Why or why did I not read this when I got it - sorry!!
Gripping, twisty, well written, interesting and unpredictable - I was hooked. I need more by this author. Absolute 5 stars.

All I Said Was True is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers questioning everything until the final page. Imran Mahmood masterfully crafts a tense and immersive narrative, exploring themes of truth, perception, and justice.

The novel is told from the perspective of a woman caught in a high-stakes situation, with the police—and the reader—unsure of what to believe. The unreliable narration adds to the suspense, making every detail feel crucial. Mahmood’s writing is sharp and compelling, pulling you into the protagonist’s mind and keeping the tension tight throughout.

The character development is particularly strong. The protagonist is complex, flawed, and deeply human, making her journey both intriguing and emotional. The supporting characters add depth to the story, each playing a significant role in the unraveling mystery.

What sets this book apart is its seamless blend of psychological depth and legal thriller elements. Mahmood’s background as a barrister lends authenticity to the legal aspects, making them feel realistic and engaging rather than overly technical.

With a fast-paced plot, unexpected twists, and a thought-provoking narrative, All I Said Was True is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. It keeps you hooked, questioning every piece of information, and leaves you thinking long after you turn the last page.

I am a huge fan of Imran Mahmood's work, having loved everything I have read by this author. This was rwad in a few hours and it was ace. Brilliantly written, full of surprises and all wrapped up at the end!!

Gripping, twisty and unpredictable with perfect pacing. I was breathless sometimes with how claustrophobic this book was

This is such an intriguing book! The way it is written has you going "what on earth is going on?!" constantly (in a good way!).

We don't see inside the mind of Layla, our lead character, so we are almost in the same position as her police interviewers where bits of information are drip fed and we need to work out what they mean. The advantage we have is that we are then given insight into what happened at a particular time; to provide more context for the information she has just revealed. Very clever way of giving us more knowledge but not too soon.

It all unravelled in a completely unexpected and unpredictable way.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC.

A good read, twisty and dynamic.I love an unreliable read and this was one of those, lots of suprirses along the way. A good autumnal read I'd say!

Brilliant book with characters you really invest in! I absolutely love this author’s writing and this one lives up to all expectations.

A relentless ride of suspense that will keep you guessing till the end. Brilliant storyline and characters, loved it.

I have read one previous book by the author, and watched the adaptation on the BBC. This book is enjoyable if you are preparedto stretch the believeability aspects at times. The plot moves between past and present timelines in an easy to follow manner.

Tense, complex, original and with more than one cutting remarks that made me think
It kept me reading and on the edge as I was trying to guess the next twists
My only note: it's a bit slow at the beginning but it kept me hooked.
The first book by this author, it won't surely be the last
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Quite a slow start for me but once I got into it, I enjoyed this lawyerly thriller - plenty of twists and turns as well as jaw-dropping moments.

A slow burning beauty is how I would describe All I Said Was True. I don’t think Imran will ever be able to disappoint me. I look forward to reading his next book already.

A murder. A lawyer under investigation. A man that nobody can find who we’re told is the key. A bizarre case that unfolds in front of our eyes is the focus for this thriller.
Our main character, Layla, is found on the rooftop of the building where her husband works. She is cradling the dead body of Amy Blahn, our victim. Her call to the police tells us little.
During her interviews we know Layla is holding back. We don’t know what or why, but she is second-guessing what to say and trying to exploit her knowledge of the law to help determine the best time to reveal details.
As the investigation continues we seethe build-up to the day in question. There are cracks in her relationship and nothing is quite clearcut.
By the end we are told more of the story and this explains some of her behaviour while under interview. However, Layla as a character is hard to warm to and the device of the unreliable narrator makes it difficult to know what to trust or how to react to her.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this before publication.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #RavenBooks for the copy of #AllISaidWasTrue by #ImranMahmood.
I know I will be in the minority but I just didn’t get this book.
Couldn’t finish it as it just didn’t appeal to me.

When emergency services are called to a London office rooftop, they find Amy Blahn laying dead having been stabbed in the chest. Layla Mahoney held Amy as she died, & tells police that a mysterious man named Michael is the one who killed Amy. Evidence points towards Layla being involved & when the police can't find any evidence of Michael's existence, they arrest her. Was Layla telling the truth?

This was the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. It's a slow burn read so if you're looking for fast-paced, nonstop action, then this may not be the book for you. The narrative flips between Layla being interviewed under caution & the start of the all the problems several weeks before when Layla's life is saved by the mysterious Michael & she starts to think that her husband, Russell, is cheating on her. Layla is a difficult main character to like, she's quite cold, makes some strange decisions, & the reader begins to wonder just how truthful she's actually being. Does Michael even exist? I didn't feel the ending had enough 'oomph' to push this to a 5 star read, so I rate this one 4.5 stars (rounded down)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Bloomsbury Publishing PLC/Raven Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Didn’t like this one at all. Very confusing and very slow. Got quite a struggle to get through this one which is a shame as I was hoping for better. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Tough read, the story is a slow burn, with a lot of back and forward in time jumps. Layla was a highly unreliable character and the ending was not satisfying at all

Thankyou netgalley for allowing me to read this book in advance of publication for my opinion

Unfortunately the book wasn't for me. It wasn't written bad or anything like that, it's just my personal taste in books.

I wanted to give something different a try and it unfortunately didn't work. I think this book would be great if you like that kind of thing.

This is the first book i've read by Imran Mahmood. It was a very good read and had me hooked early on. However, I must be honest and say that the book lost my engagement at times. I think some details could have been condenced and for this reason I found myself -dare I say it slightly bored.

The plot of this book is complex and layered; it's quite a unique one and had some twists that made it a good read. It is written in a dual narrative; with short snappy chapters making the separation in time between "now" and "then" easy to follow.

Once we got through the main elements of this book, I found it way too slow paced for my liking. It was disjointed in some areas, and I found it difficult to fully get to grips with the characters and the overall story.

Layla is the main character and narrator. Layla is a lawyer who has been arrested for murder. The book takes you on a journey to find out who committed the murder, if, of course, it wasn't Layla herself. Layla comes across as unreliable in some aspects, and she acts rather irrationale, making it difficult to relate and made Layla's chracter confusing for me. Some things were too far-fetched with not enough backing. You develop a better understanding of her by the last few chapters when the story is being brought together, but by then, I'd lost interest.

I still enjoyed this read and would recommend it to others; but, for me, it just lacked that thrilling umph.

This was a new author to me but I will definitely be reading more. It tells the story of Layla being interrogated for murder and flashes back to the weeks leading up to it. She's a really relatable character and the author keeps you guessing about whether things are real or supernatural. The book has quite an eerie vibe, which I loved and its a total "one more chapter " book. Nice short chapters too.
I didn't see the ending coming at all- what a fantastic enjoyable read.