Far From True

by Linwood Barclay Narrated by Brian O'Neill, Mark Zeisler

Overview

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.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

★ 01/25/2016
In this excellent sequel to 2015’s Broken Promise, bestseller Barclay’s knack for realistic characterizations makes each person, even the nasty ones, stand out. Promise Falls, N.Y., a town already fraught with troubles, suffers a major tragedy when four people perish in the unexplained collapse of the Constellation Drive-In Theater’s movie screen during its final night of business. PI Cal Weaver looks into a break-in at the home of one of the drive-in victims. Meanwhile, police detective Barry Duckworth attempts to solve two possibly linked murders while also investigating increasingly violent pranks, each of which involves the number 23. Barclay smoothly integrates myriad subplots, which involve a secret room for sex parties, an arrogant politician, an attempted kidnapping, a missing professor’s wife, a vacationing spouse, and the violent head of security at a local college. Each odd turn uncovers another dark aspect of Promise Falls. Readers will look forward to the trilogy’s finale due later this year. Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency (Canada). (Mar.)

From the Publisher

No one can thrill you and chill you better than Linwood Barclay.”—Tess Gerritsen
 
“Barclay gets better and better….He keeps the reader guessing to the very last page.”—William Landay, bestselling author of Defending Jacob
 
“Barclay pulls everything together expertly.”—The Washington Post
 
“A suspense master.”—Stephen King
 
“A true master…another book that can go directly into the suspense lovers’ hall of fame.”—Suspense Magazine

“Twist-driven thrillers packed with emotion are a hallmark of Barclay’s career.”—USA Today

Library Journal

02/01/2016
On the last night for the Constellation Drive-In, a horrible tragedy occurs. The screen, slated for demolition in just a week, crashes down during the showing of a movie. Four people are killed and many are injured. The incident is first viewed as an accident, but Promise Falls, NY, police detective Barry Duckworth soon finds a link to this case and the bizarre crimes that happened earlier (as recounted in Broken Promise). Duckworth is also trying to uncover a connection between the grisly murders of two young women and their possible relationship to these increasingly weird and deadly misdeeds. With the police so busy, Cal Weaver, a PI with a tragic backstory, agrees to investigate a break-in for the daughter of a man killed at the Constellation. His probe unveils secrets many citizens of the community had hoped to keep hidden. VERDICT Sex tapes, secret rooms, and murder are all part of the fun in this new thriller from the best-selling Barclay. He successfully juggles numerous story lines and leaves readers eagerly anticipating the third and final book in the "Promise Falls" trilogy. [See Prepub Alert, 10/4/15.]—Lynnanne Pearson, Skokie P.L., IL

Kirkus Reviews

2016-01-10
During the local drive-in's last-ever triple feature, a mysterious explosion topples the screen, killing four people. It's not the only bizarre incident shaking up the New York town of Promise Falls, a popular suicide spot where all lives seem at risk. A few hours after the drive-in disaster, which some locals insist was an act of terrorism—bad news for Egyptian-born bookstore owner Naman Safar—someone breaks into the home of one of the victims and steals revealing DVDs from a hidden sex lair. Police Detective Barry Duckworth already has his hands full with a series of seemingly related killings of young women. PI Cal Weaver, who is trying to get over the murders of his wife and son, is busy protecting Samantha, a laundromat owner whose ex-husband is serving time for a bank stickup. David Harwood, a former journalist reluctantly working for loathsome former mayor Randall Finley, has to explain to his son why his late mother killed a man and cut off his hand. Though Samantha is a Philip Roth fan, Barclay's dark and dizzy tour de force is like a Richard Russo novel gone off the rails. Its blue-collar setting is a bottomless pit of nefarious acts including baby theft and kidnapping. The only true innocent is Crystal, a girl with special abilities whose capacity for living inside her head must be regarded as a gift. Barclay's sequel to Broken Promise (2015)—the third book in the series will reveal why the number 23 turns up in all kinds of bad situations here—trades in thrills for black humor. But it's a crowd-pleaser nonetheless from one of the most reliable craftsmen in crime fiction.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171111984
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	03/08/2016
Series:	Promise Falls , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged

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