalley for the advance copy!
One of my favorite parts about this book was the way every chapter started out with a quote. The quotes are more literary than the ones you usually find in a suspense book. The one I liked best that apparently inspired the title of the book was a quote from Voltaire - “To the dead we owe only truth.”
I liked the main character Izzy. I found the book a bit slow until about halfway through when it took an interesting turn. The “is she being stalked or is she mentally ill?” theme has been done a lot these past few years, so between that and the slow pace I didn’t get much out of the first half. I did like better where things went in the second half and found the book to be well-written overall, and liked the resolution, albeit a bit predictable.
I’d give the book 3.75 stars. Well-written, and likely to appeal to suspense fans, but there are other books with this same plot that provide more thrills and a faster pace if you’re a true thriller adrenaline junkie.
Thanks to Scarlet Publishing, Julie Cameron and NetGalley for the advance copy!
September 24, 2020
I didn't end up enjoying this much and thought about DNFing a few times. But I pushed through and finished it. I found it a bit boring and didn't think the mystery aspect was very compelling, since you pretty much know who the attacker is early on. I also didn't think the attacker's POVs were always necessary, and just found them depressingly dark.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to review!
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to review!
March 19, 2021
"Ein Haus auf dem Land: Für Tom geht damit ein Traum in Erfüllung, seine Frau Izzy dagegen lässt London nur ungern hinter sich. Das alte Haus mit den Streuobstwiesen verursacht ihr Gänsehaut, und zugleich hat sie das Gefühl, es bereits zu kennen. Genau wie den Jungen auf den alten Fotos, der früher hier gewohnt hat. Als Izzy einen versteckten Verschlag mit seltsamen Zeichen an den Wänden entdeckt, ist sie überzeugt, dass dort Schlimmes vorgefallen ist. Die Polizei nimmt ihren Verdacht ebenso wenig ernst wie Tom. Doch Izzy weiß, dass die Idylle trügt …"
Zuerst muss ich ganz klar sagen, dass das ein ruhiges Thriller ist und wer sowas nicht mag, braucht auch gar nicht weiterzulesen.
Ich mag ruhige und gute Thriller und mir hat dieses Buch gefallen. Ich habe direkt in die Geschichte eingefunden und ich mochte Izzy sehr gerne. Izzy ist eine labile Frau mit einer schlimmen Vergangenheit, obwohl sie anfangs schwach wirkt entwickelt sie sich in der Geschichte weiter, was mit sehr gefallen hat.
Aufgrund der guten Beschreibungen der Autorin bzgl. Landhaus, Umgebung und Atmosphäre konnte ich mir das alles sehr gut bildlich vorstellen als sei ich selbst in der Geschichte.
Die Handlung ist nicht rasant, sondern baut sich nach und nach auf. Trotzdem fehlte hier kaum die Spannung.
An ein zwei Stellen etwas zäh, aber das gab sich schnell wieder.
Ich hatte auch ein zwei Theorien und habe gerätselt, aber doch auf den Falschen getippt. Das Ende war schlüssig und rund.
Insgesamt ein lesenswerter und ruhiger Thriller, den ich gerne gelesen habe.
Zuerst muss ich ganz klar sagen, dass das ein ruhiges Thriller ist und wer sowas nicht mag, braucht auch gar nicht weiterzulesen.
Ich mag ruhige und gute Thriller und mir hat dieses Buch gefallen. Ich habe direkt in die Geschichte eingefunden und ich mochte Izzy sehr gerne. Izzy ist eine labile Frau mit einer schlimmen Vergangenheit, obwohl sie anfangs schwach wirkt entwickelt sie sich in der Geschichte weiter, was mit sehr gefallen hat.
Aufgrund der guten Beschreibungen der Autorin bzgl. Landhaus, Umgebung und Atmosphäre konnte ich mir das alles sehr gut bildlich vorstellen als sei ich selbst in der Geschichte.
Die Handlung ist nicht rasant, sondern baut sich nach und nach auf. Trotzdem fehlte hier kaum die Spannung.
An ein zwei Stellen etwas zäh, aber das gab sich schnell wieder.
Ich hatte auch ein zwei Theorien und habe gerätselt, aber doch auf den Falschen getippt. Das Ende war schlüssig und rund.
Insgesamt ein lesenswerter und ruhiger Thriller, den ich gerne gelesen habe.
October 3, 2020
Thriller lovers!! Stop what you are doing and put this on your list❗️Seriously.
.
I stayed awake all night to finish this book. It. IS. SO. GOOD! ✨
_______________________________________
.
Isabel suffered a violent trauma back when she was in high school. She does not remember the attack and still struggles with physical and mental issues.
.
She lives with her husband Tom in London. Tom has recently found a beautiful country estate and is convinced that them moving out of the city is what’s best for Isabel.
Tom takes Isabel out to view the estate and all she feels is dread. But, she loves Tom and he has always taken such good care of her, so she relents.
.
After they move into the home, strange, ominous things begin happening to Isabel. She hears frightening sounds, finds suspicious, creepy things and can’t shake the feeling of being watched.
Tom dismisses her concerns as ridiculous and begins growing distant.
.
Isabel is often alone, the isolation and burgeoning terror are threatening to overtake her. Is she losing her grip on sanity?
_______________________________________
.
I do want to warn you guys- this one does get pretty graphic in parts.
.
I stayed awake all night to finish this book. It. IS. SO. GOOD! ✨
_______________________________________
.
Isabel suffered a violent trauma back when she was in high school. She does not remember the attack and still struggles with physical and mental issues.
.
She lives with her husband Tom in London. Tom has recently found a beautiful country estate and is convinced that them moving out of the city is what’s best for Isabel.
Tom takes Isabel out to view the estate and all she feels is dread. But, she loves Tom and he has always taken such good care of her, so she relents.
.
After they move into the home, strange, ominous things begin happening to Isabel. She hears frightening sounds, finds suspicious, creepy things and can’t shake the feeling of being watched.
Tom dismisses her concerns as ridiculous and begins growing distant.
.
Isabel is often alone, the isolation and burgeoning terror are threatening to overtake her. Is she losing her grip on sanity?
_______________________________________
.
I do want to warn you guys- this one does get pretty graphic in parts.
June 29, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the arc of Only Truth by Julie Cameron,
This follows Isabel who knows she should be grateful for her happy life but its actually the complete opposite from the one she led before when normality seemed too far out of reach then after a violent assault in which she cannot remember which ended up leaving her shattered and pretty scarred after that happened. Even though her memory was lost even the saddening feeling that she may be damaged goods and the effects of her injuries kept her questioning her own sanity.....
Her husband whom is named Tom, says and decides a move and a fresh start may be what she and him need and they even found the best house in the country.... this brings back memories for him as it reminds him of his childhood. Isabel feels that when she visits it is an overwhelming sense of dread...... She is Betrayed by her own instincts so she then decides to trust Tom’s instincts, to do the move and learn to love their new home as this is their future.
Turns out that their new home does actuall lurk dark secrets which are so powerful enough to bring back her own trauma from the past and what happened...
This was a 4 star read and i definitely recommend it was such a great book and read was flowing beautifully it was structured well as well as it kept me wanting more and to know more and it kept me going on reading right from start to finish quickly within 1 day as well
4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
This follows Isabel who knows she should be grateful for her happy life but its actually the complete opposite from the one she led before when normality seemed too far out of reach then after a violent assault in which she cannot remember which ended up leaving her shattered and pretty scarred after that happened. Even though her memory was lost even the saddening feeling that she may be damaged goods and the effects of her injuries kept her questioning her own sanity.....
Her husband whom is named Tom, says and decides a move and a fresh start may be what she and him need and they even found the best house in the country.... this brings back memories for him as it reminds him of his childhood. Isabel feels that when she visits it is an overwhelming sense of dread...... She is Betrayed by her own instincts so she then decides to trust Tom’s instincts, to do the move and learn to love their new home as this is their future.
Turns out that their new home does actuall lurk dark secrets which are so powerful enough to bring back her own trauma from the past and what happened...
This was a 4 star read and i definitely recommend it was such a great book and read was flowing beautifully it was structured well as well as it kept me wanting more and to know more and it kept me going on reading right from start to finish quickly within 1 day as well
4 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐
November 4, 2020
How is this book not all over Bookstagram? I could not put it down it sent chills down my spine!!
Isabel or known as Izzy is an artist, she met her husband Tom at one of her art showings. Izzy at the age of fourteen survived a savage attack and her attacker had left her for dead. The attack left her without a memory so she was never able to turn her attacker in. She still suffers migraines and anxiety and Tom helps take care of her. He makes a point to tell Izzy he knows what’s best for her. Tom talks Izzy into moving to the countryside and buying a home known as The Lodge. Immediately Izzy feels like something is off with the home it makes her uncomfortable and she’s constantly feeling like someone is watching her. Tom feels like it’s just her anxiety and she’s making it up. Soon strange things begin to happen she hears sounds and her cat is found with its neck snapped, when she uncovers a secret room in the carriage house in the back of the property she immediately feels a sense of dread and when she discovers letters and numbers scratched into the floor, she soon realizes the house holds some dark secrets and they may be connected to her own past. Izzy soon puts her own life In danger and someone in the shadows is determined not to let escape twice! In between each chapter you get the stalkers point of view and these chapters give you a peek into his dark and twisted mind know that there are some parts that get a bit graphic and can make your stomach turn. I’m giving this book five stars it was amazing!
Isabel or known as Izzy is an artist, she met her husband Tom at one of her art showings. Izzy at the age of fourteen survived a savage attack and her attacker had left her for dead. The attack left her without a memory so she was never able to turn her attacker in. She still suffers migraines and anxiety and Tom helps take care of her. He makes a point to tell Izzy he knows what’s best for her. Tom talks Izzy into moving to the countryside and buying a home known as The Lodge. Immediately Izzy feels like something is off with the home it makes her uncomfortable and she’s constantly feeling like someone is watching her. Tom feels like it’s just her anxiety and she’s making it up. Soon strange things begin to happen she hears sounds and her cat is found with its neck snapped, when she uncovers a secret room in the carriage house in the back of the property she immediately feels a sense of dread and when she discovers letters and numbers scratched into the floor, she soon realizes the house holds some dark secrets and they may be connected to her own past. Izzy soon puts her own life In danger and someone in the shadows is determined not to let escape twice! In between each chapter you get the stalkers point of view and these chapters give you a peek into his dark and twisted mind know that there are some parts that get a bit graphic and can make your stomach turn. I’m giving this book five stars it was amazing!
November 28, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
SOLID.
That's what I thought of it as soon as I closed the back cover.
Characters- okay, nothing to write home about.
Plot- ever present crappy domestic suspense theme, BUT there was a serial killer vibe also!
Setting-A HUGE selling point for me was that this was set in an English area. Total Anglophile.
Conflict- Okay, this was a slower burn. Definitely suspenseful that way and page turning.
Resolution- Not a mind blowing shocker, but a good ending!
Definitely a solid psychological thriller! I don't like saying this, but it's one that I know I'll forget after a few other reads.
SOLID.
That's what I thought of it as soon as I closed the back cover.
Characters- okay, nothing to write home about.
Plot- ever present crappy domestic suspense theme, BUT there was a serial killer vibe also!
Setting-A HUGE selling point for me was that this was set in an English area. Total Anglophile.
Conflict- Okay, this was a slower burn. Definitely suspenseful that way and page turning.
Resolution- Not a mind blowing shocker, but a good ending!
Definitely a solid psychological thriller! I don't like saying this, but it's one that I know I'll forget after a few other reads.
October 13, 2020
Thank you in advance to Amazon Vine for providing a complimentary advance reading copy. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.
Sometimes a book comes along that generates such interest that it moves up to the top of the TBR (to-be-read/reviewed) list. Sometimes, that book is there because we want to get it over and done with because we have a nagging suspicion it is going to disappoint.
This is the “it really sounded interesting when I requested it” book. Yet, somewhere between that “it sounds good” and the end – this book somehow failed. And, I was honestly glad to have moved it up as I have some really good reads after it.
While an author’s debut isn’t their best work by nature as they haven’t had time to season themselves; there are some who kit it right out of the park and it is still going. Sometimes it being a debut book has nothing to do with its lackluster deal. Sometimes it is just a bad book.
This book had so much potential but it is muddled by a rather unreliable, uninspiring, and disinteresting narrator – protagonist, Isabel Dryland (Weir) who can rankle the reader with her narrative. It is also hampered by confusing time jumps – current day, 1994, 2007, 2017 which could confuse the reader.
This isn’t “dual” timeline (past/present), this is MULTIPLE timeline. Sometimes the narrator and transition are not clearly distinguished. The current day could be the “attacker” or Isabel; 1994, 2004, and 2017 were in first person which was likely the “attacker”.
The supporting characters are somewhat lackluster and mostly filler. With the time jumps, it would be hard to determine if there are plot holes. I had some questions, but wouldn’t know where to start.
The cover is haunting and grabs the reader’s attention. That is the strongest point the book has. Next best feature are the short chapters which can cause this to become a quick read, thankfully.
Other than Isabel, the other main characters – Tom, “attacker”, Caitlin, Matthew – none of them reached out and grabbed me. Mrs. Arthur was about the most likeable person but she is only a spot in the book. Tom was understandable, but frustrating. It was as if he didn’t know how to relate to Isabel, and was trying to comfort her to open her up. I often wonder what drew the two together.
For her part, while it was understandable what Isabel was going through, it was deeply frustrating as she kept trying to be the victim. She understood she had problems, but didn’t make an effort to try to get beyond them. While I felt sympathy for her character, I was very much irritated by her.
I hate to be brutal – but, then again, so was Isabel – she definitely was the most unsympathetic character in this. She doesn’t even attempt to better her behavior or apologize for it.
Even when her husband tries to “explain” her – she takes an offense. She knows she has problems, but isn’t a loony case. She doesn’t deny her feelings, but doesn’t think she needs help. As a result, her issues in communicating remain.
Matthew is an interesting character and is perhaps the most normal one of the bunch. This is where Isabel comes alive – despite her past; she doesn’t mind putting herself forward with Matthew, yet her marriage holds her back from that action. A marriage she isn’t happy in.
What is interesting is that Tom’s interest in this house sparks the beginning of Isabel remembering what happened to her in 1994 and leads her to investigate another missing girl (2004).
By chapter 28, the writer gave away who the attacker/stalker is. And, I pretty much saw that coming. The writer does her best to keep it a secret. The storyline involving Isabel’s younger sisters was an interesting touch, but not nearly enough to make this interesting.
By Chapter 35, it starts to pick up the pace and get moving. By that time, my interest was waning and I had read ahead a few times.
Most of the ending is predictable – which I won’t give away. But, for me, it was rather predictable.
The “epilogue” would’ve worked better had the writer really told more between the last chapter and that.
And, after learning what happened to Isabel, it doesn’t really explain a lot about her behavior.
I would’ve liked to have explored the draw Tom had to the house and see where that could’ve taken the reader.
This is an ARC, and not a finished version so there will be some “issues”. But, it is interesting to note that while this takes place in the UK – there are both USA and UK terms used and there is no consistency. The spelling is almost all USA versions. There are numerous typos with regard to punctuation and spelling. I have no problem with the USA versions as I am in the USA. But, some UK readers might take point with the variations and words used.
The author is very vivid, graphic, and descriptive, almost to the point of being uncomfortable.
As far as “content” – the book has foul language – “f” bombs, “s” word. In addition there are trigger subjects – adultery, underage drinking, rape, and murder.
The title is taken from a Voltaire quote – “to the dead we owe only truth”. This could’ve worked better had the main character been a bit more reliable and really had something tangible to hold my interest.
This is targeted to readers of suspense and psychological thrillers who can easily overlook characters like Isabel.
Occasionally, I like a good suspense and psychological thriller. This missed the mark for me. Perhaps I am leaning more into cleaner suspense novels that are better plotted.
I would like to think that if the writer would’ve made Isabel more “relatable” it would’ve worked better and had something solid. I had to take repeated breaks to get away from Isabel and that sort of broke the stride.
It wasn’t the worst waste of my time. It was a laborious and tedious read. I found myself struggling with this one.
Sometimes a book comes along that generates such interest that it moves up to the top of the TBR (to-be-read/reviewed) list. Sometimes, that book is there because we want to get it over and done with because we have a nagging suspicion it is going to disappoint.
This is the “it really sounded interesting when I requested it” book. Yet, somewhere between that “it sounds good” and the end – this book somehow failed. And, I was honestly glad to have moved it up as I have some really good reads after it.
While an author’s debut isn’t their best work by nature as they haven’t had time to season themselves; there are some who kit it right out of the park and it is still going. Sometimes it being a debut book has nothing to do with its lackluster deal. Sometimes it is just a bad book.
This book had so much potential but it is muddled by a rather unreliable, uninspiring, and disinteresting narrator – protagonist, Isabel Dryland (Weir) who can rankle the reader with her narrative. It is also hampered by confusing time jumps – current day, 1994, 2007, 2017 which could confuse the reader.
This isn’t “dual” timeline (past/present), this is MULTIPLE timeline. Sometimes the narrator and transition are not clearly distinguished. The current day could be the “attacker” or Isabel; 1994, 2004, and 2017 were in first person which was likely the “attacker”.
The supporting characters are somewhat lackluster and mostly filler. With the time jumps, it would be hard to determine if there are plot holes. I had some questions, but wouldn’t know where to start.
The cover is haunting and grabs the reader’s attention. That is the strongest point the book has. Next best feature are the short chapters which can cause this to become a quick read, thankfully.
Other than Isabel, the other main characters – Tom, “attacker”, Caitlin, Matthew – none of them reached out and grabbed me. Mrs. Arthur was about the most likeable person but she is only a spot in the book. Tom was understandable, but frustrating. It was as if he didn’t know how to relate to Isabel, and was trying to comfort her to open her up. I often wonder what drew the two together.
For her part, while it was understandable what Isabel was going through, it was deeply frustrating as she kept trying to be the victim. She understood she had problems, but didn’t make an effort to try to get beyond them. While I felt sympathy for her character, I was very much irritated by her.
I hate to be brutal – but, then again, so was Isabel – she definitely was the most unsympathetic character in this. She doesn’t even attempt to better her behavior or apologize for it.
Even when her husband tries to “explain” her – she takes an offense. She knows she has problems, but isn’t a loony case. She doesn’t deny her feelings, but doesn’t think she needs help. As a result, her issues in communicating remain.
Matthew is an interesting character and is perhaps the most normal one of the bunch. This is where Isabel comes alive – despite her past; she doesn’t mind putting herself forward with Matthew, yet her marriage holds her back from that action. A marriage she isn’t happy in.
What is interesting is that Tom’s interest in this house sparks the beginning of Isabel remembering what happened to her in 1994 and leads her to investigate another missing girl (2004).
By chapter 28, the writer gave away who the attacker/stalker is. And, I pretty much saw that coming. The writer does her best to keep it a secret. The storyline involving Isabel’s younger sisters was an interesting touch, but not nearly enough to make this interesting.
By Chapter 35, it starts to pick up the pace and get moving. By that time, my interest was waning and I had read ahead a few times.
Most of the ending is predictable – which I won’t give away. But, for me, it was rather predictable.
The “epilogue” would’ve worked better had the writer really told more between the last chapter and that.
And, after learning what happened to Isabel, it doesn’t really explain a lot about her behavior.
I would’ve liked to have explored the draw Tom had to the house and see where that could’ve taken the reader.
This is an ARC, and not a finished version so there will be some “issues”. But, it is interesting to note that while this takes place in the UK – there are both USA and UK terms used and there is no consistency. The spelling is almost all USA versions. There are numerous typos with regard to punctuation and spelling. I have no problem with the USA versions as I am in the USA. But, some UK readers might take point with the variations and words used.
The author is very vivid, graphic, and descriptive, almost to the point of being uncomfortable.
As far as “content” – the book has foul language – “f” bombs, “s” word. In addition there are trigger subjects – adultery, underage drinking, rape, and murder.
The title is taken from a Voltaire quote – “to the dead we owe only truth”. This could’ve worked better had the main character been a bit more reliable and really had something tangible to hold my interest.
This is targeted to readers of suspense and psychological thrillers who can easily overlook characters like Isabel.
Occasionally, I like a good suspense and psychological thriller. This missed the mark for me. Perhaps I am leaning more into cleaner suspense novels that are better plotted.
I would like to think that if the writer would’ve made Isabel more “relatable” it would’ve worked better and had something solid. I had to take repeated breaks to get away from Isabel and that sort of broke the stride.
It wasn’t the worst waste of my time. It was a laborious and tedious read. I found myself struggling with this one.
December 31, 2021
https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/jul...
Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book back in May as a buddy read with my sisters! I failed to write a review at the time, but we chatted about this one over text so at least I have a record of our conversation to guide me as I jot down some thoughts now.
The title is inspired by a quote from Voltaire: “To death we owe only truth”.
The book alternates betweens Isabel’s present-day POV and the perspective of her stalker, whose chapters start in 1994. I loved this dual POV, and was immediately searching the stalker’s chapters for hints as to who he matched up with in Isabel’s life. The stalker’s chapters are pretty graphic. I enjoy disturbing inner workings like this, but it may be triggering for some readers.
I’m a sucker for a home renovation setting, so I found the chapters about Isabel’s daily life enjoyable. If you’re a reader who requires constant action, some of these chapters may seem to drag a little. When the culprit is revealed, though, you’ll definitely find yourself going back for clues.
I loved Izzy’s character. Despite her TBI, she has fought to recover and create an amazing life for herself. Talk about resilient! Her husband Tom kind of sucked, forcing her to move out of London where she was comfortable and dismissing her concerns about her new house.
My review might be a little disjointed since I read this book so long ago, but I know I really enjoyed it. My texts with my sisters are pretty funny, since we sent our suspicions to each other throughout. If you’re a thriller lover, I’d definitely pick this one up!
Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book back in May as a buddy read with my sisters! I failed to write a review at the time, but we chatted about this one over text so at least I have a record of our conversation to guide me as I jot down some thoughts now.
The title is inspired by a quote from Voltaire: “To death we owe only truth”.
The book alternates betweens Isabel’s present-day POV and the perspective of her stalker, whose chapters start in 1994. I loved this dual POV, and was immediately searching the stalker’s chapters for hints as to who he matched up with in Isabel’s life. The stalker’s chapters are pretty graphic. I enjoy disturbing inner workings like this, but it may be triggering for some readers.
I’m a sucker for a home renovation setting, so I found the chapters about Isabel’s daily life enjoyable. If you’re a reader who requires constant action, some of these chapters may seem to drag a little. When the culprit is revealed, though, you’ll definitely find yourself going back for clues.
I loved Izzy’s character. Despite her TBI, she has fought to recover and create an amazing life for herself. Talk about resilient! Her husband Tom kind of sucked, forcing her to move out of London where she was comfortable and dismissing her concerns about her new house.
My review might be a little disjointed since I read this book so long ago, but I know I really enjoyed it. My texts with my sisters are pretty funny, since we sent our suspicions to each other throughout. If you’re a thriller lover, I’d definitely pick this one up!
October 2, 2020
This book is creepy and full of twists however, it wasn't hard to identify the main antagonist ( I kinda prefer to have a hard time figuring it out) and I spot it right away and I was right. Regardless, I still enjoyed reading it.. Author’s writing style is good, characters and plot are good as well.
April 29, 2021
Der Schreibstil war gut. Die Story an sich hat sich leider aber teilweise etwas sehr gezogen.
Mir persönlich war es leider auch nicht spannend genug.
Mir persönlich war es leider auch nicht spannend genug.
May 29, 2021
Ein leiser und unaufgeregter Thriller, hat mir aber trotzdem gut gefallen.
August 4, 2020
You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Penzler Publishers, and the author via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 3.5
Isabel Dryland is an artist with a troubled past. She has lasting damage from an accident that happened when she was a teenager, the problem is, she's never been able to remember what happened or why. Some days are good, others not so much, change is hard for her but she tries her best. So when her husband suggests they move to the country side, she has reservations. When he has his heart set on a particular house, she agrees to go and view it, once she realises how much her husband loves it, she can't bear to say no. So they pack up their city lives, and move to the quiet countryside. At first it's okay, but then Isabel starts experiencing unnerving things. She feels like she's being watched. and begins to discover secrets about their new house that are incredibly unsettling. Like a dog with a bone, she can't let it rest until she finds out the truth of what happened there, but will she be able to handle what she uncovers? And is the treat she feels she is experiencing real, or a fear based on lost memories?
The premise of this story interested me greatly. A psychological thriller where the protagonist can't remember her accident? Sign. Me. Up. This one turned out being a little odd though, and I honestly can't say why. It had that psychological thriller feel, but it also felt like a crime novel in a sense, even though Isabel is not a detective or police officer or anything of the sort, she's a victim of an accident that she can't remember, which in turn I felt like made her an unreliable narrator.
When her and her husband move, she's not happy about it. After her accident, one of the problems that she has is dealing with change and trying to adapt to new places which is fair enough. However, through her love to her husband she agrees to move as he has his heart set on the house that they've viewed. Isabel had an unsettling feeling that she's been there before, and some of the rooms are making her uneasy. Along with the feeling of being watched, of strangers walking up the laneway looking in on her when she's outside. But the narration give the feel of "is it really happening? Or is it just her imagination?" hence the unreliable narrator feel. I knew which way I felt about it the whole time, and I ended up being right in my assumption without any shadow of a doubt, so I feel like steps could have been taken to make it a little harder to work out which way the story was going to go.
The story is written in alternating chapters between Isabel in the present day and the culprit in 2004. I will admit, I didn't quite know who our 2004 character was until almost the reveal, I had an inkling about them when we're first introduced, and there's one line in the narration of the culprit that really gave them away, I felt.
The mystery was interesting, though it didn't feel so much a mystery because we were reading dual timelines which sort of covered everything. I'm trying to be as vague as possible because I don't want to give anything away, so I apologise if it's confusing hahaha. I felt like the pace was a lagging a little in places and not as suspenseful as I would have liked it to be, though Cameron did a good job of emitting the isolation that Isabel felt.
Even though the narrative was descriptive, I felt like a lot of the time it was telling me rather than showing. I did however notice the difference between Isabel and the Culprit's voice and think that it may have been written this way in order to convey Isabel's though patterns and feelings that go hand in hand with the problems that she has had since her accident.
All in all, it wasn't a bad book, just didn't hit me the way I was hoping that it would. I don't want to go into too much detail because I feel like not knowing is part of being able to enjoy this story. I have noticed that since I finished it a couple of days ago, it has been popping up in my mind a bit which I take as a sign of a decent book. Though it was different to what I was expecting, it had a story that kept me intrigued and needing to know what happened next. The ending was satisfying as well which is always a plus.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Penzler Publishers, and the author via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating of 3.5
Isabel Dryland is an artist with a troubled past. She has lasting damage from an accident that happened when she was a teenager, the problem is, she's never been able to remember what happened or why. Some days are good, others not so much, change is hard for her but she tries her best. So when her husband suggests they move to the country side, she has reservations. When he has his heart set on a particular house, she agrees to go and view it, once she realises how much her husband loves it, she can't bear to say no. So they pack up their city lives, and move to the quiet countryside. At first it's okay, but then Isabel starts experiencing unnerving things. She feels like she's being watched. and begins to discover secrets about their new house that are incredibly unsettling. Like a dog with a bone, she can't let it rest until she finds out the truth of what happened there, but will she be able to handle what she uncovers? And is the treat she feels she is experiencing real, or a fear based on lost memories?
The premise of this story interested me greatly. A psychological thriller where the protagonist can't remember her accident? Sign. Me. Up. This one turned out being a little odd though, and I honestly can't say why. It had that psychological thriller feel, but it also felt like a crime novel in a sense, even though Isabel is not a detective or police officer or anything of the sort, she's a victim of an accident that she can't remember, which in turn I felt like made her an unreliable narrator.
When her and her husband move, she's not happy about it. After her accident, one of the problems that she has is dealing with change and trying to adapt to new places which is fair enough. However, through her love to her husband she agrees to move as he has his heart set on the house that they've viewed. Isabel had an unsettling feeling that she's been there before, and some of the rooms are making her uneasy. Along with the feeling of being watched, of strangers walking up the laneway looking in on her when she's outside. But the narration give the feel of "is it really happening? Or is it just her imagination?" hence the unreliable narrator feel. I knew which way I felt about it the whole time, and I ended up being right in my assumption without any shadow of a doubt, so I feel like steps could have been taken to make it a little harder to work out which way the story was going to go.
The story is written in alternating chapters between Isabel in the present day and the culprit in 2004. I will admit, I didn't quite know who our 2004 character was until almost the reveal, I had an inkling about them when we're first introduced, and there's one line in the narration of the culprit that really gave them away, I felt.
The mystery was interesting, though it didn't feel so much a mystery because we were reading dual timelines which sort of covered everything. I'm trying to be as vague as possible because I don't want to give anything away, so I apologise if it's confusing hahaha. I felt like the pace was a lagging a little in places and not as suspenseful as I would have liked it to be, though Cameron did a good job of emitting the isolation that Isabel felt.
Even though the narrative was descriptive, I felt like a lot of the time it was telling me rather than showing. I did however notice the difference between Isabel and the Culprit's voice and think that it may have been written this way in order to convey Isabel's though patterns and feelings that go hand in hand with the problems that she has had since her accident.
All in all, it wasn't a bad book, just didn't hit me the way I was hoping that it would. I don't want to go into too much detail because I feel like not knowing is part of being able to enjoy this story. I have noticed that since I finished it a couple of days ago, it has been popping up in my mind a bit which I take as a sign of a decent book. Though it was different to what I was expecting, it had a story that kept me intrigued and needing to know what happened next. The ending was satisfying as well which is always a plus.
April 1, 2021
Das Cover zu Julie Camerons Debüt hat mich direkt angesprochen und die Inhaltsangabe tat dann ihr übriges damit das Buch auf meiner Leseliste landete:
Um den Alltagsstress von London zu entfliehen, verwirklicht Tom sich seinen Traum von einem Landhaus. Seine Frau Isabel steht dem Vorhaben skeptisch gegenüber, den das alte Anwesen kommt ihr seltsam bekannt vor und verursacht bei ihr Gänsehaut. Alte Fotografien und eine versteckte Kammer mit seltsamen Zeichen bestärken Isabel in ihrem Verdacht das etwas mit diesem Haus nicht stimmt und etwas grauenvolles hier geschehen ist. Tom nimmt ihren Verdacht nicht ernst, doch für Isabel ist klar: Die Idylle trügt...
Als Erstes muss ich gleich erwähnen, dass es sich hier um einen sehr ruhigen Thriller handelt. Die Idee hinter dem Buch mit dem Landhaus und dessen Geschichte fand ich sehr interessant und der Einstieg in die Geschichte ist mir auch sehr gut gelungen. Leider plätschert die Geschichte dann so vor sich hin was ich sehr schade finde, denn man hätte deutlich mehr Spannung reinbringen können.
Mit Isabel als Protagonistin bin ich auch nicht wirklich warm geworden am Anfang, das legt sich dann aber im Laufe der Geschichte. In ihrer Vergangenheit ist einiges passiert, was sie nie wirklich aufgearbeitet hat und das sie bis heute noch verfolgt. Je mehr wir von Isabel erfahren, desto besser kann man sich in sie hineinversetzten. Ihr Ehemann Tom ist leider kaum vorhanden in der Geschichte und war für mich auch total irrelevant für die Story.
Der Schreibstil war toll und durch die kurzen Kapitel kommt man auch recht schnell durch das Buch durch. Es gibt auch interessante Ansatzpunkte, die aber nicht richtig ausgebaut wurden. Wie bereits erwähnt fehlt ein bisschen Spannung, das wäre weiter nicht schlimm aber dann müsste die Geschichte packender sein. Dafür schafft es die Autorin aber eine sehr unterschwellige düstere Atmosphäre aufkommen zu lassen, die mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Die Auflösung war für mich schlüssig allerdings ohne großen Aha Effekt.
Das Landhaus fällt eher in die Kategorie Krimi als Thriller und konnte mich leider nicht ganz so überzeugen wie ich es mir erhofft habe. Es gibt gute Ansätze, die Geschichte ist auch interessant und die Atmosphäre und das Setting sind toll, aber leider wird hier zu viel Potenzial verschenkt. Eine nette Geschichte für zwischendurch mehr aber leider nicht.
3 von 5 Sternen
Um den Alltagsstress von London zu entfliehen, verwirklicht Tom sich seinen Traum von einem Landhaus. Seine Frau Isabel steht dem Vorhaben skeptisch gegenüber, den das alte Anwesen kommt ihr seltsam bekannt vor und verursacht bei ihr Gänsehaut. Alte Fotografien und eine versteckte Kammer mit seltsamen Zeichen bestärken Isabel in ihrem Verdacht das etwas mit diesem Haus nicht stimmt und etwas grauenvolles hier geschehen ist. Tom nimmt ihren Verdacht nicht ernst, doch für Isabel ist klar: Die Idylle trügt...
Als Erstes muss ich gleich erwähnen, dass es sich hier um einen sehr ruhigen Thriller handelt. Die Idee hinter dem Buch mit dem Landhaus und dessen Geschichte fand ich sehr interessant und der Einstieg in die Geschichte ist mir auch sehr gut gelungen. Leider plätschert die Geschichte dann so vor sich hin was ich sehr schade finde, denn man hätte deutlich mehr Spannung reinbringen können.
Mit Isabel als Protagonistin bin ich auch nicht wirklich warm geworden am Anfang, das legt sich dann aber im Laufe der Geschichte. In ihrer Vergangenheit ist einiges passiert, was sie nie wirklich aufgearbeitet hat und das sie bis heute noch verfolgt. Je mehr wir von Isabel erfahren, desto besser kann man sich in sie hineinversetzten. Ihr Ehemann Tom ist leider kaum vorhanden in der Geschichte und war für mich auch total irrelevant für die Story.
Der Schreibstil war toll und durch die kurzen Kapitel kommt man auch recht schnell durch das Buch durch. Es gibt auch interessante Ansatzpunkte, die aber nicht richtig ausgebaut wurden. Wie bereits erwähnt fehlt ein bisschen Spannung, das wäre weiter nicht schlimm aber dann müsste die Geschichte packender sein. Dafür schafft es die Autorin aber eine sehr unterschwellige düstere Atmosphäre aufkommen zu lassen, die mir sehr gut gefallen hat. Die Auflösung war für mich schlüssig allerdings ohne großen Aha Effekt.
Das Landhaus fällt eher in die Kategorie Krimi als Thriller und konnte mich leider nicht ganz so überzeugen wie ich es mir erhofft habe. Es gibt gute Ansätze, die Geschichte ist auch interessant und die Atmosphäre und das Setting sind toll, aber leider wird hier zu viel Potenzial verschenkt. Eine nette Geschichte für zwischendurch mehr aber leider nicht.
3 von 5 Sternen
August 18, 2021
Meine Meinung:
definitiv habe ich mehr erwartet. Das Buch ging okay an, man hat die Protagonistin kennengelernt, ihre Situation und auch ihre Gefühle aber trotzdem war ich immer verwirrt, weil ich nicht wusste, was wirklich mit ihr geschehen ist oder wieso so sie eben ist.
Auch das Haus, wo ihre Gefühle und Emotionen verstärkt waren, wusste ich nicht so recht wohin mit meinen Gedanken, ob es jetzt gut oder nicht gut sei.
Erst am Ende wurde es spannender, was an sich ja nicht schlecht ist aber alles davor war irgendwie eintönig und langweilig.
Der schreibstil ist echt schön und gut zu lesen!
Das Buch bekommt von mir 3 Sterne 🌟
definitiv habe ich mehr erwartet. Das Buch ging okay an, man hat die Protagonistin kennengelernt, ihre Situation und auch ihre Gefühle aber trotzdem war ich immer verwirrt, weil ich nicht wusste, was wirklich mit ihr geschehen ist oder wieso so sie eben ist.
Auch das Haus, wo ihre Gefühle und Emotionen verstärkt waren, wusste ich nicht so recht wohin mit meinen Gedanken, ob es jetzt gut oder nicht gut sei.
Erst am Ende wurde es spannender, was an sich ja nicht schlecht ist aber alles davor war irgendwie eintönig und langweilig.
Der schreibstil ist echt schön und gut zu lesen!
Das Buch bekommt von mir 3 Sterne 🌟
January 21, 2021
3.5-4 ⭐️ Fast read, pretty creepy/scary at parts. A bit slow in parts.
July 3, 2021
3,5 Sterne 🌟
May 29, 2023
First German book! 🥳 (translation, necessarily easy read but pinned for posterity.)
October 15, 2020
Overall, I was not a fan of some of the POV stuff as well as the mystery we were given and did not have a desire to want to pick it up when I was not in the moment of reading it. Bummer.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
April 5, 2021
Man nehme ein dramatisches Schicksal in jungen Jahren, eine vergessene Erinnerung, die ans Tageslicht kommt und weitere Dinge mit sich führt. Gute Idee, aber hier zu blass umgesetzt.
June 29, 2020
Read in prepub. Due out in October 2020. I will say right up front that the coincidences in this book may make you want to put it down, but Cameron is so good at driving the action forward that all is forgiven pretty quickly. The new house that Isabel Dryland reluctantly moves into holds many secrets. Little does she know that it holds the biggest secret of all--who attacked her and changed her life forever.
Recommended for fans of Paula Hawkins and B.A. Paris.
Recommended for fans of Paula Hawkins and B.A. Paris.
November 17, 2020
Excessively tedious mystery-drama thriller.
It had a very captivating opening, a slow and simmery gothic style writing, but this descended into a muddled narrative of excess. I forced myself to finish this one.
Dozens of characters interspersed without proper context, timeline jumps, unclear POVs (a name/indicator allocated to a new POV would have sufficed), unnecessary gossip or reflection, mundane events, quotes from various literature at the beginning of each chapter that did little to add to the plot. I also felt very uncomfortable with the animal torture descriptions, but that's just my own personal trigger, I don't think I need to hear it in such detail to sense the attacker is an evil person. I found myself skimming past paragraphs because the content was not really exciting or necessary. The main character, Isabel, complained a lot, fumbled around mostly with trivialities, and I couldn't find myself caring for what happened to her. Her attitude towards mental health was also really cringey and unrealistic: "So here I am today, in the room for nutjobs...I'm not like these people..." then proceeds to judge the various extreme cases of people all in the room together with her. I have my beef with this because not only is it shaming those with mental health, but it's also assuming counselling to be something that only "ill" people need. Maintaining mental health applies to everyone, just like fitness does. Another jab at something else in the writing: mentioning the therapists hands as "neopolitan" (he was black) is making this character 'exotic'. This is inappropriate and racist. I know it's just unlikeable petty character things, but I find it important to address such topics appropriately in modern times.
The side characters weren't really given enough page space to be likeable (such as close friends or neighbours), and Isabel's mundane reflections drove the plot painfully slowly. The plot itself wasn't really that engaging with some predictable events, the narratives seemed forced, unrelatable or just too damn casual. If I felt threatened in a new house in the country, I would investigate the hell out of that. Set up cameras, talk to neighbours, call the police, get a guard dog a lot earlier, basically be vigilant and proactive to defend my private space - she went on as if she's out on the prairie's having tea & scones with chronic anxiety. I just couldn't find any glue to feel gripped in suspense or excitement. There was more romantic drama than thrills, and the romance sometimes just felt toxic or off-beat also. I feel it could have been a lot shorter, with a dozen less characters, and perhaps had the attacker reveal himself a lot sooner as his confrontation arrived at 90%.
How to improve: I think if the style is aiming for gothic mystery, I would tone down the excess inner narratives and dialogue to keep some mystery alive. There's no need to overexplain what the reader already knows, and it's best to just get on with it. There could be major twists or unpredictable character obstacles to replace the current use of daily events (such as the protagonist calling to meet various connections to the victim). The reason people read is to escape into something exciting and different, and the plot feels too ordinary.
Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy this one, but I think I lean towards exciting/gripping material. Perhaps others favouring a slower, more dramatic pacing, would enjoy.
TW: animal abuse, sexual abuse
Thank you to Netgalley, Penzler publishers and Julie Cameron for this advanced digital copy for review. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.
It had a very captivating opening, a slow and simmery gothic style writing, but this descended into a muddled narrative of excess. I forced myself to finish this one.
Dozens of characters interspersed without proper context, timeline jumps, unclear POVs (a name/indicator allocated to a new POV would have sufficed), unnecessary gossip or reflection, mundane events, quotes from various literature at the beginning of each chapter that did little to add to the plot. I also felt very uncomfortable with the animal torture descriptions, but that's just my own personal trigger, I don't think I need to hear it in such detail to sense the attacker is an evil person. I found myself skimming past paragraphs because the content was not really exciting or necessary. The main character, Isabel, complained a lot, fumbled around mostly with trivialities, and I couldn't find myself caring for what happened to her. Her attitude towards mental health was also really cringey and unrealistic: "So here I am today, in the room for nutjobs...I'm not like these people..." then proceeds to judge the various extreme cases of people all in the room together with her. I have my beef with this because not only is it shaming those with mental health, but it's also assuming counselling to be something that only "ill" people need. Maintaining mental health applies to everyone, just like fitness does. Another jab at something else in the writing: mentioning the therapists hands as "neopolitan" (he was black) is making this character 'exotic'. This is inappropriate and racist. I know it's just unlikeable petty character things, but I find it important to address such topics appropriately in modern times.
The side characters weren't really given enough page space to be likeable (such as close friends or neighbours), and Isabel's mundane reflections drove the plot painfully slowly. The plot itself wasn't really that engaging with some predictable events, the narratives seemed forced, unrelatable or just too damn casual. If I felt threatened in a new house in the country, I would investigate the hell out of that. Set up cameras, talk to neighbours, call the police, get a guard dog a lot earlier, basically be vigilant and proactive to defend my private space - she went on as if she's out on the prairie's having tea & scones with chronic anxiety. I just couldn't find any glue to feel gripped in suspense or excitement. There was more romantic drama than thrills, and the romance sometimes just felt toxic or off-beat also. I feel it could have been a lot shorter, with a dozen less characters, and perhaps had the attacker reveal himself a lot sooner as his confrontation arrived at 90%.
How to improve: I think if the style is aiming for gothic mystery, I would tone down the excess inner narratives and dialogue to keep some mystery alive. There's no need to overexplain what the reader already knows, and it's best to just get on with it. There could be major twists or unpredictable character obstacles to replace the current use of daily events (such as the protagonist calling to meet various connections to the victim). The reason people read is to escape into something exciting and different, and the plot feels too ordinary.
Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy this one, but I think I lean towards exciting/gripping material. Perhaps others favouring a slower, more dramatic pacing, would enjoy.
TW: animal abuse, sexual abuse
Thank you to Netgalley, Penzler publishers and Julie Cameron for this advanced digital copy for review. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.
August 5, 2021
I just finished this un-put-downable book! From the very beginning I was absolutely hooked. Julie Cameron told the story very well and I thoroughly enjoyed the alternating perspectives from main character Isabel (Izzy) and the attacker who left her with a traumatic brain injury. The book is full of suspense and twists that I didn't see coming. This book was my favorite I've read all year and would love to experience reading it again for the first time!
5/5 stars from me for sure!
5/5 stars from me for sure!
July 12, 2020
This cover is impossible to ignore, and with an equally-interesting blurb to match, I was thrilled to be approved for this request.
Isabela's life was dramatically altered when she survived a brutal attack that left her permanently disfigured with no memory of attack. Now, married and having just bought a beautiful house in the country, Izzy realizes there's something about that house that is deeply unsettling. After renovations unearth a possible reason for her unease, she pursues the truth and suddenly finds herself questioning how stable the foundation of her life is.
Only Truth is un-put-downable. I finished this in a single sitting and would gladly do it again. Cameron found a wonderful balance between creepy house, unreliable narrator, and underlying sense of foreboding that resulted in a wonderfully-taut thriller. This gave me all the Gothika vibes. Alternating POVs worked really well here, and while I couldn't choose a favorite, I can sing their praises. Izzy is authentic and gripping and highly likable, even when you're not sure you can entirely buy into her quest for the truth. The mysterious killer's voice is terrifying in its honest dissociation from human emotions.
As for the plot, Cameron does a masterful job weaving doubt into every character. I find memory-lapse narratives tricky to navigate, as sometimes they can come off as cliche or stigmatize mental illness. This book, however, treats mental illness not as a root cause for evil or a path for blame, but rather a fact, a characteristic that doesn't define a character but adds to who that character is. I found this refreshing and engrossing, and I appreciated her handling of some of the more sensitive subjects.
Additionally, Cameron's writing style is beautiful, a readable combination of literary skill and brazen conversationalism. She's taken some of the more overplayed archetypes of the genre and handled them with grace and horror. There is violence, but it's not gratuitous, and while we do get a fair glimpse into a killer's psyche, the focus is primarily on "recovery" and we deal with trauma and change.
Overall, Only Truth is a fast-paced, gripping ride full of tension and twists. Big thanks to Scarlet and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
Isabela's life was dramatically altered when she survived a brutal attack that left her permanently disfigured with no memory of attack. Now, married and having just bought a beautiful house in the country, Izzy realizes there's something about that house that is deeply unsettling. After renovations unearth a possible reason for her unease, she pursues the truth and suddenly finds herself questioning how stable the foundation of her life is.
Only Truth is un-put-downable. I finished this in a single sitting and would gladly do it again. Cameron found a wonderful balance between creepy house, unreliable narrator, and underlying sense of foreboding that resulted in a wonderfully-taut thriller. This gave me all the Gothika vibes. Alternating POVs worked really well here, and while I couldn't choose a favorite, I can sing their praises. Izzy is authentic and gripping and highly likable, even when you're not sure you can entirely buy into her quest for the truth. The mysterious killer's voice is terrifying in its honest dissociation from human emotions.
As for the plot, Cameron does a masterful job weaving doubt into every character. I find memory-lapse narratives tricky to navigate, as sometimes they can come off as cliche or stigmatize mental illness. This book, however, treats mental illness not as a root cause for evil or a path for blame, but rather a fact, a characteristic that doesn't define a character but adds to who that character is. I found this refreshing and engrossing, and I appreciated her handling of some of the more sensitive subjects.
Additionally, Cameron's writing style is beautiful, a readable combination of literary skill and brazen conversationalism. She's taken some of the more overplayed archetypes of the genre and handled them with grace and horror. There is violence, but it's not gratuitous, and while we do get a fair glimpse into a killer's psyche, the focus is primarily on "recovery" and we deal with trauma and change.
Overall, Only Truth is a fast-paced, gripping ride full of tension and twists. Big thanks to Scarlet and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.
March 12, 2021
I just finished an audiobook (a different title), and kept listening after it finished, which led into an interview with the author. The author said the book he wrote is the book he would want to read, and can't imagine writing a book just to try and play the market. I can not believe that anyone would write 'Only Truth' and actually want to read it.
Ridiculous. The most interesting storyline, which i assumed would be the twist, didn't acutally happen. Cameron produces a bunch of one dimensional characters who presumably could all be the villain.
no depth to anything: e.g. protagonist's relationships with everyone; coincidences that even the main character later says are 'one in a million', any of the characters, no day to day life - it appears that the household can run with no trips to the shops whatsoever.
Added to the disappointment of the book, which i only finished so i could add it to my completed books for the year and meet my goal btw, someone at the publishing company thought it would be a good idea to print the blurb in purple on a very dark background so it's almost impossible to read.
Ridiculous. The most interesting storyline, which i assumed would be the twist, didn't acutally happen. Cameron produces a bunch of one dimensional characters who presumably could all be the villain.
no depth to anything: e.g. protagonist's relationships with everyone; coincidences that even the main character later says are 'one in a million', any of the characters, no day to day life - it appears that the household can run with no trips to the shops whatsoever.
Added to the disappointment of the book, which i only finished so i could add it to my completed books for the year and meet my goal btw, someone at the publishing company thought it would be a good idea to print the blurb in purple on a very dark background so it's almost impossible to read.
July 15, 2021
Thank you to Scarlet Publishing, an imprint of Penzler Publishing for this ARC. These are my honest opinions.
I’d rate this as a 3.5ish for me rounded up. This book was good but at the same time I just wasn’t super impressed. It follows Izzy Weir, an artist with a traumatic past. The plot was pretty predictable, and at times I didn’t love how the author wrote about mental health issues. I will say Cameron turned it around at the end in regard to the character making progress on her own mental state but felt there could have been more realistic and less stigmatizing. The female character being helpless was also a little repetitive and sad - again, she eventually overcomes it but I guess at times I just wanted more.
I’d rate this as a 3.5ish for me rounded up. This book was good but at the same time I just wasn’t super impressed. It follows Izzy Weir, an artist with a traumatic past. The plot was pretty predictable, and at times I didn’t love how the author wrote about mental health issues. I will say Cameron turned it around at the end in regard to the character making progress on her own mental state but felt there could have been more realistic and less stigmatizing. The female character being helpless was also a little repetitive and sad - again, she eventually overcomes it but I guess at times I just wanted more.
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