We return to Adam Fawley and his team in Oxford - (a helpful note explains who these are for readalone and memory-jogging purposes). There are 2 parallel stories running through this. I found the historical one (about the release of the Roadside Rapist and repercussions) more interesting than the sexual assault story. There were plenty of twists to that latter story but I'd figured out who was manipulating whom quite early on, though I hoped my assumptions were incorrect. The story following Parrie (the Roadside Rapist) was much more chilling and tense, particularly reading the podcasts. Text messages were hard to read on my Kindle and parts of podcast details ('diagrams' part) impossible - but you don't need those! However, I enjoyed the book, preferring the parts about Adam and Alex. Not a five star mind-blower for me but I like the characters and team and will read any more books that come out about them.

What can I say... Loved this book. Hooked from the start. It was the first of Cara Hunter's D.I. Adam Fawley series that I have read. It was a great fast paced police procedural thriller.

In the book there are two simultaneous storylines. D.I Adam Fawley is called to a case of a student, Caleb, a son of local MP, who alleges he was sexually assulted by his professor, a well renowned professor in her field. Meanwhile the roadside rapist is released from prison on parole and D.I. Adam Fawley was the person who put him away and he vowed revenge on him for this. D.I Fawleys wife Alex, heavily pregnant, was a previous victim of his and his release is affecting her badly. Then her friend is found dead and an investigation begins.

I liked the way this book started with a recap of the main characters and series as this allowed it to be read as a standalone or part of the series.

The character descriptions were very detailed allowing differing aspects of each personality to be brought out.

The role reversal gave a different edge to the story however it did sometimes feel like there was an underlying current of woman couldn't be successful unless they used their looks for promotion.

I loved the way mixed media was used; the podcasts, emails, messages and newspaper articles; as it gave different stances on the evidence. I listened to the audio book first and found it easy to follow and then read the book.

Amazing plot twists in this fast paced thriller with surprises along the way and I didn't figure it out til the end. The epilogue was very good.

In the audio book the narration by Lee Ingleby, Emma Cunliffe and Roy McMillan was excellent with clear voices and distinct characters.

I would definitely recommend this book to others in both forms. I can't wait to seek out the other books in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Audio, Penguin General UK and Cara Hunter for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fab read! Had me gripped throughout! I've not DI Adam Fawley books before, not that it mattered. This one was fast, twisty and believable.
I need to go back and read the rest!

This was my first book in the Adam Fawley series. And I loved it! Brilliant, keeps you on your toes. The novel is a police procedural where there are two simultaneous crimes under scrutiny. I read that the series has got TV rights. I am sure the TV adaptation would be great. I have read just one book by Cara Hunter and her character descriptions are detailed and wholesome, and perfect for a series.

In The Whole Truth, DI Adam's wife, Alex (lawyer), is pregnant. A criminal (Roadside rapist, Garry Parrie with whose case both Adam and Alex were involved), is out from prison. Alex feels they are being watched. She is also obsessively listening to a podcast The Whole Truth about Garry Parrie, which is determined to prove his innocence. In the second strand of the story, an Oxford student Caleb Morgan has filed sexual harrassment charges against his mentor Marina Fisher.

The narrative feels very real. Hunter makes you involved in the progress of the case. The story is liberally sprinkled with memos, Whatsapp messages, emails, notes on paper etc. The reveals were neither too slow, nor too fast, and I was thoroughly invested in them. The book also explores the characters in a deeper sense even though most of the conversations happen at work. Since the plot is kept as realistic as possible, it helps the reader understand how justice is served, lapses in judgement and suspects in cases. I enjoyed this crime read.

This is a series I look forward to so much and it never fails to be a rewarding read!

When DI Adam Fawley gets a call to head to one of Oxford's university colleges, what he's faced with isn't quite what he expected; the accusation against a professor for sexual assault is a bit different from what he usually deals with. This time it's a highly thought of and powerful female being accused by a male student - and a well-built six footer at that. Whilst Fawley and his team get on with their investigating, they don't realise that they are being watched by someone who has plans to stop the Detective Inspector for good.

I've loved this series from the very beginning; the author has the dynamics of the team spot on; they are a diverse mix of well-developed characters who work extremely well together. The crimes they investigate are many and varied which makes for exciting reading as I never know quite what to expect, and this fifth novel shocked me to my core. I NEVER saw that coming! Surprises abound in this story and I just kept on reading until I got to the very end - and only then did the revelations come to a halt. Exhilarating and thrilling all the way through, I would venture to suggest that this is the best in the series so far - and that's really saying something given how terrific the first four were! A full five glowing stars and my highest recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

A new DI Fawley book is always a treat and it was great to meet up with the team again - I especially liked the character crib sheet at the beginning to remind the reader of the whole cast.
This story was full of Ms Hunter's great trademark twists and turns and I particularly liked the mixed media.
Another bestseller I'm sure!
Thank you to netgalley and penguin books for an advance copy of this book

I like that this book started with a ‘what you might have missed’ section for those of us who may not have read the earlier books, or who needed a refresher.

There are two cases being investigated in the book and they become intertwined together over the course of the book. The book is told in different mediums, blog/podcast, interviews and a diary style. This wasn’t for me, but that’s a personal thing.

There are lots of surprises along the way in this fast paced, twist thriller. Can you figure it out? I didn’t!

TW: sexual assault

This is the 5th book in the DI Fawley series and although I have read two others in the series (Close To Home and All The Rage) I can't remember all the details of the characters. So, I really appreciated the "Previously---- in the Fawley Files" opening to The Whole Truth. It is just a short summary of the main characters in DI Fawley's team (including the man himself) which just helps to provide a little bit of context of the people I am going to meet. This is the first time I've come across something like this in a series and it's a brilliant idea. Something I really appreciated being able to read to get me in the mood.

Although I'm a big Cara Hunter fan though, I was a little disappointed by The Whole Truth. Hunter's usual brilliant writing style and pace is still there, and her attention to detail as well as her ability to create an entire team that is three dimensional is a pleasure to read. However, this one just felt a little more stalled.

Not helped by the fact that although the secondary storyline around Fawley and the was nicely interwoven, I absolutely hated the main story involving a professor and an allegation of sexual assult made against her by a male student. You could argue that this book acts as a satirical reflection of how a strong woman's brilliance is belittled by how she chooses to dress, whereas for me it simply comes across as the career of strong brilliant woman being destroyed because of how she dresses. It is realistic? Yes. But is still pissed me off non the less. And yes, I know that is probably Hunter's point when she wrote the story line.

All in all, not my favourite Cara Hunter novel, but still a solid read.

Thank you to the author, Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't realize this was book five of a series when I started it, and the list of characters and short "bios" at the beginning was a great idea to help readers get up to speed. However, I found most of the officers more or less one and the same - I still couldn't keep them apart and kept having to check the list.

Since I enjoy epistolary novels, I found the inclusion of podcasts/news articles/emails etc a good way to bring the different aspects of the story forward. However, some of the twists were too much, who belonged on which side and what way was up was a bit too elusive at times. Lots of loose ends and question marks throughout, as well as at the end of the book. Not sure I agree with the idea of a vengeful girlfriend meting out her idea of justice as one of the major turning points of the story.

A great, pacy thriller. I enjoyed the idea of the role reversal, both male female and student teacher. The plot kept me guessing right until the ending with enough red herrings to keep a fisherman happy.

Absolutely brilliant! My best book of the year so far. The tension is palpable and the story line twists and turns like a serpent. Incredibly clever with a completely unexpected jaw dropping ending.

Fantastic book
Thank you so much to @netgalley for an early copy of the whole truth by @carahunterauthor this is book 5 in this fantastic series. You can read them as a standalone but I do think you would find it easier to read them all as you then get an idea of the characters. I have enjoyed every book and find Adam fawley a really good detective and his team.

In this book it does take a twist as he himself ends up on the other end of the questioning I was gripped from the beginning and could not wait to see how it was going to be seen who was actually guilty. I can not wait for more from this series. They are so enjoyable and will grip you from start to finish.

I felt like this was a pretty good, enjoyable mystery. We effectively have two storylines running at the same time, with the rape and murder of a woman, and the accused sexual assault of a university professor.
In all truth, this would've probably been 4 stars if I would've had the physical book. I didn't realise but it featured a fair amount of mixed media, which I struggled with on my Kindle.
I would definitely recommend it, and am intrigued to look into more books in the DI Adam Fawley series. Despite my pre-conceptions, it actually didn't matter too much that I hadn't read books 1-4, as I felt than individual bonds with the characters weren't necessarily needed to be hooked on the mystery.

I have not read any of the previous 4 books in the series. The introductions to the characters was therefore very welcome and helpful. I found the book a little confusing to start with as there are quite a lot of characters, but this didn’t last long.

I loved the way the book is set out with all the use of podcasts, postcards, texts and files.

Despite not knowing the characters from previous books I still found myself drawn to many of them and willing Fawley not to be guilty!

The book works well as a stand alone. The twists keep on coming and the book is fast paced and keeps the pages turning.

Great, atmospheric writing really makes you feel you are there with Emma through her ordeal. The twists keep on coming right to the end!

A brilliant read.

I have been invested in DI Adam Fawley and his team since the beginning, so was very excited to read this latest instalment. Cara Hunter just gets better and better. "The Whole Truth" begins with an introduction to the characters - both useful as a recap and for newbies.

I've always loved Hunter's innovative format, where we get to see things like Press reports and social media reactions, and this time we have a podcast included too! One of the cases the team investigate in this book subverts our expectations of sexual assault and then ties us up in knots. It was particularly interesting to see how Hunter portrayed different officers' reactions to it. She isn't afraid to show us flawed coppers (I'm looking at you, Quinn!) or their human side. Another brilliant offering and, as always, I can't wait to read the next book in this excellent series.

The Whole Truth is the latest addition to the brilliant Cara Hunter’s series and it doesn’t disappoint. Well written, fast paced, twisty and suspenseful, it is one of the best in the police procedural genre. I really like the idea of the Who is Who reminder at the beginning - it helps to refresh the memory, if it’s been awhile since you’ve read the other books in the series.
I can’t wait for the next instalment.
I listened to some of the book on audio and the narration was excellent, performed by 3 different voices.

What is already a great series scales new heights with this stunning addition. DI Adam Fawley is a fascinating character and he is surrounded by interesting and intriguing colleagues. The setting, Oxford, is beautifully depicted and the two crimes at the centre of the story are totally engrossing. The topic of rape is delicately handled but it is when things become personal that the novel really takes off. Brilliant!

Absolutely nothing in this book is as it seems. As soon as you think you have the plot figured out, the author hits you from the left with another twist. This was a fantastic read, and I can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
TB

I listened to and read this book, absolutely brilliant, I had to finish the book at bedtime as I just had to know how it all worked out.
The story was as usual gritty,edge of your seat stuff x

Highly recommended in both forms.
Looking forward to the next story.

This is the first Cara Hunter book I've read so I was a little worried being part of a series that I'd not be able to connect to the storyline. I was wrong, at the very beginning you get a brief description of each main character and a little of their 'history' which I really appreciated, although I'd recommend reading a series in order this worked well as a stand alone.

I read this over two days wishing I didn't have other distractions so I could have read it in one! The story really kept my attention, throughout the book you're back and forth between two separate storylines one a sexual assault between a teacher and student the other with link to DI Fawley and his wife.

Pretty much every part of this book ends in some sort of cliffhanger, a sentence not quite informative enough, a piece of information that could sway the case.. it was really difficult to find the right place to put the book down!

I particularly enjoyed the teacher/student storyline. Professor Marina Fisher has been accused of sexual assaulting Caleb Morgan; one of her students who occasionally babysits for her 8yr old son Tobin, after a fundraiser Marina returns home and remembers nothing out of the ordinary about the night until police turn up at her house and arrest her for alleged sexual assault... However Caleb remembers everything! But a drawing by Tobin might be more than it seems?

Overall this is a great fast paced thriller with a more than a few twists. The office rivalry, extra information in form of podcasts, blogs and text.. really helped to add depth to the story. Cara Hunter has a great writing style and I can't wait to pick up another of her books.

Thank you #NetGalley and @Penguin for my #gifted Advanced readers copy of #TheWholeTruth