The simple truth is that I was completely invested in Jake and Raven's lives from the very start. The plot is well crafted - it has plenty of pacy twists and turns ( one of which I did not see coming at all ) yet remains (just) the right side of plausible.

The prose is spare and authentically written - I heard rather than read the dry humour on the page . Jake is obviously a flawed protagonist - he is , after all , a criminal - yet Ellis has succeeded in creating a very relatable and emotionally complex character. Jake's struggle to do the right thing- or at the very least do right by those he cares about - comes through loud and clear.

Anyone that knows me will know I am an incorrigible straight-and-narrow rule-follower - about as far away from the characters this book is about as it is possible to be - yet I was rooting for Jake and Raven to make it through.

I can't wait to see what comes next.

Jake is a great protagonist and drawn as a believable, well-rounded character. Flawed, to be sure, but that is what makes No Simple Truth so compelling. You wonder what had happened in his life before we meet him, to make him the way he is. Echoes of Nick Belsey in the Oliver Harris books (which I also love). The writing style has some wonderful, dry moments, almost reminiscent of Chandler.
The story itself moves at pace, with enough danger for Jake and plenty of scams and tricks to keep us engaged. It is an intricate, clever plot, but I never felt lost or unconvinced. Jake is always fighting fires, but extinguishing one seems to be the spark for the next, so he can never relax, and nor can the reader. It feels like everyone is conning someone, and the plot twists keep on coming. By the end, we’re as exhausted as Jake, but only because we have to keep turning the pages to see if he’s going to get away with it all.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½

I genuinely felt like I was watching a movie while reading this book. It was wildly entertaining, comical, and packed with enough twists to keep me guessing.

The book started at a steady pace, but as the chapters progressed, I found myself completely hooked and unable to put it down. Jake was such a great protagonist and, despite knowing that he’s a criminal, I couldn’t stop rooting for him. His character was incredibly well written, and I absolutely adored Jake and Raven as a pair.

The plot was very well done, with shifting loyalties, dodgy deals, unexpected twists, and plenty of moments that kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I also really enjoyed Ellis Crane’s writing style. It made the story feel incredibly visual and fast-paced—I could genuinely picture it playing out like a movie in my head.

Overall, this was a thoroughly entertaining read, and I really enjoyed it. Definitely a book I’d recommend to anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced crime story with plenty of twists and personality.

No Simple Truth by Ellis Crane was a fun, twisty crime thriller that kept me guessing. From the beginning, I was pulled into Jake’s world of scams, secrets, questionable loyalties, and people who always seemed to have another angle.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this book. It has that gritty, slightly dark feel that works so well for a crime story, and I appreciated the touches of sly humor woven throughout the tension. The story moves at a good pace, and there were enough twists and shifting alliances to keep me wondering who could actually be trusted.

Jake was an especially interesting character because he’s trying to leave his old life behind, but the past has a way of catching up with you. Watching him navigate his attempts at starting over while dealing with the consequences of his previous choices made for an entertaining read.

I also liked that the story isn’t simply about figuring out what happened—it’s about figuring out who is telling the truth and what everyone is willing to do to protect themselves.

Overall, No Simple Truth is a clever, fast-paced crime thriller with plenty of deception, danger, and morally gray characters. A solid choice for readers who enjoy con artists, complicated characters, and stories where nothing is quite as simple as it first appears.

Thank you to NetGalley and BeRead Ltd for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Whoa this one definitely had me second guessing myself the entire book and I just could not put it down and I had to see how it was going to end! This was my very first book by Ellis Crane and I would love to read more!