Truth Games

by Bobbie Darbyshire

We're in 1970s London, the blazing hot summers of 75 & 76, and a group of friends are getting way out of their depth in infidelity. Thought-provoking, amusing, and with guaranteed naughty bits.

Genres: Fiction

345 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2009

About the author

Bobbie's fifth novel, 'The Third Bus' was published in October 2023. Her earlier novels are: 'The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker', 'Oz', 'Love, Revenge & Buttered Scones' and 'Truth Games'.

She won the 2008 fiction prize at the National Academy of Writing and the New Delta Review Creative Nonfiction Prize 2010. She has worked as barmaid, mushroom picker, film extra, maths coach, cabinet minister's private secretary, care assistant and volunteer adult-literacy teacher, as well as in social research and government policy.

Her latest novel is 'The Third Bus': An unappreciated man walks out of his dispiriting 42-year marriage with no destination in mind. At Victoria coach station, on the spur of the moment he boards a coach to Norwich. A late-life coming-of-age story, mixing humour and sorrow, hope and regret.

Bobbie's four earlier novels are:

'The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker': A world-famous superstar actor – think Laurence Olivier crossed with Jack Nicholson – dies, but to his astonishment finds he’s still here among us. He’s able to watch the effect of his mean-spirited will on those left behind, including his son (cycling along on the cover) and even his cat. If your spirits are in need of a lift, it’s a real feel-good book that will keep you hooked.

'OZ': Mark Jonnson's life is a mess. He fears his marriage is over, but can't bear to leave his boisterous 7-year-old daughter, Matilda. Just when he thinks things can't get worse, his mother is killed in a road accident. Shocked and grieving, he decamps to her house, where he uncovers a secret that turns his life upside-down and sends him and his daughter on a whirlwind search for the truth.

Sarah Rayner, author of 'One Moment, One Morning', says of 'Oz', "What a delight to find a novel that's both a page-turner and a nuanced exploration of characters. The tensions and subtleties of relationships of marriage and parenting across the decades are explored with delicacy, yet the storytelling never falters, as a constantly evolving plot keeps you hooked until the last page."

'Love, Revenge & Buttered Scones': Long-listed for the 2011 International Rubery Book Award. In this comedy of errors, three troubled people dash off to the Scottish Highlands, where their destinies are mysteriously entwined around a reading group in the Inverness public library. Twists & surprises, very funny with also some dark, serious threads, it keeps you guessing throughout.

'Truth Games': In 1970s London, the blazing summers of 75 & 76, a group of friends get out of their depth in infidelity. Thought-provoking, amusing & sexy, a book about how we hurt each other with lies and with truths.

Find Bobbie on Facebook or follow her @bobbiedar

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

As is now well known, sex was invented in 1963, but it clearly took at least a further decade (and the advent of the Pill) before the sexual revolution really got underway! Truth Games is a late 20th century morality tale of a group of friends who have been seduced by the idea of free love, only to discover that no strings sex is more complicated than they first thought. The characters are well-drawn (although not all of them are likeable) and the writing is of a high standard, particularly the sex scenes which might have been cringe-making in the hands of a less accomplished author. And the plot flows smoothly with no clunky bits. So far, so good. However for me, the real joy of the book is the 1970s setting. In retrospect this was a period of great social change, particularly for women, but of course this lofty perspective comes only with hindsight. The author captures perfectly the mood of the times, and the `innocence' of the characters by modern standards. The protagonists would now be in their 60s or 70s, and I would love to see another book, written in the present, as they reflect on the events of the 1970s and to find what happened to them subsequently.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As you can tell by the description, there is a lot of sex in this book. Bobbie writes an interesting story about how sex was perceived in the seventies. The story is focused on a group of people who meet regularly, share food, drink, conversation, and share lovers too.

Bobbie has created a good mix of characters in this story, Bobbie does a fantastic job of developing personalities throughout and weaving in their relationships with the other characters. As we progress in the book, we find that it’s not just all about sex, but about friendship, building relationships and fidelity. There’s a lot of focus as well on the era, if you were around for the seventies then I’m certain the descriptions will bring back lots of memories!

This book wasn’t my cup of tea because it’s not really my preferred genre, though it is a compelling read! If you’re looking for something different and refreshing then this is your book!

[Judi Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were a young adult female in 1975/6 (those two oh-so-hot summers) then this will catch you under the heart. The back cover blurb puts it succinctly. This was after The Pill took the worry out of sex and before HIV put it back in again: the world can never return to that state of blissful irresponsibility again.

Bobbie Darbyshire writes about London (in which she lives) but the same thing was happening in Cornwall (where I was living then). The carefree sex. The drinking. The heat. Everything was young and new and fresh. We wanted it all. And we got it. And we're still working out what to do with the legacy. It was a wonderful time to be young. Oh happy days so beautifully put on the page.

[Cem · Rating 5 out of 5]

İf you like about men women relations its very enjoyable and sexy book, a story in the mid seventies about a group of friends ,the characters are so real very well written and fluent,İ definetly recommend this book , though i am very selective in novels this one is one of my favorites

[LaDawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not even worth one star.