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A Dangerous Deception
Jerome, Arizona Territory, 1899
When Andromeda Barr left her colorful past behind in pursuit of a normal—albeit solo—life, she didn’t exactly settle for the mundane. Performing is in her blood, and right now she has to believe she’s lying for all the right reasons—justice for the excluded, the overlooked of society—a debt she owes to the two unusual people who raised her.
Pinkerton Agent Connell O’Brien is on the trail of a wanted murderer holed up in ‘the wickedest town in the west.’ Hiding his identity is part of the job, but when he meets the surprising Miss Barrington, he begins to wonder how many secrets are too many.
Two close calls with disaster seem to suggest it’s time they both stop running from the guilt of the past and let mercy catch up, but will these two solo acts join forces before the danger of discovery becomes a matter of life or death?
When Andromeda Barr left her colorful past behind in pursuit of a normal—albeit solo—life, she didn’t exactly settle for the mundane. Performing is in her blood, and right now she has to believe she’s lying for all the right reasons—justice for the excluded, the overlooked of society—a debt she owes to the two unusual people who raised her.
Pinkerton Agent Connell O’Brien is on the trail of a wanted murderer holed up in ‘the wickedest town in the west.’ Hiding his identity is part of the job, but when he meets the surprising Miss Barrington, he begins to wonder how many secrets are too many.
Two close calls with disaster seem to suggest it’s time they both stop running from the guilt of the past and let mercy catch up, but will these two solo acts join forces before the danger of discovery becomes a matter of life or death?
127 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2018
4 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Debra E. Marvin
21 books125 followersDebra E. Marvin tries not to run too far from real life but the imagination born out of being an only child has a powerful draw. Besides, the voices in her head tend to agree with all the sensible things she says. She'd like to live a wee bit closer to her grandchildren, but is thankful that God is in control, that He chooses to bless us despite ourselves and that He has a sense of humor.
Other than writing light-hearted romances and gritty gothics, she has rather normal obsessions such as fabric, peanut butter, vacations, British dramas, and whatever mystery series she's currently stuck on.
debraemarvin.com
Inkwell Inspirations Blog
Pinterest @debraemarvin
Facebook debra e marvin
Other than writing light-hearted romances and gritty gothics, she has rather normal obsessions such as fabric, peanut butter, vacations, British dramas, and whatever mystery series she's currently stuck on.
debraemarvin.com
Inkwell Inspirations Blog
Pinterest @debraemarvin
Facebook debra e marvin
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 20, 2018
From the very beginning, I was blissfully swept away into the dusty, wild-west town. This story comes vividly to life with rugged buildings, dusty streets, and a variety of colorful characters. You won't want to miss a moment of this rousing adventure!
I enjoyed the lively characters, exciting banter and plenty of action to keep you on your toes! Sparks are sure to fly with a Pinkerton agent hot on the trail of a wanted murderer and a circus performer turned singer, with a secret identity all her own. Will they let their secret identities hide their truth?
At the core, this story reminds us that we all sin and fall short. Forgiveness is bigger than our sin. God has given us grace that we don't deserve, how can we give anything less.
This fun, action-packed novella is sure to sweep you off your feet and into the action in the wild west town of Jerome, Arizona. I give this story 4 stars. If you enjoy vivid stories with action and a touch a mystery, this is the story for you!
(I purchased a copy for my personal collection in e-book format from Amazon. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
I enjoyed the lively characters, exciting banter and plenty of action to keep you on your toes! Sparks are sure to fly with a Pinkerton agent hot on the trail of a wanted murderer and a circus performer turned singer, with a secret identity all her own. Will they let their secret identities hide their truth?
At the core, this story reminds us that we all sin and fall short. Forgiveness is bigger than our sin. God has given us grace that we don't deserve, how can we give anything less.
This fun, action-packed novella is sure to sweep you off your feet and into the action in the wild west town of Jerome, Arizona. I give this story 4 stars. If you enjoy vivid stories with action and a touch a mystery, this is the story for you!
(I purchased a copy for my personal collection in e-book format from Amazon. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)
August 12, 2018
3.5 stars
"Propriety was an exhausting regime" . . . especially for Andromeda Barrington, who had supposedly sung in Carnegie Hall rather than performing as the "Amazing Andromeda" under the cover of a circus tent. Now she is "under cover" in an entirely different sort of way; posing as a lady of distinction, honing her skills as a Pinkerton agent, keeping an eye out for an infamous arsonist and keeping her eye on a handsome Irishman, whose eyes communicate totally differently messages than his tongue. Something big is about to happen in Jerome, Arizona.
"He'd have to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time" . . . . if he was going to get his man. And Connell O'Brien's man was a notorious killer named Milo Morris. There's just one problem; Andromeda Barrington does seem to be everywhere, all the time. . . .so, what kind of game is she playing? . .. .because "even a cat can look at a queen". Right?
One town. Two criminals. Two detectives. A lot of interesting dialogue. A lot of potential suspects. Enjoy every minute of this banterous tale, and since everyone knows that truth can be stranger than fiction, be sure to read the historical notes at the end of the story.
"Propriety was an exhausting regime" . . . especially for Andromeda Barrington, who had supposedly sung in Carnegie Hall rather than performing as the "Amazing Andromeda" under the cover of a circus tent. Now she is "under cover" in an entirely different sort of way; posing as a lady of distinction, honing her skills as a Pinkerton agent, keeping an eye out for an infamous arsonist and keeping her eye on a handsome Irishman, whose eyes communicate totally differently messages than his tongue. Something big is about to happen in Jerome, Arizona.
"He'd have to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time" . . . . if he was going to get his man. And Connell O'Brien's man was a notorious killer named Milo Morris. There's just one problem; Andromeda Barrington does seem to be everywhere, all the time. . . .so, what kind of game is she playing? . .. .because "even a cat can look at a queen". Right?
One town. Two criminals. Two detectives. A lot of interesting dialogue. A lot of potential suspects. Enjoy every minute of this banterous tale, and since everyone knows that truth can be stranger than fiction, be sure to read the historical notes at the end of the story.
July 22, 2018
Two Pinkerton agents in Jerome are after two different men. Connell & Andromeda both have secrets and are in town undercover. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the town and action scenes that kept me engaged in the story.
The characters were interesting. Andromeda had a sassy, quirky, strong-willed side to her that was amusing. Connor was also strong but had a soft caring side to him that he tried to keep hidden.
The story had enough action to keep it moving along at an enjoyable pace and had some surprises that created suspense. The ending wrapped everything up nicely. Just enough mention of God's word to show the hope of salvation.
I was given an arc copy by the author and voluntarily chose to review it.
The characters were interesting. Andromeda had a sassy, quirky, strong-willed side to her that was amusing. Connor was also strong but had a soft caring side to him that he tried to keep hidden.
The story had enough action to keep it moving along at an enjoyable pace and had some surprises that created suspense. The ending wrapped everything up nicely. Just enough mention of God's word to show the hope of salvation.
I was given an arc copy by the author and voluntarily chose to review it.
July 23, 2018
Very cute story.
Cute story about 2 very different Pinkerton agents working undercover in Jerome, Arizona and how they meet and eventually work together. I enjoyed this story very much and read it in one day after I one-clicked it on Amazon! I love how Debra Marvin describes her characters and the old town of Jerome!
Cute story about 2 very different Pinkerton agents working undercover in Jerome, Arizona and how they meet and eventually work together. I enjoyed this story very much and read it in one day after I one-clicked it on Amazon! I love how Debra Marvin describes her characters and the old town of Jerome!
July 26, 2018
A story with two Pinkerton agents? Count me in! These are among my favorite kind to read because I know there’s going to be a case to solve, and I like trying to solve it right along with them.
Andromeda (Andy) Barrington and Connell O’Brien have two separate missions and two criminals to catch. But they can’t alert the town of Jerome, Arizona as to their real identities, and a good Pinkerton agent can pull it off and catch their man at the same time. Another reviewer called Andy sassy & quirky, and I’d have to agree with that. She has enough spunk and smarts to fool the best of them. There were enough clues to guess what her past life was too! As for Connell, I’m a sucker for an Irish accent and he has plenty of that to go around! Putting that aside, he’s a good agent and plays his cards just right to catch his murderer. These two end up working together tangling missions and hearts! My favorite part of the story is always the happily-ever-after. I also found it to be action packed and a little bit of danger to keep me on my toes. What I loved the most was Debra put circus definitions before each chapter. For example, did you know that the term “Gag” is the short, silly clown tricks used as transitions between circus acts? Or that “Circus Candy” is the fancy packaged, yet low quality sweets hawked to circus crowds with the promise of secret prizes inside? These little tidbits where fascinating to learn and added fun to the story; makes me want to find a circus near me to go to!
All in all, this was a good afternoon read with just the right amount of pages and plenty to keep me interested and invested.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was under no obligation to leave a positive review. *
Andromeda (Andy) Barrington and Connell O’Brien have two separate missions and two criminals to catch. But they can’t alert the town of Jerome, Arizona as to their real identities, and a good Pinkerton agent can pull it off and catch their man at the same time. Another reviewer called Andy sassy & quirky, and I’d have to agree with that. She has enough spunk and smarts to fool the best of them. There were enough clues to guess what her past life was too! As for Connell, I’m a sucker for an Irish accent and he has plenty of that to go around! Putting that aside, he’s a good agent and plays his cards just right to catch his murderer. These two end up working together tangling missions and hearts! My favorite part of the story is always the happily-ever-after. I also found it to be action packed and a little bit of danger to keep me on my toes. What I loved the most was Debra put circus definitions before each chapter. For example, did you know that the term “Gag” is the short, silly clown tricks used as transitions between circus acts? Or that “Circus Candy” is the fancy packaged, yet low quality sweets hawked to circus crowds with the promise of secret prizes inside? These little tidbits where fascinating to learn and added fun to the story; makes me want to find a circus near me to go to!
All in all, this was a good afternoon read with just the right amount of pages and plenty to keep me interested and invested.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and was under no obligation to leave a positive review. *
August 16, 2018
I really enjoy books that feature the Pinkertons. A Dangerous Deception has not one, but TWO Pinkerton agents! I couldn't wait to read it! Once I started it, I didn't want to stop! It was fast paced and had me clicking through the pages as fast as I could. It was an exciting and fun read filled with danger, intrigue, and a great message of faith.
I loved the name Andromeda! It's so unique and completely fit the character. She's full of sass and spunk and was so much fun to read about. Connell was the perfect guy for her.
The circus terms and definitions at the beginning of each chapter were really interesting and I learned lots of new things from them.
A Dangerous Deception is my favorite story from Debra Marvin yet! I can't recommend it highly enough!
I loved the name Andromeda! It's so unique and completely fit the character. She's full of sass and spunk and was so much fun to read about. Connell was the perfect guy for her.
The circus terms and definitions at the beginning of each chapter were really interesting and I learned lots of new things from them.
A Dangerous Deception is my favorite story from Debra Marvin yet! I can't recommend it highly enough!
August 26, 2018
If you’re looking for a rip-roaring story set in the wild west, look no further. This adventure features not one, but two, Pinkerton detectives hunting down desperados. There’s never a dull moment in the town of Jerome once Andromeda Barrington and Connell O’Brien come to town. With lots of action, intrigue, suspense, drama, and a bit of romance thrown in, this book has something for everyone.
I enjoyed the epigraphs at the beginning of the chapters describing different things in circus life. They added a fun element to the story, since Andromeda is a former circus performer.
I enjoyed the epigraphs at the beginning of the chapters describing different things in circus life. They added a fun element to the story, since Andromeda is a former circus performer.
July 30, 2018
You will enjoy this action tale of two Pinkerton agents in the Arizona Territory. Andromeda grew up in the circus but is now on assignment as a Pinkerton agent. Both Andromeda and agent Connell O'Brien are well written protagonists in the mountainside town of Jerome. As well as searching for an arsonist, Andy witnesses to girls in brothels. I recommend A Dangerous Deception to others. I received an advance e-book from the author. This is my honest opinion.
July 1, 2019
Pinkertons in Peril
Two cases. Two criminals. Two undercover Pinkerton Agents.
Andy and Connell cross paths in a mining town plagued with mudslides and fires. Each one working their own lead, they finally decide to work together.
I loved how the author used a real town and real happenings to weave this story around. I enjoyed the mystery and the undercover hunt for the criminals.
The attraction between the Pinkertons was a great bonus!
Two cases. Two criminals. Two undercover Pinkerton Agents.
Andy and Connell cross paths in a mining town plagued with mudslides and fires. Each one working their own lead, they finally decide to work together.
I loved how the author used a real town and real happenings to weave this story around. I enjoyed the mystery and the undercover hunt for the criminals.
The attraction between the Pinkertons was a great bonus!
August 19, 2018
An entertaining story of a former circus performer who has escaped her past life to become one of the best agents of the Pinkerton Detective Agency.
Adventure awaits Andromeda when she arrives in Jerome, Arizona in pursuit of an arsonist.
Unknowing to her there is another Pinkerton agent in town pursuing a murderer.
There are many twists and turns in this delightful, suspenseful read.
I stayed up long past my bedtime to finish this book.
I look forward to reading more books by Debra E. Marvin.
Adventure awaits Andromeda when she arrives in Jerome, Arizona in pursuit of an arsonist.
Unknowing to her there is another Pinkerton agent in town pursuing a murderer.
There are many twists and turns in this delightful, suspenseful read.
I stayed up long past my bedtime to finish this book.
I look forward to reading more books by Debra E. Marvin.
September 26, 2018
I love this. It is a fun, rip roaring, good read. It is a must read. I am of big fan of westerns but add the fact that a woman who is a strong determined person is the main character and I am in. Annie Oakley was one of my favorites and this reminded me of how she would be. Real fun to read
January 28, 2020
A must read!
Well written, full of surprises! You won't put it down once you start reading. Find your quiet place, sit back and enjoy.
Well written, full of surprises! You won't put it down once you start reading. Find your quiet place, sit back and enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews