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Far From True
Far From True
Far From True
Audiobook12 hours

Far From True

Written by Linwood Barclay

Narrated by Brian O'Neill and Mark Zeisler

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

New York Times and #1 international bestselling author Linwood Barclay delivers the second spine-chilling thriller set in the troubled town of Promise Falls, following the electrifying cliffhanger ending of Broken Promise... After the screen of a run-down drive-in movie theater collapses and kills four people, the daughter of one of the victims asks private investigator Cal Weaver to look into a recent break-in at her father's house. Cal discovers a hidden basement room where it's clear that salacious activities have taken place--as well as evidence of missing DVDs. But his investigation soon becomes more complicated when he realizes it may not be discs the thief was actually interested in.... Meanwhile, Detective Barry Duckworth is still trying to solve two murders--one of which is three years old--he believes are connected, since each featured a similar distinctive wound. As the lies begin to unravel, Cal is headed straight into the heart of a dark secret as his search uncovers more startling truths about Promise Falls. And when yet another murder happens, Cal and Barry are both driven to pursue their investigations, no matter where they lead. Evil deeds long thought buried are about to haunt the residents of this town-as the sins of the past and present collide with terrifying results.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 8, 2016
ISBN9781501913112
Far From True
Author

Linwood Barclay

Linwood Barclay is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous previous novels and two thrillers for children. His books have been translated into more than two dozen languages. He wrote the screenplay adaptation for his novel Never Saw it Coming and his book The Accident has been made into a TV series in France. His novel No Time for Goodbye was a global bestseller. A native of Connecticut, he now lives in Toronto with his wife, Neetha.

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Reviews for Far From True

Rating: 3.8705034935251796 out of 5 stars
4/5

139 ratings21 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is the 2nd in the Promise falls trilogy. I did read the 1st one but it was a while ago.There are still a lot of unanswered questions and far to many characters. A drive in screen falls down and kills 4 people. One of the victims has been having Swinger parties at his house with his wife and friends. Cal Weaver investigates a break in at his house.Two scumbag Parent in laws also try to kidnap their Grand daughter.There are a few stories running in tandem.I found there being no one central character and the fact that I wasn't sure what had happened before a bit annoying. OK easy to read sequel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this thriller and will probably read more from Linwood Barclay in the future, especially the Promise Falls series.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Eine umfallende Kinoleinwand, Mord, noch mehr Mord, ein brennender Bus, die Zahl 23 – es passiert so viel im zweiten Teil der Promis Falls Reihe von Linwood Barclay. Der dreht in Lügennacht noch mehr auf als in Lügennest, wo es im Gegensatz besinnlich zugeht. Wenn ich in Promise Falls leben würde – ich würde nicht mehr dort leben.In diesem Teil schlüpfen wir in die Rolle von Cal Weaver, einem Privatdetektiven. Er wird von Lucy Brighton beauftragt, ominöse DVDs zu finden, die eigentlich an einem pikanten Ort im Haus ihres Vaters sein sollten. Ihr Vater ist allerdings gerade unpässlich, weil er von einer Kinoleinwand erschlagen wurde – gemeinsam mit seiner aktuellen Frau.Cal selbst ist ein ziemlich unnahbarer Charakter, er wohnt in einem Zimmer über einem Bücherladen und hat ein ähnliches Schicksal wie David Harwood. Erst im späteren Verlauf der Geschichte erfährt man mehr über ihn. Anfangs ist dieser Perspektivenwechsel von David zu Cal gewöhnungsbedürftig, weil man David ins Herz geschlossen hat – aber man lernt nach einer Weile auch Cal zu mögen.David ist aber natürlich trotzdem mit an Bord und arbeitet – man möchte fast tapfer sagen – für Randall Finley, bei dessen Figur ich ständig Saul Goodman aus Breaking Bad und Better Call Saul im Kopf hatte – ein schmieriger Typ mit Hang zur Illegalität.Die Geschichte setzt sich zirka zwei Wochen nach Lügennest fort, von Marla und dessen Kind bekommt man allerdings nichts mehr mit, nur der Vater des Kindes, Derek Cutter, hat ein paar Szenen. Wie schon Lügennest lässt auch Lügennacht am Ende einiges offen – ich bin mir sicher, dass in Lügenfalle, dem dritten Teil der Trilogie, alles entworren wird, denn nach zwei Teilen ist das Promis Falls Päckchen noch ziemlich fest verschnürt. Showdown im eigentlichen Sinne gibt es in Lügennacht keinen, weshalb die Bewertung dafür wegfällt.Was ich nur schwer auseinanderhalten konnte, waren die weiblichen Charaktere rund um das Anschlagsopfer. Ich sah zwischen Lucy und Konsorten nahezu keinen Unterschied – ganz anders bei den männlichen, die alle ein klares Profil haben.  Barry Duckworth, der Bulle, der gerne ungesundes Zeugs isst; Randall Finley siehe oben; Cal Weaver siehe oben; David kennt man sowieso; der schrullige Professor, der knüppelharte Sicherheitschef; und, und, und.Fazit: Lügennacht ist eine verdammt gute Fortsetzung von Lügennest, mit einigen schockierenden Ereignissen und noch mehr offenen Stellen als im ersten Teil, die Barclay aber bestimmt in Lügenfalle kitten wird.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The town of Promise Falls is the site of mysterious killings that are all connected by the number 23. Lucy Brighton hires private investigator Cal Weaver after the death of her father. Strange as the death might have been - Lucy's father Adam Chalmers is crushed by a falling screen in a drive-in movie theater - it seems even stranger that someone has broken into Adam Chalmers' house right after his death and stolen several DVDs with personal recordings. Starting his investigation, Cal Weaver discovers a secret room in the basement. This room was used by Adam Chalmers and his new wife Miriam to have orgies with other couples from Promise Falls. Weaver soon finds out that the DVDs contained recordings of these orgies. However, one recording is missing. The investigator starts to wonder why this recording is so important and what other incriminating evidence might be on it.Far From True is an entertaining read that follows several people in the town of Promise Falls. The author Linwood Barclay uses Cal Weaver as a first-person narrator and combines this with a third-person narrator for the other parts of the story. This interplay between two types of narration makes the reader question what is true and what is not, especially with the title in the back of their heads. All in all, a suspenseful 3.5-star read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this book This is the second book in the Promise Falls trilogy which really does need to be read in order. I actually think that it would be best to read the trilogy in quick succession if at all possible. I actually waited a little more than a year after reading the first book and ran into a few problems remembering everything that was going on in Promise Falls at the end of Broken Promise. Once I regained my memory, the book moved really fast and I didn't want to put it down by the end. This book was really quite the page-turner!As I mentioned, this book starts right after the events in the previous book which ended in a bit of a cliffhanger. This book follows a similar pattern but the cliffhanger seemed a bit more intense at the end of the book. I am so glad that the final book is scheduled to be released soon because I really need to know what is going on.The book seemed almost too busy to keep up with at times but it all worked in the end. Many of the key players from the first book play an important role in this book as well. Detective Barry Duckworth has his hands full with all of the issues going on in this town. There is a drive in collapse that kills four people that starts this chapter of the trilogy off with a bang and the action never stops.I would recommend this book to others. This was a solid addition to the trilogy although it would not work as a stand alone novel at all. I do enjoy Linwood Barclay's writing style and look forward to seeing how this trilogy wraps up.I received an advance reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Linwood Barclay has been on the list of authors I’ve wanted to read for a long time. Far From True was my first book by him and I was blown away. Barclay is an outstanding writer and this is a great book.Far From True is the second book in the Promise Falls Trilogy. The first book is Broken Promise and the trilogy concludes with the forthcoming The Twenty-Three. The series is probably best read in order, although I started by listening to the second volume and didn’t feel like I was lost. Events from the first book are related in enough detail to fill you in on the characters background. There are some spoilers though if that bothers you.The events of Far From True begin with the collapse of a drive-in movie theater screen that kills four people. The screen turns out to be a giant domino whose falling kicks over a bunch of secrets that some people are desperate to make sure don’t become public. Cal Weaver is hired by the daughter of one of the victims to investigate a break-in at her father’s house where a secret room and some missing DVDs are found. Detective Barry Duckworth is investigating the drive-in accident while at the same time trying to solve two murders that may be connected. The investigation becomes more complicated and dangerous as people go to greater lengths to maintain their secrets. Barclay does an amazing job of laying down several different, seemingly unrelated, plot threads and slowly weaving them together in an amazing tapestry. He works with a sizable cast of characters without giving any of them short shrift. Relationships, both personal and professional are portrayed in all their complicated aspects. Along with Cal Weaver and Barry Duckworth, we get to know a former mayor who wants his old job back along with the beleaguered ex-reporter running his campaign, the daughter of one of the drive-in victims and her gifted daughter who is on the spectrum, a struggling single mother trying to protect her child from the child’s conniving grandparents, and several other characters.Barclay manages to invent these great characters, including some that you hate. And I mean really, really hate. Even if you are not sure they actually have anything to do with the crimes being investigated. That ability to instill passion about the characters in the reader is true artistry. Barclay keeps weaving together plot threads, some of which are tied off in this book, some of which are left to be wrapped up in the concluding volume.I listened to the audio version of this book which was excellently narrated by Mark Zeisler and Brian O’Neil. Mark narrated Cal Weaver’s chapters and Brian narrated the rest. I thought it was a little bit of an odd choice to divide the narration in that way, but each narrator did an outstanding job. They managed to breath life into the characters and the story, making each character easy to distinguish and adding drama and tension to the story where required without overpowering the narrative. Both enhanced and enriched the listening experience.Far From True is great literary fiction. I enjoy a good mystery/thriller on its own, but Linwood Barclay’s writing adds another dimension. I highly recommend both this book and this series, starting with Broken Promise.I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This second book in the Promise Falls Trilogy opens very shortly after the prior book ended. And the story is closely linked with the previous book as well, continuing the story lines that were still unresolved at the end of that first one. There are new story lines added as well, and they all twist and turn around each other; Barclay is good at creating the sense that they will all be inter-related in the end, but that resolution does not happen in this book. The same mysteries persist, but that does not mean that this book is disappointing. There are many characters, some continuing from the first book, but new characters are introduced as well, and they, along with the layers of mystery and intrigue, make this a satisfying read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I didn't realize this was the second book in a trilogy, so the ending really surprised me...and not in a good way!The story was good, the mystery intriguing, but I am not sure I want to go back to read the first one. We will see....
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is the second thriller by Linwood Barclay taking place in Promise Falls. A bizarre explosion takes place at a drive-in theatre on it's last showing before shuttting down forever. Four people are killed. There are an amazing amount of things happening in this story and they are left hanging until book 3.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was pleased to receive a copy of the audiobook Far From True through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. This is book two in the Promise Falls Series which I enjoyed but not nearly as much as the first book in the series. The book was interesting but had too many subplots going on which made for a bit of confusion. In my opinion this book would have been better if the author had concentrated on a few of the odd happenings in Promise Falls rather than having so much going on at once. Overall not a bad book and it definitely held my interest but it didn't seem as polished and pulled together as the first volume.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Far From True is the second in the Promise Falls trilogy. I found the story to be very engaging and the cast of characters both fun and disturbing. The plot just keeps getting more and more compelling and it's hard to put this one down. I really enjoyed it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A lot is going on in this book. The story opens with the deaths of four people when an outdoor theatre screen collapses. And it wasn’t an accident. The daughter of one of the deceased hires an investigator, Cal Weaver, when she discovers that her father’s home was broken into shortly after his death. Cal’s investigation discovers a hidden room containing a bed and videotaping equipment with all of the recordings missing. The local college has been dealing with a series of rapes and the campus security killed a young man believed to be the rapist. The former mayor, Randal Finley, is running again for office hoping the townspeople have forgotten about the scandal during his previous term in office. Add a few unsolved murders to the mix and both the police and Cal are kept busy. Throughout the book the number 23 is repeatedly discovered in the investigations of a variety of crimes leading the police to wonder if one person is responsible for all the crimes. The plot and subplots are woven together throughout the book and kept me interested and guessing who might be responsible for the crimes. The ending did not tie up all of the loose threads and left me wondering who committed the crimes. I then found out that this is book two in a trilogy. Book two built on book one. I am assuming that book 3 will tie up all of the story lines.I listened to an audiobook and the large number of characters introduced at the very beginning was a bit confusing. Since many of the characters were probably introduced in Book 1, reading that first book would probably make keeping track of the characters in “Far From True” easier. I will be reading the first book and am looking forward to the last book in the trilogy.My only complaint is that two of the 11 discs skipped, which is unexpected in a new product.I recommend the book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A interesting story that begins with the adventures of four young men who experience the devastation caused by the premature collapse of a drive-in theater screen. The story moves along well and will keep your interested throughout. For my taste, there was far too much language, but for those who are not bothered by such, they should find this an enjoyable read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I requested, and received, the audio book for "Far From True" from LibraryThing Early Reviewers,not realizing that it was the second installment of a trilogy. I listened to the first three discs and felt like I would if I had tuned into an episode of "Days of Our Lives" having never seen the show before. So many characters, all with backstories of mysterious death. So many plot threads, most of which had started in the previous volume. I couldn't make heads or tails of it, and recommend this only for those who have read the previous book.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is the second book in the Promise Falls trilogy. And if one hadn’t read the first, I could see how you could get confused with the characters. I chose to read this book since the first one was a cliffhanger and I was dying to find out what the heck is going on. It didn’t disappoint as the story continues but doesn’t end. One must wait for the third book. The characters seem to all be interconnected in one way or another and there are subplots going on. But one still doesn’t know who are why the crimes are being committed. Upset that it leaves yet another open ending but do enjoy the thrilling ride. By the way, the first book in this trilogy is titled Broken Promise.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Thank you FirsttoRead for my complimentary review copy.This book is #2 in the Promise Falls trilogy. Having read the first one, I was eager to find out what happened and am hoping this installment gives me some answers. I have yet to read Final Assignment, Promise Falls 1.5(a novella). The final show for Promise Falls' Constellation Drive-In theater ended sooner than expected when the screen came crashing down, resulting in mayhem, injuries, and the deaths of four patrons. The land upon which it was built had been sold and the landmark was being torn down. How could this happen? Was it terrorism? Given all the recent strange incidents in Promise Falls recently, that theory wasn't so far-fetched. Far more likely was a date mix-up at the demolition company. An investigation ensues that digs up more than some would like.Although this book can be read as a stand-alone because references are made to past and/or returning characters and events, it is advisable to read the series in order. I like the writing style. Although I would prefer less profanity, it isn't gratuitous. Almost every character, even the minor ones, have a voice. In this installment, Barclay focuses his attention on Randall Finley, the smarmy, opportunistic, scandalized former mayor of Promise Falls who is seeking re-election and Cal Weaver(former Promise Falls police officer and now private P.I), hired by the daughter of Adam Chalmers, one of the victims. Barry Duckworth, Promise Falls Police detective, also a major character, is trying to find a connection, if any, between this current case and the murders of Rosemary Gaynor and Olivia Fisher. He is also looking into the significance of the number 23, which appears too often to be considered a coincidence.Overall, I enjoyed this book. Unsurprisingly, it ended in a cliffhanger and I now have to wait until November 2016 when the final book in the trilogy, The Twenty-Three, is released. However, I was thrilled to find that an excerpt was included.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Oh, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Far From True - the second book in Linwood Barclay's Promise Falls trilogy.The first book, Broken Promise, had a missing baby, a rapist on the prowl at the local college, someone obsessed with the number 23 (and not in a good way) and so much more. The town is a hotbed of activity beneath its seemingly bucolic facade. Barclay brought in some of my favourite characters - David Harwood from Never Look Away and Detective Barry Duckworth from Too Close to Home, Never Look Away and Trust Your Eyes - to live in Promise Falls and tackle the strange goings-ons. Book one left the readers with some questions answered, but not all.....Far From True takes the reader back to town - and immerses them into the strangeness that is Promise Falls. Murder, deceit, lies, secrets, cover ups.....and more number 23 madness.....Oh yes! I dived into the first pages and didn't come up for breath for many, many hours! Barclay's writing simply grabs the reader and doesn't let go. I find Barclay's storytelling so engaging. Backgrounds and personal story lines of the characters are detailed - some more than others. The reader is never sure who is going to play a part - and how large and in what capacity. I loved the detail and the ensemble cast - it somewhat reminded me of Stephen King's narrative style. (King calls Barclay "A suspense master.")Barclay wonderfully manipulates the reader into just one more chapter - and then another - by leaving us with cliffhangers at the end of chapters, foreshadowing and switching narratives from one character to another. The multiple story lines are simply addicting.This is one lovely, convoluted, complicated, imaginative, sprawling plot that has me totally caught up in the seedy underbelly of Promise Falls. I truly have no idea where things will go next - and I love being unable to predict a plot. Now, you must read the first book before you read Far From True - you'll be hooked too. Make sure you mark your calendar for the release of the third and final book, The Twenty-Three, in November 2016. There's a preview chapter included at the end of Far From True. I can't wait for the 'final reveal.'!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Powerful NovelMurder, Who Did It?Don't Pass This Book Up This is the second book in the Promise Falls Trilogy by Linwood Barclay and the first of his books I have read and reviewed. Mr. Barclay caught me up quickly with the back story.Suspense Level:I found I couldn't wait to finish this book so I could read the first book of the trilogy. Mr. Barclay created a lot of action, secrets, mystery, alternate life styles, crime, evil deeds, and a strange attacker with the number 23 on his clothing. He keeps you guessing throughout the book as he introduces new situations into the story. Mr. Barclay weaves an engrossing story that will hold your interest throughout the book.Tone Of Story Set in First ChapterHe set the tone of the story in the first chapter with the devastating fall of the drive-in-movie screen falling on a packed parking lot, and a mysterious phone call. You realize immediately something is going on in this town; something dark and seamy. He set the hook in deep and you are not released until the last page; he then leaves you panting for the next book.Flow Of Story:This book flowed seamlessly to a surprising end. He paced this story well as we look under the façade of Promise Falls. Mr. Barclay set his series in small town USA which he filled with interesting characters, many of who have secrets; secrets they don't want revealed and will do anything to keep them from the light of day. He also set the scenario for the next book which I found myself wanting to read right away; unfortunately we will have to wait for publication.Characters, Plotting and Pacing:The characters are well-developed with some that are very likable and others you love to hate. I absolutely detested Randall Finley and University Security Chief Clive Duncomb; it will surprise me if you do not feel the same way.. Mr. Bayclay skillfully filled these two characters with obnoxious traits, criminal behavior, offensive personalities, and incompetence.Mr. Barclay reveals the underbelly of small town life with all it quirks, seamy life, low employment rate, desperate people, alternate life styles, and crime. I found this town very believable, and this crime thriller very enjoyable and I feel you will as well.Recommendation:I recommend this book for a mature audience that loves a solid crime, mystery, and thriller novel.I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest book review.Books reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author's opinion; all book reviews on line under my name and on my blog. are my opinion.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4.5 stars!I'm really glad I read Broken Promise and Final Assignment right before I started Far From True because I think I may have felt a little overwhelmed with the large cast of characters and their relationships and histories otherwise. But with the events and characters from those two previous installments fresh in my mind, I thoroughly enjoyed Far From True. But man, there was a lot going on! For a small town, Promise Falls certainly seemed to have an abundance of shady characters and exciting mysteries.I'm particularly impressed by the way Linwood Barclay made all these characters seem so real. This isn't an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but with the awesome characterization, the carefully constructed layers of the mysteries and the twists that seemed to be thrown in almost leisurely I was really captivated. Of course, then I got furious when I reached that damn cliffhanger and found out, I'll have to wait till November to get the conclusion.So, if I had thought about this reasonably beforehand, I would have preferred to do a marathon reading session of the entire trilogy come November. As it stands, I'm hoping I'll remember enough of what happened in Promise Falls by the time I can get my hands on the final book. In the meantime, I need to check out some of the author's other work. I just love his writing style.Many thanks to the author and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.For audiobook enthusiasts, Mark Zeisler narrated Cal Weaver's perspective, while Brian O'Neil read the other chapters, which I thought worked very well. Excellent narration by both of them.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I did enjoy reading this second book in this series. The book started with a bang and ends with a twist. This means I have to look forward to book number three. I love the characters. We are learning more and more about the main characters through each book. I received an ebook copy from Firsttoread for a fair and honest opinion.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I received a free advance e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Wow! This book starts out with a grand finale when the outdoor theatre movie screen collapses on closing night. I enjoyed this suspense filled psychological thriller. This is a very well written book and the author does an excellent job of developing the numerous characters. Even though I haven’t read “Broken Promises,” the first book in the trilogy, I found the transition into the second book as the author continues the story of Promise Falls to be excellent. Promise Falls is full of dark and ominous undercurrents with many strange goings on. The author adds missing DVDs from a hidden sex room into the mix. I’m anxious to read “Broken Promises” as well as the third book in the Promise Falls trilogy as the author leaves us with multiple loose ends and a cliffhanger ending. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a suspense filled psychological thriller.