The Whole Truth by Cara Hunter @NetGalley @PenguinBooks @VikingUKBooks @CaraHunterBooks #TheWholeTruth

 

The Whole Truth by Cara Hunter

Published by Penguin

Publication Date 29th April 2021

Genre: Crime, Mystery & Thriller

My grateful thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my opinion. 

Book Description:

An attractive student. An older professor.

Think you know the story? Think again.

THE NEW UP-ALL-NIGHT THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER CARA HUNTER

She has everything at stake; he has everything to lose. But one of them is lying, all the same.

When an Oxford student accuses one of the university's professors of sexual assault, DI Adam Fawley's team think they've heard it all before. But they couldn't be more wrong.

Because this time, the predator is a woman and the shining star of the department, and the student a six-foot male rugby player.

Soon DI Fawley and his team are up against the clock to figure out the truth. What they don't realise is that someone is watching.

And they have a plan to put Fawley out of action for good...

My Thoughts:

I have followed this series right from the debut book, Close to Home, and I can honestly say each book just gets better and better. The series follows DI Adam Fawley and his close knit team of detectives all of whom look out for one another in their own way - some better than others. Although each book is a separate episode crime-wise I would definitely recommend reading the books in order to get the most from them, especially this last one as it refers back to previous events in quite some detail in parts of the story.

In this book, Fawley and his wife are expecting their baby imminently, and due to the tragic loss of their previous child they can't afford for anything to go wrong so Adam has his lawyer wife under close observation so she doesn't exert herself in any way.  Which is why the timing of the case which comes to the fore could not be worse. The head of the university specifically asks to speak to Adam regarding the incident so he can't even pass it to one of his colleagues. An accusation has been made against one of the lecturers by a student - very much a case of his word against hers. But there's far more going on than first appears and Fawley soon finds himself in deeper trouble than he ever imagined.

As usual there are podcasts, online quotes from social media and other such soundbites dropped in between the chapters to keep things interesting - a bit of a trademark of the author's which works so well.  These little insights contain valuable nuggets of clues to help the reader solve what's going on but in true Cara style there is sufficient smoke screening to be able to keep the best til last.

But Fawley really is in trouble this time; someone knows he's not squeaky clean and is going all out to make him pay. What is the price being asked though, and is it really Fawley who owes the debt?

I cannot commend this author's writing enough and every time someone asks me for a book to read I will put her name forward. Every book in the series is brilliant in its own right but this one stands way above the others. I'm delighted to hear that book 6 is due next spring so you have plenty of time to catch up with the story so far!

From the Author:

I'm lucky enough to live in the city I write about. Oxford will be familiar to crime fans across the whole world because of the fabulous Morse novels and TV, but my version of the town is a long way from the beautiful ivy-clad colleges. A much edgier place where the crimes are darker and closer to home.

I've always been a voracious reader and viewer of crime - I've learned so much from the outstanding writing that we now see on crime TV like Line of Duty or Broadchurch, and I've tried to recreate the experience of watching series like that for my readers. I love true crime TV as well - my husband used to tease me about it but now just nods sagely and says 'research' !

What else about me? I have pet cats who do their best to distract me whenever I get close to a keyboard (if you have cats, you'll know), I love travelling, spending time with friends, and I have never knowingly turned down a glass of champagne....

Girl A by Dan Scottow #blogtour @gilbster1000 @DanScottow #GirlA @BoldwoodBooks

 Girl A by Dan Scottow

Published by Bloodhound Books

Publication Date: 29th March 2021

336 pages

Genre: crime, thriller & mystery

My thanks to Rachel Gilbey of Rachels Random Resources and Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this book ahead of publication and to provide my review as part of the blog tour.

Book Description:

Someone thinks they know who she is… and what she did.

But she insists it’s a mistake.

All Beth has ever wanted is a quiet life for her and her family. And that is what she has, until one evening a note is pushed through the door, with two words scrawled in menacing black ink; Found you.

As Beth’s neatly crafted life begins to unravel, an unseen menace torments her and those she loves. But who’s behind the threats?

Somebody is out to get Beth, but do they have the right woman?

Beth faces losing everything, and there is far more at stake than just her marriage…

My Thoughts:

This book got me thinking far more than I expected it to. The event which triggers the whole book is rather upsetting: the abduction of a 2 year old boy from a funfair which he was visiting with his mum. The culprits are two young children themselves. They are quickly apprehended but not quickly enough to avoid a tragedy. The question is whether the older of the two children encouraged or even forced the younger child, Girl A, to be part of the event or was she a willing participant - or worse, did she take the lead? It's a question the jury are asked to consider as part of their considerations.

Fast forward a couple of decades and the case raises its ugly head once again. An average family living in harmony, going about their lives quite happily. Then an anonymous caller starts making accusations against mum Beth.  It starts with a scratty note through the door which reads 'FOUND YOU'. Things escalate quite quickly but Beth doesn't want to trouble the police with what could just be kids messing about, mistaken identity or something along those lines.

The story from there on in really gets you considering all the possibilities: is Beth involved? What could she possibly have done to cause the strength of feeling in the caller's notes and subsequent actions? How and why could they have linked anything to Beth? My brain kept processing the options even when I wasn't physically reading the book. Beth's just an ordinary school mum with a day job. What connection could she possibly have to whatever the caller thinks she's done? Then you go back to the fairground situation and the people responsible: what type of person could do that? Especially young children - what background did those children come from to make them capable of doing something like that?  Then you start trying to work out if there is a link to Beth. If so how does she fit in? Don't expect to get much sleep while you're reading this book or for a few days after as the plot and characters get into your head and have you mulling moral questions long after you have completed the book. The whole nature vs nurture thing was strong in my mind throughout.

There are some upsetting scenes in this book so it won't be one for everybody. It was for me fairly reminiscent of the James Bulger case back in 1993 so please bear this in mind before you read this book. Some will say it's quite predictable in its path but even so I found it to be well-written as it got me thinking so much. You really aren't sure which way it's going to go for Beth and her family with plenty of smoke and mirrors to send you down false routes then send you back again. The writing is creepily atmospheric and will have you shutting the curtains and locking doors once it is getting dark.

Will the caller be right in their calculations? And will Beth ever be able to go back to her quiet unassuming life with her family after all the mud has been thrown around. After all some of it is going to stick...right?

Buy your copy here:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-unforgettable-psychological-Dan-Scottow-ebook/dp/B08YZ7YR8K/

US - https://www.amazon.com/Girl-unforgettable-psychological-Dan-Scottow-ebook/dp/B08YZ7YR8K/

About the Author:

Dan grew up in Hertfordshire before moving to London in his early twenties. After more than ten years living there, he decided enough was enough, and packed his bags for Scotland in search of a more peaceful life. 

Dan works as a graphic designer, but dreams of the day he can give it up and write full time. 
Besides writing, he enjoys painting, watching a good scary film, travelling the world (at least, he used to!), good food, a gin and tonic or two, long walks on the beach with his dogs, and of course, reading a great book.

Dan’s debut novel ‘Damaged’ was released in January 2020, published by Bloodhound books.

Social Media Links – Twitter: @DanScottow

Facebook page: @danscottowauthor