All I Said Was True

by Imran Mahmood

When Amy Blahn was murdered on a London office rooftop, Layla Mahoney was there. She held Amy as she died. But all she can say when police arrest her is that 'It was Michael. Find Michael and you'll find out everything you need to know.'
The problem is, the police can't find Michael – there is no evidence that he exists. And time is running out before they have to either charge Layla with Amy's murder, or let her go.
As a lawyer, Layla knows that she has only forty-eight hours to convince police to investigate the man she knows only as 'Michael' instead of her. But the more she attempts to control her interviews with police, the more the truth leaks out – and how much of that truth can Layla risk being exposed?

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Thriller

Hardcover

Published July 1, 2022

About the author

Imran Mahmood was born in Liverpool in 1969 to first generation Pakistani parents. He has been working on the criminal bar in London for over 20 years and regularly appears in jury trials across the country dealing in serious and complex criminal cases.

He now lives in South East London with his wife and is currently plotting a second novel.

Reviews

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Imran Mahmood's previous book so was excited for this one!
I love books with unreliable narrators, and this one certainly excelled in that department!
The book does change timelines a lot which I don't normally mind if it is clear and easy to follow, but I did struggle a little at times.
I'm a big legal thriller fan and I loved the parts of the book that highlights anything to do with the legal setting!
Mahmood is a master of legal thrillers that make you question everything you are initially told.

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I Said Was True is Imran’s third standalone novel and possibly his most complex to date. If you haven’t read any of Imran’s books before (or watched the brilliant BBC adaptation of You Don’t Know Me), then let me introduce you to the KING of UNRELIABLE NARRATORS.

At the start of the story Layla Mahoney is on her husband’s office rooftop cradling a dead woman. There are no other witnesses or suspects and she won’t tell the police what happened. All she says is that “It was Michael”, but who is Michael and why won’t she tell the police the truth?

The book then begins to slowly take us back to the beginning with Layla narrating her version of events which should lead us to who really killed Amy and why. I use the word slowly, and that’s because this is a real slow-burner of a thriller. There is no doubt that Imran has a skill of getting under his characters skin and bringing them to life with all their faults and weaknesses, and Layla has so many layers to her flawed character.

I’m not going to lie here, but at times I wanted to slap her (several times in the head with a chair) and ask her to just tell me what the hell happened on the roof? Did I believe her? Was she truly a victim here or just a very clever master manipulator? Well obviously I’m not going to tell YOU.. you need to read the book to find out.

I do, however think that this book should come with a free neck brace, because I think I suffered from literary whiplash trying to work out what/who/why from the opening page to the end. Another clever, slow-burning, character driven legal thriller from my mate and fellow Pizza lover Imran Mahmood.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of this authors books, so I was very excited to read this one. So my rating pains me 🥲

Layla a solicitor has been arrested after being found on a high rise roof top cradling the body of Amy. All Layla will say is find Michael to find what they need to know.

It flips between a split time line, in alternating chapters. It’s unusual and quirky, hats off for ingenuity on the plot. It’s slow paced, the main character isn’t at all likeable, she comes across as highly unreliable.

I’m gutted to say that I found this one of the most frustrating books I’ve read in ages. I’m not a fan of unreliable narrators, everyone and everything is unreliable, the author really pushed the boundaries with Layla. If you enjoy the extreme unreliable narrator trope you will probably love it. Unfortunately this one wasn’t a hit for me. I look forward to the next one.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another twisty as heck read from this author that made my brain hurt for all the right reasons.

Moving between the aftermath of a murder and the weeks leading up to the event, the truth slowly comes to light through the eyes of our unreliable narrator. There is a disjointed, disturbing feel to proceedings and the plot is cleverly managed to keep things unpredictable.

Overall another fantastic read from Imram Mahmood. Long may it continue.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When emergency services are called to a London office rooftop, they find Amy Blahn laying dead having been stabbed in the chest. Layla Mahoney held Amy as she died, & tells police that a mysterious man named Michael is the one who killed Amy. Evidence points towards Layla being involved & when the police can't find any evidence of Michael's existence, they arrest her. Was Layla telling the truth?

This was the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. It's a slow burn read so if you're looking for fast-paced, nonstop action, then this may not be the book for you. The narrative flips between Layla being interviewed under caution & the start of the all the problems several weeks before when Layla's life is saved by the mysterious Michael & she starts to think that her husband, Russell, is cheating on her. Layla is a difficult main character to like, she's quite cold, makes some strange decisions, & the reader begins to wonder just how truthful she's actually being. Does Michael even exist? I didn't feel the ending had enough 'oomph' to push this to a 5 star read, so I rate this one 4.5 stars (rounded down)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC/Raven Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read by author Imran Mahmood and I have to say I have really enjoyed all three. The author has worked on the criminal bar in London for over 20 years and together with his skills as a writer he produces legal thrillers that have more than a touch of realism.

Amy Blahn was murdered and her body discovered on a London office rooftop. Layla Mahoney held Amy as died in her arms. The police arrest Amy who offers little defence other than saying ‘It was Michael. Find Michael and you’ll find out everything you need to know.’
The problem the police face is that there is no evidence Michael ever existed and they face a race against the clock to find either Michael or charge Layla with Amy’s murder.
Layla is a lawyer so is fully aware of the predicament the police face and knows that they only have forty eight hours in which to charge her or let her go. Layla pleads with the police to find Michael but as the interviews progress more facts come to light that threaten to expose Layla.

This is a real page turner told in a past and present format featuring the police interrogations of Layla as well as the build up to the murder itself. Well written novel that had me already looking forward to the authors next novel.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for supplying a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie’s reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

All I Said Was True is a title that just screams liar to me and the saying “the lady doth protest too much, methinks” quickly sprang to mind. Especially when the narrator Layla was so unreliable or is she cleverly making you think just that? After all this book is as much about fate, free will and choices as it is a murder. However is free will just an illusion too like the possibility of Michael?

As a lawyer she knows that the police only have so long before they have to charge or release her and in a then and now narrative we have her police interview and the events leading up to the rooftop murder.

This cleverly woven tale had my mind caving in on itself with backstories, betrayals, the idea of more than one truth, predestination vs free will and it’s ingenuity of blurring her erratic behaviour with her unreliable narration. It makes you question everything and everyone.

Picking apart her story along with police you will wonder if Michael is a figment of her imagination or if there is more at play here. Is she just a pawn in a game of chess with no idea who is actually playing or is she the grand master?

While there were many times I did have to suspend disbelief and shake my head at Layla’s responses this had so much more going on than I was first led to believe. Some well placed twists and a clever plot will always suck me in but Layla was too much even for me sometimes and I love an unreliable.

All I Said Was True did however take me down a rabbit hole and had me internalising my own life and what led me here. Was it fate or my own choices?

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I was baffled a lot reading this book.
The what (then) and why (now) just made no logical sense to me.
I don't mean this in a bad way, I mean I had no idea where it was going.
Where it went was entertaining, and I hope I'm never asked to explain it in detail to anyone!!!
This has cemented Mahmood as an autobuy author for me.

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder. A lawyer under investigation. A man that nobody can find who we’re told is the key. A bizarre case that unfolds in front of our eyes is the focus for this thriller.
Our main character, Layla, is found on the rooftop of the building where her husband works. She is cradling the dead body of Amy Blahn, our victim. Her call to the police tells us little.
During her interviews we know Layla is holding back. We don’t know what or why, but she is second-guessing what to say and trying to exploit her knowledge of the law to help determine the best time to reveal details.
As the investigation continues we seethe build-up to the day in question. There are cracks in her relationship and nothing is quite clearcut.
By the end we are told more of the story and this explains some of her behaviour while under interview. However, Layla as a character is hard to warm to and the device of the unreliable narrator makes it difficult to know what to trust or how to react to her.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.

[Kenzie Leckie ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first book by Imran Mahmood so I had no clue what to expect going in.

I honestly couldn’t tell you the reason behind anything that happened. Like a chemical? That will be released and cause cancer? But that’s all you really get. Like I just was so confused and couldn’t understand Layla’s motives. Like Michael told her that Russell was connected and speaking to a woman about it but then she thought he was cheating?? Why would you automatically believe someone that tells you that you’re connected but can’t tell you this “mission” you’re on.

This is very much a case of unreliable narrator if that’s your thing. Russell was also very unlikeable from the start which added to me not being a huge fan because it would have been better if his character was likeable then you grow suspicious more through the book. Also who doesn’t know what their partner does for work? Like even a basic job description would have halted all of this. Layla, come on girl.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've enjoyed Imran Mahmood's previous books so was excited about this one!
I enjoyed this book, but I did find it confusing at times.
I was unsure where the book was going, and there was a lot of characters and a lot of back and forth with different timelines so if i wasn't fully paying attention it would be easy to get lost.

This wasn't my fav Mahmood book, but I enjoyed it nevertheless.

[Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book but I would have liked more action.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's not often I say this, but throughout this book I kept developing wildly different theories about what was going on/what truth would be revealed at the end - I was optimistic for a big, exciting reveal, but sadly, I think pretty much any of my (incorrect) theories would have been better than the actual outcome.

This book was hard to read, not because it's highly complex, but because reading it feels like going around in frustrating circles with very little new information given out each time. The narrator, Layla, is really annoying - she comes across as strangely fearful of everything, fragile/brittle, and hyper-reactive. I kept hoping there would be context for this, but there wasn't - I think she was written this way to amp up the tension, but it just made me dislike her. As the story evolves, it's implied that she has the answers and is perhaps taking control of the situation, but that's only ever an implication - we never really see any turning point or change in behaviour to give us more faith in her as a protagonist.

Even her motivations are bizarre - so she's basically trying to protect her husband, who didn't actually commit murder but was in a wrong-place-wrong-time situation. But her husband Russell is just as terrible a character as Layla. In very last pages of the book, Layla simultaneously realises how much she loves him and yet recognises that he is fundamentally quite selfish. The latter is a good realisation - he is certainly written as selfish, avoidant, cold and dismissive throughout the book. I wondered why Layla had feared losing him at all.

I stuck with this book purely because I don't like abandoning them, but I wish I had with this one. I think the author was probably going for rave reviews of 'thrilling, tense, edge of the seat, tightly plotted etc', but all I can say is 'irritating, annoying, would actively slap this book out of the hands of passersby to prevent them experiencing this literary headache'. If you read this and decide to try anyway, good luck. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew what a crazy ride this is.
This book bounces between the past and present.
Leyla has been arrested after she is found on a rooftop, holding a dead woman in her arms, a knife belonging to her husband in her chest.
The events leading up to that point are slowly uncovered both by the police questioning and Layla's own recollections as they happened.
The problem is these two narratives don't align. Layla insists someone called Michael is the one who committed the murder but the police cannot find any trace of him.
At the basis of the story is a chemical compound that is potentially dangerous and deadly.
I had no clue, absolutely zero, what the truth was. The narrative from Layla was believable and seemed to be perfectly reasonable but as the questioning goes on, Laylas behaviour starts to seem more unhinged and you wonder if the police do have something.
The conclusion is brilliant, there are a few shocks that completely took me by surprise and the action didn't stop until the very last page.
The characters were likeable enough, and you could understand their motivations. There is depth with issues of family, race, feeling welcome by loved ones and a country. It all adds a great depth to them.
Another cracking read from the genius mind of Imran Mahmood.

[Liz Mistry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this is another cracker of a read from the king of the unreliable narrator.

Whilst on occasion, I felt I had to extend my believability radar just a tad too far, I still found myself rushing through the pages.
With the narratives cleverly split between then and now, I was hooked and wasn't entirely sure which of the narratives to believe. With the main character 's increasingly erratic behaviour drawing me further into her world, I was really confused as to what parts of her stroy were true and which were not.
All I Said Was True is so cleverly plotted, it kept me questioning my theories, revising them and then questioning them again.
I love these sort of thrillers, wher you know things aren't clear cut, yet you're not entirely sure why or indeed which characters should be belived.
Highly recommended

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layla has been arrested.

Wow. All I Said Was True is fantastic. Imran Mahmood writes with such skill and dexterity that he draws his reader in to a swirling vortex of intrigue, mystery and possibility. My brain was reeling because the first person account from Layla feeds information to the reader and yet tells them nothing at all. All I Said Was True feels almost audacious at the same time as being completely compelling.

The short chapters create a fast paced plot and given the unity of Layla simply being interviewed by the police, the way the action is threaded into the narrative is astonishing. It’s so difficult to articulate the seemingly paradoxical simplicity and sophistication of how this story is constructed without spoiling the read for others.

All I Said Was True is a kind of Schrodinger’s cat narrative with concepts of free will and determinism, fate and possibility, truth and perception thrumming through the narrative so that until the box is opened and the final page is read, the reader has no idea if Layla’s truth it the actual truth. The characters might be manipulative, but my goodness, so is Imran Mahmood in his dual time structure, pitch-perfect plotting and snappy pace, stunning the reader with this brilliant narrative.

The characters are compelling. Although All I Said Was True isn’t a lengthy novel, there’s a simultaneous back story to the main characters that adds depth, such as the mental health of Layla’s mother, which makes the reader question Layla every bit as much as the police do. Combined with a deliberate withholding of information about those like Michael, the story is made all the more captivating. I am still wondering what those I’ve left behind in All I Said Was True are doing now.

Intelligent, intriguing, innovative, interesting and so impressive, All I Said Was True is an elegantly written, mesmerising read I loved unconditionally. It’s one of my favourite books this year. Don’t miss it.

[Nurul Hanis · Rating 3 out of 5]

“All I Said Was True” by Imran Mahmood

“Find Michael and you’ll find out everything you need to know.”

That is all the clue Layla gave away in the book throughout my entire reading. I had heard great things about Imran Mahmood's writings, and he is known as the King of Unreliable Narrators. I can now confirm that it's true - he is able to write legal thriller books that mess with your head.

However, I found the main character, Layla, so unlikeable that I had to pause my reading. I think it was intentional to make her seem frantic and disorganised throughout the investigation. She did not help the police by giving information or help herself.

I found myself frustrated most of the time while reading it, but it became interesting when I reached around Chapter 50 and above. The excruciating pain that this book gave my head with its disturbing proceedings that led to unpredictable plots was something to be praised for.

But again, I am gutted to say that the pain was not that enjoyable, and maybe I just found that I am not a fan of the extreme unreliable narrator trope. If you are looking for that kind of vibe, please pick up this book with a cup of strong coffee. You'll need it.

Thank you for sending me the review copy @definitelybooks 💕

[Fiz|فيز (Substack link in bio) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second book of Mahmood's and I was reading and reading just waiting for SOMETHING to happen but nothing did.

Layla has been arrested after being found cradling the body of Amy who has been stabbed. After being arrested all Layla will say is find Michael to find what they need to know.

It moves between a now and then narrative. Now being the interview and after the crime happened narrative and the then which is the days leading up to the crime narrative.

It’s very slow paced, the main character isn’t likeable, and is very unreliable and all these added together just put me of the book. I read it all to see how it would all end but I was just left utterly disappointed and kind of frustrated because this had potential and could have worked really well.

[Holly McDonell · Rating 4 out of 5]

definitely a page turner- loved the unreliable narrator- but the ENDING?!?! What?????? So confused?????????????? Left so many unresolved questions which should have been wrapped up. A little unsatisfying because of all these loose ends

[Ioana Lavinia · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2,5*)

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I genuinely don't know how to feel. I don't know what to rate it, but I was expecting better considering Imran's 'I know what I saw'. At the moment I'm just a heap of confusion.

[Chris Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fascinating tale from the excellent Imran Mahmood. Well written and cleverly plotted, even though credulity is stretched a little at times, this novel excels when it is dealing with the legal side of the story, as one would expect.

[Anne Fenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Layla is being interviewed for her role in the murder of a young woman on the roof of a high rise building in London. It’s a very intense, detailed and emotional account, using a before/after structure. I found it dragged on a bit, although others might think it cleverly sustained. The significance of some things, big and small, remain a mystery to me.

[Lauren Rea · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Find Michael, and you'll find out everything you need to know' - When Layla is arrested for the murder of Amy Blahn, this is what she tells the police, but Layla was found on a roof top, holding Amy's body when the emergency services arrive. Who is Michael, and why can't the police find any trace of him if he committed this murder? Everything Laya says, comes out wrong, the more she says, the more she incriminates herself. Layla says she didn't kill Amy and that she's telling the truth. Layla knows as a lawyer that police only have 48 hours to question or charge her, so will they believe that Michael was responsible?

This book was fantastically written, I couldn't stop reading! When I thought I figured out what was going on, another twist comes along!
I really felt like I was routing for Layla, and the characters were relatable and you could feel her emotions!

Thank you Imran for letting me pre-read this, I loved it!

[Ali Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an intriguing book! The way it is written has you going "what on earth is going on?!" constantly (in a good way!).

We don't see inside the mind of Layla, our lead character, so we are almost in the same position as her police interviewers where bits of information are drip fed and we need to work out what they mean. The advantage we have is that we are then given insight into what happened at a particular time; to provide more context for the information she has just revealed. Very clever way of giving us more knowledge but not too soon.

It all unravelled in a completely unexpected and unpredictable way.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC.

[Greville Waterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Imran Mahmood first book "You don't know me" which I thought was original and so authentic in its tone and his second was just as good.

This, his third, is also original in its plot which twists and turns as chapters are set alternately in the Then and the Now.

What was Layla doing on that rooftop, is her husband having an affair, why was Amy stabbed and who is the mysterious Michael who materialises at every opportunity.

I won't provide spoilers but this is a dense and complex book, beautifully plotted and written and well worth the time and thought required to both read and savour it.

[sarah lerigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good thriller from this author
well written, fast paced then and now storyline
good characters, with plenty of twists and turns

[Mary Picken · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to be a very good writer to keep your reader on tenterhooks, wondering what on earth is going on and what the point of this story is for several chapters. Fortunately Imran Mahmood is just that and he really pulls it off in this book which will keep you guessing all the way.

All I Said Was True shifts between the aftermath of a woman’s murder and the time before that event as we hear from Layla, being questioned for Amy Blahn’s murder, but clearly not telling all she knows. Her situation looks grim, the evidence all points to her guilt. Layla is a civil lawyer. She was arrested, on the rooftop of her husband’s workplace with a dead woman in her arms and no-one else around but she insists she is innocent.

This is a dual timeline story, split between Then, which is six weeks before the live police interview, and Now. Layla is the most unreliable of narrators, pointing the police to a mysterious man whose name she barely knows ; offering them only the suggestion that if they find Michael, they’ll find out everything they need to know.

It’s a risky strategy for a woman being questioned under caution for murder and Layla’s story is, to say the least, a bit fantastical. How much, if any, is true, is difficult to determine and what it all adds up to is really fuzzy. Imran Mahmood is an expert at building up those really knotty string puzzles where it’s almost impossible to find the one string that offers the clue to unravelling the whole and you end up down many wrong turnings before you are even close to unravelling the whole.

Layla in chapters interleaved with the interview chapters, takes us back some 6 weeks before the murder to show us what happened and how it was she ended up cradling Amy Blahn’s dead body.

Fortunately Mahmood can really pull this off; his writing is sharp and beautifully constructed. When, quite far into the book, the rationale for all this becomes clear, it is a delight to know that the reader’s perseverance has been rewarded by a clear and logical explanation of what has transpired.

Layla is an enigma. Clearly not disclosing the truth, yet maintaining her innocence. Pointing to a perpetrator whose full name she does not know. She is obfuscating, but why is unclear. Whatever the reasons, she seems only to be succeeding in making herself look more desperate and by omission, guilty. As she tries to explain the concept of Free Will to the Police she succeeds only in making it look as if she’s trying to establish a mental health defence.

As we learn more about Layla and her background, it’s possible to understand how she found herself in this position. But the mysterious Michael remains an enigma and while you can speculate about what exactly is going on, this is not one you’re solve early on.

Verdict: This beautifully constructed, clever plot and it really delivers on suspense. I was guessing and second guessing myself all the way along. This was such a propulsive book for me I read it in one sitting, eschewing everything else so that I could find out what was going on. For me, that’s the mark of a real page-turner and this one has it all. It is unpredictable, intriguing, suspenseful and highly enjoyable.

[Alan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Every one of the billions of stars and planets - every single one is just cause and effect. They exist in their current states because of the things that happened beforehand. Do you think you’re immune from cause and effect, but whole galaxies aren’t?’

Imran Mahmoud’s third novel, ALL I SAID WAS TRUE, is narrated by Layla Mahoney, a personal injury lawyer, being questioned by police in connection with the murder of Amy Blahn. Layla’s story unfolds NOW, as she is interrogated by detectives who have 48 hours in which to decide whether to charge her, and THEN, as we find out how she came to on the roof of her husband’s workplace cradling the dead body of a woman whom she claims not to know, and, in particular, her strange relationship with a man called Michael, a man she claims is really responsible. 

As with the protagonists of Mahmood’s previous novels, YOU DON’T KNOW ME and I KNOW WHAT I SAW, Layla is an unusual, perhaps unreliable, narrator. It is clear from the start of her interrogation that Layla knows more than she initially offers, that she seems to be giving up her information to a planned timetable. She maintains that Michael killed Amy but the police cannot find any evidence that Michael was on the roof, or that he actually exists. THEN, Layla tells us that Michael saved her from being run over by an out of control car on a London street. Thereafter, Michael appears at intervals, claiming that he has not been following Layla, that their meetings are not coincidental, that they are in fact linked in some way, that they are intended to prevent some terrible occurrence. At times the reader might question whether there is something supernatural going on here, or Michael may just be a liar who Is following her…

‘And then there’s this one immovable fact - I can’t face a murder charge. I didn’t do it. But there’s a danger in saying too much which would be worse for me that a murder trial.’

Imran Mahmood is clearly the master of unconventional narrators. Layla is a complex character; we know she is withholding information from both her interrogators and from us as readers, that she is playing some longer game,  but she also appears to have episodes when she is unsure of herself, when she questions the reality of what she sees, when she makes very questionable decisions. And yet, Layla is entirely relatable and three-dimensional. There is a lot going on in ALL I SAID WAS TRUE and, like Layla, Mahmood gives us just enough information to keep us on tenter hooks while keeping the big reveals until later. It is a delicate balance but it really works. ALL I SAID WAS TRUE builds on the craft of the author’s previous novels, honing it to an even sharper edge; a thoroughly entertaining mystery.