A great read with normal characters. My feelings changed towards the main characters often keeping me gripped to the book to find out their final relationship status

It took me a while to realise but the storyline is really about how we deflect, and the belief it's one rule for me and another for the rest of the world. I enjoyed trying to work out the obvious mystery, learning a little about the legal system and how to find the dark web!

I loved this book. It gently sucked me in and then ….. wow! Secrets, lies, suspicion, obsession, truth(?)

Rachel is expecting Jack's baby. She's three months pregnant. She hasn't known him long but she loves him. He's a travel writer for a magazine. They don't live together (yet). Jack lives with his cat in a house his parents had bought for him. Although they have been together seven months Rachel has still never met any of his friends.

It's a lovely start to the story. Rachel is the narrator and tells us about Jack. You can tell she loves him. He sounds like a nice guy, a gentle soul with a few endearing traits.

And then she saw that email on Jack's iPad in the middle of the night – just the notification, just enough to nudge her curiosity. Saw him dismiss the notification and when she casually mentioned that she thought he might have received an email he said 'No, no,' and changed the subject.

Then when she finally gets to meet his friends in Oban. she's confused that they call him JD when his name is Jack Ross. She asks Jack why and he gives an explanation but she also notices a change in his demeanour and sees him making a “shut up” gesture to his friends that she obviously is not meant to see. The more she thinks about it, the more she realises that she knows very little about the father of her unborn child.

That is just the beginning of her suspicions, triggered by awkward silences, looks, words. We are fed little snippets of information that build up tension and suspicion. Rachel asking questions; watching Jack's face for any changes. Getting plausible answers. There is definitely a sense paranoia, starting small but increasing. Is it Rachel's imagination? Or is she right to seek explanations. It's possible that Rachel already has trust issues. After all apparently she and her long term boyfriend had broken up because of her unfounded accusations that he was cheating, just a month before she met Jack.

Finding out the 'truth' starts to become a bit of an obsession. Her family and friends warn her not to obsess but you just know she will. Using social media, she searches for him and any information available but there is very little. While visiting at his parents in Oban a letter arrives addressed to a J Douglas; she does the unthinkable and opens it then seals it up again. When later she 'innocently' asks him about it he tells her uses two names for his writing. Of course it then starts again, taking her phone into the bathroom or kitchen and searching for anything on J Douglas.

When she doesn't find anything, she becomes even more suspicious. What lengths will Rachel go to to satisfy herself that she knows everything? Invasion of someone's privacy is a very serious matter. Is it ever justified?

I think I've said enough. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. It's quite a complex multi-layered tale that is well written and easy to read. The characters are strong but no one is spotless and squeaky clean (in my opinion). As I read on, doubts crept in. Are things really as Rachel tells us? As her paranoia increases we get snippets about her past including the death of her mother and the circumstances leading up to her career change.

Initially I did consider what Jack may be hiding but I soon realised I was way off. I simply accepted the twists and turns and just enjoyed the story. A very satisfying page turner and a great debut.

'Oh.' This was my reaction when I finished this novel.

I had spent the vast majority of this book completely enamoured by it; the writing is superb and the tension and mystery surrounding Jack had me hooked. There were lots of hints throughout the book that something big happens and it is all going to explode.

But then?

Then...nothing happens. Rachel misses Jack. He comes back and explains that he shot the kid because he was fed up (well duh! That was fricking obvious!) and they have the baby!.

This turned from an excellent thriller to a rubbish romance in 2 pages. Bitterly disappointing.

A good read, lots of twists and turns, ultimately a story of trust Brilliantly written with likeable characters.

Thanks to Net Galley & Penguin Books for an ARC of this book n exchange for a review.
Rachel becomes suspicious of her boyfriend Jack when she sees an email pop into his iPad late at night just before she puts the light out. Ifs title about an atrocity intrigues her, making her wonder how much she really knows about Jack. They have only known each other a few months and already they are expecting a baby together.
Jack is secretive and evasive about his past, Rachel is suspicious of him, feels he is hiding something big, she makes it her main priority to find out what he is hiding, is spurred on when she questions him but knows he is lying to her. She finds out his name isn't even Jack! He has been on trial for murder!!!!She digs and digs determined to discover what happened and why he is still lying to her.
Rachel herself hasn't been honest with Jack either, why doesn't she tell him the truth about why she resigned form her career as a doctor.?
They are both battling with their own demons.
When all th truths are revealed will they be able to accept each others mistakes, learn to trust each other and be parents to baby Wally whose birth is imminent.
4.5 stars.

I'm not usually one for giving 5 stars. It is reserved for those books that stay with me and I find myself thinking about them months later. I know that I will this book. It is very well written. It has a great storyline. It is intense but also fun. It is engaging but also dark. It is the type of book you want your best mate to read just so you can talk about it. Buy it, borrow it, read it. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it and for TBC for allowing me to thank the author personally

** 4.5 Big Fat Stars**

Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin UK Michael Joseph for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review*

Rachel is pregnant with Jack's child, and she really loves him deeply, but an email on his ipad is about to take her on a journey - and it's a journey fraught with lies and fear that will pose the question, just how much can you trust ANYONE?

Jack has, without doubt, a very dark secret, one which, regardless of the fact that Rachel's having his baby, she may not be able to forgive or forget. But then, doesn't Rachel herself have something that she's hiding - something that she can't forgive herself for? If there's no trust within a relationship, then you have a recipe for disaster right there!

Rachel and Jack haven't known each other very long, something of a whirlwind romance, and there's still so much they don't know about each other - the minor things like favourite band /song / meal etc, but there are much more important matters to be revealed along the way. After Rachel reads the dreaded email while Jack is asleep, she starts to dig little by little into his past, even resorting to the dark web in order to find things that have been removed from a normal search of the internet.

It's hard not to put yourself in Rachel's position, wondering how you yourself would come to terms with the discoveries she's making, but it sure makes for a compelling read.

The characters were totally believable, and the narrative was suffused with an air of menace, that had me turning the pages ever more quickly, impatient to discover what was coming next - it had me gripped right the way through.

Gillian McAllister has produced a well crafted phsychological thriller here, and yes, yet another debut novel that could have come from a very experienced hand, so well done Gillian.

This was an easy to read book and fairly enjoyable if a little slow. I expected more in the way of twists and turns and the big reveal was a bit of an anticlimax for me.

It was interesting to follow the relationships and see how seeds of doubt and suspicion and lies can affect relationships. It didn't do enough to keep me gripped.and I would not class it as a thriller

I can barely imagine what the future holds if this was what was dished up as a debut novel! Superbly written.

Proof that you don't need twists and reverse twists to captivate readers. The journey of two souls, two culpable souls, coming to terms with actions that are completely unique from one another, but both hugely significant, is portrayed with precision and an eloquence that keeps you captivated from the start.

Well done on a great novel.
To think that I accidentally requested this title! Glad I made that mistake.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Everything But The Truth is a remarkable debut from Gillian McAllister. A well plotted story with characters I felt sympathy for, set in modern times. A compelling read.

Although Jack and Rachel have only been together a few months they are already expecting a baby and Rachel is certain Jack is the man for her. But she is thrown into doubt after reading an email on his iPad and realises he is keeping secrets from her. She endeavours to find out what they are, while also keeping a secret from him.

Thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this excellent domestic noir. It's sure to be a huge success.

I said that 2016 was, for me, the year of the debut. I read so many really great debut offerings last year; I felt so blessed. I now wish to edit that statement and just say that I think we are in the age of the debut as the trend has continued over to this year; this book being another brilliant example.
I started it when I got home having devoured a scrummy Sunday lunch roast and I pretty much didn't move from my comfy sofa until I finished it late in the evening. I couldn't have put it down even if I wanted to. Which I didn't. It gripped me from page one, took hold of my life for the duration and, even after finishing, I was still mulling a few things over. Exactly what I want from a book.
Rachel is with Jack; a whirlwind romance which got pretty intense very quickly as she is already pregnant. One night she wakes to see a glow from his iPad. It is an email that has woken the device and Rachel can't help but look. What she sees changes everything. Already paranoid due to her past, already holding secrets of her own, Rachel needs to uncover Jack's secret almost to the point of obsession. What is he hiding from her? As she starts to see through his lies, her whole world starts to collapse around her. What will she do when she eventually finds out the whole truth?
When I finished this book I looked up the author, desperate to find another book of hers to download and read. I was completely gobsmacked when I found out that this is a debut book. The writing, characterisation, pacing, everything was darned near perfect. The story itself was original and very well crafted. It held my attention completely throughout, so much so that I am a bit behind with my chores for the week. Oh well, a bit of dust never really hurt anyone!
The story is told in the present day with flashbacks into the past. These timelines appear seamless within the book and the past is used to illustrate and give context to the present perfectly.
Rachel and Jack are both very complex characters but are both very well drawn. The supporting cast is also excellent. I especially loved the interaction and relationships between the characters. Another people-watching author here methinks! Special mention must go to one of my favourite characters in the book - Howard the cat; loved him!
Pacing was perfect, the tension builds up nicely and, when all was eventually revealed, I am happy to say that it was worth it. Some books I have read build and build and then fall flat. This one just kept building as more was revealed and there was an audible gasp from me as the final pieces fell into place.
And when I turned the final page, was the book over for me? No, it left me with questions. Not unfinished story I hasted to add, rather things like what would I have done? Obviously I can't go further here as it would be spoilery and that's not on, but I feel that as well as being a cracking solo read, this book would be a very good choice for a book club read as it does throw up quite a few moral dilemmas.
I have been lucky enough to have read the blurb for the author's already finished second book. The only bad thing I can say about it is that I will have to wait til next year to read it.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

'Ms McAllister brings a contemporary twist to a classic tale of secret and lies and their corrosive effects on relationships between partners and parents and their children and questions whether it is always better to know the truth. Her description of the ease with which "hidden" or deleted information can be found on the internet was quite disturbing.
I have only given the book 3 stars however as I was disappointed by the ending and the way everything turned out well. I was surprised Rachel was able to get a job at the hospice despite her pregnancy and it was very convenient that Jack was given a permanent contract. I also felt the author was trying to make a case that Jack and Rachel's "secrets" we're similar and I found this difficult to agree with.

A email came through on Rachel boyfriends ipad in the middle of the night. She accidently saw what was on it. She loves her boyfriend Jack and they are having a baby together but, after seeing the email she wonders if he has being lying about his past.

She goes out way, to delve into his past to find out what happened in the past. In the past Rachel accused her last boyfriend of lying to her, so they broke up.

I thought this story was a good idea but I thought the character Rachel was a bit neurotic and paranoid and the way she went to find out stuff on jack was a bit too far fetched.

I enjoyed reading this book and did so at every given opportunity. There was a lot of mystery, I didnt quite know what was going to be revealed next. I liked the characters and the storyline and would certainly recommend the novel.

I really enjoyed this book but the character Rachel drove me mad. She had ruined her previous relationship through her insecurities, brought on by her mother's death. After her mother dies her dad, her sister and herself discover that her mum had been having an affair which badly affects Rachel. She then meets Jack and within a few month's is expecting Jack's baby. When Rachel spots an strange email on Jacks laptop she again begins to push to get to the truth. Rachel is hiding a secret of her own but doesn't think of telling Jack. I couldn't read quick enough to find out the outcome of this book. Brilliant writing, definitely one to recommend.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

A thrilling nail-biting debut novel. I really enjoyed how the two stories ran alongside each other, and made the main character's decision more complex. It's hard to write much without ruining the story! Just read it!

A book that just keeps giving. Really enjoyable read. Highly recommend

I could not put this book down. A test of a good book, is for me, one where I care what happens to the characters. I really cared about Rachel, I loved her character and wanted everything to work out for her. I was fascinated by the way in which the author has drawn a comparison between the skills which made her a good doctor and her obsessiveness. Every character is well thought out and the back story is believable. The story is skillfully drawn to the very end. Definitely recommend.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It starts with Rachel seeing a message on her boyfriend, Jack's iPad which sets off this chain of events. As the story evolves, the reader gets involved with the characters as it flips from present to past, building up the story to present day.