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billymac1962's review against another edition
3.0
I went through a lot of ups and downs while reading this one, the second in the Promise Falls trilogy.
I didn't find it near as gripping or interesting as Broken Promise, but I've got to hand it to Linwood Barclay. There are a lot of authors out there who will confuse the heck out of me when their plots get complex. I've always blamed myself. But, having read some reviews here that Barclay had lost some people with the complexity (mostly due to the number of characters in play), I am impressed with how his plotlines were laid out in a way that I actually found easy to follow.
Somehow he just clicks with me, and I can burn through his novels in record time. It also helps that most of his writing is dialogue.
Alas, though. I was getting tired of this one once I hit the 70% mark or so. But I kept going as the end was near, and....BAM! It abruptly ended in a cliffhanger.
Crap. So much for a payoff.
I'm still very curious how he's going to wrap all this up, and the answer to twenty-three. But as I type this, I'm not looking forward to another 400 pages to get there. I'm very sorry to say that I found the writing in this one to be over-simplistic at times, and David associating himself with Findlay didn't seem to ring true at all.
We'll see after I've read a few more books if I continue with the third book...I may just cheat and find something spoilery to save the time.
I'm giving this 3 stars, and I'm quite surprised that out of the three books, this is the one that Publishers Weekly gave a starred review for.
Didn't quite do it for me, but it was still ok.
I didn't find it near as gripping or interesting as Broken Promise, but I've got to hand it to Linwood Barclay. There are a lot of authors out there who will confuse the heck out of me when their plots get complex. I've always blamed myself. But, having read some reviews here that Barclay had lost some people with the complexity (mostly due to the number of characters in play), I am impressed with how his plotlines were laid out in a way that I actually found easy to follow.
Somehow he just clicks with me, and I can burn through his novels in record time. It also helps that most of his writing is dialogue.
Alas, though. I was getting tired of this one once I hit the 70% mark or so. But I kept going as the end was near, and....BAM! It abruptly ended in a cliffhanger.
Crap. So much for a payoff.
I'm still very curious how he's going to wrap all this up, and the answer to twenty-three. But as I type this, I'm not looking forward to another 400 pages to get there. I'm very sorry to say that I found the writing in this one to be over-simplistic at times, and David associating himself with Findlay didn't seem to ring true at all.
We'll see after I've read a few more books if I continue with the third book...I may just cheat and find something spoilery to save the time.
I'm giving this 3 stars, and I'm quite surprised that out of the three books, this is the one that Publishers Weekly gave a starred review for.
Didn't quite do it for me, but it was still ok.
callmeepee's review against another edition
2.0
This is really made-for-teevee stuff and I trudged my way through it cos it's part two of three.
It's like an American Midsommer Murders, in a village the size of Postman Pat's, with a smaller number of characters.
I don't think there's gonna be anyone left at the end of the third one...
It's like an American Midsommer Murders, in a village the size of Postman Pat's, with a smaller number of characters.
I don't think there's gonna be anyone left at the end of the third one...
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
Linwood Barclay heats up the action, drama, secrets, betrayal, and scandal in the fictional Upstate New York small-town of Promise Falls, with the second installment, FAR FROM TRUE, following “Best Cliffhanger Mystery Thriller Suspense Series” Broken Promise, #1, landing on my Top 50 Books of 2015 and teaser novella, Final Assignment #1.5.
Barclay fans will love all the characters from previous books: Detective Barry Duckworth (loves his donuts), David Harwood, his parents, Marla, Lucy Brighton, Cal Weaver, Derek Cutter, and Randal Finley, etc…..
Keep your scorecard handy, in order to keep up with all the characters and how each is connected. There are murders to solve, as evil lies from the past began to surface, further complicating the lives of those in Promise Falls.
A rundown drive-in movie theater, the Constellation collapses, killing four people and injuring others. Demolition was not scheduled for the following week. The owner had sold the property to a developer, Mancini Homes and he and his wife were headed to Florida for retirement. A shootout at the laundromat, an attempt to kidnap a child, and we are just getting started.
This was supposed to be the last night at the drive in. Of course, Randel Finley, who is trying to work his way back into the good graces of the people and politics, does not listen to David Harwood, a former reporter and now assistant to the former mayor. David did not even want this job; however, he needed the money to start his new life over with his young son.
David is not cut out for all the drama. He had enough of it with his late wife, Jan, and the episode with Marla and her baby. Even his former reporting days had not prepared him for this kind of unrelenting stress.
Detective Duckworth is on the case. In the meantime, Lucy, (daughter Crystal), we met in FINAL ASSIGNMENT, hires Cal Weaver regarding a break-in at her dad's house. (Adam) and stepmom, Miriam. They were at the drive-in --her father’s Jag car was crushed. Former writer, and bad boy ex Harley biker. (hedonist)
Turns out Lucy’s dad was up to no good (naughty, naughty)—a sex room, (a man on the verge of sixty with a younger wife, a past, no new books, a hidden sex room, fully equipped with sex toys, spouse-sharing, prostitution, and a break-in. (how many involved-and participants) ? A missing letter, and an ex-wife. Someone is after some incriminating evidence and Lucy is in search of something critical. Her biggest concern is to protect her daughter and provide special needs.
As always, things become complicated, connected, and one thing leads to another. Nothing is how it appears. Everyone has hidden secrets and motives. The connection between Jack Sturgess and Olivia? Now Cal and Lucy become close, jeopardizing the case, a stepmom appears, and of course, we are updated on the events from the last book, Thackery College drama, the murders of Olivia Fisher and Rosemary Gaynor, blackmail, murder, and last but not least the mystery surrounding NUMBER 23. From the 23 dead squirrels, the number on Mason’s hoodie, the three mannequins with “you’ll be sorry” in carriage 23 of the Ferris wheel at Five Mountains—coincidence?
The explosion at the drive-in occurred at twenty-three minutes past twenty-three hundred hours. (military time)-No coincidence. Duckworth no longer believed the frequency with which “23” was popping up was just happenstance. Something was going on. Mr. Twenty-three (per media) is trying to scare everyone to death. Terrorism? Finley is such a politician, always working an angle and David may be the person to finally put him in his place (maybe—for 5 seconds).
Readers are left with another cliffhanger and new drama. Sorry, folks, we need to wait until the next installment to solve this mystery of Twenty-Three.
As I mentioned in my tweet this week to Lisa Unger and Linwood Barclay. I want a joint collaboration to combine both fictional upstate New York troubled cities Unger's (The Hollows) with Barclay’s (Promise Falls). Possibly Unger’s Eloise or Finley (psychics) could head over to Promise Falls to help solve this #23 Mystery. Can you image this two cast of characters in one book, plus the creativity of Unger and Barclay? Explosive!
Entertaining! Even though I am enjoying this series and a huge Barclay fan, with lots of wits, mixed with crime thrills---#1 Broken Promise was a little more intense; possibly from the usage of so many characters--#2, this go around (making your head spin); a lot of S**T going down. However, anxiously awaiting #3! Highly recommend all his books.
Peyton Place + Desperate Housewives + Murder + Lies + Dark Secrets + Twenty-Three = Promise Falls
A special thank you to Berkley/NAL and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *4.5 Stars*
JDCMustReadBooks
Barclay fans will love all the characters from previous books: Detective Barry Duckworth (loves his donuts), David Harwood, his parents, Marla, Lucy Brighton, Cal Weaver, Derek Cutter, and Randal Finley, etc…..
Keep your scorecard handy, in order to keep up with all the characters and how each is connected. There are murders to solve, as evil lies from the past began to surface, further complicating the lives of those in Promise Falls.
A rundown drive-in movie theater, the Constellation collapses, killing four people and injuring others. Demolition was not scheduled for the following week. The owner had sold the property to a developer, Mancini Homes and he and his wife were headed to Florida for retirement. A shootout at the laundromat, an attempt to kidnap a child, and we are just getting started.
This was supposed to be the last night at the drive in. Of course, Randel Finley, who is trying to work his way back into the good graces of the people and politics, does not listen to David Harwood, a former reporter and now assistant to the former mayor. David did not even want this job; however, he needed the money to start his new life over with his young son.
David is not cut out for all the drama. He had enough of it with his late wife, Jan, and the episode with Marla and her baby. Even his former reporting days had not prepared him for this kind of unrelenting stress.
Detective Duckworth is on the case. In the meantime, Lucy, (daughter Crystal), we met in FINAL ASSIGNMENT, hires Cal Weaver regarding a break-in at her dad's house. (Adam) and stepmom, Miriam. They were at the drive-in --her father’s Jag car was crushed. Former writer, and bad boy ex Harley biker. (hedonist)
Turns out Lucy’s dad was up to no good (naughty, naughty)—a sex room, (a man on the verge of sixty with a younger wife, a past, no new books, a hidden sex room, fully equipped with sex toys, spouse-sharing, prostitution, and a break-in. (how many involved-and participants) ? A missing letter, and an ex-wife. Someone is after some incriminating evidence and Lucy is in search of something critical. Her biggest concern is to protect her daughter and provide special needs.
As always, things become complicated, connected, and one thing leads to another. Nothing is how it appears. Everyone has hidden secrets and motives. The connection between Jack Sturgess and Olivia? Now Cal and Lucy become close, jeopardizing the case, a stepmom appears, and of course, we are updated on the events from the last book, Thackery College drama, the murders of Olivia Fisher and Rosemary Gaynor, blackmail, murder, and last but not least the mystery surrounding NUMBER 23. From the 23 dead squirrels, the number on Mason’s hoodie, the three mannequins with “you’ll be sorry” in carriage 23 of the Ferris wheel at Five Mountains—coincidence?
The explosion at the drive-in occurred at twenty-three minutes past twenty-three hundred hours. (military time)-No coincidence. Duckworth no longer believed the frequency with which “23” was popping up was just happenstance. Something was going on. Mr. Twenty-three (per media) is trying to scare everyone to death. Terrorism? Finley is such a politician, always working an angle and David may be the person to finally put him in his place (maybe—for 5 seconds).
Readers are left with another cliffhanger and new drama. Sorry, folks, we need to wait until the next installment to solve this mystery of Twenty-Three.
As I mentioned in my tweet this week to Lisa Unger and Linwood Barclay. I want a joint collaboration to combine both fictional upstate New York troubled cities Unger's (The Hollows) with Barclay’s (Promise Falls). Possibly Unger’s Eloise or Finley (psychics) could head over to Promise Falls to help solve this #23 Mystery. Can you image this two cast of characters in one book, plus the creativity of Unger and Barclay? Explosive!
Entertaining! Even though I am enjoying this series and a huge Barclay fan, with lots of wits, mixed with crime thrills---#1 Broken Promise was a little more intense; possibly from the usage of so many characters--#2, this go around (making your head spin); a lot of S**T going down. However, anxiously awaiting #3! Highly recommend all his books.
Peyton Place + Desperate Housewives + Murder + Lies + Dark Secrets + Twenty-Three = Promise Falls
A special thank you to Berkley/NAL and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *4.5 Stars*
JDCMustReadBooks
littletaiko's review against another edition
4.0
Super annoyed that is has taken me two years to get around to reading Far From True by Linwood Barclay, the second book in the Promise Falls trilogy. Raced through it in a couple of days and immediately dove into The Twenty-Three. Hope to have that one finished soon. This book picks up pretty much immediately after the events in the first book and there are still quite a lot of action happening in the town. The police detective is still trying to unravel a couple of brutal murders that are linked and seem related to someone with an obsession with the number 23. A drive in movie screen has collapsed killing a couple of people, a politician is trying to make a comeback, really awful in-laws are harassing their former daughter-in-law, and the list goes on. The author did a great job of keeping the suspense throughout the story. My main quibble is that there aren't any really strong female characters. There are a few in the book but they seem relegated to being nags, weak, or primarily there for romance potential. Granted the men are all pretty flawed as well so maybe I'm just being overly critical. Can't wait to see how this trilogy plays out!
cmcv's review against another edition
4.0
All that to finish on a cliff hanger! Can't wait for The Twenty Three to get some answers!
sherry514's review against another edition
4.0
The Promise Falls series continues. Book 2 did not disappoint. It had so many new twists and mysteries to the town of Promise Falls. Barry Duckworth continues to try to solve the many crimes happening in Promise Falls. He notices one common theme with these crimes. The number 23 seems to have some significance to what is happening in Promise Falls. Cal Weaver a former cop in Promise Falls who is now a private investigator discovers a secret room in one of the town's most prominent citizens. This secret room could be tied to some of the crimes happening in Promise Falls. There are many secrets to be revealed. I listened to this book in audio and I was trying to listen every free moment I got. When I finished this book, I immediately got the 3rd book in the series. I definitely recommend this book and this series.
kahie's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
chazmo1431's review
4.0
Fast paced and a million interesting characters , but Barclay ties it all together. He weaves a story that draws you in. I couldn't put this down. Actually listening way past bedtime to find out the conclusion! Great narration by Mark Zeisler & Brian O'Neill!