Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil

By: Melina Marchetta

Narrated by: Zaqi Ismail

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

When Bish Ortley, a recently 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 named: 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.

Years earlier, they were implicated in an attack that left dozens dead. 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 reader feverishly turning pages.

"More than a crime story; it's jam-packed with family drama and heartbreak. Highly recommended for suspense and mystery fans." -- Library Journal

Critic reviews

Praise for Tell The Truth, Shame the Devil:

"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, bestselling author of The Book Thief

"When you spend roughly 400 pages with characters and it still doesn't feel like enough you know you've read a great book. Actually, an excellent book. [It] expertly slices out every human emotion. I can only hope I will get to meet these characters again in a future book."—Jamie Canaves, BookRiot

"Marchetta's stunning adult debut....Emotionally complex characters complement an intricate plot rife with dizzying twists and devastating reveals. This visceral read manages to capture the emotional aftermath of a mass tragedy while sustaining tension and delivering a scathing indictment of racial profiling, vigilante justice, and the 24-hour news cycle."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Along with its wellrounded and likable characters, this is more than a crime story; it's jam-packed with family drama and heartbreak. Highly recommended for suspense and mystery fans."
—Kristen Calvert, Library Journal (starred review)

"Marchetta's smooth writing and flair for dialogue combine for a mostly seamless read."
—Kirkus Reviews

"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, bestselling 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

"A cracking read that's also timely and intelligent....Marchetta is a master storyteller. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil deserves to be on the bedside table of every crime fan."
—The Saturday Paper (Australia)

"....the characters [Marchetta] introduces are rich and complex. They'll soon be swept up in this swift thriller and call for more installments in Bish's tale."
—Cat Acree, BookPage

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.