This is for fans of the serial killer genre. FBI forensic linguist Raisa adds a new angle and she's an interesting character. I missed the first book so this was a standalone for me and it wasn't a problem - Labuskes gives enough back story to make it work. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Kilkenny, an FBI analyst and Raisa, a forensic linguist are on a case involving a serial killer who is already in jail, waiting for his execution. Kilkenny's wife, Shay, had been dragged into the crosshairs of the killer, and the story is written from her point of view and that of Raisa's in two different timelines. I found that this worked very well, as it added an element of suspense and intrigue as we get to know all the individuals that Shay interacted with. And having not read the first installment, it also gave me a bit of backstory.

The author manages to give a new twisty spin on the old serial killer genre, but that comes with a price. The story is very engaging at first, but halfway it spirals into a convoluted web of personal relations and assumptions and guesses that are just too far fetched to be believable. At the end, everything is nicely explained and (too) wrapped up, but it just left me indifferent, as it just didn't add up. Also, for a book that is about a linguist, I expected a higher quality of writing.

All in all, it is an engaging and easy read even without having read the first book, and I really enjoyed the family dynamics of Shay. But as that part is wrapped up I don't think I would read the next installment as I didn't care very much about the Raisa and Kilkenny storyline.

Thank you NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rounded down from 4.5 - I liked this one HEAPS more than book 1!!!

A serial killer on death row challenges Raisa (a forensic linguist) to solve his final puzzle before DDay!!

Well, am I ever glad I went and requested this one off NetGalley. I love this author and even though I wasn’t a huge fan of the first book in this series I couldn’t abandon it. I am so glad I didn’t.

Unlike the first book I started to like Raisa, she was loyal and she wasn’t trying too hard this time. She was just being herself and I liked that more. I also got a feel for Callum and he was much better this time around as well. The book was no where near as boring or repetitive and I actually finished this one in 24hours because I just had to know what was going on.

We had multi-POV and multi-timeline so I am a happy camper… I really liked that we got to go back and see the POV from Shay (who i loved!!! And am sad shes dead - not a spoiler). Shay was the kind of character you go into it rooting for all the way… and of course she got the raw end of the deal and ended up dead (we knew this in book 1) but we found out what happened to her and we got to get in her head a bit. I also loved her dysfunctional family and I loved the way the author wrote about the non perfect family and non perfect life. That was excellent and I appreciated it.

The mystery was pretty good in this and it kept me guessing… the reveal was a little bit WTF but thats ok this is meant to be unrealistic but I liked how it all wrapped up. I am hoping there will be another one now that the Alphabet Man arc is finished. I would actually love another book featuring Max she was a badass and I loved her.

All the things I didn’t like in the first one appear to be fixed or non existent in this one and that was a real winner. I don’t know if the author was just having an off book or she actually took feedback (not from me of course 🤣) on board but whatever it was I think this one is actually pretty close to 5 stars.

Overall, I think this will be a hit and if you haven’t read this author before you should definitely give her a try. I do really love her Gretchen White series but from book 2 in this series I can see this being one of my faves as well. Reading book one will give you a good basis and maybe I was just being picky but truly if you want to you can read this as a standalone as there is enough recap to get the gist. Personally book1 made so little impact I had forgotten the whole story and I loved this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer and Brianna Labuskes for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!!

A very good follow-up to "The Lies You Wrote" that manages to stay twisty and fascinating through another personal case - this one affecting Raisa's colleague from the first book, Callum, and the previous death of his wife by a serial killer. As with all thrillers, it's best to go in blind, but do read the first book before you pick this one up. I only had a few quibbles that knocked off a star for me, mostly about some logistical elements and some things that didn't quite hold up under scrutiny with one of the villains of the novel. I flew through this, though, and I'm eagerly awaiting book 3! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital review copy.

In The Truth You Told, FBI agent Callum Kilkenny discovers that the man he thought killed his wife Shay, didn’t really do it. He killed many other women but not his wife. Though his writing, Raisa confirms that he is telling the truth, just days before The Alphabet man is to be executed. So who did kill Shay and why?

I love the dual timelines in this story, the present and then going back and learning more about Shay and her family. I don’t think I have read a book from the point of view of a forensic linguist before and it was fascinating. I am definitely a fan of this author and the series. I can’t wait to see what is next. This is book #2 in the Raisa Susanto series. Book #1, The Lies You Wrote was also very good. I highly recommend this series to all of those criminal/psychological thrill readers.

Absolutely fantastic police procedural. Strong character development. Twists keeps the readers on their toes. Honestly thought I had it figured out but wham! I wish that the novel didn't spoil the previous book. Does need some additional editing - grammar and spelling errors, a few erroneous words (form vs. from, etc.).

Serial Killers "R Us........

The truth You Told is a smackin' good read. Brianna Labuskes is renowned for her Dr. Gretchen White Series which I absolutely love. This is the second book in this Raisa Susanto Series, but it can be read as a standalone. (Bet you'll grab the first book after reading this one.)

Let's set the board up for play. Raisa Susanto is an FBI Forensic Linguist. You'd be surprised how the work of a linguist can break codes and discover unusual idiolects in the process. Raisa is based in Tacoma, Washington, but she's more of a free agent around the country where her remarkable skills are needed.

Next piece on the board is Callum Kilkenny. As a renowned forensic psychologist, Kilkenny has been working with Raisa. They've been sent to Houston this time over a series of murders over the years. Kilkenny's own wife, Shay, was a victim of the infamous Alphabet Man.

Now here's the kicker: Said Alphabet Man, known as Nathan Conrad, is perched in the wing of the execution hall in Houston. His time is up. Conrad claims that he did not kill Shay. In fact, he's been writing to Kilkenny stating that as his truth. Is it truth or is it an attention getting mode? Dude hasn't got much to lose at this point. And why now?

The Truth You Told is one twisty, knotted, mindboggling read. Labuskes is known for her smart reads that keep you guessing until the end. In this one, she's got you dropping possible serial killer subjects into your shopping cart. Everyone lines up with possible motives and opportunities. That is until you get to the checkout counter. The numbers will finally add up in a hair-raising clever manner. Ridin' the lightning bolt until the end. Bravo, Brianna Labuskes, just bravo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Brianna Labuskes for the opportunity.

Forensic linguist Raisa is back again investigating a serial killer who was responsible for her partner's wife's (Shay) death. A few days from his execution, the killer confesses that he did not kill Shay. When Raisa looks at the letters, she realizes they are different linguistically. This sends Raisa and her partner to Texas to find the real killer.

I am enjoying this series a lot! I find it fast-paced and easy to read. I did think the whodunit here was a little easy to figure out halfway through the book. There is a character who is doing things that someone with that profession shouldn't be doing. I was hoping maybe I was wrong when I started thinking it was them, but alas it was them. If you don't spot this weird behavior though, I think it would be a big shock. Regardless, it is still a really good crime procedural book. I am interested to see if the future books take Raisa more into what is revealed here about her sister and the killer here. I think it would be interesting, but I also don't want it to be the only thing for Raisa.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the forensic linguist Raisa Susanto series. The book begins three months after the events of the first book. An infamous serial killer, the Alphabet Man, who killed Callum's wife Shay, is going to be executed in a couple of days. He insist that he did not kill Shay, though. Raisa and Callum start investigating the claims and fly to Texas where everything started.

The book is told alternating between Raisa in the present and Shay in the past. The story moves fast and is quite thrilling. Every character has something to hide. Twist after twist follows. I enjoyed the story very much. The book kept my interest from the very first page to the last one. There's not so much linguistics in this book, but it truly is a facinating field of science.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Sept. 10, 2024
Brianna Labuskes brings forensic linguist Raisa Susanto and her partner, FBI agent Callum Kilkenny, back with a vengeance in her new novel, “The Truth You Told”.
FBI agent Callum Kilkenny lost his wife, Shay, to a serial killer dubbed by the media as “The Alphabet Man”, for the coded tattoos he left on the bodies. Now, Nathan Conrad, a.k.a. The Alphabet Man, is on death row and facing his execution in a matter of days. All of a sudden, Nathan recants, saying that he was the Alphabet Man and that he was responsible for many deaths, but Shay wasn’t one of them. When Raisa takes a closer look at the coded messages, she begins to think that maybe Nathan wasn’t responsible for the death of Shay. But if he wasn’t- who was? Are they looking at a copycat?
Besides the Susanto series of novels, Labuskes has also written the Dr. Gretchen White series, and her stand-alone, “The Lost Book of Bonn”. I am not as familiar with Labuskes as I should be, as I’ve only read one of her Gretchen White novels. This means, of course, that I jumped into book two of Raisa’s story without knowing how the first novel played out. Regardless, I enjoyed “Truth” and the twisted, dark examination of the serial killer dubbed “The Alphabet Man”.
For those who are avid Criminal Minds fans (like me), there is a huge similarity to the most recent season (without giving anything away, think sociopathic kids being trained to kill), which I caught right away. However, I really enjoyed Labuskes’ take, and “Truth” was dramatic, emotional and full of suspense.
“Told” is narrated by Raisa in the present day and by Shay in the years and months leading up to when she was killed. Having both perspectives not only provided more background to the story, but it helped to understand Callum on an emotional level, and highlight Shay as the important character she is, posthumously.
In “Told”, every character is a sociopath or knows a sociopath, which is a pretty convenient coincidence, considering only one in four people is a sociopath, and less than one percent of those are killers. But for the sake of fiction, I loved it! As the investigation into who really killed Shay picks up speed, I was definitely surprised by the twisty ending, and Labuskes did a killer job (pun intended) bringing her story to a tight, suspenseful close.

I loved the first book in this series and was so excited when I got approved for this second book. I love Labuskes writing and the characters. This is a captivating, engaging, intense and complex thriller that takes the reader on a wild ride. I really enjoyed the dual timelines and POVs throughout this story. I always love a good serial killer book, and this fun police procedural was just that!

A good sophomore effort in this series - I hope there are more, with more involvement from Raisa's sisters as well. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. Book publishes 9/10

We're back in Raisa's world and it's a nail biter. Callum has his world turned and together they search for the truth and take readers on an intense journey that is full of surprises. I really hope this series continues. The mystery, suspense, characters, intrigue, and plotting give you a story that captures readers and keeps them wanting more.

Brianna Labuskes has such amazing pacing in this book! Her alternating POV is brilliantly staged to put you at the edge of your seat waiting for the next reveal and then to leave you gasping when you see what it is. Such a tense and engaging story!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Truth You Told by Brianna Labuskes is a gripping thriller that kept me up late with its suspenseful twists. Forensic linguist Raisa Susanto and psychologist Callum Kilkenny delve into the case of a serial killer who claims he didn’t murder Callum’s wife, Shay. The story is fast-paced, with intriguing clues and a plot that keeps you guessing. The characters are engaging, and the mystery unfolds in surprising ways. The twists and turns make it hard to predict the villain, adding to the suspense. If you love thrilling mysteries with plenty of twists, this book is a must-read!

The Truth You Told is a well-crafted police procedural and second in the Raisa Susanto series. The story is told in two perspectives and timelines--before and after a murder. This reviewer hadn't read book one in the series, but the author includes enough backstory in the early chapters of book two to make the plotlines clear. The forensic linguist specialty of Raisa, the central protagonist, is an interesting angle and one this reviewer hasn't read before. The investigators, Raisa and Callum, also have a deep personal connection to one of the murder victims, which adds conflict that propels the plotline forward throughout the book. Brianna Labuskes is a well-established, prolific writer whose storytelling ability makes The Truth You Told a compelling read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

A serial killer is about to be executed after sitting on death row for some years. However, there seems to be a few murders that they believe are copy cats. Callum Kilkenny is a forensic psychologist who lost his wife to the hands of Nathaniel Conrad, the same serial killer. Or was it the copy cat? Everyone is racing for answers before the execution. Will they find them?

I was very surprised by this book. I had requested it to review because the setup sounded good but as I started reading it I was quickly pulled into the story. It has been a while since I read a police procedural and I loved this one.
It was written in two POV on two different timelines. The timelines were easy to keep track of with no confusion as to which time you were in. The countdown timeline for Shay's story really kept you engaged as you were waiting for what was going to happen!
I liked both female MC but felt I was able to get to know Shay easier and feel more connected with her. Raisa was a bit more less developed but I haven't read the first book (which I didn't know existed until I had started reading this one and I didn't want to stop). Raisa's specialty as a linguistic professional at the FBI was intriguing and I really wish there had been more to the story about this.
The complex story was easy to follow for me. The many characters helped in keeping "whodunit" secret until the very end, although I was keeping track of hints and thought I had it all figured out. I was wrong!
This was well written and excellent storyline and a great ending all tied up without being rushed but not dragging either. I would recommend this book for sure. It could be one of my top 5 favourites of the year!

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this and to discover a new to me favourite author!

I loved this one so much! I did not realize this was part of a series, which I do think would’ve given me a better background history. I was invested throughout and felt the character development was strong. I’d love to read more by this author.

Alright, everyone, hold on, because I’ve got some serious raving to do! Most series hit the dreaded second-book slump, but not this one! Oh no, Brianna has whipped up a sequel that takes the magic of the first book and cranks it up to eleven. The first book was great, but this one? I’m in love!

We’re talking one-on-ones with serial killers so chilling you’ll want to double-check your locks. We dive deep into the twisted minds of children on the path to becoming serial killers, and the cherry on top? We solve a serious mystery that’s been gnawing at us. It’s like “Criminal Minds” and "Law & Order" had a baby!

Brianna, you absolute legend, what kind of sorcery are you using to write these? Whatever it is, keep it coming because I am hooked! My bookshelf is ready, my heart is ready, and I need the next book like yesterday! And please, for the love of suspense, don’t stop!