Really enjoyed this. Very topical with the never ending spate of school massacres in the US, and this is handled very sensitively. Like the style of writing and some very compelling characters to propel the story forward.

When a mass school shooting rocks Edinburgh to its core the women at its centre struggle to come to terms with the involvement of their loved ones. Will they ever be able to forgive or understand?

It’s interesting that Claire Askew chose to set this story in Edinburgh, rather than in the US where gun laws are more lax and more actual case studies are prevalent. However, setting it in the UK certainly hits the issues closer to home and shows that with the sensationalising of these attacks - they can happen anywhere. It’s also quite sad that although this book is not yet out for publication, it is out of date when it lists large scale shootings in the US!

The story jumps between the perspectives of 3 main characters – Moira, the mother of the perpetrator, Ishbel the mother of one of the victims and DI Birch who is investigating the attack. All 3 characters are heavily relatable and well written; their grief and attempts to understand and forgive the attacker are heart-felt and the story they have to tell is immensely powerful. The story throws up questions of nature vs nurture and explores how much we truly know about those we love and care for.

The story tells us from the outset that we already know all of the key details of the crime – we know what happened and who did it and it admits that we may never understand the actual reason for why the shooter decided to do what he did. This might have diminished the story somewhat as the answers to those questions are usually what drive a reader through a crime thriller, however despite this the plot still had a defined plot progression and still wrapped everything up to a (somewhat) satisfying conclusion. However, my only negative was that I felt was that the book was a little long – it did feel a little repetitive and drawn out in places.

Overall a deeply heart-felt and disturbing book which asks the question how well we know those that we love and how far we go for forgiveness. Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book made incredible reading and very sadly reflects what is happening at this very time. What made it so much more interesting was that it was written from the perspectives of the gunman's Mum, the grieving parents and also the Police and whilst we would never know the full reason why Ryan Summers killed all those young girls it gave some possible reasons. A great riveting read that had me reading into the small hours because I could not put it down..

I loved this book. Plenty of twists in it to keep me turning the pages. Read it in one sitting.
Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book, it is a crime thriller with a difference. You know who did it and how they did it but you don't know why. The story follows three women all connected by the one event and was refreshingly different. i would certainly recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read and review this title.

To my knowledge I don't think I have ever read a novel by Claire Askew, this definitely won't be my last. Her writing style is punchy, engrossing and natural.

The story follows two women whose children are murdered in a shooting at a Scottish college in Edinburgh. One of the mothers children is a victim, the other the killer. The story was definitely an emotive subject, both children causing their mothers worries before the incident. Ryan, withdrawn and cold towards his mother following the death of his father, Jackie. Abigail, secretive and sarcastic towards her mother who feels frustrated at not knowing what her daughter is up to.

The other main characters are the Inspector of the crime Helen Birch (think Helen Mirren, prime suspect in my head) and Grant Lockley a journalist who will stop at nothing to get the inside scoop.

The story follows the fallout of the incident as the characters try to work out who was to blame for the shooting and how can they move on from the disaster. I loved the characterisation, just wish it had a wee bit more description of Edinburgh to make it feel truly Scottish, at times I kept thinking the novel was set in the USA as the subject matter is sadly more common there. But if that's my only niggle then you know it's a good read.

A good but protracted read. I think I’d have preferred it to be shorter and more concise. However I did enjoy it and will give it 4 stars in goodreads

The author, poet Claire Askew was the subject of four way bid for this book, part of a two book deal with Hodder, and it is easy to see why as this is one of the best crime debuts I have read in a good while.

Askew tells the story from the three main characters and she delves into each character's emotions and how they are reacting to events unfolding around them. It is a classic page turner which although you know the outcome and there is no culprit to find, the book raises lots of questions about the shooting and how it affects the victims' families and that of the shooter in the aftermath. The other key character a member of the press who will try anything to get a story and he is a certainly a character you will love to hate!

Highly recommended read, not just for fans of crime writing but anyone who enjoys a good read that makes you think after reading it.

(Review will go online in early July)

This is a story of three different women on different sides of a mass murder in a college set in Scotland. I loved how the story changed from one women to another but includes excerpts from newspaper webpages, tweets and chat groups. You also have the stereotypical tabloid journalist trying to further his career on the aftermath.

Ryan Summers walks into his college and shoots thirteen young women before killing himself. He was a well balanced character and not demonised by the author, which would have been a very easy thing to do.

I thought this was a great book and, unfortunately, very topical.

A thought provoking book. This book is really interesting and also sad and disturbing in places. When a student walks into his college and shoots and kills other students and then himself, the question is why. There is so much grief and devastation. The book tells the story from different perspectives. It makes you think how everybody would feel and makes you feel emotionally involved with every character. Very well written and I would definitely recommend it.

All the Hidden Truths is a very modern crime novel. It is told though the eyes of three women, but includes excerpts from newspaper webpages, tweets and chat groups. It works really well.
When a 19 year old student walks into his college in Scotland and opens fire on his fellow students, picking out 13 girls, he leaves everyone involved asking the question ‘why?’. The novel is incredibly current with so many school shootings in the USA in recent months/years. And it’s use of social media, conspiracy theories and ‘fake news’ is very well done.
I would recommend this book for readers of all ages (including young adults) and for men and women. The police inspector involved is very likeable and I can see a series developing.
Thanks you for the opportunity to review this book #NetGalley #AllTheHiddenTruths

'All the Hidden Truths' is an excellent deep-dive into the aftermath of a school shooting. Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, the novel follows the key players in the hours and days following the morning when a man walks into a sixth-form college and murders 13 female students. Told through the eyes of the lead police officer on the case, a mother of a victim, and the mother of the perpetrator, the novel has a fascinating and skillful insight into each of these characters, as well as a detailed and effective use of much research into police procedure and many other issues surrounding this kind of case. It's thoroughly well-written, well-plotted and engaging throughout.

Very enjoyable novel, delving into the same tragedy from different characters viewpoints. Showing the best and worst of human emotion and the possible consequences of the resulting behaviour. Gripping from the beginning, a thoroughly good story. Couldn't put it down.

While somewhat slow to start this was necessary to introduce the three main characters of the book - Moira, Ishbel and Helen.

The book itself is a topical issue, something we hear about way too often these days - a mass shooting in a college campus. It is set in Edinburgh and Ryan Summers shoots thirteen female fellow students before turning the gun on himself.

The book tells the story of the shooting and the aftermath through three points of view - that of the killer’s Mum (Moira), one of the victims’ Mums (Ishbel) and the DI in charge of the investigation (Helen).

Moira can’t believe that her own son could commit such an act - was there anything she could have done to stop him? Things had been tough in latter years since her husband, Ryan’s father, had died.

Ishbel can’t believe her only daughter is gone - murdered in cold blood by Summers. What makes it worse is that things had been far from rosy recently in the family, with both her husband and daughter becoming increasingly distant.

Helen had only recently been promoted to DI and this is her first ‘gig’ in her new role. She insists on giving the investigation the time and effort it needs, even if that means putting her job on the line. Understandably everyone wants to know ‘Why?’ What drove Summers to do what he did and does his mother know more than she is letting on.

Through into the mix a persistent and extremely unlikeable journalist who will stop at nothing to get his story - not caring who he upsets or treads over in the process.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and once the initial introductory chapters have been read - the story quickly picks up the pace. While we do have strict gun laws in this country - it is easy to see, whilst unlikely, how something like this could happen.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

There are a few really stupid mistakes at the beginning if this book that I hope the publisher will pass on before publication date.

Apart from that this book is excellent.

All the Hidden Truths by Claire Askew is a powerful psychological drama and it focuses on a very topical subject which has sadly been in the news very recently. We meet three characters in this book: Moira Summers, Ishbel Hodgekiss and DI Helen Birch and the novel is told from their perspectives. The three women whose voices we hear from are very different and until the events that take place at the start of this novel occur, they have never come across each other. But beyond the pages, the lives of two of the women will be linked forever and they are all scarred by tragedy.

No one knows why Ryan Summers took it upon himself to enter the Three Rivers college campus and murder thirteen young women and then turn the gun on himself before the police had a chance to apprehend him. What could drive someone to commit such an abhorrent act? DI Helen Birch has recently been promoted and she is handed the complex case. She knows that the weeks ahead aren’t going to be easy for her community, especially for the families of the victims, and the angry public, who desperately need answers.

The characterisation in this book is superb; the author takes us to some very dark places in the minds of some of the individuals in this book which made it a compelling page-turner. It is very much a whydunnit as the police and families of the victims try to work out what caused Ryan to murder so many of his fellow pupils. Claire Askew explores some interesting themes, including the dangers of social media and freedom of the press. It also examines the public’s perception of tragedy and what happens when people willingly express their feelings and opinions online. One journalist in particular really got under my skin, his character brought to mind the Leveson enquiry which took place in the UK several years ago and it made me angry to think that this is the way how some members of the press behave.

I was interested in the fact that Claire chose to set the novel in Edinburgh as gun crime, particularly on a mass scale is rare, even un-heard of in the UK. Choosing to set her novel here in this country must’ve required a great deal of research, it would be fascinating to find out more about why she decided to write about this particular crime and how she went about her research.

This was a gripping debut which introduces an exciting new voice in crime fiction. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an advance review copy.

I really found myself caught up in this story, though I didn’t think I’d like it in the beginning due to the two somewhat unlikeable and annoying mothers. For a book about a crime that had already happened, it did manage to remain suspenseful and kept me turning the pages. Some parts were a bit hard to believe (are famous Scottish journalists really allowed to be so over-the-top and scandalous?) and many of the characters were very superficial, but the story itself was good. I didn’t like the ending much. I’d have rather had Abigail put the new diary in her backpack and have had the book end with the backpack being belatedly returned to Ishbel. I suppose that shows that I cared, which is a good thing!

Topical story of a school massacre and how one young man did so much damage ,liked way explored the mother of the son who committed such an act . They are often shunned by being ignored or dissected as if they them selves are to blame ,there are probably many contributing factors to why someone may do this horrific act and this book isn’t about nessarily why but the judgements and blame we can attribute to the mother and how for a good media story and pure greed people can create a picture that isn’t just or true at human cost
It’s also about understanding and forgiveness and I did overall enjoy this novel
It wasn’t gratuitous in any way just the different characters experience of the aftermath of such an event
It does make me though want to read the autobiography of a mum who’s son did take part in an event like this as it’s interesting how mine wd manage such grief and loss of a son and yet also have to accept he was capable of such a thing
Thanks netgalley and publishers for letting me read this

I -LOVED- THIS BOOK!!!!! First of all, the story and setting: completely relevant to what's (sadly) going on all over the world. Crimes on campuses and what not. But then to get individual points of view on the same story and aftermath-great! I connected with each character and cared about the outcome. I loved it. 5 Stars!