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.

A very sensitive telling of a timely and emotive subject. Told from several different perspectives, it gives a fairly grim and eye-opening account of the aftermath of a college shooting. I wouldn't recommend this as a light holiday read, but definitely need to add to your list.

All The Hidden Truths is a really gripping page-turner about a college shooting with multiple fatalities, all young women apart from the attacker, who then also killed himself. Rather than this taking place in America as we so often tragically see on the news, this takes place right here in Edinburgh at the fictional Three Rivers College.

When I first started reading the book I was really taken by the Edinburgh setting which the author captured so brilliantly. All the little details were just perfect and added so much to the story for me, particularly when describing my own area. But this story isn't really about the where - it's about the why.

"When the crime is so huge, but we already know who did it? We know how he did it. I guess we'll never really know why he did it."

The story is told through three main characters' points of view. DCI Helen Birch, has only just been promoted and moved to a new station. Before she's even had time to settle in and get to know her new colleagues, she finds herself in charge at the scene and of the investigation.

Ishbel is the mother of the first victim, Abigail, who attends the college and had been at school with the gunman. The mother-daughter relationship had been rather fraught and as well as grief she feels huge guilt.

Moira Summers is the mother of gunman, Ryan, and my heart just went out to her. How could you possibly come to terms with your child, a child you have loved, nurtured and cherished, being a cold blooded killer? The way she was demonised by the media, and one journalist in particular, was just awful as were the comments on news articles online etc.

There is a sense of disbelief that such a thing could happen in Scotland, in Edinburgh. It's one of these things that only happens somewhere else - usually America if the media is to be believed. And yet this felt so plausible that it was totally terrifying. My own daughter is at Edinburgh Uni and I can only imagine how I'd feel if suddenly it was all over Twitter that there had been such a horrific incident. I should mention the inclusion throughout the book of articles from newspapers, conversations from online forums, Wikipedia extracts and Twitter conversations. They really felt very authentic and were a reflection of the way news and misinformation spreads so quickly these days.

I read All The Hidden Truths voraciously and genuinely could not put it down until I had read the final, devastating chapter. Another book to add to the top reads list for 2018!

I thought this was an interesting book which tried to view the horror of a school shooting from a number of different perspectives : mother of the perpetrator, family of the victims, police and journalists. However, I think that, for me, this was also the problem with the book as it felt the author was trying to fit in so many characters and give them a back story that it became a bit overwhelming and difficult to engage with any of them.

All the hidden truths is a dark and emotional thriller about a college shooting in Scotland. This incredibly emotive subject was handled brilliantly, with compassion and empathy.
20 year old Ryan walks into a college and shoots dead 13 students before turning the gun on himself. The story is told from the view point of 3 women all of which are connected in some way.
My heart was in my mouth for the entire time I was reading this, and I read it in one day. A stunning and tragic read, 5 stars.

I was sent a copy of All the Hidden Truths by Claire Askew to read and review by NetGalley.
Totally gripping and compelling, this novel is a real page turner. At one point I was so convinced by the story that I had to question whether this was actually an account of a real-life occurrence. The theme of the story is distressing and tragic, especially knowing that school shootings do actually happen, and the characters are so well rounded and utterly believable that I just couldn’t stop reading. The novel gets deep into the psyche of everyone concerned, exploring how complex the human mind is and how we all respond and react differently to the same situation. I really felt for the characters, it was easy to sympathise and empathise – along with having my hackles rise every time Grant Lockley the journalist opened his mouth! I can see this novel spending a lot of time at the top of the best seller list, and quite rightly so. More than worthy of it’s 5 star rating for me.

I am afraid this book was not for me. It did not grab my attention all the way through as it was very slow in parts. I just wanted to get to the end.
Sorry I would not recommend this novel but my thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

A young man walks into a college in Edinburgh and shoots dead 13 girls before killing himself. The story is written from the point of view of three women - D.I Birch, the first victims mum and the shooters mum. It follows events leading up to the day, the day and then the fallout. Throw in a slimy reporter and you have all the makings of a good story.
I must say it is very well written and I could feel the emotions of all the characters. I think it would make a great tv film.

We know who did it, we know how he did it and we can probably guess why he did it but we don’t know what happens next and that is what the plot is all about. It keeps your interest and makes you wonder what else can come out. I did lose the thread a couple of times and lost what was happening but that might of been me and not the book. I enjoyed it and found the plot interesting as it’s a different take on these awful situations and by the end there was another character I disliked the most. The ripple effects were big and that was the book and how it zoomed away from the main incident and panned out so we could see and feel the ripple on a larger scale.
The title fits this book perfectly. Thank an you to NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this book for a honest review.

This is an excellent book which had me hooked from the beginning. Looking at an incident from the viewpoint of three women. The story unfolds as the reader gains information from these different characters, and begins to question what they would do in the same situation. A captivating look at empathy, grief and human nature. My thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was on those books which was fascinating but scary to think that this atrocities go on in the real world as well.
I liked how it addressed the fact the family of the killer has lost someone too - they weren't responsible for their son's actions but they still came home without him.
I'll be reading more by the author.

This book was brilliant. It follows the aftermath of a college shooting told from the perspective of the mother of the shooter, the mother of the first victim and the investigating detective. I found it really gripping and would love to see it as a TV drama. Absolutely brilliant read.

A complex, meticulously written novel that reads very much like a quality BBC drama. Incredibly believable and profoundly moving, the storyline packs a punch start to finish.

This was really excellent - totally gripping, very timely and felt authentic to how the situation would play out were it ever to happen in Scotland. Having lived in Edinburgh, I also really loved the detail the author went into when describing the city, it really felt like being back there!

This book follows the story of a college shooting in Edinburgh and what happens afterwards. Told by three main characters at the centre of the tale: DI Helen Birch, the detective trying to make sense of what happened; Moira Summers, the mother of Ryan, the shooter and Ishbel Hodgekiss, the mother of Abigail, Ryan's first victim. It's a harrowing case which affects all three women in very different ways.
Obviously from the start we know what happened, who did it, and what happened to him. but this book follows the aftermath and the way that the event touches everyone involved, everyone who is searching for the reasons behind what Ryan did. How Moira is targeted by the media and those who lost loved ones, blamed for what happened; how could she not have known? Ishbel's relationship with Abigail had become more strained of late, her daughter pulling away from her and behaving out of character. Was being the first victim just coincidence of geography or was there more to it? Helen's story is interesting too, having just gained promotion, this is her first case as a DI, one that happenstance caused her to be on scene pretty much just after it all happened, initially floundering her way through because, quite simply, this stuff doesn't happen here in the UK. Binding the three together is a rather nasty journalist, Grant Lockley, who just wants his slice of the pie, stirring up trouble wherever he goes to get the story he wants rather than the truth. He has history with Helen, something he keeps reminding her of which doesn't help matters.
The book begins before the shooting. Initially, as I started reading, I was a bit flummoxed as to what I was being told and why and I found it a bit hard getting into things as it was a little slow and heavy going. But, after reading a bit more, when we started getting to the main crux of the storyline, it became evident that the introductions to the three women were wholly necessary to lay the foundations of what happened next.
One thing that horrified me about this book was the evil manipulation of the media, both journalistic and social, how it soon became a witch hunt with fingers pointed in all directions. How the pack mentality formed and people were targeted and abused so easily. I'm not wholly convinced that all of what was reported in the press would have really been allowed to be published but I am willing to accept it on face value as it was necessary for the story to progress. And anyway, with what happened in the end, well, let's just say it justified the means.
As the story unfolds, as more and more details of the days leading up to the shooting are revealed, slowly the bigger picture starts to come clear as to what drove a young man to act so violently.
Characterisation really was excellent and very emotive. I really felt for certain characters as they tried to make sense of what happened and cope in their own ways. Some with more dignity that others! Loss of life in itself is enough to cope with but when the reasons are so big and yet unknown, well that must be shattering. And then, add into the mix, that your lost loved one was actually the one who caused it all so you also have the guilt and the questions and the fingers pointed all at the same time. Could I have stopped it happening, what did I miss? Boy what a thing to have to go through and I think that the author managed to portray all the emotions and behaviours perfectly.
Pacing was a bit hit and miss, especially at the start as already mentioned but it did redeem itself towards the end when the pieces started to come together thick and fast. In the middle I felt that things for me got a bit muddled but then I guess that fits with the story being told being also a bit confusing to the characters themselves.
I've tried to find out if this is a series opener rather than a stand alone. It would certainly explain all the build up and scene setting that the author included. It felt like there was more to come, probably from Helen. It is billed as (Three Rivers) after the title on Amazon so I guess I'm right with the series part (or trilogy) but whether it will be a place or a person linking the books going forward is still unknown. That said, I'd happily read more from this author either way.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

All The Hidden Truths is a beautifully written and thought provoking novel that delivered a punch to my emotions. It felt so relevant to the problems we face in our society nowadays and the current feel to the narrative felt shockingly realistic from the very beginning.

The novel is told from the viewpoints of three different women. There is Moira who’s son Ryan goes to college one morning and shoots dead thirteen women before killing himself. Then we meet Ishbel who’s daughter Abigail is the first girl that Ryan kills. Finally there is DI Helen Birch who is in charge of the investigation but has some secrets of her own hidden in her past.

The women’s characters are perfectly crafted by Claire Askew who seems to have an in depth understanding of the emotional nature of this crime and how it would affect those touch by it. You would expect your sympathies to lie with the victims and their families but I found myself getting angry with the way that Moira was being treated by those around her. As the mother of the perpetrator, does that automatically make her guilty of a crime? By giving birth to this “monster” is it right to blame her? I’ve always got terribly worked up when the media turn on the relatives of those who commit such offences. When their family say that they had no idea of what was going on in their child’s head, it seems unbelievable doesn’t it? And then the nature versus nurture debate is raised with the question being asked, was their motivation somehow ingrained by the way in which they were raised by their parents? I’ve always felt it unfair to blame the parents as once your child is no longer attached to you by their umbilical cord then, although you can try your best as a parent, you will never know what your child is truly thinking. You do your best to raise a decent human being but sometimes there are other environmental factors involved that could be the spark that lights those flames of evil.

Its worth noting that when I first read the blurb of All The Hidden Truths, I expected the setting to be based in the USA! After all isn’t that where we expect these sort of mass college shootings? So to find out that it’s set in the city of Edinburgh gave me an unexpected thrill of intrigue as it’s a city I know well and probably the last place I would expect to see as a location for this type of crime. My favourite Scottish city is beautifully described here, the authors love for it shining through her prose as she brought landmarks and much loved locations to life.

I adored this book. It had an almost poetic feel to the narrative that mesmerised me so I became completely and emotionally involved with the storyline. Claire Askew managed to maintain a high level of tension throughout as the plot headed towards its heart wrenching denouement. It was a moving but ultimately life affirming ending to what was a challenging but compelling read. These characters had become my friends/neighbours/work colleagues by the end as I had become so entwined in their day to day lives that I felt I knew them.

This is a stunning debut novel that I can highly recommend. The community spirit explored within its pages is one that I hope is continued in future books by this author.

It took me a little while to get into this book and warm to the characters but I’m glad I persevered. There’s a shooting in a local college where 13 girls were killed. This is a tale of the families, their pain and for some, their secrets. I very much enjoyed this book, thank you netgalley

Interesting book, a crime story but not as a who dun it, but why dun it! Was hooked on wanting to get to the end quickly to find out why and it was a satisfying ending, but I would have liked a bit more on the actual motivation behind the shooter (Ryan) and why he thought he needed to resort to such drastic measures. Would look for more books from this author in future.

This story is a tragic tale of a school shooting at a college in Scotland. Ryan Summers goes into college one morning and shots dead 13 of his fellow students, all female. What were his reasons for committing this senseless act ? How will his family and the victims cope with the aftermath ?

The story is told from the perspective of three very different women, DI Birch, who is investigating the case and one of the first officers on the scene, Moira Summers, Ryan’s mother and finally Ishbel Hodgekiss, the first victims mother. All three women have very different stories to tell.

I absolutely loved this book, although the story was at times very hard to read. There was so much emotion to the characters that you felt you were really living this nightmare with them. This really is a story that you can see being made into a film, a brilliant story with such believable characters.

A very emotive subject which will keep you wanting to read on to see how the characters cope with the effects on their lives from one truely terrifying event.

I look forward to reading more from Claire Askew in the future.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

I’m afraid this book just wasn’t for me, I gave up half way through. It started great, but then it slowly just meandered on page after page with no new story or twists to keep me interested. The writing style was easy to read, but the story just didn’t keep me going.