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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Scandal In The Pulpit!, April 7, 2008
This review is from: Deacon's Circle (Paperback)
Deacon's Circle by Derek Vitatoe has got to be this years' number one suspense novel on the market. I was upset at first because this book is a sequel, but I was soon relieved to know that it could stand alone. Without having to go back in time, I was catapulted through a dangerous series of events with childhood friends that included murder, child prostitution and revenge.
Vitatoe describes his characters and each scene with such detail that at times I felt as if I was watching a movie. The heroine in this story is Madeline Harris, a Detroit detective who played a prominent part in the first book. Madeline returns to the force after grieving the death of her husband and to jump right back into work on a case that has the whole force stumped. Detroit is turned upside down when a serial killer is on the loose, children are being made sex slaves and the church is not all that it appears to be.
This tale includes four college friends, who are caught up in the middle of a rape trial, fighting to prove their innocence and get on with their lives. The outcome of the trial does not leave all parties happy, and someone is out to right the wrong of the young girl that was raped. Now all grown up and mature, they have all gone their separate ways. But they have one thing in common the love of young girls. Ali, the ringleader of the crew who was once the football star has now turned into a Deacon. While he plays an intricate part in this story the other friends are just along for the ride. Ali, has parties where young girls come and provide sex for a selected few. Never wondering where these girls are from, he is just satisfied with filling his need at the time. Foregoing his love for the church, he is stealthy, lying and committing obscene sexual acts with underage girls. Will he stop at anything? Is Ali using the church as a front to commit these heinous acts or is he truly a saved man?
Will the young girls that are being held as sex slaves be set free? Or will they live in the torturous dungeon forever? Will the mystery man that seeks vengeance on the Fantastic Four get the last laugh or will the cops catch him before he gets the last victim?
Deacon's Circle by Derek Vitatoe is filled with so many twists and turns, that you will have to hold onto your seat for this crazy roller-coaster ride. Will Madeline be able to solve the murders, and get the young girls to safety without losing her own daughter in the midst? Stay tuned....
I loved this book; it was action-packed and full of excitement. I recommend this book to readers of all genres!
Reviewed by: Cheryl H
APOOO BookClub
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
(4.5 Stars) Past Transgressions, April 8, 2008
This review is from: Deacon's Circle (Paperback)
Detective Madeline Harris is back with one of the toughest cases ever. Now moving up from sex crimes to the homicide division, Madeline is knee deep in the case of a murdered child prostitute. But as she gets further into the case, she finds out that everything is not as it appears to be. Madeline is also trying to solve the case of a serial killer that is seeking revenge against a group of child rapists. As she gets closer to solving these crimes, Detective Harris hits a number of road blocks. Someone is trying to stop her from bringing these killers to justice. The question is: Who?
Deacon's Circle is an outstanding novel by Derek Vitatoe. Vitatoe brought us a classic urban mystery with a creative plot. Although this is the sequel to With These Hands, this story does so well as a stand alone novel that you don't have to read the first book in order to read and understand this one. This multi-layered tale features two different cases which made this novel all the more exciting. You will literally be glued to the pages as this story unfolds. You will also be in complete disbelief when you find out who the killers are. Vitatoe ultimately leaves the reader with a shocking cliffhanger that will hopefully lead to another installment. Deacon's Circle is a fast-paced and suspenseful novel that will have you highly anticipating another book from Derek Vitatoe.
Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Vitatoe a Burgeoning Storyteller, August 2, 2009
Deacon's Circle is an interesting tale that takes on some rather stark subject matter: Child sexual exploitation--with several graphic murders tossed in, to boot. One of the requirements for reading this book is a strong intestinal fortitude, as some of the sex scenes between adults and children are quite graphic.
The story centers on Deacon Ali Gaines, a shiesty church official caught up in the proverbial "love for money," sexual obsession and opulent lifestyle that a harem-keeping sheik would envy. While we know a lot about Ali, we get a picture of the heroine--detective Madeline Harris--in bits and pieces. This is one of the books drawbacks.
Gaines not only steals from his church, but he too, is connected to the sex slave ring. Kicking the story up a notch, however, is a mysterious and brutal serial killer who is wiping out Ali's inner circle, including a double homicide committed in a church that shocks the senses. Gaines is panicked and at one point, thinks the goings on might be some sort of divine retribution for his myriad of crimes.
Vitatoe knows his material. Every character is believable, but the story is sometimes hampered by overuse of clichés and metaphors. He has a good ear for dialogue, which I don't think we see enough of. Vitatoe is quite inventive, but his voice suffers when he relies on phraseology such as:
"'Stay here with him, Davis,' Madeline instructed one of her colleagues as she and the others geared up. They weren't prepared for what awaited them on the inside." Or, "Sanders turned to his right, and a shoulder caught him in the stomach and sent him tumbling in the dirt. When he finally shook the stars circling over his head..."
Still, the story has plenty of action packed scenes and enough twists and hint of a love interest involving Madeline and one of her partners to hold the reader's interest. The ending, while it packs a wallop, leaves several unanswered questions which I suppose are being saved for a sequel. 3 out of 5 stars.
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