Customer Reviews

Pretenses

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When Coco Nimburu begins a killing spree in and around the Washington D.C. metro area and beyond, FBI agent Phoenix Perry is on the case. Assigned by the President of the United States, Phoenix's career is on the line and her loved ones are in danger. However, Coco is always one or two steps ahead of Phoenix. Pretenses by Keith Lee Johnson is the prequel to Sugar & Spice which for me left some unanswered questions; with Pretenses those questions are answered.

A Supreme Court nominee and her husband are murdered while a serial rapist of men is on the loose. Coco is a hired assassin, skilled in martial arts, who is as aloof as she is deadly. Phoenix is her nemesis, which only provokes Coco to lure her to a duel. Coco is a character you will despise but at the same time empathize with; her moral code is skewed at best. Coco's employer will surprise you and the reasoning behind the killings will shock you even more.

The dialogue between the characters is engaging; the attention to detail and imagery is vivid. Johnson has penned a suspenseful, inviting and unpredictable novel with all of the elements of surprise.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
APOOO BookClub

I only opened Pretenses to pass time. We were all set to read Little Black Girl lost, but someone was reading something else so while waiting and agonizing over a visit to the dentist I grabbed Pretenses and decided to see what Tee was talking about. Yes I read her review and got interested.....

There is a serial rapist in DC. Men are the victims and because they have refused to alert the authorities it's a little more than 2 years before anyone knows about The Rapist. So we meet Special Agent Phoenix. Phoenix is an FBI agent, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, and a grandmaster. As this case gets swept under the rug to a high profile case we meet....

Coco Nimburu, a deadly assassin, who fluently speaks a multitude of languages, and is also a master of Kung Fu. She also brings a new definition to being "a freak in the bed!" Coco has women asking unnecessary questions, where as the men always settle for the promise of deadly pleasure. Isn't that just like a man to be satisfied by the little head? BUT as Coco begins her journey she and special agent Phoenix cross paths. Is this destined or what?

So as all of the characters are in their perspective roles we learn that politics, money, and crime really do pay! I mean is there anyone who can't be bribed these days? As Special Agent Perry looses so much she begins to fear that maybe she's not the great master that she trained to be!

This is such a gripping, and intriguing story of betrayal. Keith does an excellent job not only telling a story but developing characters. I felt all of Phoenix emotions and could even relate to Coco at times and I truly liked her profession and all! At least she was dubbed as NOTORIOUS not to mention she was helpful in more than one way!

I was warned to read Sugar & Spice first, and of course I didn't listen, but the team and I are going to read Little Black Girl Lost. Keith I get the title and I like that it wasn't sitting right out in the open for me. Mystery is back on track....

What do you get when you read a story that mixes a ruthless, female psychotic assassin, with a conscientious and tough female FBI agent that's hot on the assassin's trail regardless of the life-threatening risks?

FBI Agent Phoenix Perry is calm, smart, loves her family, and is a Grand Master in Shaolin Kung Fu. Coco, the unconscionable predator, is the one Phoenix must nab, if only she can keep up with this horny killer that knows Phoenix's every move.
From the first page, the book simply kidnaps you; there's continuous action, brutal eye-popping scenes, and spicy dialogue sprinkled with humor.

For me, Pretenses was a great read because (1) it was a change of pace for me because I am accustomed to reading lots of relationship novels, and (2) the author's writing style is compelling. Keith gives you just enough detail to envision the scene without going overboard.

I loved the various settings of the novel, including DC, St. Thomas, and New York. Keith just has a wonderful style that draws you in. I look forward to reading more of his works. Pretenses is highly recommended.

Special Agent Phoenix Perry is one of the best that the Bureau has to offer. Trained in the martial arts from a very young age, she lived with her father in the Orient and is considered a Master. And Agent Perry is very busy these days; there's a serial rapist on the loose in D.C.. But of even more of a priority are the high-profile murders that are also happening...and Phoenix suspects that a female ninja is working her way through a hit list. But who has hired her...and why? When the murderer strikes especially close to home, it becomes personal for Agent Perry....leading to a kung fu showdown that will only leave one woman standing.

Fast-paced, suspenseful and sexy, this is a first-rate tale that will leave readers literally on the edge of their seats.


DYB

"Pretenses" has Special agent Phoenix Perry in search for a serial rapist who specializes in pursuing men, but there is also a assassin out there killing goverment officials and anyone who gets in the way. Coco Nimburu is a homicidal nymphomaniac who has a special treat for the men she kills.A master of disguise and skilled in martial arts, Coco plays cat and mouse with Phoenix and the FBI bureau.It then becomes personal for Phoenix who suffers a loss at the hands of Coco.
The big question is why? You will enjoy this novel filled with lots of corruption and "mystery" At the end you will be surprised at who the rapist is and why Coco is killing so many people. Well done Keith I like your writing style, looking forward to the online chat with you.

Pretenses draws you in from the first page and forces you to keep turning from one page to the next. Take a journey with FBI agent Phoenix Perry as she tracks down the most ruthless serial killer she has ever encountered. Coco Nimburu is not your average hitman. SHE is a skilled martial artist and master of disguise who speaks over nine languages. You will enjoy trying to figure out who hired Coco and why as she takes out government officials, FBI agents and anyone who stands in her way. As if that's not enough to keep Phoenix busy, there's also a rapist who loves preying on innocent MEN. Keith Lee Johnson is truly a talented writer who has the art of story telling down to science. Everything the book has to offer, from the storyline to the charactars and the conclusion is top of the line. Pretenses sits on my bookshelf right next to Sugar & Spice (sequel to Pretenses) and I have left a space for Fates Redemption as I anticipate the 2005 release.

Do you like action, adventure, and romance all rolled into one? If so, PRETENSES is the book for you! Special Agent Perry Phoenix will grip your heart, as you follow her through a deadly tirade that the complex and psychopathic, Cocoa Nimburu,lays before her. Emotions run high as Special Agent Phoenix attempts to protect her family and bring justice and safety to the public.
PRETENSES is a well written, gripping thriller that everyone MUST read! Keith Lee Johnson is a talented author, that knows how to keep people turning the pages!

Mr. Johnson has written a book that you have NEVER read before. His content, theme and execution of this novel is one of the best I have EVER read! The story will capture your attention from cover to cover. I especially liked the format in which the book was written. Get this book people; it'll be one of the best you have ever read...book clubs...HURRY!!

Pretenses was such an explosive rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns throughout. The chapters moved quickly and had such interesting changes in the settings and characters. It is a book that u can not put down until it is finished.

"Mind boggling, a twist of your emotions," Keith Lee Johnson's Pretenses will have you turning the pages while the pots are burning in dire need to know what Coco Numburu will do next. Probably every man's fantasy, Coco Numburu torments Phoenix Perry and her family while murdering her victims. Unfortunately the women don't get it as good as the men but no doubt Pretenses is a turn on all the way through.