Deceived [Paperback]

James Scott Bell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

She thinks she knows who she is and what she wants, but when the web gets terribly tangled, is her game of deception a clever lie or a deadly trap? Two bodies in an isolated canyon on the edge of L.A. One with saddlebags filled with diamonds. That's how it begins for Liz Towne, a stunning blonde with a devout husband who has given up a prime job for reasons Liz cannot understand---for 'Mac' MacDonald, a Gulf War vet who's done time in prison and is just now finding his way back to normal life---and for Roxanne 'Rocky' Towne, Liz's sister-in-law, who suspects things she cannot prove. All three are thrown together after a tragedy in Pack Canyon. After finding the stolen diamonds, Liz is faced with an escalating set of choices: Truth or lies? Stop or keep moving? All in or played out? A stunning suspense thriller from bestselling author James Scott Bell.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Former trial lawyer and Christy Award–winner Bell (Presumed Guilty) hits his stride in this twist-filled suspense thriller with punchy dialogue and a resurrection ending to keep readers awake at night. When Liz Towne and her husband, Arty, find diamonds and a corpse along a trail in Pack Canyon, something takes over Liz that one doctor calls "sin dissociation." She stops at nothing to get rich and take a gift to her role model, who taught her to kill. When her sister-in-law Roxanne "Rocky" Towne suspects foul play, Rocky calls on a tortured but praying and faithful Gulf War veteran to help her track down Liz, who is on the run. Dialogue carries the book with rich characters and flashbacks, but time stamps and a confusing wraparound narrative device feel tacked on and unnecessary in this fast-paced thriller with its Los Angeles music scene, creepy canyons and a slew of cons. Bell, who also writes nonfiction books on writing, is a master of the cliffhanger, creating scene after scene of mounting suspense and revelation in this heart-whamming read. (Mar.)
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Review

Former trial lawyer and Christy Award--winner Bell (Presumed Guilty) hits his stride in this twist-filled suspense thriller with punchy dialogue and a resurrection ending to keep readers awake at night. When Liz Towne and her husband, Arty, find diamonds and a corpse along a trail in Pack Canyon, something takes over Liz that one doctor calls 'sin dissociation.' She stops at nothing to get rich and take a gift to her role model, who taught her to kill. When her sister-in-law Roxanne 'Rocky' Towne suspects foul play, Rocky calls on a tortured but praying and faithful Gulf War veteran to help her track down Liz, who is on the run. Dialogue carries the book with rich characters and flashbacks, but time stamps and a confusing wraparound narrative device feel tacked on and unnecessary in this fast-paced thriller with its Los Angeles music scene, creepy canyons and a slew of cons. Bell, who also writes nonfiction books on writing, is a master of the cliffhanger, creating scene after scene of mounting suspense and revelation in this heart-whamming read. (Mar.) -- Publisher's Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 327 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Original edition (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310269040
• ISBN-13: 978-0310269045
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #616,902 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JAMES SCOTT BELL is a bestselling and award winning suspense writer. He was the fiction columnist for Writer's Digest magazine and has written four popular books for the Writers Digest line: Plot & Structure, Revision & Self-Editing, The Art of War for Writers and Conflict & Suspense. Jim taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences in the United States, Canada and London. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver. He lives and writes in L.A. He blogs weekly at Kill Zone -- www.killzoneauthors.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars James Scott Bell never fails to deliver, March 5, 2009

By 

Mark Young (Garfield, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deceived (Paperback)

James Scott Bell's characters in Deceived are gritty, broken and real--a reflection of the human condition in this modern world. They become vivid as the lives of all three main characters are woven together in this fast-paced plot. And true to Bell's skill to write a great story, readers are hit with an unexpected ending.

As I began the novel, I thought, "How's Bell going to pull off intersecting the lives of these main characters?" The task appeared daunting. Deceived starts like a machine gun--splitting out characters, plot and conflict, with just a taste of back story. I found it impossible to put down. This classic Bell novel ratchets up tension and conflict within each character.

No one escapes.

Liz Towne--a stunning blond whose past haunts her every move. "Mac" MacDonald--whose propensity for violence clashes with his search for spiritual peace. Roxanne "Rocky" Towne--whose scarred face and soul threatens to drag her down as she struggles to survive.

Everything in the novel takes place within a span of seventeen days, with chapters divided by days of the week and scenes divided by hour and minute. Shades of television's 24 without the terrorists, but the same tensions and twists to make even Jack Bauer tired.

Deceived joins the ranks of those novels suspense readers enjoy losing sleep over. The sweet agony of a good read.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Feels Like the First Installment, May 21, 2009

By 

Michael Hickerson (Smyrna, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deceived (Paperback)

James Scott Bell's "Deceived" feels like the first book in a series rather than a complete novel in its own right. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't--I couldn't find anything to indicate if we'll see a follow-up in the near future.

If there's not a follow-up, I may be disappointed.

During a hiking trip, Liz and her born-again husband stumble across a dead body. Near the body is a bag full of diamonds. Liz sees the diamonds as their chance to land on easy street while her husband wants nothing to do with them. His recent conversion to Christianity is causing friction in their marriage and his professional career. During their argument, Liz shoves him off a rock, causing him to fall to his death. Liz begins to hatch a plot to cover up the murder of her husband.

Meanwhile, we meet Mac, a Gulf War vet with issues. He's got Gulf War syndrome and intense pain in his head. He's been in jail for robbing a store, losing his wife and family in the process. Mac has come to the Lord and found a job as the handy-man for his church. But his probation officer seems to have it in for him and will stop at nothing to get Mac back into jail. We also meet Rocky, a female private investigator who was scarred when a dog mauled her as a child. She has just left her relationship with her abusive boyfriend. She's also the sister of the husband who died. Mac is the guy's best friend.

The storylines all come together, centered around the mystery of what happened and how Liz reacts. Liz makes a show of accepting God and being baptized. However, when some men come looking for the diamonds and the police start to poke holes in her story, Liz becomes more and more desperate, leading her to make some shocking decisions in the novel's final third.

For long periods of "Deceived," the story is gripping, entertaining and suspenseful. Bell is able to avoid the cliches of character within Christian fiction, making his character's struggles feel authentic and connect with the readers. You may be able to figure out where some things will lead, but the choices and characters never seem black or white, good or evil. However, the frustrating part comes when arcs that are put into motion but offer little or no resolution. Maybe Bell intended the story to be like life with no easy answers or maybe there's a second installment coming soon. Either way, I left the story feeling as if something were missing. I don't want everything wrapped up in a nice, neat package but some sense of resolution would be nice.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Compelling Story from Mr. Bell, April 3, 2009

By 

Kelly Klepfer (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Deceived (Paperback)

James Scott Bell writes great stories. From the first paragraph I was sucked into his latest, Deceived.

A novel that will be just the beginning of a series because these characters need to continue their stories. Liz, a new and tortured widow with some hellish secrets. Mac, a struggling veteran, ex-con just trying to get back on his feet and find his way in the world. Rocky, scarred inside and out and full of a lot of songs that she needs to sing.

This novel is dark but ends with hope. Deceived shows the depths to which humanity sinks when left to twisted thoughts and broken moral compasses. Bell aces my grade sheet with compelling characters, tightly wound plots, scenes that hum with realism and dialog that is both entertaining and real. Scott's legal background adds additional depth.

Character collectors, fans of crime fiction and Bell fans should check further into Deceived.