Fatal Deduction [Paperback]

Gayle Roper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 20, 2008

One across… Three down… The answer is in the puzzle. The danger is in not solving it before time’s up.

Libby Burton longs to be close to her twin sister, Tori, but their lives have taken them in different directions. Forced to share Aunt Stella’s old Philadelphia home in order to receive their inheritance, Libby hopes for a change, but it isn’t looking good so far.

First, Tori tries to steal the affection and allegiance of Libby’s thirteen-year-old daughter, Chloe. Then when a crossword puzzle with a hidden warning shows up on their doorstep, Tori refuses to take it seriously–in spite of the dead man who delivers it.

Libby finds comfort in neighbor Drew Canfield, but he hesitates to trust her after his disastrous marriage. As Libby struggles to act faithfully in the midst of these confusing relationships, she must also deal with a stolen diamond and a botched kidnapping. The answer to her problems lies in the riddles of the crosswords, if only she can solve the puzzle before it’s too late.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this charming romantic suspense novel, Libby Keating finds herself temporarily sharing a beautiful but tiny historic home in Philadelphia with her estranged identical twin. Less than 24 hours after her arrival, Libby trips over a dead body on the front stoop, and a series of hijinks and adventures ensues. As the murder mystery unfolds—with the aid of crossword puzzles the reader is encouraged to complete—so does Libby's backstory, which includes a series of traumatic events that ruined her adolescence. A committed Christian and devoted single mother, Libby is always trying to do the right thing, but is surrounded by people who sabotage her. However, good Christian friends—including her new neighbor, the handsome Drew Canfield—support her as she finds a way to love her enemies while standing up to them. Roper's dialogue and character development are spot-on, which is no small feat, considering that Libby's world is peopled by everyone from elderly patricians to two-bit gangsters. What's more, her treatment of non-Christian characters is refreshingly nonjudgmental; she even goes so far as to portray a gay couple in an entirely positive light. Though two highly implausible plot twists come out of nowhere, this novel is a pleasure from start to finish. (May)
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Review

“Six-letter word for author Gayle Roper: adroit
Nine-letter word for the plot: intricate
Six-letter word for the heroine: plucky
Ten-letter word for the villain: determined
Eight-letter word for Fatal Deduction: riveting
Advice to the reader: Go get it!”
- Donita K. Paul, author of the best-selling DragonKeeper series

“In Fatal Deduction, Gayle Roper has expanded on her trademark style of honest characterization and intriguing plot twists. She creates characters with real human flaws and shows those characters learning to forgive, giving me hope that this might even happen outside the pages of a novel. An excellent read that I could not put down.”
- Hannah Alexander, author of Double Blind and Hideaway Home

“A two-word phrase to describe Gayle Roper's latest book? Page-turning! Fatal Deduction had me from the opening line, to the clue-dropping crossword puzzles, straight through to the inspiring and breathtaking end.”
 - Tamara Leigh, author of Splitting Harriet and Faking Grace

“I’ve been a Gayle Roper fan for many years and this is her finest book. I was handcuffed to the characters, chained to the suspense and intrigue, and imprisoned in the plot.”  
 - DiAnn Mills, author of When the Nile Runs Red and Awaken My Heart
“Gayle Roper unravels a mystery, filled with twists and surprises, in a Philly neighborhood populated by quirky, delightful characters. Libby’s spiritual journey is evidence that God can redeem the past, keep regret from consuming us, and teach us to love difficult people. A charming Ben Franklin historian, crossword puzzles, and a peek into the world of antique dealing add elements of fun to this unique mystery.”
- Sharon Dunn, author of the Bargain Hunters Mysteries

“Fatal Deduction is a poignant and madcap ride, Gayle Roper style. This romantic mystery is a captivating combination of an intricate plot and well-rounded characters facing extreme family issues. Roper crafts the multiple relationship layers with compassionate insight, even for characters you’d like to slap. And she never loses sight of the burning question: Who left the body and the crossword puzzle on the doorstep and why?”
- Jill Elizabeth Nelson, author of the To Catch a Thief series

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books; 1ST edition (May 20, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601420137
• ISBN-13: 978-1601420138
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,632 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery, July 11, 2008

By 

Barbara Warren - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fatal Deduction (Paperback)

I read this book in one afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed it. Libby Burton and her twin sister, Tori, don't have much in common. Libby has always thought of Tori as vivid, and of herself as bland. Most of the time they don't even like each other. Then their great-aunt Stella dies, and has left the sisters her Colonial row house in Philadelphia, with instructions that they have to live there--together-- in the same house-- for six months. Talk about having to earn your inheritance. The action really heats up when Libby stumbles over a dead body on the front stoop with a crossword puzzle addressed to Tori on his chest. Things go from bad to worse when Tori resorts to her usual game of competition, trying to win over Chloe, Libby's thirteen-year old daughter. Tori denies she knows anything about the murder, but more crossword puzzles arrive, and Drew Canfield, their handsome neighor complicates matters by being underfoot all the time. A fascinating mystery with a cast of characters I'd like living next to me. Well, all except Tori. A little of her would go a long way. Clever and well-written with an ending that will leave the reader smiling.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspense, May 20, 2011

By 

Del W. Gardner - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fatal Deduction (Paperback)

From start to finish there was suspense in this book. But, it was written well and kept the reader entranced. Enjoyed the interplay with the two young teenagers, the love interest, and the intrigue.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is great, I loved it!, December 29, 2010

By 

Valerie "ValsVicinity" (Wyoming, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fatal Deduction (Paperback)

I started reading this book thinking that it would be just an average mystery, but boy was I wrong! This book is so much more than that, I ended up loving it!

When Libby's wealthy aunt dies, her will stipulates that Libby and her estranged twin sister Tori should live together in their aunts house for 6 months before they can receive their inheritance. They both agree, though Libby knows it won't be an easy 6 months as Tori is often critical of Libby's life and always has ulterior motives for everything she does. When a dead body shows up on their doorstep the first morning of their 6-month stay, along with a crossword puzzle, Libby starts to worry about who or what her sister has gotten involved with....

I loved the sweet blossoming friendship/romance between Libby and Drew, they are both so likable you just can't help but root for them! They both have baggage and pain from the past that rears it's ugly head in different ways, but it's encouraging to see how they handle it and encourage each other. Tori tries many times to come between Libby and her daughter, Chloe, basically trying to buy Chloe's affection with toys and gadgets, but Chloe has a good head on her shoulders and it was nice to see that at her impressionable age of 13 she could sort of see through what Tori was trying to do.

Fatal Deduction has just about everything: ex-cons, family dynamics, friendship, romance, mystery, crossword puzzles, and even some action and a big twist at the end! I very highly recommend this book!