All the Hidden Truths is a very modern crime novel. It is told though the eyes of three women, but includes excerpts from newspaper webpages, tweets and chat groups. It works really well.
When a 19 year old student walks into his college in Scotland and opens fire on his fellow students, picking out 13 girls, he leaves everyone involved asking the question ‘why?’. The novel is incredibly current with so many school shootings in the USA in recent months/years. And it’s use of social media, conspiracy theories and ‘fake news’ is very well done.
I would recommend this book for readers of all ages (including young adults) and for men and women. The police inspector involved is very likeable and I can see a series developing.
Thanks you for the opportunity to review this book #NetGalley #AllTheHiddenTruths

'All the Hidden Truths' is an excellent deep-dive into the aftermath of a school shooting. Set in Edinburgh, Scotland, the novel follows the key players in the hours and days following the morning when a man walks into a sixth-form college and murders 13 female students. Told through the eyes of the lead police officer on the case, a mother of a victim, and the mother of the perpetrator, the novel has a fascinating and skillful insight into each of these characters, as well as a detailed and effective use of much research into police procedure and many other issues surrounding this kind of case. It's thoroughly well-written, well-plotted and engaging throughout.

Very enjoyable novel, delving into the same tragedy from different characters viewpoints. Showing the best and worst of human emotion and the possible consequences of the resulting behaviour. Gripping from the beginning, a thoroughly good story. Couldn't put it down.

While somewhat slow to start this was necessary to introduce the three main characters of the book - Moira, Ishbel and Helen.

The book itself is a topical issue, something we hear about way too often these days - a mass shooting in a college campus. It is set in Edinburgh and Ryan Summers shoots thirteen female fellow students before turning the gun on himself.

The book tells the story of the shooting and the aftermath through three points of view - that of the killer’s Mum (Moira), one of the victims’ Mums (Ishbel) and the DI in charge of the investigation (Helen).

Moira can’t believe that her own son could commit such an act - was there anything she could have done to stop him? Things had been tough in latter years since her husband, Ryan’s father, had died.

Ishbel can’t believe her only daughter is gone - murdered in cold blood by Summers. What makes it worse is that things had been far from rosy recently in the family, with both her husband and daughter becoming increasingly distant.

Helen had only recently been promoted to DI and this is her first ‘gig’ in her new role. She insists on giving the investigation the time and effort it needs, even if that means putting her job on the line. Understandably everyone wants to know ‘Why?’ What drove Summers to do what he did and does his mother know more than she is letting on.

Through into the mix a persistent and extremely unlikeable journalist who will stop at nothing to get his story - not caring who he upsets or treads over in the process.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and once the initial introductory chapters have been read - the story quickly picks up the pace. While we do have strict gun laws in this country - it is easy to see, whilst unlikely, how something like this could happen.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

There are a few really stupid mistakes at the beginning if this book that I hope the publisher will pass on before publication date.

Apart from that this book is excellent.

All the Hidden Truths by Claire Askew is a powerful psychological drama and it focuses on a very topical subject which has sadly been in the news very recently. We meet three characters in this book: Moira Summers, Ishbel Hodgekiss and DI Helen Birch and the novel is told from their perspectives. The three women whose voices we hear from are very different and until the events that take place at the start of this novel occur, they have never come across each other. But beyond the pages, the lives of two of the women will be linked forever and they are all scarred by tragedy.

No one knows why Ryan Summers took it upon himself to enter the Three Rivers college campus and murder thirteen young women and then turn the gun on himself before the police had a chance to apprehend him. What could drive someone to commit such an abhorrent act? DI Helen Birch has recently been promoted and she is handed the complex case. She knows that the weeks ahead aren’t going to be easy for her community, especially for the families of the victims, and the angry public, who desperately need answers.

The characterisation in this book is superb; the author takes us to some very dark places in the minds of some of the individuals in this book which made it a compelling page-turner. It is very much a whydunnit as the police and families of the victims try to work out what caused Ryan to murder so many of his fellow pupils. Claire Askew explores some interesting themes, including the dangers of social media and freedom of the press. It also examines the public’s perception of tragedy and what happens when people willingly express their feelings and opinions online. One journalist in particular really got under my skin, his character brought to mind the Leveson enquiry which took place in the UK several years ago and it made me angry to think that this is the way how some members of the press behave.

I was interested in the fact that Claire chose to set the novel in Edinburgh as gun crime, particularly on a mass scale is rare, even un-heard of in the UK. Choosing to set her novel here in this country must’ve required a great deal of research, it would be fascinating to find out more about why she decided to write about this particular crime and how she went about her research.

This was a gripping debut which introduces an exciting new voice in crime fiction. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing an advance review copy.

The American high school mass shooting normally undertaken by the classroom loner is unfortunately a seemingly perennial item on the evening news but when starting this book I was immediately surprised that the author has set her story in Edinburgh which is close to where I live. Certainly by doing this it certainly added an extra resonance and interest for me for I clearly recognised and was familiar with many of the factual places mentioned. The book is not really about the actual killings themselves (the description only covers about 2 or 3 pages) but rather much more interestingly tries to understand why someone would seek to commit such an act and what the consequences would be for those effected by this. In this respect the narrative centres on three main characters, Moira the perpertrator's mother, Ishbel the mother of Abigail, the first victim, and DI Helen Birch who is a first responder and put in charge of the case.

This is far from the usual portrayal of the killer as some kind of evil monster but is far more nuanced seeking to understand the factors and circumstances that can lead to such an act. It also I believe shows how such a tragedy can be exploited by sections of the media and we have here a truly odious characterisation of a tabloid journalist completely devoid of morality and any form of scruples. Also we see the whole weird world of social media highlighted.

This is I believe Claire Askew's first crime novel novel having previously been associated with poetry which is perhaps evidenced by the slightly more profound themes that are found here, more than in normal crime genre. I certainly enjoyed and would expect to see more books in the future featuring DI Helen Birch particularly as the mystery of her missing brother is still to be resolved.

I really found myself caught up in this story, though I didn’t think I’d like it in the beginning due to the two somewhat unlikeable and annoying mothers. For a book about a crime that had already happened, it did manage to remain suspenseful and kept me turning the pages. Some parts were a bit hard to believe (are famous Scottish journalists really allowed to be so over-the-top and scandalous?) and many of the characters were very superficial, but the story itself was good. I didn’t like the ending much. I’d have rather had Abigail put the new diary in her backpack and have had the book end with the backpack being belatedly returned to Ishbel. I suppose that shows that I cared, which is a good thing!

Topical story of a school massacre and how one young man did so much damage ,liked way explored the mother of the son who committed such an act . They are often shunned by being ignored or dissected as if they them selves are to blame ,there are probably many contributing factors to why someone may do this horrific act and this book isn’t about nessarily why but the judgements and blame we can attribute to the mother and how for a good media story and pure greed people can create a picture that isn’t just or true at human cost
It’s also about understanding and forgiveness and I did overall enjoy this novel
It wasn’t gratuitous in any way just the different characters experience of the aftermath of such an event
It does make me though want to read the autobiography of a mum who’s son did take part in an event like this as it’s interesting how mine wd manage such grief and loss of a son and yet also have to accept he was capable of such a thing
Thanks netgalley and publishers for letting me read this

I -LOVED- THIS BOOK!!!!! First of all, the story and setting: completely relevant to what's (sadly) going on all over the world. Crimes on campuses and what not. But then to get individual points of view on the same story and aftermath-great! I connected with each character and cared about the outcome. I loved it. 5 Stars!

This is a story of three different women on different sides of a mass murder in a college set in Scotland. I loved how the story changed from one women to another. There are lots of twists and turns which made the book impossible to put down. Definitely a must for any reader I will be looking out for more books by Claire Askew

This is a great debut novel and I’m sure will be a big hit. It’s very topical and tells the story of families affected by a school shooting in Edinburgh. It’s an easy read that stays with you after you’ve finished it. The only reason for 4 stars is that I felt the pace slowed down mid way through.

An absorbing and emotional character driven story of the aftermath of a truly harrowing event that unfortunately happens far too regularly in real life.
All the hidden truths was gritty, heartfelt and very raw feeling.... truly memorable and mesmerising.
This is a book that makes you ask questions and leaves you thinking about it long after you've finished reading.

An absolutely brilliant crime debut, following in the footsteps of Rebus et al without the misogyny and questionable personal habits. A gripping page-turner of a read, I can't wait to see this become a best seller.

I thought this was a great book and, unfortunately, very topical. Ryan Summers walks into his college with guns and kills thirteen young women before killing himself.
The story is written from three POV, Moira who is Ryan’s mother, Ashbel, the mother of Abigail, the first victim and DI Helen Birch who is in charge of the investigation.
You also have the stereotypical tabloid journalist trying to further his career on the aftermath.
I thought this book was well written and gripped from the start. It was thought provoking to go through the aftermath with these three individuals and the story stays with you. Ryan Summers was a well balanced character and not demonised by the author, neither were the victims all perfect which made it much more realistic.
Highly recommend and thanks to Hodder&Stoughton and Net Galley for the ARC.
#NetGalley #AllTheHiddenTruths

This book centres around the aftermath of a college shooting. The story is told from three different character point of views and done really well. We have Moira, the mother of the man who shot dead all the women students before killing himself, we have the mother of one of the victims, and we have detective inspector Birch. The writing is excellent and the emotions are real. It's a raw, emotional, book that makes you ask questions and that leaves you thinking long after you've finished reading. The journalist creeping around, asking questions is done so well and the way the press surround Moria's house, the death threats she received. It's all so real and so well written. I loved how the book delved deep into the characters and the stories of each family and it really is a page turner with more than just a college shooting. It's a book that I will be recommending and one that I know I will be adding to my bookshelves.

Story of the aftermath of a school shooting in the UK, from the perspective of the victims' families, the police and the mother of killers. A page turning read with an air punching twist at the end. Highly recommended

This is a quick read because it is so compelling. It will be difficult for many readers and lead to soul searching and reconsideration of family relationships. Seemingly normal families are not like that as the story unfolds. The characterisation of the police and journalists is bang on. The relationships between victims are well structured and end well. This is not just a book to pass the time. It is much more than that.

A good novel but this felt too close to home for me as I lived in Edinburgh for a number of years and even travelled that same bus route past the meadows and around the city. This chills for the obvious reasons of a man killing people in a college and there is a lot of emotions and tension throughout.

It's an timely story given the shocking tragedies of recent months especially in the USA. The way the novel delved into the secrets and stories of each of the families and those involved was what really sold it and the focus is done in an interesting way. The character led plot is hard reading at times since these issues are so much in the news headlines and I think because of this, I found it difficult to really get into.

I loved this book!

Ofcourse, I love any good book with a serial killer, but this one held me in its grasp until the final page! Very interesting read and can highly recommend it