Deceived

by James Scott Bell

She thinks she knows who she is and what she wants, but when the web gets terribly tangled, is her game of deception a clever lie or a deadly trap? Two bodies in an isolated canyon on the edge of L.A. One with saddlebags filled with diamonds. That's how it begins for Liz Towne, a stunning blonde with a devout husband who has given up a prime job for reasons Liz cannot understand—for "Mac" MacDonald, a Gulf War vet who's done time in prison and is just now finding his way back to normal life—and for Roxanne "Rocky" Towne, Liz's sister-in-law, who suspects things she cannot prove. All three are thrown together after a tragedy in Pack Canyon. After finding the stolen diamonds, Liz is faced with an escalating set of Truth or lies? Stop or keep moving? All in or played out? A stunning suspense thriller from bestselling author James Scott Bell.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Christian, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Crime

327 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2009

About the author

Jim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest series, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing.

Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.

Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A middle-of-the-road mystery/thriller that is made better by its shocking ending. Now, if only there was a sequel or two...

EDIT: Wow, I'm forgetting a lot of things lately! I had no idea until I came on here to review this book that I'd already read it seven and a half years ago! Then again, I've read so many books since, it's hard to keep them all straight.

So...did I enjoy the book just as much this time around? No...I enjoyed it even more! Instead of "middle-of-the-road," I found this to be a crazy thrill ride with plenty of twists and turns. I do agree with my above opinion of the ending; it was rather surprising, but, I won't give it away here.

If you think that Christian fiction is all "end times" stories and lovey-dovey romances, you should check this out; it's definitely different--not to mention edgier than usual--for the genre.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

James Scott Bell's "Deceived" feels like the first book in a series rather than a complete novel in its own right. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't--I couldn't find anything to indicate if we'll see a follow-up in the near future.

If there's not a follow-up, I may be disappointed.

During a hiking trip, Liz and her born-again husband stumble across a dead body. Near the body is a bag full of diamonds. Liz sees the diamonds as their chance to land on easy street while her husband wants nothing to do with them. His recent conversion to Christianity is causing friction in their marriage and his professional career. During their argument, Liz shoves him off a rock, causing him to fall to his death. Liz begins to hatch a plot to cover up the murder of her husband.

Meanwhile, we meet Mac, a Gulf War vet with issues. He's got Gulf War syndrome and intense pain in his head. He's been in jail for robbing a store, losing his wife and family in the process. Mac has come to the Lord and found a job as the handy-man for his church. But his probation officer seems to have it in for him and will stop at nothing to get Mac back into jail. We also meet Rocky, a female private investigator who was scarred when a dog mauled her as a child. She has just left her relationship with her abusive boyfriend. She's also the sister of the husband who died. Mac is the guy's best friend.

The storylines all come together, centered around the mystery of what happened and how Liz reacts. Liz makes a show of accepting God and being baptized. However, when some men come looking for the diamonds and the police start to poke holes in her story, Liz becomes more and more desperate, leading her to make some shocking decisions in the novel's final third.

For long periods of "Deceived," the story is gripping, entertaining and suspenseful. Bell is able to avoid the cliches of character within Christian fiction, making his character's struggles feel authentic and connect with the readers. You may be able to figure out where some things will lead, but the choices and characters never seem black or white, good or evil. However, the frustrating part comes when arcs that are put into motion but offer little or no resolution. Maybe Bell intended the story to be like life with no easy answers or maybe there's a second installment coming soon. Either way, I left the story feeling as if something were missing. I don't want everything wrapped up in a nice, neat package but some sense of resolution would be nice.

[Jill Bratcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Jim Bell book gets five stars based on the ending alone. While the rest was good, too - WOW!

The interweaving of characters and hopping around between them in the beginning made my brain spin at first, but with dogged persistence I sort led through it. And oh, what a payoff!

Most of Bell's protagonists have either been lawyers or someone who really needed one. And who the protagonist was has always been pretty clear.

In Deceived however, Bell does the nigh impossible - carrying as the main focus each of three people (& almost a fourth and fifth in Arty Towne and Ted Gillespie). We're in their heads and seeing the situation from each of their perspectives - all while hoping good will triumph, that those who've gone astray will sort themselves and/or meet their just desserts. Bell keeps all the plates spinning!

There were parts - usually the ones where we were in Liz Towne's head, that I wanted skim ahead, but I found it an engaging read and felt it properly resolved.

AND THEN I READ THE LAST CHAPTER! WOW!

[CatherineMorland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I forgot how much I enjoy James Scott Bell's writing. This one isn't about a lawyer which was a nice change. I felt like it had a much different feel than his other books, like he really pushed himself to write something out of his comfort zone.

The suspense was amazing as always and I read through this quickly because I wanted to see the ending! I have to admit, I loved everything about this book EXCEPT for the ending, which is why it only gets 4 stars instead of the 5 I'd love to give it. I'm just not a fan of cliffhanger endings, even when there's a sequel (which frustratingly enough, Deceived doesn't even have a sequel, so I guess we'll have to leave the plot twist up to our imagination). To me, those type of stories feel incomplete and unfair to the readers.

That said, I tip my hat off to Mr. Bell for another well-written, entertaining read :) If he ever gets bored some day and has writer's block, I would definitely pay to read the sequel which I think Deceived deserves.

[Lori Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so I have to say this book is outside of my normal genre. But I wanted to give it a go. I was uncomfortable in some areas of it, there were some very adult situations, but understandable as it’s an adult book. The layout of the book is very confusing. There’s many characters and it jumps to different perspectives frequently and it’s really hard to keep u with who is who and how they connect. The only “good” thing was that there was a MAJOR plot twist at the end, but also one that really did make sense. Overall it was decent but I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Donna Hues · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an amazing read for a mystery/investigative writer. Bell does an outstanding job weaving the lives of three major, plus four or five other characters, into this "what next?" story about cold-blooded murder, theft, anger management, reconciliation, and "I did it once, I can do it again. I'm not getting caught", storyline. Did I mention a surprise, fall off my chair, ending? About as good as it gets for a clean read with the gospel expertly woven throughout.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took a long time to get into this book. Once I did, I was hooked, but by then the book was more than halfway over. I listened to the audiobook, and it took quite a while for me to figure out all the characters and how the storylines were inter-related. Not sure if that would be the same with a paper copy. Overall, very good story.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters and plot. I picked this up at a busy point in my life and I often found myself frustrated that I didn't have more time to read it. And the ending? I was shocked but confused. I thought for sure there would be a second ...

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick read.

[Kate Joekel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 stars

James Scott Bell writes books that keep you up at night! If you are looking for characters with depth and a plot that keeps you guessing, try this book.

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty VIOLENT for Christian fiction. Not believable either.

[Rosanne Bartlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m only giving it 3 stars because it had a shocking ending that left you hanging. It was a complete page turner. A sequel needs to be done.

[Kathy Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was as wild a story as riding the toughest rapids in a rubber raft. Edgy twists and turns with a huge shock at the end that leaves you begging for a sequel.

[Crissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cover intrigued me when I seen it on the counter. Read this one aloud with my husband, we tried to read one day each night, some days were longer than others and we couldn't get through a day. Other days were short and read multiple days at a time. When I first looked at the format I thought we were reading someone's diary but it wasn't it was the storyline and the time stamps showed how it was all happening so quickly and all at the same time. It was neat how all of these strangers were brought together because of Arty's death and how they were coping with his sudden death. There were a few times I was ready to throw in the towel but then all of a sudden it would switch and I couldn't put it down. Will be looking for more from this author.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was well written. However, there was way too much going on for my taste. At a certain point, I stopped paying attention and was more concerned with getting to the end of the book.

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liz Towne's life has hardly been a bed of roses. She deserves more, and she's determined to overcome her white trash past. She thought her ticket was Arty Towne, a guy who dreamed of being worth two million before he turned thirty-five. But then he went and got religion on her and quit his six-figure job. "You've changed," Liz said to Arty that fateful day in Pack Canyon. "I don't like it." When they both discover a dead biker with a fortune of diamonds in his saddlebags, Liz sees another chance at the life she's always wanted. But what will it cost her?

Deceived is more than a page-turning thriller--it's a story about choices. Not just for Liz Towne, but for her sister-in-law Rocky and Iraqi war veteran, Mac. All three are bound by their love and friendship with Arty, and all three have been dealt hands they'd rather fold. But it's their decisions that set them apart. One chooses to deceive, one is caught in between, and the other is determined to unmask the deceiver.

Spanning about two weeks in the lives of several characters, Bell ratchets up the intensity in Deceived. Unlike its predecessors No Legal Grounds and Presumed Guilty, it's not a legal thriller. This is straight-up suspense that'll get you thinking about life, God and the domino effect of deception.

So pull up a chair. Unfold your napkin. James Scott Bell has served up another delightful stew of suspense, witty dialogue and plot twists. I never saw the ending of this one coming!

[The Sunday Book Review]

This was a fast paced thriller that kept my attention and interest, even during the slight confusing sections. The book, which has moderate Christian undertones, plays with the struggle of good vs evil and how to attack it every day. Having read, and liked, this publisher in the past, I knew what to expect from their books. I felt at times that the religious talk might be a bit much for someone just looking for a good thriller. That being said, I don't think readers should overlook it.

The characters were well written and did a lot of "natural" things. It's common in thrillers to have characters react in ways that are so unrealistic it ruins the book. Fortunately Bell took the other approach and made the characters approachable and easy to relate to. My only two thorns while reading this were that the constant narrative changes made it a bit jarring and made me step outside the book long enough to get out of rhythm. I also found it to be a bit incomplete. I'm not sure if the author meant to end it that way (in which case it was a bad choice) or if the author has plans to write a sequel (in which case there wasn't enough suspense).

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay, but I didn't love it. First of all, it's classified (at my local library at least) as Christian Fiction but it's loaded with murders. Loaded. That surprised me. Secondly, the narrative spends a lot of time with the killer and I don't really enjoy books in which I have to follow the killer around. I don't like being "near" the killer. And thirdly, I found one of the character arcs completely boring and skipped those parts after the first 50 pages or so. Still, it was an okay book. If you like murders, you might like this book.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book about the three people close to Arty, who dies after an accidental fall. The story is told from the perspectives of these three: His wife, his sister and his best friend. They each have their own "demons", and the intertwining of these characters builds to a dramatic climax, and a surprising twist at the end. The story jumps between these perspectives quite often, which makes for a choppy read, but is still a decent story.

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a great book! This was very well written. I like a good mystery but I also don't like a lot of blood and guts. James Bell did a great job of weaving a master tale that was suspenseful and tasteful. I devoured this book in two days because I simply "had" to get through to the end! And the ending I totally did not see coming. This was an excellent book. I will for sure be reading more of Bells' books.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually like James Scott Bell, and this book did not disappoint. I liked how the characters became entangled with each other. There were a few times when the characters were reminiscing that I got confused, but overall, I thought it flowed well. There better be another book after this because it definitely left me hanging.

[Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly a sitting on the edge of your seat mystery! The characters were well formed and enjoyed getting to know them. The last couple pages totally blew me away - never expected it! It well worth the read.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took awhile for me to get into this...about a 1/4 or 1/3 of the way through, but then I was pulled in and had to finish it. The Christian stuff is integrated pretty well, but can still be a bit preachy.

[Kelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Christian fiction that focuses on our decisions to do what is in our best interest or to do what is right. An interesting story line.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS THE MOST SURPRISING MYSTERY I HAVE READ FOR A LONG TIME. THE CHRISTIAN ASPECTS AND SIN ASPECTS OF THE STORY ARE SO INTERTWINED, YOU WONDER WHAT IS GOING TO COME NEXT. AN EXCELLENT READ

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book. I enjoy many of his books, but this one kept me guessing and one of those you stay up all night to get through. Absolutely loved it as a Christian suspense novel. A++++

[Jax O · Rating 2 out of 5]

religious,crime & mystery,life choices

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book-it was an enjoyable mystery and I have read several others of his books.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this a couple of years ago... it was really good! :)

[Kw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never disappointed by James Scott Bell. An unusual book with true-to-life characters struggling to figure things out. Not sure about the surprise ending, but with or without it, the book was great.