Truth Be Told

A Novel

By: Kathleen Barber

Narrated by: Rebekkah Ross

Now a major Apple TV+ series starring Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul—produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine!

Serial meets Ruth Ware’s In A Dark, Dark Wood in this inventive and twisty psychological thriller about a mega-hit podcast that reopens a murder case and threatens to unravel the carefully constructed life of the victim’s daughter.

The only thing more dangerous than a lie…is the truth.

Josie Buhrman has spent the last ten years trying to escape her family and with good reason. After her father’s murder thirteen years prior, her mother ran away to join a cult and her twin sister Lanie, once Josie’s closest friend and confidant, betrayed her in an unimaginable way. Now, Josie has finally put down roots in New York, settling into domestic life with her partner Caleb, and that’s where she intends to stay.

The only problem is that she has lied to Caleb about every detail of her past—starting with her last name.

When investigative reporter Poppy Parnell sets off a media firestorm with a megahit podcast that reopens the long-closed case of Josie’s father’s murder, questioning whether the wrong person may be behind bars, Josie’s world begins to unravel. Meanwhile, the unexpected death of Josie’s long-absent mother forces her to return to her Midwestern hometown where she must confront the demons from her past—and the lies on which she has staked her future.

great listen

loved it. It was good from the beginning to the end with interesting twists and turns.

predictable

i liked the story but there were no real surprises. i like a little more mystery. The performance was great.

entertaining murder mystery in the age of reddit

this was good. interesting to create the story line along a podcast whodunit. I love those true crime podcasts but never considered how the broadcast and rumor mongering created around the worst moment of someone's life would impact the survivors.

Great book

Really enjoyed this book, so many twists and turns! Love the modern day thriller style (remind me of Gone Girl or Girl on the Train)

Very Current

Very current! Felt very “Serial” or “Making a Murder,” but from the perspective of the family of the victim so you can see the stress and trauma that a podcast re-examine a closed case can cause. Looking forward to watching the Apple TV+ series.