Wow! Wasnt sure as I read this whether I would continue, but glad I did! Great story, where actually the main story is but a part of the whole...this opens up many avenues such as parental pressures with racial and societal stereotype overtones...believable characters, and believable script. This is a good read!
Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the chance to review an ARC.

I absolutely adored Kia Abdullah’s debut book Take It Back and was so excited to see she has a new book featuring Zara Kaleel, a rape counsellor with a background in law.

Still reeling from the fallout from her previous case Zara is struggling emotionally and mentally when a young Asian boy turns up at her office seeking help and support and claiming to have been raped by another male student at an exclusive boarding school in London.

Despite her office being a refuge and support for women only, there is something about young Kamran Hadid that Zara is drawn to and decides to take on his case.

Kamran is an intelligent, well-educated young man, brought up in a prestigious area of North London with a younger brother and affluent, well respected parents. Destined for Oxford his life has been carefully mapped out by his Muslim parents and he is on the path to greatness when the unthinkable happens.

Waking up after a drink fuelled party at school, Kamran’s life has been turned upside down when he finds himself the victim of a sexual violation. Confused, angry and ashamed he seeks Zara’s help having seen her defend another young rape victim and identifying with her because she is also Muslim.

There are so many deep aspects to this powerful story and once again Kia Abdullah has delivered an incredible thought-provoking and topical story. The dynamics between the Hadid family, the power struggles, the unreasonable and high expectations from Mack, the father for his sons, the internal struggle from Sophia, the mother to provide support and love was heartbreaking to witness. This family’s emotions and feelings were so real it was easy to forget they were a work of fiction because I was so invested in them.

This is so much more than an “He Said/He Said” story. It’s a story of family, faith, society and cultures. Fascinating, thought-provoking, moving, powerful and another 5 star book.

I hadn't realised this was another book involving Zara Kaleel, having devoured Take it Back when it came out. This time dealing with the taboo subject of male rape. Kamran Hadid is a 17 year old from a well to do Asian family, where the subject of rape and even more so, homosexuality, are not spoken about. When Kamran is raped after a drunken night out at his prestigious boarding school, he feels violated and that he must report it and follow it through. Events snowball and we see the effect on Kamran, on his attacker, on the wider family, and on rape counsellor Zara, who he turns to for help. The comparison with female rape is striking and really makes you think. I did feel that in this case proceeding to trial may have been using a sledgehammer to crack a nut but it is important to acknowledge how Kamran's entire life was affected by that violation. His family background and proud father who is so insistent on men being men had such an effect on the outcome. Once again, the ending took my breath away - I was not expecting it. A sad, sorry tale. #netgalley #truthbetold

Wow this is an amazing thought provoking novel dealing with the very difficult subject of male rape. It had me hooked from the start and held my attention right up to the very shocking twist at the end.

Ms Abdullah writes sensitively but does not shy away from controversy. Her characters are realistic and beluevable and I especially liked Kamran and rooted for him throughout his ordeal. Zara is a great character who fights her demons but is feisty and independant. This book will stay with me for a long time

I havent read the first book in this series but this works well as a standalone.

Last August I reviewed Kia’ debut novel, Take It Back, of which I said, ‘This is a fantastically written taut drama that had me gripped right until the very end. Brilliantly plotted and structured throughout this is an absolute corker of a novel.‘ and I have to say she had me totally gripped yet again with this latest offering. Truth Be Told, in my opinion, is even more engaging and thought-provoking.

Kia is a superb thriller writer. She gets right to the heart of matters and keeps it human, keeps it real. And what’s more she looks at the darker side of society, the darker side of communities and what it can take to speak up and stand up for both justice and truth. She reaches deep inside and pulls out the darker side of human nature whilst also highlighting the ways that things can change. As well as that she tells a fantastic story that has you questioning what’s happening, right and wrong and that fine line that is too easy to cross.

Although there are some reference to the events of Take It Back, you really don’t have to have read it first to thoroughly enjoy this one. Although I have a feeling you may just want to grab yourself a copy after reading this. Kia is an exciting author, giving a voice to events that should never be kept in the dark, whilst providing a page-turning reading that you simply won’t be able to put down.

Kamran went to bed drunk and alone but awoke to someone else in his bed. Someone who had done something to him that wasn't right. He now has to decide what to do about it. He finds himself talking to Zara who promises to help but how much is this going to change his life?

This is a very dark story and deals with some hard hitting and traumatic issues. Its a hard read but its well written and real. The story is honest and raw, it doesn't sugar-coat the hard facts of the case. I must admit it didnt end how I wanted it to and yet the ending actually worked better for the story. It made it more real. These things do happen too often. The writing is well done and thought provoking, the story has you thinking about the case throughout. Then right at the end, a twist is thrown in to the works just to make you think once more about it all. A raw but great read.

This is such an important read. A seldom discussed subject matter that always makes for an uncomfortable read. If I had known it was a sequal I would have read the first one first.

This book took me longer to read then lots others. It has to be one of the most difficult subjects I ever read about and the story was so deep that I had to stop myself often and take a breather
Treating sensitive subjects like male rape, depression, addiction, and the pressure of being perfect in a rich world where being gay is just a notion that exists outside norms, this book is the perfect analysis of it all. It is probably the best gritting, shocking and thrilling crime fiction book of the year

What happens when you can’t turn to anyone for help? What happens when you have to act and live up to certain standards according to social status and religion but all you want is just to be normal? What happens when public image matters more than what you feel, who you are and who you love?

This a drama that examines some of the issues that deform society but also a fictional thriller that will shock you

When you get to the final chapters, be ready to throw out the window all you thought abut every character in this story. It is so twisted that it will blow your mind

This is not an easy read! It is powerful, thought-provoking and guilt or innocence is not clear cut. It is a book I thought about not only when I was reading it, between times too. A difficult subject which was handled sympathetically - multi-layered with religion, family expectation, school politics all playing their parts. A book which will stay with me - my first by this author but I have already requested Take it Back from my library.

Many thanks to Netgalley/Kia Abdullah/HQ for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this read.
I hadn't realised when requesting this book that it was a sequel. However I think it makes a great stand alone read
It deals with a taboo subject and a modern 17 year old male muslin dealing with the conflicts if traditional Muslim family values and traditions

Such a heartbreaking book 💔 Truth be told deals with the taboo subject of male rape and touches on toxic masculinity,gender stereotyping, homophobia and cultural expectations. I loved the courtroom drama in this book and would have liked a bit more of it, I found it so interesting.
I didn’t realise this book was a sequel, it’s fine to read as a stand-alone book but there is a lot of referencing to the previous book, if it’s on you TBR I would recommend reading her other book first as Truth be told does give away some spoilers.
Abdullah handled the hard hitting topics very well, there was plot twists that I just didn’t see coming. I was just expecting a thriller but this book was so much more, this book was very realistic which I think made it even more emotional and thought provoking.
My only gripe was how often the character perspective switched within a chapter and maybe it was a little dragged out in parts.

3.5/5

Thanks so much @hqstories for my #gifted copy and for having me on the blog tour!

I read the first Zara Kaleel book, Take It Back, by Kia Abdullah last year and loved it and have been desperate to read Truth Be Told. Let me just state here, right now, that the wait has been well worth it. I can assure you, you will not be disappointed with this novel.
Hats off to Abdullah, for she really addresses topics that are often taboo in society and what's more important is that she addresses them in a nuanced , intelligent manner. During the reading of Truth Be Told, I found myself in an emotional spin. One minute I was raging at the toxic masculinity that makes the writing of this kind of novel so necessary. The next I was in frustrated tears at the unjustness of the young boys' situations.
Her exploration of these very sensitive issues was beautifully drawn - whilst not holding back, she offered a well rounded discussion of these very pertinent matters.
Through dialogue, Abdullah effectively offers the reader many different perspectives on the subject of Kamran's case and I think that was a really skillful way to address different viewpoints. It allows the reader to question the'r own belief system and offers a series of 'What if's ...' that make the discussion real.
In terms of the ending, I should have expected it - the clues were all there - but Abdullah made a couple of really brave decisions, that made that particular ending the only viable one.
Alongside her treatment of the issues of bullying, male rape, homophobia , teen mental health and toxic masculinity, we see Zara grow as a character. Her relationship with her family is evolving and this is lovely to read. Her sense of self and the after effects of the previous case she was part of in Take It Back, is changing and it shows the progression of the series.
I'm already looking forward to wherever Zara takes us next.

Yet again Kia Abdullah has come up with a fantastic, thought provoking story. I loved the fact that the central character in Abdullah's last book Take It Back. Appears yet again in another big case.

I have seen reviews that say that Truth Be Told can be read as a standalone. Which is true. However, I'd strongly suggest you read Take It Back first. Firstly, to get a better understanding of Zara's character. And, secondly the outcome of the case featured in Take It Back gets revealed in this book.

I love how Abdullah takes on a subject that is quite taboo. This time she tackles male rape. And, she deals with it effortlessly.

"Because without changing problematic men - without changing the systems that make them that way - we can't improve things for women"

I absolutely loved Take It Back by Kia Abdullah so I was very worried that Truth Be Told wouldn't be able to hold a candle to it. I was wrong. Another fantastic read from Abdullah.

Kamran Hadid attends Hampton, a prestigious boys' boarding school. To the Hadid's, appearances are everything.

After a party on campus, a drunken Kamran realises that he has been raped by a fellow student, Finn Andersen.

The book follows the court case and the repercussions for all involved afterwards. There are two sides to the story and both parties believe their truth.

It is a very deep story that touches on the stigma surrounding male rape, the differences between the strength of men and women (Why didn't he fight him off?) and gay people in the Muslim community.

It was great to see Zara Kaleel back again and to follow her personal story too. You can read this one as a standalone without having read Take It Back but it is fantastic so I'd definitely read it first.

Truth Be Told is full of emotion and kept surprising me. Five out of five stars isn't even enough for this one!

I was unaware that this was a second book featuring Zara Kaleel and being completely honest, I wouldn’t have requested the book had I known this. I found that I was on the back foot with the character throughout and just couldn’t connect with her. It actually took several attempts to get into the story because it felt like a barrier to me.

However, I liked Kamran and his struggle with his assault and family’s expectations felt real and you truly understood his conflicting emotions. More books need to shed a light on the culture divide that exists with topics such as rape, sexuality and gender equality. Abdullah handled these subjects in a respectable manner.

I'm still reeling from this phenomenal thriller. It's one I devoured, foregoing sleep to read it in one sitting as I found it impossible to put down.

Zara Kaleel is back and finds herself embroiled in another high profile case when Kamran Hadid comes to her for help. Kamram claims he was raped in his room at a prestigious boarding school after passing out drunk after a party. But his alleged attacker claims it was consensual. Why wouldn't he say no if he didn't want it? Why just let him carry on?

When Kamran decides to persue the case, the question of consent is examined in great detail and leaves both boys attempting to grapple with the truth of what their actions, and inactions, that night meant. Full of shocking twists and turns, when the truth is finally revealed it will leave your jaw on the floor.

"He tried to give shape to the weight of his trauma. He thought of it as a thick bar of florescent light that hummed from throat to groin. Real healing with dim that light, snuff out sections until it grew dark - but how could he heal if he couldn't remember? Instead, he would push down the pain until it was a sun-bright penny lodged in his gut. That's where he'd let it burn."

Truth Be Told examines a topic rarely discussed with truth and sensitivity, highlighting the complex layers of emotion and perception that accompany male rape. The author also addresses the intricacies and blurred lines of consent, and the prejudice faced by gay men in the Muslim community. Like her fantastic debut, it is an intelligent, well-written, powerful and thought-provoking novel that will stay with the reader long after reading the final page.

Zara is a brilliant character to base a series on because she stands out from the saturated crowd of other protagonists. She is a modern, liberal Asian woman, trying to balance her family's cultural expectations and traditions with her Western life and personal desires. This pressure has led to a misuse of narcotics that she's seeking treatment for in this novel, adding another layer to her flawed character.

The other characters are all equally as compelling and richly drawn. Kamran Hadid was the one who took my heart. Maybe it's because I have two boys of a similar age that I couldn't help putting in his shoes, but this kid broke me. The rainbow of emotions he's feeling lept from the page and went straight to my soul. It was heart-rending to read his journey; the effect the trauma had on every facet of his life, changing him forever. It takes immeasurable strength for any victim to stand up against their attacker, and I had such admiration for Kamram in his refusal to be a silent victim.

But the author doesn't make it that easy. She also tells the story from the alleged attacker's perspective. And while at the start he's clearly sure it was consensual, there soon becomes hints that he's hiding something. Though we don't know what. We also witness his devastation as he faces the fact that Kamran views what happened as rape. That what Finn views as a mistake is a traumatic attack in Kamran's eyes tears him apart, but he also feels sure that without a clear no it was consensual. I found myself feeling sympathy for what Finn was going through, then felt mad at myself for doing so. After all, whether he meant to or not, he raped someone. Didn't he?

Fast-paced, hard-hitting and intense, this is not your typical legal thriller. Kia Abdullah has just cemented her place on my list of auto-buy authors. Outstanding and addictive, this is one I can't recommend highly enough.

After reading and enjoying the author’s debut novel, Take It Back, I couldn’t wait to devour this one! I knew it was going to be a gripping and thought-provoking read.

Truth Be Told tells the story of Kamran Hadid (17), who, along with his brother, Adam (16), attends the elite all-boys boarding school, Hampton College, in London. All the pupils are privileged and from affluent families and great things are expected of them. Kamran himself has a place at the University of Oxford the following year and is expected to follow a similar path to his father with an MBA, high-ranking role at his father’s international medical supplies company, marriage and children. His mum’s family are also wealthy and her father ran a steelwork business.

The Hadid family live in a large townhouse in Belsize Park. Kamran’s parents, Mustaque (Mack) and Sofia, are very traditional and conservative Muslims and worried about what other people, especially extended family members, think. Their sons are always expected to do what’s right.

One evening, following a spring fundraiser party at school, Kamran is a bit the worse for wear after several drinks and heads back to his room. When he wakes up, he finds another pupil, Finn Andersen, in his bed and realises that the two of them had sexual relations while he was half asleep and drunk, which he didn’t consent to.

Kamran decides to speak to Zara Kaleel, a qualified lawyer, who is now an independent women’s sexual violence counsellor. He feels that he needs to do something to get over this incident, that it won’t just go away and he doesn’t want to have to pretend everything is ok for the rest of his life. Zara takes some time off from her job to help Kamran. She is a rather flawed protagonist and has her own problems but she’s dedicated, loyal, determined and compassionate.

The school wants to keep things quiet and investigate internally – in other words, sweep everything under the carpet, especially as Finn is an assistant to the housemaster. Despite his family’s misgivings (they’re concerned about the stigma of male rape and their son being accused of homosexuality) and the fact that he’s constantly reliving his ordeal and feeling ostracised by his peers, Kamran is determined to go to court and get justice for himself.

The rape trial is difficult for all concerned and brings with it the issues of consent and the blurred lines between saying no or not saying no – is that implied consent, does it mean yes?

This was a tense and dramatic read: there was a good sense of foreboding as we build up to the events after the party and the courtroom scenes were intense and emotional and evoked strong feelings of frustration and anger as I read them.

Overall, Truth Be Told is a powerful, compelling, thought-provoking read and the author writes sensitively and intelligently about some disturbing and emotive issues. This legal/courtroom thriller was multi-layered and well written with several great twists and turns and some rather startling revelations, which I didn’t see coming at all!

I was fortunate to receive a copy of this ARC from NetGalley.

I didn't realise this was going to be a kind of sequel from the first book - Take It Back - where Jodie's case receives a conclusion, and there is also continuity with Zara's life.

This book is about family ties and pressures and links; then adding religious expectations to this. It also strongly challenged the assumptions and presumptions I made, even subconsciously. When Finn is excluded from something important to him, it made me question if it really is "innocent until proven guilty", or whether we are judging people immediately.

My favourite quote: "It was perfectly seasonal for a scandal."

The use of Siri references for motherhood were a nice touch of light relief in parts of the story.

What a truly well written stunning book with hard hitting subjects. An ending I would never have predicted. This was the first authors book I had read and I am I now hooked on her books. Throughly enjoyed this one.

Abdullah delves into the gritty issues that are present in our society with such intelligence and suspense, proving this book as so so much more than the average courtroom drama.

It was sharp and addictive and wholly unexpected right up until the last twist - all of which meant I couldn’t put it down! The twists were shocking yet so realistic, and add to that the excellently articulated raw emotions of teenage life teamed with a splash of family drama and you have one instantly memorable novel.

I give this book 5 stars - it truly made me think and honestly, I’m still thinking about it now and probably will be for a while yet!

You’ll enjoy this if you like:
•a thought-provoking storyline
•twists and turns
•a plot that deals with modern day societal pressures
•criminal/law storylines