Truly, Darkly, Deeply – Victoria Selman
Twelve-year-old Sophie and her mother, Amelia-Rose, move to London from Massachusetts where they meet the charismatic Matty Melgren, who quickly becomes an intrinsic part of their lives. But as the relationship between the two adults fractures, a serial killer begins targeting young women with a striking resemblance to Amelia-Rose.
When Matty is eventually sent down for multiple murder, questions remain as to his guilt – questions which ultimately destroy both women. Nearly twenty years later, Sophie receives a letter from Battlemouth Prison informing her Matty is dying and wants to meet. It looks like Sophie might finally get the answers she craves. But will the truth set her free – or bury her deeper?
I recieved a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley
There’s been a lot of buzz around Truly, Darkly, Deeply over the last few weeks. It isn’t often I see a book get so much love from so many readers but having devoured this gripping story I can see why it has been praised by the great and good of crime fiction. It was a brilliant read.
Sophie is the focus of the story, she is brought from Massachusetts to England by her mother (Amelia-Rose) and they are starting a new life together in a new country. Ameila-Rose meets Matty, he is a larger than life figure and the couple slowly start to grow their relationship. Sophie and Matty get on well and as the story unfolds we see a family unit forming.
As we get to know Sophie, Ameila-Rose and Matty we see them spending time together and Victoria Selman has seeded their lives into the early 80’s when these formative months of their relationships were founded. It was fun to see how this new “family” viewed the Royal Wedding of Charles and Diana some 40 years after the event took place. Obviously the reader knows how many of these real world events turn out over time but seeing the trio discussing them as they unfold was enchanting and entracing too.
But the homely domesticity also has a shadow hanging over it. A serial killer is operating in the city near where Ameila-Rose and Sophie live. As the number of victims grow, Sophie cannot help but notice that each of the dead women share similar characteristics in their appearance and those characteristics are also shared by her mother.
When we are not reading about life in the 1980s we are in present day. In present day Matty is in prison as he was convicted for the murder of the women. He is dying and he wants to see Sophie. Why does he want to see Sophie? Does she want to see Matty? Well she doesn’t, not really, but there is an inevitability of them having a conversation and as that draws closer the reader is wholly invested in Sophie’s life and also wants to know what Matty plans to say. Is he going to finally confess to the murders? Has he information to share or will he try to undo Sophie’s life? His conviction pretty much changed Sophie once already, could he somehow do more damage?
What made this book shine for me was how deftly Victoria Selman nails the pace, the subtle and dramatic reveals and the utter heights of tension. Despite knowing Matty has been convicted for the murders you don’t know if he actually committed the crimes. After some time Sophie has suspicions but Matty is charming and personable and she really can’t bring herself to believe he could be a killer, at times I had my doubts too.
An immediate favourite. It’s a book you need to read – I loved it.
Truly, Darkly, Deeply is available in hardback, digital and audiobook format and you can order a copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Truly-Darkly-Deeply-gripping-thriller/dp/1529420687/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=ST6ka&pf_rd_p=4894e669-125c-4a90-a2cc-9002e7df2d59&pf_rd_r=4RGQC1JBM2P0TJQYJ328&pd_rd_wg=hMaPa&pd_rd_r=7b67566e-a6f7-44a5-83a9-fc137e783e5b&content-id=amzn1.sym.4894e669-125c-4a90-a2cc-9002e7df2d59&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk