Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil

"Melina Marchetta's gripping new novel Tell the Truth, Shame the Devilis a cracking fusion of suspense and heart-rending drama.Chief Inspector Bish Ortley of the London Met, divorced and still grieving the death of his son, has been drowning his anger in Scotch. Something has to give, and he's no sooner suspended from the force than a busload of British students is subject to a deadly bomb attack across the Channel. Bish's daughter is one of those on board. Also on the bus is Violette LeBrac. Raised in Australia, Violette has a troubled background. Thirteen years ago her grandfather bombed a London supermarket, killing dozens of people. Her mother, Noor, is serving a life sentence in connection with the incident. But before Violette's part in the French tragedy can be established she disappears. Bish, who was involved in Noor LeBrac's arrest, is now compelled to question everything that happened back then. And the more he delves into the lives of the family he helped put away, the more he realises that truth wears many colours. With its cast of unforgettable characters, social insight and wry wit, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devilis an irresistible novel about human identity, lost children and the nature of real love. 'A novel of great scope, of past and present, and above all, the Marchetta trademark of a fierce and loving heart.' Marcus Zusak '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 'This is a cracking read that's also timely and intelligent . . . Everything works together in this book . . . It's a big, juicy story filled with many characters and Marchetta is a master storyteller. On occasion, even cynical reviewers stay up long past bedtime, nodding and turning pages. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil deserves to be on the bedside table of every crime fan.' The Saturday Paper 'This is a cracking read that's also timely and intelligent . . . Everything works together in this book . . . It's a big, juicy story filled with many characters and Marchetta is a master storyteller. On occasion, even cynical reviewers stay up long past bedtime, nodding and turning pages. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devildeserves to be on the bedside table of every crime fan.' The Saturday Paper 'An electrifying contemporary detective thriller.' Fiona Hardy, Books & Publishing 'Marchetta is awonderful storyteller, with every interaction important, thrilling, enjoyable, or all of the above, and every character gifted with such an honest, gloriously vivid life of their own that reading the whole thing in a se