4.5 stars - there are some upsetting themes throughout the whole book.

Despite some dark recurring themes, this one goes in the unputdownable category for me. In her impressive debut, Anna Bailey had me on the edge of my seat, continuously lying to myself saying I'd read "just one more chapter." With an entire host of unlikeable characters and too many twists to count, I couldn't walk away until I knew what happened to Abigail.

Thank you to Anna Bailey, NetGalley, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of Where the Truth Lies in exchange for my honest review!

In a small Colorado town, a teenager is missing and presumed dead after a gunshot is heard during a wild party in the woods. As her friends and family await news, their personal struggles reveal the many possible motives for the teen's disappearance.

This book was an absolute page-turner. The many twists and turns and heart-breaking family situations were so well-developed and teased out. Anna Bailey knows exactly how to keep a mystery alive without it feeling forced. The many voices of the different characters could have been muddied but were so distinct and well-drawn.

Highly recommended to adult and YA audiences. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc to review.

Ugh! This despicable book made me angry. There is only one or two characters in this book that are likable and sometimes they even push it.

This is not a bad review because the book was actually written well and kept me hanging on to find out what would happen next. I do recommend this book but want you to be prepared for what you’re getting yourself into. There are a TON of triggers if you’re easily triggered. Thankfully, I am not.

This story is written as if it was taking place in the 80s but everyone has cellphones. I think it was just a fictional small town in Colorado that was very near cult level.

Be prepared to want to throw this book, put it down, pick it up again, and gasp in horror at the monstrosities the town folk are. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’m just going to say - I’m glad my small town wasn’t that bad.

Where the Truth Lies is a valiant attempt for a first novel and Anna Bailey can only improve with further novels. The first few chapters are laden with heavy handed innuendo and foreboding which is repetitious and tedious.

The main plot line of a missing girl is intriguing but almost none of the characters we're given are likeable in the least. This town is a sewer with few redeeming people.

The ending, for the missing girl, seems hopeful, but ambiguous. Although not a great read, it does show the writer has promise and potential.

Thanks for the ARC.

Where the Truth Lies by Anna Bailey

9781982157166

384 Pages
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: August 3, 2021


Fiction, Teen & Young Adult, Missing Person

Emma and Abi are best friends. One night at a party, Abi tells Emma to go home, and she will see her later. That is the last time Emma sees her friend. Abi’s father, Samuel is a violent man. He beats his wife and two sons, but Abi is left unharmed.

Emma is racked with guilt thinking if she had stayed, Abi would still be with them. She is on a quest to find out what happened and who is responsible for Abi’s disappearance. The book is written in third person point of view and the story is well paced. The characters are developed and grow as the story continues. It was a fast read for me and I enjoyed the intrigue. I enjoyed this author’s writing style and will look for more books written by her.

Where The Truth Lies was a five star read for me. I enjoyed the suspense throughout the book. The scenes of domestic and child abuse were hard to read, as always, but it made me want to fight for the characters. There was also a strong religious side to the townspeople, and being non religious myself, I could not fathom their mindset. The ending of the book was great, and just as I hoped it would be. Overall, a great book that I'd highly recommend to others.

This one is a hard review because the whole book was depressing. Nothing about this story is good. Racism, homophobia, abuse.....nonstop. This backwater town was not up to today’s standards. A missing girl and the only one that seems to care is her best friend, Emma. Probably the only good person in this entire book. None of the characters did anything to stop the violence within in this town, only perpetuated the awful acts. Everyone had secrets, everyone did something awful, & I did not like a single one of them. The book is well written. I mean I did keep reading it but I did not enjoy my time while doing so.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The writing is really good, descriptive and atmospheric. There were a lot of characters with individual stories that relevant to the Main plot, this was a sad read, interesting and with a good amount of twists at the end. Coming of age in a way. Good read. Emotional book with compeling characters

Terrific read so well written I hated to put it down,This is so good the characters come alive the story drew me in.Will be recommending.#netgalley #atriaboojs

Amazing book! I found it entirely enthralling, the haunting undertone really has an impact. This is not your standard whodunnit or what happened, although of course all that gets answered, but is more an insightful and intelligent snapshot of life in one place, where an eclectic and close knit community holds its secrets close.

Good book. I liked the different perspectives that were used to unfold the story. The characters were believable. The plot kept me intrigued.

This book was super good. The premise was so different than anything I've read in the past. I couldn't stop reading!

Intense, dark, claustrophobic atmosphere of town chokeholds you! Those multiple well described, deeply embellished characters slowly move under your skin and grasp your soul, haunt you down!

Original title of the book is Tall Bones and now it’s gonna be releasing with a new name: “Where the truth lies” which is more convenient name for the story.

This book is true definition of depression and bleakness! A haunted, soul crushing, sad thriller story of a town’s missing souls who are trapped in web of lies. The prejudiced characters already believe in their own lies and the hypocrisy of church rule the entire town! Welcome to the Whistling Ridge: a town with full of secrets: the same place Abigail Blake walked to the woods to meet with someone and vanished into thin air.

Her best friend, 17 years old Emma Alvarez cannot forgive herself not insist more to drive her to the home. She couldn’t identify the dark figure waiting for Abigail that ominous night she’s gotten missing.

Emma is insistent not to let go of her friend! She is adamant to dig deeper to find more clues. Her investigation brings out more ugly truths of the town including Jude Blake’s dirty secret.

We’re introduced to multiple characters who are detailedly described are vivid elements of the town, starting from Rat who is living at trailer park to Noah who is working at the diner, vindictive Pastor Lewis who brainwashes town’s people’s confused minds, Samuel Blake who is Vietnam veteran, religious man, ruining the lives of his family members with his controlling manners and bottled up hatred!

They are like pieces of very big puzzle! Reading about all those vivid characters is quite fascinating but also compelling experience that tires you a lot. And sometimes you feel like this whodunnit story loses its direction, wavering a lot and changing its main focus!

But overall this was well built, thought provoking, high tension thriller with memorable characters ( I’m still thinking it will be well wrapped up with less characters but the developments and back stories of them are well built as well! )

I’m giving my 4 sinister, heart wrenching, provocative, sad, small town stars!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

I devoured this book -it was such an atmospheric thriller. Set in a small southern town A local girl Who goes missing after being at a party all night!
Emma wants to.know what happened to her friend Abigail.
The story revolves around the small town!
This book started off a little slow for my liking but a chapters in I was getting into this book and quickly!
The characters were do well written neck this whole book was amazing!
The story telling. The plot. The characters. The twist!
Absolutely enjoyed thus book and I'm looking forward to more of Bailey's work!

So... I had a hard time getting into this one. The story jumped around a lot and a bunch of characters were introduced quickly and without relation to the others. Once I got into it though, I couldn't put it down.

The reason I give this 4 stars instead of 5...
I'm pretty sure the author googled "terrible small town stereotypes" and felt like she needed to use all if them in one story. And then to add in her bio that her short stay in small town America inspired this novel is insulting to anyone that lives in these towns.

Amazing thriller the draws together several wonderful characters. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book: I highly recommend it.