'The Ugly Truth is fresh, compelling and searing in its exploration of the toxicity of social media and the reality of modern celebrity. Not to be missed!' Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS

'#FreeBritney meets The Appeal in this addictively unique thriller' Jack Jordan, bestselling author of Do No Harm

"I'm a prisoner. I'm not allowed to leave. There is someone watching me every minute of the day."

Melanie Lange has disappeared.

Her father, billionaire business tycoon Sir Peter Lange, says she is a danger to herself and has been admitted to a private mental health clinic.

Her ex-husband, Finn, and best friend, Nell, say she has been kidnapped. They are deeply concerned for her safety.

The media will say whichever gets them the most views.

But whose side are you on?
#SaveMelanie
#HelpPeter


'A startling thriller with a sharp edge. Fast and compelling, it leaves you gasping for breath' Daily Mail

'A whip-smart and ingenious thriller' Lesley Kara, bestselling author of The Rumour

'Original, timely, thought-provoking' B. A. Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors

'A compelling read that will make you look at headlines in a different way' Glamour

Readers are obsessed with The Ugly Truth:
'There are some books that quickly become an obsession. The Ugly Truth is one of those books' *****
'The Ugly Truth is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. L.C. North really knows what she's doing' *****
'An absolutely spot on portrayal of the harsh landscape that is modern-day fame and celebrity. As disturbing as it is thought-provoking' *****

Told via interviews, transcripts and diary entries, The Ugly Truth is a shocking and addictive thriller about fame, power and the truth behind the headlines.

About the Author

L.C. North studied psychology at university before pursuing a career in Public Relations. Her book club thrillers - The Ugly Truth and Clickbait - combine her love of psychology and her fascination with the celebrities in the public eye. When she's not writing, she co-hosts the crime thriller podcast, In Suspense. She lives on the Suffolk borders with her family.
L.C. North is the pen name of Lauren North. Readers can follow her on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor.

Reviews
The Ugly Truth is fresh, compelling and searing in its exploration of the toxicity of social media and the reality of modern celebrity. Not to be missed! * Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of THE FAMILY UPSTAIRS *
A whipsmart and ingenious thriller for our times. Compellingly narrated in snippets of mixed media, The Ugly Truth homes in on our toxic addiction to celebrity. It is a tour de force! * Lesley Kara, bestselling author of THE RUMOUR *
#FreeBritney meets The Appeal in this addictively unique thriller. Get ready to be utterly hooked. North is one of my all-time favourite writers. * Jack Jordan, author of DO NO HARM *
Original, timely, thought-provoking and an absolutely brilliant read. * B. A. Paris, author of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS *
Totally fresh and very clever. A very enjoyable piece of fiction that made me reassess my own views and prejudices about people in the public eye. * Emily Edwards, author of THE HERD *
The Ugly Truth is a beautifully crafted, and sharply observed novel. It makes for an incredibly powerful and heart-breaking read. I inhaled it. * Liv Matthews, author of THE TWINS *
A brilliantly constructed and compelling glimpse into the darkest reaches of celebrity, and a forensic study of how the solar flare of fame can blind everyone to the truth. Highly recommended. * Fiona Cummins, author of RATTLE *
One of the cleverest and most thought-provoking books I've read in a long time, with an absolute sucker-punch of an ending that really unsettled me. * Charlotte Duckworth, author of THE SANCTUARY *
Fresh, surprising and very astute on what it's like to live in the public eye. * Laura Marshall, bestselling author of FRIEND REQUEST *
Riveting, thought-provoking and heart-breaking in equal measure. So inventive and original, and the characterisation was incredible. * Catherine Cooper, author of THE CHALET *
L. C. North brilliantly combines delicious, page-turning entertainment with dark themes. * Emma Curtis, author of INVITE ME IN *
The Ugly Truth is a thought-provoking indictment of modern fame which shines a light in the darkest of places and asks all the right questions. Propulsive reading. Loved it. * Amanda Reynolds, author of CLOSE TO ME *
Provides a disturbing insight into how the media treats women. A truly five-star read. * Nikki Smith, author of LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO *
A timely and compelling look at celebrity culture wrapped up in a dark, twisty tale! * Louise Mumford, author of THE SAFE HOUSE *
A rollercoaster ride, thought-provoking, addictive, and satisfying. Highly recommend. * Louise Swanson, author of END OF STORY *
Fascinating morally grey characters, toxic families and an amazing critique on the callous nature of the media. Loved it. * Heather Darwent, author of THE THINGS WE DO TO OUR FRIENDS *
A damning, tragic modern day story told in a unique and thoroughly entertaining way. It holds a mirror up to our dog-eat-dog media and the price we all pay for using real lives as entertainment. * Cesca Major, author of MAYBE NEXT TIME *
A startling thriller with a sharp edge. Fast and compelling, it leaves you gasping for breath. * Daily Mail *
A cleverly written page-turner. * Apple Books 'Best of the Month', March 2023 *
Perceptive, thought-provoking and addictive. * Crime Monthly *
The unique format of this book has me intrigued - told via interviews, transcripts and diary entries, The Ugly Truth is a thriller about fame, power and the truth behind the headlines * Cosmopolitan *
Are you ready for your new obsession? This thriller captures everything that is toxic with social media and being a celebrity in today's world. Original, fast-moving and a compelling read. A twisting psychological story that will make you look at headlines in a different way. * Glamour *
The Ugly Truth is a rollercoaster of a book that has you hooked from the first page. Original, blistering and brilliant. A triumph. * Frost magazine *
A terrific thriller, inventively told. You'll want to turn off your phone and hide yourself away until you've turned the last page. * B. P. Walter, author of THE DINNER GUEST *
A taut and pacy thriller...North has a masterful approach to a sensitive subject and keeps you hooked. * Sun *



Book Information
ISBN 9781787636378
Author L.C. North
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Bantam Press
Publisher Transworld Publishers Ltd
Weight(grams) 592g
Dimensions(mm) 240mm * 162mm * 34mm