Deception Island

by J.D. Boss, Judith A. Boss

While at an archaeology dig in Afghanistan, evolutionary anthropologist Rachel St. Claire discovers a pendant with strange shifting symbols. Not long after, she receives an urgent call from her colleague, Dr. Grace McAllister, insisting Rachel come to Antarctica to examine an unusual body with ethereal properties found in an ice cave. Before Rachel can respond, bandits storm the desert dig site. Just as they are about to seize Rachel, a helicopter appears with Trevor Brookenridge, a handsome polar geophysicist sent by his Aunt Grace to bring Rachel to Antarctica. Sparks fly, but Rachel already has a fiancé. Rachel must decide who she can trust when a group of bioterrorists engaged in secret genetic experiments in an abandoned World War II Nazi base under the Antarctic ice sheet come after the pendant--and her. For it seems everyone knows a secret Rachel does not, one which will change her life forever.

Genres: Romance

388 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2011

About the author

Librarian Note: Pseudonym of Goodreads Author Judy Boss

Reviews

[Shalini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced thriller from archeology to a body found in an ice cave in Antarctica. This book has everything which raises the interest as the pages turn.
The author Judith Boss has written a strong main character, Rachel who though caught between the new guy Trevor and fiance Robert, yet manages to get to the bottom of the mystery.
From excavation to bio terrorism, from mystery to romance, from archeology to race against time, this book has all the twists and turns that make it a great thriller.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won on Goodreads giveaway and sent and autographed by the author(thank you Judith A. Boss). This book was totally NOT what I was expecting-especially with the cover. I was drawn into the story and held as a dumbfounded prisoner along with the main character until the end. The more I got to know the main character the more I liked her and wanted to find out what would happen to her on her journey to the antartic. I enjoyed the suspenseful twists and turns, the mystery, the threat of biotechnic warfare, and a romance. What more could you have wanted? Thank you for the wonderful read! I quite enjoyed the Canadian connection as well. :) This is an author I will follow into the future.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rachel St. Claire, an evolutionary anthropologist, discovers a pendant while on a dig in Afghanistan. The pendant is unique and has a strange pull that Rachel feels whenever she takes out to look at it. About the same time, Grace McAllister asks Rachel to come to Antarctica, to examine a strange dead body that has been discovered that has weird properties and designs. As Rachel leaves the dig in Afghanistan, a band of would-be robbers attacks the dig area, and Rachel is carried off to safety by a helicopter with Grace McAllister’s nephew, Trevor, who had been sent to bring Rachel to Antarctica by his aunt, that happens to be in the right place at the right time. Almost too much of a coincidence for me. Enroute to Antarctica, the pair and Grace find several strange things happening: Rachel is accosted by one of the passengers, who is later seriously injured, a passenger mysteriously disappears just off the island, and the ship is closely tracked/followed by something strange that seems to be an underground vessel, some sort of strange animal or natural occurrence (no one can really figure out what exactly it is). Things get stranger still when the group gets to the body and makes some fascinating discoveries. Rachel also begins to wonder about her current boyfriend Richard because of his odd comments during phone conversations and his actions, while being pursued romantically by Trevor. Thus, Rachel finds herself in a strange spot, with lots of strange events, people and actions surrounding her. Still, with the help of Grace and especially Trevor, Rachel continues, trying to put the pieces together, finding clue after clue, to finally figure out who is who and what exactly is going on with the mysterious body, the pendant, her own life and her future—and the possible connections they all may have.

I enjoyed reading the book. The story flowed well and moved along smoothly and fast enough. However, the story line/plot was just too “wo-wo” for my taste. I would call this a sci-fi mystery, with the emphasis on sci-fi. The descriptions of the long, arduous journey to Antarctica the trio took was fascinating to read, as I had never thought much about such a trip. The characters came across as true, though there were times I found Rachel to be a bit self-centered and not really interested in the well-being of others. My big problem is with the basic plot, which, in my opinion, is not very realistic. The author took a lot of related, some closer than others, ideas or themes and wound them together in a fairly good way, though I am not sure I agree with her how she put them together. Good book for the reader who enjoys sci-fi mysteries. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel got a call from Dr. Grace McAllister- as a scientist Grace wasn’t afraid to push the limit. She told Rachel some Canadian glaciologist just discovered a body preserved in a cave in Antarctica. They needed people to help them identify the origins. Rachel was near the ancient Hindu Kosh Mts in Northern Afghanistan. Dr. McAllister said the body had several anomalies. Rachel was an evolutionary anthropologist who might shed some light on the source of the anomalies of the body. Grace was a noted forensic pathologist at the Brown University Medical School. Grace said her nephew who was a geophysicist from the Royal Ontario Museum was coming. Although Rachel had promised her boyfriend Richard she would be home at the end of the week.Then Rachel noticed a gold pendant lying had one just moved on a pile of papers. Someone must have put it there earlier this morning. There were symbols on the pendant . The delicately carved symbols reminded Rachel a little of a diagram of chromosomes- had one just moved? Rachel also felt a sense of forbidding and the symbols looked eerily familiar. Then Rachel felt an odd tingle in the hand holding the pendant. Then bandits showed up and Rachel grabbed the pendant and prepared to run and a helicopter came up to her and it was Trevor, he had come to pick her up luckily he got her away from the bandits. One of the bandits answered his phone and a woman who spoke in English asked if they had got the girl. The woman was a member of the elite New World Order guards- Generalmajor Braun. Rachel put on the pendant and sit it inside her shirt. Richard was an overworked corporate lawyer who worked for Global Technology International.
I loved this story although it did strike me as odd that Rachel had been unsure of going to Antarctica and then just goes along . But besides that I loved the plot and the twists and turns. This caught my attention from the beginning of the book and kept it until the end. I didn’t want to put this down. It did have a different kind of ending but I loved it. I loved the characters in this story and I highly recommend.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ebook/Romantic Adventure: I got this book from NetGalley in lieu of an honest review. This book is like a romantic suspense novel. First, you have to throw all continuity and logic out the window so you can enjoy it. This book tries to be like a Jeff Long book mixed with Christine Feehan paranormal edge, and no sex.

I read several fictional Antarctic books and this one doesn't get into just how cold the base is, how stir crazy the scientists are, or how dreary life can be there. While 9/11 is just several years ago in the book, the gadgets are very futuristic and the Antarctic has become a ski resort. That being said, it is readable after all there were Nazis abound. The characters are one dimensional; either good or evil. I was going to give the book four stars until the last half of the book. It kept on going on. People were other people, people going through walls, and the babies were going through portals, and it does become a logical mess.

[Apex Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

After evolutionary anthropologist Rachel St. Claire discovers a pendant with mysterious symbols at an archeological dig, she soon gets an urgent call from her colleague, Dr. Grace McAllister, who insists Rachel come to Antarctica. Why? To examine an unusual body with unworldly properties found in an isolated ice cave.

Deception Island is quite the dynamic read. An alluring mix of action, intrigue, and romance, author Judith Boss’ page-turning offering is sure to leave an impression on even the most casual of readers. With superb character development, vivid descriptions, and realistic plot lines, Deception Island will change what most people think they know about Antarctica.

Highly recommended.


Nicole Shepherd
Apex Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I mean, check out that rating from like-minded readers! It was the kind of fiction I usually love to read when I just want to be distracted. I also love to read fiction set in the polar regions but this book never surprised me and nothing much happened. Then it was just over.

I bought this book used & I donated it back the same day. I really am not hard to please when it comes to fiction. I wouldn't recommend it to a friend either. I feel kind of bad to leave a review like this but there it is.

[Toni L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads a while ago, and why did I
wait so long to read it. I don,t know . It was an awesome
book. Mystery, thriller, etc. Would recommend it. In fact,
I will be loaning the book to my friend. Will there be a
2nd one? Sure hope so.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others, I was drawn into this book. The characters are great, and the science top notch! I mean, what is not to like? A pendant working as a homing device, as well as a self-protection, secret Nazi base, complete with ultimate villains, and hidden supermen....

[William Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was caught up in the story from the start, feeling that I was about to board the snow cat and start the adventure. I found the characters (Rachel and Trevor) to be engaging. I especially enjoyed Rachel's journey through many challenging events as her character developed.

A good read that was able to hold my attention. I very much enjoyed it.

[Ree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me begin by stating that this novel is most assuredly NOT what I expected. With that said, I was highly pleased with this novel. It’s a high tech, high tension nail biter of a thriller. I’ve always been fascinated by Antarctica, and this book only served to make m interest grow. Rachel St. Clair is a highly motivated, dynamic character that I adored, while Trevor is a mystery to be solved. There are more twists and turns than I expected, and I literally could not put it down. This is a fantastic novel that many readers will adore. I did read an Advance Reader Copy of this novel.

[Harriett Trombatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. It was definitely NOT what I expected. As I got into it, I found it was extremely hard to put down. The romance between Rachel and Trevor was almost like a "first love". Rachel's former love interest, Richard, entered the picture only briefly, after which it was revealed he was not the person Rachel thought he was. Then Nazi forces appeared to be at work in the relatively small places where the story takes place, leading Rachel and Trevor to literally "run for their lives". At this point, the story became quite bizarre and ventured into what I consider to be the paranormal. Although it was exciting at that point, I found it mostly unbelievable. But love conquered in the end and Rachel and Trevor apparently " live happily ever after". An interesting story with an unusual ending. I highly recommend.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won a copy of this - Thanks to First Reads and Goodreads.
I enjoyed this story - part mystery, part scientific-futuristic. It took me a bit to get into it. At first I didn't really like Rachel. But as the story went on, I was more intrigued about how this was all going to play out.
Rachel has a pendant that is all that ties her to her family. While on a dig, she is attacked by bandits who are trying to steal the pendant. Her fiance is across the world and a friend's son is hanging with her and playing bodyguard. There is adventure, fighting, lying, and hope.

[Jodi Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book for a book report and was not disappointed. Once I picked up the book, I couldn't set it down! The characters were interesting and had many layers beyond their first impressions. The settings were extremely realistic. The settings choice of Antarctica really added to the book overall. I would definitely recommend this to anybody who wants to read an amazing book. I loved it, and from the expressions of the other high-school freshmans, I could tell that they loved it too. In fact, many have asked me where to get a copy!

[Kelly Kittel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a genre I usually read but I was given a copy of the book and it was a fun vacation read! I'd recommend this to anyone heading on an Antarctic cruise as the author does a nice job of including the sights and critters of that region. Hat's off to my fellow RI author!

[Barbara Schoenfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I was going to read a romance, but it was so much more…thriller, fantasy, and a little Nazi history undertones. And I love how the author incorporated her deep knowledge of Antartica. What an imagination.