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Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 20 Aug 2024, 01:46
by Priya Murugesan
[Following is a volunteer review of "Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . ." by Jody B. Miller.]
Book Cover
5 out of 5 stars
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Do you love to read short tales revolving around familial problems, treacherous affairs, intricate relationships, disrupted lives, betrayed love, or an atrocious scandal? Is there a puzzle solver inside you? Would you love to read a book while simultaneously solving a puzzle? If so, then "Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . ." by Jody B. Miller is a perfect book for you.

This unique collection features three interconnected stories, each blending fact with fiction and containing a grain of truth. The author challenges readers to solve the puzzle within the stories and invites them to connect with her after unraveling the mystery.

The first story is 'Is P,L my half brother?'. It is about a young girl who is torn apart when her father leaves their family for another woman. It then follows her quest to find her half-brother and depicts her valuing her family bonds as well as her coming to terms with life. The story is brimming with emotions, and I can feel the confusion and the plight of the young girl very well. The author does a great job portraying her emotions, and I can relate to her feelings and her desire for love. The ending of the first story left me pondering what would have happened next. The second one is 'Tweeker'. The tone of the second story is completely different, and I didn't expect that. It's about a young girl who went astray in life due to a lack of love and care. The story presents her thoughts and emotions in a raw manner, showing how her life changed because of her situation and choices. Her story touched me deeply. She was denied parental love at a young age, which changed her life forever. Behind all the roughness and raciness, one can witness the soft heart and childish mind that crave love. Both the first and second stories are told in the first-person narrative, which helped me create a closeness with the characters. The third story, 'The Recruiter' is a little different and has some tense and exciting moments. It depicts the story of Bill and how he got fired, leading to a total change in his life. The story portrays the struggles and thoughts of a person who was fired suddenly. As he tries to regain his composure, he is again shaken to the core when he discovers hidden truths in his life. I found the character of the recruiter interesting and charming. The dedication part at the beginning of this story captured my attention.

I really liked how each story had a unique writing style. The characters were well-developed, and I could feel their pain when their trust was broken and they were betrayed. The ending of the stories might seem abrupt; however, the intricate connection between the stories makes the reading fascinating. I noticed a few connections, but there are more waiting to be discovered.

This book offered a unique experience, combining the enjoyment of reading a story with the challenge of solving a puzzle. I took notes while reading to try and unravel the mystery woven within the pages. While I managed to uncover some of the interconnections within the story, there were still many elusive threads to untangle. I am resolved to read the book again and piece together the truth and connections between the stories. While the connection between the first and second stories was straightforward, the third one proved to be more challenging for me. Overall, I had a captivating time with this book, and although I couldn't uncover all the mysteries, I am determined to give it another try and solve them.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy mystery stories and solving puzzles. It is also a great choice for those who appreciate emotional books. However, it's important to note that the book contains a lot of profanity, drug references, and mature content, especially in the second story, making it unsuitable for readers under 18. The author clearly states this at the beginning of the book. I didn't notice any errors and didn't dislike anything in this book. So, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

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Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .
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Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 23 Aug 2024, 23:34
by Anu Anand
I too have selected this book to review, and the description really fascinated me. I'm intrigued by the blend of fact and fiction in the stories, and as you did, I'll be sure to note down the connections as I read. Thank you for this detailed review; it has definitely increased my anticipation for the book!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 25 Aug 2024, 08:11
by Priya Murugesan
Anu Anand wrote: 23 Aug 2024, 23:34 I too have selected this book to review, and the description really fascinated me. I'm intrigued by the blend of fact and fiction in the stories, and as you did, I'll be sure to note down the connections as I read. Thank you for this detailed review; it has definitely increased my anticipation for the book!
Waiting to read your review!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 25 Aug 2024, 09:51
by Mradushi Singhal
Your review makes this book sound incredibly intriguing! The mix of emotional stories and puzzles is exactly what I love. I’m definitely adding this to my reading list next. Thanks for the detailed insights!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 25 Aug 2024, 10:30
by _Rhea Jacob
The book has a couple of interesting stories that are intricately connected. It looks like I have to really focus on solving the puzzle and the mysteries and I look forward to reading it. Wonderful review!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 25 Aug 2024, 10:45
by Priya Murugesan
Mradushi Singhal wrote: 25 Aug 2024, 09:51 Your review makes this book sound incredibly intriguing! The mix of emotional stories and puzzles is exactly what I love. I’m definitely adding this to my reading list next. Thanks for the detailed insights!
Hope you love it!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 25 Aug 2024, 10:47
by Priya Murugesan
_Rhea Jacob wrote: 25 Aug 2024, 10:30 The book has a couple of interesting stories that are intricately connected. It looks like I have to really focus on solving the puzzle and the mysteries and I look forward to reading it. Wonderful review!
Hope you read and share your review!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 26 Aug 2024, 23:00
by RJ Reviews
Sounds like a literary treat! Good short stories are hard to come by. The author did an excellent job of stitching together such engaging tales. The title itself is thought-provoking, catching one's attention immediately. I enjoyed reading your insightful review a lot. Thank you.

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 26 Aug 2024, 23:16
by Priya Murugesan
RJ Reviews wrote: 26 Aug 2024, 23:00 Sounds like a literary treat! Good short stories are hard to come by. The author did an excellent job of stitching together such engaging tales. The title itself is thought-provoking, catching one's attention immediately. I enjoyed reading your insightful review a lot. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for reading my review!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 28 Aug 2024, 08:06
by Sarah Zain
Stories and riddles are an interesting combination. From your review, it seems that the author has done a good job of weaving the story lines. Your review is beautifully written and I enjoyed reading it.

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 28 Aug 2024, 08:28
by Priya Murugesan
Sarah Zain wrote: 28 Aug 2024, 08:06 Stories and riddles are an interesting combination. From your review, it seems that the author has done a good job of weaving the story lines. Your review is beautifully written and I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks a lot!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 28 Aug 2024, 14:20
by Mary Omotosho
This sounds intriguing, your review made me curious about the connections between the different stories. I love puzzles and mystery books, so I would give this book a go.

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 29 Aug 2024, 00:04
by Priya Murugesan
Mary Omotosho wrote: 28 Aug 2024, 14:20 This sounds intriguing, your review made me curious about the connections between the different stories. I love puzzles and mystery books, so I would give this book a go.
Thank you for reading my review!

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 30 Aug 2024, 11:53
by Gerry Steen
From your review, I see that the author wrote stories that pain the heart. Solving the mysteries of the connections between these people and their pain is much like what a psychologist, detective, and social worker do. You have captivated my interest in this book. :techie-studyinggray:

Re: Review of Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide . . .

Posted: 31 Aug 2024, 00:50
by Priya Murugesan
Gerry Steen wrote: 30 Aug 2024, 11:53 From your review, I see that the author wrote stories that pain the heart. Solving the mysteries of the connections between these people and their pain is much like what a psychologist, detective, and social worker do. You have captivated my interest in this book. :techie-studyinggray:
Hope you like the book!