This is an incredible debut novel. Living in Scotland, with children of student age, I found this an incredibly hard read. How much can you really know your children when they grow up. But how much do they want you to? The two might not tally, and I know I spent more time talking AND LISTENING TO my own 18 year old college student son this weekend. I felt wrung out reading this, but I couldn't put it down, and read in just over a day. We know the facts of the story from the start. We know who the shooter was, we know who was shot. But we don't know why. And we don't know how it affects the parents left behind. We truly see the ripple effect here, and the way the parents cope isn't prettied over. As a parent, I found it difficult, but an interesting read - how would any of us cope? Or not? And how much is the effect of the shooting, and how much the intrusion of popular press and social media into our lives. Every reaction is in the public domain nowadays. I found this a brilliant social observation as well as a truly gripping, unputdownable story. I'll be looking for more from Claire Askew. #netgalley #AllTheHiddenTruths

I was given an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an independent review.

A very topical and sensitive subject told in an empathetic manner. Narrated through the eyes of various characters this story brings up several moral issues. The characters are very realistic and well portrayed. I enjoyed the way the author delved into the emotions of the individuals - the mother of the murderer, the grieving family members.
I did find it a bit “stop and start” and slightly laborious in places which lessened my enjoyment.
But a book that makes you think.

Overall 3.5 star read.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

a parents worst nightmare...shots fired at a school campus

this is a story about three women...a woman detective inspector
the mother of the shooter
and finally the mother of the first victim

and what a story completely hooked, could not put it down at all...the agony of all three women and what they had to go through...

a powerful storyline and another author that i will be keeping a close eye out for...

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to preview this book.

It's not an easy read, with difficult and emotional subject matter. It's very well written, just, not a book to be enjoyed as such.

A young man walks into a college and shoots dead 13 young women - this isn't a spoiler as the book openly explains that in the sleeve. The story is very much about the aftermath and particularly the impact on the boy's mother (Moira), the mother of one of the victims and DI Birch, the detective leading the case.

It's through the eyes of these 3 women that the story unfolds as well as in documents such as; notes from police interviews, emails and tweets - this breaks up the narrative well and keeps the story flowing. Part of my emotional reaction to the story was in the shocking way that complete strangers react anonymously online and how conspiracy theories can grow so quickly with little or no evidence. A world we now live in, but, sad and shocking nevertheless.

All in all, it kept my interest throughout.

WOW!! I loved this book, at first I must admit that I though it was a slow start but it soon picked up pace. I loved the way that it also included media reports/tweets etc within as it helped to give that extra layer.

I enjoyed meeting our characters especially the newly promoted DI Birch...… I hope that it's not the last we hear from her as there is definitely more stories that can be found from her life and career.

The way the storyline was brought together was really well thought out, I couldn't wait to see how it ended.

I’m stunned that this is a debut. I’m not at all surprised that it has been nominated for, and won, prizes. I loved everything about this book, the writing, the characters – it is so accomplished that the author has shot straight on to my list of writers that I will be eagerly awaiting more from.

The subject matter of this book is topical but not easy to tackle and the author was very brave to do it, especially as a debut, but she does it with such compassion and consideration and with such a careful balance that she has pulled it off perfectly. The main reason why it works is that it is told from the perspective of three people on every side of the tragedy – the mother of the shooter, the mother of the first victim and the police officer in charge of the case. These different perspectives make us sit and think about the tragedy from every angle and in ways we perhaps don’t think about these tragedies. It is very easy, following these shootings, to consider and empathise with the victims and they families, but the ramifications are much wider and the victims go beyond the families of the murdered children; this book reminds us of that.

The characters in this book are as complex as the issues they are struggling with. The author carefully balances things so that everything is not clearly black and white. The victims are not painted as angels and the shooter not as pure evil because we all know that life is much more complicated and nuanced than that. This is what makes the book so compelling. We all want things to be clear cut, but they aren’t and what makes these shootings so terrifying is that they are often carried out by seemingly ordinary people who displayed no outward violent tendencies beforehand and there is no obvious motives. And to their families who loved them it is especially difficult to accept that their children were capable of doing what they did. These are complicated issue that are hard and unpleasant to face but facing them is necessary to tackle the problem.

The setting of the book is Edinburgh, which I think makes it more immediately relevant for those of us the the UK who sees these things happening at arms’ length in the US where we have no direct connection. It has been a long time since we had a mass shooting in a school in this country thankfully so we may feel that we are immune from the constant fear and horror that regularly hits communities in the States. However, with a spate of gun violence in London over the past few months, this issue is one that is becoming more and more relevant here and we should not be complacent about it. The Edinburgh of the book is not the side the tourists see, but is the every day side with ordinary people going about their ordinary lives, which makes the extraordinary events even more shocking.

This is a book that will make you think. About what motivates someone to commit this type of atrocity and can we ever really know. Is there a way to spot and stop these people before they do what they do, and if not, how far can blame extend beyond the actual perpetrator. About the effects this has on the victims’ families, the wider community, the police and how these people react and can be helped afterwards. And about how we, as onlookers, get our news and how the press report these things. One of the reporters in this book is the most loathsome character I have read in a long time, partly because his actions are believable and, if the portrayal is in any way accurate, we have some very hard questions to ask ourselves about what kind of people we have become if we are willing to tolerate this behaviour.

This is a must-read book, which raises a lot of difficult questions to which there are no simple answers but they are questions that we need to ask ourselves. I know I will return to this book again, and recommend it to my friends as a worthwhile read. I can’t give it a better endorsement than to say that, after reading the ARC, I have gone out and bought it in hardback to add to my shelf.

I really wanted to like this book. It’s set in one of my favourite cities and is a genre I enjoy but there was just something about this book I couldn’t fully enjoy it. I found it slow going to start with m. I liked the fact it was told from three different points of view but the characters just didn’t cut it for mez

A poignant account of an event we all pray we never have to live through ourselves. Alongside the actual retelling of events as they unfold, is the behind-the-scenes story, riddled with a myriad of emotions from disbelief, anger and hatred to empathy and even a grain of understanding for the killer's motives. The over-zealous hounding of the reporter adds another angle to this harrowing experience, although I sometimes felt that his employers would have censored some of his comments which were, for me, verging a little on the unprofessional and even childish side.
Askew has combined an emotional minefield with an under-current of intrigue. I had thought this might be too much in the vein of 'here we go go again' reading but I was hooked and wanted to know how those involved would cope.

What a stunning read! To see a major incident from multi points of view is different - and captivating!

DI Helen Birch, newly promoted, is on her way to work at her new station when she diverts to a call she hears on the radio - thus begins the biggest case of her life, and one she's not sure she's prepared for. Packed from the first page to the last with so much that this novel surely gives the reader an idea of how difficult it is to run a case like this whilst being careful to always do the right thing and not upset any of those involved in the meantime.

I remember the shooting in Dunblane vividly, and admit to having a tear in my eye more than once; balancing that are plenty of opportunities to emit a wry smile but most of all this is a book which was scary in it's realism. I can't imagine that any mass murder case is easy to work out, and not everyone is working with the police in this. A real eye-opener and a book which will stay with me for quite some time. The story is beautifully plotted and skilfully crafted. The writing kept me reading all day, eager to see where it was heading - and no, I could never have guessed how this gripping thriller would end! Claire Askew is obviously an author to watch, and another added to my list to keep an eye on in future. A superb read, and one I'm very happy to recommend highly.

My thanks to publishers Hodder & Stoughton for providing my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

What a debut! A clever beginning highlighting the unsatisfactory day Moira has before her life changes for ever; the argument Ishbel has with Abigail; a new promotion for Helen Birch. How they would all like to return to that mundane day!! This novel explores how the senseless murder of students by Ryan Summers impacts on these three women in particular and the community in general. Through the press, twitter and tv we see the wider effects with conspiracy theorists, a particularly unpleasant journalist and extremists revelling in an all too believable tragedy. Secrets unrelated to the event are unearthed and it is not easy reading. I became very involved with the whole scenario because the writing was so engaging and descriptive. I empathised with those I was meant to, I despised those I was meant to. Periphery characters played their part. A totally satisfying read and a bitter-sweet ending of the morning just before the shooting. This is one of the novels I will remember for a long time.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Claire Askew/Hodder & Stoughton for a digital copy of this excellent title. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5*
The three main characters are introduced individually, and the story is told from the perspective of each of them. Moira Summers is wandering aimlessly around Edinburgh until, filled with a new purpose she decides it’s time to speak to her son. Little did she know she wouldn’t be speaking to him again, and her life was about to come crashing down around her.

Ishbel Hodgekiss was waiting for her nineteen year old daughter Abigail after football practice. Only Abigail hadn’t been to football practice and the ride home quickly escalated into an argument with Abigail hurling insults at her mother. That’s the last exchange they’ll ever have. The next day she hears from a colleague at work that Twitter is full of news about a college shooting.

Helen Birch is starting her new job after her promotion to Detective Inspector. On her way to work the dispatcher comes over the police radio with the report of a shooting at a nearby college, although they didn’t appear to be taking it seriously.

Helen decides to check it out for herself, taking the risk of incurring the wrath of her new boss. She couldn’t believe two units had been sent to a reported shooting unarmed. It wasn’t a hoax. Ryan Summers walked into the Tweed campus refectory and began a killing spree, resulting in the deaths of thirteen females, before turning the gun on himself.

This is a very thought provoking, moving and topical story, dealing with the aftermath of a terrible tragedy from the perspectives of the police, the mother of the perpetrator and the mother of one of the victims. We know who did it, but the mystery is what drove Ryan Summers to commit such a horrific crime. Claire Askew weaves together the three differing points of view skilfully and with wonderful characterisations as the story unfolds, revealing how much social media influences the public’s assumptions and behaviour. Secrets come to light, and the emotional impact on those affected and what it takes for them to pick up the pieces of their lives and carry on is also shown to great effect. The use of tweets, posts and news articles scattered throughout the narrative are very effective. Phone hacking and intrusive behaviour by the press is also highlighted through the thoroughly despicable reporter, Grant Lockley.

A heartbreaking, disturbing and compelling debut novel. All The Hidden Truths addresses the themes of motivational forces, how a thoughtless comment can provoke an act of such enormity, and the different ways people deal with grief, betrayal and guilt.

A behind the headlines story that explores what happens after the tragic mass shooting until all 'The Hidden Truths' are revealed. Told from an exclusively female point of view, the stories of the teenage killer's mother, the first victim's mother and the newly promoted detective inspector tell a harrowing tale, that is unerringly authentic and disturbing.

The story highlights the police and the press roles and relationship; the ruthless journalist is contemptible, furthering his career through the misery and misfortune of others. The 'true life' crime approach to this thriller is original, realistic and contemporary. The emotions of the three protagonists as they come to terms with the tragedy and find the answers make this story remarkable and memorable.

A new perspective on the psychological crime thriller that embraces the contemporary fascination with family dynamics and secrets in an empathic, thought-provoking way.

I received a copy of this book from Hodder& Stoughton via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book follows the story of a school shooting. It focuses on three female protagonists: the mother of a victim, the mother of the shooter and the police officer in charge of the investigation.

To begin with the pace is quite racy, and it's exciting. Tensions are very high, as they obviously would be during a catastrophic event like this. However, this doesn't last and mostly it is very slow and drawn out.

Basically the book follows the journeys of the three women from the time of the shooting onwards. They go through the process of grieving and dealing with what has happened. All their thoughts and feelings about their loved ones and the events are laid out in painful detail.

All in all it's an interesting read, and very emotional. It does make you think from different perspectives about how people are affected by this kind of tragedy. I liked the fact that all the main characters were female, middle-aged and completely unapologetic about themselves. It made a nice change that the book was mainly female-oriented. This is something I am seeing more and more, and I hope an even balance of gender in fiction appears in the end.

I wasn't completely enamoured with the book. It was very slow and, to be honest, not that interesting. It was, however, very well written and this kept me reading until the end.

This debut is a great read, it uses a variety of styles throughout from webpage excerpts to interviews as they would be in police reports rather than just reported in the text. This variety gives the reader the 'bald' facts to make their own interpretations. Told from 3 different viewpoints this book gives a ranging insight into the aftermath of a school shooting - parent, perpetrator and police. All leave you questioning how you would feel/react in a similar situation. There is no mystery in this book rather the unfolding of as the title suggests the hidden truths in the character lives, the relationship between the police and the press is explored and the personal nature it can take......

If this is the sort of book we can expect from this author then I would definitely look out for the next one.

#AllTheHiddenTruths #NetGalley

This book is a page turner......a very sad event and the fallout for all the families involved. The inspector Bircher is a good central character who ties the story together.

'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.

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.