Conspiracy [Mass Market Paperback]

Cresswell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001

The U.S. State Department has two questionable employees: one is a traitor, and the other has lost her edge.

Verity Marlowe's life has spiraled into a haze of alcohol and self-pity following the death of her husband. The State Department considers her a security risk, but when terrorist violence erupts overseas, they have no choice but to call her back on assignment.

Michael Strait has lied to Verity about his profession, his feelings and his past. Can she believe him when he insists that the only way to save her life is to trust him? In a high-stakes game of international terror and million-dollar payoffs, someone is determined that she should die. If Verity trusts the wrong person, it will be the last mistake she'll ever make.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Front-page violence and the comforting bromides of a caring ghost mingle in Cresswell's latest romantic suspense (after The Refuge). Since the death of her husband Sam, Verity Marlowe has been soaking in self-pity and vodka, but she's yanked out of it by his ghost (a sweet spirit who calls her "sugar babe") and his friend, Michael Strait, a spy for a counterterrorist unit. In the midst of Verity's leave of absence, her boss at the State Department calls her in to meet with Khalid Muhammad, her old Kashmiri friend. Kashmiri terrorists have sent Khalid to D.C. to deliver a threat, but he refuses to give U.S. officials any more information until he speaks with Verity, who was born and raised in Kashmir. Before he is gunned down, he passes her a key to a safe-deposit box containing software to launch nuclear missiles and informs her that an American official is trading arms with Saddam Hussein. While Verity and Michael try to root out the traitor, they pursue the passion they were too honorable to explore when Sam was alive. Unfortunately, Cresswell provides her readers with only two possible villains, one of whom is obviously a red herring, so the traitor is never a surprise. Despite this lack of suspense, Creswell skillfully dramatizes the trouble in Kashmir and portrays characters who will interest and involve the reader. (Sept.)Forecast: A stark, shadowy cover won't boost sales any, but Cresswell's readers are a devoted lot. Her latest will appeal to fans of Helen R. Meyers and Lynn Erickson as well, and booksellers may see improved crossover sales if they feature the three authors together.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Mira (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551668386
• ISBN-13: 978-1551668383
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,837,708 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!, September 10, 2002

By 

MJ24 (Riverdale, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Conspiracy (Mass Market Paperback)

This is another great book by Jasmine Cresswell. Keeps you wondering until the end. Definitely try and read her other books, they are also very good.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really interesting plot., November 12, 2001

By 

Susan J. Reinhardt "littlesuey" (Cresco, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conspiracy (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the first of Cresswell's books that I actually liked. The plot is interesting especially in light of today's terrorist activities and it's well crafted and rolls at a good pace. However, the main characters fall in love without much pretext. Yes, they've known each other for a long time and yes, they've kissed and noticed an attraction, but they go from finally getting together after three years of avoidance to a hastily crafted sex scene. I didn't feel much of a connection to Verity once she became sober. Michael had about as much emotion as a stick. The use of a ghost works when he first appears, but then it becomes obvious that he's just there to shove the book along. You read his words and think - oh, please, give me a break. At times the dialogue was stilted and strained and there was a great deal of 'telling' and narration that slowed it down. But all in all, thanks to the interesting plot, it was a good read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page-turning Romantic Suspense, September 23, 2001

By 

Sheri Melnick (Enola, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conspiracy (Mass Market Paperback)

Best-selling author Jasmine Cresswell has created another suspenseful thriller complete with an American traitor brokering arms to terrorists.

U.S. State Department employee Verity Marlowe has spent the past six months wallowing in self-pity and neglect as well as establishing an ongoing relationship with a bottle of vodka. After her husband Sam's death, Verity began an onward spiral of neglect until the ghost-like appearance of her husband Sam. Though apparitions are rather unconventional in romantic suspense, Sam adds a lighter touch enabling Verity to pull her life back together again. ...

Though the discussion of terrorists and middle-eastern politics seems a little too detailed at times, it is a necessity in forming the foundation on which this novel is built. Further enhancing the element of mystery are the discussions that Michael and Verity have as they piece together the puzzle of the traitor's identity and try to discover the motives behind the crimes committed. For a truly gripping tale of espionage and mystery that just doesn't quit, THE CONSPIRACY is a certain winner.