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Homelanders #3
The Truth of the Matter
"Never give in."
Ever since he woke up in a terrorist torture chamber--with a year of his life erased from his mind--Charlie West has been on the run. He has one desperate hope of getting his life back: track down the mysterious agent named Waterman. But in fact, reaching Waterman--and recovering the secrets lost in his own memory--will only increase his danger. Because a team of ruthless killers is rapidly closing in on him, determined to stop him from finding the answers. And the truth of the matter is more incredible...and more deadly...than he could ever imagine.
"Action sequences that never let up...wrung for every possible drop of nervous sweat."--"Booklist "review of "The Long Way Home"
Ever since he woke up in a terrorist torture chamber--with a year of his life erased from his mind--Charlie West has been on the run. He has one desperate hope of getting his life back: track down the mysterious agent named Waterman. But in fact, reaching Waterman--and recovering the secrets lost in his own memory--will only increase his danger. Because a team of ruthless killers is rapidly closing in on him, determined to stop him from finding the answers. And the truth of the matter is more incredible...and more deadly...than he could ever imagine.
"Action sequences that never let up...wrung for every possible drop of nervous sweat."--"Booklist "review of "The Long Way Home"
346 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2010
127 people are currently reading
1702 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Klavan
103 books2,356 followersReference for now:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
October 12, 2017
WOW SO THAT HAPPENED.
All you need to know about this book is that it will 1) dramatically speed up your heart rate, 2) make you freak out for the character's life at least 1,734 times, and 3) cause you to get NOTHING DONE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Ahem. Yes. I need book four right now, please. xD
4 stars!
All you need to know about this book is that it will 1) dramatically speed up your heart rate, 2) make you freak out for the character's life at least 1,734 times, and 3) cause you to get NOTHING DONE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
Ahem. Yes. I need book four right now, please. xD
4 stars!
January 27, 2024
Excellent third novel in the series either a cliffhanger ending. Will now move on to the conclusion.
June 10, 2018
Andrew Klavan only gets better the deeper we go into the Homelanders series. By the time The Truth of the Matter rolls around, the occasional awkward passages in The Last Thing I Remember and The Long Way Home are nearly gone, replaced by deft, forceful writing almost any author would be proud to create. After saving his girlfriend Beth's life from Mr. Sherman and the terrorist Homelanders at the end of the last book, eighteen-year-old Charlie West vacates the scene just in time to avoid Detective Rose and the police. Charlie now knows for a fact that he didn't murder his old friend Alex Hauser, but he's an escaped convict with no proof of his innocence, and he has to evade the cops until he finds that proof. His best lead is the name Waterman, which an unseen helper whispered to him while Charlie was briefly back in police custody. Charlie's memory of the past year is still lost to him, and he has no recollection of Waterman, but the guy might be his only hope. When Charlie tracks him down in noisy, chaotic New York City, he breathes a small sigh of relief. After months of continuous peril, perhaps Charlie has found sanctuary.
Waterman, a middle-aged man with a light Southern accent, doesn't look surprised when Charlie corners him at the end of a deserted alley. But Charlie is sure surprised when a hidden assistant shoots Charlie on Waterman's command. Upon awakening from the potent tranquilizer shot, Charlie fears that Waterman is as bad as the Islamo-fascist Homelanders. Why else did he react with violence after Charlie approached him in good faith? Waterman and "Dodger Jim" escort Charlie to a bunker deep in the woods before revealing the plan. They aren't corrupt, Waterman insists. In fact, they are on Charlie's side, but his time with the Homelanders means they can't be sure of his allegiance. To find out if Charlie remains loyal to the U.S., they need to inject him with a drug to restore his lost memories. It will be a long and painful process, but if it means getting answers to his biggest questions, Charlie is ready to comply.
Deep into Charlie's brain we go in search of his stolen memories. The gaps gradually fill in between the day he finally worked up the nerve to ask Beth on a date and the moment he woke up bloodied and tied to a chair by the Homelanders. Shocking truths come back to him bit by bit, but regaining everything won't be easy. Midway through the "memory attacks"—intermittent episodes of excruciating pain that knock Charlie out but return a portion of his memory each time—the Homelanders launch a strike on Waterman's bunker. Led by crazed, sadistic Waylon, whom Charlie remembers from when the Homelanders tortured him before, the terrorists attack with guns and bombs, and only Charlie's extraordinary grit preserves him from immediate extinction. He's on the run again, but it's the Homelanders on his heels now, a much more vicious enemy than the law. The Homelanders want to brutalize and then kill him; the cops' goal is to put Charlie back behind bars for the heinous crime they believe he committed. Eluding Waylon and his men would be challenge enough if Charlie were in peak condition, but the memory attacks won't stop just because they're inconvenient, and every time he's racked with one, Charlie loses twenty minutes of consciousness. His skill and ingenuity can't overcome that deficit.
Charlie has been caught and managed to escape before. All he needs is a tiny opening in order to slip through Waylon's grasp, and the police unwittingly provide it. Starving and dehydrated, Charlie dashes into the woods alone, chased by powerful people with incentive to put all their resources into stopping him. The pursuit through the wilderness is electric, but the best part comes when Charlie stumbles upon a small house he can hide in and hope the police and Homelanders won't find him. Can he convince the people living here that he isn't the villain the media portray him to be, that he was convicted and sent to prison because he loved his country enough to make such a sacrifice? Even if Charlie finds sympathetic company, the Homelanders won't relent even if the police call off the manhunt. Charlie will have to prove his heroic mettle yet again...but can he and his allies escape the vengeance of the Homelanders without loss of innocent life?
The Truth of the Matter is fast-paced but thoughtful. Andrew Klavan respects Western values of freedom, justice, and individuality, and the Homelanders series reinforces those values. In one of Charlie's restored memories, he had been grappling with a decision that would do him great harm but potentially save many lives, and Charlie isn't sure he's willing to opt in. He asks Sensei Mike, his karate teacher, for advice, though only in vague terms because the matter is top secret. Limited as Sensei Mike's knowledge of the situation is, his response is pure gold. "Life's funny...You only get one and you don't want to throw it away. But you can't really live it at all unless you're willing to give it up for the things you love. If you're not at least willing to die for something—something that really matters—in the end you die for nothing." Those words are later echoed by Margaret, who plays a pivotal role in this book. She has experienced tragedy, and has a sense of what's important. "A broken heart is not the worst thing in the world. And neither, when it comes to that, is death. You can't get through a good, strong life without coming upon both of them one way or another, without looking them both straight in the eye. But if I could go back in time and protect myself from my broken heart by living my life in fear, by saying yes to every bully and slave driver who came along, by scuttling away from my duty and from my country and from the things I love and believe in, I wouldn't do it". Fear is a potent persuader. We fear life going wrong, things happening we can't take back that might haunt us for the rest of our days, so we hesitate to act boldly. Erring on the side of safety keeps us out of minefields that might detonate our future before we can enjoy it, but having safety as our primary objective only delays the loss of that future. You'll die eventually, and if you never stood for anything more important than safety, you'll have lived and died to no effect. That's the worst death, the kind which ends a life that meant nothing. There's no foolproof shield against disaster, but you can focus on what truly matters and not shy from your defining moment when it arrives. Live or die, free man or prisoner, Charlie won't give up until his last option is exhausted.
This third Homelanders novel might be my favorite so far. The writing is crisp and energetic, the characters compelling and realistic. I love Margaret and Larry (especially Larry), who are no strangers to heartache and don't shrink away from their part in Charlie's saga, though the decisions they make are anything but easy. I hope we see them in The Final Hour. Trouble is still brewing for Charlie, but he has a clearer picture of what he's up against and who is on his side, and the end of his nightmare is near, one way or another. His friends have repeatedly put themselves on the line for him, unwavering in their faith that he's a good person despite the legal system's guilty verdict, and that bodes well for Charlie. We shall soon find out if it's enough.
Waterman, a middle-aged man with a light Southern accent, doesn't look surprised when Charlie corners him at the end of a deserted alley. But Charlie is sure surprised when a hidden assistant shoots Charlie on Waterman's command. Upon awakening from the potent tranquilizer shot, Charlie fears that Waterman is as bad as the Islamo-fascist Homelanders. Why else did he react with violence after Charlie approached him in good faith? Waterman and "Dodger Jim" escort Charlie to a bunker deep in the woods before revealing the plan. They aren't corrupt, Waterman insists. In fact, they are on Charlie's side, but his time with the Homelanders means they can't be sure of his allegiance. To find out if Charlie remains loyal to the U.S., they need to inject him with a drug to restore his lost memories. It will be a long and painful process, but if it means getting answers to his biggest questions, Charlie is ready to comply.
Deep into Charlie's brain we go in search of his stolen memories. The gaps gradually fill in between the day he finally worked up the nerve to ask Beth on a date and the moment he woke up bloodied and tied to a chair by the Homelanders. Shocking truths come back to him bit by bit, but regaining everything won't be easy. Midway through the "memory attacks"—intermittent episodes of excruciating pain that knock Charlie out but return a portion of his memory each time—the Homelanders launch a strike on Waterman's bunker. Led by crazed, sadistic Waylon, whom Charlie remembers from when the Homelanders tortured him before, the terrorists attack with guns and bombs, and only Charlie's extraordinary grit preserves him from immediate extinction. He's on the run again, but it's the Homelanders on his heels now, a much more vicious enemy than the law. The Homelanders want to brutalize and then kill him; the cops' goal is to put Charlie back behind bars for the heinous crime they believe he committed. Eluding Waylon and his men would be challenge enough if Charlie were in peak condition, but the memory attacks won't stop just because they're inconvenient, and every time he's racked with one, Charlie loses twenty minutes of consciousness. His skill and ingenuity can't overcome that deficit.
Charlie has been caught and managed to escape before. All he needs is a tiny opening in order to slip through Waylon's grasp, and the police unwittingly provide it. Starving and dehydrated, Charlie dashes into the woods alone, chased by powerful people with incentive to put all their resources into stopping him. The pursuit through the wilderness is electric, but the best part comes when Charlie stumbles upon a small house he can hide in and hope the police and Homelanders won't find him. Can he convince the people living here that he isn't the villain the media portray him to be, that he was convicted and sent to prison because he loved his country enough to make such a sacrifice? Even if Charlie finds sympathetic company, the Homelanders won't relent even if the police call off the manhunt. Charlie will have to prove his heroic mettle yet again...but can he and his allies escape the vengeance of the Homelanders without loss of innocent life?
The Truth of the Matter is fast-paced but thoughtful. Andrew Klavan respects Western values of freedom, justice, and individuality, and the Homelanders series reinforces those values. In one of Charlie's restored memories, he had been grappling with a decision that would do him great harm but potentially save many lives, and Charlie isn't sure he's willing to opt in. He asks Sensei Mike, his karate teacher, for advice, though only in vague terms because the matter is top secret. Limited as Sensei Mike's knowledge of the situation is, his response is pure gold. "Life's funny...You only get one and you don't want to throw it away. But you can't really live it at all unless you're willing to give it up for the things you love. If you're not at least willing to die for something—something that really matters—in the end you die for nothing." Those words are later echoed by Margaret, who plays a pivotal role in this book. She has experienced tragedy, and has a sense of what's important. "A broken heart is not the worst thing in the world. And neither, when it comes to that, is death. You can't get through a good, strong life without coming upon both of them one way or another, without looking them both straight in the eye. But if I could go back in time and protect myself from my broken heart by living my life in fear, by saying yes to every bully and slave driver who came along, by scuttling away from my duty and from my country and from the things I love and believe in, I wouldn't do it". Fear is a potent persuader. We fear life going wrong, things happening we can't take back that might haunt us for the rest of our days, so we hesitate to act boldly. Erring on the side of safety keeps us out of minefields that might detonate our future before we can enjoy it, but having safety as our primary objective only delays the loss of that future. You'll die eventually, and if you never stood for anything more important than safety, you'll have lived and died to no effect. That's the worst death, the kind which ends a life that meant nothing. There's no foolproof shield against disaster, but you can focus on what truly matters and not shy from your defining moment when it arrives. Live or die, free man or prisoner, Charlie won't give up until his last option is exhausted.
This third Homelanders novel might be my favorite so far. The writing is crisp and energetic, the characters compelling and realistic. I love Margaret and Larry (especially Larry), who are no strangers to heartache and don't shrink away from their part in Charlie's saga, though the decisions they make are anything but easy. I hope we see them in The Final Hour. Trouble is still brewing for Charlie, but he has a clearer picture of what he's up against and who is on his side, and the end of his nightmare is near, one way or another. His friends have repeatedly put themselves on the line for him, unwavering in their faith that he's a good person despite the legal system's guilty verdict, and that bodes well for Charlie. We shall soon find out if it's enough.
August 8, 2018
Very exciting! Can't wait to read the conclusion!
August 7, 2022
Overall Rating : C
"Because now I knew: I had chosen this...and I had chosen it, knowing that it might lead me here."
Slightly better than the first two books, if only because there's more action and things start coming to a resolution.
Charlie is able to get his memories back and soon finds out who exactly are his enemies, and his allies.
For me, the reveal was a little obvious but a younger audience will most likely have their mind blown.
Just one more book and this series will finally be completed!!
"Because now I knew: I had chosen this...and I had chosen it, knowing that it might lead me here."
Slightly better than the first two books, if only because there's more action and things start coming to a resolution.
Charlie is able to get his memories back and soon finds out who exactly are his enemies, and his allies.
For me, the reveal was a little obvious but a younger audience will most likely have their mind blown.
Just one more book and this series will finally be completed!!
December 28, 2020
*deep breath*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
That is all.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
That is all.
January 8, 2017
This........Book......is WAY......better.....than......The Last Thing I Remember. Like WHAT!!!! How is that even possible?????? But it is, and it's true!! I LOVED this book!! It is completely and unbelievably awesome!! And Charlie is like, the awesome-st person ever!!! I NEED THE LAST BOOK NOW!!!!!!!!! I have a feeling this whole review is going to be about how I loved this book. The Truth of the Matter is like my favorite book of all books!! Well it is tied for first! :) ;) But I'm serious everyone NEEDS to read this series. It is like one of the most amazing series ever. Is there anything I did not like. NO. Was I ever bored. NO. At least not that I remember. Was this book totally and completely awesome through and through. YES!!! Is Charlie awesome. YES!! I know, I know, this review is not good, and is all about how much I love the book. But how can I help it? THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!! Sorry........ But seriously you all should read this book, and read the other books in the series first. I recommend it to ages 13-up maybe 12-up, I duno. There are terrorists and bad guys, and some killing. Intense scenes. Might be scary for younger kids. So ya, after that amazing review let me just tell you guys that, you seriously need to read this book. ;) :) :D
November 3, 2017
More tension. More memory's. More running. This kept me flipping the pages so fast.
A few things about character got a little repetitive. Like I'm pretty sure he just copy and pasted the description of some people. But, other then that we were good.
It had a strangely satisfying ending. But I'm looking forward to reading book four!
A few things about character got a little repetitive. Like I'm pretty sure he just copy and pasted the description of some people. But, other then that we were good.
It had a strangely satisfying ending. But I'm looking forward to reading book four!
May 25, 2016
AMAZING, as always. Love the ending and of course, can't wait to read the final book :D
May 27, 2017
It's absolutely impossible to stop reading these books!
September 14, 2018
This was awesome. It's my favorite book in the series so far. I recommend them.
March 27, 2022
Finally, some revelation.
August 20, 2017
BEST HOMELANDER BOOK SO FAR! Explained sooo much!! Also really appreciated how much more it spoke of God and how God was Charlies strength. love love love!
May 10, 2018
I did not like this book very well. But near the end was good, so I rated it two and a half stars.
April 26, 2024
I’m still really enjoying the series, They do get some what repetitive giving the back story that already occurred in the previous books.
January 25, 2011
Charlie West is a feisty protagonist, who's missing a year of his life and running from mystery killers--a group of terrorists he just escaped from. He can't recall what's happened in the last year, so he's on a hunt to fill in the memory gap. When he tracks down the only clue he can remember, a guy named Waterman, he begins to get some answers, but the closer he gets to uncovering the truth, the more danger he finds himself in. And when Waterman dies with questions still unanswered, he's left in a sea of black all alone, trying his best to get out alive.
This book is categorized and sold as Christian, and I don't know how the others in the series are, but this one, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER, could be enjoyed be readers of any or no faith. This novel really only refers to his belief in God but doesn't preach at readers or speak any Christianese at all. It is clean, but not to the point of being annoying, as the grit and danger keep it exciting. And even though this is YA as well, any reader who loves suspense would enjoy this. It's a good example of a cross-over type.
I got this book from Booksneeze, unaware that it was a third installment in a series, but that didn't bother me in the least.
The storyline was very easy to follow for a new reader, gripping, suspenseful and action-packed. There is a strong possibility this novel could be boring for those who've read the previous, since I as a new reader was riveted to discover the chunks of his missing past, whereas those familiar would already know them, making the reveals less impacting.
The only thing I didn't like was the narrative and dialogue were very simplistic, and I don't think you should ever dumb things down for teens. I think if the author hadn't skimped in this area, his novel would have had even more cross-over appeal. Other than that, it was most enjoyable.
So, if you're looking for a good YA suspense novel, Christian or not, check this one out.
This book is categorized and sold as Christian, and I don't know how the others in the series are, but this one, THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER, could be enjoyed be readers of any or no faith. This novel really only refers to his belief in God but doesn't preach at readers or speak any Christianese at all. It is clean, but not to the point of being annoying, as the grit and danger keep it exciting. And even though this is YA as well, any reader who loves suspense would enjoy this. It's a good example of a cross-over type.
I got this book from Booksneeze, unaware that it was a third installment in a series, but that didn't bother me in the least.
The storyline was very easy to follow for a new reader, gripping, suspenseful and action-packed. There is a strong possibility this novel could be boring for those who've read the previous, since I as a new reader was riveted to discover the chunks of his missing past, whereas those familiar would already know them, making the reveals less impacting.
The only thing I didn't like was the narrative and dialogue were very simplistic, and I don't think you should ever dumb things down for teens. I think if the author hadn't skimped in this area, his novel would have had even more cross-over appeal. Other than that, it was most enjoyable.
So, if you're looking for a good YA suspense novel, Christian or not, check this one out.
October 5, 2013
The Truth of the Matter is about a young man, Charlie West trying to stop the mysterious terrorist group called the Homelanders, and find out what happened to his memories. Desperate for answers, he finds a man who he has heard could help him, and he goes by the name of Waterman. Waterman begins to help Charlie get his memories back, but before he can help him anymore, he is killed and Charlie once again is left to fend for himself. Charlie eventually finds himself running for his life again, and while on the run he makes a revelation which could change his life forever.
After reading this book, I noticed one of the main themes of the book is how Charlie is regarded as a national enemy, but his friends and girlfriend know the truth that he is not a terrorist, but was framed by someone. This reminds me of the I am Number Four series, written by Pittacus Lore, where the protagonist John Smith is regarded as a national enemy, but in reality he is not only trying to save Earth but his planet he comes from, Lorien. Most of the world hates him, except for his friends and girlfriend, just like I am Number Four. I think one of the main themes in both of these texts would be to be honest, and that the ones that you love will know you are innocent, and that even if the world hates you there are at least some people who cares for you. This is a strong message and I feel like we should try to influence this message, that there will always be somebody out there for you, no matter what.
After reading this book, I noticed one of the main themes of the book is how Charlie is regarded as a national enemy, but his friends and girlfriend know the truth that he is not a terrorist, but was framed by someone. This reminds me of the I am Number Four series, written by Pittacus Lore, where the protagonist John Smith is regarded as a national enemy, but in reality he is not only trying to save Earth but his planet he comes from, Lorien. Most of the world hates him, except for his friends and girlfriend, just like I am Number Four. I think one of the main themes in both of these texts would be to be honest, and that the ones that you love will know you are innocent, and that even if the world hates you there are at least some people who cares for you. This is a strong message and I feel like we should try to influence this message, that there will always be somebody out there for you, no matter what.
December 31, 2011
More like 3.5 stars. This was my least favorite of the series so far. Not because it wasn't a quick and interesting read, but I just found it kind of frustrating. Plus, this was the first time I really felt the "young adult" aspect, which I never really dwelled upon before. All of the missing time is explained, but at least for me, there weren't really many surprises there. I would have rather gotten all that out at once at the start of the book and then moved on with the story, but instead the flashbacks were interspersed all throughout the story, which I found really broke the overall flow.
****Caution - spoiler alert****
I was also really disappointed when Charlie had the opportunity to take down the super bad guy, but didn't do it because it would have been in "cold blood" - except that the guy had just killed a special agent and was planning on killing thousands more. Again, probably just a young adult thing - not wanting an 18 year old to kill someone that way (but it's not like there isn't plenty of other killing going on). It just felt a bit artificial to extend out the chase longer.
However, even with all of that, I can't wait to read the last one of the series.
****Caution - spoiler alert****
I was also really disappointed when Charlie had the opportunity to take down the super bad guy, but didn't do it because it would have been in "cold blood" - except that the guy had just killed a special agent and was planning on killing thousands more. Again, probably just a young adult thing - not wanting an 18 year old to kill someone that way (but it's not like there isn't plenty of other killing going on). It just felt a bit artificial to extend out the chase longer.
However, even with all of that, I can't wait to read the last one of the series.
January 6, 2015
Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1FGE088...
The Truth of the Matter was a thrilling ride! I loved it! It was very interesting to learn more about what was really going on in Charlie's life and, I have to say, I was surprised by some of the things revealed!
There was so much action in The Truth of the Matter that it held my attention throughout! I don't think there was anything I didn't like about this book... it's my favorite of the Homelanders series so far! The ending left me itching to pick up The Final Hour (book four) as soon as possible!
I recommend The Truth of the Matter if you enjoy YA action novels - it was fantastic! I think you should probably read books one and two first, though, so things will make sense.
*I borrowed this book from the library. I was not required to write a review, but chose to. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
The Truth of the Matter was a thrilling ride! I loved it! It was very interesting to learn more about what was really going on in Charlie's life and, I have to say, I was surprised by some of the things revealed!
There was so much action in The Truth of the Matter that it held my attention throughout! I don't think there was anything I didn't like about this book... it's my favorite of the Homelanders series so far! The ending left me itching to pick up The Final Hour (book four) as soon as possible!
I recommend The Truth of the Matter if you enjoy YA action novels - it was fantastic! I think you should probably read books one and two first, though, so things will make sense.
*I borrowed this book from the library. I was not required to write a review, but chose to. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
May 14, 2014
Honestly, This installment in the Homelanders series was quite bad. It always seemed to go slow, too many boring past times and not enough action like the books before hand basically promised. Just all I have to say is that I didn't enjoy the book, and will put down the books ahead of me.
December 26, 2010
Fun book but the story has a whale of a cliffhanger. I cannot wait until August when the final book in this series is released!
July 12, 2013
Brilliant!
February 19, 2014
A struggle to get to book 3 but one has to get the answers
Yes its a good romp typical of a tv drama series and readable
Yes its a good romp typical of a tv drama series and readable
January 7, 2020
Terrible writing, clunky and childish. Plus the writer is a misogynist, anti-feminist and it comes across quite strongly in how he writes about women.
Red flags guys, avoid this novelists books.
Red flags guys, avoid this novelists books.
December 19, 2018
Charlie West begins to follow the person he has just learned is Waterman. He’s the man who can give him his memory back and clear his name and get him out of trouble with the cops and the Homelanders(the terrorists). He followed Waterman into an alley and confronted him and found out that Waterman can give him all the answers he wants. But before he can get answers out of him, he feels someone come behind him and then hears Waterman say, “Shoot him.” Charlie blacks out but wakes up in the trunk of a car. He can hear Waterman and the other man talking in the front seat. He hears Waterman say “Well, then we’ll have to get rid of him.” and he immediately starts to think of a way to escape when they open the trunk. They opened the trunk and he stepped out. He tries to ask questions but they won’t answer them. They take him to a bunker in the middle of a forest. They try to get him to go inside a room called “The Panic Room” and he will have to be locked in. They say they’ll give him his memory back so he will know if they’re his friends or enemies but should he trust them or should he try to make a break for it?
I can connect to when Charlie didn’t know if he should trust Waterman. I have had people in my life that I didn’t know if I should trust. It was not as serious as Charlie’s case but it was a matter of trusting them with the things I didn’t want other people to know. This was one of the only connections I could make because this series is very different than the other books I usually like to read.
I think that the author did an amazing job with this book and he gave great details so that I could picture what was happening in my head. It definitely kept me wondering what was going to happen next and you will never want to put this book down. I think the author did a good job of explaining things and was very clear about what was happening. I was never confused about what was happening. This book definitely had a lot of action that happened and there was also a lot of mystery. I would definitely recommend this to a friend who loves mystery books.
I can connect to when Charlie didn’t know if he should trust Waterman. I have had people in my life that I didn’t know if I should trust. It was not as serious as Charlie’s case but it was a matter of trusting them with the things I didn’t want other people to know. This was one of the only connections I could make because this series is very different than the other books I usually like to read.
I think that the author did an amazing job with this book and he gave great details so that I could picture what was happening in my head. It definitely kept me wondering what was going to happen next and you will never want to put this book down. I think the author did a good job of explaining things and was very clear about what was happening. I was never confused about what was happening. This book definitely had a lot of action that happened and there was also a lot of mystery. I would definitely recommend this to a friend who loves mystery books.
February 28, 2019
As I've said before if you haven't read this series, you should! In the third book of the series Charlie continues his journey. When I first started the series I didn’t think I would like it, but it really keeps you on the edge of your seat. Klavan really knows how to create a character and build a relationship with the reader and main character. Charlie has been on his journey for a while now. I enjoy reading this series, because the author can throw in so many different things, that it makes you want to keep reading it. Throughout the third book I felt like it was starting to get repetitive. It's always something like Charlie gets into trouble or a situation and finds a way out. Klavan still manages to draw you into the book even when it feels repetitive. That's one of the reasons I find this series so good, because even though you feel like you're reading the same thing, Klavan uses different situations to make you feel on the edge of your seat. Another thing I enjoy about the book is that Charlie is only a teenager and it’s really cool to see how he changes through his journey. Sometimes I like to think about myself being in his situations and what I would do. After I think about what I would do I continue reading to see if it was something close to what I would do. Sometimes I’m completely right and end up thinking about exactly what he did. Sometimes I’m completely off and do something totally different than what Charlie does. All in all it is a really good series and I think I will continue reading it until I get to the very end. Like I’ve already said I think that if you haven’t tried this series you should really try it out. If you love action and adventure and love a book with a lot of twists this is great for you!
October 10, 2017
Readers will be at the edge of their seats with the action packed and suspenseful book, “The Truth of the Matter” by Andrew Klavan.
Charlie West’s life on the run began when he woke in a terrorist torture chamber with the past year erased from his mind. Now he's on the run from the police, who thinks he killed his friend, and the terrorist group. He seeks a mysterious agent named Waterman to uncover the secrets of his past, but finding him may lead him to greater danger than he thinks. Will he uncover the secrets of his past, or will he die trying?
While Andrew Klavan keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book, he fails to add the rising and falling action. Throughout the whole book it seems as if the whole book is the climax and the events leading up to the main climax are a blur. I especially enjoyed how the author described each and every character throughout the book.
Andrew Klavan finds a way to add romance into a very action packed and suspenseful book. For example even though Charlie West is convicted of murder and sent to prison, he and his girlfriend still stay in touch and after he escaped prison his girlfriend helps him along the way while also not giving up hope on him that he's still innocent.
I highly enjoyed this book and would give it a rating of 6 out of 5 stars.I would recommend this book to anyone who loves action or suspense. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I was up all night reading it.
Charlie West’s life on the run began when he woke in a terrorist torture chamber with the past year erased from his mind. Now he's on the run from the police, who thinks he killed his friend, and the terrorist group. He seeks a mysterious agent named Waterman to uncover the secrets of his past, but finding him may lead him to greater danger than he thinks. Will he uncover the secrets of his past, or will he die trying?
While Andrew Klavan keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book, he fails to add the rising and falling action. Throughout the whole book it seems as if the whole book is the climax and the events leading up to the main climax are a blur. I especially enjoyed how the author described each and every character throughout the book.
Andrew Klavan finds a way to add romance into a very action packed and suspenseful book. For example even though Charlie West is convicted of murder and sent to prison, he and his girlfriend still stay in touch and after he escaped prison his girlfriend helps him along the way while also not giving up hope on him that he's still innocent.
I highly enjoyed this book and would give it a rating of 6 out of 5 stars.I would recommend this book to anyone who loves action or suspense. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I was up all night reading it.
April 25, 2014
"It is no use to focus on changing the past; it is already set in concrete. Put your focus in pouring the concrete to create your future." This compelling quote from the main character's mentor, Sensei Mike, in a way sums up the entire book! Charlie, the main character, is somewhat up to speed with everything that he had missed in his time of forgetfulness. His primary objective is to get his life back together and prove his innocence correct by exposing the truth about the fascist terrorists that are after him. As he makes his way back home with valuable information that he needs to share, he encounters various obstacles and issues that are put in his way. Charlie always seems to overcome anything with his positive attitude and passive perseverance. Andrew Klavan's third book in the Homelander series, The Truth of The Matter, caused me to never put the book down and made my imagination grow due to it's amazing sense of suspense, detailed setting description and completely unique style of writing.
One of the most important portions of the big idea in this part of the Homelander series is the theme. Assuming that the general audience that views Klavan's mystery novels are between the youth of teenage and young adults, the theme in each book can be easily applied to the lives, and related to by the viewers. Specifically in this book, the theme that is stressed is to never give up even when things may seem as worse as they could be. Charlie demonstrates extreme perseverance and a constant determination to prove his innocence, and this demonstration really helped me view some situations in my life where I had also been completely committed to achieving a certain goal. Additionally, another theme is presented within the contents of this book. Find a mentor to whom you can discover your full potential. Charlie's mentor, in this case, is his karate teacher, Sensei Mike. It is important to have a mentor who brings out the best in you, so that you can keep discovering more and more about yourself. Sensai Mike and Charlie have an outstanding relationship, and it is definitely relatable for those who are viewing this book to think of an important mentor figure in their life as well.
A recurring pattern that is noticed in Andrew Klavan's books is the plot consistency. He seems to always use quite a deal of foreshadowing, essentially incorporated within symbolism. You can usually find this use of symbolism in the chapter names, but they will never give the contents of the chapter away. Klavan keeps the plot ongoing throughout the first word of the novel, and ending with the last. He also complicates everything in a way that once you finish a chapter, everything makes perfect sense afterwards. For example, a long segment of this book is about Charlie making a run from those who are trying to inflict harm on him. The chapter names are organized in a way so that once you finish the chapter, the general idea of it is pretty much the chapter name.
Probably one of my favorite things about Andrew Klavan's writing in this book is it's setting. Klavan directly puts so much visible effort into his use of descriptive words and strong sense of imagery. Every action scene that is depicted is well thought out, and put together in a way that describes every movement with such strong choice of vocabulary that just paints a picture in your head for you. When Charlie is on the run from those who are trying to inflict harm on him, you can only go so far with describing the same surroundings of him, which in this case is essentially just a desert with few features. Klavan seems to get past this by including various ways to explain Charlie’s setting, and always makes the same thing very interesting for the reader’s digest.
In this particular series of the Homelander collection, many new/previously spoken of characters are introduced into the plot line. What definitely sets this book apart from the previous submissions of the Homelander series is that fact that Klavan decides to let the audience travel deeper into the complications of Charlie’s friends and parents. We have new information that was never before revealed regarding Charlie’s best friends, and this valuable information may actually come in handy to proving his well sought out innocence. Sensei Mike’s character is further sketched out, and it is revealed more that he is more than just Charlie’s karate teacher; he is his greatest mentor and one of his best friends as well.
What is probably my most favorite trend that Andrew Klavan expresses in his books is his unique style of writing. In every single addition of the Homelander collection, the mixture of foreshadowing, flashback and symbolism that Klavan is known for makes every sentence a work of art. If he were to write a short piece of literature, it could be told that he had written it if his name was not on it. This book especially used a great deal of flashback, and Klavan’s unique writing style made it feel like each flashback was really happening, and you could see the story happening faintly through a fuzzy window of slumber, while Charlie is still attempting to skillfully evade his pursuers.
This addition to the Homelander collection is especially significant because of how it really makes the connection of any misunderstood principles. Regardless if the reader had some prior trouble in understanding what was going on with Charlie and maybe even just the little things that were giving some issues to the readers understanding, this book really solidifies and clarifies those misunderstandings. Klavan did an outstanding job in keeping his audience in complete suspense, and it’s actually not an understatement to say that he is a master of mystery.
In conclusion, this book what yet another outstanding addition to the Homelander collection, and I would more than definitely recommend this book/series to anybody who loves to be held in suspense and who also loves a great mystery. Andrew Klavan is an amazing writer, and any of his other works exemplify his unique writing style, so I also recommend those as well. To anybody whom I recommend this book to, I can fully assure that you will enjoy it as well as the other books as well. It is utterly amazing.
One of the most important portions of the big idea in this part of the Homelander series is the theme. Assuming that the general audience that views Klavan's mystery novels are between the youth of teenage and young adults, the theme in each book can be easily applied to the lives, and related to by the viewers. Specifically in this book, the theme that is stressed is to never give up even when things may seem as worse as they could be. Charlie demonstrates extreme perseverance and a constant determination to prove his innocence, and this demonstration really helped me view some situations in my life where I had also been completely committed to achieving a certain goal. Additionally, another theme is presented within the contents of this book. Find a mentor to whom you can discover your full potential. Charlie's mentor, in this case, is his karate teacher, Sensei Mike. It is important to have a mentor who brings out the best in you, so that you can keep discovering more and more about yourself. Sensai Mike and Charlie have an outstanding relationship, and it is definitely relatable for those who are viewing this book to think of an important mentor figure in their life as well.
A recurring pattern that is noticed in Andrew Klavan's books is the plot consistency. He seems to always use quite a deal of foreshadowing, essentially incorporated within symbolism. You can usually find this use of symbolism in the chapter names, but they will never give the contents of the chapter away. Klavan keeps the plot ongoing throughout the first word of the novel, and ending with the last. He also complicates everything in a way that once you finish a chapter, everything makes perfect sense afterwards. For example, a long segment of this book is about Charlie making a run from those who are trying to inflict harm on him. The chapter names are organized in a way so that once you finish the chapter, the general idea of it is pretty much the chapter name.
Probably one of my favorite things about Andrew Klavan's writing in this book is it's setting. Klavan directly puts so much visible effort into his use of descriptive words and strong sense of imagery. Every action scene that is depicted is well thought out, and put together in a way that describes every movement with such strong choice of vocabulary that just paints a picture in your head for you. When Charlie is on the run from those who are trying to inflict harm on him, you can only go so far with describing the same surroundings of him, which in this case is essentially just a desert with few features. Klavan seems to get past this by including various ways to explain Charlie’s setting, and always makes the same thing very interesting for the reader’s digest.
In this particular series of the Homelander collection, many new/previously spoken of characters are introduced into the plot line. What definitely sets this book apart from the previous submissions of the Homelander series is that fact that Klavan decides to let the audience travel deeper into the complications of Charlie’s friends and parents. We have new information that was never before revealed regarding Charlie’s best friends, and this valuable information may actually come in handy to proving his well sought out innocence. Sensei Mike’s character is further sketched out, and it is revealed more that he is more than just Charlie’s karate teacher; he is his greatest mentor and one of his best friends as well.
What is probably my most favorite trend that Andrew Klavan expresses in his books is his unique style of writing. In every single addition of the Homelander collection, the mixture of foreshadowing, flashback and symbolism that Klavan is known for makes every sentence a work of art. If he were to write a short piece of literature, it could be told that he had written it if his name was not on it. This book especially used a great deal of flashback, and Klavan’s unique writing style made it feel like each flashback was really happening, and you could see the story happening faintly through a fuzzy window of slumber, while Charlie is still attempting to skillfully evade his pursuers.
This addition to the Homelander collection is especially significant because of how it really makes the connection of any misunderstood principles. Regardless if the reader had some prior trouble in understanding what was going on with Charlie and maybe even just the little things that were giving some issues to the readers understanding, this book really solidifies and clarifies those misunderstandings. Klavan did an outstanding job in keeping his audience in complete suspense, and it’s actually not an understatement to say that he is a master of mystery.
In conclusion, this book what yet another outstanding addition to the Homelander collection, and I would more than definitely recommend this book/series to anybody who loves to be held in suspense and who also loves a great mystery. Andrew Klavan is an amazing writer, and any of his other works exemplify his unique writing style, so I also recommend those as well. To anybody whom I recommend this book to, I can fully assure that you will enjoy it as well as the other books as well. It is utterly amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2018
The Truth of the Matter is by far my favorite of the four books in the Homelanders series. We finally understand the mess that Charlie West is in and why he can't remember the last year of his life. It had none of the slow scenes that the previous two books sometimes had a problem with and it had far more character growth, which I enjoyed. Andrew Klavan really stepped up his game with this one, though I still think it would have saved everyone a lot of time by combining the first two (or even three) books into one novel, as most of what occurs can be heavily edited and still read the same and have the same tone.
The plot does move a little slowly at times, but that is more than made up for in the action sequences. The only other thing that can get annoying at times is Charlie's inner dialogue and thought process. Sometimes I feel like the author just copied and pasted the same lines in different chapters throughout the book. It still gets a solid 4 stars from me, though!
The plot does move a little slowly at times, but that is more than made up for in the action sequences. The only other thing that can get annoying at times is Charlie's inner dialogue and thought process. Sometimes I feel like the author just copied and pasted the same lines in different chapters throughout the book. It still gets a solid 4 stars from me, though!
May 23, 2021
First, let me say I’m not a teenager. And these books are written for teenagers, but I’m really enjoying this series. I started reading them just to see what they were about before I put them in our church library. I was hooked from the first book and now I am about to begin the final book.
This story about Charlie West and his adventures are pretty much non-stop action. Some downtime with teenage antics and a bit of romance. But the basic plot is very good. I could see this being turned into a movie or TV series for teens. It’s as good as the others I’ve seen.
I’m an Andrew Klavan fan now. I recommend these books to parents for their teens and for adults who enjoy a great story. But…you must start with the first book.
This story about Charlie West and his adventures are pretty much non-stop action. Some downtime with teenage antics and a bit of romance. But the basic plot is very good. I could see this being turned into a movie or TV series for teens. It’s as good as the others I’ve seen.
I’m an Andrew Klavan fan now. I recommend these books to parents for their teens and for adults who enjoy a great story. But…you must start with the first book.
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