Michael Robotham releases Australian-set crime novel ‘Tell Me Something True’

Michael Robotham’s 20th novel, ‘Tell Me Something True’, marks a departure for the author by setting the story in Australia. The narrative is centered around the fictional town of Yulara, inspired by the author’s childhood surroundings.

The plot follows Arlo Hackett, who returns to his hometown after serving time in prison for being an accessory to a crime. Twelve years prior, his brother Luke was found guilty of murdering a teenage girl named Saxon, who had been living with the Hackett family. As Arlo attempts to rebuild his life and renovate his childhood home, he seeks to uncover the truth behind the events of 1988.

The novel utilizes a dual timeline, switching between the present day in 2001 and the past in 1988, blending elements of a crime mystery with themes of coming-of-age and romance.