I enjoyed the past and present elements of the novel.. There were no significant twists but there was a nice pace kept up throughout the book so it was enjoyable to see where it was going. A recommended read.

Where to start with the book? I absolutely ravished it! I really liked the alternating between 1990 and 2019 and although you soon enough guess the overlap between the two, I found the two different settings - and two different life stages - to be very interesting. I have to be very honest and make it clear that is a twisted book which touches on some incredibly dark topics that some readers will find difficult. Quite a few of the characters are simply pure evil and you will find yourself hating them with venom. My only criticism is that I think the ending was wrapped up far too quickly. I feel like another 100 pages would have done the world of good for the plot and gone into more detail about aspects that were glossed over. Overall, a fast-paced, well-written, controversial book that left me hungry for more.

Prior to starting A Version of the Truth, I read the reviews. Most of them stated what a weird book this was. Holy cow - the reviews were right. We go back and forth from 1990 to 2019. We have Sophie and Julieanne’s point of views. A clique of college students forms at Oxford in 1990. Ally, Peter, James and Ernest are all posh and preppy and they welcome mousey Sophie into their circle. Sophie is rather innocent and finds their world intimidating. Sophie crushes on James but then finds out he is dating Julieanne who is new to the circle. A strange love triangle forms. Fast forward to 2019 - James and one of the women form a family and James’s wife finds out a terrible secret. Such a wild, weird ride. I wanted to look away but I couldn’t. This would make a phenomenal movie.

I don’t honestly know how I feel about this book! The blurb really intrigued me and it started well, but after that...? I just don’t know! I wanted to like it and did persevere with it but there was much I didn’t like sadly.

I did enjoy this book but felt i was weird. I absolutely believed everything that was written to be true and was disgusted by it. When it was mentioned that the true people in the background didn’t ever get caught all I could think about was Harvey Weinstein. Just a well known name to throw to people to keep the true monsters hidden. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This book was readable - a good* option for someone wanting to pass the time at the beach, during a commute, or in bed with a cup of tea. It starts well, building intrigue and presenting what feel like interesting characters and an original storyline. The first few pages got me hooked and I couldn’t stop reading! But then.... then it all goes south - quickly.

The characters lose the multidimensionality they were beginning to develop, becoming stereotypical, overtly made-up, and cliche. I felt like I’d already encounter these characters and even some elements of this story in countless books before. The last two chapters in particular leave a lot to be desired. They feel extremely rushed and far-fetched.

In sum, this was novel that, for me, held promise but, sadly, ended up undelivering.

*I did not particularly enjoy the somewhat ‘depraved’ turn the story took and feel perhaps a warning should be given for victims of sexual abuse who may read some of what is written in this story and feel triggered/upset.

I didn't like this at all I'm afraid. I must have been a nun in a former life. FAR too much sex and sexual references, acts, etc. Part of the plot perhaps but the plot got lost in the bedsheets for me.

Nice mention of Blackwell's bookshop in Oxford and some literary references throughout the Oxford sections though!

Found this book strange, uncomfortable yet intriguing all at the same time. Wow! Fab debut by this author thanks for the preview.

I read this book while flying from Newark NJ into San Diego coming home from my vacation. I started it while waiting for the plane and read it until somewhere over the midwest! I was curious and engaged from the beginning, wondering how the story of Juliette would connect to that of Sophie.

A Version of the Truth by B.P. Walter kept me interested and I don’t want to give too much away but wow! The author tackles a very serious subject which you will become aware of towards the end if you don’t figure it out sooner.

Here’s the official synopsis:

2019: Julianne is preparing a family dinner when her son comes to her and says he’s found something on his iPad. Something so terrible, it will turn Julianne’s world into a nightmare and make her question everything about her marriage and what type of man her husband is or is pretending to be.

1990: Sophie is a fresher student at Oxford University. Out of her depth and nervous about her surroundings, she falls into an uneasy friendship with a group of older students from the upper echelons of society and begins to develop feelings for one in particular. He’s confident, quiet, attractive and seems to like her too. But as the year progresses, her friends’ behaviour grows steadily more disconcerting and Sophie begins to realise she might just be a disposable pawn in a very sinister game.

A devastating secret has simmered beneath the surface for over twenty-five years. Now it’s time to discover the truth. But what if you’re afraid of what you might find?



Due out in February 2019!

Thankyou to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author.P Walter for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of A Version Of The Truth.
I found the storyline to be well thought out and fast paced. I certainly didn't expect it to go where it did.
I had to read this book in one sitting as I found it very intriguing.
Definitely well worth a read for fans of the genre. I will certainly be reading more from this author in the future.

To the point writing. Excellent debut with fully developed characters and an intriguing and engrossing plot line.

Julia, a well to do woman, married to James is startled by her teenage son’s distress at finding files on the computer which lead to a breakdown in the family. Then we go back to 1990 to meet Sophie and her friendship with James and his posh friends at oxford university.

In the current #metoo world in which we live in, this eludes to the depth of cover ups within today’s society. This was a tense read but I really enjoyed it. Yes it’s slightly graphic but not in a vulgar way.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

First off I would like to thank Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m sad to say, I agree with the other reviewers. I thought the book was odd. I’m new to thrillers, I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t my favorite either.

Thank you to Netgalley & Avon books. Uhhhhh too much. Too much. I have the heebie jeebies. I got bad vibes all the way through. Triggers everywhere. An extremely bizarre story line that I could not handle. It was just too much. The writing was great, though, I will give it that. But I can’t. I’m sorry.

Creepy and uncomfortable, but still an ok read. Nothing great, certainly, but a decent way to pass the time. Writing is decent, character development ok. All in all, decent to mediocre. Can't really recommend.

3.5*

A Version Of The Truth will not be quite what you expect it to be seems the likely outcome. So it's quite difficult to review without spoilers. 

I can say that I started this book yesterday evening then stayed up until 2am to finish it - it grips you in unexpected ways and for unexpected reasons. I do believe this may end up being a marmite book. Ultimately I decided it was clever. Its certainly fairly graphic and endlessly fascinating. 

I can't say I liked any of the characters at all even before it became clear that one of them was quite simply evil personified. All them had their charm but all of them had their irritating edges - it made for an intriguing and genuinely absorbing read.

I'm not being very helpful of this I'm aware. Still, give too much away and you ruin that which makes this good. So y'all will just have to cope 

Recommended. Then you can tell me what you think.

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Sorry, but I didn't enjoy this book at all, it didn't have any 'grab' factor for me and I certainly wouldn't call it a mystery.

I did a lot of skim reading towards the end and based on this I wouldn't recommend this book.

I thought this book was probably the weirdest book I have ever read! The whole storyline was horrible and it was a big mess involving sex. I continued reading it because I thought somehow it would get better but it just became more strange! This definitely isn’t a a thriller or a mystery either. I have no idea what the hell it falls under!

I received an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book is as just weird as shit. The 2019 plot didn’t interest me in the slightest, but I kept reading through to see the outcome of the Oxford sexcapades. You knew the bad dude was a bad dude right away. It’s like an ebook caliber “Secret History” crossed with a super-basic thriller. Weird, right?