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Decoy
DECOY
A suspenseful, edge-of-seat thriller short story from the #1 Kindle and Top Ten Sunday times bestselling author, Scott Mariani
Deception can be deadly . . .
Kate, an attractive single parent, is in a desperate situation. Her young son Charlie suffers from a rare eye disease that will soon cause him to go blind unless he can receive the cutting-edge new treatment that's offered by just one private clinic in London. The cost is out of Kate's league and she needs to raise the cash - fast.
When her best friend suggests that she should find employment as a freelance female decoy, Kate initially rejects the idea. But realising what the potential earnings could mean for Charlie, she reluctantly goes to work, getting paid by female clients wanting to put the fidelity of their partners to the test. Business is good. It won't be long before Kate has the money she needs.
But after being hired by a wealthy new client to investigate a suspected cheating husband, Kate's world suddenly turns upside-down and she discovers too late that deception can have deadly consequences . . .
A suspenseful, edge-of-seat thriller short story from the #1 Kindle and Top Ten Sunday times bestselling author, Scott Mariani
Deception can be deadly . . .
Kate, an attractive single parent, is in a desperate situation. Her young son Charlie suffers from a rare eye disease that will soon cause him to go blind unless he can receive the cutting-edge new treatment that's offered by just one private clinic in London. The cost is out of Kate's league and she needs to raise the cash - fast.
When her best friend suggests that she should find employment as a freelance female decoy, Kate initially rejects the idea. But realising what the potential earnings could mean for Charlie, she reluctantly goes to work, getting paid by female clients wanting to put the fidelity of their partners to the test. Business is good. It won't be long before Kate has the money she needs.
But after being hired by a wealthy new client to investigate a suspected cheating husband, Kate's world suddenly turns upside-down and she discovers too late that deception can have deadly consequences . . .
70 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2014
40 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 18, 2017
A short story thriller from the author of the Ben Hope books, set in Oxfordshire which I know well. A single mother desperate for money for a sight saving operation for her young son starts a new business which turns out to be quite dangerous. The right length, as the core plot would not have carried a full length book
January 17, 2020
I read this book in an hour as it was so thrilling and the suspense was breathtaking!! I thought I had it all worked out who was doing what etc, but what a shock I got when the truth was uncovered, but what struck me most about the story was that a woman, a mother will do anything and everything she can to make sure that her child is safe and if needs treatment gets it, and this is what this story is about, it shows the depths that women will go to to protect their children and I certainly admired the young lady in this story as being so desperate that she would do almost anything to get what she needed for her son and she was maliciously betrayed by another and she still fought through injuries and attacks and still came out the other side. This story was well worth the read and anyone should read it as it is breathtaking and I cannot recommend this book enough for a good hours read. Excellent.
July 1, 2021
Kindle singles and saw this by Scott Mariani. I recognised the name as my mother-in-law is always raving about his books; she ‘luuuuurves his books’. So, I couldn’t pass this by; it seemed like the right one to choose to finish my month off.
The book starts quite slowly with Kate needing to raise cash fast to help her son Charlie. He needs an operation to save his sight. She decides to become a decoy by putting the fidelity of women’s men to the test. It goes well, to begin with, until it doesn’t!
This is where the book really picks up; it goes from slow-paced to full-on action and thriller within the blink of an eye. The tag line of it being a ‘suspenseful, edge-of-seat thriller’ is true to its word as this is precisely what you get!
For only a 70-page book, a lot happens, and it feels like a full-length thriller. Even when you think it is over, it isn’t.
Kate is a mercurial character, as she seemed quite dull on the surface, but she could really turn it on for the clients and switch persona easily. However, her actions towards the end were quite questionable, and a lot of the drama could have been avoided with one simple phone call. I suppose then there wouldn’t have been much of a book, though.
Overall, not a bad read for such a short book, and I will certainly be giving the Ben Hope series a go which are the books that my mother-in-law has read and raves about! This was a good teaser for this author’s writing.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
The book starts quite slowly with Kate needing to raise cash fast to help her son Charlie. He needs an operation to save his sight. She decides to become a decoy by putting the fidelity of women’s men to the test. It goes well, to begin with, until it doesn’t!
This is where the book really picks up; it goes from slow-paced to full-on action and thriller within the blink of an eye. The tag line of it being a ‘suspenseful, edge-of-seat thriller’ is true to its word as this is precisely what you get!
For only a 70-page book, a lot happens, and it feels like a full-length thriller. Even when you think it is over, it isn’t.
Kate is a mercurial character, as she seemed quite dull on the surface, but she could really turn it on for the clients and switch persona easily. However, her actions towards the end were quite questionable, and a lot of the drama could have been avoided with one simple phone call. I suppose then there wouldn’t have been much of a book, though.
Overall, not a bad read for such a short book, and I will certainly be giving the Ben Hope series a go which are the books that my mother-in-law has read and raves about! This was a good teaser for this author’s writing.
Thanks for reading! If you want to see more of my reviews visit www.pinkanddizzy.com
December 10, 2019
I'm a huge fan of Scott Mariani. I read all of his books. This short read was good and it's completely different from his action genre. It's much better than his another short story ' House of malice'. Story is about a mom who is desperate to save his son from getting completely blind. In the process of earning money for her son's eye operation, she was lured into a trap of death. Rating - 3.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2017
Enjoyed reading this novella. I liked the main character, Kate, and being a mother, totally felt for her throughout the story. The first half of the story is better than the last, which feels a little implausible at times. Not sure how I feel about how Kate dealt with the situation in the end... seems a little stupid of her, but I enjoyed reading it, for sure!
April 18, 2022
Surprise ending
I love all Scott's books and never tire of Ben Hope's adventures.
I had worked out the plot by the time Julie Hawkins turned up so quickly skimmed the rest. I was going to give up but knowing Scott's work couldn't believe it would be so predictable.
It wasn't and the ending was a surprise.
I love all Scott's books and never tire of Ben Hope's adventures.
I had worked out the plot by the time Julie Hawkins turned up so quickly skimmed the rest. I was going to give up but knowing Scott's work couldn't believe it would be so predictable.
It wasn't and the ending was a surprise.
June 11, 2025
Kate, a single mother, needs money fast to fund a sight-saving operation for her son, Charlie.
After getting advice from a friend she decides to become a quasi P.I. to determine whether husbands are cheating.
At first it all goes well and then it goes horribly wrong.
“Decoy” is quite short and, while the first part is interesting, it really comes alive when Kate is threatened.
3 Stars.
After getting advice from a friend she decides to become a quasi P.I. to determine whether husbands are cheating.
At first it all goes well and then it goes horribly wrong.
“Decoy” is quite short and, while the first part is interesting, it really comes alive when Kate is threatened.
3 Stars.
October 2, 2017
Another triumph for Scott Mariani
I didn't think that I would enjoy this book but it was so well-written that I did!!
What a change of genres. I did not expect an intense murder story . My favourite thrillers star Ben Hope.
I didn't think that I would enjoy this book but it was so well-written that I did!!
What a change of genres. I did not expect an intense murder story . My favourite thrillers star Ben Hope.
June 10, 2017
Short book
Very good short read. My first book on Amazon that I read. Will read more from this author thank you
Very good short read. My first book on Amazon that I read. Will read more from this author thank you
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December 17, 2019Please see blog facebook page for -S's review: https://www.facebook.com/thepturnersb...
December 23, 2020
Unable to out down
Fantastic short story by Scott, one of my favourite authors.
Unexpected ending,. Hopi g to find more short stories!
Thanks Scott
Fantastic short story by Scott, one of my favourite authors.
Unexpected ending,. Hopi g to find more short stories!
Thanks Scott
May 25, 2021
Decoy
Decoy by Scott Mariani good read and a good storyline well written can't wait to get around to read the next book
Decoy by Scott Mariani good read and a good storyline well written can't wait to get around to read the next book
October 17, 2021
Probably not the best introduction to Mariani’s work. This is a nicely told little thriller, but has been overdone by so many others that you just know what’s going to happen. Nice dialogue.
November 13, 2021
A great little story with an exciting finale. It fairly skipped along and when the excitement started it really got a grip.
December 14, 2023
boring and predictable.
August 30, 2024
Scott gives horror and suspense a little go!!!
December 30, 2015
It was ok. It wasn't terrible and it wasn't the best either.
The story features Kate, who to try and make money for her sons operation, becomes a Decoy. A woman who is hired by other women to see whether their partners are capable of cheating.
All seems to be going well until she meets her latest client; Geoffrey.
The ending was a little bit ridiculous for a story of this length. Agree with other reviewers that this would be a good feature length novel with more fat included.
Completed in a couple of hours, it's a good novella to have with a cup of tea :)
The story features Kate, who to try and make money for her sons operation, becomes a Decoy. A woman who is hired by other women to see whether their partners are capable of cheating.
All seems to be going well until she meets her latest client; Geoffrey.
The ending was a little bit ridiculous for a story of this length. Agree with other reviewers that this would be a good feature length novel with more fat included.
Completed in a couple of hours, it's a good novella to have with a cup of tea :)
May 27, 2015
A quick read with an interesting premise, this book starts off well but becomes a little ridiculous and implausible. This may have been less jarring in a longer, more developed story, but despite this, I did enjoy reading it.
Kate is a bit of a pathetic character, but I can see why she acts as she does - until the end at least. Not sure I like the ending, but it was mg first foray into Mariani's work and his style is engaging so I shall be reading more in future.
Kate is a bit of a pathetic character, but I can see why she acts as she does - until the end at least. Not sure I like the ending, but it was mg first foray into Mariani's work and his style is engaging so I shall be reading more in future.
September 14, 2015
Decoy scott Mariani
A short novella, but a first rate thriller!!! Once you start to read...you Can't put it down!! A single mother trying to raise money to pay for a operation for her son, initially meets with success...but then it goes horribly wrong. Her client is a serial killer....
A short novella, but a first rate thriller!!! Once you start to read...you Can't put it down!! A single mother trying to raise money to pay for a operation for her son, initially meets with success...but then it goes horribly wrong. Her client is a serial killer....
December 30, 2015
A really easy read, I enjoyed the idea of this book and really think it could have been transferred to a full length story. I did see the ending coming, and a few of the final 'tie ups' annoyed me a bit but I enjoyed it overall. A nice short story.
January 5, 2015
short but fun .... given the usual thriller style I was expecting espionage or similar
I enjoy being unsurprised
I enjoy being unsurprised
March 4, 2015
Predictable and implausible with a main character who came across as pathetic and stupid leaving me with no sympathy for her or her situation.
December 26, 2015
For a short story that was pretty good, shame it wasn't extended as the premiss of the story was a good one and I didn't see the ending coming....
May 30, 2016
Decoy
Okay...it's a quick little read...kept me occupied for a couple of hours..definitely not Scott's best but enjoyable...a bit predictable and trips over some of the details...
Okay...it's a quick little read...kept me occupied for a couple of hours..definitely not Scott's best but enjoyable...a bit predictable and trips over some of the details...
April 30, 2016
Very enjoyable
I have read all the books by this author and once again I have not been disappointed. I would recommend this book.
I have read all the books by this author and once again I have not been disappointed. I would recommend this book.
December 25, 2016
A bit of a stop-start intro that led to a nice, punchy read. Somewhat predictable in parts, but I enjoyed it.
November 5, 2019
Silly and predictable. Plot isn’t realistic at all.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews