Well, I think it's only fair that I start this review off by saying that I truly like Ms. Scottoline and consider myself a fan. I think I've read most of the books that she's has written, so when I saw this stand alone ARC available, I immediately requested it and was thrilled for it to be awarded to me.

The book introduces us to the Devlin family. I'm not going to go into too much of a summary on the storyline because you can see that in most of the reviews. Let's just say that TJ is the youngest Devlin and is the black sheep of the family. To be honest, he does deserve a lot of what he has been getting from his family. He was the only sibling who didn't graduate from college (he has an older brother John and an older sister Gabby), not to mention that both siblings are attorneys. TJ, on the other hand is a convicted felon, a recovering alcoholic and has seemed to solidify his role as the son that can't really be counted on. It sounds like his problems with alcohol started at a very young age and he was the poster child for a "functioning alcoholic." As usually happens when you start going down that path.....he makes an enormous life altering mistake, and he finally hits his "rock bottom". But again, sometimes that is what is needed to finally force a change.

When he got out after he served his time in prison, he focused on his sobriety. He has now been sober for 2 years....and that is the thing that he is the proudest of, because he has had to fight for it. That is why what John and TJ's father do is such a TERRIBLE betrayal. Okay - enough of the summary that I said I wasn't going to give.

I had a couple of issues with the book. First of all, I could not stand John. I mean I seriously disliked him. That's a problem because I then had problems with TJ's behavior as he seemed to continue to
be oblivious to things about John and his behavior that to everyone else (and by everyone else, I mean me) seemed fairly obvious.

Without going into spoilers, some of the other items that bothered me are going to be a little hard to explain, but let me try. The actual storyline, once everything gets laid out is VERY scattered and I found lots of holes in the reasonings and explanations. There has to be an enormous amount of reader believability put aside to make it fit into the plot lines that are laid out. Certain characters - when unmasked - seemed to have had a personality transplant. And no one seems to have any issues with that. I certainly did.

And the parents. Don't even get me started. There were so many times that I was so angry FOR TJ. Man, nobody in his family deserves any of the loyalty that he shows....at least in the beginning. Later, some of them show a very slight redemption arc. The pacing was so inconsistent. At times it dragged, then went at turbo speed, and then certain things seemed to have happened off page. It was odd.

I guess if I had to boil it down to one thing, it was the character relationships that I had the most problems with. I have to be able to want to root for certain characters for me to become invested and let me just say that there were not many redeeming qualities in the Devlin family. (with the exception of TJ, who everyone just seemed to spit on).

And then the ending. It felt like we got to that point and Ms. Scottoline felt like she had to tie everything up with a bow and say "The End", even though the ending and the punishments (or lack there of) left an awful taste in my mouth.

So, not one of my favorites from Ms. S, but it wasn't the worst. I still consider myself a fan.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was an interesting story about the Devlin family. While I enjoyed the story, I didn't love it. I did appreciate the short chapters though. Thos might be the kind of book I would prefer to listen to the audiobook of (I love thriller audiobooks). It was still a good read, and I will consider reading more by Lisa Scottoline in the future.
3.5 stars
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Literally read it in one sitting. I have no attention span- I’m the first to admit that but this story caught ahold of me and wouldn’t let go. The Devlins are the perfect legal family with the exception of screw up brother TJ. But things aren’t always as they seem and this family unravels quickly when secrets staring coming to light. A fast paced story full of twists and hidden betrayal.

The Truth About the Devlins had me on the edge of my seat the whole way! The Devlin family are flawed people who are real and likable and whose relationships feel relatable.

The Truth About the Devlins

3.5 ⭐️

Drama drama drama in this book! If you’re a fan of face paced family drama, you might need to check this one out.

TJ Devlin is forced to help his brother out when he admits he thinks he killed someone, but when they go to find the body it’s nowhere to be found. TJ works as an investigator for the family’s law firm and starts to uncover some pretty big secrets while trying to figure out what actually happened.

This was very fast and I liked the short chapters. It was a lot of back and forth dialogue between the characters and felt almost like a journalist writing style. While maybe not my favorite book of the year, I enjoyed the ending!

A great legal thriller/mystery about the challenges of family and the things that bring us together and pull us apart.

TJ Devlin is arguable the black sheep of the family: he didn't finish college, he's not a lawyer, and he's had his own troubles with the law. But on his father's birthday, the 'golden brother' John comes to TJ asking for his help - he thinks he's murdered a client whom he suspected of embezzlement. As TJ investigates the situation to protect his brother, the firm, and his family he uncovers surprising facts that make him question the situation, and who in his family he can trust to have his back.

Thank you netgalley for providing me with a ebook copy to read and review!

Having loved What happened to the Bennett's, I was happy to come across yet another book by Lisa Scottoline. The truth about the Devlins was interesting- it kept me wanting more but I thought it fell a bit below from her other book. I feel I had high expectations due to enjoying the other book so much that it was a bit disappointing to be honest. This author is a great writer, has great character development and twists and turns throughout but I expected a bit more to keepe more interested. Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

The Devlins are a family of highly successful lawyers. Except T.J.. T.J. is an alcoholic who has done time in both rehab and prison. The family gives him the "job" of "investigator" for their firm because no one else will hire him. One night John, the especially golden brother confesses to murdering a client. John claims he was embezzling. T.J. helps investigate to try and save John. Based on the cover blurb, I was expecting something similar to a previous book, What Happened to the Bennetts and there were a few similarities, but that was it. This a definite slow burn with a lot of secrets. I especially liked the character of T.J. and his struggle with alcoholism. Overall, a very good book from an author who feels like an old friend. I have read her for years and always know I will have a good time!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lisa Scottoline and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication.

This book kept me up late at night and reading all day long. I was so hooked on the Devlin family and their dysfunctional family.

I needed this family to figure out the truth and stand by each other as they struggled. Every person in this family had something going on that they were struggling with and the rest of the family was not seeing the support that they needed to give each other. They had to figure out before they were lost to each other forever.

The Truth About the Devlin’s is a wonderful family thriller. The drama had me turning pages needing to know what would happen next. I would love to have more from this family.

I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline’s books for as long as I can remember. I recommend them all, especially this one, to any thriller, mystery, family drama, legal drama reader.

Thank you Penguin Group Putnam for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Truth about the Devlins. I have read and enjoyed many of Lisa Scottoline's books. Although this wasn't my favorite, I did like it. A domestic thriller filled with lots of intrigue and drama, it started off strong with a shocking confession from one of the brothers and caught my attention immediately. The cast of characters was a good one, with some I liked and one I really hated. I enjoyed TJ's narration, which was at times snarky and funny, and at other times heartwarming and sad.

Aside from the family drama, storylines included a convincing portrayal of a struggle with sobriety and the story of the medical research at the Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia, which I had never heard about.

The first half of the book held my interest more than the second half. The end seemed a little bit rushed but overall I like this book and will continue to read books by Scottoline.

This reminded me of her recent book "What Happened to the Bennetts", but is more of a legal thriller. It was entertaining and fast-paced. I felt there could have been more character development with the family members but overall enjoyed the book. Thank you for the ARC.

A story of truth and lies and one must read to know what's really going on in the Devlin family and their law firm. This book starts off with a bang, a literal "I think I killed someone, come help me" sort of intrigue. I was anticipating a quick and bingey read similar to her previous thriller What Happened to the Bennetts, but this one took it's time. A slow burn mystery that slowly shared its secrets.

Overall I was interested enough to continue reading, but I found myself waning in interest as the pages continued.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance e-copy of this book.

I really do love Lisa Scottoline books. It's such a nice swap for the typical beach read I usually reach for. The Truth About the Devlins is a great book about a family-owned law firm and some shady dealings that appear to be happening. The story is told from the perspective of the Devlin's screw-up son, T.J., a recovering alcoholic ex-con who is also the firm's lead investigator, Murders pop up, sketchy dealings arise, and backstabbing pursues. T.J. is determined to get to the bottom of it all while trying to prove he is not involved in murder and while keeping the family and their law firm from being drug through the mud. The plot is pretty quickly paced, which kept me interested. I hate it when a story drags....but this book did a good job of keeping the pages turning.
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So good! This book is both an emotional family drama and a thriller. The protagonist is so likable I found myself rooting for him all the way through.

#NetGalleyARC I generally enjoy this author but this one just didn’t do it for me. It’s an okay mystery/crime book but I just didn’t get super into it. Not the best book by this author but also not the worst. Just a lot of meh.

Lisa Scottoline creates a captivating family drama when two opposite brothers unite after an interesting incident. As the story evolves they find themselves in an intriguing place and what TJ learns as he digs deeper is something maybe he didn't want to know. A fast-paced novel with many interesting perspectives from each character. I enjoyed the mystery and wanted to know what exactly happened and I was not disappointed. I look forward to reading more by Lisa Scottoline in the future.

4.25 TJ is a complete character stars

TJ Devlin is our sympathetic and so much more main character. I felt like he was so well-developed; we learn his backstory, his relationship with his parents, and his failed relationship with Carrie. And the most heartbreaking, his relationship with alcohol. He’s incredibly proud of his two-year sobriety marker.

TJ works for his family as an investigator at the well-known and prestigious Devlin & Devlin law firm. His parents and both siblings are attorneys. John specializes in mergers and acquisitions, and Gabby has a big pro-bono case where TJ is helping.

John makes a shocking confession one night to TJ and he jumps into helping his brother. Things take a dark turn, though, and all of them are in danger. As TJ puts his own well-being at risk by helping his brother, his true colors come out. I loved how morally strong his character was and how he wanted to be a better person.

There’s also a cat, Mango, who has an interesting part to play in the story.

The author wrote so authentically about alcoholism, and it was fascinating that the pro-bono case was based on true and awful facts. Don’t miss her notes at the end. I feel like I’ve just discovered a new go-to writer! I’ve read at least one of her books before, but now I’m eager to read more backlist titles.

John Devlin, the eldest Devlin sibling in the family’s law firm, kills a client in self-defense. He flees the scene, and his once-jailed, alcoholic younger brother, is determined to help him. What follows is a domestic thriller that keeps me reading with anticipation of what is to come. All I can say is the Devlins are quite a family, warts and all.



Having read previous books written by Lisa Scottoline, mostly books in a series, I know I enjoy her writing. Reading this book gives me confidence to give her other standalones a try. Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy.

Lisa Scottoline is back with another highly entertaining, stand-alone thriller that has a “catchy” title, and a snarky, likable lead character who you can’t help but root for!

TJ Devlin is the only child who is not a lawyer at Devlin and Devlin, the highly successful family law firm which employs not only both parents but also both of his siblings.

Instead he holds the title of “Investigator” given to him by his family after time in jail for an alcohol related crime.

His sister Gabby is whip smart, but prefers her pro bono work- making his older brother John the family MVD (most valuable Devlin)

So TJ is pretty shocked when at their father’s birthday party, John confesses that he needs TJ’s help. It appears that he accidentally killed one of their clients, an accountant he’d confronted with proof of embezzlement.

TJ may have to OBSTRUCT justice to save John, but he wants to make amends with his family and prove his worth. At the same time, Gabby needs TJ’s help to GET justice for her dying plaintiffs-prisoners who were experimented on by a large pharmaceutical company,

This would be a lot for anyone but TJ will have to balance both cases while also dealing with his own personal demons-AA meetings-the loss of love-and a newly adopted, diabetic cat named Mango, who tolerates him at best.

Don’t let the 400 pages scare you away! The chapters are short and this is compulsive “just one more chapter” reading! I was engaged from the first page through the last.

And, this story COULD be the prequel for the next chapter in TJ’s life…🤞🏻

DO read the acknowledgements at the end of the story. It turns out that Gabby’s plaintiffs were fictional but what happened to them was NOT. Inmates at some of Philadelphia’s prisons were used as human subjects for medical experimentations from the late fifties to the early seventies and she provides sources for those of us who would like to learn more.

TW: Alcoholism (handled thoughtfully)

A buddy read with DeAnn. Be sure to check out her thoughts in her terrific review!

AVAILABLE March 26, 2024

Thank you to G. P. Putnam’s Sons for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review.

A Gut-wrenching family drama

SUMMARY
TJ is the black sheep of the highly successful Devlin family. Everyone in the family, his parents and two siblings, are attorneys. TJ never finished college. He works as an investigator for the family law firm. At a family dinner, John, TJ’s older and highly successful brother, confesses secretly to TJ that he might have killed a client earlier that day in a confrontation over suspected embezzlement. TJ is surprised by the confession and wants to help his big brother, but as he begins to investigate the man’s death, his world is turned upside down, and his entire family turns against him.


REVIEW
The Truth About the Devlins is a gut-wrenching family drama about justice and devastating lies. Author Lisa Scottoline’s writing weaves a tale sizzling with suspense and is full of emotion. Scottoline’s background as an attorney certainly served her well in this novel. The writing is fast-paced and captivating.

TJ’s character as a recovering alcoholic who had served time in prison is delightfully authentic and real. His vulnerabilities drive both the character and the story.

An interesting thread of the story involves TJ’s sister, Gabby, also an attorney who asks for TJ's help investigating illegal drug tests conducted on inmates at a variety of prisons by pharmaceutical companies, resulting in terminal illnesses for participating inmates. This part of the story, based on real events, was very intriguing.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Penguin Group Putnam
Published March 12, 2024
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com