There are novels that entertain, and then there are novels that unsettle, provoke, and linger.
Michael Clark’s The Truth About You belongs firmly in the second category.
Lucy and Meg are sisters caught in the middle of their mother’s abusive marriage. When her husband Greg is arrested for assault, they believe the worst is over—until their mother chooses to stay with him. Their desperate plan to capture the truth with hidden cameras is meant to protect her, but instead it reveals a far more complex reality. Through Lucy’s eyes, Clark explores the troubling gap between society’s assumptions about abuse and the messy, contradictory truths families actually live. With literary depth and emotional force, The Truth
About You is a thought-provoking work for readers drawn to dark, layered fiction. Michael Clark brings a rare perspective to his writing. As the founder of the Ananias Foundation, he has dedicated his career to helping thousands confront and overcome abusive behaviors.
His voice is shaped by his own past—once a domestic violence offender, he transformed his life and now leads with humility, compassion, and hope. He is also the author of From Villain to Hero, a candid memoir chronicling his personal journey of change. With The Truth About You, Clark turns to fiction, weaving his insight into a story that challenges readers to see beyond black-and-white narratives. Learn more at michaelclarkauthor.com.
When Lucy and Meg’s mother is assaulted by her husband, stepfather Greg, his arrest seems to mark the end of a nightmare. But when their mother chooses to stay with him, the sisters are thrust into a disturbing moral dilemma.
Desperate to protect her, they take a drastic step: secretly install hidden cameras to capture the truth for themselves—and the rest of the world. What unfolds isn’t what Lucy expected.
Told with emotional clarity and literary depth, The Truth About You probes the unsettling gap between what we’re taught to believe and the evidence. As Lucy grapples with conflicting narratives of abuse, loyalty, and manipulation, she’s forced to question not only her mother and stepfather’s roles in this abusive relationship, but the entire framework of judgment, justice, and victimhood.
This is a bold, timely novel for readers who crave psychological insight, emotional complexity, and stories that challenge assumptions. Fans of dark literary fiction and contemporary women’s drama will find themselves haunted by the questions this story refuses to answer easily.
Read it, question everything, and decide for yourself.
Enjoy an Excerpt
Shortly after 7 p.m., Greg and Paula pulled into the driveway in Greg’s SUV. They stayed in the car for
several minutes. Stacy peered through the family room curtains to check what was happening. “They’re
still sitting in the car,” she reported.
“Is he hitting her?” someone asked.
“No. At least not as far as I can tell,” she said.
“Are they arguing?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Should someone go out there?”
“I’m not sure about that, either.”
Finally, the doors to the SUV opened and Greg and Paula got out. Greg went to the back and started filling his arms with bags from their shopping trip. Paula headed for the kitchen’s side door.
“Are you okay?” Christine asked Paula as she came through the door.
“I’m fine,” Paula said.
“Is Greg coming in?” Julie asked.
“Yes,” Paula answered. “He should be in soon. He’s bringing in the groceries.”
“He knows we’re here?”
“He knows there are several people here, yes.”
“How did you convince him to come in?”
“I told him that if he wants any chance of us staying married, he will come in and listen,” Paula said.
About then, Greg walked into the kitchen, clutching four bags of groceries in each hand. He glanced at the crowd gathering at the other end of the room but said nothing.
“I need to get some of this stuff into the refrigerator and freezer,” he said as he placed the bags on the counter and began unpacking their contents.
An awkward silence fell as he avoided their stares. Others in the group, including Lucy, remained in the family room.
Greg, having stowed away the groceries, glanced at the bystanders. “I’m guessing you’re not here for a party.”
“No, Greg, we’re not,” Denise’s husband, Mark, said. “Why don’t you come into the other room and have a seat? We have something we’d like to talk to you about.”
“I can only imagine what that might be,” Greg grumbled quietly, yet audible to those nearby.
About the Author: 
Michael Clark is the founder and Executive Director of the Ananias Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to ending domestic violence at its root, by working with those who have caused harm. Through the foundation, Michael has supported thousands of individuals seeking to break free from abusive behaviors, offering guidance, and hope for change.
What makes Michael’s voice distinct is the depth of personal experience he brings to his work. A former domestic violence offender himself, he has walked the difficult road of transformation. Today, he writes, speaks, and leads from that hard-won perspective, helping others understand the mindset behind abuse, and how real, lasting change is possible.
He is the author of The Truth About You, a domestic violence themed novel, and From Villain to Hero, a candid and powerful memoir that traces his journey from being abusive to becoming a safe and emotionally healthy partner. His writing is marked by honesty, compassion, and a deep understanding of the internal and relational dynamics at play in abusive relationships. Michael Clark is the founder and Executive Director of the Ananias Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to ending domestic violence at its root, by working with those who have caused harm. Through the foundation, Michael has supported thousands of individuals seeking to break free from abusive behaviors, offering guidance, and hope for change.
What makes Michael’s voice distinct is the depth of personal experience he brings to his work. A former domestic violence offender himself, he has walked the difficult road of transformation. Today, he writes, speaks, and leads from that hard-won perspective, helping others understand the mindset behind abuse, and how real, lasting change is possible.
He is the author of The Truth About You, a domestic violence themed novel, and From Villain to Hero, a candid and powerful memoir that traces his journey from being abusive to becoming a safe and emotionally healthy partner. His writing is marked by honesty, compassion, and a deep understanding of the internal and relational dynamics at play in abusive relationships.
Buy the book at Amazon. Free to read on KindleUnlimited.
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