The Truth About Gretchen Paperback – June 18, 2019

I was always told never to judge a book by its cover, but there was something about the cover of this novel, The Truth About Gretchen by Alretha Thomas, that kept drawing me. I studied the picture several times trying to decide what it revealed. I tried to guess its meaning. Finally, after so many guesses, it was clear to me that there was no other way to be sure of its depth unless I read the book. Reading the details gave me an unbelievable shock. I never would have guessed in a million years. Alretha Thomas has done it again...created another page turner. She captivates her readers from the beginning with her method of unfolding the two main characters, Regina and Gretchen. When we seek them out, one major secret is disclosed, and it is a powerful and unique development. Are there really only two ladies?Because the points of view change, we experience omniscience. We hear the characters' voices, see their emotions, understand their frustrations and tumble through their back stories seeing a consistent determination to find out who murdered Robert. One of the things that I loved most in the beginning was the recurring image of the "water bottle" and seeing its significance unfold. This motif was brilliant with a fine touch of true literary technique. ...and then there is the ending. What an ending! However, Thomas is not finished yet. After finding the answer to this mystery, there is a powerful concluding speech that melds us all together. It is that inevitable experience we all have when we lose a loved one to tragedy. This was our son, or our daughter, our niece, nephew, grandchild, friend...and we have lost a spark that ignited love. There are undeniable truths that Thomas unveils at the turning of each page. She pulls us into her world and every moment...every demand...every mountain climbed by these characters is worth this reading experience. Run and get your own copy of The Truth About Gretchen, and not only enjoy, but learn!

First off, let me say that I don't think that there is anyone who conveys human emotion through writing better than this author. Alretha Thomas is truly gifted in that area. This is the second book of hers I've read (Losing Lauren) and she just knows what she's doing, plain and simple.Without giving away too much, this book has an angle that I haven't seen explored before in this genre, and it works! Because of this unique thing, we get to see some very human reactions--some good and some not so good. That's what gives it credibility, and that's that special talent that Thomas possesses. You know characters are written well when they evoke emotion from the reader. And boy did they ever evoke some emotion out of me. At times I found myself yelling at my kindle, other times shaking my head, and sometimes just feeling plain old sorry for the character(s) involved.There is never a dull moment in this book. It is jammed-packed with suspense and intrigue. At times it's gritty and reminds you that it's not always sunshine and palm trees in this world. Be careful though, this one will hit you in the feels when you least suspect. Be warned. I cannot recommend this one enough. You will not be disappointed. Trust me!

I was intrigued by this mystery centered around reincarnation, which I believe in, and sent it to the top of my TBR list. I'm a slow reader since I recreate the scenes in my mind's eye, give each character their own voice and soak up each scene like a sponge. As I read along, enjoying this story, I wondered why I've not read more of the many free mysteries in my Kindle Library; however, when I got to the last chapter in this book I was reminded: the author destroyed the integrity of this great mystery with a totally junk and unrealistic last chapter. No spoilers but let's just say that witnesses in a murder case would not be swept up into the media spotlight the instant the FBI discovers them. The mystery itself was presented brilliantly, but the end was way too far over the top unbelievable I'm very sad to say. There were less than a dozen proofreading typos and the cover was perfect. I'll avoid books by this author in the future.

Very moving. Couldn’t put it down. It was truly an amazing story. I hope the author writes another amazing book.

In “ The Truth About Gretchen” Alretha plot layout was excellent, filled with suspenseful twist that kept me asking for more.

In "The Truth about Gretchen," Author Alretha Thomas has produced a work comprised of an unusual storyline, expressive language, convincing characters, and “edge of the seat” suspense and action. She skillfully weaves these components together to produce a work that immediately grabs the reader’s attention and keeps him/her fully engaged from the first chapter to the final chapter. This work is a very entertaining read.

I decided to check out this book when I browsed amazon. I didn’t know what to expect but when I began reading I knew I was in for a treat. The first chapter slowly introduces you to pivotal characters as the story unfolds before your eyes. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new novel to dive into.

I really loved how this story flowed. The buildup was amazing, you didn't know where it was going to go. This story was action packed and suspenseful. I cried, I laughed, and I cried some more. The author really knows how to draw the reader in, and keep us glued to the story.