Ooh, now I do like a good psychological crime thriller, and that’s exactly what we have here in Victoria Selman’s excellent Truly, Darkly, Deeply. I’ve read one of her books before, Snakes and Ladders and enjoyed it a lot. This, a standalone, was one that I jumped at the chance to read.

A letter to Sophie from Battlemouth Prison from convicted multiple murderer Matty Melgren reawakens old wounds from some twenty years previous, when Sophie and her mother moved to London from the US. Matty moved into their lives as a serial killer started stalking the streets of North London.

Told from the point of view of Sophie now and Sophie before, it’s a fascinating glimpse into fractured family dynamics and the possibilities of innocence and guilt. Matty, seemingly a devoted father-figure to Sophie, could he really be the killer who roamed the streets near their home? And why do all the victims look like Sophie’s mum?

Selman’s writing is engaging and the various strands of the plot are well-constructed. I had my suspicions of what might be going on, but was delighted to see the ending wasn’t quite as I thought. Selman loves to drip-feed us with morsels of information as the story progresses, and I found myself wandering down the wrong path once or twice!

I enjoyed this book a lot. Recommended.

An interesting story about truth, obsession, guilt and honesty. Was Matty ever guilty? Did he spend 20 plus years in prison for crimes he didn't commit?

Truly, Darkly, Deeply is a story you’re lured into almost immediately. Told through the point of view of Sophie, a young girl who lives with her troubled single mother, we’re introduced to the charismatic and charming Matty; a man who women find hard to resist. He starts up a relationship with Sophie’s mum and forms a father like bond with Sophie but Matty has secrets to keep and things take a dark turn. I enjoyed reading this book. I like Victoria Selman’s writing style but I did feel that her descriptions were quite bland at times. There was a definite lack of imagery, which was a shame because more could have been made of the murders with better description. Nonetheless, this book is definitely worth a read and if you like murder stories without vivid imagery, then this is the book for you.

Told from the perspective of Sophie in the present day and as a child, this is the story of a deeply troubled individual who, as a child, saw the man she looked too as a father figure arrested and charged for a series of horrific murders. He has always protested his innocence, so when a letter arrives from the prison Matty is remanded at saying that he wants to tell her the truth, Sophie has to decide whether she really wants to know the truth or not.

What follows is a story full of hints and red herrings; is Matty innocent as he still claims? should Sophie feel guilt for not voicing what she saw all those years ago? are there clues in Sophie's past that make sense to the adult reader that the child Sophie could not understand?

Moving between past and present, over a period of years, the toxic relationship that Matty and her mother shared is laid bare. The couple bring out the worst traits in each other and often Sophie finds herself picking up the pieces, or being exposed to behaviour no child should have to witness. There are hints that far worse things went on in the home they all shared than Sophie can articulate as a child. It's not a pleasant read by any means and it felt like a slog getting through some sections.

The reveal at the end was both banal and shocking; I was left with a bad taste in my mouth and glad to have finished reading.

My thanks go to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

'Truly Darkly Deeply' by Victoria Selman draws on the pathologies of real life serial murderers, and explores the ripple effect of their actions, through fiction. In particular, Selman asks what happens to the women who loved these men? How do they cope with "The yearning, the questioning, the love that won't leave."? Anyone who has read 'The Phantom Prince' by Elizabeth Kendall (former girlfriend of Ted Bundy) will recognise some of the feelings experienced by our perpetrators partner, as she and her daughter struggle to determine what was real and what was not in their time with convicted killer, Matty Melgren.

Matty doesn't look like a monster and I think that serves as a useful reminder to all of us, that we shouldn't judge the proverbial book by its cover. I found it an interesting read, on many levels, and expect it will be a hit with fans of true crime. The book provides much in the way of food for thought and will generate some good discussion in book groups.

I’ve heard nothing but amazing reviews on this book so knew I’d just have to read it - I can’t help myself. And honestly this book did not disappoint, I feel like it was a completely new and engrossing twist on your standard serial killer novel and I loved it for that.
I found it fascinating from the point of view of what it would be like to truly love someone perceived to be evil or a monster as it’s something most of us cannot fathom. I enjoyed this one, another genuine recommendation for this book!

It must be a strange feeling, to be tarred with the brush of someone who does something really bad, especially if you’re a child and couldn’t have done anything about it. This is the starting point of Truly, Darkly, Deeply.

Sophie (the child, now adult) gets a letter from the serial killer (Matty, now dying in prison). She once thought of him as a father. Then a monster. Now she doesn’t know how she feels, other than stuck. Despite it being 20 years since he was arrested, she hasn’t moved on. Instead, it’s her, her dog, and her mom and a constant revisiting of the past.

Will meeting Matty (his dying wish) help her heal and move on? Or will it provide more questions than answers? As she decides what to do, we (the reader) are taken back to where it all began and how it all went wrong.

I can’t say I’ve read anything that has taken quite this approach to what is a crowded serial killer ‘scene’. Which is why I wanted to read it, and what I enjoyed about it. It felt fresh. Different. While there were murders, they weren’t the most important thing about the story. Rather is was how one man had impacted the lives of all those around him.

Sophie’s life is obviously the primary one. But there’s her mother as well, family friends, and her family back home (who were less than sympathetic). I enjoyed going back to the beginning and seeing as it all unfolded. And I enjoyed getting to know Sophie, who was sympathetic without being wishy-washy-weak.

I’ve noticed (and you may have too) that I am using the word enjoyed a lot. And that sums up how I felt about the book. It was enjoyable. I enjoyed it. Was it the best book I’ve ever read? No. But is was well written with characters that grabbed my attention and a story that stood out from the crowd.

Why am I not raving about it then? Simply because – as a reader – it didn’t ‘grab’ me as much as I would have liked it to. Books I love are generally loved based on a gut feeling. A wishing that there are still pages to turn. With Truly, Darkly, Deeply, I finished the book with a sense of satisfaction but not that ‘something more’ feeling I wanted.

Would I recommend it? Yes, definitely. Would I buy it for a friend? Again, yes. Will I be thinking about it months from now? Probably not. Which leaves it with a solid 3.5/5, pushing a 4 but not quite there.

My dark thriller loving heart was attracted to the cover of this title. It called to me, and I just knew I had to read it.

The opening first couple of chapters blew me away – it was dark and brilliantly written and I was hooked.

Sadly, I felt the majority of this was quite drawn out and descriptive and personally would have liked to have seen more behind the scenes moments from Matty and Amelia-Rose, especially after the twist at the end.

That said, the ending did have a great twist and I enjoyed the way in which the story was wrapped up.

If the opening of this novel is anything to go by, then this is an author to watch out for. More dark twisty writing please!

I look forward to reading more from Victoria Selman.

4 Stars – Psychological Read!

Publication Date: 7th July 2022

Thank you to #NetGalley, #VictoriaSelman, and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #TrulyDarklyDeeply in exchange for an honest review.

There were a few things that made me want to read this book, the first being of course the whole theme of the book and the fact it was a murder novel/thriller and the second was that it is released on my birthday. I also loved the cover of this book with the rose which after reading it, I assume is a reference to the mum in the book as her name is Amelia-Rose. The book starts in the present time where it is twenty years since Matthew Melgren committed heinous murders on 9 females including a child (that’s nine that we know of). Right through, Matty has always proclaimed he is innocent and was framed. Being a charming guy and a bereavement counselor and a loving stepdad - it is easy to see why people believe he is innocent. Equally, some believe he is guilty. Now twenty years on, Matt is dying and his stepdaughter Sophie has received a letter from him asking her to visit. She is reluctant but knows deep down she needs this to move on with her life. The book then jumps to the past which shows how Matt came to be a part of Sophie and her mum Amelia-Rose's family and the ups and downs they had and then the murders happening on TV and eventually his arrest. The book also shows a huge part of the effect it had on Sophie and her mum, rather than focusing on the acts of murder itself - though we do have news coverage and newspaper articles throughout the story. I loved the surprise twist at the end which I wish they had gone into a bit more detail as it came out of the semi-left field. Overall, this was a slower-paced read but fascinating at the same time and it reminded me as a whole of a fictional version of Ted Bundy's story as Ted Bundy worked as a crisis counselor and he was charming, suave, and had a wife and daughter. Truly, Darkly, Deeply by Victoria Selman is the perfect fiction-based read for any true crime Aficionado.

Having previously enjoyed the Ziba MacKenzie series by Victoria Selman, I was keen to give Truly, Darkly, Deeply a try. It is a standalone thriller about a serial killer operating in North London in the early 1980s. It is told from the unusual viewpoint of Sophie, both when she was twelve years old at the time the killer was active, and twenty years later as she decides whether to visit him before he dies in prison. He has always professed his innocence, but she needs closure for the sake of her mental health.
Sophie and her mum, Amelia Rose, move from America to London for a new start. Her mum meets Matty Melgren and he becomes the closest thing to a father that Sophie has known. He is very charming and they have a lot of fun, but he is also secretive and prone to unexplained absences. The narrative alternates between the two timeframes, and the story is gradually revealed. It focuses on how the family of a serial killer is affected by what he has done, and how they are treated by others, especially the press, as if they were just as guilty and must have known what he was up to. There are references to real life serial killers, and the extracts from blogs, websites and newspaper articles add an extra dimension to the story. There is a strong sense of time and place, with lots of popular culture, and I could imagine it being made into a film or TV series. Thanks to Quercus and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Truly, darkly, deeply follows Sophie as she decides whether or not to reconnect with her convicted serial killer step father who is terminally ill in prison. That's pretty much it in a nutshell as we go back and forth between now and when Sophie was a child to see both perspectives. We get to witness what Sophie was witnessing through hindsight and older eyes and we get an insight into the world Matty and Sophie enhabited.

A good read, an interesting premise, and one I would recommend to other thriller readers.

Reminiscent of The July Girls by Phoebe Locke but a slower burn, the book is from the viewpoint of a girl who suspects her stepfather is a serial killer.
Nice nostalgia trip to the early eighties, Good use of social media commentary. Plausible twist.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

Sometimes you start a book and you think you can guess what’s coming THIS is not one of them this is a magnificent thrill of a ride that completely floored me!
Told from the point of view of Sophie who comes from Massachusetts to live in London with her mother Amelia-Rose it is one of the most immersive books I have ever read I was gripped by it throughout and read it in just over a day.
I’m not going to say much more about the story as I feel this is a book not have any thoughts about what it’s about like I did as when I picked it up I thought it was just going to be a serial killer novel but hell no it is so so much more than that.
The writing is superb and the story is told over a period of around 20 years and the timelines expertly changed throughout the book keeping the reveals and twists coming and they are shocking to say the least.
I love to be blindsided by a read and was by this one and I absolutely loved that about it when you read a lot of thrillers you tend to become a bit blasé about what’s happening in the story well this one shocked the life out of me !
So many many thanks to Victoria Selman for an amazingly intense and superb 5 star read.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This dark thriller is a slow burn, and a huge negative to me is the repetitiveness but saying that the book does pick up its pace and I found it quite enjoyable. However I did not particularly like any characters.
I do like a book with a double time line and I enjoyed how this gave the earlier story from a young Sophie.
I am glad I persevered and read through to the end.
I would definitely try another book by this author.

This was a good story, I was intrigued as to what was gonna happen and I'm glad I picked it up! Want to read more from this author

This is an atmospheric, character driven novel about Sophie, who grew up with a father figure who turned out to be a prolific serial killer. At least, a jury thought so. When he's diagnosed with a terminal illness in prison, adult Sophie decides to face her demons and go see him, in the hopes of getting the truth once and for all...

The bulk of this novel shows Sophie's childhood growing up with Matty as her mother's boyfriend, interspersed with glimpses of her now as an adult, as she battles with whether to go see Matty in prison. As a child she idolised charismatic Matty, and struggles now to reconcile the man she loved with the killer he was convicted of being.

The story is cloyingly atmospheric and at times quite uncomfortable to read, as the reader can see all Matty's red flags that Sophie the child misses. It definitely does keep you guessing about whether Matty truly is guilty, and the idea of examining the perspective of a serial killer's unwitting family is an interesting one.

Unfortunately it just ended up being a bit of a "meh" read for me. It moves very slowly and there is a LOT of repetition. Sophie seems to basically have the same thoughts over and over again, sometimes it feels like they're repeated word for word. It's too much, we get it already! It's tedious. The time jumping between past and present is not well defined and I often found myself confused about whether we were with child or adult Sophie. And while there were twists at the end, I just didn't find them very engaging or convincing. As a suspense reader, you like to be able to look back and go "ohhhh yes, that's why they were behaving like that!" When it's more a case of "actually they were just acting a certain way to trick you but you never could have known that"... Well, that's just not satisfying as a reader and is kind of hard to buy.

It was okay but I probably wouldn't particularly recommend it.

I've enjoyed how the book is written but found some of it draw out.

I did read to the end and glad i did.

After 20 years, Sophie receives a letter from Battlemouth Prison from a person she never expected to hear from. More she must decide whether to answer their request of one last meeting or live with unanswered questions.

A thrilling page turner that is filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for an eARC copy for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s a look at a serial killer from someone who is close to them. It to me was also a mixture of all we have read about the well known serial killers, charming, good looking with charisma. I remember watching a series years ago about serial killer Ted Bundy, a nice polite, well mannered, good looking man. Even though I knew the series was based on fact it seemed implausible this nice man could have been a ruthless sadistic killer (FYI I have disliked Mark Harmon, who played Ted, ever since!)
Told through the eyes of Sophie as a child of 12 and now as an adult, it is her view of the charismatic Matty that I find appealing. Nothing to her seems out of place and indeed when he comes into their lives as her mother, Amelia-Rose’s boyfriend, he immediately becomes her friend and confident, often taking Sophie’s side against her mother.
When he is imprisoned for the many murders he has committed over the years, Sophie tries to recall any signs that he was the man they called The Shadow Murderer. Should she have noticed anything? But to her he was Matty, her friend.
When she receives a letter from the prison, stating that Matty has cancer and would like to see her before he dies, Sophie is in turmoil. The visit changes her life and everything she thought she knew.

#TrulyDarklyDeeply #NetGalley

I am an absolute sucker for a dark thriller and this book absolutely did not disappoint. I am so impressed with this book and I can't wait to read more from this author! I read it in one sitting - I physically could not put this book down. I absolutely loved the plot, the writing style, the characters. I will 100% reread this book and buy a physical copy.