I usually really enjoy Lisa Scottoline's books. The Truth About the Devlins was a little hard to get into though. I felt like none of the main characters were really likeable. It was a quick read but overall not super enjoyable. I found myself not really caring what happened to any of the Devlin family.

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/3.5/5

The Truth about the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline is a legal domestic thriller about TJ Devlin who is an ex-con and alcoholic working as an investigator at his family’s law firm, when his lawyer brother, John, confesses that he thinks he may have killed somebody. TJ begins to explore what happened, and it turns out that all of the Devlins’ may have been hiding something.

I’m a huge fan of Lisa Scottoline, and you can tell she does an incredible about of research and puts a lot of knowledge into all of her books. I thought it started off with an incredible grab in the beginning, and then was so suspenseful and good at the end, but the middle of this book felt a little slow to me at times. Also, I hated how the family dynamics were and I thought that the entire family was unnecessarily hard on TJ, I felt so bad for him the entire book.

However, the parts that were good were so suspenseful and I found myself on the edge of my seat a lot of the time. There’s good twists and turns that keep you interested as a reader, and some parts were predictable but others weren’t!

I’ll continue to read Lisa Scottoline’s books because I love her writing.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

Thank you for allowing me to read Lisa Scottoline's newest novel, The Truth about the Devlins. I have read several of the author's books and I lived in the greater Philadelphia region for 26 years so I was eager to get my hands on this book.

To be truthful, I almost gave up after the first couple of chapters. I thought the dialogue was stilted and not particularly well written. I did continue and I was happy that I did; the plot quickly thickened. It was a fast paced novel of intrigue and family secrets. However, it was not one of the author's best pieces.

Really enjoyed this thriller about a family law practice. The black sheep PI (also a recovering alcoholic) steps up to investigate the oldest son's crime. Great characters and family dynamics. Didn't guess the ending but loved it!

Buckle up for a heavy family drama, with some thriller aspects.

I’d just come from back to back thrillers so the weight of the characters and the family interactions messed with me a bit but you love them more for it. There are some real unlikable characters, the main character being one at sometimes, but in the end you’re rooting for them all.

I sat on my couch Sunday and read it cover to cover, and I think anyone else that picks it up will do the same.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

The Truth about the Devlins by Lisa Scottoline Well written and intense family drama. TJ Devlin’s story from family black sheep to hero was very entertaining and engrossing read.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Great family dynamics

TJ is the odd man out in his family of prominent attorneys. In fact, TJ didn't even finish college. His drinking problem got in the way. His poor choices also put him behind bars for. a year. Now the family law firm has hired him as an investigator. I learned a new word, which was repeated several times. TJ's job is a sinecure. It is defined as a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit. TJ thinks he is doing important work, but his brother thinks his job is a sinecure. But his brother also wants TJ to do an investigation that will help him get out of a jam.

This book had a great plot and good family dynamics. TJ's struggle with sobriety was very interesting to me. Although the author doesn't claim to have first-hand experience, she has done a lot of research and TJ's daily fight read true.

The only problem I had was that the purpose of the murder and attempted murder didn't make much sense to me. I don't want to spoil the end, but I don't see how murdering someone would have done much to change the event that the bad person was trying to avoid.

All in all a great book.

A man battling alcoholism is caught up in the secrets of his family's law firm and no matter what he does, as an investigator, things get crazier and crazier. The tale was a good one, but I often got confused by all the explaining the author did of the ongoing cases at the law firm that seemed to hinder this man more than help him. Needless to say, this is the first book I've read by Lisa Scottoline and at this time I'm not sure if I'll read another. Maybe this just wasn't the book for me, but I did read it all and it left me more confused than anything. I'm not going to write this author off altogether but I'm not sure if or when I'll read another by her. For those of you that's a big fan, then this a book for you.

I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline's for many years. She often brings humor and enjoyable characters to her stories. Love the Rosato & Dinunzio Series best and have re-read them a lot!

In the latest book, The Truth About the Devlins, we meet TJ, a recovering alcoholic, the rogue in a family of lawyers. He's a good guy with some mistakes that his family loves to bring up and shame him with as often as they can. His brother John - a criminal lawyer, needs his help now, for he has killed a client.

The story is cleverly written and multilayered and thought-provoking. The ending is well done and I hope this becomes a series with TJ. Unputdownable!

Thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get an advance copy of this book. I’m a huge fan of the author and read all her books. This one was not my favorite. The main character was interesting but the family dynamics fell flat, and that was a huge piece of the plot.

Really enjoyed this quick psychological legal thriller! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this review!

We follow the Devlin Family, a powerful and rich family of attorneys. Except TJ. He's the black sheep and on parole. We don't know what he did,but he's in AA with extreme remorse looking to move his life forward until his older brother throws a wrench in it, and turns the family (minus sister Gabby) against him. Part murder mystery,part psych legal thriller we follow TJ as he fights to prove himself to not only his family but himself. Solid 4 Stars 🌟

[Side Note: For all those animal sensitives like me, there's a cat named Mango and he's fine 🙂 ]

The Truth About The Devlin’s by Lisa Scottoline.
Lisa Scottoline hits another one out of the ballpark. If you like a fast moving thriller with a bit of sarcastic humor involved this is it. Told through main character TJ Devlins POV, this book will definitely hook you.
TJ is the family black sheep, a recovering alcoholic and ex con in a family full of predominant aka perfect lawyers. Now working as an investigator for his family’s law firm (only job he could get) he’s constantly trying to prove himself to them. But when his brother asks him for help will he find himself in over his head? TJ’s witty charm will win you over immediately and you will find yourself rooting for him all through the book.

The Delvins are a family of lawyers. The eldest, John, is the golden child who is looking at taking the family practice to the next level. TJ is the black sheep of the family and an alcoholic. When crazy things start happening the family looks to blame TJ. He must work hard to try and clear his name and find out what is really going on in the practice. This is a quick read that will have you guessing what will happen next and routing for TJ.

I really loved how fast paced this book was. The author did not linger on anything and kept it action packed the whole way through. I think it lost a little bit of steam in the middle but finished so strong. The ending was incredible. I felt like I was really part of the Devlin family. This was a great, fast read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a quick thriller.

This was an utterly amazing thriller! Lisa Scottoline does it again with a tale of two brothers becoming involved in a tale of murder and corruption, where the only way to survive is put your life on the line.

Another excellent book by Lisa Scottoline! Lisa has quickly become my favorite author.
"The Truth about the Devlins" is definitely a mystery but I enjoyed the story of family that to me was the theme of the book. I liked the way she was able to combine the mystery with the strong family and their reactions to what was going on. I didn't believe I would be able to like the father in the story but she changed my mind. Also the addiction story was good and showed how people have to fight every day to overcome that addiction. And not just alcohol but other addictions as well. I will be recommending this book to the library patrons at our library.

Interesting story about one family and their issues. I found it ironic how the entire family was willing to pin crimes and murders on one of its own, just because he had some trouble earlier in life. I found the characters interesting and the story line great! It was an easy read and one that was hard to put down

The Truth About the Devlin’s is a legal/domestic thriller that centers on TJ, an ex con and recovering alcoholic, and a situation that his brother John, a lawyer at the family firm, got into centering on an embezzlement cover up. TJ starts to unravel the story and sees that things are not as they seemed - and his family is in danger as a result.

I absolutely loved After Anna and What Happened to the Bennetts, so I was really excited to read Lisa Scottoline’s newest thriller. This one fell short for me. I never really got that invested in the plot and I didn’t find it particularly fast paced.

I loved TJ’s character and I loved reading from his perspective. The dysfunctional family dynamic was intriguing. But, I felt as though it took to long to connect the dots with the people that were targeting the characters.

Overall, this one is a 2-2.5/5. I think it’s an average thriller, but not my cup of tea.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and GP Putnam books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Scottoline is one of my few "must read" authors, and I was excited to see that she has a new book being published in March 2024! If you haven't been introduced to Lisa yet, I recommend every single thing she's ever written!

The Devlins are the family that we all want to be a part of - wealthy, prestigious, and respected in the community. Mom, Dad, and kids John, Gabby, and TJ all work together at the Devlin and Devlin law firm. Gabby is the family do-gooder, John is the stereotypical ambitious, high-achieving firstborn, and TJ is a recovering alcoholic that wants to be accepted and valued by his family. At the family patriarch's birthday dinner, John comes to TJ requesting urgent help...and the wild ride keeps going until the very last pages!

This book has it all! It's a thriller, it's a family study of a loving, but dysfunctional, family, and it's a reminder of the failures of justice in society. I truly loved the protagonist and rooted for his successes the entire book - as usual, Lisa Scottoline's characters are vibrant and dynamic. The twist at the end I did NOT see coming, which is rare!
Thank you, thank you for another wonderful read!

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

As much as I tried to like this family focused thriller, something about the writing felt very stilted to me. Perhaps it was the main character, TJ’s, internal monologue that didn’t feel authentic to me.

Just an okay read