Another great Australian debut . There’s something about Aussie Lit that draws me in every time . I’d seen a few mixed reviews of people saying they expected more and I guess if you’re expecting a page turner murder mystery then you would be disappointed as this is a slow paced character driven novel but the prose and quiet tone just had me hooked.

Its essentially an exploration of motherhood, relationships and guilt and how trolling and the modern world can lead to lives spiralling into chaos . Suzy is a flawed character and I found myself liking her and not liking her at the same time ! What I loved most about the book though is the Sydney setting . I loved recognising places and found it quite an atmospheric read , reliving many hot summers I’ve spent there . Maybe a different setting would have made it a less enjoyable read for me but if you’re a fan of Australian literature and love character driven books then this one comes recommended .

The Kindle cover of "The Truth About Her" had me expecting a more fast-paced, murder-mystery-esque story (although I was well aware the blurb said Tracey Doran's death was a suicide). The other edition, with the blue background and half of a woman's face, fits the content of this novel better: it promises exactly what the pages deliver i.e. something with a slower pace and more introspection than the average mystery actually holds. I will admit that I prefer the Kindle cover as an individual entity to the paperback version; the fact remains, though, that the latter represents the story better than the former does.

Despite the above, this was a satisfying read. It explored the darker areas of motherhood, the parts not often talked about in spaces like those cultivated by the Park Mothers (as Suzy Hamilton, the main character of the novel, liked to call them). Not being a mother myself, Suzy's life was a source of fascination for me, and I drank in every single interaction between Suzy and her cherubic daughter Maddy—including the not-so-happy ones.

The best word I can think of to describe the writing style is "economical." It did its job, conveying the story to the reader as it was meant, but it didn't stand out in any way. Most of the novel was delivered in short, simple sentences, with the longer ones reserved for describing a setting or object. Essentially, nothing to write home about.

Although the plot took its time to unwind, it managed to hook me to the very end. Granted, for maybe half the novel I felt I was waiting for more action to happen, due partially to the Kindle cover skewing my expectations and partially to my own misunderstandings regarding what I was walking into, and I finished the read feeling content. I did actually get some of the action I was hoping for, with a high-tension scene in the final quarter, so I was pleased in that respect as well.

I was initially attracted to the dramatic image of the front cover of The Truth About Her, and was then sold on the write-up.

Suzy, an Australian investigative journalist, writes an expose on a wellness blogger Tracey Doran. All part of her job, until it isn’t. Then Suzy learns that Tracey has killed herself and Suzy has to keep it together for herself and her daughter and so she throws herself into her work, until she can’t.

I’m sure this will be adapted into a film / TV series - it’s such a great and timely story.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers HarperCollins UK for making this book available to me to read for a fair and honest review.

A slow but fulfilling mystery novel! Slower paced than your average thriller, but this allows for more of an introspection on the characters and the plot.

The Truth about Her by Jacqueline Maley is an enjoyable Australian novel about motherhood, parenting, relationships, media, trolling, guilt and forgiveness.

I picked this book up on a whim and I’m glad I did. It follows journalist Suzy in the aftermath of a nightmare – a wellness blogger that she did a big expose of has been found dead of apparent suicide and now Suzy has to deal with the fallout. Suzy is a single mum and her life seems to consist of her constantly trying to get her life on track but never quite managing it. She can’t commit to a relationship but wants to, and she’s striving for something more but doesn’t exactly know what that might look like. I found this book less of a thriller than I was expecting but it was a really absorbing read and I’m so pleased that I picked it up.

Journalist and single mother Suzy Hamilton gets a shocking phone call one morning: the subject of one of her investigative exposés, 25-year-old wellness blogger Tracey Doran, has killed herself overnight.

Horrified by this news, she copes in the only way she knows how – throwing herself into work, looking after her young daughter and carrying on with two ill-advised affairs.

But no one can make their own story disappear, and soon Suzy’s life is spiralling into chaos: will it end in violence or redemption? I will definitely be recommending this one! A gripping read!

A middle-of-the-road domestic thriller without much to add to the crowded genre- couldn't get into this.

Page-turning and introspective, The Truth About Her is enriched with the small detail of life - as a woman, as a mother, as a person who has experienced guilt and loss. While a bit of a slow burner and not quite as thrilling as I hoped given the blurb, this is a solid literary novel that is a genuine pleasure to read.

Thanks for the opportunity to review Netgalley and the publisher. Unfortunately the book was not of my liking. No reflection on the book or author

I received an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a hauntingly beautiful book. Stories like this are real and deserve to be heard . This author has a way of making emotional pain exquisite to read

Rounding up to 3 stars


I very much enjoyed the first part of this book.
It had likeable,relatable characters in it. Things moved at a decent pace.
Then,they didn't,and I wasn't enjoying it so much anymore.
Just didn't grip my attention that much after first third.