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Dan Forrester #2
Tell Me A Lie
How do you protect your family when you can't remember who's hunting them? A gripping international thriller
A family in England is massacred, the father left holding the shotgun.
PC Lucy Davies is convinced he's innocent
A sleeper agent in Moscow requests an urgent meeting with Dan Forrester, referencing their shared past.
His amnesia means he has no idea who he can trust.
An aging oligarch in Siberia gathers his henchmen to discuss an English accountant.
It's Dan's wife.
A family in England is massacred, the father left holding the shotgun.
PC Lucy Davies is convinced he's innocent
A sleeper agent in Moscow requests an urgent meeting with Dan Forrester, referencing their shared past.
His amnesia means he has no idea who he can trust.
An aging oligarch in Siberia gathers his henchmen to discuss an English accountant.
It's Dan's wife.
496 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2017
24 people are currently reading
402 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
November 20, 2016
This is my first read of a CJ Carver novel and the Dan Forrester series.
This International thriller took me a while to get into and was maybe down to me trying to work out who's who in the opening scenes.
When a family in England is massacred, the father is left holding the shotgun and presumed guilty by everyone with the exception of PC Lucy Davies who is convinced he's innocent. Meanwhile Dan Forrester who has been suffering from amnesia since the death of his son 5 years ago is requested to attend an urgent meeting with a sleeper agent in Moscow.
Lots of sub plots and intrigue and for large portions of the book I was hooked but unfortunately for me I felt that I couldn't keep track completely with what was going on. That might say more about me than the novel so I will leave that for others to decide.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bonnier Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This International thriller took me a while to get into and was maybe down to me trying to work out who's who in the opening scenes.
When a family in England is massacred, the father is left holding the shotgun and presumed guilty by everyone with the exception of PC Lucy Davies who is convinced he's innocent. Meanwhile Dan Forrester who has been suffering from amnesia since the death of his son 5 years ago is requested to attend an urgent meeting with a sleeper agent in Moscow.
Lots of sub plots and intrigue and for large portions of the book I was hooked but unfortunately for me I felt that I couldn't keep track completely with what was going on. That might say more about me than the novel so I will leave that for others to decide.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bonnier Publishing for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2017
Tell Me A Lie – Stunning Thriller
Tell Me A Lie is the stunning new thriller from CJ Carver and is the second in the Dan Forrester series, which is developing into an exciting series, and PC Lucy Davies is back to assist him. What we get with this book is more development in the characterisation of the two central characters, and more of the back story of Forrester.
The Calder family, a family seems to have it all, big house, private education for the children, stables for the horse and their pets. It seems to be an open and shut case for the police, Adrian Calder seems to have killed all his family and the pets too. But PC Lucy Davies is not convinced, she is sure that there is more to this, than a father killing his family, even though on the surface, it is what it looks like.
Dan Forrester is still trying to recover his memory, when he is visited by his former boss in the Security Services, who wants him to travel out to Russia, and meet with a former asset. But when his cover is blown, he realises that he is on his own, but manages to get a message to his wife, and she can activate a survival and protection plan.
When Lucy Davies digs deeper in this case, she finds that not everything is what it seems, and following the various breadcrumbs follows the trail. What she does not understand is why FSB operatives are taking an interest in the case, while bodies are dropping all over the country.
It is when Forrester and Davies realise that their cases are linked that they can work together to solve the murders. Then when Forrester’s wife is spirited away he knows he has to keep his daughter safe, find his wife and protect his unborn child and wife. He has to trust people he would rather not be involved with, but he will defend his family to the last breath.
This is a fantastically paced thriller that draws you in and keeps you on tenterhooks all the way through to the end. It really is a fantastic way to develop the series and I hope to see more from Dan Forrester, and CJ Carver is getting better with every book.
Tell Me A Lie is the stunning new thriller from CJ Carver and is the second in the Dan Forrester series, which is developing into an exciting series, and PC Lucy Davies is back to assist him. What we get with this book is more development in the characterisation of the two central characters, and more of the back story of Forrester.
The Calder family, a family seems to have it all, big house, private education for the children, stables for the horse and their pets. It seems to be an open and shut case for the police, Adrian Calder seems to have killed all his family and the pets too. But PC Lucy Davies is not convinced, she is sure that there is more to this, than a father killing his family, even though on the surface, it is what it looks like.
Dan Forrester is still trying to recover his memory, when he is visited by his former boss in the Security Services, who wants him to travel out to Russia, and meet with a former asset. But when his cover is blown, he realises that he is on his own, but manages to get a message to his wife, and she can activate a survival and protection plan.
When Lucy Davies digs deeper in this case, she finds that not everything is what it seems, and following the various breadcrumbs follows the trail. What she does not understand is why FSB operatives are taking an interest in the case, while bodies are dropping all over the country.
It is when Forrester and Davies realise that their cases are linked that they can work together to solve the murders. Then when Forrester’s wife is spirited away he knows he has to keep his daughter safe, find his wife and protect his unborn child and wife. He has to trust people he would rather not be involved with, but he will defend his family to the last breath.
This is a fantastically paced thriller that draws you in and keeps you on tenterhooks all the way through to the end. It really is a fantastic way to develop the series and I hope to see more from Dan Forrester, and CJ Carver is getting better with every book.
January 11, 2017
OMFG, what a book! Massive thanks to the publisher, Zaffre for an ARC of this book which I devoured…..and a totally #NewAuthorForMe! YAY!!
Have to say – Zyr Vodka– where can I get my hands on some of this!? #JustSaying
This book is set between Wales, London and Russia. The reader comes face to face with fear, a search for the truth, a hidden past, love/relationships, secrets/lies, revenge, conspiracy and power.
I loved the story-line and the pace of the plot, which had me bouncing off the walls in sheer excitement! This book brilliantly combines an action packed plot with a crime thriller that ensnares the reader from the start. Told from various POV’s, the pieces of the puzzle come together seamlessly and you really find yourself on a whirlwind trail of murder, conspiracy and kickass action!
Can we talk characters!? There are so many I want to shout out about, but instead, will mention the obvious and let you read the book to learn about the others! Can’t do everything for ya, can I!
The main character, Dan Forrester has so many levels to him, I loved seeing the layers peeled away slowly – however, I think there is still so much more about this guy to be revealed. He is ex -MI5 and has huge gaps in his memory after a traumatic event leads to a breakdown. As old enemies come to the forefront, Dan is called in and must rely/trust that his instincts will return to solve the case. Dan’s flaws are exactly what draws the reader to him hook, line and sinker. His frustration at not being able to remember significant portions of his past, acts as the driving force behind the many threads found within this novel.
PC Lucy Davies- is a complex character; she has a condition that she has to keep secret in order to keep her job; a brutal slaughter of a family just does not sit right with Lucy and her instincts are bang on the mark! Her strength and determination are evident from the start, but her vulnerabilities show themselves and really pulls the reader in to her world.
Nicholas Blain – *Swoon* ….there is a mystery behind this character which I can’t reveal without spoilers…so I won’t. Until it is all out in the open, you find yourself questioning, WHO IS THIS GUY? every step of the way! I was never sure whether I liked him or not but his involvement also plays a key role between Dan and Lucy’s case.
Ekaterina- ooooh! Conflict, emotion, sadness …so many different thoughts raced through my mind with this one. At times I thought I should feel sorry for her, but never actually did!
And just when I thought I had everything figured out – BOOM – the author threw in another twist which floored me. However, the pieces of this complex puzzle come together in the end and I slapped myself for not seeing it all sooner!
Do I recommend this book? Hell Yeah, I do! One of my #TopReads of 2015, I have added this author’s books to my massive TBR as she is one to watch! If you want a crime thriller, with non-stop action and oozing suspense, head to amazon and grab a copy of this #MustRead book, stat!
Have to say – Zyr Vodka– where can I get my hands on some of this!? #JustSaying
This book is set between Wales, London and Russia. The reader comes face to face with fear, a search for the truth, a hidden past, love/relationships, secrets/lies, revenge, conspiracy and power.
I loved the story-line and the pace of the plot, which had me bouncing off the walls in sheer excitement! This book brilliantly combines an action packed plot with a crime thriller that ensnares the reader from the start. Told from various POV’s, the pieces of the puzzle come together seamlessly and you really find yourself on a whirlwind trail of murder, conspiracy and kickass action!
Can we talk characters!? There are so many I want to shout out about, but instead, will mention the obvious and let you read the book to learn about the others! Can’t do everything for ya, can I!
The main character, Dan Forrester has so many levels to him, I loved seeing the layers peeled away slowly – however, I think there is still so much more about this guy to be revealed. He is ex -MI5 and has huge gaps in his memory after a traumatic event leads to a breakdown. As old enemies come to the forefront, Dan is called in and must rely/trust that his instincts will return to solve the case. Dan’s flaws are exactly what draws the reader to him hook, line and sinker. His frustration at not being able to remember significant portions of his past, acts as the driving force behind the many threads found within this novel.
PC Lucy Davies- is a complex character; she has a condition that she has to keep secret in order to keep her job; a brutal slaughter of a family just does not sit right with Lucy and her instincts are bang on the mark! Her strength and determination are evident from the start, but her vulnerabilities show themselves and really pulls the reader in to her world.
Nicholas Blain – *Swoon* ….there is a mystery behind this character which I can’t reveal without spoilers…so I won’t. Until it is all out in the open, you find yourself questioning, WHO IS THIS GUY? every step of the way! I was never sure whether I liked him or not but his involvement also plays a key role between Dan and Lucy’s case.
Ekaterina- ooooh! Conflict, emotion, sadness …so many different thoughts raced through my mind with this one. At times I thought I should feel sorry for her, but never actually did!
And just when I thought I had everything figured out – BOOM – the author threw in another twist which floored me. However, the pieces of this complex puzzle come together in the end and I slapped myself for not seeing it all sooner!
Do I recommend this book? Hell Yeah, I do! One of my #TopReads of 2015, I have added this author’s books to my massive TBR as she is one to watch! If you want a crime thriller, with non-stop action and oozing suspense, head to amazon and grab a copy of this #MustRead book, stat!
December 9, 2016
Having been a huge fan of the first in this series, Spare me the Truth, I was really looking forward to the follow up and boy was I not disappointed.
Loved this. Beautifully paced, occasionally breathtaking, always bang on the money, Tell Me A Lie is brilliant beginning middle and end. Although lock yourself away for the last bit as you definitely won’t be able to stop reading. Its ok – the kids didn’t actually kill each other while I polished this read off but it was a close run thing…
So we are back with Dan Forrester (a really excellent character) who still struggles with the gaps in his memory and is about to be thrown into a most dangerous situation that hits rather too close to home. Meanwhile Lucy (who it should be noted is fast becoming one of my favourite female fictional characters) is investigating a family massacre that seems clear cut but is not. As the two situations collide we are in for a bit of a rollercoaster ride.
I love Lucy. Ha yes I did that but I really do. She is quirky, edgy and brings a dark humour to proceedings which sets the rest off nicely. She and Dan have a growing relationship which is compelling. When you are reading series fiction its always great if you have that slight edge of worry for the characters you get behind and CJ Carver does a great job of putting you on the cliffs edge hoping not to topple over – you never feel that any one person is safe from harm.
The plotting is tight and cohesive and absolutely gripping – a thriller with heart and soul whose resolution is not easy to grasp, I do like surprises and that feeling of uncertainty. I’m also a bit of a sucker for a good spy story and this has that plus mystery plus twisty goodness and a plethora of adrenalin inducing set pieces. Plus dog. Poppy gets an honourable mention here. Look we really don’t care if Ms Carver kills EVERYBODY but she had better leave Poppy alone..gulp.
Overall blinking fantastic. Loved loved. More please. Tomorrow? Oh look I’m REALLY not good at waiting..
Highly Recommended.
Loved this. Beautifully paced, occasionally breathtaking, always bang on the money, Tell Me A Lie is brilliant beginning middle and end. Although lock yourself away for the last bit as you definitely won’t be able to stop reading. Its ok – the kids didn’t actually kill each other while I polished this read off but it was a close run thing…
So we are back with Dan Forrester (a really excellent character) who still struggles with the gaps in his memory and is about to be thrown into a most dangerous situation that hits rather too close to home. Meanwhile Lucy (who it should be noted is fast becoming one of my favourite female fictional characters) is investigating a family massacre that seems clear cut but is not. As the two situations collide we are in for a bit of a rollercoaster ride.
I love Lucy. Ha yes I did that but I really do. She is quirky, edgy and brings a dark humour to proceedings which sets the rest off nicely. She and Dan have a growing relationship which is compelling. When you are reading series fiction its always great if you have that slight edge of worry for the characters you get behind and CJ Carver does a great job of putting you on the cliffs edge hoping not to topple over – you never feel that any one person is safe from harm.
The plotting is tight and cohesive and absolutely gripping – a thriller with heart and soul whose resolution is not easy to grasp, I do like surprises and that feeling of uncertainty. I’m also a bit of a sucker for a good spy story and this has that plus mystery plus twisty goodness and a plethora of adrenalin inducing set pieces. Plus dog. Poppy gets an honourable mention here. Look we really don’t care if Ms Carver kills EVERYBODY but she had better leave Poppy alone..gulp.
Overall blinking fantastic. Loved loved. More please. Tomorrow? Oh look I’m REALLY not good at waiting..
Highly Recommended.
May 30, 2017
This book is best read as a hilarious spoof of a spy thriller. To take it seriously would be more painful than the facial branding of the hapless Ekaterina (I liked the detail of her eye popping). To hammer home the comical storytelling, many of the chapters are barely 3 pages long, clearly designed for readers with the attention span of a goldfish. The writing itself is heavily indebted to the Jackie Collins school of punchy short sentences: "Lucy's pulse rose, her breathing went tight. Excitement and apprehension. She never felt more alive than when on a blue light."
The plot is amusingly daft, and if you like cheap, throwaway airport thrillers then you'll enjoy this undemanding rollercoaster.
The most baffling mystery comes at the very end, where the author gives thanks to her (demonstrably sub-standard) proofreader.
The plot is amusingly daft, and if you like cheap, throwaway airport thrillers then you'll enjoy this undemanding rollercoaster.
The most baffling mystery comes at the very end, where the author gives thanks to her (demonstrably sub-standard) proofreader.
December 19, 2017
Bloody hell!
I knew from the second I finished the previous book, that I’d drop everything and jump right into book 2 of this incredible series. I may have mentioned before this series is just made for binge-reading and I’m thrilled to bits that a break in my otherwise hectic schedule gave me the opportunity to do exactly that!
One month after events in “Spare Me The Truth”, a sleeper agent in Moscow urgently seeks contact with Dan Forrester. But of course, due to his amnesia, Dan has no idea who they are and if they can be trusted. Meanwhile, Lucy is convinced a man arrested for the murder of his family is innocent but is finding it hard to prove it. Somehow these two things are connected and soon I found myself completely engrossed in this web of lies, deceit and family secrets.
After finishing book one in the series, my expectations for Tell Me A Lie were somewhere right up in the stratosphere. It was soon obvious though that I wasn’t going to be disappointed as C.J. Carver takes us to Scotland and Russia and made my head spin so hard with revelations, I almost felt dizzy. Once again, this is a taut and intricately plotted storyline that kept me hooked until the end. With an international conspiracy, an intriguing investigation and a brilliant cast of characters, I found it really hard to put this one down.
A multi-layered and well-paced thriller, Tell Me A Lie is an excellent addition to the Dan Forrester series and I can’t wait to catch up with the third instalment!
I knew from the second I finished the previous book, that I’d drop everything and jump right into book 2 of this incredible series. I may have mentioned before this series is just made for binge-reading and I’m thrilled to bits that a break in my otherwise hectic schedule gave me the opportunity to do exactly that!
One month after events in “Spare Me The Truth”, a sleeper agent in Moscow urgently seeks contact with Dan Forrester. But of course, due to his amnesia, Dan has no idea who they are and if they can be trusted. Meanwhile, Lucy is convinced a man arrested for the murder of his family is innocent but is finding it hard to prove it. Somehow these two things are connected and soon I found myself completely engrossed in this web of lies, deceit and family secrets.
After finishing book one in the series, my expectations for Tell Me A Lie were somewhere right up in the stratosphere. It was soon obvious though that I wasn’t going to be disappointed as C.J. Carver takes us to Scotland and Russia and made my head spin so hard with revelations, I almost felt dizzy. Once again, this is a taut and intricately plotted storyline that kept me hooked until the end. With an international conspiracy, an intriguing investigation and a brilliant cast of characters, I found it really hard to put this one down.
A multi-layered and well-paced thriller, Tell Me A Lie is an excellent addition to the Dan Forrester series and I can’t wait to catch up with the third instalment!
November 16, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier publishing and C. J. Carver for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
How do you protect your family when you didn't know what you are protecting them against.
Since the death of his son five years ago Dan Forrester has had amnesia. So when lynx a secret sleeper agent over hears a conversation between two powerful Russians plotting the death of a British journalist and calls MI5 and demands to only speak to Dan Forester. Dan doesn't know who Lynx is but is determined to go and meet Lynx in Mexico to sort this out.
Meanwhile Pc Lucy Davies is called to a house shooting where a wife and children have been shot and the husband is left holding the gun. The husband is swiftly arrested but proclaims his innocence frequently and loudly enough to give Pc Lucy Davies doubts as to whether he killed them.
Meanwhile in Siberia an aging oligarch calls a meeting with his henchmen to discus the killing of a English account who turns out to be Dans wife.
This book is runs deep with subplots. For me there was a bit too much going on in the book. I found it a little difficult to keep track of everything as I felt it was a little jumbled. I also found the Russian plot a little bit of a let down when you get down to the nitty gritty bits at the end. The twist at the end didn't really grab me either.
This book is the second part of a series and if you have read the first book then I am sure that you will enjoy this. However it just wasn't for me. Perhaps I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read such a heavy book. Perhaps I'll try it again at some point.
Thank you thou and happy reading everyone
How do you protect your family when you didn't know what you are protecting them against.
Since the death of his son five years ago Dan Forrester has had amnesia. So when lynx a secret sleeper agent over hears a conversation between two powerful Russians plotting the death of a British journalist and calls MI5 and demands to only speak to Dan Forester. Dan doesn't know who Lynx is but is determined to go and meet Lynx in Mexico to sort this out.
Meanwhile Pc Lucy Davies is called to a house shooting where a wife and children have been shot and the husband is left holding the gun. The husband is swiftly arrested but proclaims his innocence frequently and loudly enough to give Pc Lucy Davies doubts as to whether he killed them.
Meanwhile in Siberia an aging oligarch calls a meeting with his henchmen to discus the killing of a English account who turns out to be Dans wife.
This book is runs deep with subplots. For me there was a bit too much going on in the book. I found it a little difficult to keep track of everything as I felt it was a little jumbled. I also found the Russian plot a little bit of a let down when you get down to the nitty gritty bits at the end. The twist at the end didn't really grab me either.
This book is the second part of a series and if you have read the first book then I am sure that you will enjoy this. However it just wasn't for me. Perhaps I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read such a heavy book. Perhaps I'll try it again at some point.
Thank you thou and happy reading everyone
March 6, 2018
Oh come on, Goodreaders. Have you really given this book a 3.92 aggregate score? You're a generous bunch.
Was no one else bothered that, in order for the writer to bring together her two protagonists from the previous book in the series, she came up with the massive coincidence of Lucy investigating a multiple murder intimately connected to Dan's family? And the whacky idea that Putin is planning not just his successor, but his successor 50 years hence.
Clearly I'm over thinking this and should just go with the flow.
(By the way, can tell CJ is female. In this world of gender stereotypes, no male thriller writer would feel the need to conceal his gender.)
Serves me right for not buying sufficient books at the airport and needing to resort to the small range of English language books in Bosa, Sardinia. I should have gone for the Lionel Shriver book after all (but I felt it wasn't particularly holiday reading).
Was no one else bothered that, in order for the writer to bring together her two protagonists from the previous book in the series, she came up with the massive coincidence of Lucy investigating a multiple murder intimately connected to Dan's family? And the whacky idea that Putin is planning not just his successor, but his successor 50 years hence.
Clearly I'm over thinking this and should just go with the flow.
(By the way, can tell CJ is female. In this world of gender stereotypes, no male thriller writer would feel the need to conceal his gender.)
Serves me right for not buying sufficient books at the airport and needing to resort to the small range of English language books in Bosa, Sardinia. I should have gone for the Lionel Shriver book after all (but I felt it wasn't particularly holiday reading).
November 19, 2018
Quite enjoyed the first book in this series and wanted to know where the author was going to take the characters. Well that first book did, on occasion, stretch credibility, and this really does.
A family are butchered and our female cop from the previous book thinks the obvious murderer may have been framed. Meanwhile Dan Forrester is asked to return to his old intelligence job to meet a sleeper agent in Russia. And who and why are certain Russians who are getting involved and why are they interested in Dan’s wife?
More of a spy novel than the previous book, but there are a lot of co-incidences chucked in here and the main one really has you thinking “no, don’t go there”, but the author does.
Okay, but too far fetched.
A family are butchered and our female cop from the previous book thinks the obvious murderer may have been framed. Meanwhile Dan Forrester is asked to return to his old intelligence job to meet a sleeper agent in Russia. And who and why are certain Russians who are getting involved and why are they interested in Dan’s wife?
More of a spy novel than the previous book, but there are a lot of co-incidences chucked in here and the main one really has you thinking “no, don’t go there”, but the author does.
Okay, but too far fetched.
January 1, 2020
I really enjoyed the first Dan Forrester book and was excited to see there were more, but this was a huge disappointment. The story is ridiculously far fetched and had me rolling my eyes and laughing at the coincidences involved. The characters and their relationships to each other are difficult to follow and I generally didn't care about any of them.
I disliked Dan's wife from the first book and her huge involvement in this book was altogether too much and overly forced. Dan and Lucy are the stand out characters and I would have preferred more focus here and for Dan to take the lead without the emphasis constantly on how he feels only in relation to his wife and child.
I disliked Dan's wife from the first book and her huge involvement in this book was altogether too much and overly forced. Dan and Lucy are the stand out characters and I would have preferred more focus here and for Dan to take the lead without the emphasis constantly on how he feels only in relation to his wife and child.
December 7, 2016
I read Tell Me A Lie as I had read Spare Me The Truth. Look out for more in the Forrester and Davies series coming 2018.
February 13, 2021
Stunning
December 14, 2018
Dan Forrester and Lucy Davies return in the second novel in this series: TELL ME A LIE. It's hard to say that these novels must or must not be read in sequence, or if there's enough leeway for readers to start anywhere. There is a bit of back story in this second outing that should help fill in the gaps for new readers, but those returning to the series may notice the obviously similar structure deployed in both novels. Again we have seemingly disparate story-lines converging, pulling the two main characters into a collaborative relationship, although in TELL ME A LIE that happens much earlier on than it did in the opening novel SPARE ME THE TRUTH.
Character development does also seem to have stalled slightly, and it feels like we're slipping into a lot of predictable elements. The diverging plots, the struggle with amnesia which is more of the same, and a woman's private life that's another car crash, all places we've visited before.
On the upside there is still plenty of action, and a complex plot evolving here with heaps of red herrings and TELL ME A LIE is populated by more than enough sub-plots and intrigue to keep a reader on their toes.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Character development does also seem to have stalled slightly, and it feels like we're slipping into a lot of predictable elements. The diverging plots, the struggle with amnesia which is more of the same, and a woman's private life that's another car crash, all places we've visited before.
On the upside there is still plenty of action, and a complex plot evolving here with heaps of red herrings and TELL ME A LIE is populated by more than enough sub-plots and intrigue to keep a reader on their toes.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
February 6, 2017
The best tribute I can pay to this absorbing novel is that I'd planned to ration my reading for the next three months to focus on my own writing because of deadlines looming. Despite that, I had two spells of reading over 100 pages at a sitting because I just had to know what was happening next. I was introduced to Dan Forrester and Lucy Davies in the splendid 'Spare me The Truth' and should have been forewarned but I'm obviously a slow learner.
I shan't plot trot here - quite apart from the fact that I'd need several pages to catalogue all the labyrinthine twists and turns CJ Carver puts us through, it would do a disservice to the readers who really ought to have the chance to follow the threads for themselves. Suffice to say that in Forrester and his family and also the irrepressible Lucy, the author has really started something here and I'll be looking forward to the next offering. Any author who manages to take another one away from his own writing can sit back and pour a glass of wine with a feeling of contentment. The bar has now been set rather high.
I shan't plot trot here - quite apart from the fact that I'd need several pages to catalogue all the labyrinthine twists and turns CJ Carver puts us through, it would do a disservice to the readers who really ought to have the chance to follow the threads for themselves. Suffice to say that in Forrester and his family and also the irrepressible Lucy, the author has really started something here and I'll be looking forward to the next offering. Any author who manages to take another one away from his own writing can sit back and pour a glass of wine with a feeling of contentment. The bar has now been set rather high.
January 27, 2021
Fast paced with lots of action. This crime/ spy/ thriller won't let you get bored. Lots of sub-plots which slowly weave together so that you can see the whole picture. I did work out who was doing the killing long before the reveal (maybe I've read too many of this genre!) but that wasn't the biggest problem with the book ...... the plot all relies on a very big coincidence. Actually "big" isn't really the right word for it, lets try "HUGE". If you can ignore this, then it is a really good and enjoyable read, if you want your crime stories to be plausible, then maybe it isn't.
June 13, 2019
An absorbing read delving into the world of Russian hit men, Secret Service agents and the British police.
I think this one moved at a better pace than book 1 and the story a little more viable. The ending did seem a little rushed and glossed over but didn't spoil the overall enjoyment. Will definitely read the third book in the series.
I think this one moved at a better pace than book 1 and the story a little more viable. The ending did seem a little rushed and glossed over but didn't spoil the overall enjoyment. Will definitely read the third book in the series.
November 3, 2016
12/1/17 Tell Me A Lie
I would like to thank Netgalley and Zaffre for an advance copy of Tell Me A Lie, the second novel in the Dan Forrester series.
The novel opens with a powerful Russian, Edik Yesikov, and his father plotting the death of a British journalist and her friend, Polina Calder who know something they shouldn't. A sleeper agent, Lynx, gets the gist of this conversation and contacts MI5 but will only speak to Dan Forrester who was the handler many years ago. Dan suffers from amnesia after the death of his son 5 years previously so he has no idea who Lynx is but decides to go to the suggested meeting in Moscow. In the meantime PC Lucy Davies is being called to a big house where a mother, Polina Calder, and her children have been killed and the father is holding a shotgun. He is arrested but declares his innocence loudly and frequently, enough to give Lucy a few doubts. This is, however, only the start of a thrill ride with its roots deep in the Stalinist past.
I have not read any of Ms Carver's work before but I am impressed with Tell Me A Lie. It is an action packed read which I found difficult to put down and I was clueless as to where it was leading although I enjoyed the journey. The big Russian plot, when it was finally revealed, was a bit of a letdown and was a case of all that for that! There is an added twist, however, at the end which was a surprise.
Tell Me A Lie is pure entertainment so there is no point in taking it too seriously. It is very well done and is a real page turner - it makes me think of David Baldacci writing in a British setting, even down to the vaguely anti-Russian establishment sentiments. I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Zaffre for an advance copy of Tell Me A Lie, the second novel in the Dan Forrester series.
The novel opens with a powerful Russian, Edik Yesikov, and his father plotting the death of a British journalist and her friend, Polina Calder who know something they shouldn't. A sleeper agent, Lynx, gets the gist of this conversation and contacts MI5 but will only speak to Dan Forrester who was the handler many years ago. Dan suffers from amnesia after the death of his son 5 years previously so he has no idea who Lynx is but decides to go to the suggested meeting in Moscow. In the meantime PC Lucy Davies is being called to a big house where a mother, Polina Calder, and her children have been killed and the father is holding a shotgun. He is arrested but declares his innocence loudly and frequently, enough to give Lucy a few doubts. This is, however, only the start of a thrill ride with its roots deep in the Stalinist past.
I have not read any of Ms Carver's work before but I am impressed with Tell Me A Lie. It is an action packed read which I found difficult to put down and I was clueless as to where it was leading although I enjoyed the journey. The big Russian plot, when it was finally revealed, was a bit of a letdown and was a case of all that for that! There is an added twist, however, at the end which was a surprise.
Tell Me A Lie is pure entertainment so there is no point in taking it too seriously. It is very well done and is a real page turner - it makes me think of David Baldacci writing in a British setting, even down to the vaguely anti-Russian establishment sentiments. I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
August 29, 2023
Yawn. Pretty tedious. You might not have expected a book involving so much gunplay, car chases, exotic Russian gangsters, conspiracy and violence to be so boring.. but it was. I'm not sure whether the 'action' was dialled up to an inconceivable eleven in order to make up for the trudging and slightly pathetic chapters in between where folk reminisced introspectively about their families and past days with little actual colour, or mooned repetitively over colleagues they were working with. In any case I quickly lost interest in the characters, failed to engage with the plot, and (aside from a few bits set near where I was born and raised, some of which didn't ring particularly true) found this all a bit of a chore. Not someone I'll look for again.
August 18, 2019
Slow to start and I had to pick it up briefly after teaching all day. It sped up fast . Lots of action and some very gory things happening, lots of death. I had my suspicion about who was doing the murdering ... I was right. I liked a lot of the characters and how gutsy they were. I don’t ever want to be in their situation but hope if I was I would be brave and not cave. I’ll be looking up other books in the series.
March 18, 2018
I enjoyed this book. Good plot, authentic. Will look to read more by this author.
May 4, 2017
More than lives up to its cover reviews!
This is a really intelligent thriller from a writer at the top of his game. The plot is credible and well-constructed and the characters just jump off the page fully formed and ready to engage with the reader!
The action takes place between the UK and Russia and starts with the appalling mass killing of a family by, it seems, Adrian Calder, husband and father. The police arrive and despite the damning evidence Constable Lucy Davies – soon to be Detective Constable – has her doubts when she apprehends Calder.
At the same time Dan Forrester, former MI5 operator, is brought back to the service to visit Russia and to contact one of his former sleeper agents, Ekaterina who had information for him. Dan left the service five years previously when his small son was killed in a hit and run and Dan lost his memory; since then he has rebuilt his family but still has gaps and one of those gaps is the fact that he had a relationship with Ekaterina.
When they meet things happen fast and it becomes clear that Russia's FSB have been watching them both and things turn complicated and dangerous. Dan does manage to get back to the UK but with more questions than answers.
Back in the UK the story rockets along in all directions and it becomes clear that Lucy's case and Dan's could be connected. Lucy and Dan are old friends and so ideally placed to put together the pieces.
I will say no more, except that I read these 486 pages in three days despite having a busy schedule myself! I was totally incapable of putting it down and so will you be. Read it!
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.
This is a really intelligent thriller from a writer at the top of his game. The plot is credible and well-constructed and the characters just jump off the page fully formed and ready to engage with the reader!
The action takes place between the UK and Russia and starts with the appalling mass killing of a family by, it seems, Adrian Calder, husband and father. The police arrive and despite the damning evidence Constable Lucy Davies – soon to be Detective Constable – has her doubts when she apprehends Calder.
At the same time Dan Forrester, former MI5 operator, is brought back to the service to visit Russia and to contact one of his former sleeper agents, Ekaterina who had information for him. Dan left the service five years previously when his small son was killed in a hit and run and Dan lost his memory; since then he has rebuilt his family but still has gaps and one of those gaps is the fact that he had a relationship with Ekaterina.
When they meet things happen fast and it becomes clear that Russia's FSB have been watching them both and things turn complicated and dangerous. Dan does manage to get back to the UK but with more questions than answers.
Back in the UK the story rockets along in all directions and it becomes clear that Lucy's case and Dan's could be connected. Lucy and Dan are old friends and so ideally placed to put together the pieces.
I will say no more, except that I read these 486 pages in three days despite having a busy schedule myself! I was totally incapable of putting it down and so will you be. Read it!
Pashtpaws
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.
June 29, 2024
I guess I am not cut out for "thrillers" You might as well call this fantasy. Just one example Dan flys to Russia and hires a helicopter, flys in Russian airspace to a place owned by the Russia authorities, rescues his girlfriend and then simply flys the helicopter to Finland. Yes really believable. But if you are into this I guess it is not a bad book.
Putting that aside, two other points
1. This is the second in a series- we are reminded a lot about Dan and what happened in the last book. But with Lucy there is really nothing I can't remember all about these strange colours and emotions and it is never explained. Her behaviour towards Mac at the end doesn't make sense.
2. Ok this kind of book is going to have violence and death I get that but it is treated so superficially. Oh my son has wiped out his whole family and then been killed, never mind lets just get on. Oh I have been threatened, kidnapped and taken to a foreign country, lets tell our ten year old and then make brownies!
Putting that aside, two other points
1. This is the second in a series- we are reminded a lot about Dan and what happened in the last book. But with Lucy there is really nothing I can't remember all about these strange colours and emotions and it is never explained. Her behaviour towards Mac at the end doesn't make sense.
2. Ok this kind of book is going to have violence and death I get that but it is treated so superficially. Oh my son has wiped out his whole family and then been killed, never mind lets just get on. Oh I have been threatened, kidnapped and taken to a foreign country, lets tell our ten year old and then make brownies!
October 18, 2020
Ex-MI5 operative, Dan Forrester and PC Lucy Davies are used to tackling the same problem from different angles. This time multiple shootings and a spate of hit and runs appear to be random, but Lucy spots the underlying pattern. I enjoyed the nail-biting scenes and the intrigue. Books like this remind me that the Cold War never really went away, it just changed shape - Russia is still a threat to world stability. Dan and Lucy are such fascinating heroes: Dan suffers from selective memory loss, he can’t recall certain memories but his skills seem unaffected; Lucy has synesthesia and often seems manic, but these enhance her deductive abilities. Riveting! 🎧 I was frustrated by Peter Silverleaf’s narration. He often reads at such a fast pace, the narration feels rushed and his tone starts to feel offhand, like he can’t wait to finish the paragraph. His performance is excellent when he uses a slower pace.
March 24, 2022
WOW what a fantastic thriller plenty of espionage and murders. I read Caroline's second thriller Tell me a lie before I found out that it is part of a series of three thrillers. I have ordered book 1 - Spare me the truth and book 2 - which I have just read and book 3 - Know me now to be read. This is a Dan Forrester series of 3 books.
Dan Forrester has amnesia and has difficulty telling who the good guys and bad guys are in this thriller. A whole family apart from their Father have been murdered and PC Lucy Davies tries to unravel the mysterious circumstances that surround the case.
Links of genetics amongst the murdered point to Russia and the anticipated downfall of their current government in order for a certain Russian bloodline to finally rule.
I would higly recommend this espionage thriller as it was so exciting from start to finish.
Dan Forrester has amnesia and has difficulty telling who the good guys and bad guys are in this thriller. A whole family apart from their Father have been murdered and PC Lucy Davies tries to unravel the mysterious circumstances that surround the case.
Links of genetics amongst the murdered point to Russia and the anticipated downfall of their current government in order for a certain Russian bloodline to finally rule.
I would higly recommend this espionage thriller as it was so exciting from start to finish.
May 12, 2017
Tell Me A Lie is yet another top notch thriller from CJ Carver. This book has it all - brilliant characters, family secrets, an international conspiracy, a police investigation and a twisty turny plot that keeps you guessing all the way through.
This book 'welcomes' readers back to characters from the previous Dan Forrester book, but could easily be read as a standalone. Some of the plot may seem a little far fetched, but it's great fun and a gripping rollercoaster read.
Tell Me A Lie features a highly original modern plot but has a classic spy thriller feel to it too, with more than a hint of James Bond. It kept me on the edge of my seat with its high octane action and ongoing tension. I highly recommend this series!
I received an Advance Reader Copy.
This book 'welcomes' readers back to characters from the previous Dan Forrester book, but could easily be read as a standalone. Some of the plot may seem a little far fetched, but it's great fun and a gripping rollercoaster read.
Tell Me A Lie features a highly original modern plot but has a classic spy thriller feel to it too, with more than a hint of James Bond. It kept me on the edge of my seat with its high octane action and ongoing tension. I highly recommend this series!
I received an Advance Reader Copy.
February 27, 2023
wow!
Oh my goodness!!! Another brilliant read by CJ Carver. The first one was utterly captivating and having now devoured this one, I would say the same thing! I normally don't like to give too much away but at the same time all you need to know is that Dan Forrester is ex- MI5 who has amnesia, and is yet again pulled into a situation that concerns his wife this time. So between Wales, London and Russia, it somewhat gets a bit hectic! However there is help from Lucy Davies a very savvy police sergeant! All I can say is, if you ever watched Spooks on tv, then you will most certainly enjoy this!
Oh my goodness!!! Another brilliant read by CJ Carver. The first one was utterly captivating and having now devoured this one, I would say the same thing! I normally don't like to give too much away but at the same time all you need to know is that Dan Forrester is ex- MI5 who has amnesia, and is yet again pulled into a situation that concerns his wife this time. So between Wales, London and Russia, it somewhat gets a bit hectic! However there is help from Lucy Davies a very savvy police sergeant! All I can say is, if you ever watched Spooks on tv, then you will most certainly enjoy this!
December 3, 2017
I would have given this four stars, but after thinking more about the book, I just couldn’t get past the rather ridiculous plot convolutions which were needed to bring all of the strands together. The story was gripping enough and interesting enough for me to read it quickly. I enjoyed the book a lot, but it eventually began to feel rather OTT and stereotypical. Kind of James Bond type meets Russian villains meets beautiful women meets cops with issues plus British background etc., etc. Fun, but a bit daft.
May 5, 2020
Felt unfit to review this, as I genuinely can't remember if I'm thinking of the plot of Tell Me A Lie or one of the 20 other generic thrillers I've read in the last few months, but then decided that that might comprise a rating in itself.
It's not bad, it's just not memorable, either.
Jason Bourne now has a new name and does something; vague references to his tortured past; teams up with the young, clever, hot female detective/assistant/recruit; probably almost dies but wins in the end; Russians still evil.
It's not bad, it's just not memorable, either.
Jason Bourne now has a new name and does something; vague references to his tortured past; teams up with the young, clever, hot female detective/assistant/recruit; probably almost dies but wins in the end; Russians still evil.
November 12, 2022
A Secret Service thriller with a former spy at the forefront.
Largely enjoyable, teasing and full of intrigue, this is a novel which grips you from the very first page.
An interesting back and forth between characters and a bizarre, yet thoroughly enjoyable, plot this is a fantastic story that tips you in to a worldwide hunt.
Characters are largely developed with a decent backstory and that’s coming from someone who hasn’t read the first one.
Descriptions are grand, with enough in there to allow your imagination to run away.
Very well done. Five out of five.
Largely enjoyable, teasing and full of intrigue, this is a novel which grips you from the very first page.
An interesting back and forth between characters and a bizarre, yet thoroughly enjoyable, plot this is a fantastic story that tips you in to a worldwide hunt.
Characters are largely developed with a decent backstory and that’s coming from someone who hasn’t read the first one.
Descriptions are grand, with enough in there to allow your imagination to run away.
Very well done. Five out of five.
May 4, 2023
What a wild ride. A family massacred leads to an international thriller that weaves a wild web and just doesn’t stop. Dan has to put it all together and protect his family without his memories. PC Lucy Davies is excellent as she investigates her final case before moving to CID and helps bring it all together.
I listened to the audiobook and it was a challenge to keep all the characters straight but the interaction and the action was riveting.
I listened to the audiobook and it was a challenge to keep all the characters straight but the interaction and the action was riveting.
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