Deadly Illusions (Mills and Boon Shipping Cycle) [Paperback]

Brenda Joyce (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin Mills & Boon (January 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0263846377
• ISBN-13: 978-0263846379
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Brenda Joyce is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourty-nine novels and five novellas. There are over fourteen million copies of her novels in print and she is published in over a dozen foreign countries. A native New Yorker, she now lives in southern Arizona with her son, dogs and numerous Arabian and Half-Arabian reining horses. Brenda divides her time between her twin passions' writing powerful love stories and her quest to become a nationally ranked Top Ten equestrian. For more information about Brenda and her upcoming novels, please visit her websites: www.brendajoyce.com, www.francescacahillseries.com www.thedewarennedynasty.com and www.mastersoftimebooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars a pleasant, undemanding read, January 25, 2005

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deadly Illusions (Francesca Cahill Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Society sleuth Francesca Cahill should be bursting with happiness and glee: she's engaged to suave, rakish Calder Harte, who appreciates her intelligence and independence, and who has promised not to stand in her way. Except that circumstances and people keep trying to put a damper on her happiness. To begin with her father isn't too pleased with her engagement, and has only reluctantly agreed to it at her mother's cajoling. And then there is Calder's ex-mistress, Daisy, who is determined to drive a wedge between Francesca and Calder. And then there is Calder's jealously for his half-brother, police commissioner Rick Bragg, who Francesca was once enamored with. So that when Francesca begins to work closely with Bragg in order to nab a mad man who is attacking poor Irishwomen, her relationship with her fiance begins to feel the strains of jealousy and suspicion. Francesca is at her wit's end as to how she should cope with Calder's jealousy and the machinations of others. But in the meantime, there is a mad man to stop...

This latest Francesca Cahill was a fast and undemanding read, more for fans of the series than anything else, and perfect for the ultimate bus/train/'plane trip. The mystery subplot held few surprises even though it was a rather well conceived one -- longtime mystery addicts might be able to spot the mad killer at once, however. No, one does not really read the Francesca Cahill "Deadly" novels for the mystery at hand. Rather, one reads them in order to catch up with how various character are faring: is Francesca really over Rick Bragg, and is she happy with her engagement to the dangerously rakish Calder Hart? Will Rick make an attempt to mend his marriage with his estranged wife, Leigh Ann? Will Francesca's brother, Evan, marry his mistress, Bartolla? Or will he finally admit his feelings for Irish seamstress, Maggie Kennedy? And what will happen between artist Sarah Canning and Rick Bragg's other half brother, Rourke Bragg? How Brenda Joyce weaves in these intricate relationships into the mysteries at hand is what makes thsi series so fascinating. She makes us care for the characters and glad that some of the relationships (at least) are working out. I know that I'm rather glad that Francesca has realised her true feelings for Calder Harte -- he was always, in my opinion anyway, her perfect match. And how the murder subplot works to highlight these relationships is what makes eading "Deadly Illusions" so enjoyable. All in all, a pleasant undemanding read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Repetitious...but still addictive. I remain hooked!, September 30, 2005

By 

Jana L. Perskie "ceruleana" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Deadly Illusions (Francesca Cahill Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

"Deadly Illusions" is author Brenda Joyce's seventh installment in the historical mystery/romance series featuring New York City debutante Francesca Cahill. Ms. Cahill, society bluestocking, and heiress to a considerable fortune, has done remarkably well so far as an amateur sleuth, NYC's first female private investigator and a major novelty in her chosen profession. It is only 1902, after all, and women still have seventeen more years before the United States Congress and Senate approve the 19th Amendment, giving them the right to vote. Francesca has solved the case of the City Strangler, the brutal Cross Killer mystery, two child kidnappings, several murders, captured a stalker, discovered the ringleaders of a child prostitution ring and had them put behind bars, restoring the young girls to their families, and thus has earned the right to call herself "Crime-Solver Extraordinaire," as printed on her Tiffany embossed business cards. Of course she has had the assistance of her dear friend and former love, police commissioner Rick Bragg, to teach her the ropes. Unfortunately for the nascent romance, Rick's estranged wife, Leigh Ann, returned from a lengthy stay in Europe, and nipped it in the bud.

In "Deadly Promises," the novel prior to this one, Leigh Ann is crippled in an accident and, extremely depressed, she has given up on starting life anew with her husband - just when Rick realizes he never stopped loving her. Calder Hart, Rick's half brother, wealthy art connoisseur, rogue and rake, is bent on reforming his ways now that he is engaged to marry Francesca. However, he has serious misgivings about the marriage as his feelings for his fiancee intensify. At times he is convinced that he is not good enough for her, a sentiment shared by Andrew Cahill, Fran's father, Rick Bragg, Daisy Jones, Calder's former mistress who is out for revenge, and various other members of society. Francesca believes in Calder despite his past and realizes she loves him. Clearly the two are an eccentric match made in heaven. Not only do they share a firm friendship, she is Calder's first and only friend, but sparks fly when they're together.

While the ever addictive soap opera continues, our amateur sleuth discovers that three working class Irish women have had their throats cut, with a dull knife, by a madman newspaper reporters have dubbed The Slasher. Two of the victims survived but one was stabbed and strangled to death. Maggie Kennedy, Fran's friend and the mother of young assistant detective Joel Kennedy, is an acquaintance and neighbor of the three women, and is thought to be in danger also. She fits the victim profile. Of course Ms. Cahill is determined to catch the killer before he strikes again.

Miss Joyce's storyline is not as strong here as it has been in the last two installments of the Cahill/Bragg/Hart mystery/suspense romances. As always, the mysteries are secondary to the various relationships between the fascinating cast of characters. However, not too much is going on this time around, and the constant repetition of various predicaments, especially Calder's and Francesca's jealousy of each other, and the constant sparring and bickering among the overly competitive half brothers is tiring and melodramatic. This case is one of the least interesting in the series, and is repetitious also. Women who live in New York City's tenements are being victimized and a woman hating perpetrator is on the loose. So, what else is new? As a matter of fact, many of the author's male villains hate women, including the police chief. I would like to see some variation in character flaws and criminal behavior.

I must admit I am still hooked on the series, the developing characters and their ongoing, individual stories. These books actually seems more like soap opera episodes and installments in a serial novel rather than stand alone romance/mysteries. If you are interested, I would suggest reading the previous Francesca Cahill novels before "Deadly Illusions," as this is a continuing saga and extremely addictive. I warn you there are many flaws, but I have just finished seven books - so what else can I say?

Come meet these personages, if you have the patience, and become involved in their lives, loves, traumas, mysteries, and the delightful historical setting of 1902-1903 New York City, with its society balls and glitter, the tenements and roughs, gambling halls and beautiful, exotic call girls. Seth Low, the mayor, was recently elected on a reform platform to fight the Tammany Hall machine, and the police commissioner he appointed took some of the actions the fictional Rick Bragg has taken and faced many of the same difficult issues Bragg faces in attempting to reform the terribly corrupt police department. If Ms Joyce takes the series past 1903, Rick will be out of a job as the next administration is a "Tammany beast." Perhaps, Bragg will use the opportunity to run for Senator. ENJOY!! I am.
JANA

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent historical mystery, January 25, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Deadly Illusions (Francesca Cahill Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1902 Manhattan, the Slasher has attacked three working class Irish women; the first two survived the ordeal, but the third victim is dead. Fearing for her friend Maggie Kennedy who lives in the same neighborhood that is under assault, heiress sleuth Francesca Cahill begins to investigate the vicious crimes over the objection of her fiancé successful businessman Calder Hart. He does not want her in harm's way or hanging out with his rival his half-brother married Police Commissioner Rick Bragg because Francesca and Rick were once thought to be in love.

Still Francesca is an independent person and no one, even her future spouse, will tell her what she cannot do. She makes inquiries and visits the crime scenes where she runs into Rick. Suspects are everywhere especially estranged spouses and fiancés, but in spite of the combined efforts of Rick and Francesca the Slasher strikes again. To catch this killer Francesca knows she must be the bait.

The seventh Cahill historical mystery provides Brenda Joyce's audience with a wonderful lamplight look at Manhattan at the turn of the century. The story line is fast-paced but loaded with intricate family relationships that bring to life the key players especially the half-brothers, Rick's wife, and the heroine. The who-done-it is fun as the suspects seem plentiful and the moving forward on relational fronts provides a freshness somewhat lacking in the last two books, but DEADLY ILLUSIONS is at its best lighting up 1902 New York City.

Harriet Klausner