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Truth Be Told - by Patricia Raybon
$11.99 sale price when purchased online
$17.99 list price
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About this item
Highlights
- "...[M]ystery novels that incorporate religion in a significant way aren't all that common.
- Author(s): Patricia Raybon
- 416 Pages
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Christian
Description
About the Book
"On a lovely June night in 1924, amateur detective Annalee Spain is mingling bravely at a high-class political fundraiser in the lush backyard garden of famed political fixer Cooper Coates, one of the wealthiest men in Denver's Black neighborhood of Five Points. When Coates's young daughter discovers a pretty stranger dead in her father's garden shed, Annalee is thrust onto the baffling new case just as she's reeling from another recent discovery--a handwritten letter, found buried in her own garden, that reveals the identity of her mother. Not ready to face the truth about her hidden past, Annalee throws herself into solving the mystery of the young woman's demise. With the help of her pastor boyfriend Jack Blake, her orphaned buddy Eddie, and her trustworthy church friends, Annalee follows the clues to three seemingly disconnected settings"--Book Synopsis
"...[M]ystery novels that incorporate religion in a significant way aren't all that common. Thankfully, the inspiring Patricia Raybon, a veteran nonfiction writer and novelist, has been threading the needle in just the right way with her Annalee Spain series, set in 1920s Denver." Sarah Weinman, The New York TimesDenver's newest detective. A garden's deadly secrets.
On a lovely June night in 1924, amateur detective Annalee Spain is mingling bravely at a high-class political fundraiser in the lush backyard garden of famed political fixer Cooper Coates, one of the wealthiest men in Denver's Black neighborhood of Five Points. When Coates's young daughter discovers a pretty stranger dead in her father's garden shed, Annalee is thrust onto the baffling new case just as she's reeling from another recent discovery--a handwritten letter, found buried in her own garden, that reveals the identity of her mother.
Not ready to face the truth about her hidden past, Annalee throws herself into solving the mystery of the young woman's demise. With the help of her pastor boyfriend Jack Blake, her orphaned buddy Eddie, and her trustworthy church friends, Annalee follows the clues to three seemingly disconnected settings--a traveling carnival set up downtown, a Black civic club, and a prestigious white seminary on the outskirts of Denver. Intriguing advice also comes from a famous, real-life Denver visitor. But is Annalee on the right track or just running in circles, fleeing from conflicts racing in her heart?
In a taut, heart-gripping narrative driven by secrets, romance, and lies, Annalee must unravel a case with higher stakes than she imagined--one where answers about a lovely woman's death point to truths and tensions still throbbing today.
- A clean historical mystery featuring an amateur female detective, from the Christy Award-winning author of All That Is Secret
- Third installment in the Annalee Spain series
- Includes discussion questions for book groups
Review Quotes
...[M]ystery novels that incorporate religion in a significant way aren't all that common. Thankfully, the inspiring Patricia Raybon, a veteran nonfiction writer and novelist, has been threading the needle in just the right way with her Annalee Spain series, set in 1920s Denver.--Sarah Weinman, The New York Times
Dimensions (Overall): 8.1 Inches (H) x 5.5 Inches (W) x 1.2 Inches (D)
Weight: .75 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 416
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Christian
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Theme: Historical
Format: Paperback
Author: Patricia Raybon
Language: English
Street Date: June 11, 2024
TCIN: 90737851
UPC: 9781496458483
Item Number (DPCI): 247-00-4636
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details
Estimated ship dimensions: 1.2 inches length x 5.5 inches width x 8.1 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.75 pounds
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5.0 out of 5 stars with 9 reviews
100% would recommend
9 recommendations
Page-turning historical fiction of faith and race
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
PhyllisE - 10 months ago
Thanks to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own. This is the third in the Annalee Spain Mystery series, and I have read the other two. You could easily start with this one. But you’ll also want to go back and read the first two because they’re all great, as “Raybon writes at the daring intersection of faith and race.” The murder mysteries feature Annalee Spain, a young Black woman in the racially hostile environment of 1920s Denver, CO. She tries to fight crime and solve murders “because victims deserve it.” She feels responsible to expose “misadventures so wronged people wouldn’t be simply dead and gone, and then forgotten.” In addition to a variety of expressive characters that help to create the circumstances with realistic emotions, award-winning author Raybon delivers a well-researched historical setting that made me feel I was right in the middle of 1920s Denver. The racial tension reminded me of “The Invention of Wings” and “The Help,” even though all three novels take place in different time periods. In this novel each chapter begins with a quote from Sherlock Holmes, Annalee’s role model. And the themes of flowers and missing mothers are woven into the story along with secrets, romance, and lies. One aspect that takes this mystery a notch above is the theme of faith. Many of the characters have an authentic spiritual belief that brings a satisfying depth to the story. This was a real page-turner for me, and I was sorry when the story came to an end. I’m looking forward to Annalee’s next adventure.
Fabulous story!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
JeanneC - 11 months ago
Truth Be Told is my favorite installment so far! I love this series and could not put it down. Professor Annalee Spain, an amateur detective, is determined to solve the murder of an unknown young black woman in Denver in the 1920's. She presses on despite the adverse and difficult environment that she as a young black woman finds herself living in. I love her continued sweet relationship with Pastor Jack Blake, her sweet circle of church friends, her courageousness and relying on God, the themes of gardening, themes of truth and illusion, and the Sherlock Holmes quotes sprinkled throughout the story. For many many years in our country, black citizens have been portrayed and treated absolutely horribly. Some of those despicable treatments are touched upon in this story. To balance the difficult times they lived in, there are beautiful friendships, faith, and even George Washington Carver, a charming, pioneering botanist, makes an appearance! His kindness and priorities have an impact on Annalee. I thoroughly enjoyed this amazing, well told, page-turning story! Some of my favorite quotes from Truth Be Told: "We each have a past-with beginnings and ends, starts and stops, and good and bad, and highs and lows." "We must enjoy this moment, these hours, this sunshine, Annalee thought to herself. Because, with murder, things get worse before they get better. Then right away, of course, they did." "Her little coterie of church-lady buddies had become a priceless, trusted treasury of commonsense wisdom, help, and friendship. If the best detectives had trusted sidekicks, she could claim a good half dozen, not even counting Eddie." "I wish I knew how, but I never had nobody mother me. Maybe you can fix that broken line." I highly recommend Truth Be Told and the entire series by author Patricia Raybon for readers who love mysteries, and important journeys along the way. Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an early PDF copy. All opinions are my own. I preordered my own copy and can't wait until it arrives and occupies a special spot on my keeper shelf with the rest of this series!
History, Mystery and a Dash of Romance
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
- 11 months ago
In Truth Be Told, Patricia Raybon has crafted a “keep you guessing until the end” historical mystery starring her female detective Annalee Spain. With fascinating period details, a pitch perfect cameo, and a gallery of possible suspects this mystery will keep your mental gears turning. Five stars for Truth Be Told.
Captivating Mystery!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
ReadingMom - 11 months ago
Truth Be Told is another suspenseful, intriguing historical-fiction mystery from award winning author Patricia Raybon! In this 3rd installment of the Annalee Spain mystery series, the young black, female detective again confronts the ugliness and violence of racism in 1920s Denver when the KKK had it's grip in every aspect of government at the state and local level. This time Annalee is hired to solve the murder of a young woman at a high society garden party in the Five Points neighborhood. Readers will be captivated, intrigued, and entertained through the entire story as Raybon uses words to paint beautiful gardens in the mind's eye while making us witness horrific police brutality on a Denver streetcar. Although trouble follows Annalee to her own home, she is supported by a community of friends and her faith in God to persevere and uncover the truth.
An Outstanding Historical Mystery!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Rebecca - 11 months ago
4.5 stars "A lady! She's dead!" Sure enough, while Cooper Coates' guests are being entertained with food and drink on the lawn of his Five Points mansion, the voice of his daughter Melody heralds the sort of alarm that no one expects to hear at such a swanky event; a lovely young woman's dead body has been discovered in the corner of the potting shed. Who is she, how has she died, and more importantly . . . why is she dead? Annalee Spain, a guest at the party, immediately morphs into detective mode, noticing something that looks remarkably out of place . . . a gorgeous red, streaked with fuchsia, rose bud clasped in the hand of the deceased. "Somebody lured her, and used her, and stole her life, and tried to pretty it up with a covering of flowers." As most murder investigations are prone to do, it takes a team of people and a wealth of information to untangle the truth. With the help of the good Lord above, the mighty fine pastor, (that Annalee is pretty sure represents her future) a posse of church women who are as loyal and helpful as any detective could ask for, and an energetic teen named Eddie whose eagerness is unmatched . . . Annalee is equipped to sniff out any and every crumb of information that comes her way. What is really going on? Is she way in over her head? (and why won't her garden grow???? . . . there are life lessons in that dirt!) The truth is just begging to be told. Talk about putting my nose in a book!!! . . . Once acclimating back into the setting and its characters, there was no slowing down around the curves, much less tapping the brakes. With her uncanny ability to pull clues in and out of thin air, the author delights her readers by including them in every aspect of the chase to find a dangerous, elusive killer, who just might be hiding in plain sight, or not! An outstanding historical mystery! "Because with murder, things get worse before they get better." I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Interviews and Reviews. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
A page turning mystery!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
elizabethpea - 11 months ago
This book is a page turner! Get out some paper and pen! This story will keep you on your toes! For anyone who loves a great mystery, go and read this entire series! I love the historical fiction, mystery and Christian fiction all wrapped into a beautiful and well written story! Patricia has truly knocked it out of the park on this book in the series! Because of this book, Patricia Raybon is now one my favorite mystery authors of all time!
Suspense and Intrigue!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Kathy F - 11 months ago
Patricia Raybon’s third book in the Annalee Spain murder mystery series, Truth Be Told, expertly ties her three novels (All That Is Secret and Double The Lies) together into a masterful conclusion. Patricia’s foray into fiction matures through each novel with Truth Be Told engaging the reader from start to finish! Patricia’s work is a refreshing change with prayer and faith as the underlying foundations to Annalee’s success as a detective. Truth Be Told is a stand-alone story, but you will want to read all three of Patricia Raybon’s novels in sequence to understand and appreciate the brave life of Annalee Spain as she pursues justice and truth in a racially tense post-war Denver!
Non Stop Action
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Kerrieg - 11 months ago
Truth Be Told continues the story of Annalee Spain as a young detective in 1920's Denver. With the KKK influencing and in control often, mysterious deaths of black people are too easily swept away or hidden. From page one, you will be hooked on this third book in the series. The character development and plot are masterful. Patricia is a storyteller that grabs your attention and holds it. The question of will truth set you free...hits on many levels. A 5 star read for sure.
Truth Be Told by. Patricia Raybon
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
CharChar - 11 months ago
Truth Be Told" by Patricia Raybon is a gripping murder mystery set in 1920s Colorado, featuring Annalee Spain, an African American amateur detective. When a young woman is discovered murdered in an unlikely location, Annalee becomes entangled in the investigation, driven by her insatiable curiosity and sense of justice. Raybon skillfully blends elements of mystery, romance, inspiration, and historical commentary, weaving a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. With rich descriptions that evoke the sights and sounds of the era, Raybon transports readers to the setting of 1920s Colorado, immersing them in a world filled with secrets, complexities, and unexpected twists. Throughout the novel, Raybon's storytelling prowess shines, delivering a satisfying conclusion while leaving readers eager for more. "Truth Be Told" is a testament to Raybon's ability to craft compelling characters and intricate plots that captivate and entertain. Whether you're a fan of murder mysteries or simply enjoy a well-crafted tale filled with intrigue and heart, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression. And if you haven't yet experienced the first two books in the series, prepare to be hooked from the very first page.