“To Tell You the Truth” is a gripping read – raising numerous questions … but you’ll have to read the book yourself to find out the answers! (Review by Caroline Smart)
In 1991, nine-year-old Lucy Harper comes home a few hours before dawn, covered in leaves and reeking of bonfire smoke. Her highly anxious parents are hugely relieved to see her … but where is her little brother, Teddy?
Gilly Macmillan weaves a fascinating story about Lucy Harper in her novel To Tell You the Truth. It deals with the now grown-up and married Lucy who is a best-selling author. The main character of her books is Sgt Eliza Grey.
However, Eliza isn’t just a character in her last five best-sellers but she is an alter-ego, based on an imaginary friend Lucy made up during her school years. This was a time when she found it difficult to make friends and get involved in school activities.
Eliza has now become a strong influence in Lucy’s life, often answering questions for her when Lucy can’t find the right words to reply.
Things aren’t easy in Lucy’s life. Her husband Dan provides strong support but he is also a wannabee author. At his determined persuasion, she agrees to move from their small flat to a house which is next to Stoke Woods. But Stoke Woods is where Teddy disappeared and she can’t remember anything about it. Or can she? And why did she go to the woods in the first place at that time of night?
Then one night, Dan disappears and nobody seems to have any answers. The police are constantly questioning her – is she possibly being considered his murderer? She is also afraid that the case of Teddy’s disappearance will be re-investigated by the police. Was Teddy murdered, too?
Macmillan draws her characters well and allows the reader to enter Lucy’s thinking – if Eliza will move out of the way, of course!
To Tell You the Truth is a gripping read – raising numerous questions … but you’ll have to read the book yourself to find out the answers!
To Tell You The Truth is published by Penguin Random House ISBN 1780899858, 9781780899855 – Caroline Smart
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