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Faux Friends

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"A potent, briskly-paced crime thriller featuring a detective whose vulnerability creates first-class suspense." –Best Thrillers

Chantal Pouliot, of the Quebec police force, is relegated to mind-numbing desk duty because of a case that went wrong six months earlier. A break comes her way in the form of a white-collar cyber-crime case, something she hopes will help restore her status as an undercover detective. The downside is having to collaborate with an RCMP team that will join her in Quebec City.

When the safe, tedious job she envisaged turns to murder with a potential link to organized crime, Chantal is thrown back into the life she wanted, with Jeff Lafond by her side once again. But somebody is playing games with them, and that person is aware of her past. Is someone close to the investigation involved? What is the purpose of the game and how many people will the murderer sacrifice in the race to win it?

269 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2021

46 people are currently reading
54 people want to read

About the author

A.J. McCarthy

13 books166 followers
As an author of mystery suspense novels, A.J. McCarthy is always on the lookout for new ideas. Her friends and family are cautious, concerned they may become a victim in her next novel. Those who are more adventurous offer up ideas and are willing to sacrifice certain family members for the cause. A.J. bides her time, waiting for the right moment and the perfect victim. She hides behind a quiet façade, and few know what she’s really thinking.
A.J. grew up reading Agatha Christie, Sidney Sheldon, and many other masters of mystery and suspense. A lifelong love of the genre evolved. She’s a member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. When she isn’t writing, chances are she is reading.

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5 stars
62 (50%)
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31 (25%)
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23 (18%)
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5 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for Pat.
2,310 reviews501 followers
July 6, 2021
Chantal Pouliot is a detective with the Sûreté du Québec police force. Six months ago a case went bad and she was injured physically and mentally and is currently on desk duty scanning paper files to be stored electronically- boring work! The she is given a case, ok it’s still largely desk work but it’s a case, looking into electronic fraud where large payments from Québec companies to Hong Kong suppliers have been diverted. This has happened three times. She is to partner with two officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who are coming to Québec as the case seems to be based here.

Organised crime is suspected of involvement and the team sets out to gain a foothold with one of the mob’s lawyers posing as potential investors. The case soon takes a darker turn as the dead bodies start to pile up.

I thought this was a competent police procedural but I did not find it very engaging. The story did not make a lot of sense to me, even after it was all explained it just seemed like complexity for the sake of it. I can’t imagine any real life criminal, even an insane psychopath bothering with such a mixed up plan. Even allowing for fiction and the largest disbelief suspenders available it didn’t come together for me.

The main character, Chantal, was very annoying although she improved as the book progressed but one sentence early on had me thinking the author must be a man. As Chantal is hurrying to meet the RCMP officers for the first time she is running a little late and is flustered so she thinks “someone could get the impression she rushed from a meeting with a lover, perhaps in a broom closet, she thought.” That was just cringeworthy, especially coming from a woman! Other than that Chantal flapped her arms a lot which made her sound rather unprofessional. The other characters were quite thinly drawn and were hard to care about.

This was not the author’s first rodeo and other reviewers seemed to enjoy this book a lot more than I did so I do encourage you to make up your own mind. Thanks to BookSirens for providing a free copy which I am reviewing voluntarily and honestly.
Profile Image for Toni Osborne.
1,602 reviews53 followers
July 11, 2021
The story in a few words:

This mystery brings Chantal Pouliot of the Quebec police force working with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in a white-collar-cyber-crime. The safe, tedious job she envisioned swiftly becomes a murder case with possible link to organized crime......

Chantal undercover detective status was put on hold after her last case terribly went wrong six months earlier. She is now back on the saddle and thrown into the life she wanted.....

My thoughts:

Ms. McCarthy pens a suspenseful story with many twists one that kept my attention trying to unravel the truth behind the crime. The investigation leads Chantal and her partner Jeff Lafond on an unexpected adventure through the streets of Quebec City, deep into the criminal underworld and through a mine field of violence. This mystery is a rollercoaster ride of police procedural where no one really trusts anyone. It starts with a bang and never lets up.

In general the characterisation is good but I am not too fond of Chantal, the protagonist. In my eyes she is a spoil brat, always mad and one that doesn’t get along with her male counterpart, a frustrated b...in other words. Too bad Chantal get a grip on yourself.

As for the supporting cast, the players are well defined and play expertly their part whether they are mafia thugs or police officers. Having said this I still love how they interact with each other including all the shenanigans they bring to the table. The story is set in a French environment so a mix of the French language from time to time gives the experience a tad of flair and reality. Well-done and well timed.

“Faux Friends” is a fun and twisted read I enjoyed quite a bit.

I received a free copy of this book and I leave a voluntary review, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Profile Image for Janet Graham.
2,506 reviews11 followers
October 30, 2021
Exciting Police Investigation
This is an exciting novel. There are plenty of plot twists and misturns. The ending is surprising, satisfying and leaves the reader wanting to read the next book. The menace includes the Mafia, killing, kidnapping and so much more, It has plenty of action but is not graphic. I want to read more from this author.
I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Profile Image for Susan Denison.
2 reviews2 followers
July 4, 2021
A page turner

Just when you (the reader) is convinced which character is the implementer, another twist introduced. As the characters interact, personalities reflect real life situations of people in same occupation working together. If you enjoy a good mystery add Faux Friends to your read list. Excellent character study.
Profile Image for Christina.
Author 12 books409 followers
June 27, 2021
AJ McCarthy delivers a thrilling mystery with this one. It will keep you guessing until the very end. I loved the Quebec City setting for this, too.
Profile Image for Chris Kelsey.
Author 6 books73 followers
June 2, 2021
Quebec City Homicide Detective Chantal Pouliot craves action, but her most recent case went sideways and now she’s chained to a desk, afraid she’ll never escape. When she’s assigned to work with an enigmatic RCMP detective on a fraud case, she sees it as another sign her career as a murder cop has come to an end. Suddenly, her dull white collar case turns red. People begin to die, and Chantal’s in the middle of it, partnered with a man she’s not sure she can trust. Faux Friends is a rollercoaster ride of a police procedural. Every time it seems about to zig, it zags. At it’s center, Chantal is smart and sexy, tough yet vulnerable—an extraordinary woman determined to excel in a male-dominated profession. Author A.J. McCarthy brings to life Quebec’s dark criminal underworld, as well as the beauty of the Quebec City setting. As much as enjoyed Faux Friends, I can’t wait to read Cold Betrayal, McCarthy’s previous Chantal Pouliot novel. This has the making of a terrific series.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,095 reviews34 followers
June 9, 2021
In the new, paper free Quebec police department, Chantal Pouliot has been tasked with readying files for scanning. It’s not the exciting police work Chantal craves but she is on a psychologist ordered break since a difficult case months earlier. Energetic, impulsive and bored, she hopes to return to detective work when she’s assigned to a white collar crime case, working with two RCMP officers, Mark Pratt and Owen Lockwood. The case at first seems simple. Money routed between businesses in Hong Kong and Quebec is disappearing. If Chantal, Owen and Mark can find the link between companies, the case will be solved. Unfortunately, it is not that simple and, before the complicated case is unravelled, relationships will be destroyed and lives will be threatened.

While I enjoyed the characters in Faux Friends, the white collar cyber crime plot and the evocative Quebec location, I wished that there had been more about Chantal’s history at the start of the mystery, or less overall. I was a little confused by all the early references and thought I might have missed a previous series entry. However, Faux Friends is a sold thriller. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Black Rose Writing and A.J. McCarthy for this ARC.
Profile Image for Greg Hoover.
9 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2021
A.J. McCarthy is a natural storyteller with a well-honed talent for writing. McCarthy is an award-winning author of suspense mysteries, and her new novel, “Faux Friends,” brings her literary skills as an author to new heights. This exciting story combines several diverse ingredients to make a tasty literary stew. The premise is compelling. The Quebec police force has grounded Chantal Pouliot, an undercover detective. But when a cyber-crime case suddenly turns sinister, it leads Chantal and Jeff Lafond, her partner, into an unexpected adventure. McCarthy’s excellent plotting, powerful prose, and a gift for drawing the reader into her world all make for a great novel. It is a fascinating, fast-paced, and exciting read. If you love suspense mysteries as much as I do, do yourself a favor—read it!
Profile Image for Amy Shannon.
Author 135 books134 followers
June 10, 2021
Intriguing read

McCarthy pens an intriguing suspenseful story in Faux Friends. I have read work from this author before, and I really enjoyed it, but I think this one has become my favorite. The characters were real and very complex, with different levels, especially Chantal. The backstory of Chantal aids in how she reacts and acts to her current situation, as well as what will happen very soon. She thought her life would be mundane forever, but something gains her attention, and that's all I say for now. I don't give away spoilers. What an amazing story to read, so much that I savored every word, and often reread pages before flipping to the next. The thrills and intrigue is written clearly and the characterizations are engrossing. Love this story. The author's technique of raw, magnetic characters and great plotlines is a gift. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Faux Friends is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I look forward to reading many more stories by this author.
Profile Image for Shannon Patterson.
922 reviews9 followers
July 2, 2021
Suspenseful thriller.

Faux Friends is a book full of twists and turns that will leave readers reeling while trying to unravel the truth. The characters are passionate and multi-faceted, I was pulled into the story and felt like I was watching it all unfold.

Chantal Pouliot is determined to prove she is better than the desk job she's been demoted to, she still has what it takes to solve a big case and make sure justice is served. As the story unravels she is forced to start looking at those around her because something is going on, details are known that shouldn't be and everything feels very personal.

This story gripped me from the start and kept me engaged throughout. A perfect read for a stormy night or a quiet day by the lake.
Profile Image for David Shawn.
Author 5 books24 followers
May 14, 2021
Faux Friends starts with a bang and never lets up. Chantal is a sharp, high-energy, natural-born rebel hemmed in by a traumatic past and a dull career investigating white collar crimes. However, what she thinks will be another dull run at a case involving nothing more dangerous than a spread sheet, turns out to take her through a mine field of violence.

Chantal is tough and smart and thorny--you root for her all the way through to the end. Without giving away the plot, I can definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a propulsive, high-stakes thriller with a bang-up beginning and a very satisfying end, that suggests the pleasure of more to come.
Profile Image for S. Jeyran  Main.
1,642 reviews129 followers
June 10, 2021
Faux friends is a crime thriller story about Chantal Pouliot working with the Quebec police force. Due to a case that has gone wrong, she is given desk duty, but when a new case comes forward, Chantal is eager to jump back into the investigation game. She’d give anything just to get her old status back, and that’s when the story picks up, introducing a thrilling journey of organized crime.

Chantal’s previous experience does influence the new one, and thankfully she isn’t all alone in solving the crime. Her personality is interesting to know. Chantal even risks her own life in order to decode the mystery.

The literature is filled with many aspects of thrill and scenes of excitement. The pace of the story was steady at first but then fastened as I read along. The author has written a good story, and I look forward to reading more from him.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read crime thrillers and mystery stories.
Profile Image for Christina.
Author 6 books161 followers
April 14, 2021
What a fun and twisty read! Much like her other work, McCarthy takes the reader on an unexpected ride. In Faux Friends, we meet Chantal Pouliot, member of the Quebec Police force, who must work together with an RCMP team on a seemingly easy white-collar cyber-crime case. But the truth of the case soon reveals itself: it isn't going to be so easy after all, especially when Chantal isn't sure who to trust. With intelligence, poise, and a whole lot of strength, Chantal eventually untangles the web of lies and deceit. Another masterful story by McCarthy!
Profile Image for Delphia  Von Heeder .
1,721 reviews50 followers
July 1, 2021
Faux Friends is a fast paced cyber thriller by A J McCarthy. Chantal Pouliot is on desk duty in the Quebec Police Department. Bored out of her mind, jumps at the chance to to work an email fraud case with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. This is when everything that can go wrong does! A car exploded, men are murdered, a RCMP team member is betrayed, just everything you want in a thriller. I thought the characters were realistic and enjoyed how they interact with each other. The ending was perfect. I hope A J McCarthy writes another book soon because the thrillers are fabulous. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Karen Osborne.
Author 5 books90 followers
June 14, 2021
I love A.J. McCarthy. Her writing is compelling and her characters complex. Faux Friends is no exception. This face-paced thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. You will root for Chantal Pouliot every step of the way. I enjoy strong, flawed, but likable female protagonists and Chantal is spot on. I highly recommend this novel and this author. -- Karen E Osborne, author of Getting It Right and Tangled Lies
266 reviews9 followers
July 3, 2021
This was an easy to read story. I liked Chantal and Owen. I'm not really sure the character development was on point but it was close enough to keep me reading and interested in an other story with both characters. I felt the police procedure was weak but this story was more about the characters than the plot or the process.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
539 reviews21 followers
October 16, 2021
Very good story with a sympathetic but tough protagonist. I am French Canadian by heritage and loved the comments about the difference between Quebec and Montreal. I side with Quebec as my family comes from Prince Edward Island speaking French.

The story itself is a good police procedural with twists that were credible. I can’t wait for the next story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Gail Olmsted.
Author 10 books266 followers
May 29, 2021
Chantal Pouliot, a member of the Quebec police force, wants nothing more than to be relieved of the monotony of desk work. She craves the action of a real case and has to convince her superiors that she is ready, six months after her last case went badly. She gets her chance when a seemingly straight-forward white-collar case involving cyber crime lands in her lap. McCarthy takes us through a twisted tale of lies, deceits and cover-ups leaving no stone unturned. Chantal doesn't know who to trust- her old partner Jeff, her boss or the brooding mysterious Owen who has his own demons to deal with.

This is an extremely well-written story: the first but by no means the last that I will read from this author.



Profile Image for John Hazen.
Author 7 books33 followers
June 12, 2021
The author provides the reader with nonstop action, compelling characters and a strong, complex plot that skillfully navigates the culturally and linguistically diverse cities of Canada. There are plenty of twists and turns that are resolved through strong police work and chasing down leads. I strongly recommend this book.
Author 2 books11 followers
June 11, 2021
Louise Penny meets Dan Brown. Ms. McCarthy has given us another winner, a roller-coaster ride from Quebec City to Montreal and back, with a side visit to the Quebec countryside. What begins as a dull investigation of white-collar crime for Chantal Pouloit (a likable protag of whom I hope we see more in the future) morphs into much more, including a terror threat and the fear of betrayal from the inside. Could not put it down.
Profile Image for Dianne Gow.
306 reviews
June 12, 2021
Another stunning story that captures your attention in chapter one and keeps you intrigued right till the end. A.J. is one of the best Canadian authors today and each book gets better. Not only are her storylines great she uses the landmarks of Quebec City to make her storyline so intriguing.
Profile Image for Bhavana Singh.
39 reviews16 followers
July 30, 2021
Start was a bit slow but it caught up nice in middle. At some points it was getting too predictable (I personally enjoy solving mysteries with the lead) but still lot of good work and connecting of dots there. It was a delight reading the book.
Profile Image for Eva Silverfine.
Author 3 books126 followers
May 15, 2021
A fast-paced, page-turning mystery/suspense set in Quebec, Faux Friends gives us a complex female detective and a strong “supporting cast.” I particularly enjoyed the setting of this fun read.
Profile Image for Pat Welte.
812 reviews7 followers
June 28, 2021
Faux Friends

I loved this book. Lots of twists and turns, suspenseful at every step. I can hardly wait for her next book.
Profile Image for Trey Everett.
Author 2 books19 followers
June 10, 2021
What a fun read. The author has a natural talent that lends itself to creating a fantastic story, with twists, surprises, rich characters, and a book I couldn't put down. Highly recommended to anyone looking for something new, fresh, and fantastic!
6 reviews
July 5, 2021
Great story, love the characters

I like where the action takes place. Characters are credible and it’s fast paced. My kind of book. Looking forward to the next one, I’m a fan!
12.6k reviews189 followers
July 13, 2021
Chantal prefers being out in the field, but is stuck behind a desk because of a mistake. Once she’s involved in a case, the job gets done. I thoroughly enjoyed it and ready for more.
Profile Image for Timothy Sojka.
Author 5 books57 followers
May 13, 2021
AJ McCarty continues her seemingly predestined course toward becoming Canada's best thriller author. No thriller author does a better job interweaving Canada's beauty and majesty into a tightly knit thriller. Faux Friends offers readers the most awesomely awkward law enforcement partnership since Rush Hour.

Timothy Sojka, author Amazon's #1 Political Thriller Payback Jack, and the upcoming thriller Politikill
Profile Image for Maxine.
1,519 reviews67 followers
November 12, 2021
After an injury on the job, officer Chantel Pouliot of the Quebec City police force, is assigned to a white collar crime, a job she is not at all happy about especially after two RCMP officers from Toronto are assigned to work with her.. However, when this safe job quickly warps into a murder case, she soon finds herself confronted with a great deal more excitement and danger than she could have possibly anticipated or been prepared for.

Faux Friends by A.J. McCarthy starts out with a bang but quickly slows down. Not to say it wasn’t still a decent police procedural but it lacked the promise of that opening. It also was marred by the character of Chantal who comes off as both immature and dangerously reckless.

The fact that, despite these criticisms, I finished the book and quite enjoyed it is down to the twisty plot line that kept the story moving even when it slowed down, as well as the interaction between many of the characters. And, if the villain and his motives stretched my willing suspension of disbelief fairly far, he certainly was interesting. I also loved the descriptions of Quebec City., a city I only visited once, a fact I will certainly remedy in the future.

So, overall, although I can’t say I loved Faux Friends, I certainly enjoyed it enough to plan to read more by McCarthy in the future and to recommend it for fans of police procedurals especially those with female protagonists, even somewhat unlikeable ones.

3.5

Profile Image for Claudete Takahashi.
2,623 reviews37 followers
July 27, 2021
The story has a good plot, describes quite a few places in Quebec and Montreal, as well as gives the reader some insights into Canadian history. Part of the characters are relatable part not so much, but what could be better is the flow of the language as it´s irregular, being sometimes fast-paced others not so much. Some descriptions are too long, others sound repetitive, maybe the story could be shorter.
In spite of these comments, I enjoyed reading this book and will read the next one in the series to check if there were improvements or changes in the author´s writing style.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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