When Truth Awakens [Kindle Edition]

The story leads the reader from Canada to the US to Russia. And it flows through time from China in WWII, to Manchuria to Siberia. The elements are intertwined and we are given information, hints and intrigue.

The plot was original without getting too scientific and technical. The main characters were well-developed and appropriately likeable or not liked. They had a good amount of conflict, either between themselves or their own. Wil Medlo is well-chosen for this part; while not a standard operative he can afford to have a conscience, which offers him just as much antagonism as his primary antagonists. And he has a love interest.

Chas Newbury has just enough sleaze to boo/hiss at. Dr. Dargill is self-tortured just enough to present us with a sad but believable character who does not wish to be involved at this late stage of his life with what he did in the past. And this creates enough concern in Medlo to want to protect Dargill.

The Russians were very convincing. Just the right amount of interest and large amounts of muscle to make them a dangerous threat, even in post-cold war Russia. Having all this brought into the current timeline and in Canada gives this book a very different feel.

I found the time line moved smoothly; it appeared to hold to an accurate time line and that lent authenticity to the story. It was interesting to see the changes to the agencies due to historical changes. It appears Mr. Carling did his homework and even though this is fiction, it gives a feeling of validity to the events.

The story was well woven. I liked the various locations, they were set up well and I felt as though I was changing locations as the story moved along. While not a flashy kind of spy thriller, it does have a moving plot which did not disappoint. It did move slowly in a few places. However the ending of the book had enough action to make a clean finish.

I read the e-book version, and there were the usual formatting issues but the story kept me from noticing them all that much. I do believe it could be reviewed for better formatting. The book seemed free of the spelling/punctuation/grammar issues that seem to be standard for many e-books and that was welcomed!

I enjoyed this book. I would give it 3.5 stars for a first novel. I look forward to future works of Mr. Carling.

"WHEN TRUTH AWAKENS" by Terrence Carling

Author Terrence Carling's first novel, "WHEN TRUTH AWAKENS", is anything but unbelievable. Carling's tight net of characters are carefully worked, vivid in description, with each represented by an ante of life experiences cleverly divulged within the seemingly subtle turns and twists of this first-rate story. The narrative has a perfect rhythm that builds on convincing connections and are appropriately revealed to the reader within lucid spheres of background vignettes that just keeps you wanting to say to each character 'I can relate! I know how you feel!'
Adept at keeping the characters grounded and human, Carling quietly reveals the foibles of the human condition in the lives' of a former CIA intelligence analyst, a stubborn elder POW camp survivor with suspected secrets, and the plated existence constructed by the cold and driven demands of being a ladder-climbing professional spy-master.
In a world full of Bond type spy-world fictions, author Terrance Carling chooses to represent in his novel, "WHEN TRUTH AWAKENS", a simple reality--a sharp, smart story, with interesting and well-crafted characters at its heart, is every time, a more appealing story than any techno-gadget laden story. Every time!

It's rare to read a Canadian's view of international spy conspiracies. The author, Terrence Carling, has provided that in his first novel WHEN TRUTH AWAKENS. It's a good, thick read so make sure you have your comfortable chair as u get lost in Carling's first novel and its twists and turns, overlapping sub plots and discoveries. This is not a frivolous novel; it is a well crafted one. Carling knows how to write and this novel shows that 'truth awakening'.