What do you think?
Rate this book
Dan Forrester #1
Spare Me the Truth
Dan Forrester, piecing his life back together after the tragic death of his son, is approached in a supermarket by a woman who tells him everything he remembers about his life - and his son - is a lie.
Grace Reavey, stricken by grief, is accosted at her mother's funeral. The threat is simple: pay the staggering sum her mother allegedly owed, or lose everything.
Lucy Davies has been forced from the Met by her own maverick behaviour. Desperate to prove herself in her new rural post, she's on the hunt for a killer - but this is no small town criminal.
Plunged into a conspiracy that will test each of them to their limits, these three strangers are brought together in their hunt for the truth, whatever it costs. And as their respective investigations become further and further entwined, it becomes clear that at the centre of this tangled web is a threat more explosive than any of them could have imagined.
Grace Reavey, stricken by grief, is accosted at her mother's funeral. The threat is simple: pay the staggering sum her mother allegedly owed, or lose everything.
Lucy Davies has been forced from the Met by her own maverick behaviour. Desperate to prove herself in her new rural post, she's on the hunt for a killer - but this is no small town criminal.
Plunged into a conspiracy that will test each of them to their limits, these three strangers are brought together in their hunt for the truth, whatever it costs. And as their respective investigations become further and further entwined, it becomes clear that at the centre of this tangled web is a threat more explosive than any of them could have imagined.
528 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2016
25 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Carver
18 books127 followersCJ Carver is a half-English, half-Kiwi author living just outside Bath. Her books have been published in the UK, USA and translated throughout Europe. Her first novel Blood Junction, won the CWA Debut Dagger Award, was shortlisted for the USA Barry Award, and was also voted as one of the best mystery books of the year by Publishers Weekly. Spare Me the Truth, the first book in the Dan Forrester series, was nominated for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. CJ lived in Australia for 10 years before taking up long distance rally driving – she has driven London to Saigon, London to Cape Town and covered 14,000 miles on the Inca Trail.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
February 20, 2020
An Interesting book, and the first of the Dan Forrester series, this story revolves around 3 protagonists, Dan Forrester, Lucy Davies and Grace Reavey, all of whom are linked unknowingly to a series of shady and gruesome events which occur.
Dan, a man who has amnesia in regards to certain events, is approached by spook Stella Reavey and warned to find a man named Cedric, she claims to know him though he cannot remember her, though he knows certain skills and that he was involved with the government somehow, it's all a blur, and why does he not believe the official truth of his sons death, and he is frustrated at people lying to him about past events.
Grace Reavey is Stella's daughter, and after a tragedy, she is informed that she owes a significant amount of money by a sinister and highly dangerous man and must do what she can to try and raise the cash and get to the bottom of it.
PC Lucy Davies is a very energetic and headstrong copper, who after discovering a young woman, barely alive and tortured, handcuffed in a cargo bound to India, has to get to the bottom of it, and after realising more people have been killed, in the same way, their is a link, and she may be somehow involved in the link, and may even be on the dreaded "cargo killer's" list.
All three characters are somehow linked and the twists and turns this book has was very entertaining, I particularly enjoyed Lucys chapters the most, and the memories of the mysterious concert at Wembley stadium, in which the whole stadium seemed to freeze in silence, and their was a moment of sheer terror, was a particular highlight of a very entertaining story, and hearing theres more in the Dan Forrester series, I will definitely be checking them out, if you like thrillers and mysteries, this is well worth a read.
Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars, strong recommendation.
Dan, a man who has amnesia in regards to certain events, is approached by spook Stella Reavey and warned to find a man named Cedric, she claims to know him though he cannot remember her, though he knows certain skills and that he was involved with the government somehow, it's all a blur, and why does he not believe the official truth of his sons death, and he is frustrated at people lying to him about past events.
Grace Reavey is Stella's daughter, and after a tragedy, she is informed that she owes a significant amount of money by a sinister and highly dangerous man and must do what she can to try and raise the cash and get to the bottom of it.
PC Lucy Davies is a very energetic and headstrong copper, who after discovering a young woman, barely alive and tortured, handcuffed in a cargo bound to India, has to get to the bottom of it, and after realising more people have been killed, in the same way, their is a link, and she may be somehow involved in the link, and may even be on the dreaded "cargo killer's" list.
All three characters are somehow linked and the twists and turns this book has was very entertaining, I particularly enjoyed Lucys chapters the most, and the memories of the mysterious concert at Wembley stadium, in which the whole stadium seemed to freeze in silence, and their was a moment of sheer terror, was a particular highlight of a very entertaining story, and hearing theres more in the Dan Forrester series, I will definitely be checking them out, if you like thrillers and mysteries, this is well worth a read.
Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars, strong recommendation.
August 18, 2016
”Sorrow and shame. Betrayal and perfidy. Hope and redemption. Liberation, compassion.”
Spare Me the Truth is a tense, taut mystery thriller centred around three main characters; Dan Forrester, Dr Grace Reavey and Police Officer Lucy Davies.
The novel follows these characters through different storylines.
Dan is a driver trainer of high performance vehicles. He is suffering from amnesia following the death of his son but a chance encounter with a woman in a supermarket has planted a seed of doubt in his mind concerning his life as he knows it and now he is determined to find out who he really is.
Police Officer Lucy Davies is investigating the disappearance of Bella But when she links this to some murder victims Lucy is desperate to solve this case before more people are murdered.
The sudden death of Stella Reavey leaves her daughter, Grace, threatened by a standover man.
Who can you trust? Who is lying? Who is your friend?
Each character’s lives are interwoven within the storyline eventually coming together in a heart stopping climax.
I liked that Carver’s female characters are resilient, courageous and intelligent.
C. J. Carver’s writing is thought provoking and well researched. The plot lines are plausible and the tension is real.
A gripping thriller with an intricate plot of secrets, lies, deceit and murder. Not for the faint-hearted!
4.5 stars rounded to 5
With my thanks to the publisher for my copy to read and review.
Spare Me the Truth is a tense, taut mystery thriller centred around three main characters; Dan Forrester, Dr Grace Reavey and Police Officer Lucy Davies.
The novel follows these characters through different storylines.
Dan is a driver trainer of high performance vehicles. He is suffering from amnesia following the death of his son but a chance encounter with a woman in a supermarket has planted a seed of doubt in his mind concerning his life as he knows it and now he is determined to find out who he really is.
Police Officer Lucy Davies is investigating the disappearance of Bella But when she links this to some murder victims Lucy is desperate to solve this case before more people are murdered.
The sudden death of Stella Reavey leaves her daughter, Grace, threatened by a standover man.
Who can you trust? Who is lying? Who is your friend?
Each character’s lives are interwoven within the storyline eventually coming together in a heart stopping climax.
I liked that Carver’s female characters are resilient, courageous and intelligent.
C. J. Carver’s writing is thought provoking and well researched. The plot lines are plausible and the tension is real.
A gripping thriller with an intricate plot of secrets, lies, deceit and murder. Not for the faint-hearted!
4.5 stars rounded to 5
With my thanks to the publisher for my copy to read and review.
September 3, 2024
My first time reading from C.J Carver and I really enjoyed it, the plot manages to draw the reader in quickly, with an interesting set up and action early on. There are quite a few characters introduced in a short amount of time, but they all have their own personalities and are easily identifiable. The book is split into chapters via character POV's which worked really well.
It's funny Lucy is described as overexcited, weird and manic, that's exactly how people describe me too. 80 pages in and I was completely hooked by the plot and these not so perfect characters, the suspense was built really well without being out of the realms of possibility and the dialogue felt real to unlike so many in this genre.
The conversation around bipolar and mental health in general and the use of drugs to calm its affects were really interesting. Lucy feeling numbs and dull while everyone else around her is telling her she's improved and is more manageable is quite heart-breaking. This book is full of hard topics, it doesn't shy away from anything and in parts is emotional.
I did think when picking up this book that over 500 pages is a lot for a thriller and I think this could have been a little shorter, once we had found out some of the twists it overexplained and it got very far-fetched. The plot went a way that I didn't love as much and the last 100 pages or so were more of a 3 star read. The ending did wrap everything up, but it was almost like the author forgot about a few characters POV's and just tied them up as fast as possible which was a shame. Overall though a really solid thriller.
It's funny Lucy is described as overexcited, weird and manic, that's exactly how people describe me too. 80 pages in and I was completely hooked by the plot and these not so perfect characters, the suspense was built really well without being out of the realms of possibility and the dialogue felt real to unlike so many in this genre.
The conversation around bipolar and mental health in general and the use of drugs to calm its affects were really interesting. Lucy feeling numbs and dull while everyone else around her is telling her she's improved and is more manageable is quite heart-breaking. This book is full of hard topics, it doesn't shy away from anything and in parts is emotional.
I did think when picking up this book that over 500 pages is a lot for a thriller and I think this could have been a little shorter, once we had found out some of the twists it overexplained and it got very far-fetched. The plot went a way that I didn't love as much and the last 100 pages or so were more of a 3 star read. The ending did wrap everything up, but it was almost like the author forgot about a few characters POV's and just tied them up as fast as possible which was a shame. Overall though a really solid thriller.
October 20, 2016
3.5 stars
December 16, 2017
I have no idea whatsoever how this series managed to slip under my radar! As it is, I stumbled upon it accidentally when I requested “Know Me Now” on Netgalley, not realising it was the third in a series. So, true to form, I bought the previous two and started at the beginning. I can tell you right now, this series is totally made for binge-reading!
Sometimes you start reading a book and before you’ve even finished the first page, you just know you’re onto a winner. That’s what happened to me when I picked up “Spare Me The Truth”. It took less than a minute for me to realise I was in for a treat and an incredibly eventful afternoon. Hook, line and bloody sinker!
The story starts when Dan Forrester is approached by a woman in a supermarket. She knows everything about him and needs his help. The problem is Dan has no idea who she is because he’s lost a huge chunk of his life after a traumatic experience. But the seed has been planted and Dan can’t stop himself from finding out some answers. What happened to him? Why can’t he remember? How did his son die? Can he trust anyone?
Lucy Davies used to work for the MET but when her attitude got her into trouble once again, she was transferred to a post in the country. She desperately wants to prove herself and find a way back to London. But when a young girl goes missing, Lucy quickly finds herself entangled in something far bigger than she bargained for.
This is one of the most fabulous thrillers I’ve ever read. With a thrill a minute, at times it felt like I forgot to breathe. C.J. Carver has created an exceptionally intricate plot and a web of lies and deceit that had me utterly enthralled. I won’t say any more because you need to read this book yourself and learn what happened to Dan.
Spare Me The Truth is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. The kind of book you can’t put down, the kind of book where any interruption or distraction makes you want to throw a temper tantrum. So incredibly chilling, compelling and spine-tingling (in the best way possible), this action-packed and fast-paced story could easily be turned into a movie or a tv series. The various layers held my attention throughout and when all the pieces of the puzzle came together, you could have knocked me over with a feather! Absolutely loved it and I highly recommend you give this one a go! I promise it’s a corker!
Sometimes you start reading a book and before you’ve even finished the first page, you just know you’re onto a winner. That’s what happened to me when I picked up “Spare Me The Truth”. It took less than a minute for me to realise I was in for a treat and an incredibly eventful afternoon. Hook, line and bloody sinker!
The story starts when Dan Forrester is approached by a woman in a supermarket. She knows everything about him and needs his help. The problem is Dan has no idea who she is because he’s lost a huge chunk of his life after a traumatic experience. But the seed has been planted and Dan can’t stop himself from finding out some answers. What happened to him? Why can’t he remember? How did his son die? Can he trust anyone?
Lucy Davies used to work for the MET but when her attitude got her into trouble once again, she was transferred to a post in the country. She desperately wants to prove herself and find a way back to London. But when a young girl goes missing, Lucy quickly finds herself entangled in something far bigger than she bargained for.
This is one of the most fabulous thrillers I’ve ever read. With a thrill a minute, at times it felt like I forgot to breathe. C.J. Carver has created an exceptionally intricate plot and a web of lies and deceit that had me utterly enthralled. I won’t say any more because you need to read this book yourself and learn what happened to Dan.
Spare Me The Truth is the kind of thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. The kind of book you can’t put down, the kind of book where any interruption or distraction makes you want to throw a temper tantrum. So incredibly chilling, compelling and spine-tingling (in the best way possible), this action-packed and fast-paced story could easily be turned into a movie or a tv series. The various layers held my attention throughout and when all the pieces of the puzzle came together, you could have knocked me over with a feather! Absolutely loved it and I highly recommend you give this one a go! I promise it’s a corker!
April 10, 2016
It wasn't long after I began reading Spare Me the Truth that I thought to myself, how have I not read CJ Carver before? I wasn't even 50 pages into the story and already the author had me wanting to tear through the rest of the book because of the mystery and intrigue packed into such a small amount of time and I warn anyone who is yet to pick this book up to do so only when you don't have anything planned for the hours that follow.
Spare Me the Truth is the story of a lot of different characters, but our three main ones are Dan Forrester who is slowly piecing his life back together after the tragic death of his son. His whole life is thrown into further disarray than it was already in when he is approached by a woman in a supermarket who he doesn't appear to know, but who knows everything there is to know about him. She tells him that everything he remembers about his life - and his son - is a lie. Grace Reavey is accosted at her mother's funeral and threatened to pay the money that her mother allegedly owed, or lose everything. And Lucy Davies has been forced from the Met by her own maverick behaviour. She has a point to prove, and is soon on the hunt for a killer. These three characters are soon plunged into a conspiracy that will test each of them to their limits and at the centre of a very tangled web is a threat more explosive than any of them could ever have imagined.
Spare Me the Truth is a very intelligent and thought-provoking thriller which goes far beyond being just another bog-standard thriller and actually tackles multiple genres within and does so with great success. It's difficult to know how much to give away in trying to explain my next point but to any spoiler police reading, I can only apologise. There are moments in the story where I did have to really try and believe in what I was reading, as the story does tackle some subjects, namely drugs and technology, that some people might not be able to accept as things that could actually exist in real life but for me, this was one of the more realistic elements of the story and was definitely what set this book apart from a lot of other thrillers. CJ Carver simply expands on subjects that are already 'out there', that are being developed or have been developed and the scary thing is when you realise the damage they can do in the wrong hands and that's why Spare Me the Truth is a book that anyone who is a member of a book club should be recommending to their fellow readers with great gusto. A lively discussion would be had by all, I can guarantee it.
Characterisation is a huge plus point in this book's very long list of plus points. For a book that contains so many characters, each of the main players are more than well established to the reader and I never had any trouble keeping up with the story. In fact, I loved the back and forth nature of it and felt that it only served to keep the suspense up the whole way through. It was a very long night the first time I picked this book up, but the absolute best kind of long night. The characters are believable and very well-drawn and this mixed together with terrifyingly accurate, contemporary storytelling means that Spare Me the Truth will without a doubt be one of the best thrillers I will read in 2016 and I have no trouble recommending this book to those that might be becoming tired of the genre, are looking for something new or really, just someone who likes a seriously great book because that's what this is in simple terms. A must-read thriller. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a back catalogue of books by CJ Carver to go and devour.
Spare Me the Truth is the story of a lot of different characters, but our three main ones are Dan Forrester who is slowly piecing his life back together after the tragic death of his son. His whole life is thrown into further disarray than it was already in when he is approached by a woman in a supermarket who he doesn't appear to know, but who knows everything there is to know about him. She tells him that everything he remembers about his life - and his son - is a lie. Grace Reavey is accosted at her mother's funeral and threatened to pay the money that her mother allegedly owed, or lose everything. And Lucy Davies has been forced from the Met by her own maverick behaviour. She has a point to prove, and is soon on the hunt for a killer. These three characters are soon plunged into a conspiracy that will test each of them to their limits and at the centre of a very tangled web is a threat more explosive than any of them could ever have imagined.
Spare Me the Truth is a very intelligent and thought-provoking thriller which goes far beyond being just another bog-standard thriller and actually tackles multiple genres within and does so with great success. It's difficult to know how much to give away in trying to explain my next point but to any spoiler police reading, I can only apologise. There are moments in the story where I did have to really try and believe in what I was reading, as the story does tackle some subjects, namely drugs and technology, that some people might not be able to accept as things that could actually exist in real life but for me, this was one of the more realistic elements of the story and was definitely what set this book apart from a lot of other thrillers. CJ Carver simply expands on subjects that are already 'out there', that are being developed or have been developed and the scary thing is when you realise the damage they can do in the wrong hands and that's why Spare Me the Truth is a book that anyone who is a member of a book club should be recommending to their fellow readers with great gusto. A lively discussion would be had by all, I can guarantee it.
Characterisation is a huge plus point in this book's very long list of plus points. For a book that contains so many characters, each of the main players are more than well established to the reader and I never had any trouble keeping up with the story. In fact, I loved the back and forth nature of it and felt that it only served to keep the suspense up the whole way through. It was a very long night the first time I picked this book up, but the absolute best kind of long night. The characters are believable and very well-drawn and this mixed together with terrifyingly accurate, contemporary storytelling means that Spare Me the Truth will without a doubt be one of the best thrillers I will read in 2016 and I have no trouble recommending this book to those that might be becoming tired of the genre, are looking for something new or really, just someone who likes a seriously great book because that's what this is in simple terms. A must-read thriller. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a back catalogue of books by CJ Carver to go and devour.
July 12, 2022
Dan Forrester is married to Jennie, they have a young daughter Aimee and live near Chepstow - Dan teaches performance driving, a job which takes him all over the country and which gives him quite a buzz. But Dan is also aware that he has been diagnosed as amnesiac after being present when his son was killed in a hit-and-run accident on a trip to London, an event he cannot remember at all. One day, Dan is approached by a woman called Stella Reavey who tells him that they used to work together, that his family have lied to him about his lost memories and that his son didn't die in an accident. When he calls the police to report her for harassment, he is stunned when the police refuse to get involved and simply tell him to talk to her. But before he can, she dies of a heart attack....
Meanwhile, police constable Lucy Davies has been transferred from the Metropolitan Police to Stockton-on-Tees in Cleveland where her search for a missing woman leads to a frenzied search for a serial killer and to establish the links between the victims - her enquiries eventually put her in contact with Stella Reavey's daughter, Grace, and with Dan Forrester. As the body count rises, the search for the killer intensifies and the reasons for the deaths and past betrayals is revealed....
This was a fast-moving and gripping thriller with great twists and turns and excellent characters - looking forward to the next in the series - 9/10.
Meanwhile, police constable Lucy Davies has been transferred from the Metropolitan Police to Stockton-on-Tees in Cleveland where her search for a missing woman leads to a frenzied search for a serial killer and to establish the links between the victims - her enquiries eventually put her in contact with Stella Reavey's daughter, Grace, and with Dan Forrester. As the body count rises, the search for the killer intensifies and the reasons for the deaths and past betrayals is revealed....
This was a fast-moving and gripping thriller with great twists and turns and excellent characters - looking forward to the next in the series - 9/10.
April 8, 2016
Spare Me the Truth is a fast and addictive thriller, an intelligently woven plot with multiple layers all coming together in bang on fashion right at the end. Just what I like. Beautifully written to be entirely engaging (and exciting) throughout with pitch perfect characters, a healthy dose of reality in amongst the fictional shenanigans and overall a stonking good read all round.
Spooks and spies, always a good time - I was genuinely absorbed by the huge issues facing Dan as he realised everyone around him was lying and that his gaps in memory had not been filled with truth by those closest to him. In a wonderful mix up of family drama and underground political plot C J Carver builds the tension using a group dynamic that is highly intriguing, throwing different people from different backgrounds into the same boiling pot and then letting them simmer.
Loved Lucy - struggling with her own personality and Grace, like Dan, realising her life has been full of lies. The story has some wonderful twists and turns, also adding some twisted murders, a half serial killer vibe that causes a shiver - although in Spare Me The Truth nothing is as it seems. I always have a great time with a book when I have no flaming clue what is going on, just that I MUST know so therefore I'm desperate to pick it up again. It helps when the writing is full of depth and beautifully descriptive as it is here, when it has characters you can root for and relate to, the emotional connection between reader and story is achieved in clever fashion.
Overall loved it. More like this one would be good. Please. And bring Dan back. You know you want to.
Highly Recommended.
Spooks and spies, always a good time - I was genuinely absorbed by the huge issues facing Dan as he realised everyone around him was lying and that his gaps in memory had not been filled with truth by those closest to him. In a wonderful mix up of family drama and underground political plot C J Carver builds the tension using a group dynamic that is highly intriguing, throwing different people from different backgrounds into the same boiling pot and then letting them simmer.
Loved Lucy - struggling with her own personality and Grace, like Dan, realising her life has been full of lies. The story has some wonderful twists and turns, also adding some twisted murders, a half serial killer vibe that causes a shiver - although in Spare Me The Truth nothing is as it seems. I always have a great time with a book when I have no flaming clue what is going on, just that I MUST know so therefore I'm desperate to pick it up again. It helps when the writing is full of depth and beautifully descriptive as it is here, when it has characters you can root for and relate to, the emotional connection between reader and story is achieved in clever fashion.
Overall loved it. More like this one would be good. Please. And bring Dan back. You know you want to.
Highly Recommended.
November 17, 2016
Oh Yay, what a pleasure to read a nice twisty thriller/mystery.
We have Dan Forrester, a man with amnesia covering about five years of his life. Everything he knows about this period has come from friends and family. Yet he is a strangely observant and cautious person. We have police constable Lucy Davies who uncovers a series of sadistic murders in shipping containers and one almost victim. We have Dr Grace who is frightened and bewildered when a strange and scary man demands she find and repay a large amount of money her recently dead mother, Stella, apparently owes his clients.
When Stella approaches Dan out of the blue one day seeking his help he doesn't recognise her but his curiosity is piqued. Unfortunately Stella dies before she can explain more. From there things move very quickly. Dan learns some disturbing things about his past. And as the story threads converge the danger level is off the charts. Major betrayals muddy the waters and increase the tension.
A taut enjoyable thriller. I'm hoping to read more about these characters in a sequel.
We have Dan Forrester, a man with amnesia covering about five years of his life. Everything he knows about this period has come from friends and family. Yet he is a strangely observant and cautious person. We have police constable Lucy Davies who uncovers a series of sadistic murders in shipping containers and one almost victim. We have Dr Grace who is frightened and bewildered when a strange and scary man demands she find and repay a large amount of money her recently dead mother, Stella, apparently owes his clients.
When Stella approaches Dan out of the blue one day seeking his help he doesn't recognise her but his curiosity is piqued. Unfortunately Stella dies before she can explain more. From there things move very quickly. Dan learns some disturbing things about his past. And as the story threads converge the danger level is off the charts. Major betrayals muddy the waters and increase the tension.
A taut enjoyable thriller. I'm hoping to read more about these characters in a sequel.
February 26, 2020
3.5 Stars (I rounded down probably more due to not liking the narrator; Andrew Wincott, much on the audio version I listened to than the book itself.) To me this book had a part spy thriller, part murder mystery feel.
Following 3 different threads, we meet Dan who has amnesia and is suddenly questioning his past. Lucy a police officer recently reassigned from the London she loves to the North East and Grace a GP facing a lot of upheaval in her life. These storylines felt slow to me and I wasn't that interested in the characters, Lucy, in particular, seemed incredibly self-absorbed even though she was in the most interesting (to me) storyline.
This book did come together for me towards the end as the different components started to mesh. I'm not a huge MI5 / spy thriller fan so I much preferred the murder investigation angle in the book but I could see how it could appeal if a spy thriller is your jam. I'd probably give the next in the series ago but suspect it's going to go more down the spy route then my tastes wants.
Following 3 different threads, we meet Dan who has amnesia and is suddenly questioning his past. Lucy a police officer recently reassigned from the London she loves to the North East and Grace a GP facing a lot of upheaval in her life. These storylines felt slow to me and I wasn't that interested in the characters, Lucy, in particular, seemed incredibly self-absorbed even though she was in the most interesting (to me) storyline.
This book did come together for me towards the end as the different components started to mesh. I'm not a huge MI5 / spy thriller fan so I much preferred the murder investigation angle in the book but I could see how it could appeal if a spy thriller is your jam. I'd probably give the next in the series ago but suspect it's going to go more down the spy route then my tastes wants.
July 23, 2020
I loved the beginning and was very intrigued by what's to come. Unfortunately, I was greatly disappointed. The memory loss plotline had nothing new to offer and was pretty hard to believe. The characters behaved strangely and were quite flat. At some point I completely lost interest and couldn't care less what happened to Dan and the rest of them, so I decided to DNF. Sorry.
May 13, 2016
Phew. Now I've finished this I can finally catch up with the sleep I've missed through having to read just one more chapter (or ten) before putting the light out! Gripping stuff.
February 16, 2020
I’ve not read (or listened to) anything by CJ Carver before so wasn’t really sure what to expect. There were two main storylines here and I found I would get caught up in one and then it would switch to the other. I probably didn’t help the disjointed feeling by listening in short bursts in my car. This is marked as Dan Forrester book 1 however I see that Lucy Davies is also a return character in the series which is good to know and might just tempt me back for more.
November 23, 2016
Wow!
What an intense and brilliant tale Spare Me The Truth is!
From the first page to the last I was absolutely hooked - this is a true thriller in every sense of the word. Carver introduces us to three very different people, each going through very different issues but who are ultimately thrown together in their quest to seek the truth and in doing so delivers an intensely fantastic book with a pace that never wavers.
The characters are written with such a depth that you cannot help but empathise with each of their individual situations. It is a great skill for an author to make sure the readers are fully invested in their work, and Carter does it easily.
Spare Me The Truth is an utterly addictive book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much to the team at BonnierZaffre and CJ Carver for sending me a copy to feature on my blog.
What an intense and brilliant tale Spare Me The Truth is!
From the first page to the last I was absolutely hooked - this is a true thriller in every sense of the word. Carver introduces us to three very different people, each going through very different issues but who are ultimately thrown together in their quest to seek the truth and in doing so delivers an intensely fantastic book with a pace that never wavers.
The characters are written with such a depth that you cannot help but empathise with each of their individual situations. It is a great skill for an author to make sure the readers are fully invested in their work, and Carter does it easily.
Spare Me The Truth is an utterly addictive book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Thank you so much to the team at BonnierZaffre and CJ Carver for sending me a copy to feature on my blog.
April 5, 2017
I only bought this book to make up the numbers when I was in The Works recently. There was a three for £5.00 offer on and I had bought a number of Peter May books and was short one to qualify for the offer. I added this one after a cursory glance and I am so glad that I did.
As others have mentioned this story centres on three characters, all of whom I found interesting. Firstly Dan, then Grace and then Lucy. I really enjoyed how the storylines dovetailed together and the link to India and Chitta.
I thought the story was compelling, kept me guessing and was written wonderfully.
I do not know why I have not heard of this author before, but I will be seeking out further works by her. I know there is a sequel to this book and several other storylines to investigate - so I am so pleased that I can immerse myself in more of this writers work.
Thank you C J.
As others have mentioned this story centres on three characters, all of whom I found interesting. Firstly Dan, then Grace and then Lucy. I really enjoyed how the storylines dovetailed together and the link to India and Chitta.
I thought the story was compelling, kept me guessing and was written wonderfully.
I do not know why I have not heard of this author before, but I will be seeking out further works by her. I know there is a sequel to this book and several other storylines to investigate - so I am so pleased that I can immerse myself in more of this writers work.
Thank you C J.
July 25, 2016
A highly unusual cross between a police procedural and spy thriller revolving around a medication for bipolar disorder. The plotting is very skilfully handled, although I did find the "shoot-out" finale a bit too over the top for my tastes. However, Lucy Davies was a very engaging character and I'd certainly like to read any further adventures in which she features.
December 14, 2018
Australian readers will probably remember C.J. Carver as Caroline Carver - writer of a series of Australian set books years ago. Recently, she's returned to notice writing under the name C.J. Carver - with a series of thrillers built around Dan Forrester, recently bereaved father, spy, sufferer of amnesia.
There are now three novels out in the series - all of which have been recent entries in the Ngaio Marsh Awards. The opening novel, SPARE ME THE TRUTH, introduces Forrester, and the background to the death of his young son; Grace Reavey, accosted at her mother's funeral with a demand for money; and ex-cop Lucy Davies. How all these people's stories interact is the point of the novels, with a complicated storyline that pulls together everyone's loss, past and present in a conspiracy that will test them individually and as newly formed colleagues, friends, combatants. Your guess.
There is much fodder for Carver to work with here. Forrester as the "main" focus is a man who is struggling to rebuild his life after a family tragedy that scrambled his memory and blacked out huge parts of his past. An unusual encounter leads to a mystery, that leads to a multi-threaded conspiracy, each of the main characters in the novel being drawn together, entangled in their own part of the puzzle.
Strong pacing, and populated with good characters, SPARE ME THE TRUTH is perfect summer thriller fodder, and the good thing is for readers who really like Dan Forrester there's two more novels out now (TELL ME A LIE and KNOW ME NOW).
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
There are now three novels out in the series - all of which have been recent entries in the Ngaio Marsh Awards. The opening novel, SPARE ME THE TRUTH, introduces Forrester, and the background to the death of his young son; Grace Reavey, accosted at her mother's funeral with a demand for money; and ex-cop Lucy Davies. How all these people's stories interact is the point of the novels, with a complicated storyline that pulls together everyone's loss, past and present in a conspiracy that will test them individually and as newly formed colleagues, friends, combatants. Your guess.
There is much fodder for Carver to work with here. Forrester as the "main" focus is a man who is struggling to rebuild his life after a family tragedy that scrambled his memory and blacked out huge parts of his past. An unusual encounter leads to a mystery, that leads to a multi-threaded conspiracy, each of the main characters in the novel being drawn together, entangled in their own part of the puzzle.
Strong pacing, and populated with good characters, SPARE ME THE TRUTH is perfect summer thriller fodder, and the good thing is for readers who really like Dan Forrester there's two more novels out now (TELL ME A LIE and KNOW ME NOW).
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
May 28, 2018
A brilliant book to read. Dan loses his memory from the past but the past draws him in and he tries to reconnect questions that he can’t answer but others can. On the other side, Lucy has been forced to transfer to another police unit, as she see’s someone handcuffed, that links into a previous murder. These two people connect into something bigger. The only way to find out is to connect the clues and read this story.
May 1, 2023
I found the story in parts convoluted and complex - difficult to knit the various strands together. I feel it needn't have been that complicated.
July 9, 2017
A master of the high-octane thriller
Spare Me The Truth opens with a bang: with fast action and a tantalizing mystery – who is Cedric and why must Stella Reavy re-enter Dan’s life, an act which is clearly going to wreak havoc with his life – and this is exactly how I like my thrillers to start. The worlds of three intriguing characters are about to collide: Reavy’s daughter Dr Grace, Dan Forrester who lives a quiet life which somehow he knows doesn’t feel right, and PC Lucy Davies, who is investigating the disappearance of Bella Frances. Each of these characters either keeps a dark secret or is about to find out something shocking about a loved-one. In fact secrets, and whether people should be told the truth, is a theme that runs throughout the whole breathtakingly exciting book. Three plots are expertly interwoven into a nail-biting climax. C.J Carver is a master of the high-octane thriller not just because she writes action and characters so well, but because of her humanity.
Spare Me The Truth opens with a bang: with fast action and a tantalizing mystery – who is Cedric and why must Stella Reavy re-enter Dan’s life, an act which is clearly going to wreak havoc with his life – and this is exactly how I like my thrillers to start. The worlds of three intriguing characters are about to collide: Reavy’s daughter Dr Grace, Dan Forrester who lives a quiet life which somehow he knows doesn’t feel right, and PC Lucy Davies, who is investigating the disappearance of Bella Frances. Each of these characters either keeps a dark secret or is about to find out something shocking about a loved-one. In fact secrets, and whether people should be told the truth, is a theme that runs throughout the whole breathtakingly exciting book. Three plots are expertly interwoven into a nail-biting climax. C.J Carver is a master of the high-octane thriller not just because she writes action and characters so well, but because of her humanity.
May 4, 2016
‘Spare me the Truth’ by C J Carver
Published by Zaffre, 7 April 2016. ISBN: 978-1785760334
Dan Forrester is shopping in the supermarket with his daughter Aimee when he is approached by a woman who appears to know him. She says she used to work with him. He does not recognise her but remains polite. But as she persists in talking about people he doesn’t know and insisting that the life he lives now is a lie, his patience wears thin. Following the tragic death of his son, and his subsequent breakdown five years ago, his wife Jenny has helped him get his life back on track. Now this woman tells him his entire family have been lying to him, and he brusquely brushes her aside.
So the opening chapter of this explosive thriller asks the questions. Who is Dan Forrester? Who is this woman who tells him a story of people and things her doesn’t remember? What does she want from him?
Grace Reavey, a GP, is committed to helping people. When she is told that she has to pay an enormous amount of money owed by her late mother she reels. The threat is reinforced by a close friend who stands to lose everything and begs Grace to pay. But Grace doesn’t have the money. Where would her mother have hidden such a huge amount of money and where and how did she get it.?
The lives of Dan and Grace cross. Both are struggling with the unknown, and both feeling that there is no one they can trust. Can they trust each other? Into this mix comes Detective Lucy Davies who has been forced to leave her former position in London owing to her unconventional behaviour. Desperate to prove herself, Lucy is a loose cannon seeking a killer.
This is an incredible roller-coaster of a read. It seems that every page brings a new explosive shock that brings with it yet more questions.
Having read and enjoyed all the previous books by C J Carver I was excited and eager to read this new one and admit to high expectations. She surpassed them all. Brilliantly and intricately plotted, this is an on-the-edge-of-your-seat read as the story twists and turns with the efforts of three strangers to untangle the conspiracy in which they find themselves entwined. Don’t miss it.
------
Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
Published by Zaffre, 7 April 2016. ISBN: 978-1785760334
Dan Forrester is shopping in the supermarket with his daughter Aimee when he is approached by a woman who appears to know him. She says she used to work with him. He does not recognise her but remains polite. But as she persists in talking about people he doesn’t know and insisting that the life he lives now is a lie, his patience wears thin. Following the tragic death of his son, and his subsequent breakdown five years ago, his wife Jenny has helped him get his life back on track. Now this woman tells him his entire family have been lying to him, and he brusquely brushes her aside.
So the opening chapter of this explosive thriller asks the questions. Who is Dan Forrester? Who is this woman who tells him a story of people and things her doesn’t remember? What does she want from him?
Grace Reavey, a GP, is committed to helping people. When she is told that she has to pay an enormous amount of money owed by her late mother she reels. The threat is reinforced by a close friend who stands to lose everything and begs Grace to pay. But Grace doesn’t have the money. Where would her mother have hidden such a huge amount of money and where and how did she get it.?
The lives of Dan and Grace cross. Both are struggling with the unknown, and both feeling that there is no one they can trust. Can they trust each other? Into this mix comes Detective Lucy Davies who has been forced to leave her former position in London owing to her unconventional behaviour. Desperate to prove herself, Lucy is a loose cannon seeking a killer.
This is an incredible roller-coaster of a read. It seems that every page brings a new explosive shock that brings with it yet more questions.
Having read and enjoyed all the previous books by C J Carver I was excited and eager to read this new one and admit to high expectations. She surpassed them all. Brilliantly and intricately plotted, this is an on-the-edge-of-your-seat read as the story twists and turns with the efforts of three strangers to untangle the conspiracy in which they find themselves entwined. Don’t miss it.
------
Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes
May 5, 2016
“Spare Me the Truth” ebook was published in 2016 and was written by C. J. Carver (http://www.cjcarver.com). This is Ms. Carver’s eighth novel.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and some Mature Language. This Mystery/Thriller novel is set in contemporary Britain.
The primary characters are Dan Forrester and Lucy Davies. Forrester has suffered a metal breakdown after loosing his son. He has put his life back together but has suffered amnesia that prevents him from remembering much about his life. He is approached by a woman he does not remember, but who claims she used to work with him.
Davies was a Metropolitan London police officer, but because of her rebellion against authority, has been reassigned to a rural area. A girl has gone missing and Davies is among the officers looking for her. She pursues a lead that results in the young girl being found alive, but tortured and beaten. As she continues to investigate, she finds evidence that there might be other bodies.
Forrester begins to have doubts about his former life. He feels that his wife, father and close friends have all be lying to him. Davies keeps digging and is shocked when she discovers what connects the victims, for she too seems to be connected.
These two story lines swirl around one another, but finally come together towards the end of the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 528 page novel. I liked the characters in the novel and the way the two different story lines did not converge until near the end. There was plenty of suspense and action over the course of the story. This is definitely an author that I will keep an eye open for in the future. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received a galley of this novel for review through https://www.netgalley.com. I categorize this novel as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of Violence and some Mature Language. This Mystery/Thriller novel is set in contemporary Britain.
The primary characters are Dan Forrester and Lucy Davies. Forrester has suffered a metal breakdown after loosing his son. He has put his life back together but has suffered amnesia that prevents him from remembering much about his life. He is approached by a woman he does not remember, but who claims she used to work with him.
Davies was a Metropolitan London police officer, but because of her rebellion against authority, has been reassigned to a rural area. A girl has gone missing and Davies is among the officers looking for her. She pursues a lead that results in the young girl being found alive, but tortured and beaten. As she continues to investigate, she finds evidence that there might be other bodies.
Forrester begins to have doubts about his former life. He feels that his wife, father and close friends have all be lying to him. Davies keeps digging and is shocked when she discovers what connects the victims, for she too seems to be connected.
These two story lines swirl around one another, but finally come together towards the end of the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the 8 hours I spent reading this 528 page novel. I liked the characters in the novel and the way the two different story lines did not converge until near the end. There was plenty of suspense and action over the course of the story. This is definitely an author that I will keep an eye open for in the future. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at http://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
April 24, 2016
I was given an ARC of this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
I have now discovered another author to add to my growing pile of favourites.
This is a tense filled, fast paced, action packed thriller that had me guessing until the end.
Dan had my sympathies and I felt myself urging him on to find out the truth. I found myself suspecting his wife for all sorts of nepharious, underhanded things.
I liked Lucy because although she had her own problems that she was trying to work through she put her work/job first.
I was intrigued from the beginning with the whole concept of using a drug to suppress memories and why it was felt necessary to use them on Dan.
I was also curious to know how Lucy's investigation tied in with Dan's fight to find out the truth.
The interweaving of these strands was masterly and came together brilliantly to make this a clever and fascinating read that sucked you in, keeping you prisoner sat on the edge of your chair, right up until the end.
A book I thoroughly enjoyed and hope this is the beginning of a new series and would definitely recommend.
I have now discovered another author to add to my growing pile of favourites.
This is a tense filled, fast paced, action packed thriller that had me guessing until the end.
Dan had my sympathies and I felt myself urging him on to find out the truth. I found myself suspecting his wife for all sorts of nepharious, underhanded things.
I liked Lucy because although she had her own problems that she was trying to work through she put her work/job first.
I was intrigued from the beginning with the whole concept of using a drug to suppress memories and why it was felt necessary to use them on Dan.
I was also curious to know how Lucy's investigation tied in with Dan's fight to find out the truth.
The interweaving of these strands was masterly and came together brilliantly to make this a clever and fascinating read that sucked you in, keeping you prisoner sat on the edge of your chair, right up until the end.
A book I thoroughly enjoyed and hope this is the beginning of a new series and would definitely recommend.
June 4, 2016
Carver offers up a couple of different threads in this latest novel. Both plots were of interest and – could possibly – have held up as standalone novels.
One centred around Dan – his history and the loss of his memory, which he pursues with the help of Grace (the daughter of the woman who approaches him about his ‘secret’ past). And Dan soon learns he was indeed possibly more than a civil servant in his old life as he finds himself helping Grace uncover her mother's secrets.
And then there’s Lucy who’s working on a spate of murders and trying to piece together the victims’ commonalities.
The plots eventually intersect through Grace and it seems there's a connection between the the oddly disparate cases.
I very much liked Dan and enjoyed the time I spent with him, trying to uncover his past. I also really liked Lucy who’s been kicked out of the Metropolitan Police. She a loner who doesn’t play well with others.
I read this in a sitting, as eager as Dan to uncover his secrets.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
One centred around Dan – his history and the loss of his memory, which he pursues with the help of Grace (the daughter of the woman who approaches him about his ‘secret’ past). And Dan soon learns he was indeed possibly more than a civil servant in his old life as he finds himself helping Grace uncover her mother's secrets.
And then there’s Lucy who’s working on a spate of murders and trying to piece together the victims’ commonalities.
The plots eventually intersect through Grace and it seems there's a connection between the the oddly disparate cases.
I very much liked Dan and enjoyed the time I spent with him, trying to uncover his past. I also really liked Lucy who’s been kicked out of the Metropolitan Police. She a loner who doesn’t play well with others.
I read this in a sitting, as eager as Dan to uncover his secrets.
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
3.5 stars
June 11, 2019
Started off ok and I thought it was going to turn into a great thriller But then it went off and I had trouble following who was who and why they were even involved in the storyline.
Dan Forrester, piecing his life back together after the tragic death of his son, is approached in a supermarket by a woman who tells him everything he remembers about his life - and his son - is a lie.
Grace Reavey, stricken by grief, is accosted at her mother's funeral. The threat is simple: pay the staggering sum her mother allegedly owed, or lose everything.
Lucy Davies has been forced from the Met by her own maverick behaviour. Desperate to prove herself in her new rural post, she's on the hunt for a killer - but this is no small town criminal.
Plunged into a conspiracy that will test each of them to their limits, these three strangers are brought together in their hunt for the truth, whatever it costs. And as their respective investigations become further and further entwined, it becomes clear that at the centre of this tangled web is a threat more explosive than any of them could have imagined.
Dan Forrester, piecing his life back together after the tragic death of his son, is approached in a supermarket by a woman who tells him everything he remembers about his life - and his son - is a lie.
Grace Reavey, stricken by grief, is accosted at her mother's funeral. The threat is simple: pay the staggering sum her mother allegedly owed, or lose everything.
Lucy Davies has been forced from the Met by her own maverick behaviour. Desperate to prove herself in her new rural post, she's on the hunt for a killer - but this is no small town criminal.
Plunged into a conspiracy that will test each of them to their limits, these three strangers are brought together in their hunt for the truth, whatever it costs. And as their respective investigations become further and further entwined, it becomes clear that at the centre of this tangled web is a threat more explosive than any of them could have imagined.
October 8, 2016
Excellent mystery thriller handled with such calm assurance by a very talented writer. Gripped me from the opening pages and kept me guessing all the way through. The research is detailed and convincing and the characters worm their way insidiously into your sub-conscious so that even when not reading it's still possible to carry them around with you. If you like issues, if you want to identify with the characters, if you enjoy grappling with multi-layered plot threads or even if you just like to sit back and relax after a few pages, knowing you're in safe hands, Spare Me The Truth will be just what you need. Strongly recommended.
January 17, 2017
If there’s one thing I enjoy more than discovering new authors it’s rediscovering a long standing favourite. I don’t know why I lost track of C J Carver’s books, but I’m very glad to have caught up again.
And what a welcome back Spare Me The Truth proves to be. The novel is difficult to categorise. Spy story, police procedural, psychological thriller – it’s all three and more. So perhaps a less rigid label such as Grip-Lit or even Grit-Lit would make a better fit! It’s certainly a gripping page turner with plenty of gritty action…
https://chriscurranauthor.com/recomme...
And what a welcome back Spare Me The Truth proves to be. The novel is difficult to categorise. Spy story, police procedural, psychological thriller – it’s all three and more. So perhaps a less rigid label such as Grip-Lit or even Grit-Lit would make a better fit! It’s certainly a gripping page turner with plenty of gritty action…
https://chriscurranauthor.com/recomme...
May 17, 2020
I'm relieved to have finally finished this book. It started off well and showed great potential, but it dragged on for much longer than was necessary, and was rather overblown for a simple storyline. I won't be checking out any more in the series.
September 20, 2016
Great book where the author managed to keep the reader in suspense right to the end where everything came together perfectly. Highly recommended read!
November 14, 2016
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a fast paced thriller which will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
A great read.
This is a fast paced thriller which will keep you turning the pages until the very end.
A great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews