It’s a pleasure to be welcomng Michael Clark to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for his book, The Truth About You.

Some stories keep us turning the pages, and others leave us wrestling with questions long after we’ve finished. Michael Clark’s The Truth About You manages to do both.

Lucy and Meg believe their mother will finally be safe after her husband, Greg, is arrested for assault. But when she chooses to stay with him, the sisters take drastic action to protect her: installing hidden cameras in their home. What they capture is nothing like what Lucy expects. Instead of clear evidence, the recordings reveal complexities that defy black-and-white assumptions about abuse, loyalty, and justice.

With echoes of Celeste Ng and Miranda Cowley Heller, The Truth About You is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that explores the unsettling gray areas of family, morality, and truth.

Michael has shared an extract from The Truth About You with us today. We hope you enjoy. 

*****beginning of extract*****

Setting: After Greg is arrested for battering his wife, Paula, Paula remains in a relationship with him. Time has passed, and Paula’s friends determine they need to stage an intervention to “hold him accountable.”

*****

Shortly after 7 p.m., Greg and Paula pulled into the driveway in Greg’s SUV. They stayed in the car for several minutes. Stacy peered through the family room curtains to check what was happening. “They’re still sitting in the car,” she reported.

“Is he hitting her?” someone asked.

“No. At least not as far as I can tell,” she said.

“Are they arguing?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Should someone go out there?”

“I’m not sure about that, either.”

Finally, the doors to the SUV opened and Greg and Paula got out. Greg went to the back and started filling his arms with bags from their shopping trip. Paula headed for the kitchen’s side door.

“Are you okay?” Christine asked Paula as she came through the door.

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