This is the second in the Raisa Sutanto series, and while I liked it, I didn't find it quite as compelling as the first book (which I definitely recommend!)
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Raisa is a forensic linguist, working with the FBI, and two days before his execution, the serial killer blamed for killing Raisa's partner's wife claims he didn't do it. So, Raisa and her partner Callum are in a race against the clock to figure out who was her killer.
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Like the first book in the series, I like the characters and the idea of forensic linguistics being used to solve murders. I also really like the fact that we have an FMC and MMC and they don't end up romantically involved!
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I think what kept me from loving this one was the time crunch was a bit artificial. The serial killer was still a serial killer, and was still going to be executed, he was just not responsible for this particular murder, which they could continue to look into after his death if they had to. And I didn't find this super compelling to return to while I was reading it.
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I still recommend the series and will absolutely continue to read it!

I did not even know this was booked two of a series. I enjoyed it as a standalone. I loved the dual timelines and how they went back-and-forth I thought this was very well written, and it kept me engaged the entire time. I listen to the audiobook and thought it was well done.

I am unfortunately choosing to DNF this book because while I understood it was the second book in a series, I feel like it’s unable to be read successfully without reading book one. I’m completely lost and feel like it cannot be read as a standalone.

The Alphabet Man is a serial killer who enjoys tattooing secret codes on the bodies of his victims. Ew, right? The good news is that this sicko has been locked up for about a decade. So that's good...until it's revealed that there is more to the mystery of the Alphabet Man than was initially believed and things take an even darker turn.

Raisa, an FBI forensic linguist and total female badass, takes on the case to delve deeper into the clues surrounding the psychopath. This leads to an investigation of another murder and makes for an engaging read from start to finish.

I was unaware that this is book 2 in a series, and was happy that it worked well as a stand alone. There were times when the past storyline was mentioned, but the author does a great job of clueing the reader in on the pertinent info. I definitely want to go back and read book 1 now and am looking forward to the release of book 3! I'm hooked.

If you're a fan of well written FBI thrillers that aren't too graphic and deal with forensics and criminal profiling of serial killers, then buckle up and grab this!

The audio was well narrated and I would like listening to more of her work in the future.

This book was incredible!

I was glued to my seat from start to finish! I was kept guessing the whole time. It is a book 2 but I read it as a standalone and it worked well.

I love books that center on serial killers and when the Alphabet man comes out and says he didn't kill Kilkennys wife Shay... it opens up a can of worms no one was expecting.

The book is set on 2 timelines and it is done with such skill that I could not stop listening. The narration was amazing and I worked so well for the tone of the book. It's literslly a race against the clock to find out what really happened to Shay before the Alphabet man is executed!
5 stars!!

You need this book

This was such a great listen! I did not realize this was the second book in a series and although it was easy to follow I do think reading the first one would’ve allowed me to have more background info! The story was enthralling, the narrator did a great job, and I loved the ending!

Well this book was BUSY! So much going on and so many characters. I did have a hard time in the beginning keeping track of things but once I got into it, I was immersed and had to finish. I didn't realize this was a sequel to The Lies You Wrote and I do feel it was good as a standalone. Now I have to go back and read the first book. I'll have to update this review if my thoughts on this being a standalone change. Overall, I liked it and thought it was entertaining. I would recommend to my crime/suspense book lovers.

A new thrilling and suspenseful story form Labuskes! I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. Using a time hop style of writing, the author skillfully intrigues us with interesting character back stories.
After a serial killer, the Alphabet Man, claims he did not kill Shay, forensic psychologist, Callum Kilkenny’s wife, Kilkenny and Raisa Susanto, forensic linguist team up to find the true killer of his wife. The story takes twists and turns as we get a glimpse into the 4 years leading up to Shay’s murder. The author leads us in one direction only to lead us in another, keeping us guessing throughout the book.
The characters are well developed and the side characters serve to move the story forward and increase the suspense along the way. This was an audiobook I did not want to put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the arc. I leave this review voluntarily.

Thank you, NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I had not read the first book in this series when I received this second book in the series so I purchased the first book The Lies You Wrote and listened to it before starting this one.
I am loving this series. It’s a very different take on the character being a forensic linguist, which is something you don’t see in a lot of books. There is never a dull moment in these books. We learn about our main character’s job and how she works which adds an interesting touch. There are a lot of complex characters in this series and it can get confusing keeping up and cause some mental fatigue but it does help make the story more interesting. The multiple timelines, the back-and-forth POV all add to the suspense. I highly recommend this series and I would start off with the first book and read them in order.

This is the second book to feature forensic linguist Raisa Susanto. I hadn’t read the first book so I grabbed The Lies You Wrote from Kindle Unlimited and binge the 2 books back to back. What a great series! Both books were incredibly enjoyable and dark, just as I like them. Hunting a serial killer is dangerous work.

In The Truth You Told, FBI agent Callum Kilkenny discovers that the man he thought killed his wife Shay, didn’t do it. He killed many other women but not the love of his life. Though his writing, Raisa confirms that he is telling the truth, just days before The Alphabet man is to be executed. So who did kill Shay and why?

I love the dual timelines in this story, the present and then going back and learning more about Shay and her family. I don’t think I have read a book from the point of view of a forensic linguist before and it was fascinating learning about all the ways that writing and words can be interpreted. I am definitely a fan of this author and series and look forward o reading more,

Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my advanced listening copy. This one comes out on September 10th.

I didn't read the first book in this series and thought this worked just fine as a standalone - that said, Raisa has *quite* a backstory, so I would love to go back and read the first book at some point because it sounds WILD.

There was a lot going on in this book - multiple timelines and POVs, and I thought Labuskes did a great job keeping the plot clipping along with some fun twists

I've only read other one book by Labuskes ( A Familiar Sight: Dr. Gretchen White #1 ) and really enjoyed it - definitely need to read/listen to more by her!!!

I was completely absorbed by an intense audiobook that had me hooked from start to finish. The dual timelines added a layer of complexity that, while occasionally confusing, ultimately enriched the story. It was fascinating to return to a genre I hadn't visited in a while, diving into the chilling world of a serial killer. The narrative was gripping, with well-developed characters and unexpected twists that kept me on the edge of my seat.