Charity always writes so beautifully and I was delighted to be allowed to read and review her latest book.

A family living in Yorkshire, completely normal life happening on a completely normal day. Until a missing phone sparks a series of events beginning in a family tragedy that unlocks a never ending chain of repercussions for all…..

Livia begins the story in the dock of a courtroom, waiting for the jury to return. We don’t find out until much later what she is on trial for but know it links to the starting point of the book, back in 2019. The pre pandemic days.

I devoured this book and will be highly recommending.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

4-5 stars

February 2022

This has a start that pulls you in immediately but the whole thing actually begins in August 2019 with Livia Denby, her family and a lot of what ifs. Livia is a probation officer in North Yorkshire, husband Scott is a teacher and they have two children, Heidi and Noah, who both play a crucial role in the drama that follows. It’s Heidi‘s 13th birthday and a happy family day is planned. However, it’s shattered when they learn of the death of Scott’s much loved older brother Nicky and Scott blames himself, feeling his death avoidable. This is the catalyst, as in his quest for answers, Scott starts to head down a dangerous route looking at medical and other conspiracy theories. Anti-VAX is the very least of it. He vanishes down this particular rabbit hole, getting deeper and deeper immersed in this world, preaching to others at every opportunity he gets. He is totally convinced about what he learns and is especially heavily influenced by one particular. ‘Truther’ and his actions become increasingly drastic.
What impact will this have on his family? How will Livia respond? How far will Scott be prepared to go for his new found beliefs?

This is a good character driven, courtroom and domestic drama which keeps me immersed and horribly fascinated by Scott’s actions. Hell to live with is the very least of it as the family enter a twilight, nightmarish world. The effect he has on his family is done extremely well and you watch in horror at the control and manipulation witnessed as things unravel to say the very least.

The plot is well thought out, the intervening years of 2019 to 2022 are used effectively in the plot and the author is careful to use characters to present a balance on both sides of the conspiracy theory arguments and she does this well. The pacing is good, as is the characterisation and there’s tension alongside a good mix of fear, terror and shock when things are revealed or at the depths of some actions. On occasions it’s quite moving. The Yorkshire setting is used very effectively too and provides plenty of atmosphere to compliment the drama. It builds to a good conclusion.

Overall, this is another intriguing novel from a creative author whose books I thoroughly enjoy. It’s well worth reading the Acknowledgements too.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books, Allen and Unwin for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I always look forward to a new Charity Norman book and this one didn’t disappoint. If you like your fiction with a bit of a twist this is for you. Beautifully written characters as always.

3* Home Truths is court room drama with a heavy dose of a family saga.

The jury have their verdict. But who is in the dock and how did they get there. Home Truths is the story of probation officer Livia, her teacher husband Scott and their 2 children. When Scott’s brother dies unexpectedly people each have their own feelings of guilt which lead to the family unraveling in a way they could never have foreseen. As we delve back to find out how we got to court, we know the verdict awaits.

I have mixed feelings about Home Truths. It has a strong beginning and a barnstorming ending, with two storylines tied up in a high octane last 20%. Yet the middle of the story is difficult to believe. Without giving spoilers, what perhaps started as a sound idea felt thinly stretched as the rationale for the story. That being said, it was fun and I didn’t see the most significant twist coming. It also gets a lot of extra points for being set in Yorkshire.

I’ve really enjoyed precious books by Charity Norman and look forward to the next one.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

This was a very powerful read to discover our limits and what we will do to help the ones we love, captivating read overall.

This was a really thought provoking and emotional family drama told primarily from the viewpoint of Livia who is desperate to help her husband Scott as he increasingly unravels following the death of his brother. Scott becomes convinced his brothers death could have been prevented and gets drawn in by conspiracy theories which intensify when covid restrictions begin. This is very sensitively told balancing Livia’s worry and exasperation with Scott’s obsession and also the impact on their teen daughter Heidi. The issue reaches a dramatic conclusion when Livia takes extreme action to protect her family and I was eager to discover what her fate was following on from this. This is an uncomfortable read at times but very well written and sympathetic and the way Scott was manipulated was horrifying.

Charity Norman is an author that I love, and have read all of her books! This one really didn’t disappoint… I loved it though I really wanted to smack Scott! Livia was such a saint putting up with him…… I enjoyed it lots and could have read it in one go….. Highly recommend

What a stunning book! Very uncomfortable at times and the tension never lets up as Scott slips further and further into the world of conspiracy theories and Livia tries to hold her family together. Meanwhile the constant anxiety about Noah's severe asthma hangs like a dark cloud over the story, foreshadowing the threat you know is coming. As a mother I ask myself the question "would you do the same thing as Livia?", the question and the answer give me sleepless nights! This is a book that you don't pick up and put down as a light read, it's all-engrossing, disturbing and without a doubt a 5-star read.

After probation officer Livia Denby's husband Scott loses his brother, his life begins to self-destruct from grief and guilt as his investigations lead him down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories.

They go from being a happy, functional family to being one where Livia's son is in terrible danger and she finds herself on trial for attempted murder.

Set against the background of the COVID pandemic, and the terrible social costs it brought with it, this is a gripping story about one family's gradual unravelling. Worth a read, it gets 3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. It's the only one I have read which is actually set during the covid pandemic, and documents the effect it had on people. It demonstrates how toxic conspiracy theories can be and how fake news and lies are used to instill fear. I falls into the trap of having a "thriller" type ending but I forgave that because the trial was so interesting. I am surprised to be the first reviewer here and look forward to seeing what other people think.

The best book. Gripping and impossible to put down, the plot keeps the reader totally engaged as this likeable and decent family struggle to survive. Despite all the negatives, it’s a validation of the fundamental goodness of so many people and yet with no clue as to how it might end until the very last pages.