I have often wondered how writers of suspense, thriller, and/or mystery novels get their inspiration. Do they have vivid, violent dreams that keep them awake at night? Are they held hostage by the characters and stories that beg to come to life in their novels? In Gilly MacMillan’s new novel, To Tell You the Truth, the reader spends most of the book wondering if the main character, Lucy Harper, is capable of distinguishing between the fiction she writes and reality. She is such an unreliable narrator that the reader will constantly be second guessing whether or not she is truly a victim or is someone who is capable of cold blooded murder? How much is Lucy truly influenced by her imaginary friend, Eliza Gray, who is the main character in her bestselling novels? The writing is so clever with a story within a story stemming from the disappearance of Lucy’s brother, Teddy, when they were children. We learn about this story through flashbacks. It is obvious Lucy is still traumatized from her childhood, but is this because of the loss or because she knows more than she has shared? Eliza certainly wants her to stay quiet about some of the details from that night. One thing is certain, Lucy’s husband, Dan, is absolutely horrible, although the reader will have to wait to understand the true depth of his cruelty. By Chapter 14, I was ready to kill him because of the way he mocked her saying that her writing was trivial. “Thank God you’re not a literary writer..It’s not like you’ve got to tax your brain over big thematic stuff or language or anything. Right?” I hated the way she allowed him to manipulate her and try and reinvent himself while living off her royalties. I hated that he uprooted her from the place she loved to this big, empty mansion that taunted her because it was located near the scene of tragedy from her past. I hated many of her self-righteous new neighbors. But I really loved this book because the characters were so obviously flawed and the plot so perfectly twisted to keep you guessing on what really happened to both Dan and Teddy. There were so many beautifully written passages about the depth of deceptions and madness. “I understood that it wasn’t easy to see madness, to know whether someone was afflicted by it or not...sometimes madness was something that swam to the surface and showed itself...then sank back down and away until next time. Its potential lived in all of us.” I can’t wait to share this book with our book club. Our members may or may not be happy with both endings, but it will certainly contribute to rich discussion. Thank you to #netgalley for the chance to review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Book Club Girls and HarperCollins for this advanced reading copy.

This book is a very wild ride. Lucy has a traumatic childhood that has helped shape her adult life and her life as a crime fiction author. The main character of her books is her imaginary friend from childhood. This dual timeline follows Lucy in past and present. It is very hard to know who is sane and who is insane for a large portion of this book. Great twists and turns! Kept me guessing until the end for sure. Another great thriller from Gilly Macmillan

Received this ARC from Net Galley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review. Writer, Lucy, and her husband, Dan, move into a new home near where she lived and lost her younger brother as a child. Her husband goes missing as well. She struggles to figure out what happened to him and her little brother. This is definitely a creepy story that I didn’t figure out on my own. I recommend reading this book but not at night.

Overall this book is a twisty and suspenseful read. I gave it only 3 stars, however, because the ending seemed rushed with a plot twist that doesn’t make much sense, and there’s no true resolution to one of the major plot lines. I was left feeling disappointed and wanting more. The story has potential to be a great piece of psychological suspense, but it falls flat for me. Thanks to NetGalley for my advanced readers copy.

3.5 stars.

Page Turner for sure, as are all Gillian Macmillan books. Unique plot, diverse personalities in the cast of character...some you’ll like, some you’ll hate. An imaginary friend that grows up with the protagonist, creepy in itself. I enjoy books about writer’s and a look into their process, even though it’s fictional.

Lucy is a famous writer of crime drama, who just finished her latest book, with a different twist from what her editor and husband want, married to Dan. Dan suddenly disappears, and Lucy’s past and present collide. She’s learned to make up stories ever since her little brother goes missing and she’s the only one who was there. Unreliable, she’ll leave you scratching your head. I like my endings more neat and tidy, so this was disappointing for me, but, the story kept my interest and had me thinking about it long after I read the last page.

Thanks to Ms. MacMillan, Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

I have always enjoyed this authors books. She did not disapoint with this one. The twists and turns were tremendous and it was not easy to put the book down. I admit I enjoyed the plot about a writer and the back and forth from the current day to the past. The ending was also a surprise!

This was such a great nail biter! So interesting to think like a writer and imagine what it is like to live in a thriller world while writing mysteries. This let me guessing until the end and I enjoyed the suspense.

Love Gilly Macmillan books. She is the expert at unreliable narrator. This book has more twists and turns than a mountain road. I loved that I never knew who to trust or believe. The story is based on Lucy who is a talented crime writer. Her brother disappeared when she was a child and now her husband has disappeared. Are the two connected? Who is the fake husband online? So many questions.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy to review.

This book does a wonderful job of creating a frightening, oppressive atmosphere, with potential villains lurking around every corner. Who can you trust, and who can you not? This was a good quick read, with a satisfying ending.

I've had mixed results with Gilly Macmillan's previous thrillers—I loved I Know You Know and liked What She Knew, but wasn't as impressed with The Perfect Girl or The Nanny. To Tell You the Truth had me hooked from the very beginning, when we get a taste of a traumatic event in protagonist Lucy's past. The book then shifts quickly to Lucy's present with a controlling spouse, a jealous man who resents her success as an author and makes massive financial decisions (with her money) without her consent. Although I found the book enjoyable from beginning to end, I was concerned until the final quarter or so that this would be yet another in the endless parade of unreliable female narrator stories—you know, one of those thrillers in which the main character is an alcoholic or is dealing with some ill-defined mental illness. There are certainly moments when we have reasons to doubt Lucy—her memory, her stability, her choices—but Macmillan, thankfully, avoids that tired trope, instead crafting a compelling and ultimately competent protagonist. I appreciated that the ending wasn't too neat, though I suspect unanswered questions about Lucy's past and future may frustrate some readers.

"A spellbinding book about a missing child, and about the life of a writer. Bold, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. This one will stay with me for a long time." — Samantha Downing, #1 internationally bestselling author of My Lovely Wife

To tell you the truth . . . everybody lies.

This is a story that will stick with you for a while. You are going to wonder, "what happened to Teddy?" Is he out there somewhere? Is he happy? Safe? Alive? Who did what and why?

Lucy was only a child when her baby brother went missing. She was a nine year old, curious, inquisitive, little girl. Did she know what happened all those years ago or did she honestly not remember? You'll get to know her as a grown woman and a young girl. You can decide if you believe her or if you think she has something to hide.

Then there's Dan. I sure disliked Dan. He was a bully. A jerk. A game playing husband who was not nice to Lucy at all. He seemed to only care about what he wanted and getting what he wanted no matter what. He seemed to have a dark side going on too. What was he hiding from Lucy?

Both Lucy and Dan wanted to be writers, but it was Lucy that became the best selling author of a series of mystery books. Her main character was Eliza. Eliza was her childhood invisible friend who know all of Lucy's secrets. All of them. She knew exactly what happened the night Teddy went missing. She knew everything Lucy did and every thought Lucy had. She was a well loved character in Lucy's books. A top notch detective. Everyone who read Lucy's books loved her.

When Dan bought the house that was close to Lucy's childhood things seemed to change for them. They drifted. He became secretive. Confrontational. He was a very hateful man. He had some deep secrets he was keeping from Lucy. Was there someone else? Did he know about things that would harm Lucy? Who exactly was Dan? He left one night after they had a fight and just seemed to disappear. What happened to him?

You will find out almost everything in this story. It's an edge of your seat thriller that will keep you turning the pages until the very end. I loved it but was a bit disappointed in one thing. What happened to Teddy? Will we ever know for sure? This book is really one of those that keeps you guessing. Keeps you wanting more. It's told in a way that you won't figure out who did what until the author wants you to know. It was well written for sure. A top notch story.

Told from two time frames. When Lucy was nine years old and as a young woman. You'll get to know the child Lucy and the grown Lucy. She's a very well liked person at both stages of life. You will feel bad for her in both time frames too. I'm afraid I did find her to be a bit too trusting. But it's also one of the things you will like about her. There are three sets of neighbors that you will get to know also. Can you trust them and if not which are ones you can trust? What do they contribute to this story. A lot actually. A whole lot.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #GillyMacmillan, #HarperCollinsPublishers for this ARC. This is my own thoughts about this book.

5/5 stars and a high recommendation to you all. Enjoy!

Macmillan writes great characters and atmosphere and I loved that she gives us an unreliable narrator in Lucy but I wanted to know more about her motivations. Overall, To Tell the Truth is twisty and suspenseful but the ending wasn't satisfying and left me wondering about a lot of loose ends. 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins/William Morrow and the author for an advanced copy to review.

This book was terrific. Suspenseful and you didn't know what was going on. It went in directions I didn't expect. I wouldn't say the ending was completely satisfying but it was an enjoyable thriller.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

Ever since reading Gilly Macmillan's debut novel, What She Knew, back in 2015, I knew this was an author I was going to follow and read everything she wrote...and so far she has not let me down! I love that she has her books with familiar characters - DI Jim Clemo - and then she has her stand-alones, and each and every one stands out as having just enough twists and turns to keep you engaged without going over the top and they are also brilliantly crafted, and this latest one is no exception!

I am always such a fan of the whole book-within-a-book concept and it is done so well here. I also loved how layered this story really was. It alternates between the past around the time Lucy's younger brother goes missing and the present to the days leading up to and after the disappearance of Lucy's husband. It really keeps you guessing as to if and how these two story-lines might be connected.

I loved that there were so many questionable characters involved, including Lucy herself. I am always such a fan of the unreliable narrator and that is Lucy in spades. Who as an adult still has an imaginary friend? But on top of that, Dan, Lucy's husband is a frustrated writer and things have been a bit contentious at home lately. When he goes missing, of course, all eyes turn to Lucy. Did she do it?

The twists and turns kept me flipping the pages and I could not keep up. On top of everything else, there are the woods nearby that just add to the overall suspense and set the atmosphere for this book. I loved this one and found myself completely engaged and trying to put the pieces together to no avail. Gilly Macmillan is definitely in top form with this one and I cannot wait to see what comes next from her!

Stories about mystery writers ho are possibly cirminals themselves alway make for good reading.

This story gives us two mysteries to try and resolve. Both are centered about Lucy Harper. Here are some of the questions that plagued me as I read:

1. Why did Dan move Lucy to this house?
2. Who exactly is Eliza GRay? Is she just a character in Lucy Harper's books? Is she Lucy's imaginary friend? Is she a second personality in Lucy's phyche?
3. What happend during the summer solstice to Teddy?
4. Where is Dan?
5. Is Lucy responsible for both Teddy and Dan's disappearances?
6. Is someone using Lucy's books against her?

The author does a great job spacing the answers to key questions throughout the book. She does not give away the story too early on. This was an enjoyable quick read.

Thank you William Morrow, NetGalley, and Book Club Girl for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Lucy Harper who is always haunted by her past and her imaginary friend, is a renowned author of bestselling thrillers.
As a celebration on the completion of her latest novel, Lucy and her husband, Dan, moved into a more upscale residence, where Dan has mysteriously disappeared shortly after.
Gilly Macmillan’s TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH is a gripping thriller entwined with unexpected twists and turns. The suspense of Lucy’s dark secrets is captivating until the end where the truth is revealed.
I would like to thank William Morrow and NetGalley for this thrilling eARC!
#ToTellYouTheTruth
#NetGalley

Lucy Harper is an accomplished author whose bestselling books are based on her imaginary friend from childhood, Eliza Grey. Even as an adult, Lucy still sees and converses with Eliza. When Lucy's husband, Dan, suddenly goes missing, the police immediately eye Lucy as having a hand in his disappearance. This isn't the first time someone close to Lucy had mysteriously disappeared. Lucy's brother, Teddy, went missing when they were young children. Teddy was never found and people, including the police, suspected Lucy as being responsible. With Eliza appearing in and out of her life, it seems as though the lines between reality and fantasy are blurred. What's more, Lucy is finding that her husband isn't exactly who he seemed to be. Could Lucy/Eliza have had something to do with Dan going missing? Or is there someone else who would want to harm Dan?

This was the first time I've read this author and I'm looking forward to reading more from her. To Tell You the Truth had twists and turns that I didn't see coming. There was one unresolved situation that was not cleared up and I was a bit disappointed in that, but I can see why the author went that way with the story. This was definitely a great read - nice short chapters and a story that keeps you guessing!

I have such a love/hate relationship with unreliable narrators. I really enjoyed how Macmillan crafted the main character as an unreliable main character - it was noticeable in the beginning and justified by past trauma and current manipulation and confusion. I enjoyed that it played into the plot of the book, and who the character was and is. It created tense conflict throughout the story and trying to untangle the lies and confusion made for a more suspenseful read. I was a little let down by the overarching plot, but so impressed with how much I was absorbed into this because of the writing and the feelings I had when reading it.

To Tell You the Truth this was one crazy read. An unreliable narrator keeps the reader on their toes trying to determine who is the real narrator. Lucy is an author. She writes crime books with a profoundly popular heroine named Eliza. But Lucy is tired of Eliza being in her life and wants to write her out of it. But there are many problems associated with cutting Eliza out. Her publishers don't want it, her husband has already spent the money on the next Eliza book, and the fans won't hear of it and Eliza doesn't want to go. She's been with Lucy since the disappearance of Lucy's little brother, Teddy, when Lucy was 9 years old. Past and present converge with yet another disappearance, police disbelief in Lucy's explanations, trails of evidence and creepy neighbors all seem to point to Lucy as the guilty one. Lucy finds no one to trust, including herself but is determined to find out what happened to Teddy all those years ago.
Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy for review. Opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story. Lots of twists and turns. Good escapism although quite commercialized.. A solid 4 stars.