Although the story begins in the present day it feels like it is much further back in time. Murtagh, his wife Maeve and their four children live on a small island off the Irish coast, where life is pretty basic and the elements feel extreme. It seems more like the end of the story but tragedy is re-setting their lives in a new direction.
The story drops back to how the couple met thirty years before, the obvious differences between them and the choices that take them to the island and their lives together. You know early on that things are not normal in this household but there is a stigma that makes the family battle on turning a blind eye to gossip and accepting what life has thrown at them.
Maeve’s thoughts and feeling pour out from the chapters, her battles that exhaust her mentally and physically. The author captures how the lives of this not so normal family are affected. It is beautifully written, it is raw, heartbreaking, full of love and moving on. It is fear of having what you have and fear of losing it. It is life.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

"In years to come he would look back on those days and realise they had just experienced their longest period of uninterrupted happiness and yet, while they were living it, they thought there was so much to worry about."

This quote really sums up this novel for me. Murtagh Moone loses his wife Maeve to suicide and this novel explores the early days of their relationship, their family life and Murtagh's life after her death. I particularly enjoyed the setting of the West Coast island and the description of life there. The characters felt very realistic and their grief at the loss of Maeve was heartbreaking. Cullen writes about the impact of mental illness with sensitivity and care, and when the Moones leave the island for the final time, it feels right.

I did find the chronology of the narrative somewhat confusing, but this was due to the fact the ebook was difficult to manoeuvre... it's definitely the kind of novel you would prefer to read a paper copy of, so you could flick back and forth to establish the order of events, Thank you for the galley!

Meave and Murtagh Moone live on a isolated island just west of the Irish mainland. They have four children. Murtagh is a potter and is devoted to Meave. We learn of how the couple met thirty years ago, right up to the present day. When tragedy strikes, it's up to Murtagh to hold his family together.

This is a beautifully written story that will play with your emotions. The ending was covered sensitively. I liked all the characters, they were true to life and believable. The descriptions of Ireland were spot on. This is a thought provoking story that will stay with you long after you've finished it. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and the author Henen Cullen for my ARC in exchange for an honest review

It’s a long time since I‘ve felt so moved by a novel. I can genuinely say that I was immersed in this family poignantly feeling the love, joy, sorrow and pain with every fibre of my body. There was an exceptional portrait of mental illness, and I was touched by Murtagh’s compassion and understanding of the disturbed Maeve. At one point, I felt it might have read better chronologically written as I knew too early what was going to happen which lessened the impact. The varying effect of grief on each member of the family was heartbreaking. I hoped that Murtagh would find love and happiness but the ending was unexpected, and I struggled with his direction just like his family. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK Michael Joseph.

Another charming read from the incredibly talented pen of Helen Cullen. Set over a thirty year period, the story follows the lives of Maeve and Murtagh and their relationship as it progresses through marriage and the creation of their family; set against the backdrop of Maeve’s struggle with her mental health. It is a sensitive and powerful portrayal of a family devastated by a tragedy which has far reaching consequences for all of them.

It is testament to Helen Cullen’s versatility that ‘The Truth Must Gradually Dazzle’ is entirely different to ‘The Lost Letters of William Wolf, which, by the way, is also wonderful. There is the same graceful use of language and thoughtful character development but the subject matter is entirely different. I was completely invested in the story and the characters. It is a novel which will stay with me for a long time; simply beautiful. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book, the story was beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. I cried so much whilst reading it. I fell in love with all the characters and found myself not wanting the story to end.
The book follows Maeve and Murtagh Moone through their relationship, they are very much in love and have what on the outside appears to be an idyllic life with their four children. Maeve however suffers with depression and anxiety and some days life is too much and it's difficult for her to pretend.
This is honestly a beautiful portrayal of life and love and the effects depression can have on everyone it surrounds. I highly recommend that you read this book.

I doubt I will read a better book this year. Powerful, emotional and just filled with love. Brilliantly written, the island location and the characters are fabulous. What a film this would make. A book you don't want to end but being written with part of the end at the start we think we know the full story but there's so much more on offer. I shall recommend this book to my friends, beautiful and a masterpiece. Ten stars out of 5 for me. Loved it.

Love, life, grief, disappointment, dysfunctional family, flawed characters... all of this and more are covered in this warm hearted hug of a book. You can almost imagine the Island, taste the salt in the air and feel the breeze. Beautiful descriptions of people, places and situations, both heartfelt and awkward. This author doesn't shy away from the brutal truth of mental illness and the effect it has, not just on the sufferer, but on their family and friends. My only complaint is that the tragedy being described in the first chapter foreshadowed my joy in the next part of the book. I would have liked not to know what was coming.

Helen Cullen is such a thoughtful and charming writer. I loved her first novel and this one didn't disappoint.
Set over a thirty year period, following the family of an Irish man and American woman and their family, it is very different to The Lost Letters of William Woolf, which shows the authors emerging versatility. I will definately read more of what Helen Cullen produces in the future.
Laying bare the issues of relationships, mental health and having to grow up, the writing was sensitive and understanding. All of the characters were likeable and relatable. The descriptions of Dublin, Galway and an island off the west coast of Ireland made we want to return to Ireland and explore some more.
I recommend this book and thank the author, the publisher and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review #TheTruthMustDazzleGradually

This is a story which is engrossing from the beginning. It is the story of Maeve and Murtagh and their children, of the love and loss, heartbreak and happiness in their lives. Every one of the characters is well-rounded and real, and the island setting is beautifully described. When the timeline jumped to ten years on, I felt my interest dip a little, but was soon bought back when the momentum began to build up again. I am reluctant to reveal the plot as I feel people should discover this poignant love story for themselves.

The pain and suffering of mental health is not easily talked about yet in this book, it was handled with real feeling and sensitivity. My heart ached for the anguish felt by Maeve, as she constantly battled with her inner demons. It is a beautifully crafted story. It is in parts heartbreakingly sad and yet at the end we find love and peace at last.
The subjects in this book are very current and sometimes sensitive and were handled beautifully. It left me feeling very moved and more aware of the silent suffering that goes on. This is a book that should be read and shared with others. It may be fiction but there is a lot to be learned from it. Beautiful.

This book was a refreshing take on the nature of human relationships, filled with memorable characters and touching moments. I made no annotations to my copy because I just whipped straight through it, thoroughly enjoying reading about the Moone clan. I did feel at times it was a little neat, maybe a bit too on the nose now and again. The author is still without a doubt a great writer and her book is filled with seemingly reverential references to other works of note. But on the whole this is a charming work by an author of real skill who was able to draw me in completely to both the passage of time within a family and within Ireland itself.

I laughed and cried along with this book.
Some amazing characters,who filled the pages with love,grief and real feelings of family and belonging.
I can't wait yo buy it for a few people.