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.'! Read an excerpt of Far From True.
You can connect with Linwood Barclay on his website, follow him on Twitter and find him on Facebook.
5 comments:
I can't believe I've never read Barclay.
I read a couple when he was a debut author, enjoyed them but haven't went back. I must pick him up again. Exciting review.
I like Barclay's writing and have read several of his books. My book group enjoyed one a couple of years ago - TRUST YOUR EYES. Anyway, I meant to read the first book in this trilogy, but can see I need to get to it first and then pick up this one. Hope to do both of those things before the release of #3. Promise Falls is beginning to sound like The Hollows in Lisa Unger's books. Can't wait!
He is a good author, I have all his books, looking forward to this one also.
I found it annoying that two of the plot lines from one and two are still not solved and I have to buy #3 for closure.
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