‘Telling the truth could destroy something – or someone.’
[ About Tell The Truth ]
A woman is accused of murdering her husband.
Twelve jurors must decide her fate.
Marion McMahon lies in her cell, guarding a secret that could set her free. But she will never tell. She is safer on the inside.
Stephanie Fitzgerald never expected jury duty to change her life. Trapped in a failing marriage, she finds herself drawn to fellow juror Gerry Mitchell — but how far is she willing to go while another woman’s freedom hangs in the balance?
Private investigator Lana Bowen believes Marion is hiding something. If she can uncover the truth, she could save an innocent woman — or expose a devastating lie.
Because the truth doesn’t just set you free.
Sometimes it destroys everything.
[ My Review ]
Tell The Truth by Karen Fitzgibbon published April 2nd with Poolbeg Press. It is the third book in the PI Lana Bowen series and is described as ‘a tense, addictive Irish psychological thriller’.
Marion McMahon lies in her prison cell awaiting trial for the murder of her husband, Tadgh. Her legal team are convinced that Marion is protecting someone, keeping the truth from them, so they bring in private investigator Lana Bowen to delve deeper into the case. Marion is clearly a victim of domestic abuse but the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death are suspect. Lana makes a trip back to Marion’s home on the west coast and is left with little doubt that something is not quite right. She just needs to search deeper for more clues but her nosing around makes certain people uneasy.
Stephanie (Steph) Fitzgerald is one of twelve jurors selected for the trial. Bored in her daily life, Steph relishes the opportunity to sit in the courtroom, listening and watching how this murder investigation unfurls. Unhappy in her marriage, convinced her husband is having an affair, sends Steph’s thoughts off in a spiral. As the jurors get to know each other a little, Steph finds herself unexpectedly attracted to one of them, Gerry Mitchell. As the jurors start to hear evidence, they meet socially, although this is against the court rules. Rumours start to circulate and when Steph receives disconcerting text messages, she finds herself on edge and unsure of herself. Why is someone trying to frighten her?
In recent years, Lana Bowen has suffered panic attacks due to a past incident. She is dealing with it through therapy and a blossoming relationship but there is concern for Lana. She does step into the danger zone frequently which can upset her treatment but Lana is stubborn, always determined to see every case through, sometimes at a personal risk to herself. When she receives some unanticipated news, balancing her personal and professional life gets complicated. She distracts herself by ploughing herself deeper into the McMahon investigation. An unexpected tragedy throws the case up in the air but Lana persists with her search for the truth, determined to prove that justice always prevails.
There are a number of parallel, yet not directly related, threads running through Tell The Truth which can be disorientating. I did feel that some side characters were unnecessary to the overall plot and would have liked if Lana’s own story had been further developed. As I mentioned in a previous review, Lana Bowen is an interesting individual. It’s difficult to fully get a grasp on her character, as she keeps her cards very close to her chest, leaving the reader intrigued, curious for more. Overall, Tell The Truth is a twisty tale with multiple storylines, a story about moral dilemmas and the search for the truth, an interesting addition to this Limerick-based series.
[Thank you to Poolbeg Press for a copy of Tell The Truth in exchange for my honest review]
[ Bio ]
Karen Fitzgibbon is an actor/producer/director/writer/educator based in Limerick city. She has been co-writing, co-producing, acting in and directing plays and short films with community groups and professional groups for over twenty years. She holds a licentiate in theatre studies with Trinity College London.
She lives in Limerick
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