I was lucky enough to get a copy of Kia Abdullah's previous novel and was concerned that this might be more of the same, however, this book more than stands on its own. The characters are once again perfectly explored and developed, and the subject matter is treated with the delicate touch that is required

Truth be Told is another very good read from this author. We meet some characters from the previous book ‘Take it Back’ but not reading the previous book will in no way spoil your enjoyment of this story.
Kamrin, one of two sons from a wealthy Muslim family attends a prestigious boarding school with his younger brother Adam, he is of good character, popular and hard working with a bright already paved out future ahead of him. After a party where he drinks too much he awakes the next morning with events of the night slowly coming back to him, although sketchy he realises he was raped by another pupil. As he has this realisation his moral compass tell him to seek help and report this, floundering and unsure of what he does next he attends a women’s centre, here he meets Zara a barrister in the previous book now a counsellor. The women’s centre refuse to help him as they only deal with females so Zara takes it upon herself to help him.
Criminal proceedings are commenced, the CPS deciding there is a case to answer. The trial begins, the eloquence and cut and thrust of both prosecutor and defence counsel are sublime. At times it makes for uneasy reading, and certainly has you thinking.
The verdict is not assured and I kept switching my vote and didn’t know which way it would go. There is good depth to all the main characters and this story is well paced and flows beautifully. After the trial is over you imagine that’s it, but not from this author, she throws in a final twist that I never saw coming.
Well written, extremely clever but I would of liked it to be wrapped up a little more to learn what happens to the characters after the reveal, but that is from a personal viewpoint.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

An interesting book, well written and easy to read.
However the subject matter and storyline were just the same as the previous book. Zara once again seems to be taking on the underdog at the expense of everything else. Once again the truthful person comes off worst.
I personally would like to read something different.

A very interesting and ultimately moving account of the aftermath of male rape.

I think Ms Abdullah has handled the subject with great sensitivity and has created memorable characters - ones sympathies switch from character to character but ultimately they extend to all the parties concerned.

I don't have first-hand knowledge of the dynamics of a family such as the Hadids but it felt authentic particularly with the overbearing father who finds it so hard to show his love for his sons.

It doesn't show the English private school in a particularly good light although with hindsight perhaps they might have handled the matter in a rather less adversarial way than actually transpired; I can't help thinking that there are no real winners in going to trial in a rape case.

I thoroughly recommend this book and would like to thank NetGalley and HQ for the ARC.

Wow this is an excellent read, I have never read any books by this author before but I certainly will be doing so in the future.

The plot surrounds Kamran Hadid the eldest son from a wealthy muslim family who adhere to what is expected from their standing within their peers.

Kamran and his younger brother Adam attend a prestigious boarding school in London. Kamran has impeccable moral standing and his future is bright with a place already sealed at oxford.

Following a night of celebration at school an incident occurs which he knows will have far reaching consequences. He is battles with his choices knowing if he chooses a certain path his safe and secure future may come crashing down around him.

I do not wish to give to much away I suggest you read this book yourself, it will make you think and question your beliefs, it is a roller coaster of emotions.

Thoroughly recommend this book.

I

This is a book that deals with important issues relating to male on male rape with sensitivty and in a realistic context. Kamran Hadid,of Asian descent,is a privileged boarder along with his younger brother at a posh boys' school. He has everything planned for the years ahead. The added dimension to this story is the effect on his character and reactions of the beliefs and prejudices of his family,in particular his demanding father. Zara is also of a similar background,a qualified lawyer,now working for a charity supporting women who have been raped. Taking on Kamran after a sexual assault in his dorm after a drunken school event is a break from her normal work. Zara also has issues arising from her ethnic background which are a distraction from the main focus of the story. Considerable time is spent covering her dysfunctional issues too. The story is well told. It raises important issues about male rape which are rarely aired. The case goes to court and the effect of that on Kamran and the pupil who assaulted him is dealt with carefully. Then as he tries to get his life together again,new information emerges to change the scenario. The conclusion is unexpected but makes sense.

I finished reading Kia Abdullah's Truth Be Told and I am a bit dazed by it.
I haven't yet read another book that manages to pull off what this one does. 

That is to frame the important subject of rape and rape culture within a scenario that allows an exploration of it without cause to refer to the usual tropes of writing this kind of story - and also managing to get in much wider family themes within it that speak to so many other issues in a totally non judgmental and thought provoking way.

She manages to create a realistic perspective wherein the outcome, the truth of it is well..I'll leave that for you to discover. Find me another author that can do this and I will read them.

Highly recommending this one. These are the books that need to be read, the talent of this particular author in entertaining you whilst making you think and assess our society on every basic level is second to none

Kia Abdullah has done it again with Truth be Told. This storyline develops in an unexpected way and quickly pulled me into a gripping storyline. Kia managed to make me understand the actions and personalities of all of the characters very quickly and very convincingly. For a writer to succeed in making you actually like both of the main characters, when one is cast as protagonist and one as victim, is to be applauded. I do love Zara’s back story and it enhances the storylines, creating a parallel story which I hope will continue to develop over many more books. I also love the legal aspect of this storyline and Kia’s previous book Take it Back. Overall a really great read. I loved it and have no hesitation recommending. The twist in the tale very effectively cements the message of the damage done by cultural and gender messages and pressures. A rare five stars from me!

When you've written a book as amazing as Take it Back, you can be forgiven for wondering whether you will be able to replicate or better your writing a second time around. Goodness only knows how Kia Abdullah felt at this prospect.
In Truth Be Told she has written a powerful, raw and explosive courtroom drama with a moral question running throughout that invites the reader to think and think again.
Challenging stereotypical views and daring to create a novel based on a taboo subject seems to be Kia Abdullah's trademark stance. She pulls it off with incredible panache.
Kamran Hadid is from a wealthy family and attends an elite all-boys boarding school, along with his brother. Adam is more sensitive than Kamran, but both boys excel and are the epitome of a privileged upbringing, with academic and sporting achievements galore, as well as being gentlemen of the upper class. Their futures are bright, even if there is a constant pressure from their father Mack.
One night, after a drunken party at Hamptons, the boarding school, something happens that will change Kamran forever. And it is this one single event that makes his and Zara Kaleel's paths cross. Zara is an assault counsellor and takes on Kamran's case. Once again, there is much publicity and the courtroom drama is tense, typically generating doubt on both the defendant's and the victim's accounts.
We get to meet characters from Take it Back again. Safran and Erin both serve to develop the ethical debate that rages through the book, via the dialogue the characters have with one another and Zara is still a tormented soul. Her family don't always make things easy for her but their inclusion in the story gives Zara a more rounded personality and the history to her personal troubles. Mia Scanlon is back and in her role of police officer we are treated to more of her back story in a way that adds to the ethical debate playing out in the courtroom and amongst the media.
I loved the way in which Kia portrays the culture that can trap a person, not just the religious one, but the idea of men being caught up in a cage of masculinity, never able to break free, being forced by others to fulfil a role they don't necessarily want. There is absolutely no emotional support for Kamran or Adam at home, and their mother Sofia finds herself weak against the very alpha male responses of her husband. The atmosphere at Belsize Park where the family live is suffocating.
Kia Abdullah writes in such a sensitive and thought-provoking way. Nothing is gratuitous and every character has a depth to them that makes you connect with every single part of the novel, whether you like a character or not. The reader literally lives the book and for me that is the highest accolade for an author, to take a reader away from the present reality into a new place that has been constructed but is so alive with feeling and texture and confusion.
I think her books embody what it is to be human and have the ability to move the reader into a higher realm of thinking whilst still ensuring the book is accessible, suspenseful, has a psychological twist or two and is a page turner.
Truth Be Told is a clever, riveting and gold medal winner for me. Read the book because I know you will love it!

I really enjoyed this book. Kamran Hadid is a 17 year old from a privileged background, who attends the exclusive Hampton boarding school. He is a good student and has his future mapped out. However, all this changes when one night, in a drunken stupor, he is the victim of a male rape. With the help of ex lawyer and now counsellor Zara Kaleel, he decides to report the attack to the police. The book explores the stigma of this kind of attack, plus the attitudes of Kamran's Muslim family. And of course it is notoriously difficult to get a conviction for rape. I thoroughly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

This is such a sad story, but brilliantly told. It centres around Kamran, an 17 year old Asian boy, who, along with his younger brother Adam attends a private boarding school for rich, privileged boys.
Kamran and Adam have a very strict father, who tries to mould them into the successful men he wants them to be. Their mother is not happy with her husband and dislikes his treatment of her sons, but isn’t strong enough to stand up to him. She does her best for her adored boys, but their home life is very regimented.
Boarding school is where they are happiest, but Kamran, after having too much to drink at a school party one night, is raped by a fellow student.
He decides to go to the police and a court case follows. He has an assault counsellor, Zara, who normally deals with female victims, but something about Kamran makes her want to help him, and she is a very important part of this story.
There is so much diversity in this story, cultural, familial, law, and it makes for a powerful read. It’s a story that stays with you more than most, and I recommend it to you

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the arc of Truth Be Told written by Kia Abdullah.

Thanks to Kia Abdullah for writing this intense legal thriller.

*Trigger warning of rape*

This follows Kamran Hadid who comes from a wealthy family in which he also attends a boarding school called the Hampton's select boarding school which is situated in London, UK. Kamran has also 100% secured a place at Oxford University next year! But things are about to change and take the turn for the worse....😱😱😱

But while out drunk an incident happens which changes him forever...

told between 2 stories of Kamran and Finn, the book touches on the subject about male rapes, which aren't spoken about as much so to see this in this book was really good, it was set out perfectly and in the right way. You can see and feel such raw emotions from the two boys throughout this book especially in the courtroom.. it was such a heart clenching powerful story which i enjoyed!

Well done Kia Abdullah for writing such a intense but gripping book!

Definitely recommend
5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This felt like a long book to read. I really enjoyed the court parts, the barristers and cross examination scenes. This was really well thought out and accurate how facts can switch. I was very surprised at the ending, and this is why I thought it was long. I thought the story had ended, but then the murder and twist explained the length. A great legal book, with lots of focus on have different races and religions can deal with scenarios. Thank you for letting me read it.

Really enjoyed the last novel by this author so was looking forward to this one.
I wasn't disappointed and this is the second 5 stars I've given to a review this month though probably only the second this year.
It's gentler than 'Take it back' but none the less intense and I found myself fascinated to see how it would all tie up. I couldn't see a way to a satisfying conclusion but I should have had more faith.
Beautifully executed and sensitively dealt with, I'll be highly recommending this novel and eagerly awaiting the next.
Many thanks.

A thoughtful and carefully crafted story about a sex scandal at a high fee paying boy's school concerning the meaning of consent. A tense courtroom drama where both parties have their own sense of guilt. For the victim, the added torment of the traditions of his cultural background and a surprise ending that I didn't see coming.
Can't wait for the next Sara book.

Kamran Hadid comes from a prosperous family; he attends Hampton, an elite boys boarding school in London, a position is secured for him at Oxford next year, the future couldn't look brighter. But everything is about to change, and things will never be the same for Kaman.
It has a gripping plot, and the courtroom scenes are perfectly written.
I want to thank NetGalley, HQ and author Kia Abdullah for a pre-publication copy to review.

I loved this book.
It is well written and clever - tackling a variety of difficult themes: homophobia, Asian culture, teenagers and sexuality and boarding schools!! and more!
For me it was compelling. I read the first few pages and was thinking - this is a good one!
There was a feeling of upset when the result was not what I hoped! (no spoilers)
Thoroughly recommended!

I wasn't sure about this book and initially found the whole premise of kamran's privileged background overpowering, we didn't need so much constant reminding. However, it did deal with a very sensitive subject and how the outcome is reflected depending on who you are and what you have, which, of course, is all wrong, but a sad way of the world we live in. It wasn't a totally enjoyable read for me, some of the passages seemed forced with too much description and information hammered at us. Not a favourite of mine this year I'm afraid.

An extremely thought provoking book, concentrating on the issues surrounding the way male rape is treated by society but also touching on the way that privilege changes outcomes and how upbringing and religion can alter the way people react to situations that seem straightforward at first glance.
There was a great deal of emphasis on the wealth and privileged position of Kamran and Finn in their school and family settings. I felt that the scene was extremely well set in he beginning chapters and the continued emphasis as the story unfolded was perhaps superfluous.
That said the raw emotions suffered by both boys during the court case were very well handled and written and the twist at the end was an interesting one although it felt slightly rushed both as a plot reveal and the ultimate conclusion to the book.

Enjoyable book. I did enjoy it but felt the storyline was very rushed a lot crammed in. True to life and shows how the rich are treated differently to work class