Sophia Rose is here with another review. You’ll want to dive into The Bitter Truth by Shanora Williams. Come see what Sophia loved about this political charged and absorbing domestic thriller.
The Bitter Truthby Shanora Williams
Genres: Thriller
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Rating:
An upstanding political candidate. A determined stalker. A shattering lost weekend. Now, when his worst secret comes calling, how far will one man’s elegant, all-too-devoted wife go to uncover the truth . . . or bury it?
For Jolene “Jo” Baker, the least she can do for her adoring husband, Dominic, is give unwavering support for his North Carolina gubernatorial run. He is not only the love of her life, he's also helping her prove that she's far more than just a pampered trophy wife. With huge crowds showing up at Dominic’s speeches and the polls consistently in his favor, she's never been happier to stand proudly by his side . . .
Until she and Dominic start seeing the same, strangely ominous woman turning up all along the campaign trail. Until their tour starts becoming a nightmare of botched events, crucial missed information, and increasingly dangerous “accidents.” Suddenly Jo can't get any answers from Dominic—or understand why he is acting so paranoid and terrified . . .
What Jo can do is start digging into his past—one she's never really questioned beyond his perfect image and dazzling accomplishments. What results is an alarming series of events that leave her baffled: Good friends turn into enemies, truths are revealed to be lies, and all clues lead back to one secret, shattering weekend that changes Jo’s entire life. With her world splintering into pieces, can Jo risk trying to set things right? Or will hiding the bitter truth by any means necessary destroy her as well?
Sophia Rose’s Review
The Gubernatorial race of North Carolina is at stake and suddenly a mysterious woman is stalking her husband’s political rallies. A dedicated wife gets concerned and all sorts of dark secrets come out. Shanora Williams’ The Bitter Truth was my first experience with her writing and it’s been a bit since I read an absorbing, domestic thriller. I was primed and ready and I was not disappointed.
Jo Baker is the perfect politician’s wife. She’s personable, bright, a successful and strong woman of wealth and a successful business in her own right. Her marriage has everyone sighing and backing her charming husband and their team for what they stand for and their engaging persona. That’s the outside…and a lie. She’s been talking to Dominic about a split for some time when he drifted away and prioritized everything else above their marriage. Lately, she doesn’t suspect, but knows he’s keeping secrets and that was before the drama started with the mysterious woman.
As with most domestic thrillers, it isn’t long when readers get a heads up that all isn’t what it seems. Of course that startling Prologue of a horrific experience in Dominic’s childhood setting the stage for what was to come and right on into the dark deeds of Dominic’s more recent past that he must keep covered up at all costs if he wants to win re-election. Dominic is a narcissist, but he’s a charming one that has others convinced he cares about them and only lately has Jolene worked this out about him.
The Bitter Truth hooked me from the start and I was well into the book before I came up for air. There are multiple point of views including Dominic and Jo, but also Brynn, the third main character who is telling an earlier timeline of events. I liked getting to know them warts and worse- particularly when it comes to Dominic. It’s not a matter of this is going to be bad, but to what depth. This is a revenge plot and there is some serious drama and stunning twists in the end before all is said and done.
When it comes to domestic thrillers, I don’t tend to like the characters and have realized that one isn’t necessarily expect to. It’s about reading a personal train wreck of lives and not being able to look away. I usually don’t like books associated with politics, but I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy that element because it gave just the right amount of high stakes to all Dominic was trying to protect and achieve by his loathsome actions. Jo and Brynn were both gals with a lot of fire and willing to see Dominic’s despicable actions and raise the stakes. Jo impressed me and left me in awe at her chess-like moves against her husband.
All in all, this was one that took me on a dark journey of the soul and I liked how it re-emerged (eventually) into the sunshine. Shanora Williams’ writing style was easy read for me and I look forward to more of her thrillers and would definitely try her romances. Domestic Thriller fans are the target audience and I can definitely recommend this one.
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Ethan
I’ve read The Perfect Ruin by this author and was completely hooked on all the messy drama in that one, too. It can get a bit over the top, but it is ever so entertaining!
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
I love it when a woman is clever in how she plots things out! Jo sounds like a character I could root for!
Sophia Rose
Oh yeah, Jo was thinking circles around her husband the whole time. 🙂
Mary Kirkland
I’m glad it was good, it sounds like a good one. I do like a good thriller.
Sophia Rose
Yes, it sure had me figuratively biting my nails a few times, Mary. 🙂
Nadene
This looks good. Thanks for putting it on my radar.
Sophia Rose
Yes, sure thing, Nadene!
Anne - Books of My Heart
Great review! I really like the sound of this one.
Sophia Rose
This was my first of hers and I have my eye on another one from her backlist now.
Asha @ Pages of Perfiction
Oooh, I want to read this book now 🙂
This book reminds me of another one I read recently, Please Tell Me by Mike Omer, so you might like that too!
Sophia Rose
Glad I could tempt you, Asha! Thanks for the recommend. 🙂