Customer Reviews

Deceptions

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lauren Maddison has written what can only be described as a complex and incredibly absorbing first novel. The plot was intricate and highly believable and the characters were anything but ordinary. This novel is a maelstrom of action, adventure, suspense and unexpected plot twists that will leave anyone who reads it wanting more. I hesitate to give Deceptions the highest rating available because some of the devices used in this book were, in my opinion, extraneous. I really had no desire to know the inner thoughts of Connor Hawthorne's stalker and I thought the story would have been better served if the thoughts had not been included. As well, having a murder, a break in and a bombing all within the first three chapters seemed somewhat excessive, although readers who are fond of action sequences will greatly appreciate it. Regrettably, the last chapter of the novel is by far the weakest and most highly unbelievable. It strikes one as belonging in the realm of science fiction and fantasy and really seems out of place in a mystery novel. The most unfortunate aspect regarding this novel is that the portrayal of the main character as an uncloseted lesbian will probably prevent it from becoming the mainstream success it so richly deserves. That said, fans of Patricia Cornwell should take note. It now appears that Dr. Kay Scarpetta now has some very worthy competition. One note of caution, however. Make sure your schedule is clear before you start in on this novel. Once you open the cover, you won't be able to put it down.

Can't say enough good about this book. I adored the characters--Connor herself, and Laura Nez, the Navajo woman, and Malcom, the cop in D.C. Well, I won't list them all, but you'll get involved in the story, I promise. And the story line was totally unpredictable. I read a lot of mysteries, so I usually guess the ending well ahead of time. Not in this book. I hadn't even guessed the true villain! I do wonder why this book seems to be stuck in the gay fiction genre in the stores I've visited. Even Amazon seems to be doing that with the search criteria at the bottom of the description screen. Anyway, I recommend it to just about anyone who loves an exciting, fast-paced mystery where the good guys really do win in the end. This should be classified as a good old fashioned murder mystery/spy story/spirit quest. Or maybe this is a first for that combination.

A great story with great characters. The author most certainly invested in peeling the layers of her characters for us to understand. I did appreciate that the plot take care in going through the cycle of betrayal and loss before Connor moves on emotionally. Great book Ms. Maddison, please, let us have more about Connor and Laura!

What an impressive first novel. I love mysteries and I was sorry when this one came to an end. I wanted the story to go on. The characters are well conceived and very well constructed. The heros and heroines in this book are people you want to root for. Plus, the spiritual elements were amazing. Finding political intrigue, murder and mayhem, and a little bit of the mystical in one book was really gratifying. And reviewers should stop calling it a lesbian mystery. Connor's personal preferences are not the point of this whodunnit.

Enjoyed this book alot. It held my interest, especially while in the southwest locale...i love New Mexico. Also commend Ms. Maddison for making the book fairly long, over 300 pages. Am so tired of paying good money for those dinky <175 page books. Bottom line...worth the price.

I can't wait for another! Lauren Maddison captures such richness in her characters, you can't put it down. I want to read more about Connor Hawthorne.

Lauren Maddison, as a new writer on the lesbian horizon, kept me up into the morning hours to finish this great mystery. She is in the same league as Katherine V. Forrest, J M Redman and Claire McNAb. I can't wait for her next book.

When Connor Hawthorne's estranged lover Ariana is murdered, Connor is knocked into a tailspin of grief and confusion. She's got her father, former senator Benjamin Harrison, and her best friend, cop Malcolm Jefferson to lean on, but her world is empty without her beautiful and enigmatic lover. The police have no leads on the murder, and it might have ended up a cold case, except that Connor's house is ransacked and booby-trapped. If not for Malcolm's fast thinking, Connor and her father would both have been killed by the explosion. Now it seems clear that Ariana's death could be connected to Benjamin, but Connor is not sure how.

Time passes, and Connor comes to understand that she must get on with her life. She gets back to work and attends a writer's conference in New Mexico. A Navaho chauffeur, Laura Nez, shows up to squire her around-but is she trustworthy? Who is the culprit who stalks Connor leaving destruction in his or her wake? Is it a lone nut or a frightening conspiracy? And why was Ariana killed?

Gun battles, explosions, and high speed chases are nicely offset by Connor's introspection, by Laura's subtle humor and toughness, and by Maddison's literate style. Told from several points-of-view, the novel is plotted well and executed with grace. Oddly enough, the secondary characters in this debut novel (Laura and Malcolm especially) are more compelling than the protagonist, but there is plenty of room for Connor to grow in the subsequent books. The Native American "woo woo" spiritualism at the end was almost over the top, but ultimately didn't detract from this solid and entertaining first novel in what promises to be a compelling mystery series.

Fans of tightly plotted, exciting books such as Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series should like this book. My sole complaint is that the spine of the physical book did not hold up well after one reading, with pages threatening to pull away. This is a shame since DECEPTIONS is a novel many mystery readers will want to revisit.
---Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

This book kept me up until 2:40 AM! I was late for work in the morning, lost my job, can't pay my bills, girlfriend left me (OK, maybe she didn't)- It was worth it! The characters are substantive, the plot is engaging, and the outcome is DEFINITELY a surprise. A highly recommended novel for any mystery/suspense lover!

PS - Can't wait for the movie!

Lauren Maddison's debut mystery was a surprise to me. The last "lesbian" mystery I read before this was just that--more about the lesbians than the mystery. Since this is our introduction to all of the characters, she spends a lot of time giving us a good physical and personality description of them. Despite it's length, the book was a two-sitting read.
The book is well plotted and suspensful. Because it is so tightly woven, it is difficult to talk about the plot without giving away too much. Once we are led to the conclusion that Ariana's death was a murder, the story moves quickly to a new venue, but allows Connor time to grieve the loss of her long-time lover, while we try to understand the connection of her death to Connor's father and his government career. Never in a thousand years would I have figured out what his (and his friend's) secret was nor why his friend was willing to die to protect the secret. Since I am a fantasy fan, it wasn't too difficult for me to become involved in the mystical happenings. Hope her other books continue to explore this facet of Connor and Laura. She gets the New Mexico landscape very accurately. This woman can write!