Customer Reviews

Murder by Deception

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Murder by Deception by D.R. Meredith opens with the discovery of a murdered corpse in a wheatfield on the outskirts of Amarillo, Texas. The remainder of the book concerns itself with putting together clues to identify "whodunit". Unfortunately, the overly contrived plot makes the book's credibility essentially zero.
The limited appeal of Murder by Deception derives exclusively from the personalities of the four main investigators. Lawyer John Lloyd Branson and his adoring protege Lydia Fairchild. And homicide detective Ed Schroder and his reluctant assistant Sgt. Larry Jenner. The mystery itself offers little to spark reader interest.
This is a novel of softboiled crime, often referred to as a "cozy". A very average read, possibly of interest to fans of the genre. Would not recommend going out of one's way to obtain a copy.

I recently discovered the John Lloyd Branson series by mystery writer D. R. Meredith. Both the setting in the Texas panhandle and the character of "Lawyer Branson" are captivating and after reading the first book in the series "Murder by Impulse" I had to get the other books in the series. The interaction between Branson and his young clerk Lydia Fairchild is enjoyable and adds romantic and comic elements to the series themes of the books. But it is Branson's uncompromising demand for justice and his passionate pursuit of the truth is at the heart of the books. "Murder by Deception" works as a mystery but also highlights the serious and frightening consequences of an arrogant government bureaucracy intent on pursuing it's own agenda regardless of the dangers of nuclear contamination over a large section of the US.
Please, give us more books about John Lloyd Branson!