‘The Whole Truth’ is Cara Hunter’s eagerly awaited latest novel in the DCI Adam Fawley series, set in Oxford. It’s her most compelling yet! Initially, this novel focuses on the sexual assault of a university professor on a student, the first surprise being that Caleb, a burly male rugby player, is the victim and his predator, Marina, a narcissistic media-savvy AI expert.
Clearly Hunter researches police procedures very carefully and the early chapters in which Caleb’s attack is processed at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre are very convincing. As in her earlier novels, Hunter also makes good use of electronic records, text messages and other social media to move the plot along. Whilst this novel is part of a series at the centre of which is Adam Fawley and his lawyer wife, Alex, it is possible to read ‘The Whole Truth’ as a standalone as Hunter provides enough information to appreciate the backstory whilst at no point letting this hold up the current narrative. Nevertheless, I’m guessing that anyone who does so will be keen to catch up on the others!
Adam and Alex are really tried and tested in this latest story and it seems as if their past will inevitably catch up with them. Initially, whilst it is easy to decipher who is behind Adam’s arrest and Alex’s unease, it is very difficult to see just how incriminating evidence has been planted. Hunter is really adept at leading her reader down a series of blind alleys where half-truths lurk and dead ends look inevitable. Not only is this author able to construct a complex yet credible plot but she also explores important themes within the storyline and creates plausible characters who hold our interest throughout.
Highly recommended.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin General UK for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

I've loved all Cara Hunter's previous books - the very best kind of police procedural - so I was very excited to be offered an early opportunity to read The Whole Truth. I'm happy to confirm that the series has gone from strength to strength,

The book begins, a bit unusually, with a kind of "Previously on...." introduction to the police characters for those who haven't read or have forgotten (that's usually me, as I read so much it's hard to remember everything) details from the previous books. Actually a pretty good idea.

Once the story gets under way, three plot strands unfold: first, an accusation of sexual assault by a university student against a professor. Unusually however, in this case, the professor is a woman, Marina Fisher, and the student a six foot male rugby player, Caleb. Which of course doesn't mean it can't happen. Second, a woman's body is found on a railway line - a crime which comes horribly close to home for DI Adam Fawley, our main protagonist. And third and equally close to home, there's a podcast investigating possible miscarriages of justice, which has turned its attention to Gavin Parrie - the man convicted of violent assaults against women including Fawley's wife Alex, and who is now out of prison. Where does the whole truth lie?

Fawley's personal life takes centre stage here and it makes for an enthralling read. He and lawyer Alex have survived almost unimaginable past tragedy; now she's pregnant, and vulnerable. Ultimately the sexual assault plot, while intriguing in itself, plays second fiddle to the main event, where things become almost unbearably stressful for Adam and Alex (and indeed the reader). I've probably been watching too much Line of Duty, because it reminded me a bit of that. The last part of the story, as the truth about the murder case comes out, had me on the edge of my seat, and the end was hugely satisfying and more than a little emotional. (I cried.)

The podcast transcripts are very well done and believable - I do listen to podcasts, though not true crime ones, and I could almost hear this one. Twitter exchanges regarding the sexual assault case afford the opportunity to explore, albeit briefly, some social attitudes as expressed via social media (the #HeToo hashtag is one thing, but #VictHIM is really bad). This strand of the plot (the sexual assault) does get a bit convoluted as we seem to go back and forth several times with who did what to who and why.

I really loved this book, especially as it gathered pace towards the end, and was totally invested in what happened. Cara Hunter in an end note mentions that the book was finished in lockdown, and I imagine it's no coincidence that the word "lockdown" was slipped in, in a different (but very effective) context at the end. A lovely touch.

The fifth book in the series and I've been addicted since Book 1. Love the characters, great storylines and just keep me wanting to come back for me. Alas book 5 gave a synopsis of the characters which was great for anyone who was new to them or those who needed a little reminder x

This is a treat. It follows from earlier stories but is self standing. There are two main lines of investigation both of which make for absorbing reading. DI Adam Fawley is haunted by the fallout from a previous case and the complex plot must hold the attention of readers. The other main theme handles the sensitivities of sexual abuse particularly in this instance when supposedly perpetrated by a renowned female Oxford lecturer against male students. The author encourages readers to think through the implications of these accusations being unusual as rape is expected to be from male to female. Some interesting points are made giving food for thought. There are several detectives involved in the cases and their personalities and private issues are an important part of the book. It is, as you would expect, very well written and I recommend it.

Best police thriller I've read in a long time. Brilliantly plotted story where the detective finds himself charged with murder and the evidence against him is seemingly undeniable. A really gripping page turner.

Another great story from Cara Hunter, featuring D I Adam Fawley, a real cliff hanger from start to finish an unusual format using the genre of podcasts to enhance the storyline. A real page turner from beginning to end. Hopefully this format is turned into a TV series as mentioned at the end of the novel.

Yet another useful addition to deliver the DI Adam Fawley story. An overwhelming sense that time is running out that will have not just the characters but you too leaning forwards to go faster. And did I work it out before the truth was unravelled? Not at all. A sign of an excellent read.

I’m really not sure about this, which is frustrating as the underlying storyline is tantalising and engaging, as are the characters and the settings. Having enjoyed ‘All The Rage’ I was looking forward to this.
I think I understand why Hunter has employed the technique of providing the ongoing procedural investigation interspersed with the newspaper and Podcast clips – they do provide variety and prevent this book being too similar to others of its type. However, it was just too disjointed for me. Perhaps it works better with the paper, rather than the E-reader format?
I’ve always personally disliked novels written in the first person but I thought I had become more tolerant of them so was very disappointed when some of Fawley’s emotional rantings, although realistic, grated so much.
It’s always good when an ending isn’t too predictable or is slightly different so this should have been satisfying but my overriding response was ‘What??’
Despite my reservations about ‘The Whole Truth’ it is a provoking procedural detective story that definitely has you wondering just who is telling the truth and who is not.


Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow is this book a thrilling one!

Not only do we have an accusation of assault, but the accused is a female professor and the victim a male student.

Our beloved Fawley also find himself into dark waters, after some events happen that I will not spoil.

Once again, Cara Hunter delivers a great read with believable characters!

Another cracking book from the fabulous Cara Hunter. This was nail bitingly good and twisted and turned the story till the very end.. A crime drama that'll keep you guessing who's the baddie or goodie and you'll change your mind several times.. I can't wait to read the next book!!! Hurry please, I need to know what happens next in the Adam Fawley series.

Thank you to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this title!

We are back again with Fawley and his rag-tag group of officers; the fifth in the instalment and yet the series doesn't feel overdone or samey. Each book stands entirely on it's own and works to further develop each character; i'm not left feeling worn out by this series as I am with others, because each book focuses on a completely different crime and something of a completely different nature. Whilst the character threads weave throughout the books, the crimes generally stand apart. I don't sit there thinking, why do people still live in this place??

This book was so well written and so fast-paced I honestly couldn't put it down; I read almost half in the first sitting and read the second half throughout the day (speeding through a bunch on my lunch hour!). I was hooked from the start; both with the crime storyline and what was going on for Adam and Alex. Without saying too much, this is one hell of a tense book for both of them and I was slightly terrified at times we were going to be left on a massive cliffhanger; not sure I could have forgiven Cara if she'd done that 😂

I really like that this built straight onto what we'd learnt about Adam and Alex in the last book and developed that thread; not for one minute did I think Adam was guilty but I honestly wasn't sure how Cara was going to get him out of this one! It had me hooked to the edge of my seat like a woman possessed. I spent the other half of the book concerned about what was going on with Somer and now we'll have to wait for the next book to see the impact for her.

How i'm meant to wait well over a year now to see how Adam deals with what's happened to him; I do wonder how exactly he's going to come back from this but also praying that someone punches that King in the face - Somer did us all a favour there!!

I have purposefully tried to be so vague in my review because this is a book that deserves no spoilers; you need to go into this blind because it is one wild ride.

The only reason i'm rating this book four stars and not five is personal preference around one of the plot reveals - MASSIVE SPOILER BELOW

We find out towards the very end of the book that Caleb falsely accused Marina of sexual assault, and in actually fact we find out at the very end of the book that he raped her. There is no denying that Marina abused her position as a lecturer (and was a pretty shitty mother) but the fact that the plot twist was that the rape allegation was false against her... just didn't sit right with me. Whether it's because i'm currently listening to an audiobook on feminism which just talked about how over estimated false rape allegations are have impacted my viewing of this i'm not sure, but I just wish it wouldn't be used as a plot point in books because it just further spreads the narrative that false rape allegations are more common than they actually are. And to then find out she actually was a victim of rape herself, I don't know - this whole reveal just made me feel very uncomfortable and it slightly jarred my enjoyment of the rest of the book.

I do still love the rest of the book and the series, but I just couldn't rate this one five when the above knocked my enjoyment of it!

I have loved Cara Hunter’s books since the first one, when I realised DI Fawley was going to be a big crime fiction hit. I was so pleased to read that these will be televised at some point, I will be very interested to see who plays Adam. This book is very, very good. The shock arrest had me reeling and I’m hoping a certain policeman gets his comeuppance in the next book. All the characters ring so true and their relationships within the team are also believable. I love Inspector Morse, but Oxford has a new cop on the block. I appreciated the character summary at the beginning as I read a lot of crime and sometimes can’t recall details about the supporting characters. This book also captures the divide between town and gown that is very real in this beautiful city.

Cara Hunter returns with her latest addition to her hugely popular Oxford based crime series featuring DI Adam Fawley. It proves to be a fast paced thrilling and twisted shocker of an adrenaline ride that continues with the completely unexpected revelations from the previous book. Once again, Hunter delivers with her trademark style of interspersing the narrative with press articles, voicemails, police interviews, podcasts, emails, phone calls, online local and national media, medical examiner forms and more. Adam's lawyer wife, Alex, is pregnant and isolated at home, and Adam is doing all that he can to support her, with the suicide of their son, Jake, hanging over them. There is additional pressure on the Fawleys as the man dubbed the roadside rapist, Garry Parrie, is now out of prison, tagged, his threats upon conviction, where he claimed he had been fitted up, not forgotten, particularly as Alex feels they are being watched.

In the meantime, in a turn up for the books, a young Oxford student with the strapping physique of a rugby player, Caleb Morgan, mentored by the famous and popular Professor Marina Fisher, is claiming Fisher sexually assaulted him when he was babysitting her son. With Gislingham away, demoted DC Gareth Quinn is in charge of this political hot potato of a case, Fisher is an academic media star, lauded by her Oxford College with her ability to attract huge levels of funding whilst Morgan's mother is a high profile MP. Despite knowing it's not good for her peace of mind and fragile health, Alex is doggedly following every episode of a podcast by Jocelyn Naismith, co-founder of The Whole Truth that campaigns on miscarriages of justice. Naismith is taking up and supporting Parrie's case and his claim that he is an innocent man, reviewing all aspects of the case in the podcast in detail. Then a woman falling from a railway bridge turns out to have been murdered, a case that sees Adam's life and career go into freefall.

One of the highlights of Hunter's smashing series is the time given to members of Adam's police team as they work their cases, you get insights into their characters, lives and issues. For example, Quinn surprisingly finds himself in a relationship that he is happy and challenged in with Maisie. DC Verity Everett tries to help and support DC Erica Somers who is struggling with the issues that arise for her, but she is refusing to let Everett know what is going on. DS Chris Gislingham is an absolute rock of support to Adam when he returns to work, willing to do whatever it takes for him, even if it endangers his career. As per usual with this superior crime series, this is riveting and compulsive reading, with Alex proving to be revelation when it comes to her forensic eye for details. An absolute rollicking page turner that will have you pushing the world away until you reach the final pages. Brilliant must read crime fiction! Many thanks to Penguin UK for an ARC.