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Deadly Deception
When her boyfriend is arrested and charged with murdering the school guidance counselor, seventeen-year-old Ashlyn tries to find the real killer.
212 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
4 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Haynes
127 books109 followersABOUT ME
Maybe it's because my feisty grandma chased tarantulas around with a broom when we lived on an oil lease property when I was a baby that made me love danger and adventure. And maybe it was my father's spending nights as a trombonist with the bands of his day and his days spent drawing sketches that sparked my artistic side. Do you suppose that because my mother stood only four feet ten inches tall that I feel like a giant at five feet? And I'm sure my FBI (Full Blooded Italian) step-father, his seven brothers and sisters and their families are responsible for my LOVE of Italian food. That's who I am. Who are you?
My First Book, Peppy The Frog That I Wrote In The 2nd Grade
I'll always be a child at heart. Whenever I close my eyes, wonderful, funny, awful, embarrassing memories of middle school/junior high come flooding back to fill the pages of my contemporary novels. My childhood friendships and rivalries with old enemies all find their way into my books. I've even spied on my own kids for story ideas.
Unlike most kids who can't wait to grow up, I've gotten younger--at least my stories have. I've stepped into the world of 7 to 10 year olds.
I and my husband, Jim, live in Texas on Lake Lewisville north of Dallas. We are owned by our greyhound, Miller. Our favorite things to do are traveling the world and boating.
Maybe it's because my feisty grandma chased tarantulas around with a broom when we lived on an oil lease property when I was a baby that made me love danger and adventure. And maybe it was my father's spending nights as a trombonist with the bands of his day and his days spent drawing sketches that sparked my artistic side. Do you suppose that because my mother stood only four feet ten inches tall that I feel like a giant at five feet? And I'm sure my FBI (Full Blooded Italian) step-father, his seven brothers and sisters and their families are responsible for my LOVE of Italian food. That's who I am. Who are you?
My First Book, Peppy The Frog That I Wrote In The 2nd Grade
I'll always be a child at heart. Whenever I close my eyes, wonderful, funny, awful, embarrassing memories of middle school/junior high come flooding back to fill the pages of my contemporary novels. My childhood friendships and rivalries with old enemies all find their way into my books. I've even spied on my own kids for story ideas.
Unlike most kids who can't wait to grow up, I've gotten younger--at least my stories have. I've stepped into the world of 7 to 10 year olds.
I and my husband, Jim, live in Texas on Lake Lewisville north of Dallas. We are owned by our greyhound, Miller. Our favorite things to do are traveling the world and boating.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 22, 2014
I first read this book a good, oh, 19 years ago, when I was 10, and I just remembered it today, and quickly downloaded it. I think I enjoyed it as much today as I did in fifth grade.
May 15, 2017
The “Deadly Deception,” this book is written by Betsy Haynes, it is a murder mystery book about a young woman, who works as a counselor at a high school in Florida, The young woman is murdered by a mother of the student aide that helps her around the office first period. This book is the best book I’ve read in a long time it's about this young woman who was murdered in her office. Her student aide is investigating the murder because the police won’t do anything about it. While she investigates it, she learns things about herself that she didn’t even know. I like the book because I like murder mysteries it gives you an idea of what happens in the story. The author did a good job on making the characters real by making their feelings real. The first problem in the story was Ashlyn’s mother Cynthia murdered the school counselor. The story is trying to say that when people die you need to step up and help your loved ones get through it.
The characters had real feelings as if you could tell what they were feeling, like when the book said, “Oh Daddy, I’m so glad to see you.” “What about Drew?” (pg 206). The antagonist in the story was Cynthia Brennan Ashlyn’s mother, the protagonist was Ashlyn Brennan which is Cynthia Brennan’s daughter, the person supporting the protagonist is Keeley Ashlyn’s best friend. The author helped me connect to the book because this happened to one of my friends aunt and when I read this book I thought of what happened to my friend. When the school counselor was murdered the characters felt sad because the counselor was the favorite in the high school.
I suggest this book to anyone who likes murder mysteries or anyone who reads random books.” I really liked this book because it was awesome because it had a lot of investigating and I like investigating shows, books, or even movies. not only because I like murder mysteries but because it’s like it really happened. The book says “his eyes slipped in and out of focus.” You can really get a picture in your head of what is going on, and it’s like you know what the characters are feeling like when Ashlyn panicked on the boat and firmly said “I won’t let Cynthia win! I won’t let Drew die here! I won’t! I won’t!”That is why I like the book “Deadly Deception.”
The characters had real feelings as if you could tell what they were feeling, like when the book said, “Oh Daddy, I’m so glad to see you.” “What about Drew?” (pg 206). The antagonist in the story was Cynthia Brennan Ashlyn’s mother, the protagonist was Ashlyn Brennan which is Cynthia Brennan’s daughter, the person supporting the protagonist is Keeley Ashlyn’s best friend. The author helped me connect to the book because this happened to one of my friends aunt and when I read this book I thought of what happened to my friend. When the school counselor was murdered the characters felt sad because the counselor was the favorite in the high school.
I suggest this book to anyone who likes murder mysteries or anyone who reads random books.” I really liked this book because it was awesome because it had a lot of investigating and I like investigating shows, books, or even movies. not only because I like murder mysteries but because it’s like it really happened. The book says “his eyes slipped in and out of focus.” You can really get a picture in your head of what is going on, and it’s like you know what the characters are feeling like when Ashlyn panicked on the boat and firmly said “I won’t let Cynthia win! I won’t let Drew die here! I won’t! I won’t!”That is why I like the book “Deadly Deception.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2023
I read this book in the late 90's early 2000's when I was in 5th grade. It was the first chapter book I remember picking up and really just LOVING to read. After I left elementary school I didn't have access to their library anymore and couldn't ever find the book again. I spent nearly 20 years asking people, friends, librarians, and typing all kinds of things in the Ask Jeeves/Google search bar trying to find this book and always coming up empty. Finally someone on Reddit finally found the book title and author for me and I CRIED. I am the type of person that only really cries when I'm frustrated or angry. I am so thankful I've found this book again. I can't wait to buy it and have it on my bookshelf to be able to read again and again.
The book itself is great but it's been YEARS since I've read the actual book. I wish I could be descriptive here to give a good review of the story itself but I do know it involves heavy topics for younger kids.
The book itself is great but it's been YEARS since I've read the actual book. I wish I could be descriptive here to give a good review of the story itself but I do know it involves heavy topics for younger kids.
February 21, 2023
Somehow missed reviewing this one...
Picked up cheap at a used bookstore because I'm nostalgic for '80s/'90s teen fiction. The plot is pretty predictable (the cover, as other reviewers have pointed out, certainly doesn't help), but that also makes solving the mystery along with the characters fun. There's certainly a streak of "poor little rich girl" through the middle, but considering the actual circumstances, I'm willing to let it slide. "Ashlyn" is a terrible (and terribly '80s) name, though.
One thing I did really like was Ashlyn's relationship with her father, especially considering that
Also, cats. Happily adopted cats.
Picked up cheap at a used bookstore because I'm nostalgic for '80s/'90s teen fiction. The plot is pretty predictable (the cover, as other reviewers have pointed out, certainly doesn't help), but that also makes solving the mystery along with the characters fun. There's certainly a streak of "poor little rich girl" through the middle, but considering the actual circumstances, I'm willing to let it slide. "Ashlyn" is a terrible (and terribly '80s) name, though.
One thing I did really like was Ashlyn's relationship with her father, especially considering that
Also, cats. Happily adopted cats.
July 23, 2023
I remember reading this back in middle school. It was one of the first books I remember reading on my own without force and I enjoyed it. The book seems intense for a middle schooler with a few tough topics such as drugs, being drugged, murder, physical abuse, and kidnapping but nothing was extreme. It's still clean if that makes any sense for parents who are cautious about what their kids read. Glad I read this again. Such a good story with a few suspects of who killed Mrs. Rothlis, the student counselor, who was deeply loved by staff and students.
November 1, 2017
This book was very good. A little bit glory but a good book.
January 14, 2023
This was one of my favorite books as a kid. I loved it then and would be interested to see if it stands up against the test of time.
May 7, 2018
Ashlyn è una sstudentessa dell'ultimo anno, molto legata alla consulente scolastica, al suo ragazzo e alla sua migliore amica. Quando la psicologa viene trovata brutalmente uccisa e Drew viene accusato, Ashlyn si mette a investigare, ma ciè che scopre si rivela sconvolgente...
Prevedibile, ma intrigante.
Prevedibile, ma intrigante.
October 31, 2013
This was one of the most interesting book I've ever read. It always kept me on my toes that i could just never put the book down. I found it a quick read because every chapter was a new journey to a place you never thought you'd be. It made me felt like i was a person in the book. The author always left a twist in the book. I loved this book! I would recommend this more to teenagers because it's written more of a teen and high school level.
February 18, 2016
RATING: 2.5 stars
The cover pretty much gave away the plot.
It was okay, but I feel like a lot of the books I've read from this time period (80s+90s YA) have the same formula, I was able to guess what was going to happen before it happened in the book. Maybe I should have read it when I first bought it (many, many years ago), as reading it as an adult made it harder to enjoy.
The cover pretty much gave away the plot.
It was okay, but I feel like a lot of the books I've read from this time period (80s+90s YA) have the same formula, I was able to guess what was going to happen before it happened in the book. Maybe I should have read it when I first bought it (many, many years ago), as reading it as an adult made it harder to enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2008
Wow! This book is an awesome mystery with a very interesting plot. I read it during the WASL and I couldn't put it down. In the beginning it's kind of hard to understand at first, but as you read on it gets really intense!
Read
January 9, 2008It is really really good. I loved it! I read it sometime in 2006 I think. But I'm not sure when. I read it for a school project thing and it was AWSOME!
Want to read
February 22, 2012I never read this book but I own it.
June 21, 2013
My very first mystery novel.. Fantastic memories :)
March 17, 2014
Read this because my daughter really liked it. Okay mystery.
February 13, 2016
One of my favourites as a young teen.
August 21, 2016
Really would like to read this book again......
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews