Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil - Softcover

Melina Marchetta is the acclaimed author of young adult novels including Saving Francesca and Jellicoe Road, which won the American Library Association's Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. Her novels have been published in 17 languages and 18 countries. She lives in Sydney, Australia. TELL THE TRUTH, SHAME THE DEVIL is Marchetta's first novel for adults.

Praise for Tell The Truth, Shame the Devil:

"Each new Melina Marchetta novel is a revelation. She's always changing, always evolving, and each one performs the miracle of somehow bettering the last--and TELL THE TRUTH, SHAME THE DEVIL does exactly that. A novel of great scope, of past and present, and above all, the Marchetta trademark of a fierce and loving heart."―Markus Zusak, bestselling author of The Book Thief

"When you spend roughly 400 pages with characters and it still doesn't feel like enough you know you've read a great book. Actually, an excellent book. [It] expertly slices out every human emotion. I can only hope I will get to meet these characters again in a future book."―Jamie Canaves, BookRiot

"Marchetta's stunning adult debut....Emotionally complex characters complement an intricate plot rife with dizzying twists and devastating reveals. This visceral read manages to capture the emotional aftermath of a mass tragedy while sustaining tension and delivering a scathing indictment of racial profiling, vigilante justice, and the 24-hour news cycle."
―Publishers Weekly (starred review)


"Along with its wellrounded and likable characters, this is more than a crime story; it's jam-packed with family drama and heartbreak. Highly recommended for suspense and mystery fans."
―Kristen Calvert, Library Journal (starred review)


"Marchetta's smooth writing and flair for dialogue combine for a mostly seamless read."
―Kirkus Reviews

"I might have held my breath the entire time I was reading Melina Marchetta's heart-pounding (and heartbreaking) new novel. Part crime story, part family drama, part love story, TELL THE TRUTH, SHAME THE DEVIL grabbed me by the throat and didn't let go until I'd read the last word--and shed the last tear."
―Gayle Forman, bestselling author of If I Stay and Leave Me

"Loved it! TELL THE TRUTH, SHAME THE DEVIL is a stunning marriage of global anguish and personal pain. It's often heartbreaking, sometimes heart-stopping, and definitely unforgettable."―Ivy Pochoda, author of Visitation Street

"A cracking read that's also timely and intelligent....Marchetta is a master storyteller. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil deserves to be on the bedside table of every crime fan."
―The Saturday Paper (Australia)


"....the characters [Marchetta] introduces are rich and complex. They'll soon be swept up in this swift thriller and call for more installments in Bish's tale."
―Cat Acree, BookPage

"Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil brilliantly captures the confusion of father-daughter relationships, the double-edged sword of redemption, and the destructive societal fear of "The Other." Alternating between dozens of perspectives, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil is a wide-lens view of how one act of violence can reverberate for years and years in countless different lives and countless different places."―Cristina Arreola, Bustle