Witness Faces Her Worst Fears in ‘Dark Deception’ [REVIEW]

Determined to protect a woman in witness protection, U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca races against the clock to keep her alive. (Photo by Shane T. McCoy, US Marshals)

When a deadly prisoner is released on a technicality, a woman in witness protection is forced to face her worst fears once again. Can the U.S. Marshal assigned to her case keep her safe until trial? Find out in Nancy Mehl’s second installment of her Defenders of Justice series, Dark Deception. 

Bethany House

After violently losing her sister to the blade of a serial killer, Kate O’Brien has spent the past four years living in witness protection under the new name of Emily Lockhart in the tiny town of Shelter Cove, Arkansas, where she runs a tiny diner. There she tries to bury the past and move on with her life after narrowly escaping the same fate as her twin.

Then the unthinkable happens: the man she put behind bars is released from prison on a technicality, and suddenly Kate finds herself being pulled back into the nightmare she’s tried to forget as she is subpoenaed to testify yet again in a new trial. Loathing the thought, she only agrees to return if the U.S. Marshal who protected her the first time, Tony DeLuca, escorts her back to St. Louis.

Tony readily accepts the assignment and drives all night only to show up on the diner’s stoop before it is even open. As Kate and Tony reunite, their connection blossoms into something more despite the horrible circumstances that have brought them back together. But as the new trial draws near, will Tony be able to keep Kate safe and banish her demons once and for all?

Nancy Mehl writes with fluidity and grace, and each page of this riveting thriller shines as we get to know Tony and Kate. These are characters with depth, whose feelings and desires quickly draw us in so that we feel their angst and fear from page one. Readers will quickly realize they are in the capable hands of a master writer and they can sit back and enjoy the ride.

Similar to the work of Mary Higgins Clark, Mehl has obviously decided that romantic suspense doesn’t need to be filled with violent scenes in order to keep us on the edge of our seats. For although this is a story about a serial killer, the crimes mostly happen “off camera.” We know what happens, but she doesn’t belabor the point, which is refreshing, and keeps the focus on the characters rather than on the gore.

Although this book is marketed as Christian fiction or inspirational fiction, it doesn’t get bogged down in religious rhetoric. Instead, the book deals with a dark topic but is buoyed by hope and realistic characters whose faith gets them through difficult times. It makes for an enjoyable read, and one that reminds us to look for the possibilities rather than getting mired down by the trauma we may face in a chaotic world in which the most horific monsters are all too human, but so are the heroes.

If you love nailbiting suspense and endearing love stories without all the language, sex and violence that fill so many novels within the genre, try Nancy Mehl’s Dark Deception. You can actually read this book before you go to bed and still be able to sleep at night. And who knows? You may even awaken with a little more faith in your fellow man.

Nancy Mehl

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Mehl is the author of 23 books, including the Road to Kingdom and Finding Sanctuary series, and a 2015 finalist for RT Book Reviews’ Reviewers’ Choice Award.

Nancy writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband, Norman, and their puggle, Watson.

Visit Nancy’s home on the Web at NancyMehl.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

DARK DECEPTION
By Nancy Mehl
320 pgs. Bethany House. $15.99

You may purchase Dark Deception at any of these fine online retailers: Amazon, Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble.

Dark Deception is brought to you in association with TLC Book Tours.