The Ugly Truth

"I'm a prisoner. I'm not allowed to leave. There is someone watching me every minute of the day." 
Media superstar 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 - no matter what the cost. 
 
But whose side are you on? And where is Melanie? 
 
Praise for The Ugly Truth 
 
'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 
 
'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' &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; 
'The Ugly Truth is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. L.C. North really knows what she's doing' &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; 
'An absolutely spot-on portrayal of the harsh landscape that is modern-day fame and celebrity. As disturbing as it is thought-provoking' &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; &#11088; 
 
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.

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.

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.

The Ugly Truth is a beautifully crafted, and sharply observed novel. It makes for an incredibly powerful and heart-breaking read. I inhaled it.

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.

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.

L. C. North brilliantly combines delicious, page-turning entertainment with dark themes.

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.

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!

A rollercoaster ride, thought-provoking, addictive, and satisfying. Highly recommend.

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.

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

Apple Books 'Best of the Month', March 2023

Perceptive, thought-provoking and addictive.

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

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.

The Ugly Truth is a rollercoaster of a book that has you hooked from the first page. Original, blistering and brilliant. A triumph.

A terrific thriller, inventively told. You'll want to turn off your phone and hide yourself away until you've turned the last page.

A taut and pacy thriller...North has a masterful approach to a sensitive subject and keeps you hooked.

The most original crime novel you'll read this year.

Perceptive, disturbing, mind-bending, and unafraid to explore the poison that infects families living under the spotlight, this is a gripping read from the first page right through to the final, breath-taking dénouement.

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.

"I'm a prisoner. I'm not allowed to leave. There is someone watching me every minute of the day." 
 
Media superstar 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 - no matter what the cost. 
 
But whose side are you on? And where is Melanie? 
 
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.

L.C. North

To say this book was a compelling page-turner would be a criminal understatement. It’s a novel you inhale and marvel at as you fly through page after gripping page. A total stunner

B.P Walter, bestselling author of THE DINNER GUEST

I think L.C. North has invented the Celebrity Meltdown Thriller! Clickbait is a hugely enjoyable blast of fresh air. Murder, monster egos and vanity. Great stuff!

Told through mixed media, Clickbait kept me turning the pages to find out what happened to missing teenager, Bradley Wilcox. Masterfully plotted and told with verve and humour, this clever and compelling story was made for TV. Bravo

Jo Callaghan, author of IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

A must for fans of reality TV or true crime - compelling and page-turning with some shocking twists along the way. Loved it

Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of THE CHALET

An utterly gripping thriller that explores the addictiveness of reality TV in today’s society, and the lengths some people will go to in order to achieve fame. Whip-smart and incisive, I couldn’t put this book down.

A look at the dark side of fame, it's a 21st-century morality tale

Daily Mail, 'Fiction to Look Out for in 2024'

Dark, devious and totally addictive! I was hooked from the very first page all the way to the gloriously unexpected end. L.C. North has written her best book yet!

Clever, convincing, topical and original, Clickbait deserves to be HUGE

Charlotte Duckworth, author of THE WRONG MOTHER

Dark and sly, propulsive and smart. It deserves all the stars

Clickbait dazzles with a brilliant setting (a reality TV show), compelling characterisation (a ruthlessly ambitious family) and brilliant mixed-media narrative including a true crime podcast, social media posts & reality TV “confessionals”. A totally original psychological thriller!

Philippa East, author of LITTLE WHITE LIES

Readers are in for such a treat! Absolutely LOVED L.C. North's Clickbait - utterly gripping, with the most deliciously twisted ending

Lisa Hall, author of THE WOMAN IN THE WOODS

I literally gulped this down in one sitting. Clickbait is compulsively bingeable. It’s like listening to your favourite true crime podcast while watching car crash reality TV at the same time. An absolute delight to read

Clickbait is a compelling, flash-popping, original whodunnit. The premise is genius – I found it utterly unputdownable. Easily one of my favourite thrillers of the year. I cannot wait for L C North’s next offering.

Emily Freud, author of WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND

This searing story about the underbelly of celebrity and reality TV had me glued to the pages. Current and utterly addictive, I can see this being a standout thriller in 2024.

Lisa Timoney, author of HER DAUGHTER'S SECRET

Fresh, addictive, twisty and satisfying, with a nice take on celebrity culture, Clickbait kept me reading well into the night. I love the new furrow LC North is carving out, writing fast-paced, page-turning, of-the-moment thrillers. Her best book yet

Clickbait is fiendishly clever and fast-paced, with so many twists and turns, it’s impossible to predict where it is going next. It is also a fascinating take on online fame, the obsessive nature of it, and the lengths some people will go to satisfy their addiction. A terrifying reflection of the modern celebrity, brilliantly told. I absolutely loved it!

L. C. North is back with another juicy dive into our obsession with modern celebrity and doesn’t she do it superbly? An acidic look at the cost of fame, ingeniously told through mixed media, with twists unravelling faster than you can tweet them. Clickbait is sure to be on ‘must read’ lists for 2024.

Lizzy Barber, bestselling author of OUT OF HER DEPTH

What an absolute triumph! Twists and turns aplenty with a complex mystery. L. C. North tells the story in such a smart, compelling way! Already guaranteed a place on my 2024 top books list!

Chris Frost, author of THE KILLER'S CHRISTMAS LIST

I have just finished this absolute belter of a book and I had SO much fun reading this one. I genuinely couldn’t put it down. Reality TV, social media, and a cast of flawed untrustworthy characters. This book is slick and fresh and I LOVED it

Addictive, clever, twisty, and satisfying. Couldn't put it down!

Stayed up late finishing this intricately woven mixed media novel which explores the darker side of fame. Don’t miss it!

B. A. Paris, bestselling author of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

I felt as though I was watching this gripping story unfold in the media in real time; clever and captivating

Jackie Kabler, author of THE PERFECT COUPLE

Highly original in both concept and execution, this gripping thriller is told entirely through interviews, transcripts and diary entries accurately reflecting social media's current dominance in news-gathering today

A gripping page turner that will quite literally have you on the edge of your seat

Dark, devious and totally addictive, this is a story about the underbelly of fame that you’ll find difficult to put down. Glamorous and thrilling, we binged this book in one sitting.

Riveting, skillful and wonderfully inventive . . . The story flashes past like a speeding train, with enormous verve, which leaves the reader captivated.

This real-time, multi-point of view story works brilliantly and makes for a fast, easy read, with much to satisfy readers of love-to-hate and fans of get-your-comeuppance

Told through interviews, diary entries and transcripts, Clickbait is an addictive mystery that demands to be read in a single sitting

'We're not famous anymore. We're notorious.' 
 
For over a decade, the Lancasters were celebrity royalty, with millions tuning in every week to watch their reality show, Living with the Lancasters. 
 
But then an old video emerges of one of their legendary parties. Suddenly, they're in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons: witnesses swore they'd seen missing teenager Bradley Wilcox leaving the Lancaster family home on the night of the party, but the video tells a different story. 
 
Now true crime investigator and YouTuber Tom Isaac is on the case. He's determined to find out what really happened to Bradley - he just needs to read between the Lancasters' lies . . . 
 
Because when the cameras are always rolling, it won't be long until someone cracks.

L.C. North

Praise for Clickbait

To say this book was a compelling page-turner would be a criminal understatement. It’s a novel you inhale and marvel at as you fly through page after gripping page. A total stunner

I think L.C. North has invented the Celebrity Meltdown Thriller! Clickbait is a hugely enjoyable blast of fresh air. Murder, monster egos and vanity. Great stuff!

Told through mixed media, Clickbait kept me turning the pages to find out what happened to missing teenager, Bradley Wilcox. Masterfully plotted and told with verve and humour, this clever and compelling stor ...

To say this book was a compelling page-turner would be a criminal understatement. It’s a novel you inhale and marvel at as you fly through page after gripping page. A total stunner

I think L.C. North has invented the Celebrity Meltdown Thriller! Clickbait is a hugely enjoyable blast of fresh air. Murder, monster egos and vanity. Great stuff!

Told through mixed media, Clickbait kept me turning the pages to find out what happened to missing teenager, Bradley Wilcox. Masterfully plotted and told with verve and humour, this clever and compelling stor ...

To say this book was a compelling page-turner would be a criminal understatement. It’s a novel you inhale and marvel at as you fly through page after gripping page. A total stunner

I think L.C. North has invented the Celebrity Meltdown Thriller! Clickbait is a hugely enjoyable blast of fresh air. Murder, monster egos and vanity. Great stuff!

Told through mixed media, Clickbait kept me turning the pages to find out what happened to missing teenager, Bradley Wilcox. Masterfully plotted and told with verve and humour, this clever and compelling stor ...

Books by L.C. North

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