A Version Of the truth is one of those books that is very hard to put down .It is told between two people ,Holly and Julianne and two timelines .Both girls were in Oxford in the 1990's and knew the same group of friends .What happened then comes back to haunt Julianne and she finally realises what her husband is really is and the knowledge turns her comfy world upside down .The story is gripping ,dark and full of secrets and cover ups in high places.Excellent read .Many thanks to The Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my preview copy in return for an honest review .

At times this book had everything - except humour, and no other tricky 'non pc' subject was left alone! However, the characters were brilliantly portrayed and the dramatic scenes were well described, in fact I felt a little uncomfortable.

The story is basically a group of Oxford students growing up, and then the story ends with most of the same group 25 years later. The pre Christmas dinner party is the highlight (or some might say the lowlight) of the book and the dialogue is 'ripe' and totally believable. Ernest gives politicians a bad name during this party, and I warmed to Julianne with all the sadness and brutality coming to the fore.

The book chapters switch from student times to the present time effortlessly, and I enjoyed the whole reading experience. I wanted to hear more of Holly as this was a character that could have added a little more.

I found this one to be a bit hard hitting and slow to begin with but then the tension grows and grows before it just explodes across the pages. I found it difficult to get into but don't give up on it coz it is quite explosive and when it does I thought it was really going to stretch out so dramatically but it came to a sudden end I thought. Maybe this could have gone into another book to explain how things were tied up. How they caught the group who were damaging people (I went say too much as I may give the plot away) but I thought there could have been more to the storyline

If I were to describe this book using only one word I would use tragic. A Version of the Truth is a haunting tale of deception and power. It is told in two different timeframes ~1990 and 2019. I was excited to read a storyline with mature characters. Julianne and James in 2019 are well into their 40’s. The storyline to start is very similar to Anatomy of a Scandal, a book I quite enjoyed. This however took things much farther and I found the climax to be overdone.

While I initially enjoyed the early days at Oxford I found myself not understanding Holly’s choices. I wanted to root for her but didn’t get there until the very end. I found Ally and Ernest to both be deplorable humans. I did like Rupert and wished for more of him in the story. James at Oxford was a toss up. At times I warmed up to him and could see the connection but other times it was obvious he cared about only one person ~ himself.

The writing is solid and the plot had the potential for me to really enjoy it but, and this is a big but, it fell short for me when everyone came back together at the house. I wanted to understand James’ motivation. I longed for more of the relationship between Julianne and James. I wanted to believe and understand. The build up was immense but the conflict felt forced.

While A Version of the Truth wasn’t entirely what I was hoping for I will look for more from this author in the future.

3.5

I had read mixed reviews about this and can understand how some people would find it unpalatable to read with some of the dark themes of the book but that is what made it interesting to me. I enjoyed the two different timelines between Julianne in the present day and Holly in the past and this kept the plot intriguing. It took me a while to work out what the files were all about but I think that’s coz I’ve got a newborn and I’m sleep deprived LOL. I always really enjoy reading books that are based in Oxford Uni with the upper class as I find that lifestyle intriguing. All in all a thoroughly engaging read and will definitely read more from this author. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and HarperCollins for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The plot is structured across two time-frames, 1990 and 2019, and from two viewpoints; that of Holly who is in her first year at Oxford in 1990 and Julieanne in present day. Throughout the book we are drip-fed the action between the two time frames and the two characters.

Holly is a lonely, introspective girl with little or no social skills and what appears to be a less than supportive family. Her success at gaining entry to Oxford offers her an opportunity to form new relationships and blossom. However, the friendships she forms from the outset are not ideal and are far from inclusive. Within this group we meet James and then Julieanne his girlfriend. They later go on to marry and have one son. When we first meet Julieanne she is preparing for Christmas when her son shows her some disturbing data found on their i-pad.

This book is not for the faint-hearted as it covers strong, disturbing subjects, including racism, rape, abuse and homophobia wrapped in a web of elitism and evil. Although quite graphic, I think the way it was handled was well-thought through, the drip-feed of information left me feeling a creeping sense of unease as well as a fast developing loathing of the characters, coupled with a stunned realisation of just how bad people can be. There were no redeeming features for any character with the exception of Julieanne’s son, whose life had been peopled with these loathsome people.

I did enjoy this book and would recommend it but beware, if you are like my friend Mary (Agatha Christie is about her limit on thrillers) do not even chance it. For those of you with a stronger stomach, I am sure you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

Wow! Excellent psychological thriller. When Julianne finds potentially devastating information on her sons iPad her entire life is turned upside down. As Julianne finds out that the man she married and thought she knew is a totally different person, she must tread lightly to keep her son and herself safe. The story moves seamlessly between college and the present as Julianne learns the horrible truth about her husband and his close group of friends. Material is sometimes hard to get through as it deals with human trafficking and assault. Riveting, taught, suspenseful thriller.

After reading this book I am not sure if I really enjoyed it. Saying that I was gripped and could not put this book down. Be warned this book is very graphic in places and OMG so very dark. The story spans twenty-five years and dips into the past when the event actually happened. This book is full of twists and turns and did I mention so very vert dark.
Something is brought to light on the internet which they thought would never see the light of day again. Now a group of old friends are forced to answer some very uncomfortable questions. I could not find one character in this group that was likeable. I do not want to give too much away but I will say what does consent actually mean ?
I devoured this book and would like to read more from this author. Personally I think that this book is like marmite either you love or hate it. I like marmite say no more.

"The fear, which had helped me continue to fight back, steadily became like an anaesthestic."

When I heard that this book is in the vein of Anatomy of A Scandal, no matter how much nostalgia I get when thinking of that novel, I was completely determined to read A Version of The Truth.

However, I was SO astounded by the vicious scenes - featuring heartless characters - that were used to portray sexual abuse in this book.

There were also so many other highlights in this read, such as:
* A voyeurism scene that rendered me just as breathless as the character narrating it.
* A heated dinner gathering where revelations are made and the ugliness of the past is finally divulged.

And let me mention that, if you're a fan of deeply unlikable characters, THIS. IS. FOR. YOU.

These guys gave me such a combination of unsettling emotions: I felt anger, horror, unease...

The author gives us this image of our main married couple with their son, which seems like a perfect sight of love and stability. But then we're met with these awful hidden truths from the past of some of the characters, Could those truths be possibly revealed?

We know from the beginning that the husband had done something very wrong, and it's just impressively shocking how, whenever we get to the wife Julianne's perspective, we always see her on edge and filled with unease, in order to emphasize how she, herself, falls into the victim category of this entire ordeal.

I think A Version of The Truth was the author's way of saying, "This novel is about a seemingly perfect marriage, but let's take a break from the domestic suspense aspect, because now I want you to see what is actually happening in the world, the awfulness of what happens to some people of a certain age, and what the aftermath could be."

So I understood how this read was less of a suspense novel and more of a shock-after-shock work of fiction that is unsettling, and yet very thought-provoking.

***Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books UK and B. P. Palmer for providing me with an e-ARC of A Version of The Truth in exchange for an honest review***

Not exactly the storyline I was expecting. Very harrowing to read in parts. Unlikeable characters. That said the novel had a way of drawing you in. The ending was quite abrupt. Just an average read not exceptional in any way. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

*3.5 Stars*

I suppose I was expecting this to be more of a psychological thriller, but it definitely wasn’t that. What I did find was a novel full of hypocritical, elitist characters who represent the most vile and narcissistic excuses for mankind that it’s possible to come across.

Julianne is preparing dinner when her son Stephen tells her that he’s found something really bad on the home computer among his dad’s files. What follows, when Julianne sees exactly what Stephen has discovered, is an unraveling of a marriage, an end to family life as she knows it, and an encounter with a dark and deviant underworld that’s truly shocking.

The narrative is told in dual timelines and flows effortlessly between 1991 and 2019. Julianne’s story is told alongside Holly’s who was a fellow student at Oxford University. Though they weren’t particularly good friends, they do share a secret - one that both of them would prefer to leave permanently in the past.

It’s really difficult to review this one, it’s a very dark and disturbing storyline, with graphic descriptions of gang rape, and some homophobic and racist undertones which I found unsettling, however, I have to be fair to the author, and give credit where it’s due, because though the subject matter is repulsive, he’s actually produced an addictive read, compelling the reader ever onwards in order to discover exactly what Julianne and Holly will do with the secrets of the past and also the present, and in that respect it did have me gripped - I guess I was hoping to see someone pay for their despicable acts, but I won’t reveal the outcome!

Spoilers within
A short way into this novel, I became convinced I had already read it, such were the similarities between it and what turned out to be - with a little help from Google- Sarah Vaughn's 'Anatomy of a Scandal'. Both stories are told via flashbacks from a working class girl named Holly who goes to Oxford University and has her head turned by arrogant, privileged upper class rapist whereupon Holly drops out of college, pregnant and devotes her life thereafter to justice. It transpired that this was indeed a different book but were I Ms Vaughn, I might be a tad miffed!
This is a grim read and anyone likely to be triggered by sexual violence should avoid like the plague as it's dark with almost no relief at all from increasingly twisted sexual exploitation scenes and very few foils to a set of bleakly compromised characters. I finished it. I don't think it was badly written. I didn't enjoy it and felt somewhat grimy afterwards.

Really frustrating, the precis sounded good but nothing really happened - it was all set up. We met the characters, followed the thread, had a reveal of sorts but there was no real connection, no sense of tension. I felt sorry for the "victims" for their choice in men, but we never met the real victims and there was a disconnected feel to the crimes.
There was so much potential for a thrilling read, unfortunately it wasn't.

Though it's still early into 2019, I can safely say that A Version of the Truth is by far the worst book I've read this year. It shocked me NOT AT ALL to see that BP Walter is a white man, as no other author I can think of would write such awful characters. I hated every one of them, save for Stephen.

Graphic descriptions of sex and rape, homophobic undertones, powerful men and their wives who just go along with their bad behavior, this book has all those. I would highly recommend skipping this one.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I am sorry this was not the type of book I was expecting. If I had known what it was about I would not have requested it.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A Version of the Truth by B P Walter is a tough book to write a review for without giving too much away. This book will not be for everyone as it deals with some very dark and confronting issues. There are some very graphic scenes that I found hard to read. Still having mixed feeling about it all now - lets just say that it was not what I was expecting when I started this book.

The story is told in 2 storylines - that of Julianne in 2019 who is getting ready for Christmas when her son shows her something on the families dropbox that changes everything that she thought she knew about her husband. Then we learn about Holly in 1990. It is her first year at Oxford University and she is a bit of an outsider, until she becomes friends with a group of people who are very different to her. What happens in Oxford will change her life forever.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

A Version if The Truth was not exactly the psychological thriller I was hoping it would be, but it was a page turner. I just did not gravitate toward any of the characters and felt like elements of it were off putting rather than thrilling. However, it is a shocking read that has some twisty elements that many readers will love. If you enjoy books with imperfect characters, eye opening scenes, and shocking storylines then you will like this one.

This book was not at all what I expected, there was a lot of graphic sex, sexual violence and the characters were vile and obnoxious. It was not for me at all I didn't enjoy it in the slightest.

This book deals with very graphic sexual abuse content - I wasn't expecting that when I started reading it. I do think that the story could have been told without being quite as graphic. It was a compelling read, something drew me in and kept me reading. I enjoyed the flashbacks to tell the earlier story, but found that I didn't particularly like any of the characters. I was expecting the story to continue longer than it did, the ending felt quite sudden, despite the epilogue. I don't think I can describe the story as enjoyable due to the subject matter, but it was compelling.

Not sure, how I feel about this book. It wasnt what I was expecting yet I was gripped.

It is rather graphic in places and it was VERY dark.

I love books that hop back in time and to present day, you can piece the story together as you read and the ending was great!

The characters where hard to like too which makes it difficult. I suppose the only likeable character is Stephen.

Anyway a good book, but very very dark.