No Truth Left to Tell by Michael McAuliffe
Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction (Adult)
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group LLC
Publish Date: 3 March 2020

Star Rating 4/5

A resurgent Klan wants a new race war... but this isn't a story purely about the Klan, it is a book about the court case that follows after the crime. I haven't had much experience in legal thrillers but having read this one I'll have to look more deeply into them. My interest has been aroused! It's an intense read as we explore racism, bigotry, and hate but McAuliffe is a great storyteller.

This book will be excellent for those who want to read a well researched legal thriller about a very dark group.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Greenleaf Book Group LLC, for an E-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I started this book and it started off well and then I felt like it went off a cliff. I don't know if it was my mood or what but I've not been able to finish the book. I'm hoping that it was a mood thing and I will be able to finish it later.

Annoyingly enough, stories featuring the KKK are always interesting and, to be honest, that’s what led me to picking up this book. If you feel the same, let it be known that this is not really a story about the KKK. Yes, we are told of their crime and are aquatinted with the leader of the Klan across a few chapters, but what this book is ultimately about is the court case that follows the crime.

The case that unfolds in No Truth Left to Tell is well researched and very detailed. We see the sheer amount of work it takes to prosecute someone for a hate crime, as civil rights lines become blurred.

As readers, we are more so told what happens than shown, unless we are. in the courtroom. Then, we are giving almost a play-like script outlining the conversation between the prosecution, defence and witnesses. Admittedly, despite being interesting, this can become dreary at times. However, about 60% through the book, things flip and No Truth Left to Tell becomes more of a story than a court case. It is in the latter part of the book that the author really shines in showcasing the anger, frustration and empathy of the characters involved. And there is also a little hint of a love story, if you really need things softening up.

If you are already a fan of legal thrillers, you will love No Truth Left to Tell. If you are new to the genre, welcome!, but be wary that things can get pretty intense.

I first accepted this title from NetGalley and the publisher because the author and my mother went to the same college. The author for law school, my mother for her undergraduate studies. The college is not very big, and it is always fun to see what other alums are up to.

This book was captivating from the beginning. It was ugly sometimes, but isn't that the way of the world? Through a courtroom drama, we are shown racism, bigotry, small-mindedness and hate. But we are also shown kindness and loving and grace. I think Mr. McAuliffe did a very nice job on his debut novel of balancing character development with story telling and, of course, revealing some truths many of us would rather ignore.

Set in a small town in Louisiana, the Federal Government has been brought in on a KKK cross burning crime. We get to see some of the thoughts and actions of people on both sides of the law and spend quite a bit of time hearing from the victims and how their lives change.

There were some interesting legal challenges brought up to help keep the suspense taut and the story fresh.

At about the 75% mark, I found this quote: "Prosecutors are empowered to seek justice, and nearly every prosecutor starts off believing in that purity of purpose. But it all flounders when justice isn't obvious, when it's not sitting on open ground waiting to be claimed." There were more great quotes throughout the book, but this one hit me as most appropriate for the biggest conflict in the story: good guy versus himself.

I look forward to reading more by this author and will be recommending this book to others.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my digital ARC of this book.

this book was a great thriller, the characters were great and I was always on the edge of my seat when reading this. Overall I really enjoyed reading this.

What a mind-blowing, riveting page-turner! I enjoyed reading this book. I was completely hooked on to the story until the end.
Well-portrayed characters, well-researched story, I highly recommend you to read No Truth Left to Tell.
The FBI angle, the judiciary's part in convictions, a racial crime and a tinge of romance, this book is a complete package!
I am certainly looking forward to reading more of McAullife's books.

No Truth Left to Tell is an incredible story of courage, perserverance, kindness in the face of hatred and racism.

The small town of Lynwood, Louisiana is home to some who still believe that the colour of your skin defines who you are and who want to see those of colour put down and not succeed. A group even brings back the Klan and begins to terrorize the town and citizens. This quickly brings chaos to this small town, something that hasn’t been seen in a few years. A federal civil rights prosecutor is brought in to bring the criminals to justice and the book unravels some very ugly history in this small town.

This is a well written novel that hits on some very difficult topics. The crimes that were committed against these groups in Lynwood were horrific and shocking, but even worse that you can still see this happening in the news today. The flashbacks that this caused for the one victim, broke my heart. I can only begin to imagine how I would feel if I were in those shoes. As the case is investigated, we see so many layers of right and wrong – both in society and in our law enforcement. Some of the actions blur the lines between what is right and wrong – something that can feel so right (justice for the victims) but at the expense of a lie and information obtained against the rights of another could be wrong.

This novel leaves you feeling conflicted, angry, sympathetic and wanting to make a difference. It is well written, with a plot that keeps you reading well into the night. You can’t put this book down, as you want to see criminals brought to justice and the shock you feel at our legal system. The characters are powerful, with a rich history and connections that you slowly learn. You want to reach out and protect some and others you hope they get the justice they deserve. No Truth Left to Tell is a definite must read novel.

This was a book that I had mixed feelings about. I enjoyed the accounts from the victims and the perpetrators but the police and lawyers didn’t do a thing for me. Only one of the officers, Baptiste, was one whose narrative I appreciated.
I think the problem was that there was too many too quickly and I felt that I didn’t get to know them.

This is a really solid legal thriller. The film Just Mercy is just out and this reminds me of JM only because both are about injustice and racism. This is page turner, and has a number of elements including legal, suspense, and love. Well crafted characters also help make this engaging. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

In No Truth Left To Tell, the author Michael McAuliffe tells about a Klan hanging that happened 100 years ago in Lynwood, Louisiana. It’s an ugly and brutal scene of which he writes in 1920. A black man and his daughter, Netttie Wynn, nearly stumbled into the scene, but escaped from being detected or they too would surely have died. Jump forward to 1994 when Nettie was now an old woman. Over the years, the Klan had gotten smaller in membership, but it was still there. Frank Daniels, the current grand dragon, wanted to wake up the locals to start a new race war. He thought that by burning crosses in several well chosen sites, that he could achieve that. He chose the outside of a law office where lawyers worked who defended the rights of blacks, the courthouse, the local office of the NAACP, a “Jew bank,” and Lettie’s home which she inherited from her parents and where she continued to live by herself.

There was never any real doubt to those investigating this Federal hate crime about who was responsible. Where was the evidence in this tight-lipped community who would say nothing meaningful to outside investigators. It was a stunning surprise when Daniels confessed, was convicted, and went to jail. But, what would you do if you realized Daniels’ confession was tainted, that it was obtained illegally? Is it tolerable to do the right thing by putting away this scum of a man, but to have done it for the wrong reasons?

McAulifee spins a fabulous story about racism and truth. There were good guys and bad, all of whom were believable characters. I was hooked on this one from the beginning, and you will too.

This debut novel by an accomplished attorney and Federal official had some respectable plot development and several believable characters. While stories of racism and social strife frequently grab my attention, I did not become invested in No Truth Left to Tell.