I’m a big fan of true crime - the podcasts, the books, the Netflix documentaries, all of it! Truly, Darkly, Deeply seemed to be very much up my street – focusing on Sophie whose father figure and childhood hero is in jail for being a serial killer. As soon as we start the book, the authors forward explains that she references several real serial killers to create a profile of The Shadow in her book, and it’s fun to find those little Easter eggs within the novel. It really gave the novel a rounded out and well-researched feel.

The narrative alternates between Sophie at 12 years old, when her mother met Matty, and Sophie in her early 30s who gets a letter from him wanting to meet her in prison. This is paced really well, and I never felt like I wanted to rush certain chapters to get back to a certain point in the story which sometimes happens using this technique. Sophie is easy to relate to, her story is dark, and you really empathise with her as she relives her childhood, trying to work out what was real and what wasn’t. The novel is also interspersed with snippets from newspapers, podcasts and blogs debating whether Matty is innocent or not which worked well to sow seeds of doubt in the reader’s mind as well.

At 11% of the way through this book I messaged my partner with my guess for the twist and unfortunately, I was proven completely correct! I don’t think this particularly hampered my enjoyment of the book however, it was fun to read the book with this idea in mind and I think I picked up on a few hints that I wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. The end reveal is very well done though, with no loose ends or plot-holes.

Overall if you are a true-crime fan Truly, Darkly, Deeply is a must-read. Thank you to NetGalley & Quercus Books for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Truly, Darkly, Deeply really gets into your head that anyone could live with a serial killer.

Sophie received a visiting order from Matty Melgren, her mother’s boyfriend who wan convicted of being The Shadow, a prolific serial killer in the early 80’s.

Not knowing whether she should visit or not, we revisit her childhood with him, the relationship between the three of them and the developments of the murders as they happen.

Throughout, Melgren has always protested his innocence, but now he’s on his deathbed, will Sophie learn the truth?

For fans of real crime, this novel was addictive, twisty and one I couldn’t put down.

Matty was everything a young girl wants in a stepfather, whilst being everything you fear.

A great novel with an unbelievable ending.

Sophie is an adult woman numbly going through life day by day, forever asking the same questions 'did her actions lock up an innocent man?'. Sophie's stepfather Matty Melgren has served over 20 years in jail following the brutal killings of women in North London, and it was ultimately Sophie's actions that led the police to Matty. But Matty was always the perfect father figure in Sophie's life, and he loved her and her mother. As Sophie finally arranges to see Matty in prison, the events from her childhood come back to haunt her.

This was an interesting take on a normal thriller/murder mystery - the story from the POV of a loved one connected to the serial killer but the question of Matty's innocence remains large throughout the novel and as a reader, it's fun to try and figure out if Matty is guilty.

I do think I expected a bit more from this book - it does feel like a lot of Matty's flaws and all the ways he could be a serial killer are so obvious, albeit we are getting the story from a woman who had decided he was guilty. But I never felt particularly surprised by anything that happened in this book or the direction the story took - and I would have loved a twist that wasn't extremely obvious the entire time.

Wow. Ok … it may be that the nights are creeping in, witching seasons on it’s way and Netflix Jeffrey dahmer series is giving me nightmares but this book has just added to my nightmares and I couldn’t be happier.

This story is a coming of age tale of a girl looking back on her life during the period of time she was being co-raised by a convicted murderer. The story had so much depth, darkness , fear and heartbreak I was hooked from the first page to the last.

Sophie is trying to come to terms with her and her mothers role in her stepfathers actions in a country she’s out of place in and the pain, fear and confusion were so eloquently portrayed Sophie became real for me, I felt I was being talked to by a friend and on more than one occasion I wanted to reassure her things would be ok or tell her to seek help.

This is a beautifully written fast paced thriller and I must admit the ending was a big surprise for me.
I would highly recommend this and i will be certainly reading more from this author

Shatteringly gripping and thrilling crime fiction that will leave you second guessing every character until the end.

When Sophie and her mother, Amelia Rose, settle in London from Massachusetts, Matty starts dating Amelia and becomes intertwined in both their lives.

Soon women start going missing and being found murdered. Sophie thinks they all bear a striking resemblance to her mother.

When Matty is imprisoned for the murders, both Sophie and Amelia are left with questions of his guilt. Were they too close to have known, did they see any signs?

Matty reaches out to Sophie after 20years of imprisonment asking to see her before he dies of cancer. Sophie needs closure but doesn't know if she'll get the answers she wants.

It’s been a long long time since I thought so much about a book when I wasn’t reading it. From the very start I was involved in the story and lived it throughout until the very end. I was completely immersed reading Sophie‘s childhood story and thought The story unfolded at a sympathetic and measured rate. I would be interested in reading more from this author.

This book had me on the edge of my seat until the very end, which can be difficult these days as many thriller novels seem to follow the same formula. Loved it, and would definitely recommend.

Full review will be posted soonish and I'll add links to blog as well.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Highly disturbing, tense and engaging story!

I found myself taking breaks while reading because it was really intense! Loved it.

I don’t think I’ve read a book from a perspective of the daughter of a serial killer before… it definitely made it super intriguing.

Sophie doesn’t know her father, she’s been living with her mum and grandparents in the US until one day her mother decides to move to the UK. The change wasn’t easy but their lives started to get better when Matty started a relationship with her mum. He became a father she never had. And all was well… until he’s been arrested for being a serial killer.

20 years later Sophie is still struggling, until this day she’s unsure if Matty is guilty because he’s been screaming his innocence from day 1.

The story takes us through years of suspense, deceive and lies. Happiness and doubt. The trial and the aftermath.

I’ve read all Victoria’s books and this one is the best one so far!

An original storyline which had you gripped from the start. Cleverly written with a massive twist at the end

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher & Victoria for the ARC.

A fast paced thriller, difficult to tear yourself away from. Well written and expertly crafted.

Thank you Quercus books and NetGalley for this eArc.

I am a complete novice to world of suspense thrillers. So let me say, if you are like me, this is gonna freak you out. That chilling in your core, one you feel in of your bone, when they feel like lead, thats the one.
that said I really enjoyed this, foretelling is a thing with this one, it builds up, you see it coming but it doesn't diminish a thing, just gives you more of that lead in your bones :D

That said I did occasionally feel confused by our main character and her motivation, but saying anything more might spoil it all. If you like serial killer books, then give this a chance!

Sophie is an only child. Born in Massachusetts, her dad walks out when she is young to the dismay of her religious grandparents. Starting a new life in England, Sophie and her mum settle into a new existence together and are delighted when Matty arrives in their lives: finally a father figure for Sophie to love…

Their developing family relationships and fallouts are set in the 80s at a time when a dangerous serial killer is claiming lives of young women who bare a striking resemblance to Sophie’s mum. Taunting the authorities, the killer is bold and relentless. We are told early on that Matty was convicted of the murders but is still protesting his innocence. Is there a chance he is telling the truth?

Told from the POV of Sophie 25 years later, Truly Darkly Deeply is a novel that keeps you engaged. Our narrator is clearly damaged from the events of the past and is seeking answers- but at what cost? I really enjoyed the narration and flashbacks that revealed exactly what happened and why Sophie is carrying guilt from her childhood.

A real page turner of a book and just when you think it’s all wrapping up nicely, there’s a sucker punch of a final twist to leave you gobsmacked!!

Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read and review this great novel.

A gripping serial killer story. Who doesn't love those? It's especially haunting since its written from the POV of a child. Imagine your stepdad is a serial killer. How do you live with that?

It is the early 1980's and a serial killer, The Shadow, is terrorising the streets of North London...a young girl has become a little obsessed with the crimes, and starts collecting newspaper articles, and information regarding The Shadow and his crimes. What devastation will be pieced together?...
A fascinating tale of of guilt and love, and what we see, and how we only see what we look for. A proper page Turner of a book.

I love a thriller with a twist. The ones where you think you’ve figured out what’s going to happen and it takes you down a rabbit hole instead. I think that was the intention with this book but it overreached. Initially Sophie mentions her guilt and it pulled me in. I came up with theories as straight forward as her having turned Matty in and as twisted as her having helped Matty. Then I started getting annoyed when she kept mentioning the guilt- it was repetitive and took away from the suspense. I didn’t see a couple of things that were revealed at the end, although it didn’t surprise me. It was bunched together and felt rushed. There was no savouring the ending. I started doubting whether she was even going to see Matty when I got through 85% of the book and it still hadn’t happened. Another point, Matty was pretty much a copy of Ted Bundy: ‘There was one of those straight-to-DVD movies made recently about his relationship with my mother. The producers got some stick for using such a handsome actor. It was all over Twitter; how they were playing up Matty’s golden good looks. How it was an affront to his victims.’ This is exactly what happened with Zac Efron when he played Ted Bundy. It was lazy to have the main character be an exact copy of a real life killer. The author could have done more research and come up with a more original character. All in all, I liked the story but it was sloppy.

An absolute masterpiece of a novel.

Sophie and her mom move from the US to the UK when she is eight. Her mother meets Matty and Sophie is over the moon to have another person in her life. Told through Sophie’s eyes growing up with Matty and her Mom and now in present day when she is going to meet him, the writing is something to luxuriate in.

Recommended to anyone that has ever read a book about serial killers and just wanted a bit … more.

Terrific.

Thank you Netgalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read and review this.

A gripping book told from the POV of Sophie that jumps between her childhood and her adult life.

A young Sophie and her mother move from Massachusetts to London her mother begins a relationship with Matty Melgrew. Matty seems like the perfect boyfriend and father figure, someone to whom Sophie becomes instantly attached to. It is during this family-orientated life that a string of murders occur and as the number of victims grows, Sophie can't help but notice that the dead women are of similar appearance to her mother Amelia-Rose.

In her adult life, Sophie is haunted by her childhood past, particularly her feelings of guilt. She is reluctant to visit her former father figure when he requests her visit in prison, who is now dying. Matty has always maintained his innocence. However she does ultimately visit him to not only close the door on the life she once shared with him, but to also learn the truth of what really happened, and ultimately gets more than she bargains for.

Reading this reminded me of Ted Bundy, which could've been the inspiration for this story?

A gripping tale and very much recommended.

An incredibly gripping book. I couldn't put this down, and when I did it was still in my head.
Told from the POV of a child , this gives the book an interesting take on a serial killer story.
With just a few characters in the book, you very quickly feel like you know them.
This is a fast paced, dark and very gripping read that i wont fast forget.
Highly recommend.


I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found this book gripping, and interesting but also depressing at the same time. It is a very dark read with twists and turns.