I would give this book 3.5 stars, rounded up to four. I really liked the narrator who was flawed but with a good heart and a sense of humor. I admire the author, a woman, for creating a male protagonist that was very believable. The protagonist, a recovering alcoholic, is very empathetic and wrestling with that addiction makes for a very compelling character that you root for (along with his growing love for a cat). The parents were also compelling, flawed but very true to life. I liked the family dynamics.
What detracted for me was occasional slowness; there were moments that I wanted the story to move along when it was stalling.
It has been awhile since I have read this author but her prior work seemed very different. I think I might have enjoyed it more.
I don't know if this is meant to be a series but I think it has some promise for that since the characters are quirky and compelling. I would like to see, if it is part of a series, where it goes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Scottoline book I’ve ever read and unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. I found TJ to be very unlikeable and hard to root for. I think what he did is an inexcusable action and totally unforgivable so rooting for him totally went out the window once it was revealed.

I also didn’t fully understand his obsession with solving the case. Did he really have nothing better to do with his time? Maybe there was not enough backstory on him for me to understand his motives.

I loved Mango. Sucker for animals in books!

Overall I found this book to be well written but I just don’t think this specific storyline and cast of characters was for me. I’d still give Scottoline another try!

So happy that Ms. Scottoline is taking us back to Pennsylvania and the legal world! In The Truth About the Devlins, we meet TJ, the black sheep of the Devlin family - a family of lawyers with stellar records/lives, except for him. The Devlins seem like great corporate and community citizens on the outside but are filled with dysfunction once you're able to get a closer look.
The book features dual story lines: TJ's work on a pro-bono case with his sister, Gabby, and then his work on a different case involving his brother, John. The Truth About the Devlins features the trademark Lisa Scottoline formula for a legal thriller. We can always count on her for an interesting story, accurate legal elements, and, sadly, in the acknowledgements, we learn that the storyline about medical experiments on prisoners was true. TJ's alcoholism and recovery challenges also rang true and surely reflected Ms. Scottoline's strong research. I would have liked to have his mother more fully developed as a character. For much of the book she just seemed to be an accessory of her husband, but her role towards the end suddenly becomes fuller.
Overall, it was a great and compelling read. I loved the characters and the storyline was interesting. Is this perhaps the first of a new series?
Thanks to Netgalley and GP Putnam's Sons for the opportunity to read The Truth About the Devlins.

i think we can all relate a little bit to T.J. Devlin. He's made mistakes, but he's trying to live a better life, and he has a deep attachment to his family. I love his snark, and I love the fact that he adopted a diabetic cat named Mango. He's dogged in his pursuit of justice, and he doesn't give up. This is classic Lisa Scottoline, and, although it's been a while since I've read one of her novels, I have remembered why I love her writing style. I'm really hoping we'll see more of T.J. in the future.

Lisa Scottoline is an auto-buy author for me. I look forward to her new book every year with great anticipation. I have probably said it before but I truly believe this is her best! The Truth About the Devlins is a legal thriller mystery but at the heart it is about family. TJ Devlin might be my favorite character she’s written. He’s flawed, funny, smart, self-deprecating and the underdog you want to root for. This book takes on addiction, what it does to a family each in different ways, recovery and relapse in a beautiful and respectful way. Bravo, Lisa, you have done it again!

The Truth About The Devlins is a fantastic legal thriller with family issues mixed in. The Devlins have 3 children, John, Gabby, and T.J. John and Gabby work as lawyers for their parents firm and T.J. works as an investigator for the firm. T.J. has recently gotten out of prison after serving 1 year for leaving a toddler unattended in a car. It was his girlfriend's daughter and he loved her very much, but he forgot she was in the car when she fell asleep. T.J. is an alcoholic and wanted a cold beer so bad that he forgot about the girl in the backseat. He didn't know he had done it until the police were called when someone saw the girl in the car. By that time, T.J. was very drunk, but he was devastated that he had done this. His girlfriend broke up with him even though they'd been living together and had plans for the future. T.J. held out hope that someday she would forgive him and they could get back together. He plead guilty at trial and was sentenced to a year in prison.

T.J. was the black sheep of the family. John was the golden boy that could do no wrong and Gabby was always doing good pro bono cases for people that needed help. That's why T.J. is shocked when John pulls him aside at their father's birthday party. He's really stressed out. He tells T.J. that he thinks he killed someone. He wants T.J. to come with him to see if the guy is dead. He was meeting with an accountant of a company that is a client of John's. John tells T.J. that he had found a discrepancy in the bills and needed to find out where the missing money was. When he got to the meeting point the accountant pulled a gun on John. John didn't have a weapon and picked up a rock. He threw the rock at Lamaire and hit him in the forehead. The man dropped and started bleeding badly. John left. When T.J. and John go back to the place it happened there's blood on the ground, but the body is gone.

John tells T.J. there was a maroon car in the lot that he assumed was Lamaire's but it's gone. T.J. says he'll help John but they have to get back to the party before their parents wonder what's going on. Will T.J. be able to find the accountant? Did John kill him? If he did, who moved the body? Why is there no mention of the missing man on the news? Why didn't he show up to work if he's alive? Where is the missing car? Did anyone see John at the scene? As T.J. does all he can to help John, they end up at odds. John makes up a story about T.J. to cover for the reason they left the party. T.J. is furious as John always deflects and blames everything on him. As things progress and John looks like he's in over his head, T.J. is struggling with his sobriety. Nothing is going right and he's sick of passing his favorite bars. Will T.J. be able to stay sober and help his brother and his sister with her pro bono case?

Things get really tense as you get further into the book. I couldn't stop reading and it would be 3 a.m. with me still reading this book! I really felt for T.J. after all he'd been through and wanted him to get a good outcome. This book will keep you guessing who is behind all of the things that happen to the Devlins. I really enjoyed The Truth About The Devlins and rate it 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd love to see another book with T.J. and the Devlins in a series. As usual, Lisa Scottoline, has written a book with an unforgettable story and unforgettable characters. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group/Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for an advanced copy of The Truth About The Devlins in exchange for a fair review. #TheTruthAboutTheDevlins #bookreview

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC ebook.

This one started off as a fast paced thriller, and continued with a few twists, but wasn't really a page turner. I liked the main character and his story, but most of the other family members were undeveloped and mostly unlikable. Once the main mystery is solved , the rest of the book was a slow wrap up of loose ends, and mostly uninteresting. Not bad, but nothing special.

I really enjoyed all the twists and turns of this book. The main character TJ is a down-on-his-luck recovering alcoholic, and I really found him to be quite charming. His obvious love for his family and his need to atone for what he put them through while he was drinking made you want to root for him. Lisa Scottoline does a fantastic job of highlighting the hold that addiction can have on you and the toll it can take on an addict's family and loved ones.

The story has a mix of suspense with family drama that creates a tangled web that will keep you guessing. I thought I had this book figured out, and then the plot twisted again and left me reeling. Even the sub-plots had twists that I didn't expect. The story interweaves TJ trying to help his brother get out of whatever trouble he's gotten himself into with trying to keep his addiction issues under control, all while trying to rebuild his life and start over. As the underdog of the family, you can't help but root for TJ.

This just goes to show that looks can be deceiving, and who knows what's boiling under the surface of a "picture-perfect" family.

A high-octane thriller about the Devlin family: TJ is a member of a family of lawyers and big shots, while he is a recovering alcoholic who has done time. But when TJ's brother, John, the MVD-Most Valuable Devlin-confesses that he murdered an employee, things get out of hand, and they have to work together to unravel lies and deceptions to save their family. This is a plot-filled book, and I enjoyed the ride.

The Truth About the Devlins is a family drama, thriller, mystery, and legal suspense all wrapped into one. TJ Devlin is a recovering alcoholic and ex-con, definitely the black sheep in a family of lawyers, but he is trying to keep (get?) his life together, working as an investigator for the family law firm and attending AA meeting regularly. When his brother, John, reached out for TJ's help because he thinks he may have accidentally killed someone, TJ finds himself in a more dangerous and complex situation than he could have imagined, testing his sobriety and endangering his life. The Devlins have strong family loyalties despite many dysfunctional dynamics, which makes for some interesting choices and situation. The characters have depth and many of them shine; TJ himself is self-deprecating and very likeable, easy to root for despite the mistakes he has made in the past. Together with the twisty, fast-paced plot and lots of action,this book is a winner for me!

This riveting page turner is a must read! Lisa Scottoline is so good at weaving together complex plots and colorful characters that you will find yourself enthralled. This book is about family and believing in yourself. Readers will move through a roller coaster of emotions as they careen to the ending. Readers of Karin Slaughter will devour this book.

I always enjoy this author and this book was no exception. It was quite a page turner and I found myself frustrated with how TJ’s family treated him throughout the book.

3.5 ⭐️’s
The Devlins are a high powered family of attorneys that have their own law practice. TJ is the one exception, running into some serious trouble with alcohol and ending up spending time in jail, he’s now the firms investigator. There isn’t that much to do, but the job has been created to keep him out of further trouble. When his brother, John, asks him for help one night, TJ walks into a real mess, one that could cause him a lot of trouble in the future, one that others will blame him for. The Devlins empire is about to take a hit, their firm and their reputations, but will they be able to rise above their circumstances or will they crumble right along with everything else? This book was a bit on the slow side until the end, and other than rooting for TJ, the other characters were not relatable and quite frankly, unlikable! Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

The Truth About The Devlins
By Lisa Scottoline

I have read several novels of the authors. I have to say this her best yet of her thrillers. I don’t read too many thrillers but this one is the best yet. I don’t know what it is but the younger authors who write thrillers and domestic thrillers. Just don’t give a thrill as much as the older author who have been around for years.

Anyway, the novel takes place in Philly with a legal family. The family has wealth and connections of course. All the kids are well established lawyers except for TJ. TJ unfortunately isn’t exactly a black sheep. Just has made wrong decisions. His brother, John calls him during his father’s birthday celebration. He thinks he has accidentally killed someone. At the same time he’s sister a lawyer asks him to investigate a lawsuit involving a correctional facility connected with a pharmaceutical company testing inmates without consent. The victims have long term health issues after.

The novel deals with wealthy families and their connections. With your wealth and connections do you keep helping your children get out of messes. Or do you do “ tough love”? There is a lot heart, social justice, morals in the novel. You expect you know where this novel is going with TJ, you don’t. There is so much I more I can say. But, I don’t want to give it away. This is much more than a thriller, it’s family dynamics, and character without being too, too deep. Just to let you all know, it’s not preachy at all. No lessons.. But, you realize there is looking at abuse( alcohol) a different way, and the prison systems as well.

Recommend if you love Lisa Scottoline’s novels, thrillers, and stories about family.
Loved it, fast pace.

The Devlins are a wealthy, powerful family who run a law firm. Dad and Mom are in charge, and their 2 sons and daughter work there as well.
The book is narrated by TJ, the younger son, who is an investigator for the firm. He’s an ex-convict, having served time in prison, and a recovering alcoholic. TJ is struggling to earn his place as a valued family member, despite his brother John, and sister Gabby appearing to be the bright, shining light in his father’s eyes.
We follow TJ’s quest to help solve a mystery, involving his older brother, and the firm’s business.
This book is full of action, intrigue and twists.
It’s a well written, enjoyable look at a family dynamic in a stressful combination of events.
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for the ARC.
My review is my honest opinion of this book.

This compelling novel is told by TJ, a recovering alcoholic who is the youngest brother in a family of high powered lawyers. TJ is accustomed to the role of the screwed up younger brother and plays the part well, but when both his brother and his sister ask for help, TJ tries to help. This story moves FAST and there are lots of plot twists. Very fun read.

I really enjoyed this family drama/thriller/legal drama. Lisa Scottoline is back in her wheelhouse writing about law and family.

The Devlins were a realistically dysfunctional family and main character TJ is a sympathetic black sheep of the family who has battled his demons and come out on top.

Until his "perfect" older brother comes to him, panicked, and says he killed someone. What? This book then sets off at a frantic clip as TJ ties to help his brother and his brother proceeds to throw him under the bus. There's also a subplot involving a fascinating real-life case.

While I enjoyed Scottoline's latest legal drama, I do feel that it was lacking on the twists. Compared to other books of hers, the pacing feels a little off, with a bit of a slow start and an ending that felt rushed. I would recommend this to someone looking for more of a family drama as opposed to a fast-paced, edge of your seat thriller. Not my favorite title by this author, but still enjoyable.

The Truth about the Devlins is that the story moves very slowly [I tried to be funny here...]. Might have been too slow of a burn for me but, TJ was an awesome main character. This covers a lot about addiction, law/crime and justice and make sure to read the acknowledgements!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for this free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Devlins are a seemingly homogenous group of lawyers except for TJ, who has done prison time. The dynamics of the family group is interesting, TJ always being the bad guy and his older brother, John, being Mr. Wonderful. John pulls TJ away from his father's birthday dinner-a real family nono, John needs TJ's help as he claims he has killed one of their clients. With layers of lies, this fast paced mystery is a page turner. A satisfying ending for this reader.