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erinnejc's review against another edition
4.0
As always Linwood Barclay delivers with a fantastic story which kept me on the edge of my seat. Well written, great plot.
daydreamer1983's review against another edition
4.0
So glad I waited for the conclusion to come out before reading this book. Onto book #3!
tfisher78's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
thriller_chick's review against another edition
1.0
I usually LOVE Linwood Barclay's books. This is his first series and I think he should stick to stand alone novels. Usually his books hook you from the start and have twists and turns and are hard to put down.
I am quite disappointed in this book/series. Being his work I had high expectations, but I just can't get into this one. I read other reviews on it once I had decided how I felt about it and I agree with the many others who say it has far too much going on and too many characters.
Looking forward to when he gets back to his usual work.
I am quite disappointed in this book/series. Being his work I had high expectations, but I just can't get into this one. I read other reviews on it once I had decided how I felt about it and I agree with the many others who say it has far too much going on and too many characters.
Looking forward to when he gets back to his usual work.
veronica87's review against another edition
4.0
There was too much shit going on in this town.
As the middle book in a trilogy, this did not disappoint at all. I was a little concerned that David Harwood, a POV character in the first book, isn't even mentioned in the back cover synopsis but he is still a part of the story...if in a reduced capacity. Detective Barry Duckworth remains a POV character here and is joined by Cal Weaver, a former Promise Falls police officer who is now working as a P.I.
Once again, there is quite a lot going on and it doesn't take long for the drama to be off and running. There are some new characters introduced who ride the narrative right alongside ones we met in book one. It's a quick-paced, addictive story and I read it all in practically one sitting. The long arc threads continue to pull through this installment but newer mysteries present themselves as well. Having some familiarity with the author now, I was able to anticipate some things this time but it didn't lessen my enjoyment and there were still some surprises. On to book three!
As the middle book in a trilogy, this did not disappoint at all. I was a little concerned that David Harwood, a POV character in the first book, isn't even mentioned in the back cover synopsis but he is still a part of the story...if in a reduced capacity. Detective Barry Duckworth remains a POV character here and is joined by Cal Weaver, a former Promise Falls police officer who is now working as a P.I.
Once again, there is quite a lot going on and it doesn't take long for the drama to be off and running. There are some new characters introduced who ride the narrative right alongside ones we met in book one. It's a quick-paced, addictive story and I read it all in practically one sitting. The long arc threads continue to pull through this installment but newer mysteries present themselves as well. Having some familiarity with the author now, I was able to anticipate some things this time but it didn't lessen my enjoyment and there were still some surprises. On to book three!
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
FAR FROM TRUE
(PROMISE FALLS: #2)
Written by Linwood Barclay
2016; Doubleday Canada (480 Pages)
Genre: series, fiction, mystery, suspense
RATING: ★★★1/2
Wow, this seemed like one very long novel! I thought I would finish Far From True yesterday but I literally just finished reading. Trying to complete this book has put me a bit behind on my posting schedule so please forgive me and Linwood Barclay on that delay :) I will first say that I enjoyed this novel a lot more than I thought I would especially since the last book was not as promising (pardon the pun) as I expected from Barclay. (His standalone novels are very much like Harlan Coben's writing). I think with all the introductions of characters, background and plots and setting up of the series arc finally out of the way it was more enjoyable to read. In having said that, I am sure this one could have been edited down a wee bit more.
Barclay's novella (Book #1.5) Final Assignment sets us up for Cal Weaver's point of view in this novel. Cal, former cop turned private investigator, is a likeable and a character you root for so it was very easy to look forward to more of him in the next book. Far From True opens up with the a drive-in theater screen collapsing and killing four people. Cal is hired by the daughter of one of the victims to look into a break-in at her late father's place. As he investigates Cal learns that this couple has a secret room for their sexual games and it appears that DVD discs are now missing. What is on the DVD and why they were taken is Cal's next steps.
Cal's former co-worker, Detective Barry Duckworth, is looking into why this incident has happened but also investigating the case from the previous book, Broken Promises. He thinks that that case may be connected to another one three years ago...but is on his own in finding the truth.
We also have David Hardwood, who was the "main character" in Broken Promises returning in this novel as another major character. He is now working as a campaign manager for Randall Finley, has his parents living with him and trying to win over Sam Worthington. Cal is also trying to help Sam who is being threatened by her ex-boyfriend's parents and want to kidnap her son. And, then we get a cliffhanger..
In this book we get Cal's first person point of view instead of David's but we do still get everyone else's point of view in third person. I don't know why Derek is in the novel at all as his appearances do not help the story much. I love the scenes between Cal and Crystal (the young daughter of Cal's client). I am very curious to see how Crystal and her mother fare in the story and what decisions Cal makes towards them. With a cast of some very unlikable people - Clive, Liz and Randall are on my top 3 list. I am hoping they keep getting the bad part of the karma stick. On the whole, the book had me engaged and I did not skim much in this book. I am looking forward to the third book which is coming out in the late Fall and we will finally know what is behind the number 23. I will let you know then if sitting down with this very long series was worth the time!
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
(PROMISE FALLS: #2)
Written by Linwood Barclay
2016; Doubleday Canada (480 Pages)
Genre: series, fiction, mystery, suspense
RATING: ★★★1/2
Wow, this seemed like one very long novel! I thought I would finish Far From True yesterday but I literally just finished reading. Trying to complete this book has put me a bit behind on my posting schedule so please forgive me and Linwood Barclay on that delay :) I will first say that I enjoyed this novel a lot more than I thought I would especially since the last book was not as promising (pardon the pun) as I expected from Barclay. (His standalone novels are very much like Harlan Coben's writing). I think with all the introductions of characters, background and plots and setting up of the series arc finally out of the way it was more enjoyable to read. In having said that, I am sure this one could have been edited down a wee bit more.
Barclay's novella (Book #1.5) Final Assignment sets us up for Cal Weaver's point of view in this novel. Cal, former cop turned private investigator, is a likeable and a character you root for so it was very easy to look forward to more of him in the next book. Far From True opens up with the a drive-in theater screen collapsing and killing four people. Cal is hired by the daughter of one of the victims to look into a break-in at her late father's place. As he investigates Cal learns that this couple has a secret room for their sexual games and it appears that DVD discs are now missing. What is on the DVD and why they were taken is Cal's next steps.
Cal's former co-worker, Detective Barry Duckworth, is looking into why this incident has happened but also investigating the case from the previous book, Broken Promises. He thinks that that case may be connected to another one three years ago...but is on his own in finding the truth.
We also have David Hardwood, who was the "main character" in Broken Promises returning in this novel as another major character. He is now working as a campaign manager for Randall Finley, has his parents living with him and trying to win over Sam Worthington. Cal is also trying to help Sam who is being threatened by her ex-boyfriend's parents and want to kidnap her son. And, then we get a cliffhanger..
In this book we get Cal's first person point of view instead of David's but we do still get everyone else's point of view in third person. I don't know why Derek is in the novel at all as his appearances do not help the story much. I love the scenes between Cal and Crystal (the young daughter of Cal's client). I am very curious to see how Crystal and her mother fare in the story and what decisions Cal makes towards them. With a cast of some very unlikable people - Clive, Liz and Randall are on my top 3 list. I am hoping they keep getting the bad part of the karma stick. On the whole, the book had me engaged and I did not skim much in this book. I am looking forward to the third book which is coming out in the late Fall and we will finally know what is behind the number 23. I will let you know then if sitting down with this very long series was worth the time!
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
scrollsofdragons's review
5.0
I love this series, I dont want it to end and say goodbye to these people in the last book. Every single character is interesting and captivating and that is so hard to make every one of them count.
I found it hiralious that each one had part of the whole and if only they were stuck in the same room together, they would complete the story except with the ending which none of them are going to know, yet. Very interesting premise, great moments and scenes woven into the thrilling plot. One of the greats in thriller writing.
I found it hiralious that each one had part of the whole and if only they were stuck in the same room together, they would complete the story except with the ending which none of them are going to know, yet. Very interesting premise, great moments and scenes woven into the thrilling plot. One of the greats in thriller writing.
eboseremenreadshere's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0