Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil

By: Melina Marchetta

Narrated by: Zaqi Ismail

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

In the wake of a devastating bombing, a father risks everything to find out who was responsible.

When Bish Ortley, a suspended cop, receives word that a bus carrying his daughter has been bombed, he rushes to be by her side. A suspect has already been singled out: a 17-year-old girl who has since disappeared from the scene.

The press has now revealed that she is the youngest member of one of London's most notorious families. Thirteen years earlier, her grandfather set off a suicide bomb in a grocery store, a bomb her mother confessed to building. Has the girl decided to follow in their footsteps?

To find her, Bish must earn the trust of her friends and family, including her infamous mother, now serving a life sentence in prison. But even as he delves into the deadly bus attack that claimed five lives, the ghosts of older crimes become impossible to ignore.

A gripping fusion of literary suspense and family drama, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil is a fast-paced puzzle of a novel that will keep listeners feverishly tuned in.

©2016 Melina Marchetta (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Each new Melina Marchetta novel is a revelation. She's always changing, always evolving, and each one performs the miracle of somehow bettering the last - and Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil does exactly that. A novel of great scope, of past and present, and above all, the Marchetta trademark of a fierce and loving heart." (Markus Zusak, best-selling author of The Book Thief)

"I might have held my breath the entire time I was reading Melina Marchetta's heart-pounding (and heartbreaking) new novel. Part crime story, part family drama, part love story, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go until I'd read the last word - and shed the last tear." (Gayle Forman, best-selling author of If I Stay and Leave Me)

"Loved it! Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil is a stunning marriage of global anguish and personal pain. It's often heartbreaking, sometimes heart-stopping, and definitely unforgettable." (Ivy Pochoda, author of Visitation Street)

Another great story from Melina Marchetta

Per usual Melina Marchetta delivers. She has a wonderful ability to create believable characters that engage your emotions. I find it rare when an author manages to have my feelings come full circle about a character by the end of the story, but it's the norm for MM and she does it effortlessly too. I highly recommend any of her stories to people that like an emotional roller coaster experience.

The narration, unfortunately, doesn't meet the same level of excellence as the story. To be fair, I'm spoiled when it comes to narration and having recently listened to several that have raised the bar, in my opinion Zaqi Ismail gives a more workmanlike performance. He does a passable job with the different characters, easy to listen to, but at times there isn't enough distinction between them, especially with the teen's exchanges. It was a bit frustrating when the author described what they were like (snarky, sullen, charming, etc) and their 'voice' was bland, the words stated instead of illustrated. I guess this is what makes the difference between a good performance and a great one.

But do not let my critique of the narrator deter you from the story. It's well worth the listen!

!To slow

I usually enjoy international mysteries. There was nothing to make it a page turner for me. The bus accident happens in the first few minutes. I expected the dad to go on a version of the movie "Taken" and it did not happen quickly enough to keep my attention.

I did not like this book

Good grief. Where to begin? So many characters that we are supposed to sympathize with - but I just couldn't. I couldn't wait for this one to end.