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Deception
When Simon Bennett, a talented and controversial architect, is found dead, his daughter Jill hires ex-homicide detective, and her ex-husband, Dan Santini, who uncovers the Bennetts' long-buried family secrets and the scandalous truth behind Simon's death. Original.
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 17, 2025
Well-respected architect Simon Bennett dies in a car accident, but his daughter, Jill Bennett, is certain that it was actually murder, as her father had recently been acting strange. She winds up getting her ex-husband, Dan Santini, a criminology professor, to investigate. They apparently haven't had anything to do with each other for 13 (!) years, but the sparks nevertheless fly. Their investigation starts bringing all sorts of family secrets into the open.
This one was just a flat "meh" from start to finish. It's not terrible, but it's just not all that interesting either. Jill is 34, but behaves like she is 17. There are far too many characters running about in these pages. The suspense and mystery just isn't there and some of the subplots feel quite superfluous. The second chance romance between Jill and Dan is absolutely dead on arrival. They divorced 13 years ago, and we get zero detail about what made their relationship end. They haven't spoken once in that 13 years, so how are we to know that what went wrong the first time won't happen again?
It didn't captivate me at all. It took me over a week to read because I found it all too easy to put down and find something else to do.
This one was just a flat "meh" from start to finish. It's not terrible, but it's just not all that interesting either. Jill is 34, but behaves like she is 17. There are far too many characters running about in these pages. The suspense and mystery just isn't there and some of the subplots feel quite superfluous. The second chance romance between Jill and Dan is absolutely dead on arrival. They divorced 13 years ago, and we get zero detail about what made their relationship end. They haven't spoken once in that 13 years, so how are we to know that what went wrong the first time won't happen again?
It didn't captivate me at all. It took me over a week to read because I found it all too easy to put down and find something else to do.
April 4, 2020
It was very well written! And it kept you guessing all the way through!
February 8, 2025
Great read!!!
September 16, 2017
I think it's gotten to the point where I've read too many books in this genre, because I'm just unwilling to just overlook all the clichés that keep showing up in these books. Mostly when it comes to characters.
Okay woman- you hired this man because of his good instincts, and then you turn around and say 'you're wrong' every time he tells you he discovered something. Stop it.
Okay man- why are you guilting her about not wanting to talk to her mother only hours after said mother revealed a painful secret. Why aren't you letting her work through her anger in peace? Stop it.
The one thing that really bothered me. You knew they were getting together. Whatever. However, not once did these two characters sit down and talk about why they didn't work in the first place and how they were going to tackle it this time around. I give them five years before those same issues derail them.
Okay woman- you hired this man because of his good instincts, and then you turn around and say 'you're wrong' every time he tells you he discovered something. Stop it.
Okay man- why are you guilting her about not wanting to talk to her mother only hours after said mother revealed a painful secret. Why aren't you letting her work through her anger in peace? Stop it.
The one thing that really bothered me. You knew they were getting together. Whatever. However, not once did these two characters sit down and talk about why they didn't work in the first place and how they were going to tackle it this time around. I give them five years before those same issues derail them.
April 20, 2012
This was a fast moving suspense novel that kept you guessing till almost the very end. An apparent car accident is to blame for the death of a prominent architect, or is it? Was it an accident, suicide, or murder? His daughter begins investigating and uncovers some family secrets that she wasn't looking for. Her ex, a detective turned teacher, helps her with the investigation . When they are together, the old sparks begin to fly. This is a must read if you like mystery laced with a little romance. Very likable and believable characters. I literally couldn't put this book down during the last 40 pages!
April 15, 2014
Jill Bennet and ex husband Dan Santini solve the murder of Jill's father amid many plot twists and turns. Get back together in the end. 'New' author of romantic suspense. Okay read.
June 14, 2007
This book is a page burner...decent plot about a woman looking into the death of her father, which was ruled an accident and uncovering a lot of family secrets in the process.
Want to read
January 31, 2012My cover is different. It has a blue background with a white & read "torn" area.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews