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Aug 07, 2011

I loved this book.

Lara starts out as someone who tries to fade into the background. She limits her interactions with other people because the half-truths and polite lies we all use make her very uncomfortable. She does have a good friend, Kelly, who seems to understand (at least to some degree) how Lara feels. Kelly often tries to get Lara to open up to others, especially men. She wants Lara to be happy.

Enter David Kirwen and Dickon Collins. David is a local weatherman a More...

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Nov 29, 2011

Michelle rated it:

Lara has always had the ability to tell when someone is lying. This has always made her life more challenging than easy. Then she meets David. He reveals that he is a prince from Faerie and he has been searching for someone with her ability for almost 100 years. He sounds crazy but Lara knows he is telling the truth. He asks her to come to Faerie and help prove that he did not murder his brother. Because time moves differently in Faerie it should only take the equivalent of one night on Ea More...

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Jan 20, 2012

Simone rated it:

I picked this one up on a whim from a bookstore because I needed something to entertain me, and I had enjoyed Murphy's Inheritor's Cycle books. This one was a disappointment, though. It's not that it was terrible, I just don't see why anyone would need this book AND the sequel to tell the relatively slight story. The characters and plot are not as well-developed or as inherently interesting as in the Inheritor's Cycle, and the book ends on that irritating brand of cliffhanger that is less " More...

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Jan 31, 2011

Colleen rated it:

It's another first-of-the-series from C. E. Murphy, and given that I was expecting a spunky heroine to be dragged bass-akward through a pile of world-view-changing revelations, it did not disappoint.

Truthseeker moves a little too fast for the plot to gain much in the way of depth, and the action was explained away rather than explained. However, that speed is complimented by dialog that I found to be witty as well as wry. The four main characters are presented well, from the angles More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Nov 24, 2010

Margaret rated it:

C.E. Murphy has delighted me for years, and the Truthseeker world shows all the signs of doing the same. Certain elements are familiar enough from the Walker Papers series to make this right in Murphy s sweet spot while in other ways, Truthseeker takes a huge leap into the unknown. Like Joanne, Lara Jansen is unaware of the true extent of her abilities. Unlike Walker Papers, though, acceptance is not an issue, and the development of those abilities is quick and strong. Lara enters the story goi More...

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Nov 04, 2010

Paradoxical rated it:

I rather liked the first half more than the second half. The second half was more of a mess, not nearly as clean and enjoyable as the first half, though not all that bad overall. Lara is a charming main character with understandable quirks, and I loved that about her--how literal she took things, how truth sounded to her and how dishonesty grated on her so. The relationship between her and Daffyd left me a bit cold. It was interesting in the start, but the relationship seemed more forced later o More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 19, 2010

drey rated it:

Truthseeker is the latest offering from C.E. Murphy, and is part of a new duology filled with faeries, magic, time travel, and treachery.

Lara Jensen is a tailor who just happens to know when you tell the truth. You'd think that this is a handy thing to have, but it's just a pain in her you-know-what. After all, how much fun can it be to know when people aren't being honest with you?

Then she meets David, or Daffydd ap Caerwyn, a Seelie prince who's been searching for a Tru More...

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Dec 02, 2011

Cris rated it:

I really loved the basic concept. I think Murphy did an excellent job of considering the ramifications of growing up knowing whenever someone was lying. Little touches, like <spoiler>references to how freaked out Lara was after being told about the Tooth Fairy</spoiler> emphasized how different it would be to hear/feel lies.

Most of the characters, especially Lara and Kelly, were likable and I found the close friendship between the two ladies particularly appealing. On th More...

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Oct 03, 2010

Joletta rated it:

This book is worlds apart from Murphy's Walker Files. Having said that, I haven't put my nook in hibernate mode since I started. I keep picking this book up whenever I have a free moment. I'm not sure if I like Daffyd yet, but Lara (and her friend Kelly) make this book.

Okay, here is my brilliant (haha) opinion. Some of the characters in this book are...hesitant; they are still finding their footing and aren't quite as "fleshed-out" as I would like. Lara shows great potent More...

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Sep 01, 2011

Mlpmom rated it:

This was my first read by this author and I was kind of excited to read it because the story line sounded so different and unique and I really liked the concept of someone being able to tell when someone is lying or not, I mean, how cool would that be to have in real life? It would come in pretty handy that is for sure.
Murphy definitely created an unusual world of fairies and demons, worldwalkers, oracles, and truthseekers as well as a world of deception and half truths. Jealousy, illusion More...

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Jul 29, 2011

Maniai rated it:

It took me a while to get through this book. Like all of my reviews, I won't bother with a summary, since you can read what the book is about by the blurb.

Ultimately, it's a compelling enough story that I do want to read the second book and find out how it all ends. I think the story itself is good. The problem is in the writing itself.

NOT that it's horrible, writing-wise. But there's apparently a romance here and I just don't feel it. Largely because I don't care about More...

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Aug 01, 2011

David rated it:

C.E. Murphy has done it again. She has created a character you want as a friend (if not best friend). This book begins light hearted and everyday, with the main character Lara and her best friend Kelly, when they get together so the Kelly can by a used car without being lied to by the salesman. Because first and for most Lara can tell when people are lying. These two women have a very strong friendship that can stand up to anything.

Lara then meets David Kirwen, the local television sta More...

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Jan 23, 2011

Annie rated it:

After this book, my need for fantasy novels was abated. It had an intriguing idea: a heroine whose superpower is telling the truth. I especially like how she describes a well-made piece of clothing as truth made manifest.

Good idea, poor execution. I felt like I was being told about character development as opposed to it being developed naturally through the story. When done right, I can swallow a heroine coming out of her shell through adversity and throwing everything away for the lov More...

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Jan 19, 2011

Avril rated it:

Lara Jensen enjoys nothing more than working as an apprentice tailor in a quiet Boston atelier. She’s young and pretty, and her friend Kelly is constantly trying to connect her with eligible bachelors. However, Lara’s uncanny ability to tell when someone’s lying prevents her from forging close relationships with the opposite sex. Then, one day, Kelly introduces Lara to their local tv weatherman Dafydd. He’s hiding behind a glamor that only Lara can see through. He’s living in exile from More...

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Jul 20, 2011

Sandra rated it:

The 'romance' between the lead characters was just not believable. There was no sense of connection. She went on one date with him before he convinced her to go to fairyland with him at which point she spent about an hour in his company and they weren't alone. Daffyd was quite also boring with very little personality. I thought Lara had more of a connection with Ioan, who also seemed the more interesting character - which is a shame given he is only in the book for the equivalent of 2 half chap More...

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Aug 14, 2011

Debbie rated it:

Always being truthful is a good concept for most people, but Lara Jansen didn’t have a choice. Hearing lies when spoken was a bonus. Figuring out what the lie is was the tricky part. Knowing that David Kirwen was lying was one thing, then she finally knew the truth of who and what he was. Finding a truthseeker was what Dafydd ap Caerwyn (David) had wanted to do and now that he had one, convincing her to travel to his kingdom wasn’t going to be easy. As the Prince of Faerie, Dafydd needed to More...

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Sep 12, 2010

Rhonda rated it:

Okay, good book, but for goodness gracious, it's like half the story. Where is the end? Oh I guess we have to wait for Wayfinder. For future reference, I am not a fan of this cutting-a-book-in-half-so-we-can-sell-two-titles-and-get-more-money-out-of-it trend lately. Happened to me with another book earlier this year too. I don't mind series. I don't mind trilogies. I don't mind never ending sagas (okay, well, that may be an exaggeration), but c'mon people, don't start one story arc, get to what More...

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Oct 13, 2011

Jackie rated it:

I will start by saying I absolutely love the Walker Papers series, and I have read the 1st of the Negotiator Trilogy, and looking forward to the next 2, which I have in the TBR pile, so I started this book with anticipation.

I admit that at the beginning I was almost going to give up as I have so many books in the TBR pile and in my Kindle, but I decided to keep on with it. The basic story is that Lara, who lives in Boston and is quiet intense sort of person, is out with her friend Kell More...

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Sep 11, 2011

Amanda rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Nov 11, 2011

Zeeba rated it:

This book was really hard to go through. It's too wordy and it takes too long for things to happen. A couple of pages can go by without much happening. I'm not sure if I mistook what I thought it would be and that's why I didn't like it, but it wasn't one I enjoyed.

I didn't think any of the characters were really developed enough for you to care about, and I didn't think the switch between the mundane and the Barrowlands worked in the books favour because nothing really exciting see More...

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Oct 23, 2011

new_user rated it:

Made-for-TV movie? C.E. Murphy's Truthseeker reads like one, only with no action and cleaner. Yeah. Hot stuff, huh? Does that hit the spot? Then you'll like Truthseeker.

Our very clean-- er, I can't say drama because I didn't see drama either. NU stamps this product safe for feeble medicated hearts and impressionable young minds. I hate to spoil, but tailor-heroine Lara Jansen remains well-adjusted and safe throughout the book, experiencing only a few near gasp-inducing moments when gia More...

9 comments like (9 people liked it)

Apr 19, 2011

Barbara rated it:

Truthseeker by C. E. Murphy is a unique tale of a woman with an incredible ability--to know the truth when she hears it. Lara hears the truth like music and a lie like horrible discord. She has always heard the difference and it has shaped her world such that she is practically incapable of telling a lie. She even has trouble with common sayings and harmless exaggeration, as both sound as lies to her. She lives a very simple life, surrounded by a few friends that understand her situation. H More...

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Jul 25, 2011

Nafiza rated it:

I believe Lara has got to be one of the most dour protagonists I have ever had the dubious pleasure of reading. I understand that there is a specific reason that she is portrayed the way she is, however, that does not mitigate the fact that Lara is just...not fun. I was tempted to stop reading but since I had spent money on my copy, I decided to persevere till the end and I am sort of glad I did since she does ease up by the end of the story. The story itself did not resonate with me as much as More...

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Jan 11, 2011

Chrissy rated it:

"Truthseeker" is the latest book by C.E. Murphy, and while she continues to write in the urban fantasy setting, this book goes in a direction where none of her others have: into the Faerie world. Lara has always known the truth. She can hear the difference between truth and lies as songs and chiming music - either as beautiful or jarring chords. Even she has a hard time no telling the truth and sarcasm is nearly impossible as the music sets her teeth on edge. When she meets a mysteriou More...

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Jul 24, 2011

Angela rated it:

There are a few fundamental constants about my reading tastes. One of those is that any book with a decent treatment of the Sidhe is guaranteed to appeal to me. The other is that any book by C.E. Murphy is guaranteed to do the same. Combine these, and the result is a tasty little urban fantasy that pretty much has "read this, Anna" written all over it.

Lara Jansen has a strange gift: she can always, always tell when someone is lying. Compared to many high-powered, badassed u More...

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Sep 06, 2011

Shelleyrae rated it:

In Truthseeker, Lara Jensen's talent for detecting lies and half truths is exactly what Seelie Prince Dafydd ap Caerwyn has been searching for and despite her reluctance, Lara agrees to help Dafydd who is desperate to avenge his foster brother's death and prove his innocence in his murder. In the Barrowlands, Lara discovers that not only has Dafydd not been entirely truthful with her but she has stepped into the middle of a brewing civil war between the Seelie and UnSeelie. Someone is stirring u More...

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Nov 08, 2010

Crystal rated it:

I really wish that I could give this book 2.5 stars. It has a very interesting premise and I like that it's a mixture of contemporary and fantasy but not urban fantasy per se. It is NOTHING like her Walker Files series, completely different.

I really wanted to love this book (I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale) and I actually had a very hard time finishing it. The main character didn't feel as "real" to me as Murphy's other heroines do. I just felt like she was kind of a ca More...

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Feb 07, 2011

Daffodil rated it:

Highly entertaining read. Lara's ability has made life and forming relationships difficult for her. It's apparent that Murphy put thought into the details of Lara's surroundings, career and friendships. The one place where it felt wrong was Daffyd. Lara's initial attraction was to a person who would always tell her the truth and never cause discomfort with lying. However, on the whole, Daffyd comes across as a much weaker character than Lara (and I don't mean physically). I'm definitely lo More...

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Oct 27, 2010

Sarah rated it:

Considering i didn't much care for C.E. Murphy's other books, i was pleasantly surprised with this one. The main character, Lara is spunky and fun to read about, with her inability to comprehend or care for humor, white lies, or even allegory and Santa Clause. Her friend Kelly is outrageously open and a great support to Lara throughout the story. The elves in the story are equally interesting and nothing is ever what it seems. The next book needs to come out faster.

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Nov 02, 2011

Penny rated it:

I really liked the switch back and forth between the Barrow Lands, and Boston--also the way Lara quickly grew into her rapid growth of Truthseeker Power---loved the 'bespoken tailor' profession---thought Dafydd was not very strong as a love interest, but his brother, the Unseelie 'King' was much more interesting-

The story is a prime example of an Urban Fantasy---similar to Charles de Lint, and Emma Bull---some of my all time favorite authors--

Now, to get and read "Wayfin More...

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