The Book:
Only Truth by Julie Cameron
Published October 13th 2020 by Scarlet
Date read: May 9, 2021
The Characters:
Isabel
Tom
Buy it on Bookshop.org | Amazon
The Plot (from Goodreads):
A successful artist with a doting husband, Isabel Dryland knows she should be grateful for her happy life. It’s a complete reversal from the one she led before, when normalcy seemed out of reach, after a violent assault she cannot remember left her shattered and scarred. Even though the memory was lost, the nagging feeling that she was damaged goods and the lingering effects of her injuries kept her questioning her sanity at times.
Tom, her husband, thinks a move will be the fresh start they need, and has even found the perfect house: a country estate that reminds him of one he admired in his youth. But all Isabel feels when she visits is an overwhelming sense of dread. Betrayed by her instincts so often before, she decides to trust Tom’s, to accept the move and learn to love their new home over time.
Instead, she learns that beneath the pretty façade of their new home lurk dark secrets powerful enough to bring her own trauma back to the fore. There is an uncanny familiarity about the place, as if it were infected by the experiences she hoped to escape. And the recurring presence of a mysterious stranger further disturbs her, giving her the sensation of being a predator’s stalked prey.
Isabel struggles to determine whether her fear is caused by memory alone, or by threats existing very much in the present. To find out, she’ll have to finally close the book on what occurred so many years ago—but how do you heal from a past you cannot recall, when only the truth about your past can set you free?
The Twist:
Daniel did it, Tom just sucked. IDK I read this forever ago.
The Review:
Thank you to the publisher for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book back in May as a buddy read with my sisters! I failed to write a review at the time, but we chatted about this one over text so at least I have a record of our conversation to guide me as I jot down some thoughts now.
The title is inspired by a quote from Voltaire: “To death we owe only truth”.
The book alternates betweens Isabel’s present-day POV and the perspective of her stalker, whose chapters start in 1994. I loved this dual POV, and was immediately searching the stalker’s chapters for hints as to who he matched up with in Isabel’s life. The stalker’s chapters are pretty graphic. I enjoy disturbing inner workings like this, but it may be triggering for some readers.
I’m a sucker for a home renovation setting, so I found the chapters about Isabel’s daily life enjoyable. If you’re a reader who requires constant action, some of these chapters may seem to drag a little. When the culprit is revealed, though, you’ll definitely find yourself going back for clues.
I loved Izzy’s character. Despite her TBI, she has fought to recover and create an amazing life for herself. Talk about resilient! Her husband Tom kind of sucked, forcing her to move out of London where she was comfortable and dismissing her concerns about her new house.
My review might be a little disjointed since I read this book so long ago, but I know I really enjoyed it. My texts with my sisters are pretty funny, since we sent our suspicions to each other throughout. If you’re a thriller lover, I’d definitely pick this one up!
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