By Kaylie Seed
Kathleen Barber’s debut fiction novel Truth Be Told (formerly published under the title Are You Sleeping) follows a true crime podcast called Reconsidered, created by investigative reporter Poppy Parnell. The podcast questions the previously solved murder of Chuck Buhrman, and has implications for the Buhrman family. Josie Buhrman has finally moved on from her father’s death and has removed herself from her destructive twin sister Lanie and her mother, who has run off to join a cult. Josie is forced to visit her estranged family when her mother suddenly passes away, and she must come to terms with what happened on the night of her father's murder.
This thriller (which is more of a mystery than a thriller) feels shaky, with an unreliable main character and the overall predictability of the story. Truth Be Told is a story that the reader will want to keep reading, but they may find themselves disappointed in the end because it's predictable and slightly boring. However, if you're looking for a quick read you don't have to think about, check this one out.
Barber’s writing at times has too much redundancy and there are parts in the plot that don’t quite add up. For example, the relationship between Josie and her boyfriend is not realistic, and the relationship between Josie and her twin Lanie seems too fake. Truth Be Told focuses on relationships between family members and shows just how dysfunctional a family can be. The story also sheds light on grief and how we can all experience it differently—even twins—which is probably the most interesting part of this story. I wanted to love this one and even though I didn't, that doesn't mean you won't!
Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!