'All the Hidden Truths' is Claire Askew's debut novel, inspired by real-life events happening throughout America, and is both highly compelling and utterly heartbreaking. It was the winner of the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, and longlisted for the 2014 Peggy Chapman-Andrews (Bridport) Novel Award under the working title, 'Three Rivers'. She is currently penning the last few chapters of her follow-up entitled 'Operation Citrine' which is also due to be published in the UK by Hodder & Stoughton.

The book opens the day before a mass shooting takes place at an Edinburgh, UK, college campus in which thirteen women are killed before shooter Ryan Summers turns the gun on himself. The question everyone wants answered is why? In the aftermath of the tragic incident a variety of perspectives come to the fore, in a multi-narrative approach. These include Helen Birch a newly-promoted Detective Inspector, Ishbel Hodgekiss the mother of Abigail the first girl to be shot, and the mother of the gunman, Moira Summers, and follows each of their thoughts, feelings and diffculties that emerge as a result of the murders.

Although this appears a brutal story on the face of it and is most certainly a powerful one, Askew manages to make it compassionate and moving too. She bravely adds that all of the dead are victims including the killer, as well as all of their families. She also weaves into the story the impact of the media and the increasing helplessness felt by all affected as they desperately search for the reason behind the slaughter. Towards the back end of the book secrets start to be revealed and we are told the motivations behind the event. As the reasons are exposed some press for retribution and others for reconciliation.

Of all of the thrillers I have consumed this year so far this was the one that had the greatest impact on me. The events are unfortunately very believable especially in the times in which we now live and this has to be one of the most accomplished and remarkable debuts i've read in a long time. Truly thought-provoking, I have no doubt that this will be a bestseller. A well deserved five-stars.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

With thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

All the Hidden Truths is Claire Askew`s debut novel.

Engineering student Ryan Summers went into Three Rivers college armed with a starting pistol which he had modified into a gun. He went to the canteen and his first victim was Abigail an old school friend, he then went on to kill a further 12 girls before shooting himself.

The story Is told from the POV of three separate women. Ryan`s mum Moira who emotionally neglected Ryan after the death of her husband. Abigail`s mum Ishbel who had been having terrible rows with her daughter. Finally Newly promoted D.I Helen Birch who started her new role on the day of the shooting.

When I requested All the Hidden Truths I assumed it would be set in the USA. The fact it was based Edinburgh a cosmopolitan city made it frighteningly realistic.

The book was was a compelling read, which told the story of the effects of the shooting on the relatives rather than the act itself.

I especially felt sorry for Moira who at the end of the day had lost her son, but had to endure death threats and the press camped outside her door. The snippets from social media certainly gave me pause for thought. In real life it is often said that the family of murderers or rapists must of been aware of what was happening, maybe they subconsciously register it but doubt themselves.

I really disliked sleazy tabloid hack Grant Brockley who was only interested in furthering his career. I was disgusted, he had no qualms about digging into the victims lives to make a good story leaving reputations in ruins. I

I felt like Helen Birch and her team were interesting characters and I would like to see them in their own series.

Well done to Claire Askew for her debut novel. I recommend this dark, t thought Provoking book which ust made want to cuddle my family a big tighter tonight.

This crime novel was captivating, emotive and gripping, from start to finish. The writer’s style of why-done it rather than who done it was what made it interesting. The topic of a teenage boy shooting is quite harrowing and something that we see happening recently. Until Clare Askew, not many have actually described the repercussions and consequences about the boy’s actions, the victims plights and everyone else involved. The characterisation was thoroughly developed and quite real. A great read and highly recommended.

a gripping story of the aftermath of a mass shooting at a school in Edinburgh. the story develops through the eyes of Ishbel, the mother of the first girl to be shot, DI Helen Birch, investigating officer and Moria Summers whose son committed the shooting spree then turned the gun on himself. the question of why Ryan decided to do this atrocity is the main goal.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an excellent book; not just another 'We need to talk about Kevin'. It tells the tale of a high school shooting, and has three main characters: the mothers of a victim, the shooter, and main investigating officer. The author shows great understanding of mother/daughter relationships. Empathetically written, and keeps you gripped from beginning to end. I can't wait to read more books by Claire Askew.

Absolutely brilliant novel about the aftermath of a college shooting in Scotland, told from the viewpoints of the mother of the shooter and the parents of his victims as the police try to get to the bottom of what happened and why did he do it? Slowly they must come to terms with the tragedy and the things that led to it, as the press try to manipulate them into giving them a story. The end is satisfying without being ridiculous as we realise that nothing is ever black and white. Definitely the best novel on this topic I’ve read.

A tragedy told from the viewpoints of three women. A police officer, mother of a victim and mother of the killer. Subject matter is a school killing in Edinburgh and DI Birch is a likeable character, although I failed to connect with Ishbel. The pace was slow initially but picked up as the investigation continued for the reason behind the tragedy. The rogue journalist was just a bit too unbelievable a character for me, however. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Facebook with Amazon to follow.

A very sensitive telling of a timely and emotive subject. Told from several different perspectives, it gives a fairly grim and eye-opening account of the aftermath of a college shooting. I wouldn't recommend this as a light holiday read, but definitely need to add to your list.

All The Hidden Truths is a really gripping page-turner about a college shooting with multiple fatalities, all young women apart from the attacker, who then also killed himself. Rather than this taking place in America as we so often tragically see on the news, this takes place right here in Edinburgh at the fictional Three Rivers College.

When I first started reading the book I was really taken by the Edinburgh setting which the author captured so brilliantly. All the little details were just perfect and added so much to the story for me, particularly when describing my own area. But this story isn't really about the where - it's about the why.

"When the crime is so huge, but we already know who did it? We know how he did it. I guess we'll never really know why he did it."

The story is told through three main characters' points of view. DCI Helen Birch, has only just been promoted and moved to a new station. Before she's even had time to settle in and get to know her new colleagues, she finds herself in charge at the scene and of the investigation.

Ishbel is the mother of the first victim, Abigail, who attends the college and had been at school with the gunman. The mother-daughter relationship had been rather fraught and as well as grief she feels huge guilt.

Moira Summers is the mother of gunman, Ryan, and my heart just went out to her. How could you possibly come to terms with your child, a child you have loved, nurtured and cherished, being a cold blooded killer? The way she was demonised by the media, and one journalist in particular, was just awful as were the comments on news articles online etc.

There is a sense of disbelief that such a thing could happen in Scotland, in Edinburgh. It's one of these things that only happens somewhere else - usually America if the media is to be believed. And yet this felt so plausible that it was totally terrifying. My own daughter is at Edinburgh Uni and I can only imagine how I'd feel if suddenly it was all over Twitter that there had been such a horrific incident. I should mention the inclusion throughout the book of articles from newspapers, conversations from online forums, Wikipedia extracts and Twitter conversations. They really felt very authentic and were a reflection of the way news and misinformation spreads so quickly these days.

I read All The Hidden Truths voraciously and genuinely could not put it down until I had read the final, devastating chapter. Another book to add to the top reads list for 2018!

I thought this was an interesting book which tried to view the horror of a school shooting from a number of different perspectives : mother of the perpetrator, family of the victims, police and journalists. However, I think that, for me, this was also the problem with the book as it felt the author was trying to fit in so many characters and give them a back story that it became a bit overwhelming and difficult to engage with any of them.

All the hidden truths is a dark and emotional thriller about a college shooting in Scotland. This incredibly emotive subject was handled brilliantly, with compassion and empathy.
20 year old Ryan walks into a college and shoots dead 13 students before turning the gun on himself. The story is told from the view point of 3 women all of which are connected in some way.
My heart was in my mouth for the entire time I was reading this, and I read it in one day. A stunning and tragic read, 5 stars.

I was sent a copy of All the Hidden Truths by Claire Askew to read and review by NetGalley.
Totally gripping and compelling, this novel is a real page turner. At one point I was so convinced by the story that I had to question whether this was actually an account of a real-life occurrence. The theme of the story is distressing and tragic, especially knowing that school shootings do actually happen, and the characters are so well rounded and utterly believable that I just couldn’t stop reading. The novel gets deep into the psyche of everyone concerned, exploring how complex the human mind is and how we all respond and react differently to the same situation. I really felt for the characters, it was easy to sympathise and empathise – along with having my hackles rise every time Grant Lockley the journalist opened his mouth! I can see this novel spending a lot of time at the top of the best seller list, and quite rightly so. More than worthy of it’s 5 star rating for me.

I am afraid this book was not for me. It did not grab my attention all the way through as it was very slow in parts. I just wanted to get to the end.
Sorry I would not recommend this novel but my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A young man walks into a college in Edinburgh and shoots dead 13 girls before killing himself. The story is written from the point of view of three women - D.I Birch, the first victims mum and the shooters mum. It follows events leading up to the day, the day and then the fallout. Throw in a slimy reporter and you have all the makings of a good story.
I must say it is very well written and I could feel the emotions of all the characters. I think it would make a great tv film.

We know who did it, we know how he did it and we can probably guess why he did it but we don’t know what happens next and that is what the plot is all about. It keeps your interest and makes you wonder what else can come out. I did lose the thread a couple of times and lost what was happening but that might of been me and not the book. I enjoyed it and found the plot interesting as it’s a different take on these awful situations and by the end there was another character I disliked the most. The ripple effects were big and that was the book and how it zoomed away from the main incident and panned out so we could see and feel the ripple on a larger scale.
The title fits this book perfectly. Thank an you to NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this book for a honest review.

This is an excellent book which had me hooked from the beginning. Looking at an incident from the viewpoint of three women. The story unfolds as the reader gains information from these different characters, and begins to question what they would do in the same situation. A captivating look at empathy, grief and human nature. My thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was on those books which was fascinating but scary to think that this atrocities go on in the real world as well.
I liked how it addressed the fact the family of the killer has lost someone too - they weren't responsible for their son's actions but they still came home without him.
I'll be reading more by the author.

This book was brilliant. It follows the aftermath of a college shooting told from the perspective of the mother of the shooter, the mother of the first victim and the investigating detective. I found it really gripping and would love to see it as a TV drama. Absolutely brilliant read.

A complex, meticulously written novel that reads very much like a quality BBC drama. Incredibly believable and profoundly moving, the storyline packs a punch start to finish.

This was really excellent - totally gripping, very timely and felt authentic to how the situation would play out were it ever to happen in Scotland. Having lived in Edinburgh, I also really loved the detail the author went into when describing the city, it really felt like being back there!