Review: All The Hidden Truths

All the Hidden Truths by Claire Askew
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Length: 384 pages
Publication Date: 9 August 2018
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Source: ARC via NetGalley
 
Stars:  4 out of 5
 
Link: AMAZON (UK)
 
ABOUT ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS:
 
This is a fact: Ryan Summers walked into Three Rivers College and killed thirteen women, then himself.
 
But no one can say why.
 
The question is one that cries out to be answered - by Ryan's mother, Moira; by Ishbel, the mother of Abigail, the first victim; and by DI Helen Birch, put in charge of the case on her first day at her new job. But as the tabloids and the media swarm, as the families' secrets come out, as the world searches for someone to blame... the truth seems to vanish.
 
A stunningly moving novel from an exciting new voice in crime, ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS will cause you to question your assumptions about the people you love, and reconsider how the world reacts to tragedy.

My Review:

Another brilliant debut!

I found the book a little difficult to get into but by the third chapter or so, I was well and truly in the story. It is told from three perspectives: Ryan's mother, Moira; Ishbel, the mother of Abigail, the first victim; and DI Helen Birch. The subject matter is hard, dark, and thought provoking, as is how the media and social media respond to such a catastrophe. I really enjoyed the conflicting narration, and felt for all the characters in the hopeless and heartbraking situation. Not to mention the finale is devastating.
 
I hope this is the first installment of a DI Birch series.
 
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
 
Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review.