what would you do if your stepfather was an accused serial killer?

Truly, Darkly, Deeply is a dark thriller which plays with this theme- would you know if someone you loved was a killer? would you know? and if you did , what would you do?

The story has a lot of backstory and I felt like there was a lot of up and down with the plot, but the twist at the end payed off!

Enjoyable but somewhat flawed thriller mostly due to irritation with female lead. Loved what it was tying to do and the premise made it a good page turner.

Chilling, malevolent and gripping. A new author to me and I was on edge throughout.

We follow dual timelines as Sophie abruptly moves from the USA to London as a child. Her mother starts dating Matty, a handsome and charming but elusive Irish man and Sophie falls just as much in love with him.

In the present day, Sophie continues to be haunted by events of her childhood years and is still trying to come to terms with the fact that Matty has been imprisoned. What really happened? Was it all her fault? What should she do now?

WOW. I absolutely loved this. So many twists, I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be reading more from Victoria Selman.

"Truly, Darkly, Deeply" by Victoria Selman is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of obsession, manipulation, and the dark corners of the human psyche. The story centers around the aftermath of a chilling murder case, blending elements of suspense and character-driven drama.

Selman’s writing is both atmospheric and immersive, effectively building tension as the narrative unfolds. The protagonist's internal struggles are depicted with nuance, making her relatable even in her darkest moments. The pacing is well-crafted, keeping readers engaged with unexpected twists and turns.

One of the standout elements is the exploration of morality and the gray areas of justice. Selman raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of evil and the impact of trauma, making readers reflect long after the last page is turned.

Overall, "Truly, Darkly, Deeply" is a compelling read for fans of psychological thrillers. Selman’s skillful storytelling and character development create a haunting tale that lingers, leaving a lasting impression. If you enjoy dark, twisty narratives that challenge your perceptions, this book is definitely worth picking up.

A creepy dark and disturbing read. Kept me up until late to get this finished. A real page turner. I loved it!

Fantastic book with great core characters. Recommend to friends for anyone who loves this genre of book!

I found the first half of the story okay but as the story progressed I found it very repetitive. I ended up skipping through to the ending to read the last few chapters.

I liked Sophie the most out of the characters in the story even if I couldn’t connect with her.

I did find some parts of the book uncomfortable like Matty walking around in the nude in front of Sophie, or Sophie bullying her mum or students at school. I’m not quite sure what was the point of these scenes in the book.

Thank you Quercus and Netgalley for the digital copy of Truly, Darkly, Deeply by Victoria Selman for reviewing purposes

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I expected more of this book than I got. I was aware of the reviews prior to reading and hoped they were wrong, but, sadly the majority were indeed correct. The constant jumping forwards and back created too much confusion for me and I kept waiting for the story to grab me but sadly not.

Well mixed feelings about this one. When I first started I felt that I was starting halfway through a book, like I had missed the first few chapters. However, I did get into it and enjoyed the ending.

I did enjoy this book. I found it hard to keep moving backwards and forwards but it added to the intrigue. I had to keep checking in to see what was going on.

I am not sure about the ending.

Imagine your stepdad being a serial killer... eek.

I really struggled to get into this one and unfortunately I did not finish it. It fell a little short of my expectations and I was really sad I didn’t enjoy it as much as I hoped.

This one is way too long for what it is and for how un-engaging it is. I found it extremely boring and repetitive. The listener is subjected to Sophie's emotions and feelings over and over again. The storyline is told in both a past and present timeline. The plot is set mostly today, and partly 20 years ago. I didn’t see the need for the "today" side of the storyline at all. The last one or two chapters were really the only engaging ones and the big reveal wasn’t really a reveal at all. By the time we got to the outcome I was really fed up and just so glad to be finished it. I hate to say it but I found it a complete slog from start to finish. I didn’t really care for any of the characters either and found Sophie incredibly unlikable, both today and in the past as a child. Unfortunately this one really wasn’t for me and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus Books for the opportunity to read and review #TrulyDarklyDeeply

This book follows Sophie and her mum in their move from the USA to London. Leaving everything behind to start a new life, where Matty enters their life. Sophie's mum adores Matty and hopes to become his wife while Sophie is relishing having a father figure in her life. Little did they know it would all turn sour. There is a side to Matty they haven't seen yet, a very dark side.

If a serial killer waltzed in to your life, would you know? Sometimes we're blinded by the people closest to us.

A great read, with exciting twists.

I do love a serial killer based book and the premise of Truly Darkly Deeply really appealed to me. I did enjoy but for me it could have been darker.

The beginning of this book is fast moving and I was sucked in quickly. I was intrigued by the characters and the whole did he or did he not do it scenario, especially from Sophie's point of view. Told across two timelines, I enjoyed looking through the eyes of eight year old Sophie and how Matty came into her life.. I really felt for how she felt for Matty.

Overall, it was a compelling read and one I would definitely recommend.

Really enjoyed this - will definitely be recommending and looking forward to the next one by this author!

A massive 5 stars for this unbelievably brilliant debut. It’s a really clever and different way of doing the serial killer genre. I think it’s one of the best I’ve read. Just bought this writer’s new book too. Recommended to everyone!

Truly Darkly Deeply by Victoria Selman is an unusual 'Did He Do It' style of a book and does a great job of keeping you guessing until the end.

Sophie's childhood was turbulent, moving to London as a young child, with her mother as an only parent after her father left the family home. When her mother meets Matty, a handsome, enigmatic and fun father figure for her, she begins to feel that the family is whole again.

However, is Matty all he seems? Sometimes absent without notice, and sometimes inappropriate in his dealings with Sophie, things begin to become more disturbing as Matty seems to know too much about the actions of a serial killer stalking young women, who bear an uncanny resemblance to Sophie's mother.

Matty can't be guilty of these Crimes can he?

Matty is ultimately convicted of the crimes but public opinion is divided as to whether the largely circumstantial evidence has led to an unsound conviction.

When Matty is diagnosed with terminal cancer whilst in prison he reaches out to Sophie one last time. Will hearing the truth from Matty save Sophie or sentence her to her own version of pergatory.

A very good ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me, and an author I'll follow.

Could you cope with having a serial killer in the family? How do you question the possibility of innocence or guilt?

Sophie receives a letter stamped with Battlemouth Prison. The prison her 'stepfather' Matty has been residing in for the past 20 years. Matty was her mother Amelia-Rose' partner and the closest thing Sophie had to a father .

Matty has always protested his innocence, he's just a normal man, well educated, well dressed, pleasant ... how can he be a serial killer?

When the letter arrives Soohie is in two minds, can she finally confront him and get the answers she so desperately needs or does she ignore his request to visit him before he dies?

Told from Sophie's viewpoint from past and present, the questioning of innocence or guilt plays heavily throughout both narratives and really pulls the story together.

I really enjoyed the added blog pieces woven throughout. They somehow made it all feel more real as we all know kist how interested people are in the real world when it comes to true crime and their own theories.

The characters are expertly executed, you feel the characters personalities and emotions flow from the pages.

I loved reading the POV from 'past'Sophie, set in the 1980s, before the internet and mobile phones, when life seemed simpler and the news was only broadcast over the radio or minimal TV stations.

I'm trying to be as vague as possible so not to give any spoilers but this is a must read. A book that feels real with a brilliant ending that plays on emotions... what more could you want?

Massive thanks to netgalley and Quercus Books for the ARC.