A Truth for a Truth

A hearty "thanks" to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for supplying me with an eARC of this novel.

I didn't read the first book of the DI Kate Young series (an Eye for an Eye) however, after completing this novel I immediately went online and purchased a copy that I will start after posting this review.

Note - I don't feel I NEED a spoiler alert for my review (the referenced actions occur within the first few pages of this novel, and the description). However, I added this note because I HATE reviews that contain spoilers (if I accidentally stumble on a "spoiler" review before reading the associated book it ruins the experience for me - I have to skip reading the book)..

Ms. Wyer took the very bold step of having DI Kate Young make some "all too human" errors while investigating a CORRUPT cop, in essence by doing so the formerly honest DI BECAME a corrupt cop.

I read numerous police procedurals a week, and this novel hooked me from the first page.

I loved the talented details and character development in this novel (for example how the main character was forced to hide physical "tells" from her coworkers, tells which she typically used to help her evaluate the veracity of a potential suspect).

One of the most enjoyable police procedurals I have read in some time, this novel is wonderfully fun and exciting, and definitely a feather in the writer's cap!

5 stars from this humble reader.

This is book #4 in the Detective Kate Young series. I would recommend reading these books in series order for better understanding of the storyline. Now, imagine that the tension in this series is in a big pan, bubbling away throughout the first three books! At the end of book #3, A Life for a Life, it was just starting to reach the point where it was on the verge of bubbling over, and a few chapters into this new instalment in Kate Young’s story, believe me, it had well and truly boiled over and left a hell of a mess on my oven top!

In all seriousness, I began this book with so much trepidation! I’ve read the previous books so knew something big was going to happen in this one, but boy oh boy I didn’t for a minute think it was going to be THIS big! Kate finds herself in a bit of pickle when she unintentionally kills her corrupt boss, John Dickson. I was captured by this storyline right from the very first page and I just couldn’t work out how she was going to get herself out of this mess. The storyline takes us over the next few days after that fateful night and we follow the investigation into the disappearance of Superintendent John Dickson which is led by Kate and her team.

This was such a strong storyline. The tension and suspense were off the scale and as I read, I could feel the fear for Kate washing over me. Kate’s conversations in her head with her dead husband have been replaced by the recently deceased superintendent, and it did leave me wondering if Kate had finally lost the plot! The story was fast paced and the emotions that ran through it left me with tears in my eyes! And…don’t even get me started on the ending which left an icy shockwave coursing through me! This book has to be the best of the series without a doubt! Roll on book #5…I genuinely cannot wait!

Wow what an excellent read. The fourth book in the Kate Young series and another brilliant addition to this already captivating series. While this could be read as a standalone it would be much better to have read the previous three in the series in order. This book primarily deals with Dickson’s nemesis, the delivery of which will push Kate to the brink. In order to see justice done she must cross a line but at what cost do the ends justify the means? Tormented by the conversations in her head she really really does not know whom she can trust, when even those closest to her are untrustworthy. Just when, by maybe more foul than fair means, things finally seem to be settled and her actions justified, a fantastic twist at the end throws everything wide open again. Switch off your phone, get comfortable and be prepared not to move for a few hours as you definitely won’t be putting this one down.

Now I'm an advocate for reading books, even in a series, in whatever order works for you. It's not unusual for me to start reading in the middle, continue onwards, and catch up with the earlier books in the series as and when I can. With A Truth for a Truth I would suggest you really do need to make an exception. At the very least you should read the previous book, A Life for a Life, but as this book is part of an ongoing story arc then you would be best starting at the beginning, just to be sure. And why wouldn't you? This is a great series with a very unusual, and troubled lead detective who manages a team through investigations which are dark, twisted and really make the toes curl at times. Kate Young is a very memorable character and as a stalwart for justice, with this latest offering, we see a side to her character we really never expected to see.

Now all you need to know about the plot is in the blurb - I'm not going to rehash that. It's also a good indicator as to why you need to read the earlier books first, to give what happens some context. It really does give this book a very different vibe, knowing that Kate is working in support of her team, but also with the express intent of fooling and misleading them. And that's not something that sits easy with her. Carol Wyer has done a stunning job of portraying the conflict within Kate, in her behaviour, her evasiveness with her team and her ultimate suspicion of practically everyone in front of her. It adds an edge to the story, a kind of tension that comes from the constant subterfuge and reluctance to trust anyone. Now for those in the know, Kate has a rather ... different personality, informed by personal tragedy, and one that acts as an inbuilt conscience of sorts, whilst also spurring her on to find the truth. That personality quirk explodes this time around, almost like it's been force fed steroids, amplifying Kate's fractured mind. It adds conflict which only enhances the story.

As for the investigation, it falls largely to the team to chase down leads to find the missing Superintendent. Add in new revelations about his own background, and accusations made against him in relation to a previous investigation, and the urgency of the story, the need to locate him, increases tenfold. This is a pacy novel, taking place over just a few days, and that tempo adds to the constantly building tension. The investigation follows and is relayed in a chronological manner, but there are moments in which we are taken back into Kate's memories, filling in small gaps in the actions, explaining to readers just what happened and why what we are seeing in the present is actually quite crucial. It's a narrative style that works well in this particular investigation, serving to keep some key details from readers until just the right moment, and allowing us to slowly build up an understanding of what a thin tightrope Kate is walking.

i like the team in this book. DS Emma Donaldson and DS Morgan Meredith are great characters, supportive of Kate and very intuitive and passionate a bout their jobs. Emma looks up to Kate as a kind of role model and is perhaps more in tune with the little changes in her personality than the rest of the team, but it's fair to say that she and Morgan have their own distractions to contend with as they face a real step change in their own partnership. As for their DC Jamie Webster, the jury is still out. At times he seems as keen as mustard, and really focused on the case, but there is still something about him, perhaps fuelled by the way in which Carol Wyer has manifested Kate's own paranoia, that makes him harder to get a grip with.

There are many other characters who inform the story to varying degree - DCI William Chase, Kate's own mentor and long term friend, Bradley Chapman, a very resourceful man who Kate met in a previous investigation, and DI Harriet Khatri, who has little love for Kate, or Kate her. Revelations galore undermine much of what we may have believed about what is happening, and be surprised for more than the occasional shock twist to turn everything on its head. Carol Wyer has spared no-one this time around and why would she. When the black and white of the justice system starts to be overtaken by shades of grey, anything can, and does, happen. It adds jeopardy to the book, especially Kate's position, and some bombshell revelations are going to change everything. It makes for an exciting read, even if some of the story is tinged with sadness.

there are several strong themes addressed in the book - corruption, trafficking, sexual abuse and murder - and Carol Wyer has made sure that it really packs a punch. But just when you think that maybe a corner has finally been turned, a step for Kate towards real justice, you'll be forced to think again. One chapter may be over but this is a story which seems to be far, far, from the end. Which is pretty good for us readers really as I, for one, am more than content to keep turning those pages. Fans of the series, and fans of Kate, are going to love this one.

A Truth for a Truth is book 4 in the Detective Kate Young series by Carol Wyer.

Another exciting read in the Detective Kate Young series.
This story is so well written and draws you in from the first page with its intriguing story and interesting characters.
Carol Wyer certainly knows how to write and keep her readers engaged.
This book had suspense, intrigue, action, and a great who done it! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle!
I've enjoyed the previous books in this series and book four didn't disappoint.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

This is a great follow on to A Life for a Life with its cliff hanger ending. Kate is determined to bring down corrupt officers at all costs and doesn’t know who she can trust. I was rooting for her throughout to find these officers, who are always one step ahead. I really enjoyed this book, the author drew me into the story from the first page and certainly grabbed and held my attention and interest to the end. The book is written well, flows easily and has a good plot line. DCI Chase plays a bigger part in the story here which I really liked. The only thing I found off putting was Dickson’s voice of in Kate’s head, I didn’t like him as a character and just wanted him to shut up (sorry). I loved the ending which sets up the next book nicely and I look forward to reading it. If you like crime, solid police procedurals I think you’d like this series although I’d say read the books in order to know the characters from the beginning.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book!

This is the best one in this series, and the others were cracking excellent reads. Carol has a knack for creating tortured characters you want to love (or hate) and wraps them in a fast-paced plot that keeps you turning the virtual pages.

And the ending? I didn't see that coming.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Where do I start.
This has been a great series from the start and its got even better with the addition of this book.
Kate Young has been trying to break the ring of abusers she thinks is responsible for her husbands murder. The problem is the ring includes at least one Senior Police Officer.
Throughout the series she has been driven by the voice in her head, that of her husband.
But now she's killed somebody, somebody in power, somebody who was part of the ring.
The Police, and probably her team, ill be asked to investigate his death.
But first they have to find the body, at first its just a missing persons case and Kate is doing her best to carry on as if she has nothing to do with the death.
Then there's the bigger problem. Her husbands voice of reason is being fought against, and at times replaced, by another voice. The voice of the man she murdered, and he's ridiculing her.
As much as this is a great crime story its also the story of a woman having a breakdown, she's functioning but her mental health is really on the edge.
Can she keep her mind long enough to escape blame.
Can she break the ring and expose everybody involved.
The very last page made me gasp out loud.
There has to be another book. It can't end there, or can it.

My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for a copy of “ A Truth For A Truth “ for an honest review.

Carol Wyer was a new author to me, when I requested an advanced copy of the first in her Detective Kate Young series of books.She has now become one of my favourite writers
I was particularly interested ,due to “An Eye For An Eye “ being set in areas in Staffordshire that I live by..
How great it was to find that the story itself was really well written , with well rounded characters and full of suspense. The second , “ A Cut For A Cut and third “A Life For A Life” “ were equally as good .I’ve recommended this series of books to many readers, who have all had the same opinion as myself.
This fourth in the series didn’t disappoint, I couldn’t put it down ! The only problem now is having to be patient for the next in the series, but I had thought that this book was the last so that’s a bonus!

A Truth For A Truth is the best yet in this excellent series.

DI Kate Young has been building a case against the corrupt Superintendent John Dixon. She needs a watertight case to bring down a senior officer who is powerful and ruthless, involved in underage prostitution and people trafficking. But the novel starts with a shocker - she confronts Dixon, he pulls a gun and in the ensuing struggle Kate kills Dixon.

Sadly, that doesn't resolve the situation. She has to discover who else is involved in his network. So Kate makes it look like Dixon has vanished - just as a series of stories exposing him is about to appear in the local newspaper.

Kate is horrified when she and her team are tasked with finding Dixon. Can she keep the truth from her closest colleagues, while appearing to conduct a thorough investigation - and also continue her own search for Dixon's associates? Not knowing who she can trust, the strain gets to Kate. Can she succeed?

This is a tension filled book with some excellent characters and layers of deception throughout. Everyone has their own agenda. Will DI Young survive now that she has crossed a line that she would never have expected to?

First and foremost I want to thank Carol Wyer, Amazon Publishing Uk, and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy that's due out this April.
The fact that you can't run from your past is strengthened by the knowledge that not all women are crazy. In fact, some hear multiple voices in their heads.
DCI Kate is back at it with this very detailed and heavy read that for speed readers slows us in our tracks. It's full of information on every character's motives, their train of thought, and their reasoning for their explicit actions. Not that in itself is bad just not quite fitting for my needs.
Now, for most you might enjoy that idea that hearing voices is part of a larger guiding factor to warrant investigations in multiple directions. Heck, as detectives many are taught to go where the evidence takes you. However, the evidence is often based upon jealousy rather than plain view.
For me, I prefer plots that thicken quickly and don't have multiple avenues to explore as it becomes tedious to keep all the investigations, assumptions, lies, corruption, and confessions straight.
I seemed to be bogged down in the emotional aspect because as an empath I couldn't connect on any level to any of the characters.
Ironically the title, "A Truth for a Truth" is part of my reasoning behind my feelings because clearly nobody is telling the truth in the entire novel.
In fact, Kate has a boss named John Dickson who is violent and disgusting. He has information on a prostitute ring that involves young girls. He has information that could be used in court to take down many individuals. His close inner circle is examined with a fine tooth comb. Everyone is a suspect until they're excluded.
Kate meanwhile is still processing her feelings about the loss of Chris. His murder takes her on a roller coaster and her drive to get a confession from Dickson may have been her downfall.
What bothers me is the fact that everyone sees these young girls in precarious ways yet nobody bothered to speak out, contact authorities, right the wrongs?
Who do you trust is another component within this work by the lovely Carol Wyer.
I've read numerous books by Carol prior to this and I've enjoyed them all but this was just too much in too short a time span for me to enjoy.
If you enjoy thrillers and enjoy the fact that everyone is suspect and the suspect literally gets away with murder than this is for you.
How so many could work so closely and not suspect DI Kate for over 6 days after the killing of her boss even with many pointing fingers in her direction only to have it hidden literally and figuratively as it lands behind the bushes is perplexing.
Why are so many people watching others have sex is the question I raise?
Could there be a mole? Could Maja the sister of the prostitute be located and be located safely?
Will DI Kate ever face justice?
Could someone close to Kate's inner circle be charged with murder?
Will anyone come to terms with the truth?
It was a book that deserves your attention and demands it!
For that reason it's a good read and one that should be on your TBR!

Let me first start by saying i was 91% finished with the book and then got annoyed that i had to finish my laundry and get dinner started so I had to put it down. This is by far one of the most intricately plotted books i have ever read and was bone chilling. Already one of my top 3 of the year

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.


DI Kate Young and her team are investigating the disappearance of their boss, superintendent John Dickson. But, Kate had a secret, she killed Dickson in self defence. Can she keep up the pretence and carry out a thorough investigation? Along with that they are investigating the trafficking and disappearance of young girls, linked to a previous case and to Dickson.

Absolutely loved this instalment in the series. Seeing Kate wrestling with her conscience whilst also knowing she had rid of the world of a very dangerous man. I’ve literally just got to the end and I have no idea who can be trusted. The suspense is immense. Can’t wait for the next book!

DI Kate Young returns to work to hunt a serial killer. She has been on leave after losing her husband in horrific circumstances. He was a reporter, and left her notes on who to be suspicious of.
He is the voice inside her head, guiding her and making her second guess everything she uncovers in her investigation.
She uncovers a syndicate that has ties to the police force, and she meets with her boss, Superintendent John Dickson with disastrous results which she has to cover up.
Now, she has a new voice in her head, mocking her, which she tries to ignore.
She has to root out the rest of the syndicate, and does not know which of her colleagues to trust.


I really enjoy Carol Wyer's books. They are engrossing and unputdownable!
Best of all, there is a strong female lead in this police procedural, which I am a huge fan of. Carol Wyer has done a magnificent job of drawing the reader into the lives of the characters. I am not a fan of Kate hearing the voices, but I do understand that it is her conscience talking to her, and also the way that she makes her decisions. Firstly, her husband's voice guides her, and secondly, Dickson's voice makes her second guess her choices.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series, and know that while corruption can never be stopped altogether, I hope that Kate manages to break up this evil syndicate within the police force.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The next incredible tale in DI Kate Young’s story does not disappoint.

Right from the first page you’re gripped, it picks up directly from where A Life for A Life left off with Kate stuck in an impossible situation. The decisions she makes on that night, along with all the ones she makes throughout only highlights the inner turmoil she’s been facing since we first met her. As a reader you find yourself being drawn into her dark mentality more and more with each chapter.

The supporting cast around Kate really shine in this book and yet (just about) everyone at one point or another is a cause for suspicion as she tries to unpick the web of corruption around her.

Carol Wyer has done a fantastic job of creating a web of mistrust around all of her characters and then at the last minute absolutely pulling the rug out from under the reader changing everything we thought we’d figured out.

Thank you so much for this ARC copy, I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I enjoyed this book, but as with the previous instalments the voices in Kate's head drove me to distraction. I do get it as a plot device but please, enough already. It's so overdone that it really affected my enjoyment of what was otherwise a really decent plot.

I liked that we got to know other members of Kate's team a little better in this book. My favourite chapters were those from William's point of view, as the reader already knows what happened it was interesting to follow the investigation from the perspective of someone still in the dark.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I absolutely love this series so I was so excited to dive right in! This one is even better than the precious 3, if that's even possible. Ots so well written, you really do feel for the characters and they absolutely get under your skin. The dilemmas and struggle, whilst far from normal are still relatablely human! I find it's not often that thriller books can make you feel empathy or compassion but this series has built the characyersbinto such realistic humans that you can't help but care what happens. The twists and turns and just superb! So cleverly written and you absolutely can not guess what's going to be the outcome. Once again, you are left just wanting more and more and more. The characters are also not just based on stereotypes and they have such unique elements to their personalities that also set them apart from the normal police procedural or thriller. I can't say enough good things really! A must read and if you haven't come across the series before...... prepare to fall head over heels with the world of Kate Young

A truth for a truth by Carol Wyer.
Detective Kate Young book 4.
DI Kate Young’s team is hunting for a killer. The killer is nearer than they think?
Omg. What a read. Wasn't sure how I felt about Kate.
This was a gripping and surprising read. I did feel for Kate. Omg what an ending. I can't wait for next book. 5*.

Spoilers

Rounding up to three stars



I've only recently read the first book in this series, and liked it enough to want yo read this one.
It continues on a few storyline, and familiar characters, which I liked.
As a whole I enjoyed the characters snd their interactions, and the pace of the story,
Unfortunately I did not enjoy the voice of the dead, and that detracted a lot from the story for me.
The man wasn't that likeable when alive, now, I just didn't enjoy those bits.
Others will absolutely love it, just not for me.

DI Kate Young is forced to stay more than one step ahead of just about everyone as she tries to sort out the fact that she unintentionally killed her evil and corrupt boss John Dickson. She comes up with a plan that is truly for the greater good, although she feels horribly alone. Until now she has had the voice of her husband Chris in her head guiding her day by day. She had been trying to find proof that Dickson was responsible for Chris’s murder. Now that Dickson is dead, it is his voice that replaces Chris’s in her head.

Dickson‘s voice works hard at trying to convince Kate that she is losing her mind especially as she has gone against everything and every principle she has always believed in. Has she completely lost all sense of justice? Of what is right and wrong? Is she in a way as corrupt as he was? Not only must Kate convince everyone that Dickson has disappeared of his own volition, there is a sex trafficking case that runs parallel to everything that Kate is doing to hide the fact that she is indeed responsible for his death.

Kate must show extreme caution every step of the way. This proves especially important as it doesn’t take Kate long to learn that Dickson was not the only police officer involved in corruption, and that there are those very close to her that may be part of something huge, something so big that it could be to her complete undoing.

It’s hard to believe that this incredibly tense book takes place in a very limited timeframe, and that even though Kate had the right motive to begin with she is forced to act with a duplicitous nature in order to find justice. Not only that, there is a young sex worker that she is determined to save. Dealing with people that she has a hard time trusting leaves Kate having to use sharp instincts in order to bring justice to those who deserve it.

What an astonishing read! There were moments when this book literally gave me chills. Brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. As Kate often felt numb as she struggled to find a way out of the darkness that she pretty much brought upon herself, I too felt numb as I could not imagine how she could get past the person she was forced to become. As if the story itself was not utterly shocking, the conclusion floored me. In fact, reading the conclusion in this book brought back to mind how I felt after reading the last few paragraphs of book three in this amazing series, A Life for a Life. Carol Wyer has left me shocked beyond belief, and I have no idea how I will manage to wait for the next installment.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.