Duplicity's Child

by F.J. Harmon

Criminal profiler Mace Franklyn is hired to find a serial rapist who likes his victims cold and dead. Mace is determined to stop this serial killer, and prove his FBI honed skills have not been dulled by the scars from his prior mental illness. However, reminders surface quickly, when the head of the Michigan Bureau of Investigation challenges his suitability, and he discovers he must work with his ex-wife, the person most hurt by actions from his murky past. Overcoming these complications, he identifies likely suspects, but his efforts are undermined by someone within the investigation task force. The identity of this insider becomes the key to his investigation, but only when Mace puts into jeopardy his own life, and that of the one he most loves, does he discover the disturbing truth behind duplicity’s child.

325 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 2014

Reviews

[Cobwebs-Iced-Across-SpaceTime · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW: DUPLICITY'S CHILD

A riveting, engrossing, and engaging mystery with much that is new and unexpected, DUPLICITY'S CHILD carries a good plot wrapped in extensive character studies. No 2-dimensional characters need apply here: these folks are fully fleshed out, and some of them quite unusual. Witness protagonist and eponymous series lead Mace Franklyn, on the surface failed FBI profiler, failed husband, struggling to establish a new business. But under the surface is a man who is emotionally and physiologically vulnerable, battered from within and without, frequently tripped up by his own failing physiology. Witness also antagonist Roger Mandell, Narcissistic, totally self-centered, head of the Michigan Bureau of Investigation, a man who would rather an alleged serial killer continue to operate with impunity, while he harvests political capital from the situation.

I highly recommend this novel to aficionados of crime fiction, police procedural, and character-driven suspense.

[Allyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say write what you know. Mr. Harmon clearly knows his criminal business. This novel takes you through the minds of a serial killer, the detective who is working his hardest to catch him and an added protagonist in the form of a greasy politician. Every detail was thought out and each new turn kept me urging Mace to catch the killer.
I found this story riviting and skillfully written, I love that the author colors each character so distinctly, from the lab help, to his ex-wife to Roger's piece of work wife. Everyone has their part and the story came alive through each viewpoint.
I am not a reader of violent thrillers normally, but Harmon kept the details very clinical and not gruesome, and kept the pace addicting.
I was rooting Mace along through every step as he struggled not only with his own recovery and his self doubt, but against a team of officials that had it out for him from go.
Great writing, excellent structure and personable leads. I will be grabbing the next book in this series, Harmon has me hooked!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but some of the writing needed a little more editing. He is a new author so will probably read his next book when it is available.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not being regular reader of novel series I found myself in front of Duplicity’s Child as the first part of one such, uncertain what to expect. To my own surprise work was well rounded making meaningful whole out of the plot.

Story is a detective one following mystery behind rather sick serial killer. However, despite the plot revolving around scarce series of leads and clues, characteristic of the genre, I found characters and their development taking the main role in the novel. Main lead is a battered, struggling man, very much failed at more or less everything that society holds in high esteem, trying once more to stand up on his two feet. To help him with that he shows us throughout the story an arsenal of personal weaknesses intertwined with genuine detective brain, stumbling as he is to make the most out of it. Needless to say from the first inner monologue one develops liking for Mace.

However, even though by the end one is aware how the things stand, I found antagonist quite enjoying as well. There was something Fouche-ian in the character who is intentionally or not presenting an accurate image of the ways modern society works. He is as far from being an anti-hero as one can be, but, perhaps it is best to say, plays his role with acute aptitude.

Writing is well paced, characters indeed developed to a satisfying degree and the plot more or less substantial. I can see this reading being enjoyable to any contemporary political/detective thriller fans.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.There were a lot of twists and turns with a surprise ending. I don't want to reveal too much and spoil the story. Mace Franklyn is called in to assist in a serial murder/rape case but from the get go he bumps head with the lead detective on the case Roger Mandell of the Michigan MBI and he also has to work with his ex-wife Dr.Helyn Harper-Franklyn> Something seems off about this case because everytime Mace and his assistant Brok come up with something Roger and his team beat him to the discovery.It appears that someone from the MBI may be more involved then they should be. When Mace comes up with a possible suspect Roger grabs the credit for this discovery and when the suspect is accidently killed and subsequently proved innocent, Roger plaves all blame on Mace getting him thrown off the case. But Mace refuses to give up determined to find who is not who they seem to be. In the end he puts Helyn's life and his on the line to find out the truth and solve the murders.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, because it was by a local author, and takes place nearby, but I just didn't really like it.