#ATBR2020 Review: To Tell You The Truth by Gilly Macmillan
To Tell You The Truth
by Gilly Macmillan
Thank you to Thriller Book Lover for this gifted copy.
Publish Date: September 22, 2020
Hardcover
320 Pages
Hardcover
320 Pages
Standalone
Genres: Thriller, Suspense
Genres: Thriller, Suspense
Bestselling mystery writer Lucy Harper’s talent for invention has given her fame, fortune, and an army of adoring readers. It has also saddled her with dependents, namely her fawning husband Dan.
When Dan suddenly goes missing, his disappearance evokes dark memories that take Lucy back more than thirty years—to the day her brother vanished without a trace. That’s when Lucy began conjuring stories. The police investigation revealed few confirmed details, so she created tales to fill in the gaps, to explain what happened that day her brother disappeared—and young Lucy was the only witness.
Now decades later, with the whole world watching, Lucy’s past and present are colliding, and this bestselling author skilled in telling stories is losing control of her own narrative.
Where is Dan? What happened to Lucy's brother? And is the brilliant mystery writer—an expert in devising red herrings and hidden clues—revealing all she knows about both disappearances?
My Review:
Y'all..... I have such a love/hate relationship with Macmillan's books. Yet, somehow.... I just can't NOT read her books either. I was looking at my past reviews and found that I wrote this for THE NANNY and it expresses pretty much how I feel about TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH:
"Gilly Macmillan is the author who writes these suspenseful slow burn novels that I always, absolutely, MUST read. I'm always entranced with the story line... and then I get to the end. Every time I end a book of hers, I think, 'Huh, well that was a good story', close the book and that's about it. I'm not fully satisfied. I'm not wowed. But I'm ALWAYS asking questions."
What I loved about this book was the moderate pacing from beginning to end and the uncertainty of what was going on with Lucy throughout the read. Several things are going on and we need some answers! (But can we also talk about what a colossal dick Dan is?) Lucy's main protagonist in her highly successful novels is basically her imaginary friend that has seeped into her adult life that she sees and hears everywhere. She also takes over when Lucy gets flustered. This part was probably my absolute favorite part of the story - how Macmillan sewed them together and had my mind churning. There's a backstory that includes a missing little brother and now the present day with her missing husband (the dick, Dan, I mentioned earlier). I legit was at a loss at whether Lucy was just plain insane or if everyone was actually out to get her. You'll have to read this to find out which is which. đŸ˜‰ However, we get to the end and I'm left with my shoulders slumped. So that was THAT? And then we never... and she... goodness. Yeah, nope.
I'm definitely in the unpopular opinion side of things with this read so please pick this up if you were intending to. Macmillan is an extremely talented writer and I know I'll continue to pick up her books because while the endings might not quite do it for me, I'm still fascinated for the duration.
★★★
Jessica's Review:
Gilly Macmillan is one of those authors where I absolutely love the journey but the endings can be a major hit or miss for me. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH was one that had me glued to the pages because I had to see how it was going to end. The ending though, not my favorite, BUT that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy the book!
Lucy is an incredibly successful author of a crime fiction series featuring DS Eliza Grey. She has her adoring fans, fame, future, and her husband, Dan. One day, Dan goes missing without a trace and with his disappearance Lucy's past is at risk of being revealed. Decades ago, Lucy was the only witness to her little brother's disappearance and she claims she doesn't remember anything from that night. Is this coming back to haunt her? Is Dan's disappearance related?
I will always love a book about an author or about books and Lucy's relationship with the protagonist of her book series was the best to read about. Lucy knows Eliza better than anyone, because she's been her imaginary friend well before the novels were published. Eliza was with her when her brother disappeared and the way Macmillan wove these two together had me absolutely fascinated. Does Eliza bring out the best in Lucy? Or is she manifestation of the worst in her?
I loved the premise, the journey to the end, and there's no denying Macmillan's talent when it comes to weaving a great mystery. There was just something about the ending that didn't work completely for me. I highly recommend this to thriller fans and I will continue to read whatever Macmillan releases.
3 stars
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