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Kate O'Brien's quiet life in small-town Shelter Cove, Arkansas is shaken when her past suddenly comes roaring back to life. Four years ago, she and her twin sister were attacked by an elusive serial killer. Only Kate survived, and she's been in witness protection ever since. When new evidence arises to suggest the convicted man wasn't the murderer, she's subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Afraid to go back into that world, Kate only agrees if Tony DeLuca, the deputy Marshal who protected her during the original trial, escorts her to St. Louis. Tony readily takes on the assignment; Kate's beauty and inner strength made more of an impression on him than he expected. But when Kate's safety is threatened, Tony must race against the clock to keep her alive and put this ugly case to rest before anyone else gets killed.… (more)
User reviews
The terror begins when Kelly O’Brien is murdered in front
She has been under witness protection and hiding in Shelter Cover Arkansas, a picturesque village in the mountains. Now U. S. Marshall Tony Deluca has taken on the job of trying to persuade her to return to testify, but he has personal feelings for Kate, but he is a lot older than her, and ethics takes a place here, but he does need to protect her.
Once one shoes drop be prepared for them to keep falling right to the very last page, one action paced read and you will never see most of it coming. This story is so good, you are going to have a hard time believing it isn’t real, or is it.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
I liked the chemistry between Kate and Tony, the U. S. Marshall. Kate has some major trust issues which I completely understand. After all her world has been turned upside down. What is great about Tony is his faith. I loved how his faith kept him strong. The story centers around Kate having to come out of hiding to testify against the killer of her sister. The sheer terror of seeing this person would be enough for me to run as fast as possible. Kate shows great control knowing she has a chance to put this killer away. Oh my the chills ran up and down my arms the further I got into the book. The author is a master at telling a story with great detail and twists that leave shivers down your spine. Will Kate stay save until the trial? Can Tony get Kate to trust him? I am very happy to recommend this book because the author delivers a story that is of the caliber of a well written thrill ride and action packed story that doesn't stop till the heart pounding ending.
I received a copy of this book from the author . The review is my own opinion.
Author: Nancy Mehl
Pages: 320
Year: 2017
Publisher: Bethany
My rating 5 out of 5 stars!
The first novel in the series is titled, Fatal Frost, which is a great book that sets readers on edge and get them ready for book two! Kate O’Brien’s life is
Unfortunately, the U.S. Marshals must bring Kate back to the area where her sister was killed to testify again when evidence is thrown out of court and the conviction overturned. Tony’s life as well as Kate’s is ever creeping toward being extinguished by the person responsible for more than one murder.
The twists and turns of locating the antagonist in the book kept me turning pages for hours! Plus, the possible budding romance that isn’t supposed to happen between a U.S. Marshal and a witness in the protection program adds another layer of suspense to the tale. Issues of trust are high on Kate’s list and her faith isn’t all that strong either, while Tony is learning to lean on the Lord even when his plans go awry with Kate.
Just when I thought the action and danger were over, the author brought in an unexpected twist and I was hooked until the very end of the story! I loved the first novel and really enjoyed this one even more. Nancy Mehl has written suspense-filled stories that will keep readers asking for more for a long while. Be prepared to read heart-pounding tension in the book, and I can’t wait to see what comes next in the series from the pen of the author who knows how to keep people reading for many hours. Great job Nancy!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I received a copy of the book from the author, the review is entirely my own.
The lone witness to a botched murder, Kate O'Brien is brought out of Witness Protection in order to retry the "Blue-Eyed Killer" who got off 2 times on different technicalities. Maybe because the suspect admitted to being said serial killer, yet another trial would begin. The question is, of course, whether Deputy Marshall Tony DeLuca can keep Kate safe long enough to testify.
Two concepts make this such a great book. One is the infusion of faith into dreadful situations. Conversations are natural, believable, and real. The second tactic that makes this book shine is the roller-coaster-like twists and turns of action; as well as the ping-pong information,misinformation, scuttling and reformation of knowledge base about the murder.
Totally believable, absolutely chilling, and addictive until the end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This did not influence the opinions in my review, freely given, and totally my own.
As the only survivor of a serial killer, Kate O’Brien is in witness protection. Still reeling from her ordeal, new DNA evidence has cleared her sister’s murderer. Deputy US Marshall Tony DeLuca was Kate’s protector during the trial and now, six years later, he vows to protect her again. But danger awaits the pair as they struggle to survive.
The action starts at page one and continues for one long breath-holding read. Chilling and creepy are apt words to describe the crimes and the killer. But Dark Deception never lapses into graphic detail. Mehl does a great job of engaging the imagination of the reader without lurid details. I for one was glad of that. There was enough to keep the pages turning without causing nightmares when I finally put it down. 😉 Main characters Kate and Tony have good chemistry, but the romance never seemed rushed or unbelievable. Secondary characters kept this reader guessing — just what are their motives? There are a number of seemingly random threads that the author ties together to provide some good aha moments. I especially liked the secondary plot involving a policeman named Leon. I won’t spoil anything, but that storyline really added depth to the novel. While the bad guys truly are bad, the good guys are on varying faith journeys — very realistic.
Dark Deception is book 2 in a series, but is easily read as a standalone. I have not read book 1, Fatal Frost, but need to get on that ASAP. Especially since book 3, Blind Betrayal, will be released in April 2018!
Recommended.
Audience: adults.
(Thanks to Bethany House for a providing a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)