Deception

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: Christiane Heggan just keeps getting better and better and that's proven in spades with her latest book Deception. This tightly plotted book is filled with compelling characters and enough twists and turns to take the reader on a roller coaster ride of taut romantic suspense. I thorougly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read. Millie Criswell

Rating:
Summary: Really 2 1/2 Stars...
Review: I really enjoyed this book for awhile, but ultimately it left me very disappointed. It was what you would call a 'romantic mystery', but it was short on the romance AND the mystery. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of investigating of Simon Bennet's murder, which could have been interesting if it wasn't quite so obvious who killed Simon & why. I hate to sound like one of those people who claims to have figured out the whole puzzle early on, but in this case it was actually true! (and that is very rare for me!) I assume like some writers Heggan expected you to forget something that she'd mentioned early on, thinking it was just done in passing. However, I think mystery readers are too clue-conscious to ignore something that seems obviously put into the narrative for some purpose. I don't know, maybe it was just me, but also another big 'twist' that Jill finds out about I had also guessed after Heggan had practically suggested it flat-out earlier in the book. **Also, can some reviewer help me out and tell me if I somehow read an abridged version of this book, because some parts in the library copy I read didn't flow. For instance, before Dan kisses her, Jill thinks "this time it was not just a brush on the lips..." but in my book this is the FIRST time he kisses her in the story. Also, they never even say 'i love you' at the end, or discuss why their marriage didn't work in the past, or could work in the present... DID I MISS SOMETHING?? Please, let me know because I felt frustrated and cheated at the end (on top of disappointed because of the lackluster solution to the mystery). Entertaining at numerous points, but I can't recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Nancy Drew is for kids.
Review: I'm always looking for new authors, so I was excited when I read all the great reviews about this and other Heggan books. I was very disappointed. The reading level of this book is just a cut above Nancy Drew. The characters are predictable, and I had it solved before I was halfway through (and I don't even try to solve mysteries -- it was just that obvious). I really enjoy female mystery writers such as Sue Grafton, Patricia Cornwell, Sara Paretsky, and so on. This book is not at all in that league.

Rating:
Summary: Graet suspense
Review: In the Catskills Mountains, renowned but controversial architect Simon Bennett dies in a car crash that is ruled a tragic accident by law enforcement officials. Everyone accepts the official ruling as being accurate except for Simon's daughter Jill. She believes that the police are missing some important information and she plans to find those missing puzzle pieces in order to gain the truth about what really happened to her father.

However, Jill knows she is out of her league in trying to ferret out the truth. Reluctantly, she turns to her former husband Dan Santini for help. Dan was the superstar of the New York City Homicide department when he abruptly quit after he legally but tragically killed a fourteen-year old child. Currently, he is a college teacher working near Chicago. They divorced thirteen years ago because he could not deal with her prominent family . He comes to help Jill, not knowing that what he learns could destroy the woman he still loves.

DECEPTION is a deceptively delightful romantic suspense that will elate fans of the sub-genre and propel Christiane Heggan's name to the forefront. The story line is exciting, especially Jill's uphill climb to find someone to believe in her. The lead protagonists are a charming duo, who find that the truth may be more difficult to swallow than the prevarication's used to hide it. After this novel and SUSPICION, readers will conclude that Ms. Heggan is one writer they can trust to scribe sensational story.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Another Wonderful Thriller by Heggan!
Review: My first novel by Christiane Heggan was "Suspicion." I devoured it in two sittings. But "Deception" was even better! Really good mystery novels are so hard to put down. In "Deception," Jill Bennett is shocked to hear the news that her father, Simon Bennett, has driven his automobile over a cliff because of excessive drinking. Jill doesn't believe that it was an accident. She knows that her father would never be that careless. She believes he was murdered! Jill is now being stalked by this killer because she is being to nosy. Jill along with ex-husband and ex-homicide detective, Dan Santini, are on the case to try and decipher who Simon Bennett's murderer is. Is it Olivia, Jill's cousin and business associate that works at Simon's architectal firms? Is it Peter Van Horn, one of Simon's friends and colleagues? Could it even be his own wife? Or is it Mr. Mulligan a greedy man from another business firm? Christiane Heggan is the next Tami Hoag or Iris Johansen in my eyes!

Rating:
Summary: A comment about the audio version
Review: Simon Bennett's death was no accident, despite the belief of his closest friends that he committed suicide. His daughter, Jill, searches for answers with the help of her ex-husband Dan Santini (who handily used to be a homocide detective, now turned teacher). Together they delve into the real truth surrounding Simon Bennett's death, but discover some very interesting and shocking secrets.

I bought the audio version produced by Durkin Hayes Publishing Ltd. The reader's voice was mundane and distracting. Also, this is a story with so many facets that you must have longer lengths of time to listen to it. Otherwise, if taken in spurts, it becomes hard to follow.

Nice story, a five-star, but buy the book rather than the tape.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This is the first book I have read by Christiane Heggan and let me tell you, I cannot wait to read some of her others. The story was so well written and the secondary characters and story lines made the book very interesting. The story flowed and the characters were some you could identify with. Everything intertwined so well the story was just phenomenol. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: This was my first book by Christiane Heggan and it was great. I can't wait to read her other books. Deception kept me guessing till the end. Definitely would recommend it.