When Amelia Wagner takes over the running of her father's newspaper in Granite Springs, Arizona, she vows to carry on the paper's commitment to reporting only the truth. But Amelia soon learns that even the truth can have consequences. Her father's revealing articles about Great Western Investment
Company's business methods have caught the notice of the wrong person, and pressure mounts for Amelia to retract her father's statements.
Determined to find the truth, Amelia goes through her father's notes and begins to interview members of the community. She can't seem to shake Benjamin Stone, a Great Western employee who's been assigned to keep tabs on her for the good of the company.
The more Ben and Amelia learn, the more Amelia's father's claims appear to be accurate. In fact, it's probably worse than he realized. Even Ben is beginning to wonder if he's become a pawn in the workings of a corrupt empire. But Great Western isn't about to stand for a female reporter and one of their own men bringing down their lucrative schemes. Working against time, and never knowing what danger lurks around the next corner, Ben and Amelia set out to reveal all they've discovered before Great Western silences them for good.
My Review:
Yes, I know that A Passion for Truth is not the title for this book. But it seemed more appropriate and a little less mundane that the title Truth Be Told. I enjoy Carol Cox’s books. Her plots are always solid, her mysteries are always well thought-out and interesting, though usually not too complex. Truth Be Told was an entertaining, easy read. Ben Stone and Amelia Wagner were nice characters, though perhaps somewhat boring. They nearly always acted the exact way I expected them to act, always thought the way I expected them to think. The mystery was interesting, though. The plot of Truth Be Told was set at a steady pace, neither fast nor slow. There were some exciting moments as well. At one point, it seemed as though Amelia’s world was crashing down. But it all worked out in the end for her.
Homer, Amelia’s right-hand man, was a sweet character. He always stuck by Amelia, no matter what. I liked that the author scenes from the antagonist’s point of view. Usually, an author won’t do that. I did wish that I could have met Amelia’s mother. Amelia spoke much of her in the story, but her mother never actually was in the book. I got a hint of what kind of woman Amelia’s mother was but it would have been nice if there had been a little more there about her.
The morals scattered throughout the book were relatable and well-presented. The theme of the book was John 8:31b-32 "If ye continue in My word, then ye are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
All in all, Truth Be Told was an enjoyable read, but probably not something I’ll ever read again. I give it 31/2 out of 5 stars.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publishers for my honest review, which I have given. The opinions expressed in this review are mine and mine alone.**