Member Reviews

*Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in return for an honest review.*

This book isn’t my favourite in the Adam Fawley book series, but I didn’t have any major problems with it. The characters (mostly the police officers) are solid and flawed. Having read the previous books, I have zero complaints about them. The callback and reintroduction of Parrie was suitable sinister, if a little bit insane and convoluted; I get Alex’s reasoning behind her suspicion but it just reads as a massive leap in logic for someone who’s always been so level-headed.

Now onto the supporting cast for this story, notable Marina and Caleb. Twist upon twist with those two. I don’t understand completely the whole deal with Marina’s son but the plotline here kind of lost me a little. It all started out simply enough – a male student accusing a female professor of rape – but I just felt there were too many twists in it that made the story harder to follow, and a little more unlikely every time it twisted again.

To be fair, I am writing this review a couple of weeks after reading the plot, and I did have to look the book up to remind myself what had happened. I’ll definitely buy it when it’s available but on the whole I’d rate it as ‘good’ rather than ‘brilliant’.

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I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

The synopsis of this book reads like a typical scenario: an attractive student, an older professor.

However, on delving into the book, it becomes clear not all is what it seems.

DI Adam Fawley and his team take on the case, thinking it's just a typical 'student accuses professor of assault' case and they've seen it all before, but they are wrong.

But as they are up against the case to find out the truth, what they do not realise is someone is watching, and that someone is ready to take Fawley down, once and for all.

WOW!! I stumbled across the first book in the Fawley series on Netgalley just over three years ago, and I am so glad I did. I have so far read each one in the series, and they just keep getting better!

There are so many twists and turns in this novel to keep readers guessing, including bringing in a second case from Fawley's past, which could risk his career and life for good. I was on the edge of my seat, and had many late nights where I just could not put the book down!

Once again, Cara Hunter tells the story in different mediums, such as via newspaper reports, police interview transcripts, and podcast scripts. I love this and feel it made me feel so much more involved in the case.

I love the fact that, while the story does not feel rushed at all and is very pacy, there is also still time to bond with the various characters on the investigation team and find out what's happening in their lives.

An absolute page-turner; so pleased there's going to be a TV series!

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I have loved every book in the DI Adam Fawley series so far, so I was very excited to pick up this next installment.

This didn't disappoint, and while I do think that Cara Hunter's writing has improved with each book, I would say that this isn't my personal favourite of the series. Mainly because it's a very slow burn, especially in the beginning.

However, the intrigue and the suspense kept me reading because I desperately wanted to find out what would happen next, and there was no way I could have predicted the ending.

I also loved the multi-media aspects of the book, and how part of the story is told through podcasts, tweets, emails etc. I always feel this helps to bring a story to life.

While each book is written so it can be enjoyed as a standalone, I would say that if you haven't read the earlier books then you may struggle to connect with this one, as it's much more character-focused.

CWs: rape, sexual assault, murder.

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As a first novel from a new to me author, The Whole Truth was a great place to start.

Despite this not being the first DI Fawley novel, this book was able to be read and enjoyed as a standalone.

As readers would expect in any crime novel there are twists and turns in the investigation of alleged wrong doings and I was certainly kept on the edge of my seat more than once.

Will definitely be looking out for more from Cara Hunter in the future.

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I picked up this novel unaware that it was the fifth in a series but, despite this, enjoyed it immensely. The plot revolves around a sexual assault case at an Oxford college and a murder which might be linked to a previous investigation. The novel is smart, suspenseful and very fast paced, making it hard to put down, but also more thought-provoking than the average police procedural. Personally, I sometimes got a bit confused between some of the minor DI characters (though I’m sure this wouldn’t have been an issue if I’d read the previous books in the series) but was nonetheless utterly gripped from start to finish.

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I didn’t realised this was a few books into the series. However this did not matter and I thought this was a great read. DI Fawley and his team investigate a sexual assault to find all is not as it seems, and an old case returns to haunt DI Fawley. I loved this book, it had so many plot twists, turns that I didn’t expect and held my attention from start to finish. The last quarter was so fast paced and thrilling that I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. I love the little glimpses into the characters lives outside work and that when DI Fawley was at rock bottom his team had his back. The book can be read on it’s own, but I will now be reading the previous books in the series to get a sense of the characters, their histories and interactions.

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Cara Hunter just keeps getting better! I'm a fan of the DI Adam Fawley series and each book increases my attachment to the characters of Fawley, his wife Alex, and his police colleagues.

I live a few miles from Oxford and part of the joy comes from how well Hunter evokes the character of the city.

Regarding the plot, I liked that the stereotypical older professor taking advantage of an impressionable student was given a twist. Once again, enjoyed the format of chapters interspersed with newspaper articles and WhatsApp messages.

Cant wait for the next one!

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Gee whizz what a smasher this was, grips from page one and doesn’t let up, multiple storylines through but easy to follow, love DI Fawley and can’t wait for more from Cara. The storyline handled some sensitive subjects well and I found the whole book gripping, cant wait for the next one!!!!

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This is a quick paced psychological thriller with interesting characters. A male student accuses a female university professor of sexual assult. A clever plot and a great read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC

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Great book , I loved the way the two stories were played out . The main story of the college tutor wasn’t as interesting as I thought it would be but the story of the policeman being framed due to a past case was brilliant. I will be reading more from this author . Throughly enjoyed it

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Another stunner from Cara Hunter in the DI Fawley series. These stories just get better and better. Absolutely compelling storyline

From the first page you are gripped by an accusation of sexual abuse from a male student against a female teacher which has so many twists and turns right up until the last page and then also a major case against DI Fawley himself which is tremendous.

Like all in this series I could not put this down as it just got better and better. It was thrilling, action-packed and riveting. I could go on but I can't praise this book enough.

If you read it prepare for late nights and constant thinking of 'there has to be another explanation'.

Definitely definitely read the DI Fawley series. It's tremendous

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DI Adam Farley is working on a. Sexual abuse case involving an Oxford student. His wife is in the latter stage of her pregnancy and then her friend is raped and killed. Adam is accused of this crime. Complicated or what? Excellent book so well written and great characters.
Twists and turns, despair and Hope. Enjoyed every page and not telling how it ends. Read it yourself.

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Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Cara Hunter for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I absolutely LOVE the DI Fawley series. This book certainly did not disappoint. The book starts with a bang and stays fast paced throughout. Multiple story lines run simultaneously but are all as gripping as the others. Gripping and fantastic thriller. I can’t wait for the next book. Cara Hunter is the expert author of all things thriller!

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I love Cara Hunter's DI Fawley series and have loved each book that she has written and The Whole Truth did not disappoint either. I could not put this book down at all.

This book was about a student who was abused by their teacher, however unlike most books with this trope this one was different which made it that more of a compelling read. Instead of the student being female and the teacher male it was the other way around. To say I was intrigued is an understatement.

I loved this book ... I mean to say loved it. It had all the elements for a brilliant thriller that kept me guessing right until the very end. The writing was superb and drew me straight into the story and again I love how we seen so much of all the detectives and learned more about their personal lives. With each new book by Hunter I'm blown away more and more ... This series as a whole is one of the best I've read in the thriller genre in a long time.

I would highly recommend this series.

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This is the 1st Book that I have ready by the author and it won't be the last as i really enjoyed this book.

This book tells the story of a Student who claims that were sexually assaulted by there professor, but the student is a male who plays rugby & the professor is a female , who side is the police going to believe ?

This book had me gripped from the 1st page and some amazing twist in the book.

With thanks to Penguin & Netgalley for the arc of this book in exchange for this honest review

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DI Adam Fawley's team got to Edith Launceleve College first, called there by Jancis Appleby to see the Principal, Professor Hilary Reynolds. There had been an accusation of sexual assault by a professor on a student. When Fawley arrived he was almost cross: what was the alleged perpetrator doing in the room before they'd even got the details from the victim? The problem was that Caleb Morgan was the 'victim' and the alleged perpetrator was Professor Marina Fisher. Just to complicate matters further, Caleb's mother is Petra Newson, the local MP, and Professor Fisher is a big name is Artificial Intelligence. She has an eight-year-old son, buys her wine by the case from Berry Brothers & Rudd, spends more than £1000 a month on clothes and has more than ten thousand Twitter followers. When the excrement encounters the ventilation equipment, this is going to be very public.

Fawley's got other things on his mind at the moment. His wife, Alex, is eight months pregnant with the baby they'd despaired of ever having. Two years earlier their ten-year-old son, Jake, had taken his own life: this baby is unbelievably precious and Fawley doesn't want his wife upsetting in any way. He and Alex had met when he was a DS investigating a series of rapes and sexual assaults: Alex had been one of the victims and it was her testimony that put Gavin Parrie away for a long stretch. Fawley knows that Parrie was guilty but he also knows that he was convicted on a lie and he's known it for some time. Prairie has now been released on licence and when he was convicted he swore vengeance against Fawley and his family. Somehow Fawley has to keep his wife safe and work out who's telling the truth about what happened that night when Caleb Morgan was babysitting.

Sounds almost simple, doesn't it? Well, it very quickly becomes obvious that neither Marina Walker nor Caleb Morgan is telling the whole truth and there's even a suggestion that Marina might not know the whole truth. She's quite clear about what happened to to a certain point, but then it all becomes a bit hazy. She'd had quite a lot to drink at the professional dinner she'd been attending and that might be the reason why she's not clear about why her evening dress is torn - or why she got it off to be cleaned and repaired first thing the following morning.

Caleb Morgan's clear about what happened. He was sexually assaulted although it didn't get as far as rape. His girlfriend, Freya Hughes, seems to be a driving force behind his going to the police but there's obviously another agenda here. Typically, there's a lot going on on social media and plenty of speculation. The names haven't been made public, but no one seems to be in any doubt as to the identity of the professor.

The story's bang up to the minute but with an elegant twist in so much as it's not a woman who's been assaulted but a man. You might think that a rugby player wouldn't have much trouble fighting off the advances of a woman but not all coercion is physical and Cara Hunter covers this point well: it happens to men too.

This is how police procedurals should be written: it's a masterclass. There's a scenario that you can imagine, but with a twist. Not everyone is telling the truth and the story is peopled with characters you can relate to. DC Gareth Quinn was - until recently - DS Quinn but was demoted after he had a relationship with a suspect. He's standing in for DS Chris Gislingham at the beginning of the story and is determined to make a mark, not least because there's a new girlfriend on the scene and this one could be serious.

The setting's Oxford and Hunter captures it perfectly. It's a brave move to use a college. EL (as it's known) is a new college on the outskirts and makes the perfect location. The plot is a cracker: forget the idea that you need a dead body - this story is far more realistic. I loved every moment and was vaguely resentful when I turned the final page. I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.

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This book is a real page-turner. Has two investigations going on at the same time, so felt a bit like multitasking at times.
The only thing I didn't take to was the inclusion of twitter streams and news feed streams - I found that a bit annoying, but may be just me not being down with the kids!
Over all a very good read and nicely tied up at the end.

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D.I Alex Fawley is called to a case of a student who claims they was sexually abused by their professor .
But this is the case of a six foot rugby playing male and the predator is a female professor.
And the other case is of the roadside rapist being released from prison and the main detective Alex was the man who put him away and he says he was set up and will get revenge.
There is plenty of tension in these cases
Another excellent book
Thanks NetGalley

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Fantastic story, very well written and I really enjoyed! Thank you to net galley for allowing me to read this early!

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The Whole Truth was another brilliant addition to the DI Adam Fawley series. Cara Hunter has become a firm favourite of mine and this book didn't disappoint. I can't wait to read more in the series

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