For a book meant to be about a writer, I don't think it's particularly well written. In fact, at one point, the protagonist criticises her husband's 'overwritten' prose, which is laughable given the quality of the text.

Having said that, what carries this book is the plot. The characters are all unlikeable caricatures, drawn into a murder mystery following the mysterious disappearance of Lucy's brother when she was a child. She changes her name to hide her identity, having been suspected of being responsible for his death, and becomes an author who writes about a detective who happens to be based on her imaginary friend who still talks to her even though she's an adult.

It's a typical unreliable narrator tale, but there's enough intrigue to keep the pages turning. In the hands of a better writer, this would be incredible, but as it is, it's still pretty entertaining.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Lucy Harper, bestselling crime fiction author, has just put the finishing touches to her latest novel in the Eliza Grey detective series. Experienced in tragedy, Lucy has come to live, sleep and breathe her protagonist, so much so that she carries her with her daily, her voice a continual presence that at times transforms itself to the physical. Husband Dan is Lucy's biggest supporter. A would-be author himself, Dan is the constant that keeps the wheels of life churning whilst Lucy writes, but takes a decision which significantly oversteps the mark, one which will force Lucy down a path she has avoided since childhood and has the potential to uncover some truths which are better left buried.

Thank you to @netgalley and @arrowpublishing for the #arc of this book.

My first Gilly Macmillan read and what a whirlwind! I finished this in a single sitting, the punchy short chapters, interspersed at times with a telling of Lucy's backstory, grabbing my interest from the get-go. The first few pages gave me a real Misery vibe and I thought I immediately knew the story's path, but I was quickly proven wrong, which became a common occurrence as the book progressed.

In the shoes of Lucy, I particularly enjoyed the tidbits revealed about the writing process and the research novelists must undertake to ensure authenticity. It's difficult to say whether I liked Lucy - her personality is so multi-faceted I'm not sure I fully established who the true Lucy Harper is. I can say that I disliked her husband Dan from the beginning, a feeling that became cemented within the first few chapters. An easy read, I found myself fully absorbed from start to finish, wanting more as I reached the finale and theorising how a potential sequel may emerge.

Extremely happy to have discovered Gilly Macmillan's talent and highly recommend this offering to anyone looking for their next reading fix when published next month. Five stars from me and I hope you enjoy too!

A relatively slow starter about a crime writer and her childhood imagery friend that builds into a truly gripping murder mystery that kept me hooked and guessing right to the very end. Terrific read and well worth the read.

Loved this book. An exciting storyline with lots of twists and turns and ended up differently than what I predicted. A first time reading a book by this author, will look out for others. A great read

To tell you the truth by Gilly Macmillan

To tell you the truth . . . everybody lies.

Lucy Harper’s talent for writing bestselling novels has given her fame, fortune and millions of fans. It’s also given her Dan, her needy, jealous husband whose own writing career has gone precisely nowhere.
Now Dan has vanished. But this isn’t the first time that someone has disappeared from Lucy’s life. Three decades ago, her little brother Teddy also went missing and was never found. Lucy, the only witness, helplessly spun fantasy after fantasy about Teddy’s disappearance, to the detectives’ fury and her parents’ despair. That was the start of her ability to tell a story—a talent she has profited from greatly.

Wow. This book grabbed me hook, line and sinker. I could not stop reading this for anything. The storyline was great, characters likeable, and it flowed so well. Really enjoyed The Nanny also by this author so was excited to read this title. Definitely recommend!

A good atmospheric thriller that keeps you guessing until the end. I did feel that it was a little slow in places and I found that the ending did not answer all of the questions that I had.

A terrifying collision of past and present. Lucy a successful novelist struggling to change direction in her writing genre against the wishes of her husband, a jealous failure as a writer, and her publishing team , all only interested in the financial rewards of her hugely profitable, tried and tested format and characters. Confident that no one is aware of a traumatic tragedy in her past but increasingly debilitated by the fear and uncertainty of what had really happened and struggling to separate fact from fiction; is history repeating itself when her husband disappears. Police appear convinced she is somehow involved and past and present collide in our novelist becoming the story rather than the writer of it. Unable to differentiate between those she can trust and those baying for blood instinct takes over as she attempts to solve the most frightening mystery of her life where danger looms at every turn. A real page turner where no one and nothing is as it seems. I was reluctant to reach the conclusion which after a successful and slow build up of fear and tension appeared not to do justice when tying up the numerous loose ends in this excellent well written mystery. Perhaps what would have satisfied was several more chapters . Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC.

Lucy was nine when her brother disappeared in the woods outside their house. Although she was interviewed by the police as to what happened that night he is still missing.

Thirty years later Lucy is now a successful crime writer. Unbeknown to her her husband, Dan, buys a house near the woods where her brother went missing - Why? Lucy hates it and memories start resurfacing. Dan has secrets of his own but then he is found murdered and Lucy begins to question her own sanity. Did she kill him? and if so does that mean she was responsible for her brother missing?

Thanks to Netgalley for the preview of this book. Unfortunately it was not for me. I found the storyline poor & that the ending didn't resolve so many questions that I had . The main character was annoying & unlikeable & I felt that it dragged on to much.

This has bestseller written all over it. A compelling read that I couldn't put down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Lucy Bewley was nine years old when her little brother Teddy disappeared. Lucy, an odd child, was obsessed with seeing the summer solstice celebrations in the woods near her home so when Teddy woke up as she was creeping out the house, she decided to take him with her. Several hours later she returns home without Teddy. It is not known what happened to him but Lucy's strangeness and especially her seeming reliance on an imaginary friend called Eliza, bring her under suspicion. Now many years later, she is married and a highly successful crime writer of a detective series based on Eliza. Her husband Dan who also wanted to be a writer is now her assistant. He loves the money that her success brings but does he love her? When they move to a house near to her childhood home, past and present blur together so that Lucy starts to believe she is going mad. Then Dan disappears. Does she have anything to do with this as the police suspect and will she ever find out what happened to her little brother?

A terrific read, full of suspense and menace. Great suff!

Yesssss....... what an amazing and brilliant read this turned out to be and I devoured it in a day I just had to know the outcome and I wasn’t disappointed at all it was sooooo good !! At a time when most of us are in lockdown and concentrating on reading can be difficult it’s brilliant to find a read that just takes you away from real life and throws you into a story of mystery and suspense well with this book we have just that. It’s not a difficult read but it has twists and turns with suspicious characters and it’s very well written.
I was never quite sure just where the plot was going and I loved that, the ending was excellent so it’s read that I can highly recommend and feel sure it will be a huge hit for Gilly Macmillan and a very well deserved one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a well written, psychological thriller that starts with a little girl, who arrives home in the early hours of the morning, covered in dirt and leaves and minus her little brother, Teddy.
Alongside the chapters relating to the little girl, are the ones about the famous author and her husband, Dan. Dan has dreams of also being a best selling author, but, his career is overshadowed by his famous wife.
Then Dan also goes missing.

What follows is an intricate web of lies and suspicion about whether Lucy is telling the truth or not.

I found it to be a good read 3*, this is because, although it's well written, it didn't fully grab me throughout. However, it's an easy read and I'm sure will be a great success.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to preview.

When Lucy was nine, her brother Teddy vanished in the woods near their home. Three decades later, Lucy, now a successful crime novelist, replays the day as if it was yesterday, though the full facts of what happened remain unknown. Lucy is a whizz at creating a story and her husband, Dan, a wannabe writer, should be the same. But it appears Dan’s skill is in keeping secrets which lead to his wife having to confront memories that she had hoped were buried and forgotten. This tense, taut read will leave you guessing right until the final page – and more. I was surprised yet pleased at how involved I became in the story and the way it’s written is really clever.

Wow, wow, wow! This was an unputdownable, chilling read, which only sealed my love for Gilly Macmillan’s books even more! It starts out so dang chilling and intriguing, you cant help be intrigued and up way past bed time to finish! I loved the author using a character from her childhood, and wondered if authors may feel how Lucy felt about hitting it big and her characters! I was dizzy from the twists and turns, chilled to the bone, and gasping in shock! Well written, fast paced, tension filled book, which will make all thriller lovers very, very happy! Preorder today, it’s not one you will want to miss!
Will buzz it up on the different platforms and use low amazon reviewer number on release date!

#ToTellYouTheTruth #NetGalley
Its claustrophobic and compelling. A brilliant novel by Gilly.
I was sucked into its plot after picking it up.its characters are so deeply created with arc Each character has equal role in the story. Gilly kept the pace til the last page.
Lucy Harper was nine years old when her brother vanished in the woods near home. As the only witness, Lucy’s story of that night became crucial to the police investigation. Thirty years on, her brother’s whereabouts are still unknown. Now Lucy is a bestselling thriller writer. Her talent for invention has given her fame, fortune, and an army of adoring fans. But her husband, Dan, has started keeping secrets of his own, and a sudden change of scene forces Lucy to confront some dark, unwelcome memories
Ita a must read for all psychological thriller readers.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Cornerstone Century for giving me an advance copy.

To Tell You the Truth is a dark, twisty and suspenseful novel that by the end has even the reader doubting if they can trust their own memory. A fantastic psychological page turner that pulls you in from the first page.