Customer Reviews

Deacon's Circle

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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

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.

For those who read author Derek Vitatoe's first novel "With These Hands" you'll already be familiar with some of the dirty criminals Detroit's finest has to deal with. For those new to Mr. Vitatoe's work let me introduce you to Detective Harris.

Previously, detective Madeline Harris was part of the Sex Crimes Unit working undercover at Michigan Central University on the trail of the college murderer dubbed the "Midwest Strangler". After that grueling case and a near death experience Madeline made the transition over to the homicide division. A year has passed and finally she has found time for a vacation.

But the vacation is short lived when homicide detective Madeline is called back on duty to track down the killer of a twelve year old girl. A child prostitution ring is uncovered, and to add to the mix someone is out for revenge on a group of child rapists who slipped through the justice system with a slap on the wrist!!

Being a single mother with a young daughter, Madeline takes this one personal and the manhunt sends this detective and her colleagues on a shockingly disturbing chase.

This read was great! I love how the four friends were masquerading as upstanding citizens, but undercover there was a whole other side to these guys!

Vitatoe gave a very descriptive visual of innocent underage girls trapped in a world of sexual abuse along with horrific beatings!!

I didn't get the title at first but after reading the story I understood what was meant by "Deacons' Circle"...Yes we reap what we sow...

A personal thank you from me to you Derek... and please don't keep us waiting too long for the next installment...this one's a winner!

Locksie

ARC Book Club Inc.

I was anticipating the sequel to "With These Hands" and you truly delivered. Deacons Circle is a page-tuner and I didn't want to put it down. I truly felt like I was in the middle of the action. Derek captures and keeps your attention from beginning to end. This is a cliff hanger and I can't wait for the next installment. I love the book and will definitely recommend it to others.

I loved this book and have been waiting to read it for about a year now, since I had finished reading "With These Hands". Derek's books grab you at the get go and I read Deacon's Circle in about 5 hours.....I didn't want to put it down. Derek's writing pulls the reader in right from the beginning and you get to where you feel like you know the characters and you are interested in how their lives are unfolding and what is in store for them. You have to stay on your toes when reading it......you start to think you might know what direction the story is going in and then BAM! You get a surprise turn in the road, and you go a direction you weren't even expecting! The only bad thing about reading the book so quick, is that I have to wait that much longer for The Widow's Angel to come out to continue on! I hope to read many more books from Derek in the future! He is definitely an author whose books are a MUST READ!

I loved this book. The way that the author is detailed about each character and scene almost puts you right there. It's almost like your watching a movie instead of reading a book. You have to read With These Hands to make sure that you're not lost. Derek Vitatoe will not leave you disappointed.

This was my first time reading a book by Mr Vitatoe and it won't be my last.

I didn't read mystery until I read Mr Vitatoe. His story grabbed you in and kept you end until the very end.

I have to give Derek his props for this book. Reading it made me want to go back and read the first one just because I'm a sucker for backstory. But back to this book. THIS book was something else. Derek's ability to weave and interweave street-level issues with moral dilemmas made this quite the novel.

I have to be honest. I was a little concerned in the beginning because I couldn't quite see how all the introductory elements were going to fit together. But in the end, everything and everyone that was introduced had been appropriately "dealt with"...and some had been dealt with in rather unique and unexpected ways.

My biggest critique of the book had to do with the flow of time through some of the parallel stories. Some parts didn't feel like they fit quite right at the moment of reading. However, in the end, they did all come together, and they did so in a memorable fashion. In some ways, the book felt more like a layout for a movie than a novel, and I could easily see it being translated into viewable form.

All in all, it was a book that I found well worth reading and I will be looking into other novels in this character arc and by this author.

Deacon's Circle by Derek Vitatoe is definitely a page turner.

This book weaves the mysterious tale of teenage girls being sold or kidnapped for sex slaves and also of a killer who seeks revenge for his daughter that was once a part of this slave trade after being sold by her boyfriend to "The Broker". The Broker, who is over this sex slave operation, promised some of the disadvanted teen girls a good education when all they received was beatings, being raped, or even death.

There is also a killer on the loose that promises to get revenge on every one that hurt his little girl. The circle is about to be broken.

Derek Vitatoe has outdone himself with this book. "Deacon's Circle" is the sequel to "With these Hands", but it can definitely stand alone.

Don't miss the opportunity to read this book because you will definitely miss a treat!!