Member Reviews
A Version of the Truth was not what I was expecting at all and I just couldn’t get on with it. I don’t know what to say without going into the plot, but it’s safe to say that this one definitely wasn’t for me unfortunately.
I will be very honest in saying that this book was not for me. I could not finish this book. There were matters involving, rape, racism and strong sexual violence which are all fine if handled well. These weren't
I was expecting more of a Psychological Thriller. Not an easy read, very dusturbing at times with several sexual encounters....not wishing to plot spoil here...a book I would have steered away from had I known....however, in the belief that the rating of a book shoukd be based on the crafts of the writer I feel my star rating of 4 is fair.
Riveting read
A story told from two different perspectives. It gives glimpses of an Oxford University social life in the 90's from the perspective of a working class girl as she observes the sexual mores of a small upper class friendship group.. Against a here and now Xmas supper party we observe the collision of the two worlds.
A well crafted story with chilling twists and turns but some insightful observations. A very good read
A Version of the Truth deals with contemporary themes much like Anatomy of A Scandal and Asking For It but in this case it is sexual abuse on a major scale.
The story in A Version of the Truth is told in two timelines:
In 1990 Holly, a naive working class girl, goes up to Oxford to read English Literature and is befriended by wealthy, upper class Ally who introduces her to her twin brother Ernest, and his best friend James. Holly develops a crush on the handsome James which leads to disaster.
In the present day the reader is re-introduced to James, married to Julianne; Ally and Ernest, now a famous MP. Prior to the Christmas dinner partyJulianne and James are holding at their luxury home in Knightsbridge their teenage son Steven shows his mother something shocking on his iPad. Julianne realises that the careful family life she has built up is about to be shattered and the truth about events at Oxford revealed.
The theme is interesting and I enjoyed the link between Holly and the present day scandal that Julianne uncovers. There are some triggers of rape and sexual violence which some readers may find a difficult read. Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In 2019, Julianne is living happily with her family when her son brings her his IPad and her whole world changes.
In 1990, Holly is a freshman who makes friends with older students and falls for one in particular that will change her whole world.
This was an enthralling, multi-layered story with intricate characters - at times it was tough to keep up but yet I couldn't put it down! It was upsettingly graphic at times yet reflects true life, especially in today's world. i enjoyed the dual story lines, past and present. This story centered around rape, power and entitlement.
Thank you to B.P. Walter, Avon and NetGalley for the ARC of this fantastic book!
Netgallery #A version of the truth.
Wow wow wow I definitely do not want to spoil this book for anyone yet it’s a book you just have to read. I know it’s a fictional book but in some ways it not it’s hard to explain without giving too much away I believe what happened at Oxford was to close for comfort this book I’d definitely area page turner. I say about some books it the best book I have read in awhile, I can honestly say in all my years of reading this is the second book of all time with all my years of reading.to day it’s the second est book I have ever read believe you me thatvsays everything about this boo. I read a book a few years ago my number one book of all time. You could mistake this book for a prequel to book number one yet both by different aothors absoltky brilliant and actually I can not will not tell you the book it could have been a prequel too, that just would not be fair as I am actually reviewing this particular book. It was a fantastic book that could definitely keep a conversation all night just based on a discussion amazing book
This book is impossible to put down.
With a dark sinister storyline and even if you don't like the characters
It keeps you intrigued to the end.
Thank you netgalley, Avon and B P Walker for allowing me to read and review this book.
This was a very well written and researched book about what people with wealth and influence do with there money.
They run sex clubs via the computer and blackmail the victims if they try to talk.
Am sure this must go on, do I want to,know, I suppose not.but this was a very descriptive book about the,seedy type of life money can buy.
It was upsetting but then the,world can be.
This book was harrowing and exciting in equal measure and I couldn’t put the book down. The tale of a mixed up group of friends and a horrific event that touches everyone of them in different ways. At time this book is hard to read in its honesty and I will definitely be looking out for more by this author.
Absolutely brilliant! Really interesting, Page turning read that I just couldn't put down and was reading it until the early hours just to finish it!
I have waited nearly a week to write this review as I couldn’t decide how the book ‘sat’ with me. I found the male characters two dimensional and stereotypical and the female characters were equally pathetic. I liked the dual time lines and the switching of narrators. IHowever I felt that it was two stories merged into one with neither being given the depth they needed. The author obviously has talent and writes very well (sometimes a little too graphically for some tastes) so possibly one book about university freshers, relationships and rape with the fall out of that and another book about privileged men who have unnatural sexual proclivities and the power and money to explore those perversions would have been better in my view. I felt the gap between the rape and the grown offspring being on board with her strong independent mother was too much. Equally the male rapists evolution to the middle aged men they became was just as unexplained.
This one really wasn't for me. It wasn't quite what I expected based on the description. I was expecting a domestic psychological suspense and it was more of a rich bad boys/sexual assault story. Not as interesting as it seemed and too many sex scenes for my taste.
I didn't know what to expect from this book as I didn't read the blurb about it. I found the story told in 2019 quite exciting but got a bit bored with the 1990 story especially all the sex. It wasn't until halfway through the book that I realised the significance of the 1990 story.
The story shows how some people think because of their position in life they can treat other people how they want and use them purely for their own needs. It became quite a harrowing read where weaker individuals are used and abused by people in power.
None of the men in the story were likeable at all. I empathised with the two woman but maybe slightly less with Julianne in the 1990 story.
Quite a surprising outcome to the book and ended up a really good read and one that made you think that it could really be happening around us....and probably is.
This wasn't my cup of tea but I still liked it. I am able to see that there are a lot of readers out there who would love this book but it just wasn't for me.
Wow! I devoured this book which was unexpected as it covers some very dark and disturbing topics such as sexual assault, drugs, class and privilege and abuse of power.
The story begins with Holly, a young and brilliant girl from a working class background who is beginning her studies at the prestigious Oxford University where she encounters other young people who come from hugely different backgrounds. The story time hops between events then in 1990 and events in 2019 which worked very well for me and enabled the story of what happened to Holly to be gradually teased out and revealed in stages - this tactic ensured that I would be reading way past bedtime!
Although the majority of characters in this book are truly awful - from self-centred and entitled to downright evil - this is no way ruined my enjoyment of the book and it's fair to say I was hooked despite this and the dark subject matter!
My only complaint - and this is one that has been echoed by fellow reviewers- is that the ending was rather rushed and abrupt and could certainly have used an extra chapter or two but I suppose that just indicates how very much I enjoyed this book?
A brilliant 5 stars and huge thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARc in exchange for an honest review.
Frighteningly plausible and sickening, but impossible to put down. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting this book anytime soon.
Great book, lots going on- lots to follow. Good strong characters. Story is strong as is the plot.
Thank you to both NetGalley and Avon Books UK for my eARC in exchange for my honest unbiased review
#A Version of the Truth# NetGally
B. P. Walter
This story is a very dark, sinister tale of young college students caught up in the back and forth dance between male and female characters. The description of college life (although I am sure most of this goes on) was over the top with much sex, drugs, alcohol and misogyny throughout the book. It was just too much gore. The story is told between two time periods, The Present and The 1990’s. It alternates between characters quickly and I found it hard to keep up with them and how they were connected. For me, it was a a very difficult read because of all the controversial topics and unsavory, unpleasant occurrences. If I had not committed to reviewing this book, I would have had a struggle to finish it. I like a good psychological thriller, but this one did not fit the bill for me. I wish the author good luck in her future endeavors. Unfortunately, I will not be recommending this book to others.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGally for the advance read copy in exchange for an honest review. 3 stars
BP Walters is certainly an author to watch out for. Exquisitely well-written and perfectly plotted, A Version of the Truth captured me from page one, had me riveted me throughout, and left me thoroughly, *thoroughly* unsettled. Some disturbing, and poignant, social commentary here. Bravo!