Lisa Scottoline's world just grabbed me by the imagination, and I'm already hooked for the long haul! Being my debut into Scottoline's world won't be my last. The writing was tight. Characters were fine sometimes a little stereotypical but they were compelling. The plot, a rollercoaster of suspense, blackmail, murder, and some twists and turns in this domestic thriller.

TJ, is our flawed main character. He's the black sheep in a powerhouse family of lawyers in Philly, fresh out of the jail and wrestling with addiction demons. TJ helps the lawyer family by being an investigator and into a mess to help his golden boy older brother, and other family members. and that's when things take a thrilling turn.

Suddenly, TJ's unraveling secrets that could turn his family's esteemed reputation into ruins.

I'm all about the mystery, so I went in blind, no spoilers and very little detail. This book dished out a buffet of family drama, spiced with legal complexities (no courtroom though). Each character had their skeletons, and the result was an enthralling read that kept me turning pages.

Lisa Scottoline has just earned herself an auto read from me. Can't wait to dive into some of her past books.

The Truth about the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline is a domestic thriller based on what power, money and lies do to a family. Devlin and Devlin is a family owned successful law firm in Philadelphia that employs mom, dad, son, daughter but not son TJ, he’s the black sheep of the family. TJ is recently out of jail, on parole, out of rehab for alcoholism, college drop out, and your typical family disappointment, but TJ is employed by the law firm as the unofficial investigator. When the family gathers for their father’s birthday party, TJ’s brother John approaches him with a huge problem, he just killed a man. TJ doesn’t think twice about leaving the party with John to fix his brother’s mess, but John isn’t as loyal as his younger brother.

When the murdered man is missing from where John says he left him, this gives John the opening he needs to redirect the narrative. As TJ continues to figure out what happened to the accountant John accused of embezzlement, a body is found at a different location with a gunshot, John’s story is beginning to unravel and he solely places the blame on his brother TJ. The family believes John, the prodigal son, offering lies that TJ has relapsed and is no longer sober, all to deflect his own involvement in the crime. As TJ continues to risk his life in order to find out the truth about the murder, while trying to prove to his own family he has not screwed up his life again, dark secrets are exposed that can bring down the entire law firm’s empire, and possibly leaving more dead bodies in it’s wake.

I really enjoyed this thriller. TJ is a likeable character, he’s willing to do the time for his crime and not hide behind his family’s power and connections. He owns up to his mistakes, and will do anything to prove to his family he really has changed his life for the better. As for the rest of the family, John really is a jerk. With a gripping storyline, you will find yourself unable to put this book down until the truth finally comes out.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam and Lisa Scottoline for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoy books written by Lisa Scottoline.

Lisa Scottoline is one of my go to authors, and I was looking forward to reading The Truth About the Devlins.
This book did not disappoint me. The characters are well developed and TJ Devlin makes a wonderful protagonist. Although a disappointment to his highly successful family, the reader soon realizes he is the best of them all.
TJ works as an investigator in his family's law firm and is often under the shadow of his older brother, John. His world is turned upside down however, when's John confesses to him that he just murdered one of their clients. Tu takes it upon himself to save his brother, and things go downhill from there. John is as unlikable as TJ is likable, and Scottoline does a great job keeping the reader wondering what really happened.
This was another excellent addition to this author's collection

thank you net galley for an arc copy .i really really enjoyed book. kept me on the edge of my seat with all the twist and turn. this is about TJ devlin who brother john confesses to killing someone he belived was guilty of embezzelment. and we follow them as they investagate and try to save his brother.

Publication date: March 26th, 2024
Page count: ~309
Genre: domestic, legal thriller
Setting: Philadelphia suburbs
POV: TJ Devlin
Features: Family, murder, legal, addictions

Narrator endearing. The book is engaging from the beginning. It is action packed, although does drag at certain points.

Thank you to author, publisher, NetGalley for advanced copy. This is an honest voluntary review.

It took me a while to finish this book. I think mainly because I hated the way TJs family treats him at first. The plot took a while to develop and I think that was another reason it took me longer than usual to get through a book this length. The story itself was great once it picked up. It all eventually tied together nicely and left you with a happy ending. I enjoyed the investigative work in the book and going through the motions of it with the main character TJ supported my own thought process in the book. I would recommend this book if you are wanting a good mystery!

Lisa Scottoline doesn't disappoint with this new family thriller. I was hooked from page 1 and couln't wait to see what would happen next. There are twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. Lisa Scottoline has written some of the best books I have ever read, and I love when new ones come out

I honestly never saw myself as someone who would read legal thrillers before encountering her books; however her characterization is among the best, and I can't help but wonder how carefully she must observe the world to be able to come up with those little details that sets her stories apart from others.

Moreover, I actually like the addition of legal information. Since this is something she has first hand experience of, the plots are so very well done.

5 Stars!

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

The Truth About the Devlins blends domestic thriller with crime drama, portraying the Devlins as a powerful legal family entangled in dysfunction. TJ, the family's black sheep, finds himself at an alleged crime scene brought in by his brother John. Despite being the outsider, TJ, with his wit and resourcefulness, becomes a lovable character. As he navigates through trouble and backstabbing while aiding his brother, the twists and turns of the story kept me engaged, but it was TJ's character that truly drew me back for more. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam - GP Putnam's Sons, NetGalley, and the author for the chance to read and review this prior to release. The Truth About the Devlins by: Lisa Scottoline, expected publication: March 26, 2024.

The Devlin's are a successful family of lawyers, except for brother TJ, the black sheep, recovering alcoholic, and ex-con. the Devlin golden child John reveals a startling confession to TJ, they set off to make sure everything is tidied up. What happens from there is a roller coaster ride of family and legal drama to keep you guessing through the last page! This kept me on my toes and I was anxiously waiting for the discovery of who was after John. The twists never stopped and by the end, everything I thought I knew had been disproved. Great read, would recommend!

A new domestic thriller from LIsa Scottoline, is always welcome!

Meet TJ Devlin. Given the family screw up title after a short prison term and some heavy drinking. TJ is sober now, and working at the family firm.

John is the perfect brother. Lawyer and shining star. Until he shows up confessing to killing a man. A client.

As TJ investigates, things get very complicated. The truth about the Devlins is about to be front page news!

This is a twisty, fast-paced thriller of a story. Families, Lies, Secrets. In the end they could destroy everyone.


NetGalley/ Penguin Group/GP Putnam March 26, 2024

TJ Devlin is the disappointment of the Devlin family, successful lawyers with a lucrative family business. Recovering alcoholic and ex-con TJ works for the family firm as an investigator, a make-work job which makes TJ feel worthless especially when compared to his brother John. John is the firstborn brilliant, athletic heir-apparent to the family business. Imagine TJ’s surprise when John calls on him for help with a dangerous situation John finds himself in. The help John needs puts TJ, his sobriety, and the Devlins in jeopardy.
Scottoline’s new drama illustrates things aren’t always what they seem…families, business, crimes, coverups. The inner dynamics of the Devlins personal and business lives are exposed as TJ digs into John’s trouble.
“The Truth About the Devlins” is a good read for those who like family stories where the families aren’t what they seem. There is also a secondary story involving the Devlin daughter Gabby which that was interesting and gave more insight into TJ.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy for review.

The Devlin family is all successful except for TJ. He's a recovering alcoholic who did his time and is trying hard to move on. The problem? No one wants to hire an ex-con, no matter what family he comes from.

Working at the family firm as the unofficial investigator, his brother John comes to him for help. John thinks he's killed a client, and needs TJ's help. This begins the web of lies spread between the two brothers that threaten to tear the family apart.

A little long in some places, overall this was a good, suspenseful read. 4/5 stars!

The Truth About The Delvins by Lisa Scottoline. This book was very good. I truly enjoyed all the characters. The plot had me so invested that I did not want to stop reading. I never saw the end coming. Lisa Scottoline is so good at making you think one thing,but then blows your mind with something else entirely. If you like a good plot with interesting characters you should definitely read this book.

Thank you, Penguin/GP Putnam's Sons and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of The Truth about the Devlins.

What a ride! Scottoline has another legal thriller hit on her hands. The short chapters kept this story moving at a fast pace, and our narrator, the alcoholic parolee Devlin, kept me on my investigative toes! This is definitely a one-sit wonder so block out some time because you definitely won't want to put this one down!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up! TJ is a recovering alcoholic, whose parents employed him at their family law firm as an investigator after he got out of prison. At their father’s birthday dinner, TJ’s brother confesses to him that he may have murdered a client. TJ is on the case, investigating the incident and all the fall out after the fact.

Definitely an exciting way to start the book off and had me captivated right away. I feel like the middle dragged on a bit… I think because this started so strong, it pushed my expectations up a bit, so when things slowed down, I was more disappointed than I normally would have been. I feel like TJ’s character was very well developed. this was still a very good legal type thriller and very action packed!

thank you to netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a longtime fan of Lisa Scottoline and this book didn’t disappoint! First off this is a fast paced read with great characters that were easy to connect with. I read it in 2 days, it was so hard to put down!

We follow TJ Devin, the black sheep of his family as a recovering alcoholic looking to move on with his life. TJ strives to put his family first even when they don’t do the same for him, as the flow of the story unfolds we begin to see flaws in the family dynamic and family bonds begin to break when his older brother flips the storyline with a murder and the family begins to turn on TJ.

TJ is a character you can’t help but love and I found myself really enjoying his perspective in this storyline. I found it really interesting that the author did a lot of research on addiction to make the storyline accurate and believable. After finishing the book I looked a bit into Holmesburg prison and have been fascinated to learn more about it. All around a great suspenseful novel again from Lisa!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC for my honest review.

This is an enjoyable crime thriller with a really endearing main character, TJ Devlin. I found myself getting really angry at his family (especially his brother John) at how they treated him and his sobriety. I was impressed with how this book wove together storylines regarding the central crime/mystery, his sister's pro bono case regarding medical testing, and how difficult it can be for an alcoholic felon to move on with his life. Somehow everything came together in a way that was both entertaining, educational, and neatly wrapped up. I was unaware of the medical testing done in Philadelphia prisons, so it was fascinating to read the acknowledgements and see what the author had to say about it.

All in all, if you enjoy twisty law & crime thrillers, I would check this one out. TJ is a really good character to hinge this book on - you're rooting for him (and Mango) the whole time. Would love to read more stories featuring the Devlins!

A fast paced look behind the “perfect” family, who as it turns out is t perfect at all. A great twist at the end is the icing on the cake!