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Detective Kate Young #4

A Truth for a Truth

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11 hours, 51 minutes

DI Kate Young’s team is hunting for a killer. What they don’t know…is that the killer is her.

DI Kate Young has known for years that her boss, Superintendent John Dickson, is a violent and evil man. But when she finally confronts him and accidentally shoots and kills him, she’s forced to cover her tracks before anyone can pin his death on her. With revelations about his corruption soon to become public knowledge, Kate sets up a trail of evidence to make it seem that Dickson has conveniently vanished…

But Kate knows the corruption doesn’t end with Dickson. As she heads up the team investigating his supposed disappearance, she also pursues other loose ends. Stanka, the sex worker who supplied the evidence against Dickson, leads her to crucial information on another corrupt officer, DI Harriet Khatri, and her dubious involvement with sex traffickers.

As the noose starts to tighten on Kate, she finds herself targeted by traffickers, the bent cops on her force and even her own team of detectives. Can she stay one step ahead of them all and bring Harriet to justice? Can she trust anyone around her? And can she possibly get away with murder?

411 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2023

536 people are currently reading
3150 people want to read

About the author

Carol Wyer

37 books1,233 followers
USA Today bestselling author and winner of The People's Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer's crime novels have sold over one million copies and been translated into nine languages.

A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.

In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.

Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.

She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.

When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.

To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
Profile Image for Allison Faught.
381 reviews213 followers
March 17, 2023
A life for a life now a truth for a truth 🕵️‍♀️
This is the fourth installment in the series and the second of the series I have read. This carried over well from book 3 and even though the books were published a year apart, the timeline is immediately following the last book.
I enjoyed A Life for a Life and was hoping for a bit more of that ‘edge of your seat’ feeling, but this was mostly about our MC literally trying to get away with murder. (This is not a spoiler as the description and entirety of the book focus on this dilemma.)
I could see people really liking this book to keep track of her web of lies and how she’s going to keep up the charade but it just seemed monotonous after a while. The book especially dragged on due to its length and I felt it was quite a bit longer than it needed to be.
Luckily, the ending helped me feel rewarded in reading this as it was shocking and packed a big punch.
This isn’t your typical whodunnit as we know from the first page who the murderer is, but it still delivered some goods to keep you on your feet.
A big thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This book will be published on April 6th, 2023!
Profile Image for Linda.
1,642 reviews1,693 followers
May 17, 2023
But whose truth will eventually be the truth?

Carol Wyer moves us into the 4th edition of her Detective Kate Young Series. There's been some giant leaps since the first novel. Although this can be read as a standalone, it's best to at least read the first book to get your bearings and the complete background on Kate. She's a tightly wound character.

D.I. Kate Young has been mourning the death of her husband for some time. But now, she knows exactly who is behind it all. She's been trailing Superintendant John Dickson and his long line of corruption. Proof comes late in the game especially when there's a murder to be had. And we know all about it from the first chapters. Hiding the event will certainly be a challenge.

Kate knows that sex trafficking has been going on at a gentlemen's club in the city and the sex workers were all underage. One of them, Stanka, gives Kate some insight into the goings-on. Just to prove it and to connect it to the big dogs will be her focus. While it won't bring back her husband, it will out those from continuing their sordid games.

A Truth For A Truth still features a solid female lead character in the likes of Kate. Wyer spills her emotions on the pages while Kate is desperately trying to keep her stuff together. She's the only one who can bring this to the light it deserves. On the whole, this one tends to be a slow mover in spots. Being the 4th book, there's been a lot of territory already covered. And at the same time, Carol Wyer's writing pulls us into waiting for #5 with open arms.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to Carol Wyer for the opportunity.
Profile Image for Ceecee .
2,716 reviews2,285 followers
January 24, 2023
DI Kate Young #4

There’s a very dramatic end to book three
and an equally dramatic one at the start of book four which hooks you in from the get go. Kates murdered husband Chris has been a guiding voice in her ear and now corrupt superintendent. John Dickson’s sinister tones resound within her head. Kate has many demons and has many miles to go before they are exorcised. She has to draw on all her reserves to hold herself together and not let her mask slip as danger lurks all around. Now, she’s gunning for the corrupt syndicate Dickson heads. Who can she trust?????

First of all, Kate’s struggles, especially with her mental health are done extremely well, although Dickson’s sneering tones does get a little bit wearing!! Just imagine how Kate must feel! However, the purpose of his voice acting as a conscience or a source of provocation is very good and does lead to some intriguing situations. The atmosphere of mistrust the author creates swirling around Kate is so compelling as, like her, you have no idea who is trustworthy or who to distrust, although you have your suspicions rightly or wrongly.
It’s an excellent conundrum as wherein lies the truth? By the same token can Kate risk telling the truth and receive the truth in return and thus get the justice she seeks? Or, is that way too dangerous?

The plot is not especially fast paced on occasion but this suits the dilemma that Kate faces but that’s not to say that it’s without tension as at times things get very intense in some encounters. The ending is very good with several dramatic events and the ultimate ending is terrific as it conjures up so many possibilities to be explored in the next instalment. I can’t wait!!

Overall, Carol Wyer has created an excellent character in Kate Young. I think she is fascinating and different to other central protagonists.

Although this instalment does follow on from earlier books although it can be read as a standalone but it is a series that is well worth reading in my opinion.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing U.K. for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for CarolG.
911 reviews514 followers
February 10, 2024
DI Kate Young has long suspected her boss, Superintendent John Dickson, of corruption, a suspicion that is soon to become public knowledge. When he disappears she is tasked with locating him and bringing him in to face the music.

If you haven't read the previous books in this series but are planning to start DO NOT READ THE BLURB of this one. It gives far too much away if you haven't been following the story.

This is the fourth book in the Detective Kate Young series and I've read them all except for the first one. I have a copy of the 5th book from Netgalley as well that I'll try to get to soon. These books are all written exceptionally well EXCEPT FOR the fact that Kate is constantly hearing voices in her head, first of her dead husband and now also the voice of the missing John Dickson. I dislike this aspect intensely and try to skim any of these "conversations" and believe me they are plentiful. I can't tell you how many times I said 'Oh come on!'. Especially annoying is when she changes her voice and speaks her thoughts out loud in Dickson's voice. Or when she's driving and Dickson's voice somehow comes from the passenger seat! I feel like I'm committed to finish this book and read the next one but then I'm done with this series. This trait was quite noticeable in the second book but not so much in the third so I thought we were done but obviously not. I can't believe more readers don't find this as annoying as I do.

As I said, the writing is great, the story is good and the books are a pretty quick read so if you can get past the voices in Kate's head and if you don't mind stories about police corruption, I'd recommend this series.



Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for providing this copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Published: April 6, 2023
Profile Image for Sue.
1,415 reviews5 followers
April 8, 2023
A TRUTH FOR A TRUTH is the fourth book in the Detective Kate Young Series by award-winning author of mystery and romance novels, Carol Wyer. Having enjoyed reading some of her other series; Detective Robyn Carter and Detective Natalie Ward, I was looking forward to continuing with this new detective series. This book can be read as a standalone, but these books are better read in order for clarity in the storyline of the continuing personal investigation by Kate into her investigative journalist husband, Chris’ murder.

The novels in the Detective Kate Young Series Include:
Book 1-An Eye For An Eye (2021)
Book 2-A Cut For A Cut (2021)
Book 3-A Life For A Life (2022)
Book 4-A Truth For A Truth (Publication Apr 4th 2023)

This is my review of A Truth For A Truth.

In Book 1 DI Kate Young had been on leave after suffering a traumatic experience. She’s the force’s best detective, but suffered from nightmares and her bosses knew she was under pressure, on medication and booze to overcome the trauma. Kate was still grieving the loss of her husband, Chris, who was murdered by a hitman. Her boss, Superintendent John Dickson placed her on mandatory sick leave, after a breakdown on a train.

A few months later, Kate’s friend and friend of her late father, DCI William Chase comes to tell her that her boss wants her back at work, to hunt down a serial killer. Kate accepted the offer and chose two of her fellow officers from her old team, DS Morgan Meredith (dedicated worker that had worked closely on several tough cases in the past) and DS Emma Donaldson (an expert in marital arts).

Then in Book 2, A Cut For A Cut, DI Kate Young and her team are called to a crime scene where a woman had been brutally raped, and dumped. There are few clues and no suspects.
Nobody can get into the mind of an erratic killer—except an unpredictable detective.

Then in Book 3, A Life For A Life, DI Kate Young is still grieving the death of her husband and running the major crimes department. All the while she is trying to finish the work that her husband was doing to take down corruption in the force. Kate believes that her corrupt boss, superintendent John Dickson, was behind the murder of her husband, Chris, and is gathering evidence to bring down her boss.

Now in Book 4, A Truth For A Truth DI Kate Young. Kate confronts her evil boss Superintendent John Dickson, and accidentally shoots and kills him. Now she must cover her tracks to avoid arrest. Dickson is reported missing and Kate is assigned to the case to investigate possible corruption.

A sex worker named Stanka supplied evidence against Dickson that leads to another corrupt officer, DI Harriet Khatri, and her involvement with sex traffickers.

Kate is in a very tricky dilemma, trying to investigate the corruption as well as hiding her involvement in Superintendent Dickson’s death. She does not know who she can trust within the force.

This was a fast paced, well-written police procedural novel, full of action, mystery and suspense.

Many thanks to the author, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my digital copy.
Profile Image for Mandy White (mandylovestoread).
2,747 reviews836 followers
February 24, 2023
Oh Carol Wyer, you have done it again! I raced through this new DI Kate Young book, needing to know how on earth she was going to get away with murder 😱 I am always in awe of this authors ability to have the reader in the palm of her hand every time. And ai know from previous experience with her books, that she is not afraid to go where you don’t think she possibly will. So what was going to happen to Kate… I had 400 hundred pages to get that answer…maybe

This is book 4 on this series and one that you absolutely need to read in order.at the end of the last book, Kate had a meeting with her boss, John Dickson. He is a corrupt and evil man, and she accidentally kills him. Knowing that the corruption in the force didn’t end there, she covers her tracks and tries to make it look like he has disappeared. And then she is tasked with the job of finding him.

Kates internal struggles are amplified tenfold now that she has taken a life. She doesn’t feel that she can trust anyone and the guilt is eating her up. But it was for the greater good right?

A big thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my advanced reading copy. Carol Wyer is an author you don’t want to miss.
Profile Image for Robin Loves Reading.
2,863 reviews445 followers
January 12, 2023
DI Kate Young is forced to stay more than one step ahead of just about everyone as she tries to sort out the fact that she unintentionally killed her evil and corrupt boss John Dickson. She comes up with a plan that is truly for the greater good, although she feels horribly alone. Until now she has had the voice of her husband Chris in her head guiding her day by day. She had been trying to find proof that Dickson was responsible for Chris’s murder. Now that Dickson is dead, it is his voice that replaces Chris’s in her head.

Dickson‘s voice works hard at trying to convince Kate that she is losing her mind especially as she has gone against everything and every principle she has always believed in. Has she completely lost all sense of justice? Of what is right and wrong? Is she in a way as corrupt as he was? Not only must Kate convince everyone that Dickson has disappeared of his own volition, there is a sex trafficking case that runs parallel to everything that Kate is doing to hide the fact that she is indeed responsible for his death.

Kate must show extreme caution every step of the way. This proves especially important as it doesn’t take Kate long to learn that Dickson was not the only police officer involved in corruption, and that there are those very close to her that may be part of something huge, something so big that it could be to her complete undoing.

It’s hard to believe that this incredibly tense book takes place in a very limited timeframe, and that even though Kate had the right motive to begin with she is forced to act with a duplicitous nature in order to find justice. Not only that, there is a young sex worker that she is determined to save. Dealing with people that she has a hard time trusting leaves Kate having to use sharp instincts in order to bring justice to those who deserve it.

What an astonishing read! There were moments when this book literally gave me chills. Brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes. As Kate often felt numb as she struggled to find a way out of the darkness that she pretty much brought upon herself, I too felt numb as I could not imagine how she could get past the person she was forced to become. As if the story itself was not utterly shocking, the conclusion floored me. In fact, reading the conclusion in this book brought back to mind how I felt after reading the last few paragraphs of book three in this amazing series, A Life for a Life. Carol Wyer has left me shocked beyond belief, and I have no idea how I will manage to wait for the next installment.

Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich.
1,512 reviews199 followers
Read
April 5, 2023

3.5 stars

A Truth for a Truth  by Carol Wyer is the fourth in the Detective Kate Young series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Kate Young witnessed the aftermath of a massive shooting on a train.  She saw her husband’s body. He was a journalist, hot on the trail of corruption.  Her boss is DCI William Case, and his boss is Superintendent John Dickson.  She is sure that Dickson is corrupt,  responsible for the death of her husband.  She also no longer fully trusts Case.  She is fairly certain that Jamie was placed on her team to spy on her.  Kate's other team members are DS Morgan Meredith and DS Emma Donaldson.  She hears the voice of her dead husband Chris.


My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Kate may have made a mistake.  She finally confronted her boss John Dickson for killing her husband Chris.  Although he confessed, she accidently killed him when he attacked her.  Knowing that no one would believe it was self-defense, and knowing there are more corrupt officials out there, Kate decides to cover up his death, and make it look like he vanished because his deeds were about to come to light.

Up to this point, Kate's dead husband Chris has been the voice of reason in her mind, but now she is hearing Dickson's voice.

Kate and the team find themselves at the forefront in trying to find Dickson.  This is making things a little difficult for Kate, who knows he won't be found.  Meanwhile, she is trying to get more information on the trafficker's who are bringing girls into the area for prostitution, and she knows Dickson was involved in that.

Kate is also following up on other suspicious officers, including DI Harriet Khatri, who was a big fan on Dickson's.  But she fears there are others closer to home.

Meanwhile, she fears someone knows what she has done.


My Opinions:
I am still disappointed in some of the things that Kate does, but she is a very good detective whose strength and compassion shines through, even when she's hearing voices.  I continue to like Emma and Morgan - often more than I like Kate.

Unfortunately, this book was once again centered on police corruption.  It looks like the whole series will be.  I really wish it would end.   If I didn't really like this author, and that some of the side-plots are so good, I may have given up on this series.

So many secrets, so many lies, so much death.  Those seem to be the main topics of the books.  Knowing who to trust, and then still not sure.   Again, it ended in a cliff-hanger - another no-no in my opinion.  You shouldn't be forced to read the next book, you should be made to want to.

As much as this book was a fast read (even with over 400 pages),  I was glad to be finished.  It was a little overly-descriptive.  I think the non-stop tension that Kate is under, and her lies and actions, which resulted in a promotion....just didn't sit well with me.  I understand some of the reasons for her deceptions, but not trusting anyone is a little much.  She says she trusts most of her team, but keeps them in the dark most of the time, and just expects them to be  happy about it.

Anyway, despite my dislike of police corruption books, I tried to rate this one on the author's writing style and ability...which are really good.  I loved her Natalie Ward series, but this one...not so much.

For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

Profile Image for Holly in Bookland.
1,340 reviews622 followers
February 28, 2023
Carol Wyer is one of my favorite crime writers, so it saddens me to say that this is my least favorite from her ever. The writing style didn’t work for me. I didn’t like already knowing how the crime ended. We get flashbacks of how it went down, I didn’t like John’s “voice”—that irritated me more than anything! I hope the next one will move forward.
457 reviews9 followers
August 4, 2024
This was my first outing with the characters. Although this is park if a series I loved the way the writing meant I was able to follow the story as standalone. I loved the emotion mixed with police protocol and sadly tropical issues. The voices was a new thing. And well written. The story felt drawn out and longer than needed. It was qritten to create caring for the characters but felt the action could have been spread even . I did enjoy thus and it made me want to read tge rest if the series.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author for this solid 4 star read.
Profile Image for Javier.
1,150 reviews295 followers
April 10, 2023
After the shocking (and terrific) ending of A Life For A Life, Carol Wyer’s back with the fourth installment in the DI Kate Young series, picking up exactly where the previous one ended and proving, once again, why she’s one of the queens of the crime genre.

DI Kate Young faces the hardest case of her life when she and her team are tasked with catching a killer but, how to act when the killer is you? With such an appealing starting point, Wyer delivers not your typical whodunnit, as the guilty party is known right from the start, but an insightful dive into the minds of characters we’ve already known for a while and that have shown a fantastic growth throughout the series.

Could this be read as a stand alone? Definitely not, as the whole plot is tied to events that have been developing since book one, in Kate’s quest to uncover the corruption inside the police force.

Kate is such a complex character. The way her emotions and her mental health are portrayed here is really interesting. Her grief over her husband’s death has evolved into a hot boiling rage against those responsible for his death. She’s always had a strong sense of justice, but now even she’s starting to question her own morals. I like how she’s not the typical prim and proper lead, but has lots of flaws that make her more relatable. The voices inside her head are sending her on a downward spiral, making her doubt her actions and her own sanity. At the same time Kate doubts everyone, the reader will have no idea either who can really be trusted. It was really compelling seeing Kate cross to the dark side and struggle with her own guilt.

It may not be as fast paced as some of the other installments in the series, but the tension was present cover to cover, with some startling surprises towards the end (Carol has already proved, here and in her other series, she’s not afraid to do whatever’s necessary to move the series forward) and a cliffhanger ending that opens up a whole room of possibilities for book 5.

Is Kate getting away with murder? You’ll have to read it to find out. You will not regret it!
Profile Image for Julie Lacey.
2,010 reviews129 followers
March 14, 2023
Another brilliant book from Carol Wyer.
This one gets off to a flying start after the death at the end of the last book. Kate calls someone to help her at the resorvoir as she’s struggling to think what to do next. With the body removed Kate now has to pretend she knows nothing about Dickson’s disappearance.
This doesn’t go quite as smoothly as she’d like as William asks her to lead a team to find out where Dickson has gone. With the story about him all over the Press all eyes are on Kate, which is exactly what she doesn’t want.
Kate is also contacted by Stanka who asks for help finding her younger sister so Kate and the team definitely have their hands full.
This is a gripping crime thriller with a few twists and turns and I can’t wait to read the next book.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.2k reviews163 followers
April 6, 2023
This is the first book I read by this author and I appreciated the style of writing and the storytelling.
The plot didn't worked for me but I think it's a good one and a lot of people will like it.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
Profile Image for Meegz Reads.
1,526 reviews128 followers
dnf
October 9, 2023
*DNF*

Copy kindly received via NetGalley for an honest review.

I've enjoyed this series so far, but I just couldn't get into this new instalment. The voices in Kate's head were too much for me, and too often. I wasn't able to get into this the way I would've liked, so I chose to put it down and not continue. I'm disappointed I had to do so. I hope others like this book, just unfortunately not for me right now.

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Profile Image for StinaStaffymum.
1,463 reviews1 follower
April 3, 2023
★★★★ 4.5 stars

An eye for a cut for a life and now the truth...

After an edge-of-your-seat nail-biting end to book three, A TRUTH FOR A TRUTH begins with one hell of a bang...or the aftershocks of one, at least. It literally picks up exactly from where the previous left off...and I mean "literally". No pause, no breaks, no scene changes. We are thrust right back to where we were a year ago when "A Life for a Life" ended so abruptly on such a cliffhanger. In the same place at the same time directly in the aftermath. What follows is one hell of a cat-and-mouse game that will keep readers guessing as to how it will all unfold.

Kate Young has been struggling, both personally and professionally, since the untimely death of her husband Chris, which she has channelled into bringing down her corrupt boss, Superintendent John Dickson. But now she is going to be challenged even further in light of what she has done. And instead of Chris' voice guiding her conscience, she now has Dickson's sinister rumbles resounding in her head. What has she done? How can she get away with it?

Kate had gone to the reservoir to confront Dickson into admitting that he ordered the hit on her husband but, as smart and as quick witted as she is, Dickson is adept at corruption and keeping one step ahead of her. She may have gotten what she wanted but circumstances unfolded that saw her unwittingly shoot him in self defence. But who would believe her? There's no CCTV and nothing to back her up. The only piece of evidence that could have been of use lay in pieces beneath her feet.

As she stands beside the darkened reservoir, Kate watches the lone swan pass by oblivious to the scene around her. She feels like that swan. Drifting about without a mooring, without a mate. And whilst she may appear calm on the outside, beneath the surface she is paddling like crazy to keep herself afloat. Think, Kate, think! She makes a quick call and events are set in motion to eliminate any and all evidence. The plan she has is for the greater good. Kate vows to bring down the syndicate of which Dickson was not only a member but was also its head. And how to kill a snake? Cut off its head. But Kate knows that will not be enough to stop the syndicate. And if they knew that she had eliminated their head, they would be baying for her blood.

The following morning at the station, she is greeted with the front page news highlighting Dickson's corruption - just a part of the plan she set in motion before she met him the previous night. Her boss and mentor DCI William Chase, who is on the cusp of retirement, tasks her with investigating Dickson's disappearance working on the assumption that the superintendent got wind of today's paper and hightailed it to safety...until the dust settled perhaps. Of course Kate knew differently but she must remain poker-faced. Kate's investigation leads her to lock horns with DI Harriet Khatri whom Dickson had tasked with taking over her old team after Chris was murdered. The woman is not called "the ice queen" for nothing. Khatri is heading up a case involving people trafficking which is closely related to that of the Maddox Club murders, which Kate investigated and lead her to Dickson's corruption. Coincidence?

Throughout it all, Kate must maintain a level of professional propriety drawing on all her reserves to keep her mask from slipping. How can she do this and keep herself sane? Chris' guiding voice has been her conscience which she heard out of grief. Now Dickson's sneering voice has taken over speaks to her guilt but above all, she must not crumble. But is she strong enough to see this case through without falling apart? And how can she bring a killer to justice...when that killer is her?

This installment of the exciting Kate Young series took a dark and sinister turn as Kate found herself stepping over the line into the dark side. She wanted to bring Dickson to justice and have him answer for his crimes, not to kill him. And so Kate finds herself on the wrong side of the law whilst investigating the very crime she herself committed! This is not a spoiler. It's in the book description and the entirety of the story focus on it.

I have to say, I hated hearing Dickson's sneering voice at every turn. He features more here than he does in any other book just by haunting Kate with his snide comments. Admittedly, it does get very wearing listening to him go on an on at her all the time that I ended up just skimming his voice much of the time. I can't imagine how Kate must feel! It must seriously do her head in. But the purpose of this voice is to create provocation, leading to further situations. At the core of the story though is trust...or a lack thereof. Kate doesn't know who to trust and quite frankly, I don't blame her. Even at the end when one of the syndicate is revealed (to Kate), I still have some trouble believing their reasoning. And through events that subsequently unfolded, I wonder will we ever know for sure. Given that it's fiction, I'm sure Ms Wyer can orchestrate further events to reveal the truth in good time.

A TRUTH FOR A TRUTH is somewhat different in content and context. We know from the start who it is and why, while the rest is red herring for others to give Kate time to find what she's looking for. She hasn't yet gotten to the bottom of it but no doubt she will. Though I still found myself not quite trusting the events in the epilogue. While the whole time I was screaming at Kate to just jump on a plane and come to Sydney!!! Tilly has been begging her to visit...and now is the perfect time. She says she is...but does she really? Or will something come up in book 5 to stop her boarding the plane at the eleventh hour?

I must say, this whole book felt a little AC-12 and I kept waiting for Steve Arnott to turn up with Superintendent Hastings (and the wee donkey).

The plot is not the usual fast pace of Wyer's previous books but I guess that is because we know everything that's happening...or just about. But that's not to say it's without tension because oh my gosh the tension is so tight in places I thought I would snap! I did find it a little long and drawn out but that could also be because I've been sick and found it hard to concentrate so I've had to pace myself with the book over a couple of days. The ending is a little anti-climatic but that's OK...we've had some tense cliffhangers throughout this series, a nice sedate ending makes a change.

Overall, a very different but still exciting installment to the Kate Young series. I can't wait to see what happens next for Kate in book 5 "A Soul for a Soul" to be published February 2024.

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #Netgalley, #AmazonPublishingUK and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #ATruthForATruth in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Profile Image for Charlie Morris (Read, Watch & Drink Coffee).
1,395 reviews62 followers
April 8, 2023
I've been a fan of this series since Wyer released the first book, An Eye For An Eye, in 2021. With strong police procedural and easy-to-invest-in characters, this is definitely the kind of series that sucks you in.

And it's all led up to this moment! After book three ended on a massive cliffhanger, I've eagerly been awaiting this follow-up to see how the events would play out, as Kate must decide what to do after killing her boss. Would she come clean? Or would she cover up her tracks?

A heart-pounding thriller, I was on the edge of my seat throughout. The tensions are high as Kate has to lie to those around her while investigating a crime that she is responsible for. But can she get away with it?

It's a brilliantly plotted story with some great twists and lots of fantastic developments for both the engaging characters and the complex story. I wouldn't recommend reading this one if you haven't read the rest of the series as this is quite a climactic instalment which has been built up to in the previous three books, so there's a lot of development that you will have missed out on. But it's definitely a series that I recommend you get into if you like strong female detectives and in-depth investigations.

And once again, we're left wanting the next instalment, which obviously has lots more twists to come!
Profile Image for Bookworm Blogger.
921 reviews35 followers
April 10, 2023
I’d like to thank Zoe from Zooloo’s Book Tours for contacting me to be involved in this blog tour. I have read and loved previous books by Carol Wyer before and jumped at the chance to be involved in this one.

💀 Death, corruption and lies are at the centre of this fast-paced story. Kate Finds herself in an impossible situation, whichever choice she makes she risks either her life or her freedom. The constant battle she has with herself and the voices in her head shows how far removed from reality she is, she has become the very thing she detests.

🖊️Carol Wyer’s writing had me hooked, I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and finished this book in a day. There is so much that happens and so many little stories that are intertwined that I found my head spinning trying to piece it all together.

❌ In my eyes everyone was a suspect and whilst I had worked out one or two of the twists it did not take away from the enjoyment at all. What I will say is I did not expect the ending and I am even doubting whether they have the right person behind bars (IYKYK). I will be intrigued to see what happens next for Kate and if we get some answers to some of the final questions.

⭐This was another fantastic addition to the series. Fast-paced, action-packed and thrilling from cover to cover. Fellow crime readers will not be disappointed!
Profile Image for Bridget.
2,789 reviews130 followers
June 1, 2023
A Truth for a Truth is the fourth in Carol Wyer's series featuring Detective Kate Young. In this cracking instalment, Kate is still traumatised from the shock of her husband's murder.

I really enjoyed reading A Truth for a Truth and couldn't put it down! With its many twists, I was desperate to reach the end. Set in Staffordshire, England, Kate is a fascinating character; she is clearly ambitious though her mental health has taken a beating. Carol Wyer has cast all of her characters well and they all have something brilliant to contribute to the story. The plot was enthralling and as the story progressed the tension levels rose proportionately and I was kept guessing till the exemplary ending. All in all, A Truth for a Truth really packed a punch. An intense, wickedly good read that I highly recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Profile Image for Judy Odom.
1,904 reviews44 followers
March 23, 2023
How can I not give A Truth for a Truth 5 well earned stars.

Carol Wyer has a knack of keeping you on the edge of your seat and turning the pages quickly.

Heaven help anyone who interrupts you.

Kate Young and her team are on the hunt for a killer but its Kate.

Self defense, justifiable: you will keep the lights on to find out

John Dickson the corrupt cop that he is appears to be missing.

Kate knows what happened but no one else can.

Carol Wyer does not hesitate to throw in a shocking twist in any of her books: will A Truth for a Truth be an exception.

Not saying another thing.

Get your copy, don't bother putting in your huge TBR pile just sit down, buckle up and enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & #38 Mercer for a mind boggling read.
Profile Image for Krista.
1,030 reviews76 followers
May 17, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

While this book was an engaging read, I felt like there was just a bit too much 'to-ing and fro'ing', especially by the main character, Kate. How things wrapped up at the end -- it seemed just too easy. DI Kate Young is still hearing voices in her head, but now they are not all friendly voices. She longs to hear the voice of her murdered husband, Chris, but he seems to have fled.

I've really enjoyed Ms Wyer's other series, but this on is startinng to wear a bit thin for me. It seemed a too contrived, and then too convienent. I'm not sure if there will be another book in the series. If there is, I'll have to dive in. I need to see how this finishes up.
247 reviews2 followers
April 10, 2023
Good read.

I've enjoyed all Kate Young series and love Carol Wyer books wish she would do more Natalie Ward as that was my firm favourite. Hopefully we will see what happens to Kate in her next book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for this book.
Profile Image for Michelle.
762 reviews9 followers
April 30, 2023
Another stellar installment in this series! Now to wait until February 2024 for the final book.

Most of the summary is in the Goodreads info, but still so many page turning moments.

These books are incredibly inexpensive and if have Kindle Unlimited, FREE! So worth it!
Profile Image for Allison Valentine.
667 reviews18 followers
March 6, 2023
Carol Wyer has a unique way of pulling you into the her novels.
A Truth for a Truth is outstandingly brilliant!
This is the fourth book in the series following DI Kate Young and it is an explosive opening to the book.
Can Kate get away with murder?
If you know Kate the question is could she murder someone?
Kate is the most straight copper you could ever meet but sometimes fate has the upper hand.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but Kate is against the clock and even the ones she holds dear to her heart are hiding things from her.
Who can she still trust and who is out to get her?
Profile Image for Dee.
536 reviews9 followers
August 21, 2023
⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️

A Truth for a Truth is the fourth book in the Detective Kate Young series — I’ve read the previous three and thoroughly enjoyed them all, so I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of the latest instalment.

Although the book can be read as a standalone, I do recommend reading the previous books first just to get to know the finer details of Kate’s backstory.

Beautifully written and well-plotted. Carol Wyer’s characterisation is spot on, and it was great to be back with the team again. What I love about this series is the dialogue — the banter between the colleagues is always witty and authentic and adds depth of personality to the characters.

A Truth for a Truth is a gripping crime thriller/police procedural. Can’t wait for book five!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Natalie.
76 reviews4 followers
July 26, 2024
A Truth for a Truth is an all consuming 5 start fast paced unputdownable heart stopping read. This series is superbly written and cleverly planned out so that the reader has to, wants to keep going. So many layers. A very addictive series that just keeps delivering a brilliant thrilling captivated read.
Profile Image for Jen.
1,693 reviews62 followers
January 21, 2023
Now I'm an advocate for reading books, even in a series, in whatever order works for you. It's not unusual for me to start reading in the middle, continue onwards, and catch up with the earlier books in the series as and when I can. With A Truth for a Truth I would suggest you really do need to make an exception. At the very least you should read the previous book, A Life for a Life, but as this book is part of an ongoing story arc then you would be best starting at the beginning, just to be sure. And why wouldn't you? This is a great series with a very unusual, and troubled lead detective who manages a team through investigations which are dark, twisted and really make the toes curl at times. Kate Young is a very memorable character and as a stalwart for justice, with this latest offering, we see a side to her character we really never expected to see.

Now all you need to know about the plot is in the blurb - I'm not going to rehash that. It's also a good indicator as to why you need to read the earlier books first, to give what happens some context. It really does give this book a very different vibe, knowing that Kate is working in support of her team, but also with the express intent of fooling and misleading them. And that's not something that sits easy with her. Carol Wyer has done a stunning job of portraying the conflict within Kate, in her behaviour, her evasiveness with her team and her ultimate suspicion of practically everyone in front of her. It adds an edge to the story, a kind of tension that comes from the constant subterfuge and reluctance to trust anyone. Now for those in the know, Kate has a rather ... different personality, informed by personal tragedy, and one that acts as an inbuilt conscience of sorts, whilst also spurring her on to find the truth. That personality quirk explodes this time around, almost like it's been force fed steroids, amplifying Kate's fractured mind. It adds conflict which only enhances the story.

As for the investigation, it falls largely to the team to chase down leads to find the missing Superintendent. Add in new revelations about his own background, and accusations made against him in relation to a previous investigation, and the urgency of the story, the need to locate him, increases tenfold. This is a pacy novel, taking place over just a few days, and that tempo adds to the constantly building tension. The investigation follows and is relayed in a chronological manner, but there are moments in which we are taken back into Kate's memories, filling in small gaps in the actions, explaining to readers just what happened and why what we are seeing in the present is actually quite crucial. It's a narrative style that works well in this particular investigation, serving to keep some key details from readers until just the right moment, and allowing us to slowly build up an understanding of what a thin tightrope Kate is walking.

i like the team in this book. DS Emma Donaldson and DS Morgan Meredith are great characters, supportive of Kate and very intuitive and passionate a bout their jobs. Emma looks up to Kate as a kind of role model and is perhaps more in tune with the little changes in her personality than the rest of the team, but it's fair to say that she and Morgan have their own distractions to contend with as they face a real step change in their own partnership. As for their DC Jamie Webster, the jury is still out. At times he seems as keen as mustard, and really focused on the case, but there is still something about him, perhaps fuelled by the way in which Carol Wyer has manifested Kate's own paranoia, that makes him harder to get a grip with.

There are many other characters who inform the story to varying degree - DCI William Chase, Kate's own mentor and long term friend, Bradley Chapman, a very resourceful man who Kate met in a previous investigation, and DI Harriet Khatri, who has little love for Kate, or Kate her. Revelations galore undermine much of what we may have believed about what is happening, and be surprised for more than the occasional shock twist to turn everything on its head. Carol Wyer has spared no-one this time around and why would she. When the black and white of the justice system starts to be overtaken by shades of grey, anything can, and does, happen. It adds jeopardy to the book, especially Kate's position, and some bombshell revelations are going to change everything. It makes for an exciting read, even if some of the story is tinged with sadness.

there are several strong themes addressed in the book - corruption, trafficking, sexual abuse and murder - and Carol Wyer has made sure that it really packs a punch. But just when you think that maybe a corner has finally been turned, a step for Kate towards real justice, you'll be forced to think again. One chapter may be over but this is a story which seems to be far, far, from the end. Which is pretty good for us readers really as I, for one, am more than content to keep turning those pages. Fans of the series, and fans of Kate, are going to love this one.
Profile Image for Donna Hines (The Secret Book Sleuth).
212 reviews34 followers
January 16, 2023
First and foremost I want to thank Carol Wyer, Amazon Publishing Uk, and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy that's due out this April.
The fact that you can't run from your past is strengthened by the knowledge that not all women are crazy. In fact, some hear multiple voices in their heads.
DCI Kate is back at it with this very detailed and heavy read that for speed readers slows us in our tracks. It's full of information on every character's motives, their train of thought, and their reasoning for their explicit actions. Not that in itself is bad just not quite fitting for my needs.
Now, for most you might enjoy that idea that hearing voices is part of a larger guiding factor to warrant investigations in multiple directions. Heck, as detectives many are taught to go where the evidence takes you. However, the evidence is often based upon jealousy rather than plain view.
For me, I prefer plots that thicken quickly and don't have multiple avenues to explore as it becomes tedious to keep all the investigations, assumptions, lies, corruption, and confessions straight.
I seemed to be bogged down in the emotional aspect because as an empath I couldn't connect on any level to any of the characters.
Ironically the title, "A Truth for a Truth" is part of my reasoning behind my feelings because clearly nobody is telling the truth in the entire novel.
In fact, Kate has a boss named John Dickson who is violent and disgusting. He has information on a prostitute ring that involves young girls. He has information that could be used in court to take down many individuals. His close inner circle is examined with a fine tooth comb. Everyone is a suspect until they're excluded.
Kate meanwhile is still processing her feelings about the loss of Chris. His murder takes her on a roller coaster and her drive to get a confession from Dickson may have been her downfall.
What bothers me is the fact that everyone sees these young girls in precarious ways yet nobody bothered to speak out, contact authorities, right the wrongs?
Who do you trust is another component within this work by the lovely Carol Wyer.
I've read numerous books by Carol prior to this and I've enjoyed them all but this was just too much in too short a time span for me to enjoy.
If you enjoy thrillers and enjoy the fact that everyone is suspect and the suspect literally gets away with murder than this is for you.
How so many could work so closely and not suspect DI Kate for over 6 days after the killing of her boss even with many pointing fingers in her direction only to have it hidden literally and figuratively as it lands behind the bushes is perplexing.
Why are so many people watching others have sex is the question I raise?
Could there be a mole? Could Maja the sister of the prostitute be located and be located safely?
Will DI Kate ever face justice?
Could someone close to Kate's inner circle be charged with murder?
Will anyone come to terms with the truth?
It was a book that deserves your attention and demands it!
For that reason it's a good read and one that should be on your TBR!
Profile Image for Emma.
933 reviews43 followers
April 5, 2023
DI Kate Young’s team is hunting for a killer. What they don’t know…is that the killer is her.

For years, DI Kate Young has known that her boss, Superintendent John Dickson, is not only dodgy, but cruel and violent. Finally armed with the evidence she needs to expose him, she decides to confront him. But things don’t go to plan and she accidentally kills him in self defence, leaving Kate covering her tracks with a trail of evidence designed to make her colleagues think he’s vanished after allegations of his crimes are printed by the press.

But avoiding capture for murder isn’t Kate’s only worry. Dickson wasn’t working alone and there is a whole team of corrupt officers she must track down before they discover what she did. With no idea who she can trust and feeling increasingly desperate to share her secrets with someone, things increasingly spiral out of control. Will Kate be able to bring the corrupt officers to justice and get away with murder?

"There is a way out of this.
But if she takes it, she will never be the same person again."

Wow! The stakes are higher than ever in this fourth instalment of Carol Wyer’s Kate Young series, and you feel it from the first page. Fast-paced, tense and twist-filled, this is a crazy thrill-ride full of foreboding that I flew through in under a day. Wyer succinctly catches you up on the events of book three, allowing you to understand how Kate found herself in this shocking position. I was on tenterhooks from beginning to end, the menacing suspense leaping from the pages and into my bloodstream so that my heart was literally racing. Wyer’s ability to create such tension is one of the reasons I love her books. They are always brilliantly written, fast paced, filled with gritty storylines, and full of compelling characters.

DI Kate Young is a very different woman in this book than the one we are used to. She is still determined and feisty, but she is also a woman grappling with having become the very thing she detests and you can feel her heart-pounding anxiety, stress and strain radiating from the pages. Her mental state is also more shaky than ever, now haunted by the taunting voice of Dickson in her head instead of being comforted by the supporting voice of her late husband, Chris. Kate is having to put on the performance of her life and the cost of failure is unimaginable. Despite being wracked with guilt over what she’s done and the lies she must tell, she still burns with the need to unmask Dickson and his cohorts for the vile, evil people they are and find justice for their victims. I was rooting for her, but found myself torn because she’s covering up her crime. Was our moral protagonist now the villain? I wrestled with this but couldn’t deny I wanted her to succeed.

Intense, riveting and addictive, Ms. Wyer has once again delivered a first-rate thriller that isn’t to be missed. And that ending! I was not ready. I need book five ASAP!
Profile Image for Kristin (Always With a Book).
1,811 reviews432 followers
April 7, 2023
Thank you Brilliance Audio for the ALC and #ZooloosBooktours, #partner, for the advanced copy of A Truth for a Truth in exchange for my honest review.

Carol Wyer is one of my favorite crime fiction writers and I really enjoy this series. This is the fourth book in her Detective Kate Young series. She has this knack for creating such unique, leading female characters and I am totally for it!

As much as these books stand on their own, I really think that in order to fully appreciate all that is going on, especially in this book, you would benefit from having read the previous books. This one picks up right where the last book ends and there are threads that have been building since the first book that have major tie-ins in here. Yes, the author does give some back-story but I think to really get the full picture, you are going to want to have all the pieces in play and the only way to do so is to have read the previous books. But that is just my opinion. Perhaps if you are coming to this book first and you really like this one, it will encourage you to go back and start at the beginning.

One of the things I love about this series is that you never know what is going to happen with a character. All along, Kate has been trying to find out what really happened to her husband and in doing so has uncovered major corruption within the police. She knows the superintendent is a major player in the corruption but is surprised to find out who else is involved. And this is where I found myself shocked at where Wyer is willing to go with her characters. She certainly had me fooled and I loved it! I never would have guessed her going there…but that’s good, right?

As we have in the previous books, we continue to get Kate’s internal struggles as she works her way through everything that is going on. She still has conversations with her dead husband, but now there are other voices talking back to her and this is where things went a little sideways for me. I get that it was probably the guilt eating at her, but I think it was a bit too much.

As with all the books in this series, there are the usual twists and turns and I found myself quite surprised at where things ultimately ended up, especially as we were left with another cliff-hanger. I guess that means there is another book to come? I do hope so because while this might not have been my most favorite installment of the series, I am definitely not ready for the series to come to an end!


Audio thoughts: I was thrilled to see that Henrietta Meire was back to narrate this book. I love when there is consistency of narrators in a series and she has so far been the narrator for this entire series. Her voices and pacing are just right and I feel this book just lends itself to audio. I do hope she will stick around for the rest of the series…I love when it’s the same narrator all the way through!


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