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Art of Deception
When mystery writer Amanda Westfield gets stuck in an elevator with the enigmatic Casey Tanner, their instant connection is undeniable. But their budding attraction takes an unexpected turn when their neighbor is murdered, and Amanda convinces Casey to help investigate.
What begins as an amateur sleuthing adventure soon draws them into the dangerous world of high-end art theft. As they follow a trail of clues through exclusive galleries and underground poker clubs, the stakes—and their feelings for each other—intensify with each discovery.
Casey harbors secrets about her past that could either save them or put them in greater danger. With a ruthless criminal closing in and trust hanging in the balance, Amanda and Casey must decide if what's growing between them is worth risking everything for.
Art of Deception is a captivating romantic thriller where two women discover that the most valuable masterpiece might be the unexpected love they find amid peril.
What begins as an amateur sleuthing adventure soon draws them into the dangerous world of high-end art theft. As they follow a trail of clues through exclusive galleries and underground poker clubs, the stakes—and their feelings for each other—intensify with each discovery.
Casey harbors secrets about her past that could either save them or put them in greater danger. With a ruthless criminal closing in and trust hanging in the balance, Amanda and Casey must decide if what's growing between them is worth risking everything for.
Art of Deception is a captivating romantic thriller where two women discover that the most valuable masterpiece might be the unexpected love they find amid peril.
- GenresRomance
254 pages, Paperback
Published December 23, 2025
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 17, 2025
Riley Cooper was a new author to me and this book was written in a simplistic way. At first I had to force myself to continue reading it due to the writing style. Later on the mystery got more interesting and I was excited to get to the end of the story. Both MCs are interesting characters, Amanda is a mystery book author from a wealthy and arrogant family. She’s stuck with a writing block and decides to investigate a murder that occurs in her building. Casey is an FBI agent who was shot investigating an earlier case. So she’s on disability leave and is suspended from active duty. Casey meets Amanda when the elevator they are in, stops working.
I found it hard to believe that an FBI agent would get involved with an amateur investigation. And that Casey’s friend Linda, a police officer, would go along with their investigations.
Thanks to Bella Books for the chance to read and review this arc.
I found it hard to believe that an FBI agent would get involved with an amateur investigation. And that Casey’s friend Linda, a police officer, would go along with their investigations.
Thanks to Bella Books for the chance to read and review this arc.
January 18, 2026
What happens when a mystery writer finds herself trapped in her own genre? In Art of Deception, Riley Cooper takes that question and crafts a romantic thriller that marries the suspense of a whodunit with the surprise of unexpected love. The result is a story that moves like a dance between logic and emotion, reflecting the charged interplay between two women ensnared in a web of art, deceit, and danger.
Cooper structures her novel with classic precision, employing a clean three-act arc anchored by a clear inciting incident. The murder of a neighbor thrusts Amanda Westfield from ordinary life into an underground world of art theft and whispered secrets. It’s a familiar scaffolding, but one made compelling through careful pacing and tonal balance. The narrative oscillates between external danger and internal conflict as threats from a ruthless criminal complicate Amanda’s reluctant partnership with Casey Tanner, raising the stakes far beyond what either expects.
Though there are dual stakes at play here, they never muddy the story’s trajectory. Cooper avoids that by neatly integrating them and strategically dodging the genre’s common pitfall: tonal whiplash. The romance doesn’t undercut the danger; it amplifies it. Every lingering glance and second-guess feels charged with narrative consequence. The reader’s pulse quickens not only at the threat of approaching danger but also at the unbearable silence between two people withholding the truth.
Making Amanda a mystery writer is both clever and risky. On one hand, it offers Cooper unique opportunities, those that arise when a character within a story is also the creator of similar stories. Amanda’s profession allows Cooper to explore the relationship between fiction and reality. Her trained eye enables Cooper to toy with convention, layering hints and commentary about whodunnit fiction itself. Readers sense Cooper winking at them through Amanda’s observations, acknowledging the artifice even as she indulges in it. Cooper treads this line carefully, though, using Amanda’s self-awareness to heighten, not dissolve, the tension. Though she is highly perceptive, she is still human. Cooper manages to maintain a balance between the two that sustains the suspense, rather than resolves it too soon. This, in turn, keeps both Amanda and the story interesting.
Meanwhile, Casey Tanner plays into one of fiction’s oldest and most alluring archetypes: the enigmatic stranger with a past. Cooper handles this with nuance, giving readers more insight than Amanda has and letting that imbalance generate suspense. The novel hinges on the revelation of Casey’s secret. The final truth about her identity arrives not as a contrived twist but as a genuine emotional reckoning, one that asks whether love built on half-truths can survive full disclosure. Cooper treats this revelation as a slow burn, building toward a payoff that feels both earned and emotionally satisfying.
Cooper understands that tension is the key to making this mystery work, and the settings play a crucial role in sustaining it. She moves between the polished elegance of art galleries and the smoky tension of underground poker clubs, creating a visual rhythm that matches the story’s shifting moral tones. The world of stolen art and cultivated glamour becomes more than a backdrop. It is a metaphor for façades: beauty concealing betrayal, elegance masking evil. Cooper renders these spaces with the clean, confident detail of someone who’s done her homework, unlike many thrillers that stumble when venturing into such realms. The art gallery, in particular, proves fertile ground for red herrings and well-placed MacGuffins, objects that drive the plot while obscuring the truth just long enough to keep readers guessing.
A romantic thriller lives or dies on the strength of its resolution. Justice must be served, and love must be restored. Cooper delivers on both: the murderer is exposed, the art ring dismantled, and the emotional distance between the women bridged by truth. The final chapters strike a balance between satisfaction and suspense, wrapping up the plotlines without resorting to a sappy or contrived ending. It feels earned through honesty, leaving readers gratified rather than numbed by predictability.
Final remarks…
Cooper understands exactly what readers of romantic mysteries seek: the pulse of suspense, the ache of vulnerability, and the pleasure of seeing intellect and emotion entwined. Art of Deception succeeds by weaving those three elements seamlessly, without diminishing the strength of any one. This is not a hardboiled procedural but a character-driven mystery in which emotional risk carries as much weight as physical danger and chemistry matters as much as clues. Readers who enjoy the work of Gerri Hill or Cari Hunter will find Art of Deception an engaging, read-worthy choice.
Strengths…
Well-constructed, well-designed
Likable characters
Well-plotted
Well-paced
Compelling romance
Satisfying resolution
Cooper structures her novel with classic precision, employing a clean three-act arc anchored by a clear inciting incident. The murder of a neighbor thrusts Amanda Westfield from ordinary life into an underground world of art theft and whispered secrets. It’s a familiar scaffolding, but one made compelling through careful pacing and tonal balance. The narrative oscillates between external danger and internal conflict as threats from a ruthless criminal complicate Amanda’s reluctant partnership with Casey Tanner, raising the stakes far beyond what either expects.
Though there are dual stakes at play here, they never muddy the story’s trajectory. Cooper avoids that by neatly integrating them and strategically dodging the genre’s common pitfall: tonal whiplash. The romance doesn’t undercut the danger; it amplifies it. Every lingering glance and second-guess feels charged with narrative consequence. The reader’s pulse quickens not only at the threat of approaching danger but also at the unbearable silence between two people withholding the truth.
Making Amanda a mystery writer is both clever and risky. On one hand, it offers Cooper unique opportunities, those that arise when a character within a story is also the creator of similar stories. Amanda’s profession allows Cooper to explore the relationship between fiction and reality. Her trained eye enables Cooper to toy with convention, layering hints and commentary about whodunnit fiction itself. Readers sense Cooper winking at them through Amanda’s observations, acknowledging the artifice even as she indulges in it. Cooper treads this line carefully, though, using Amanda’s self-awareness to heighten, not dissolve, the tension. Though she is highly perceptive, she is still human. Cooper manages to maintain a balance between the two that sustains the suspense, rather than resolves it too soon. This, in turn, keeps both Amanda and the story interesting.
Meanwhile, Casey Tanner plays into one of fiction’s oldest and most alluring archetypes: the enigmatic stranger with a past. Cooper handles this with nuance, giving readers more insight than Amanda has and letting that imbalance generate suspense. The novel hinges on the revelation of Casey’s secret. The final truth about her identity arrives not as a contrived twist but as a genuine emotional reckoning, one that asks whether love built on half-truths can survive full disclosure. Cooper treats this revelation as a slow burn, building toward a payoff that feels both earned and emotionally satisfying.
Cooper understands that tension is the key to making this mystery work, and the settings play a crucial role in sustaining it. She moves between the polished elegance of art galleries and the smoky tension of underground poker clubs, creating a visual rhythm that matches the story’s shifting moral tones. The world of stolen art and cultivated glamour becomes more than a backdrop. It is a metaphor for façades: beauty concealing betrayal, elegance masking evil. Cooper renders these spaces with the clean, confident detail of someone who’s done her homework, unlike many thrillers that stumble when venturing into such realms. The art gallery, in particular, proves fertile ground for red herrings and well-placed MacGuffins, objects that drive the plot while obscuring the truth just long enough to keep readers guessing.
A romantic thriller lives or dies on the strength of its resolution. Justice must be served, and love must be restored. Cooper delivers on both: the murderer is exposed, the art ring dismantled, and the emotional distance between the women bridged by truth. The final chapters strike a balance between satisfaction and suspense, wrapping up the plotlines without resorting to a sappy or contrived ending. It feels earned through honesty, leaving readers gratified rather than numbed by predictability.
Final remarks…
Cooper understands exactly what readers of romantic mysteries seek: the pulse of suspense, the ache of vulnerability, and the pleasure of seeing intellect and emotion entwined. Art of Deception succeeds by weaving those three elements seamlessly, without diminishing the strength of any one. This is not a hardboiled procedural but a character-driven mystery in which emotional risk carries as much weight as physical danger and chemistry matters as much as clues. Readers who enjoy the work of Gerri Hill or Cari Hunter will find Art of Deception an engaging, read-worthy choice.
Strengths…
Well-constructed, well-designed
Likable characters
Well-plotted
Well-paced
Compelling romance
Satisfying resolution
November 24, 2025
DNF
Did not keep my interest.
It felt like it should have been a YA novel with 2 youngster investigating. The 2 main characters seemed immature.
Also lots of colorful description of surroundings, buildings, people etc. Lots of readers like that. Not me. It makes me skim. I need just enough but I need the story to keep moving.
Hopefully I am in the minority and this novel is a success.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Did not keep my interest.
It felt like it should have been a YA novel with 2 youngster investigating. The 2 main characters seemed immature.
Also lots of colorful description of surroundings, buildings, people etc. Lots of readers like that. Not me. It makes me skim. I need just enough but I need the story to keep moving.
Hopefully I am in the minority and this novel is a success.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 21, 2025
What do you get when you cross an FBI agent who is injured and suspended from her job, a warm-hearted hacker, an art dealer, a writer and a few other random ring-ins? A mad-capped, crazy, unofficial investigation into fake musical instruments, high-end art theft, money laundering, murder and identity theft. That’s what!
Amanda Westfield is a mystery writer who is struggling with writer’s block. Casey Tanner is an FBI agent who was shot in the line of duty and is currently suspended from her job. The two women live in the same building and first meet when they briefly get stuck in the building’s elevator. When another resident of their building is murdered in his apartment, the two women find themselves drawn into the world of exclusive galleries, underground poker clubs and the criminal underworld as they attempt to sleuth their way through the ever-expanding mystery, even before they’ve had their first date. While I initially struggled to feel the chemistry between the two women it became evident that, as they spent more time together through increasingly dangerous situations, that their feelings for each other were intensifying and before long I was definitely shipping them to overcome the hurt of kept secrets and survive long enough to form a long-lasting relationship.
Art of Deception delivers a wonderfully fast-paced dive into a mystery that just keeps giving. Before long you’re left trying to work out who is on which side and, like Amanda and Casey, desperately trying to put all the pieces together before it’s too late, while also trying to stay safe.
I really enjoyed this book and am grateful to Riley Cooper and Bella Books for providing me with an ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Amanda Westfield is a mystery writer who is struggling with writer’s block. Casey Tanner is an FBI agent who was shot in the line of duty and is currently suspended from her job. The two women live in the same building and first meet when they briefly get stuck in the building’s elevator. When another resident of their building is murdered in his apartment, the two women find themselves drawn into the world of exclusive galleries, underground poker clubs and the criminal underworld as they attempt to sleuth their way through the ever-expanding mystery, even before they’ve had their first date. While I initially struggled to feel the chemistry between the two women it became evident that, as they spent more time together through increasingly dangerous situations, that their feelings for each other were intensifying and before long I was definitely shipping them to overcome the hurt of kept secrets and survive long enough to form a long-lasting relationship.
Art of Deception delivers a wonderfully fast-paced dive into a mystery that just keeps giving. Before long you’re left trying to work out who is on which side and, like Amanda and Casey, desperately trying to put all the pieces together before it’s too late, while also trying to stay safe.
I really enjoyed this book and am grateful to Riley Cooper and Bella Books for providing me with an ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 30, 2025
Amanda Westfield is a mystery writer who lives in a small apartment in New York City. One day Amanda gets stuck in an elevator with a newer resident, Casey Tanner, and they find themselves attracted to one another. Although it takes her quite a while to reveal her secrets to Amanda, Casey eventually admits that she was part of the FBI's art crimes division and is currently suspended following being shot and her partner losing his life during their last assignment. Casey has been attending therapy and has been trying to wean herself off of her pain medication.
After Amanda and Casey meet, one of their neighbors is murdered, and Amanda convinces Casey to help investigate. What begins on a whim, soon lures them into a world of high-end art theft, high stakes poker games, and money laundering. Every way they turn, Amanda and Casey need to be careful of suspicious neighbors, an interested doorman, people that tail them on the street or in their vehicles, and more.
This book had fast-paced action that kept the reader highly interested and motivated to learn more about not only the crime being investigated, but the tie-in to the crime that resulted in Casey's shooting. It was refreshing to see women leading the action on both sides of the mystery meaning not only Amanda and Casey but also the infamous SW and Mrs. Marchant. In addition to the mystery factor, I also enjoyed the humor that permeated the book and the family scenes when Casey took Amanda home to South Boston to visit her family for a holiday.
I received an ARC from Bella Books in exchange for an honest review.
After Amanda and Casey meet, one of their neighbors is murdered, and Amanda convinces Casey to help investigate. What begins on a whim, soon lures them into a world of high-end art theft, high stakes poker games, and money laundering. Every way they turn, Amanda and Casey need to be careful of suspicious neighbors, an interested doorman, people that tail them on the street or in their vehicles, and more.
This book had fast-paced action that kept the reader highly interested and motivated to learn more about not only the crime being investigated, but the tie-in to the crime that resulted in Casey's shooting. It was refreshing to see women leading the action on both sides of the mystery meaning not only Amanda and Casey but also the infamous SW and Mrs. Marchant. In addition to the mystery factor, I also enjoyed the humor that permeated the book and the family scenes when Casey took Amanda home to South Boston to visit her family for a holiday.
I received an ARC from Bella Books in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
Amanda Westfield writes mystery novels and is always looking for ideas for her books. She meets Casey Tanner, who lives in the same building when they are stuck in an elevator together. Casey is on suspension as an FBI analyst after being shot on the job. When another resident in their building is murdered in his apartment the two work together to see if they can help solve the case. It helps that Amanda has a friend with computer hacking skills.
Following the leads takes them into illegal gambling halls and looking into theft of high end art and musical instruments. There are a couple of surprises along the way that make the story more interesting. Casey is struggling with feeling she led FBI partner into a trap. And she doesn’t want the same thing to happen again. I liked the two leads but it took some time to see sparks between them. It feels more plausible with one of the pair being trained by the FBI, even if they have never investigated a murder before.
This is a solid romantic thriller. It is a short novel (254 pages) which I read in one sitting. I like that there is some humor added and I wasn’t on the edge of my seat while reading. Thank you to the author and Bella Books for an eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Following the leads takes them into illegal gambling halls and looking into theft of high end art and musical instruments. There are a couple of surprises along the way that make the story more interesting. Casey is struggling with feeling she led FBI partner into a trap. And she doesn’t want the same thing to happen again. I liked the two leads but it took some time to see sparks between them. It feels more plausible with one of the pair being trained by the FBI, even if they have never investigated a murder before.
This is a solid romantic thriller. It is a short novel (254 pages) which I read in one sitting. I like that there is some humor added and I wasn’t on the edge of my seat while reading. Thank you to the author and Bella Books for an eARC and I am leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Casey has moved to a new apartment - she's having a tough time. She was shot at work and is recovering. Her partner died in the shooting and she's suspended, pending an investigation. You would think she would sit tight, recover and behave herself.
Amanda is a successful writer who is struggling to write. They meet in the elevator as they both live in the same block.
When there is a murder in the block that appears to be linked to an art fraud what better way to amuse themselves than to try and solve the case.
Only Casey hasn't told Amanda she's an FBI agent working in the art fraud team! She's too busy enjoying spending time with Amanda.
This story may seem as though it's a little slow to start but when it gets going it's fun to watch all aspects of Casey's life crash into each other. The plot is interesting, there's humour and suspense. And of course there's a budding romance in the middle of it.
I enjoyed this - there's a bit of everything in there.
This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC.
Amanda is a successful writer who is struggling to write. They meet in the elevator as they both live in the same block.
When there is a murder in the block that appears to be linked to an art fraud what better way to amuse themselves than to try and solve the case.
Only Casey hasn't told Amanda she's an FBI agent working in the art fraud team! She's too busy enjoying spending time with Amanda.
This story may seem as though it's a little slow to start but when it gets going it's fun to watch all aspects of Casey's life crash into each other. The plot is interesting, there's humour and suspense. And of course there's a budding romance in the middle of it.
I enjoyed this - there's a bit of everything in there.
This is an honest review in exchange for an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
when you get stuck in a lift you have to hope that the other person isnt a raving psychopathic killer and this is where casey and amanda luck out....
both of them dont know each other but they instantly connect and when they start talking they find themselves drawn to each other not really knowing what the other does for a living though casey will want to keep her secret a bit longer
the adventure they are going to have will lead them into possible danger but who knew that when they are stuck in the lift
its not a bad storyline though i do tend to struggle with these for some reason but other seem to like this style of book... the writing was good though
both of them dont know each other but they instantly connect and when they start talking they find themselves drawn to each other not really knowing what the other does for a living though casey will want to keep her secret a bit longer
the adventure they are going to have will lead them into possible danger but who knew that when they are stuck in the lift
its not a bad storyline though i do tend to struggle with these for some reason but other seem to like this style of book... the writing was good though
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews