The book started out well but unfortunately it descended into graphic language and highly descriptive sexual encounters. This was not healthy consensual sex being described. Yes, many people have no problem reading this type of book but I did not enjoy it. The ending tried to bring justice for the victim of one instance of gang rape but it seemed too little, too late.

This was not what I was expecting! It started well, with the concept intriguing me, but after that I found it to be distasteful, insensitive and difficult to finish!
I can’t recommend! There was nothing apart from the beginning that I liked.

I couldn't put it down but it wasn't because I was liking it but because I wanted to see what Julienne was going to do. God! Her son had more sense than her.

The story alternates between the past (when they were in the university) and the present. I wasn't interested in the past so I skipped most of it, mostly because I knew what was coming.

The present was interesting but I felt that the characters were bland. James seemed to have no blood running through his veins!

The concept of the story, rich people satisfying their low and dark sex appetites with the poor and underprivileged, is something I had read before but here it was played... Without emotions.

When everything comes down during a Christmas dinner, things are said and revealed as a matter of fact. This had no effect on me and I just thought that it was an inefficient way of reaching the climax.

All of the sudden, Julienne realizes that the girl she "saw" her husband having sex with in college was actually raped. Really, after 20 years that revelation just comes down on you?

A superb read - brilliant roll out of characters. Current issues are tackled in an all-out interesting story of family
and downturns that can occur.

Julianna, her husband, James and son Stephen (17 y/o) invite James' best friend, Ernest, and Ernest's sister, Ally, over for a pre-Christmas dinner. The four of them have known each other for close to 30 years - since attending university at Oxford.

Stephen finds something quite shocking in his family's computer drop-box - setting the stage for a most interesting thriller.

See how lies, deception and the mere truth intertwine into one of this year's best reads! Recommend!!!!!

Many thanks to AVON Books UK and NetGalley for a suspenseful, quick ride!!!!!

#AversionOfTheTruth #NetGalley I can usually finish a book in between 1 and 3 days depending how it grips me. This book took me 9 days. I just could not get into it - it was so slow to get going and only really became interesting for me during the last quarter of the book. The subject matter was harrowing at times and I felt it could have been portrayed much more positively for women particularly as part of the book is set in 2019. The outcome for James seemed far too convenient and I think the real story will have come after the epilogue as it rather left me wondering what happened next. Disappointing as I think it had the potential to be a really good story but it just didn't work for me.

This had been a slow paced story, full of descriptive characters and let me tell you the truth, not really charming at all, but it makes sense in the story they told you, you don't have to like them, on the contrary, you should hate them, and page after page the hatred will grow... Because this is not a beautiful story, is a horrible story, in which you will hate and dislike, but that it has to be told; maybe if we read it enough times we will start making a better world for our children.
The story is told between the past (1990), where a young Holly is starting the university at one of the most prestigious of the world, Oxford. Sadly her new friends will not be what she will be expecting and their friendship will get darker and darker till a fateful night where her life will change forever.
And the present, 2019, where the happy wife (Julianne) of a very successful man discovers a secret that will change her and her family forever.
Of course both stories are related, but we will discover it after a few pages, when we will be glued to the story and there's not return of it, because as much as we like Holly and Julianne their lives were connected a long time ago and now is time to face the consequences, even if they will put the lives of their loved ones in danger.
I have to say that it was a little slow for my taste, it seemed that nothing happened till more than half of the book and then the story resolved in less than 50 pages. It is not that I didn't like it, but maybe I would prefer more confrontation and more explanation about the ending...
This is a story to read and digest, think and talk, it will not delight you, it will infuriate you and make you angry, but I am sure this is the idea of the author, because if we don't act against abuse, no one will.
There's always different versions of the truth, but you should always listen to all of them, not only the nice one. Ready?

This books should come with a bunch of trigger warnings, gang rape, sexual violence, racism, homophobia to name some.
The book starts off interestingly enough and intrigues the reader. The presentation of the story moving between the 90s and 2019 is interesting and you try to figure out how the past and the present are connected. It becomes evident at about 25% in. Holly’s character is well defines and her behavior and approach to everything in an elite university, coming from a middle class background herself, is understandable. Julianne’s story in the 90s on the other hand isn’t as well developed and she only seems like one of the side characters. Julianne’s mother is a completely unnecessary character in the plot.
I was hooked enough throughout the book because the story was interesting. It was disturbing in many places but it still makes you want to read more. I would have rated this book a lot higher only if the ending was not so unsatisfying. Being based in 2019, I cannot believe how Ernest is unaffected and casual about everything being discussed. In light of the #MeToo movement it is impossible to believe that anyone would think they were untouchable by reality because of the money or position they held. This approach makes it seem like the whole #MeToo movement is being minimized or diminished. The author could have made the ending a lot more believable by using the #MeToo movement to the advantage of the women instead. I did not like how James was dealt with at all, just seemed more convenient than believable again. The epilogue too is wired. This was yet another missed opportunity to show that power MeToo movement.
So while the book was an interesting read, the way it wrapped up left a lot to be desired and hence I would not rate it more than I have. If the ending was dealt with differently this book had the potential to easily be a 4-5 star book.

Thank you Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I have hugely enjoyed reading this unusual story devouring every page intent on reaching the conclusion. The period the actions take place 1990 to 2019 must be read in the context of that period, not the differences of the Me Too campaign against sexual misconduct and abuse. The core events of the novel take place in 1990 when university education was an accepted rites of passage for the privileged middle and upper classes on their trajectory to success. However for the highly intelligent and ambitious working class teenagers of this period, entry to university, particularly Oxford and Cambridge would have been a terrifyingly lonely and intimidating prospect. This book tells the story of Juliette and Sophie attempting to integrate in the group dynamics of an elitist set of upper class students, The four individuals protective of the class divide, use their superiority and drive for new thrills to engage in a catastrophic series of actions that will have long term implications over the next twenty years for the two relatively innocent and inexperienced students. A group of highly intelligent selfish students embark on a course of actions with no regard for morality or law, resulting in humiliating abuse for the victim and little if any insight to the long term implications of their behaviour. Watching events unravel is excruciating for the reader and as the book moves towards the conclusion and events unravel it becomes even more traumatic. The conclusion is dramatic, timely and appropriate.a totally satisfying novel highlighting how sexual mores have changed over the years. Does privilege and wealth no longer guarantee a passport of immunity for sexual abuse by individuals bent on subjugation of those they believe to be of less consequence. This is a book of its time written with social awareness of changes taking place in the society we live in. A valiant effort.

This was quite a good psychological thriller. The alternating narrators left me in suspense as to how the story was going to turn out and it was a real roller coaster ride on the way. I found it be to be an interesting story and I very much enjoyed it.

I would like to thanks NetGalley, Avon Books and B P Walter for my ARC of ‘A Version of the Truth’ in return for my honest review.
The novel was well written and I enjoyed the development of the characters. The story moved between different timelines but the transition was clever. This is the debut novel but the author manages to tackle a difficult subject with care and I will be seeking out the next book by this author.

In the present day Julianne is preparing a family dinner when her son finds something terrible on his iPad. This will turn Julianne’s life upside down. She may not know who her husband really is.

About thirty years before this Sophie was arriving at Oxford University feeling out of her depth and lost amongst all the other students. She develops a friendship with some older students who are from the upper echelons of society (the total opposite to her) and she begins ‘to fall in love’ with one of them. She becomes unsettled about the behaviour around her and is not sure what game her friends are playing.

A dark secret has been hidden for over twenty-five years, so will the truth be told?

Great read. Recommended.

I was surprised up until the last page - that never happens! Wow, what a book - the subject matter was deep, but so interesting, I couldn’t stop reading. If you want to read a book that you’ll finish in 2 days, but that will have you thinking about it for a long time after, read this book!

A Version of the Truth

By B P Walter

3 stars.

The new thriller from Walter starts well, setting a hook to drag you in. The middle, while important to raise tension is slow and almost lost me. The final chapters raised the tension but were a disappointing fizzle in the end.

Subtited - There are three sides to every story. The plot follows present day Julianne as she discovers something terrible on the family home computer network, that requires her to question everything about her marriage.

In a flash back scenario it follows Holly a freshman student at Oxford University, struggling to find her way with those around her from the upper echelons of society and begins to develop feelings for one in particular. He’s confident, quiet, attractive and seems to like her too. But as the year progresses, her friends’ behaviour grows steadily more disconcerting and Holly begins to realise she might just be a disposable pawn in a very sinister game.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

#AversionOfTheTruth #NetGalley

Reviewed by Heath Henwood
www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

A difficult story to read which begins as an innocent portrayal of a young girl navigating the reality of being the poor girl in a world of privilege at Oxford University. As Sophie and Julianne’s stories begin to intertwine the frightening truth becomes clear, culminating in an agonizing choice for the two of them. Top read!

After reading the blurb and looking at the cover of this book I was intrigued and could not wait to start reading. Especially as it was in my favourite genre “mystery and thriller”.

As I started to read, the style of writing and movement between two timelines built up a suspense that had me intrigued further. I was especially intrigued how Sophie, Julie (two main narrators) and families would intertwine and relate to each other.

And then boom.... I had to stop reading. Why? Because of the main theme of the story - sexual violence through gang rape - was uncovered. I closed the book feeling physically sick and could not read any further. I felt quite disturbed, sick and incredibly uncomfortable reading. This book isn’t suited to the mystery and thriller genre.

I would highly recommend a warning added to the book. It doesn’t feel appropriate for others to purchase this book. It’s a definite not for me book.

This book was amazing. Read very quickly but I did not want it to end. Can’t wait to see what others think. I believe this will be very popular.

Wow... A truly chilling premise, and likely every teen's nightmare. The plot was well-developed, and the dialog rang true. It didn't take too long to read, since I spent every spare moment with my nose stuck in my Kindle. Recommended!

Unfortunately, I did not like this book. I felt it should come with trigger warnings and some of it, I just couldn’t stomach. I had to add this to my DNF pile.

This book was devoured in 24 hours, I really enjoyed the pace of the writing and especially enjoyed the time line jumping back to Oxford days, 90’s Oxford was depicted perfectly. The characters were very believeable and well developed, The story unfolded in a delicious way, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Wow! Absolutely loved this book. Jullianne is about to realise her husband isn't who she thought he was, after her son shows her disturbing files on the ipad. Things will never be the same as the truth of what happened at university years ago comes out.
Fantastic book. Page Turner.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC.
(It has taken me 3 days after finishing this book (meantime reading 2 others), to try and form this review. It is difficult. I didn't find it a 'page-turner', in fact the complete opposite as I read on; I needed to close it off and turn to something else, but, I'd kindly been given the opportunity to read it and comment on it and feel that is what should be done.)

This book's description as well as it's categorisation as general adult mystery/thriller does not convey at all what the storyline actually is and what the reader could reasonably expect.

Written alternately between 2 time-lines and 2 main characters, 30 years apart; a female middle-class student trying to fit-in with the upper-class clique at Oxford is unwittingly drawn into a circle of overt sexual - bi- and homosexual scenarios. Beginning as 'innocent' stumbles upon the graphically-written scenes, culminating to being a victim of the outrageously sex-driven exploits and plottings of an elite of wealthy, entitled males. Thirty years later, a 'bit-player' in the Oxford scenarios, now married to one of that elite, is the main character in discovering just how far those student sexual antics had been carried forward in those years, courtesy of her (Gay) son.

The book prepares to conclude on pages and pages of menacing, threatening monologue about the wife's discoveries and the consequences of making them public - I felt those pages alone could have been a base for the start of the book which could give glimpses of enough necessary to substantiate the words being produced. However the book 'concludes' into nothing at all really. Wishy-washy nonsense between the original student, the wife and an investigative reporter.

Overall I feel a reasonably good story - and effectively good writing - has been overshadowed and swallowed-up in such depravity.

I found the writing of the sexually-natured scenarios to be shockingly and unwelcomingly graphic. Totally unnecessary for a 'general' novel, even for adult/mystery/thriller. This book needs to have clear warnings as to what the reader might expect.

I you're into 'that sort of thing' then you'll probably be thrilled by it all - I am not.