Deceived by Irene Hannon

This offering from one of my favorite suspense authors is more character driven than action driven. In fact, there is no suspense until near the end.

Part of the Private Justice series, this novel concentrates on Connor, previously a Secret Service agent and now member of Phoenix, Inc. private investigating team. The firm is hired by Kate, a widow who thinks she's seen her son, a preschooler whose body was never found in the drowning accident that killed her husband three years ago.

The majority of the book deals with the tedious work of trying to identify the boy Kate only saw in passing in a shopping mall. Mall surveillance videos are reviewed and when the boy and the man appear coming out of a shop, Connor has something to go on. It was interesting to see the path private investigators take to accomplish their tasks.

Along with the investigative technique, a tingle of romance develops between Connor and Kate. The policy of Phoenix, Inc. forbids Connor to allow the romance to develop but we readers can certainly hope that when the case is solved, the two will find their future together.

One difficulty I had with the novel was the “bad” guy. He was portrayed as a nice father figure and it was hard for me to convince myself he was possibly a murderer.

This is a good novel for those who like character driven novels with a serious hint of romance.

Find out more about the book and read an excerpt here.

Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author of more than 45 romance and romantic suspense novels. She has received two RITA awards, a Daphne du Maurier award, a Carol award, three HOLT Medallions, a National Reader's Choice Award, a Retailers Choice Award, a Booksellers' Best Award and two Reviewers' Choice awards. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist. Find out more at http://www.irenehannon.com/.

Revell, 417 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this novel from the publisher for the purpose of an independent and honest review.