Deceptions

Connor Hawthorne #1

by Lauren Maddison

On the muddy banks of the C&O Canal in Washington, D.C., a beautiful woman is murdered, unleashing a wave of terror that reaches to the highest levels of power. Devastated by the death of her longtime lover, Connor Hawthorne, best-selling mystery novelist, former district attorney, and the daughter of a former U.S. Senator and presidential adviser, is determined to bring the murderer to justice. And when the crime is solved--too easily--she vows to put the experience behind her and rebuild her life. But someone is determined to make sure she doesn't. While at a writer's conference in the the Southwest, Connor finds herself running for her life across the high desert, aided by a beautiful and resourceful Navajo guide. As the murderer draws close, Conner and her guide must unravel a web of treachery, some of which lies in Connor's own past, to save their lives and prevent the discovery of a powerful secret that someone is willing to kill for, again and again. In the process, Connor will finally come to understand the very special gifts of wisdom and prescience that have passed to her through generations of Celtic women from the mists of times long past. Caught up in the battle between life and death, she learns that reality isn't necessarily just what you can see.

Genres: Mystery, Lesbian, Fiction, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Unfinished, Crime

432 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 15, 1999

About the author

Lauren Maddison is the author of five Connor Hawthorne mysteries: Deceptions, Witchfire, Death by Prophecy, Epitaph for an Angel, and The Eleventh Hour. She makes her home in Southern California.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars. This book was a bit odd for me. I thought this series were going to be mystery books with a slight paranormal twist. It started as a murder mystery; the main character Connor’s lover/partner of ten years is murdered. But then the book takes a turn at being a drama book and the mystery is put on hold. A bit later the book turns into an intrigue book with secret agents, spies and assassins. Finally it ends with a magical, mystical flare. That is a lot of categories to pack into one book. The book is on the longer side so it helped spread these categories out, but it was still way too much for one book. The book felt like it was looking for its identity the whole time.

Parts of the writing I liked, parts were just flat out over written. Be it flowery language, unneeded details and metaphors… It was a bit much at times and would slow the book way down. Other times the book was exciting and I was enjoying myself. Overall it was frustrating to think how much should have been edited out. Again just too much for one book.

The way the book ended there might be a possible romance on the horizon. Also, while not all, there were a good chunk of storylines that were wrapped up in this book. Meaning I have no idea where the author is going to take book 2. I’m hoping the series will calm down and find an identity. I’m planning on reading book 2 to see if this series finds its footing before I give up on it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

[Kay read by Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deceptions (Connor Hawthorne #1) by Lauren Maddison: The book was published in 1999 with 424 pages. The twists in this book captured my interest. The story grabbed me in the first chapter and would not let go. The characters felt whole like complete people not just made-up words on a page. The protagonist Connor Hawthorne was so textured it almost felt like I was reading a biography. She was that alive. Her former lover, model, Ariana, is pretty much an unknown but I did get a flavour of her. Laura Nez comes across as pure as Connor. Others in the book were filled out just as well.
I did struggle. The story is what kept me going, though I admit at times I was ready to settle for a DNF as a great story gone awry. This might sound strange considering what I have already written. I only hung in there because these folks became my friends. My difficulty is in the storytelling process. I felt shuffled about. I got involved in the story and would be booted out by some extraneous explanation. This kept happening throughout. When I came back to the storyline I would regain footing. I have to admit I skimmed some places looking for the next step on the path I thought I should be following.
A few times a character acted differently and the response was out of sorts forts for the person I knew. I found myself saying ‘huh’.
The importance of words and background detail overtook the story. It would get too wordy. I became detached from the trivial banter and I wanted to get back to the underlying real story. I pushed on because I wanted to know the end.
My one issue with Connor is she seems too perfect and naïve for all of her life experiences. I would give the story 5 stars. All things considered, I have to drop to 3 1/2 stars. I wish there were fewer details and a more direct storyline. I need a break but will try book #2 in the series titled Witchfire.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty good story in the beginning, but from page one I hated the writing style. I've rarely come across a writer quite so fond of excessive adjectives, adverbs, hyperbole, and metaphors. Then what starts as your average mystery story rapidly devolves into a bunch of quasi-Native American, New Age-y hocus pocus mumbo jumbo. I just didn't think it fit with the tone of the rest of the book. So what started out as a passable (though over-written) mystery ended up... eh. To add to it, the plot lines were only very loosely tied together, making for a weak ending. I was ready to enjoy this book, which made it that much more disappointing.

[Graculus · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book, and its sequel Witchfire, up while I was on holiday and was pleased to have done so, at least until I came to try and read this first book featuring novellist Connor Hawthorne.

Set partly in Washington and partly in New Mexico, Deceptions begins with the murder of Connor's former lover, an Italian model. When Connor, who used to be a district attorney, starts to probe a little deeper into Elena's life, she discovers that her lover was unfaithful to her and that there's also a possible link between Elena's murder and her father, who works for a shadowy government agency. The first third of the book focusses on that, before Connor goes off to Albuquerque for a writer's conference and finds herself on the run with Laura Nez, her Navajo driver/bodyguard.

Essentially, I found myself tolerating the Washington-based part of the book in the hope the story would improve, particularly since I found Connor decidedly unsympathetic to say the least. Initially, when the action moved to New Mexico, things were quite promising and then Connor started to annoy me again. I couldn't bring myself to continue much past halfway, so I have no idea how Deceptions works out, or indeed any interest in picking up Witchfire to find out what happens next, even with the potential lure of American-writer-writing-about-England when some/all of that book is set in Glastonbury.

[Lynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author is way too busy moralizing to ever hope to develop a decent story. Her attempt to show her main character/herself to be absolutely free from any shred of bigotry ( she manages to cover homosexuals, Jews, Blacks, republicans, Native Americans and a few others, except Catholics- they remain on the no-fly list apparently.) makes the whole book childish. She did manage to squeeze in a murder or two along the way, but... gosh I just cannot adequately describe how horrible this novel is.

[Velvet Lounger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just re-read this after many years and it still as wonderful On probably my 3rd it 4th read

I love the mix of murder-mystery with paranormal and a touch of romance. I love the writing style, wonderful prose and beautiful English.

This has become one of my favourite all time series - my only regret is that the author seems to have stopped when this set was finished.

[Michael Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

coming home

This was a wonderful book. Connor had just lost her wife and was at loose end many bad things started happening and she couldn’t figure out why she thought her father Benjamin was at the front of them. I found the plot very good and the characters exceptional.I recommend this book for all who like a really good mystery read.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not into mysteries all that much, but this was well-written, took interesting turns and was very good! it has what I'm always asking for: main characters as lesbians without the story being about lesbianism:)

[theafterglow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book from the little free library by my house and it was interesting. I'm glad I was lucky in picking up the first of this series. I'm curious to see where the rest of the series will go and will probably get the rest from the library when I can.

[Kristin Skakun · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would rate this book a 2.5 if I could. Not bad but it is a slow read with a bit of an over-the-top paranormal twist, for my taste. It drags on too long. Glad I tried a new author but I won't be rushing to read the next Connor Hawthorne mystery.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Lauren Maddison!

Fantastic mystery, well developed characters and a new series can't wait to read!

I am on my second read of the series and can't imagine a better mystery writer!

[Dana Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literate and spiritual

A book written for the soul and the mind is a true gift from writer. Starting the next one before I sleep.

[MizLiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished all 5 books in the Connor Hawthorne Series. Thoroughly enjoyed the mix in each of the books of detective,other world magic,spirits. Connor with her cynicism, and Laura's just right balance. Malcom (friend) and Benjamin (dad) Katy (daughter)as well as spirit traveling grandmothers brought each of these books storylines to a great read.

[Megan]

I hope that the other Connor Hawthorne mysteries are better than this one. In fact, I hope they are mysteries, because Deceptions is not. I’m not sure what it is, and I’m not sure that the author does either. It’s almost like the author moved to the Southwest and discovered Tony Hillerman after she had written the first 100 or so pages. Instead of the murder mystery it seemed to be at the beginning, it rambles on for another 300+plus pages replacing simple detecting with psychic visions and a simple murderer with an evil colonel intent on world domination. In places it reads like a very amateur attempt that was heavily edited by someone else that still couldn’t get it quite right (but was determined to publish it anyway).

Connor Hawthorne herself is not a particularly attractive character, although the author spends a great deal of time trying to convince us otherwise. She thinks a lot, (but if you want to see how interesting people philosophize to themselves, read Alexamder McCall Smith’s Isabel Dalhousie books) but comes to few conclusions and does nothing whatever to help find the various criminals involved in the story. She is, in fact, not a sleuth bur a tourist.

On the other hand, Laura Nez, a Navajo bodyguard, is quite an interesting character and it is no wonder that Connor ends up falling hard for her. Connor’s first girlfriend, however, who is killed in the Prologue of the book, is described as a flighty Barbie type with little intelligence and even less morality. The fact that Connor spends the bulk of the book grieving for her is less surprising than the fact that she saw anything lovable about her in the first place.

As to the resolution of the murder/crimes, the less said the better. Beware though, that the true heroes of this book are an Indian spirit guide in the form of a hawk and an old woman in England who can astrally project herself at will. Nice touch though, in the long car ride Connor and Laura take, chased all the while by a killer. Reminiscent of a similar car ride in Patricia Highsmith’s classic The Price of Salt.

I’m assuming that Maddison has improved since this first book, but I am not tempted to find out, despite the fact that her Amazon e-books are inexpensively priced at $2.99 or below.

Note: I read the e-book version of this novel that was available in October, 2013.

Another Note: This review is included in my book The Art of the Lesbian Mystery Novel, along with information on over 930 other lesbian mysteries by over 310 authors.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery started off great, a woman's ex-girlfriend is murdered and she is devastated then pissed when it appears someone is after her.Her friend and father, who appears to be a government operative, are helping her to solve this mystery. But then in the middle of the book, it takes a turn into science fiction, mystical dialogue that had me wondering what the author was trying to do. Overall it is an okay read.

[Corryn]

I have mixed thoughts about this book. It was a good mystery, and there were several things I never would have anticipated. However, it took me forever to read this book. It was slow reading, and the author's style of writing was almost formal. I am intriqued by the title and description of book #2, which is part of what kept me reading book #1.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Connor Hawthorne, author, former DA, gay, is main character.
Her lover is murdered.
Her father is big in government, friend is black cop.
Mystery, suspense and fantasy.
Nahavo mysticism is big secret.
Weird.

[Pogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great mystery escapist book, one for rainy days and long nights. The only thing that I wish is that the author had written more of this series.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish the book. The heroine was just a little too good to be true (money, brains, power, etc). I'd love a well written lesbo mystery, but this wasn't it.