I really enjoyed this book, and I read it in one sitting, if you want a book to get you out of your reading slump this one is definitely for you! I’m going to be looking more written by this author.

Classic case of unreliable narrator mixed with the typical ‘this couple doesn’t speak to each other about anything’.
The story started very different to how it continued and ended which threw the story off a little as I didn’t understand how it connected.
Eventually everything came together in quite a tragic end. Decent story and decent execution.

Opening chapter, prologue, they are lying in a pool of blood, knives in hand is how the police find them after an anonymous call. We then flip back X period of time before the incident and go between chapters from Joe and Beth. Partners, getting ready to marry, Beth loses her father and we see cracks starting to form in the relationship. Joe has his own issues going on but is trying to look after Beth. Beth is devastated, grief stricken and battling her inner demons. Going between his point of view and hers we watch as things crumble, getting darker and their relationship and implodes taking us to that fateful day the police find them and everything after.

Ooft strap in lads because it is about to get bumpy! Relatively short chapters which I love so even with a reading block/slump I could sink right in. Mental health and addiction feature quit heavily especially as we get further into it. When you have a character going through such a hard time they can be a bit of a difficult narrator, the way this is written you can see Beth's descension as it happens. Backed up by seeing Joe's point of view and responses to what he sees/finds as well as getting insight into what he is up to and going through. As the reader we get the context between the actions and seeing what the other person is missing.

Some of the characters are so unlikeable, like the cop, I can't even remember his name but like what was his damage, his partner seemed nice so not sure if it was emphasising good cop bad cop. Beth's mum I would not tire of slapping, she is just not a likeable person and every time she appeared I would puff or sigh. Some of us sadly have relatives like that who are just so self absorbed and horrible, yeah I really hated her. Beth cuts a sad character and whilst she also irritated me at times I did fell heart sorry for her because grief is awful and soul destroying but sadly it almost consumes her as does her "coping mechanism". The characters are quite real to life, well most of them, in their behaviours, actions, reactions, focuses with maybe one or two catching me off guard because I didn't forsee or catch what was headed my way. I think flawed characters can be difficult to capture and sometimes feel forced, with Beth I feel she was really well done and authentic because sadly we have had loved ones like that. So deep in their own hole, pushing folk away, becoming vulnerable in ways you/they didn't expect, 4/5.

I must start with an apology for failing to read and review this book until so much time has passed since publication day. But I did have a good reason for reading it in July: I knew that Noelle Holten would be attending the Theakstons Crime Writing festival at Harrogate, and I really wanted to be able to chat to her about it. So I'm really glad that His Truth, Her Truth was memorable enough for me to recall, despite my memories of many other things that happened over that weekend being blurred in a sea of Theakstons ale.

The book tells the stories of Beth and her fiance Joe. At first, it’s easy for the reader to doubt Beth, who is on medication for anxiety, distraught over the death of her father and turning to alcohol to numb her grief. It’s also easy to believe, and to like Joe, who does his best to care for Beth whilst, like so many of us, having to balance her needs with a busy workload.

But, as the book progresses, and we watch both characters’ struggles increase to the point of becoming unmanageable, doubts are gradually fed to the readers. Is Joe’s narrative really as reliable, and Beth’s as unreliable, as the first impressions suggested?

I loved the sharp and tense writing. I loved the different directions that the story threatened to take. And I thought the intrigue was extremely well done. Coincidentally, this book uses the same technique as that adopted in the last book I reviewed – The Baby Group by Jade Lee Wright – and it works again here for exactly the same reasons. It rewinds from an explosive opening prologue, leaving the reader to sort of know – and thus fear – what’s coming whilst at the same time wondering how on earth this terrifying situation came to be. The result was that I raced through to the finish, turning page after page until the ending which, thanks to the prologue was sort of expected but which still managed to be poignant.

Even so, judged first and foremost as a psychological thriller, His Truth, Her Truth is not perfect. Much as it’s easy to feel some sympathy for both main characters, the pace is a bit too fast and too frantic to be able to really get inside their heads. I have to say that the final solution is one that I saw coming, which isn’t really what I want in a book like this. I also wondered if a certain aspect of both Joe’s and Beth’s jobs was intended to be more central to the main storyline, only for it to end up being pushed further into the background as Noelle’s frantic, seat-of-the-pants writing mind worked its magic.

And that, I think, is the unique appeal, not only of this book but of all Noelle Holten’s work. If you want a detailed, intricately-plotted character study that’s more ‘psychological’ than ‘thriller’, may I direct you to Abigail Dean, or perhaps Gillian McAllister. Noelle’s appeal is different. It’s thriller first and psychological – or, in the case of her DC Maggie Jamieson novels, police procedure – second. It’s a collection of the author’s wonderfully chaotic thoughts, all brought together and made to flow by sheer God-given talent. It may not be one of those rare books in which every single detail works, but it achieved what’s arguably more important. It left me with a satisfied smile on my face.

My thanks to Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which I have reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

What a fantastic book this is! I had no idea where it was going right up until the end, questioning everything. A well written, twisty, suspenseful thriller with unreliable narrators who keep you guessing.
This is the first book I've read from this author and it most definitely won’t be my last.
A great read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Noelle Holten’s standalone novels and this was no different. It is full of suspense, intrigue and confusion with characters which had me suspecting so many of them.

My favourite thing with a psychological thriller is guessing the culprit and although I did guess correctly it didn’t spoil the storyline or suspense in the book. I love picking up on all the little clues and foreshadowing that made it such a fabulous novel.

Wonderful as always!

Oh Noelle! What did you do to me!! There was a point in the book, Part 2 to be exact, and I had a feeling she might go down the path she did....and then she did!! I was shocked, despite loving the balls of it. Loved the misdirections she gave us. I had a feeling about the twist, but it was still a shock nonetheless. IT WAS CRAZY!!

I devoured this book, mainly in the car, driving to Harrogate as I knew I was going to see her. I finished it. I saw her and waggled my finger as I exclaimed my shock! The narrators were great; they really homed in on the reveals and shocks and got you on edge as you didn't know who would be trustworthy!

I mean the beginning too, what an absolute banger of a prologue, as we had to wait (I'm)patiently to find out how we came across this gruesome scene in the kitchen!! LOVED IT!!

I loved Joe. He tries his best and makes a lot of mistakes. I found Beth relatable as she is grieving her father, and I felt her pain and despair as if it were my own. It did remind me of my own pain. But she was spiralling, and sometimes her manner made it hard to support her.

This was a fab book! I love the way Noelle's brain works, or maybe I should be worried, not sure! But this kept you on your toes as you play detective in a scenario where there is no light.

GO READ IT!!!

An interesting concept, but one that was repetitive and perhaps obvious. Characters were repetitive and just annoying. 3 star rating.

This was insatiable, I couldn’t stop reading it. Essentially a he says/she says thriller with 2 characters equally sharing the narration. I felt this delivered some good twists and kept you guessing, really enjoyed!!

Two bodies. Two knives. One brutal truth.

Christmas lights still hang in the windows when police are called to a quiet home and discover the scene of a double stabbing. A knife in his hand. A knife in hers. Joe and Beth: a couple who seemed to have it all—until the blood told a different story.

But there are always two sides. His version. Her version. And somewhere between them, the truth.

As the investigation unfolds, what emerges is more than a domestic gone wrong. It’s a story of grief, secrets, isolation—and how far we’ll go to protect what’s ours, or destroy it when we feel it's slipping away.

Told from shifting perspectives, His Truth Her Truth is a dark and thought-provoking psychological thriller that forces you to question everything: what we believe, who we trust, and whether we ever really know the people we love.

This is a slow-burn with a sharp sting. You may think you know what happened. But you don’t.

I received a complimentary copy all opinions expressed are mine.

What an expected read and interesting premise. The book is twisty ,thrilling and a page turner and what you think you know you don't know. The book is set around two bodies found as a result of a home invasion and what surprises detectives is the knives in their hands. What happened? Oh what a read!

A gritty and gripping thriller that examines how stories are shaped by perspective. The alternating truths were compelling, though I wanted more emotional depth from the ending. Still, Holten delivers a dark, timely exploration of trauma and justice.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t resonate with me. While the premise sounded intriguing, I found the reading experience quite challenging. I didn’t connect with the characters, which made it hard to stay invested in the story. Plus, the ending felt hurried and left me wanting more depth.

This was very much a standard thriller, enjoyable, but nothing to write home about. I don’t typically enjoy a dual POV but it did work quite well for this novel. The FMC was pretty unbearable and I struggled to empathise with her.

I thought this story line sounded great but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I found it a bit slow and I didn’t like the main characters - this is always something I struggle to get past and likely the reason I didn’t enjoy this book. Thanks for the advance copy

Unfortunately His Truth Her Truth just wasn't for me. I thought the description was interesting and appealing but once I started the book I found it a real struggle. I didn't like any of the characters which made it difficult for me to care what happened in the story and I thought the ending was really rushed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my Arc.

This is a gripping and cleverly constructed psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. The narrative unfolds through the alternating perspectives of two central characters, each presenting their own version of events surrounding a complex and disturbing crime.

The "his" in the title belongs to Tom, a seemingly ordinary man whose life is thrown into turmoil when his estranged wife, Nicola, is brutally attacked. Tom insists on his innocence, portraying himself as a victim of circumstance and a concerned ex-husband. The "her" belongs to Nicola, who, even in her vulnerable state, paints a very different picture of their relationship and the events leading up to the assault, hinting at a history of manipulation and control.

I couldn't put the book down once I started. Loved it.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


His Truth, Her Truth by Noelle Holten? Five stars. No hesitation.
This book grabbed me from page one and did not let go. It’s raw, intense, and deals with some really heavy, important topics—domestic abuse, justice, and how truth can look completely different depending on who’s telling the story.

Told from dual perspectives, this one messes with your head in the best way. You’re constantly questioning: Who’s lying? Who’s protecting themselves? And what actually happened?

The writing is razor-sharp and emotionally devastating. Noelle Holten doesn’t just tell a story—she makes you feel every complicated, uncomfortable moment. I was on edge, heart in my throat, but couldn’t stop reading.

5/5 stars. Thought-provoking, powerful, and impossible to forget. Highly recommend if you love thrillers that make you think and feel.



❤️shaye.readss

I really wasn’t drawn in by the characters and struggled to finish the book. The ending was abrupt and I found that the book just wasn’t for me.

I gave this ook 5 stars. You must get this book or you will miss out! I could not put this book down!