This book combines many of my favourite things in a thriller. It's a legal thriller/police procedural hybrid. It has an unreliable narrator. It has different timelines. It is clever.

I was completely engrossed in this book at all times and couldn't predict what was going to happen. There are twists and turns that take you on an interesting journey. It also felt very "original" which is really impressive as I read a lot of books in this genre.

I found this to be clever and well plotted read with a fairly tricky lead narrator. Layla was complex and it took me a while to fathom her out. Told in the present and then the past, you need to piece together the storyline and of course work out what is going on with Michael. The author's knowledge of the legal system really shines through and adds to the story. Clever, well written and I highly recommend.

Why did no-one tell me about Imran Mahmood before? Seriously, how have I never heard of him! Not only does he write outstanding books (I’m assuming from how great this book is that his others are belters) but one of his books is a tv show that I have also somehow missed (I’ve just added it – You Don’t Know Me – to my Netflix list).

OK, if you like thrillers, unreliable narrators and dual timelines then YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!!!!!

I didn’t know which way to turn, what to believe from Layla and I had no clue what actually happened.

Amy has died, Layla is found with the body. Layla is holding something back. She’s telling the truth – or at least some of it. Why is she holding things back? Why doesn’t she just tell them what happened? Who is Michael? Does Michael actually exist or is Layla making him up?

SO MANY QUESTIONS!!

This is an ideal book to read with a friend then you can throw about theories and ask each others opinion. Be prepared for your head to be spinning, maybe grab a notepad and pen 😂

You do have to suspend belief at some points, but it’s a work of fiction – you have to suspend belief on a regular basis watching the soaps!

An absolute stonker of a mystery! I didn't know who to trust or what to believe. A fantastic consideration of guilt, memory and obsession.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. A strong storyline and good writing this was a great read.

A tightly packed thought provoking crime fiction that left me wanting more. The storyline that Imran Mahmood conjured up was so utterly believable, and the characters felt very true and realistic. I was gripped from the beginning and will definitely come back to this author for more in the future.

All I Said Was True is Imran’s third standalone novel and possibly his most complex to date. If you haven’t read any of Imran’s books before (or watched the brilliant BBC adaptation of You Don’t Know Me), then let me introduce you to the KING of UNRELIABLE NARRATORS.

At the start of the story Layla Mahoney is on her husband’s office rooftop cradling a dead woman. There are no other witnesses or suspects and she won’t tell the police what happened. All she says is that “It was Michael”, but who is Michael and why won’t she tell the police the truth?

The book then begins to slowly take us back to the beginning with Layla narrating her version of events which should lead us to who really killed Amy and why. I use the word slowly, and that’s because this is a real slow-burner of a thriller. There is no doubt that Imran has a skill of getting under his characters skin and bringing them to life with all their faults and weaknesses, and Layla has so many layers to her flawed character.

I’m not going to lie here, but at times I wanted to slap her (several times in the head with a chair) and ask her to just tell me what the hell happened on the roof? Did I believe her? Was she truly a victim here or just a very clever master manipulator? Well obviously I’m not going to tell YOU.. you need to read the book to find out.

I do, however think that this book should come with a free neck brace, because I think I suffered from literary whiplash trying to work out what/who/why from the opening page to the end. Another clever, slow-burning, character driven legal thriller from my mate and fellow Pizza lover Imran Mahmood.

Another gem from a brilliant author. I love this author and this is one that hasn’t disappointed. This is a book that has pulled me in and I have devoured in just one sitting.
Addictive plot, great characters and a book that is worthy of all the praise.

This was a phenomenal book and I loved every second. There were so many twists and turns and I just loved the characters. I cannot wait to read more from this author in the future.

All I Said Was True by Imran Mahmood is yet another complex and cleverly constructed psychological thriller that had me captivated from beginning to end. It is a thriller that reveals itself slowly, with the reader never really knowing what is true, until one by one the pieces of the puzzle suddenly and shockingly click into place.

As with Imran Mahmood’s previous novels, All I Said Was True is very much a character driven tale. It tells the story of Layla Mahoney, a lawyer who finds herself arrested for murder after being found cradling the body of Amy Blahn on the rooftop of her husband’s office building

Told from Layla’s point of view, the story moves between Then and Now, as the events leading up to the murder are slowly revealed. But as more and more details are uncovered, can Layla convince the police that her story is true? Or is she going to be found guilty of the murder of Amy Blahn?

All I Said Was True is a story that will keep you guessing throughout. With an unreliable narrator and the enigma that is the mysterious Michael, this is a suspense filled book that keeps its cards close to its chest, the twists and turns keeping you on your toes as you race through the pages, desperate to see where the story will end.

Imran Mahmood is a master of intrigue and suspense, his writing superb as the pieces of the puzzle slowly slip into place, leading to a denouement that’s as satisfying as it is thrilling.

A cleverly plotted and unpredictable psychological thriller, All I Said Was True is a book I would highly recommend.

Definitely one not to be missed!

There are times when I discover a book that drives home just why I love reading, and I knew within a few pages that All I Said Was True would come into that category. It's a novel that demands to be savoured, the truth hidden under layers and amongst the twists and turns of the chapters entitled 'Then' and 'Now' but what an absolute treat it is.
At the start of the book, Layla Mahoney is being read her rights; she isn't an immediately sympathetic character and her cool, rather abrasive demeanour meant I wondered whether I would be able to relate to her as a protagonist. It's undeniably true that her actions throughout the novel ensure she isn't the easiest person to warm to; I was confused and frustrated by her behaviour but she is such a compelling character. I begrudged the times when I had to stop reading because I was so desperate to know the truth – about Amy Blahn's murder, the secrets Layla's husband, Russell was keeping, whether Layla was of sound mind and who the mysterious, apparently ever-present Michael really was.
With so many questions needing to be answered, All I Said Was True could have felt bloated by the serpentine nature of its plot but while it is undoubtedly a complex read, it never feels as if a single word is wasted. The writing is, quite simply, outstanding, with prose that is so vividly descriptive, I felt as if I was alongside Layla. Few of the characters are particularly likeable although her straight-talking lawyer, Peter comes across well and yet I became completely invested in what was currently happening and what occurred in the 'Then' chapters that led to Layla's current and clearly worsening predicament.
Layla is the epitome of an unreliable narrator and so beautifully brought to life that no matter how exasperated or suspicious I became of her, I found her utterly fascinating. There are constant doubts raised about her state of mind, both as a consequence of her words and actions, and due to her internalised worries. She is often portrayed as confused and erratic but remains determined to stick to the path she has chosen to take, no matter how risky that strategy appears to be.
Such a puzzling mystery positively invites its readers to imagine all sorts of scenarios to explain what happened on the rooftop where Amy Blahn was killed but there are so many twists, misdirections, secrets and distractions in All I Said Was True, I accepted I wasn't ever going to fully figure out the truth and instead allowed myself to become immersed in the intricate storyline. I loved this book; with its labyrinthine, intelligent plot, pitch-perfect characterisation and a rich sense of place that brings London to life, I have no hesitation in describing All I Said Was True as one of my reads of the year.

I loved Imran Mahmood’s first book You Don’t Know Me and quite liked his second one I Know What I Saw, therefore was looking forward to All I Said Was True. I am not quite sure what happened there but reading this book was a real chore and eventually I gave up at 70%. The whole story was just a series of disjointed, repetitive and tedious rumblings of an unhinged woman, with some scenes from interrogations thrown in. Silted dialogues, some contrived reveals, none of the characters had any personality and I am not talking about likability here, they were just flat. What a disappointment. I am certainly not going to rush to get this author’s next book.

‘Every one of the billions of stars and planets - every single one is just cause and effect. They exist in their current states because of the things that happened beforehand. Do you think you’re immune from cause and effect, but whole galaxies aren’t?’

Imran Mahmoud’s third novel, ALL I SAID WAS TRUE, is narrated by Layla Mahoney, a personal injury lawyer, being questioned by police in connection with the murder of Amy Blahn. Layla’s story unfolds NOW, as she is interrogated by detectives who have 48 hours in which to decide whether to charge her, and THEN, as we find out how she came to on the roof of her husband’s workplace cradling the dead body of a woman whom she claims not to know, and, in particular, her strange relationship with a man called Michael, a man she claims is really responsible. 

As with the protagonists of Mahmood’s previous novels, YOU DON’T KNOW ME and I KNOW WHAT I SAW, Layla is an unusual, perhaps unreliable, narrator. It is clear from the start of her interrogation that Layla knows more than she initially offers, that she seems to be giving up her information to a planned timetable. She maintains that Michael killed Amy but the police cannot find any evidence that Michael was on the roof, or that he actually exists. THEN, Layla tells us that Michael saved her from being run over by an out of control car on a London street. Thereafter, Michael appears at intervals, claiming that he has not been following Layla, that their meetings are not coincidental, that they are in fact linked in some way, that they are intended to prevent some terrible occurrence. At times the reader might question whether there is something supernatural going on here, or Michael may just be a liar who Is following her…

‘And then there’s this one immovable fact - I can’t face a murder charge. I didn’t do it. But there’s a danger in saying too much which would be worse for me that a murder trial.’

Imran Mahmood is clearly the master of unconventional narrators. Layla is a complex character; we know she is withholding information from both her interrogators and from us as readers, that she is playing some longer game,  but she also appears to have episodes when she is unsure of herself, when she questions the reality of what she sees, when she makes very questionable decisions. And yet, Layla is entirely relatable and three-dimensional. There is a lot going on in ALL I SAID WAS TRUE and, like Layla, Mahmood gives us just enough information to keep us on tenter hooks while keeping the big reveals until later. It is a delicate balance but it really works. ALL I SAID WAS TRUE builds on the craft of the author’s previous novels, honing it to an even sharper edge; a thoroughly entertaining mystery.

I adored Imran's brilliant debut "You don't know me" and loved the tv adaptation just as much, so when I saw this book offered on tour I jumped at the opportunity to read it. I wasn't disappointed, in fact I was delighted.

"All I said was true" is a gripping thriller and it makes for compulsive reading. The narrative is beautifully twisty and the plot layered and ingenious. The dual narrative is absorbing and I was thoroughly entranced by Layla's story but unsure as to if I should trust her or not. Her voice in the book is so strong but was she lying to me? Or just not telling the whole truth?

The writing itself is accomplished and the tension and pace of the novel is perfectly pitched. Imran creates such fabulous characters, people that you want to invest your time in because they seem so authentic and real. He did it with his debut and he excels in it here too. I simply couldn't stop reading until I knew what had happened.

I'm not really a fan of police procedurals but this didn't feel anything like that genre. The interview was fascinating and I was immersed in the experience as if I was one of the police officers trying to find the truth.

This is sure to be snapped up for a TV adaptation or film. ( I bet it already has )

I enjoyed Imran Mahmood's first book, so I was intrigued to read All I Said Was True - his third book. It's an interesting read, but it didn't hold my attention in the same way. Some of the writing seemed contrived to build up the picture of an unreliable narrator in Layla, the main character.

I'm sure there will be others who will love this book. Sadly I'm on the fence about it. However, my experience won't stop me from reading other books by this author, who I think brings intriguing plot concepts to the crime genre.

Perfectly Paced for a One Sitting Read

It's 1am at the time of writing this review, which is a good indication of how much I love a legal thriller. All I Said Was True is a little different to my usual legal drama. It's a reluctant romance, a time-hop that's full of pace, and a police procedural thriller all in one. In fact, we don't see a courtroom until the epilogue.

We are guided through this book with two distinct timelines moving from the present in which we see a framed and distorted version of the truth, to telling the real story from multiple perspectives weeks, months and years earlier. This book features the most unreliable narrator I have ever read, I hated the protagonist almost as much as an Alice Feeney character, yet at the same time I absolutely know, although I have no idea why, that she is fundamentally good. Good, but infinitely unlikable.

The intrigue level is high, I made it through All I Said Was True in a single sitting, as Imran Mahmood drops crumbs right until the end of the book and constant cliffhangers as we move between timelines - this meant I couldn't put it down. The time-hops were a little confusing at times, as there were points where it felt necessary to move the story along, but it served it's purpose by ensuring I read on.

The book opens with a police interview room, and that's where we remain until the end in the present day, our protagonist Layla Mahoney is in police custody accused of murdering Amy Blahn, a woman she says she has never met, yet is found cradling with a knife in her chest on the rooftop of her Layla’s husbands workplace. To reveal anymore about the story is impossible as this book is a snowball, getting bigger every chapter, and unusually for a thriller, we assume that we know what's coming - we don't, of course, but the reader feels as though they have all the perspectives, until the very end.

As a fan of Imran Mahmood, I was looking forward to reading this book, and in so many ways, it didn't disappoint, it had the pace I expected, the complex characters I desired, and a twist (although I correctly guessed) which I didn't feel the need to even begin to guess until close to the end - in other words, the book took me on a journey on which I didn't feel the need to spoil, I was a passenger. In that way, in my review of All I Said Was True, I got everything I expected from Imran Mahmood.

To be fair and balanced in my review, I have to say, the protagonist jarred until around a third of the way into the book. The first two chapters I was reading as though it was a man, and then a white Irish woman, and finally I understood that her father was from Pakistan. This for me felt like a missed opportunity to believe in the protagonist earlier, and made me feel less connected to her as my assumption of her motivation changed several times. Many of the past chapters were set in Layla's home, and I think that there were many opportunities to show me who she is earlier - I'd have probably connected quicker as until she revealed her full character I didn't quite get behind her.

Her father is an important figure and I'm no editor, but I'd have chosen to place his chapters in a slightly different order as empathy is critical to this story and it came, in my opinion a little too late. In many ways, I think this book will go straight to a TV production company as it will make a brilliant mini series. Overall though, it was a one-sitting book which should say enough by itself. I'll be waiting patiently for the next one.

Many Thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers and Bloomsbury Raven for inviting us on this Blog Tour.

All I Said Was True is published by: Bloomsbury Raven
ISBN:978-1526647511

I loved Imran Mahmood's previous book so was excited for this one!
I love books with unreliable narrators, and this one certainly excelled in that department!
The book does change timelines a lot which I don't normally mind if it is clear and easy to follow, but I did struggle a little at times.
I'm a big legal thriller fan and I loved the parts of the book that highlights anything to do with the legal setting!
Mahmood is a master of legal thrillers that make you question everything you are initially told.

Every now and again you read a book which is so intricately woven, complicated and unpredictable that you just have to give up trying to work it out and go with the flow. All I Said Was True is such a book.

Is Layla telling the truth? No-one believes her, particularly Detectives Metcalf and Omer. She was found cradling the head of a very dead Amy Blahn on the roof of the building where her husband Russell works. ‘So much blood,’ she tells the operator when she rings 999. She was arrested for murder but all she can say is: ‘It was Michael. Find Michael and you’ll find out everything you need to know.’

But no-one can find Michael. Does he exist or is he a figment of Layla’s imagination? He saved her life once, but why does she keep seeing him afterwards? She thinks he is stalking her, but he maintains that it’s fate, that they are ‘entangled’ in some way. But nothing he tells her makes any sense.

Layla is the typical unreliable narrator, but that’s only if you think she is lying to the police. And I really didn’t know. The narrative switched back and forth between then and now till the two merged.

It’s all in the detail but that’s not something I can talk about without giving too much away so I’m staying schtum. A brilliant read and one that makes you think and address your misconceptions.

Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour and to NetGalley for an ARC.

In All I Said Was True we meet Layla in a very suspicious situation with the body of a dead woman in her arms. She is maintaining her innocence, but giving the police no reason not to suspect that she is responsible.

What follows is the engrossing tale following Layla as she is accused of the murder. Using dual timelines over alternating chapters of before and after the event, the story is slowly unfolded and with more twists and mysteries thrown in to keep you guessing, it is a very addictive read.

This is a grippingly readable novel that mesmerised me with its unusual story, stunning use of language and real suspense. I enjoyed the flip flop between the present and the past. Layla is being questioned on suspicion of the murder of Amy Blahn, found with a hunting knife in her chest and lying in Layla’s arms. Alternating chapters reveal what really happened.

Or do they? Layla is not exactly the most believable witness. As she says: “It all seems to simple when you see it on the TV……. Just tell the truth. What could be easier?”

But is Layla telling the truth? Is it possible to tell the absolute truth? Isn’t there always more than one version? And does being a lawyer herself influence the way she answers the detectives? These are just some of the questions raised by this beautifully written book.

Layla maintains her innocence and insists that the police find “Michael” to find out everything they need to know. The trouble is, Layla cannot accurately describe Michael and seems to know very little about him.

The mystery of Michael dominates this story. Somehow his and Layla’s paths are entangled, but not in ways that either of them can explain. He is someone who seems to appear out of nowhere and then melt away as if he’d never been there at all.

Mystery also surrounds Layla’s marriage. Is it happy, or utterly miserable? What exactly did Layla do to Russell three years ago? Is he having an affair? Mahmood spins tales within tales, and every time I thought I’d got it, another revelation would sweep me right off course again.

The book also poses a number of other philosophical questions, mainly around freedom of choice, and raises issues like racism and parental abandonment.

Imran Mahmood’s use of language is utterly beautiful and his writing is very evocative of place and time. At one point I could actually feel that London heat rising up out of the page.