What do you think?
Rate this book
Deception
A deadly game. The ultimate price. The Chain meets Squid Game meets Emily the Criminal in this pulse-pounding new thriller from the master of the moral dilemma, Jack Jordan.
‘No one crafts a dilemma quite like Jack Jordan’ Janice Hallett
‘Jack Jordan goes from strength to strength’ L. V. Matthews
Emma and Miles are out of options. Their son needs life-saving transplant surgery, but in a world of privatised healthcare and impossible costs, they can’t afford it.
Then comes the a shadowy syndicate known only as The Levels promises them the exact amount of money they need. All they must do is complete a series of tasks.
The catch? Each task is a crime. With every level the stakes rise, the payout grows and the line between right and wrong blurs.
But Emma and Miles aren’t the only ones playing this deadly game. As the competition intensifies and they struggle under the weight of their choices, they’re faced with the ultimate
How far would you go to save the one you love?
‘No one crafts a dilemma quite like Jack Jordan’ Janice Hallett
‘Jack Jordan goes from strength to strength’ L. V. Matthews
Emma and Miles are out of options. Their son needs life-saving transplant surgery, but in a world of privatised healthcare and impossible costs, they can’t afford it.
Then comes the a shadowy syndicate known only as The Levels promises them the exact amount of money they need. All they must do is complete a series of tasks.
The catch? Each task is a crime. With every level the stakes rise, the payout grows and the line between right and wrong blurs.
But Emma and Miles aren’t the only ones playing this deadly game. As the competition intensifies and they struggle under the weight of their choices, they’re faced with the ultimate
How far would you go to save the one you love?
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2026
About the author
Jack Jordan
10 books901 followersSunday Times bestselling author of eight thrillers. 9th coming 2026.
Vote for REDEMPTION in THEAKSTON’S Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year awards below!
Vote here: https://www.harrogatetheakstoncrimeaw...
To keep up-to-date with all my book news, follow:
Instagram: (@JackJordan_author)
www.instagram.com/jackjordan_author
Twitter: (@JackJordanBooks)
www.twitter.com/jackjordanbooks
Facebook: (@jackjordanofficial)
www.facebook.com/jackjordanofficial
TikTok: @jackjordan_author
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
July 11, 2026
➡️ I was deceived by "Deception".
Jack Jordan's previous books, "Conviction" (2023) and "Redemption" (2024), were 10-star reads for me. "Deception" was a departure and disappointment.
🔷 Preposterous Premise.
The plot centers on a U.S. couple whose son needs life-saving transplant surgery they can't afford. They turn to "The Levels"—a shadowy syndicate that funds the medical care in exchange for the couple committing crimes.
🔷 Unnecessary Political Commentary.
I am not a fan of thrillers that bash the U.S. healthcare system - especially thrillers by UK writers. The bashing felt heavy-handed and completely took me out of the story. I was waiting for Luigi Mangione to appear. Fortunately, he did not.
🔷 Repetitive Text & Factual Errors.
The repetitive dialogue and fact-finding errors slowed the first third of the book. Most glaringly, the narrative mixed up Medicare and Medicaid.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Laurence Bouvard and Nick Page.
➡️ Was Jack Jordan writing more for a future TV show than for his readers???
His book "Conviction" will soon be adapted for a Hulu series starring Elisabeth Moss. Apparently, this Hulu series led to a multi-year development deal with 20th TV for a "Deception" adaptation. (Huh?)
➡️ I miss the old Jack Jordan's compelling, gripping, and character-driven thrillers.
I hope he returns sooner rather than later.
One star, rounded up.
June 17, 2026
OH MY DAYS.
WHAT A READ.
The most complulsive, addictive, compelling, heart wrenching book i have read in a LONG time. One of my favourite books of the year (and would be top had I not read Hollow Bones).
A book you will literally struggle to breathe with, and struggle to do anything apart from read it.
This book has an important underlying theme that is so relevant today, that of the astronomical prices of healthcare in the US. The stress and horror made all the more upsetting in life and death situations.
I will be thinking about this book for months. It will have readers in a chokehold. Trust me.
WHAT A READ.
The most complulsive, addictive, compelling, heart wrenching book i have read in a LONG time. One of my favourite books of the year (and would be top had I not read Hollow Bones).
A book you will literally struggle to breathe with, and struggle to do anything apart from read it.
This book has an important underlying theme that is so relevant today, that of the astronomical prices of healthcare in the US. The stress and horror made all the more upsetting in life and death situations.
I will be thinking about this book for months. It will have readers in a chokehold. Trust me.
November 18, 2025
When you say you’d do anything for someone you love…do you really mean *anything*?
It’s something we say say all the time about our loved ones (especially our children), but it’s something Jack Jordan makes his characters prove in DECEPTION. There’s a reason he’s is known as the King of the Moral Dilemma and this book is further evidence of his mastery of this particular type of thriller (his books just keep getting better and better too!). DECEPTION is both an incredibly fast-paced, action-packed, blockbuster of a suspense thriller, and also an incredibly topical novel with devastating emotional depth (I’m not lying when I say it’s the literary equivalent of a wrecking ball!). As a dad this book absolutely destroyed me! It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, the tension ratcheting up as Emma and Miles tackle each of the Levels. It builds to the most explosive of conclusions and I’m not too proud to say that I actually shed a tear (it doesn’t happen often!). Emma and Miles are put through absolute hell in their pursuit to save their son Ryan, and I felt like I really got to know them and form an incredible bond with them over the course of the narrative. I felt genuine empathy and affection for them. They are a couple pushed to the limits of their physical, mental, and moral capacities. Jordan is relentless in what he throws at them, but also an incredible writer who really gets inside both characters’ heads to bring every element of anguish, despair, resilience, and determination to the story. The narrative is the perfect blend of high-octane, Hollywood action (there’s a real entertaining popcorn thriller element here), and intense psychological suspense that evens the pace and brings the human element to the proceedings. I literally couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, absolutely inhaling the action and becoming more and more emotionally invested as things progressed. I was completely gripped!
Jordan continues to amaze me with his ability to conjure up such engaging and entertaining plots, whilst also layering them with such topical and hard-hitting themes. DECEPTION is a novel that can be read on so many levels. On the surface it’s 100% about parenthood, unconditional love, and sacrifice. Emma and Miles put their money where their mouths are (or more accurately for them, their mouths where their money should be!) when it comes to demonstrating just how far they will go to save their son. However, just underneath this sits a novel that really scrutinises the U.S. healthcare system. It criticises political corruption, greed, privilege, and the economic disparity that makes accessing life-saving treatment impossible for many. In doing so, this book becomes so much more than the exhilarating, teeth-grinding, suspense-fest it seems on the surface. It’s profound and devastating in places. Jordan never shies away from savagery and DECEPTION explores this in the most heart-wrenching way. Ultimately, this is a story about love and the ends we will go to demonstrate it. It’s about sacrifice, desperation, and finding strength when you think you’re depleted. It’s a truly powerful novel that will get you thinking, whilst also entertaining you to the max. It’s an incredibly filmic, intense, edge-of-your-seat ride that is absolutely begging to be adapted for the screen.
If you like books that will have your heart in your mouth and tears on your cheeks, DECEPTION should be your gift to 2026 you - pre-order it immediately!!
It’s something we say say all the time about our loved ones (especially our children), but it’s something Jack Jordan makes his characters prove in DECEPTION. There’s a reason he’s is known as the King of the Moral Dilemma and this book is further evidence of his mastery of this particular type of thriller (his books just keep getting better and better too!). DECEPTION is both an incredibly fast-paced, action-packed, blockbuster of a suspense thriller, and also an incredibly topical novel with devastating emotional depth (I’m not lying when I say it’s the literary equivalent of a wrecking ball!). As a dad this book absolutely destroyed me! It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, the tension ratcheting up as Emma and Miles tackle each of the Levels. It builds to the most explosive of conclusions and I’m not too proud to say that I actually shed a tear (it doesn’t happen often!). Emma and Miles are put through absolute hell in their pursuit to save their son Ryan, and I felt like I really got to know them and form an incredible bond with them over the course of the narrative. I felt genuine empathy and affection for them. They are a couple pushed to the limits of their physical, mental, and moral capacities. Jordan is relentless in what he throws at them, but also an incredible writer who really gets inside both characters’ heads to bring every element of anguish, despair, resilience, and determination to the story. The narrative is the perfect blend of high-octane, Hollywood action (there’s a real entertaining popcorn thriller element here), and intense psychological suspense that evens the pace and brings the human element to the proceedings. I literally couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, absolutely inhaling the action and becoming more and more emotionally invested as things progressed. I was completely gripped!
Jordan continues to amaze me with his ability to conjure up such engaging and entertaining plots, whilst also layering them with such topical and hard-hitting themes. DECEPTION is a novel that can be read on so many levels. On the surface it’s 100% about parenthood, unconditional love, and sacrifice. Emma and Miles put their money where their mouths are (or more accurately for them, their mouths where their money should be!) when it comes to demonstrating just how far they will go to save their son. However, just underneath this sits a novel that really scrutinises the U.S. healthcare system. It criticises political corruption, greed, privilege, and the economic disparity that makes accessing life-saving treatment impossible for many. In doing so, this book becomes so much more than the exhilarating, teeth-grinding, suspense-fest it seems on the surface. It’s profound and devastating in places. Jordan never shies away from savagery and DECEPTION explores this in the most heart-wrenching way. Ultimately, this is a story about love and the ends we will go to demonstrate it. It’s about sacrifice, desperation, and finding strength when you think you’re depleted. It’s a truly powerful novel that will get you thinking, whilst also entertaining you to the max. It’s an incredibly filmic, intense, edge-of-your-seat ride that is absolutely begging to be adapted for the screen.
If you like books that will have your heart in your mouth and tears on your cheeks, DECEPTION should be your gift to 2026 you - pre-order it immediately!!
June 30, 2026
A fast paced multi layered book. It focuses on the spiralling costs of health care in America and what would a parent do to save their seriously ill child when their insurance ceases and they can't get further cover for their child. Desperate times lead to desperate measures. Miles and Emma will do anything for their child Rhys. The moral dilemmas come thick and fast and I love books that make me think. Miles and Emma enter a deadly game called the levels where they get gradually worse crimes to commit. The writing style hooks you in from the beginning and it gathers speed to the ultimate climax. It does highlight the injustice of the insurance and medical bills and expenses of the USA, and makes me grateful and really proud of the UK NHS and medical systems. I've had to wait to formulate my review and I am still contemplating the themes and morals of the story. I feel this book will stay with me for some time contemplating who are the real villains here? For me the medical and pharmaceutical companies profiting from vulnerable people at the worse times of their lives. Food for thought. Its such a great book taking you on a rollercoaster of a ride. Not for the feint hearted but a superb read.
July 11, 2026
4.5/5
Emma and Miles' son is seriously ill with a heart condition and is on a transplant list for a new heart. Emma and Miles' insurance has been cancelled, so in order to pay for the surgery, they end up competing in "The Levels." At each level, they have to commit a crime, each worse than the last.
I was concerned that this would trigger me as a new mum and the fact that the main character is also called Emma but after I got through the initial few chapters, I didn't have any issues at all.
You do have to suspend your disbelief while reading this, but I think that's to be expected given the plot of the book!
The story was extremely fast-paced, and my heart was pounding through the entirety! Action-style thrillers aren't usually my favourite, but this was definitely an exception! It was yet another fantastic Jack Jordan book!
Emma and Miles' son is seriously ill with a heart condition and is on a transplant list for a new heart. Emma and Miles' insurance has been cancelled, so in order to pay for the surgery, they end up competing in "The Levels." At each level, they have to commit a crime, each worse than the last.
I was concerned that this would trigger me as a new mum and the fact that the main character is also called Emma but after I got through the initial few chapters, I didn't have any issues at all.
You do have to suspend your disbelief while reading this, but I think that's to be expected given the plot of the book!
The story was extremely fast-paced, and my heart was pounding through the entirety! Action-style thrillers aren't usually my favourite, but this was definitely an exception! It was yet another fantastic Jack Jordan book!
June 9, 2026
I love Jack Jordan, I’ve devoured majority of his backlog and loved all of it. This was definitely not the same to me, it was pretty average. I wasn’t thrilled about the ending, loved all of it until the end.
July 4, 2026
DECEPTION is a psychological thriller by bestseller Jack Jordan. This action-packed thriller centers around love, loss, anger and sacrifice.
His Standalone Novels Include:
Anything for Her (2015)
My Girl (2016)
Before Her Eyes (2018)
Night by Night (2019)
Do No Harm (2022)
Conviction (2023)
Redemption (2024)
Deception (2026)
This is my review of Deception.
Emma and her husband Miles are sick with worry as their nine-year-old son, Ryan, is in desperate need of a heart/lung transplant. Ryan will die without this life-saving surgery…but it comes with a cost. Emma and Miles are in financial duress, heavily in debt, but in a world of privatised healthcare and impossible costs, even if the organs become available, they couldn’t afford them or the surgery to save him.
Emma and Miles are out of options.
But then at the hospital, Emma is approached by Ryan’s hospital nurse, Jackie, who presents Emma with an option and gives her a card with a phone number to call for assistance. This syndicate known only as The Levels promises them the exact amount of money they need. All they must do is complete a series of tasks.
What is the catch? Each task is a crime. With every level the stakes rise, the payout grows and the line between right and wrong blurs.
But Emma and Miles aren’t the only ones playing this deadly game.
But no one wins this game. “Life is nothing but a game, Emma. You should know that by now.”
Emma sacrificed so much to give their son a chance at life, but also how much has she lost.
How far would you go to save the one you love?
This was a fast-paced psychological thriller with a dynamite plot and a book that you will not be able to put down. Another winner for this talented author!
Many thanks to the author, Simon and Schuster UK and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
His Standalone Novels Include:
Anything for Her (2015)
My Girl (2016)
Before Her Eyes (2018)
Night by Night (2019)
Do No Harm (2022)
Conviction (2023)
Redemption (2024)
Deception (2026)
This is my review of Deception.
Emma and her husband Miles are sick with worry as their nine-year-old son, Ryan, is in desperate need of a heart/lung transplant. Ryan will die without this life-saving surgery…but it comes with a cost. Emma and Miles are in financial duress, heavily in debt, but in a world of privatised healthcare and impossible costs, even if the organs become available, they couldn’t afford them or the surgery to save him.
Emma and Miles are out of options.
But then at the hospital, Emma is approached by Ryan’s hospital nurse, Jackie, who presents Emma with an option and gives her a card with a phone number to call for assistance. This syndicate known only as The Levels promises them the exact amount of money they need. All they must do is complete a series of tasks.
What is the catch? Each task is a crime. With every level the stakes rise, the payout grows and the line between right and wrong blurs.
But Emma and Miles aren’t the only ones playing this deadly game.
But no one wins this game. “Life is nothing but a game, Emma. You should know that by now.”
Emma sacrificed so much to give their son a chance at life, but also how much has she lost.
How far would you go to save the one you love?
This was a fast-paced psychological thriller with a dynamite plot and a book that you will not be able to put down. Another winner for this talented author!
Many thanks to the author, Simon and Schuster UK and The Book Club Reviewer Request Group (FB) for my digital copy.
July 4, 2026
This was a thriller about what people will do when pushed to the limit and when the life of a loved one is at stake. The plot was fast paced and kept me reading because I had to know how it would all work out.
June 20, 2026
4.5 stars.
Jack Jordan is back on form for this new moral dilemma story about a mother and father who will go to whatever lengths it takes to get the money needed to pay for a life-saving operation for their dying son.
This was very fast-paced and the moral dilemma aspects never stopped and were constantly keeping me guessing. Just when I thought I knew the structure it all changed.
It was a bit contrived in places but I feel that with a lot of moral dilemma books but I can look over it here because the story was fully rounded from start to end. This is my favourite Jack Jordan book so far!
Jack Jordan is back on form for this new moral dilemma story about a mother and father who will go to whatever lengths it takes to get the money needed to pay for a life-saving operation for their dying son.
This was very fast-paced and the moral dilemma aspects never stopped and were constantly keeping me guessing. Just when I thought I knew the structure it all changed.
It was a bit contrived in places but I feel that with a lot of moral dilemma books but I can look over it here because the story was fully rounded from start to end. This is my favourite Jack Jordan book so far!
November 24, 2025
My Thoughts - 3.5 stars (come on Goodreads let’s introduce those 1/2 stars!
🛑 An insane read
🛑 It takes you on a wild ride
🛑 A dramatic moral dilemma
🛑 Suspend belief while reading
🛑 A fast and pacy plot
🛑 Perfect for fans of Squid Game and Alice in Borderland
🛑 A heart in your mouth read
🛑 Will make a great movie
🛑 A WTF ending
Enjoyed it but it was a little too far fetched for me, I like my books a bit calmer but it would make a fab Hollywood blockbuster and I know many would absolutely love it.
🛑 An insane read
🛑 It takes you on a wild ride
🛑 A dramatic moral dilemma
🛑 Suspend belief while reading
🛑 A fast and pacy plot
🛑 Perfect for fans of Squid Game and Alice in Borderland
🛑 A heart in your mouth read
🛑 Will make a great movie
🛑 A WTF ending
Enjoyed it but it was a little too far fetched for me, I like my books a bit calmer but it would make a fab Hollywood blockbuster and I know many would absolutely love it.
December 19, 2025
King of the moral dilemma, Jack Jordan you know how to tug on our heart strings. This is one of those books that you end up thinking about for a long time. This feels like a black mirror episode crossed with Squid Games, but with Jack's trademark moral dilemma being the main focus.
I loved this, it was so fast paced and had my heart racing. I think people are going to really like this.
I loved this, it was so fast paced and had my heart racing. I think people are going to really like this.
June 20, 2026
Very interesting book! Felt a bit like a drag sometimes.
July 2, 2026
Deception - 5⭐️
How far will you go for your loved ones?
My first read by the author which also happens to be his latest release. I loved it, this was literally squid games but in the real word instead of a controlled environment.
I get incredibly connected to a book when it speaks of current affairs, and healthcare is the main topic here. Adrenaline-packed so stressful and heartwrenching.
How far will you go for your loved ones?
My first read by the author which also happens to be his latest release. I loved it, this was literally squid games but in the real word instead of a controlled environment.
I get incredibly connected to a book when it speaks of current affairs, and healthcare is the main topic here. Adrenaline-packed so stressful and heartwrenching.
June 24, 2026
4.5⭐
What an incredibly gripping and thought-provoking read! Jack Jordan has such a unique way of telling a story filled with so much suspense and tension while managing to change the characters involved sometimes for the better and sometimes for the absolute worse. The main overarching question this book asks is what you would personally do in order to save your child. That question gets answered in a pretty shocking yet decisive manner and it made for one hell of a wild ride.
This story really reminded me of The Chain by Adrian McKinty and The Collective by Alison Gaylin mixed with the movie John Q! It kicks off with husband and wife Miles and Emma sitting at the bedside of their sick child who has just been shortlisted for a heart transplant. With medical bills piling up and their health coverage waning the two are approached by a mysterious organization which offers to pay in full for their son's medical care in exchange for entering into a very dangerous game. This game totally tests their morals and really makes them question that fine line between right and wrong and leads to some potentially deadly consequences as they make their way through each level. The heavy focus on healthcare in America and how hard it is for the average person to afford it and how the rich continue to get richer is prevalent throughout the entire book which added some terrifying realism to it all. The stakes were extremely high for Miles and Emma and as their morals were tested their relationship was also put to the test with each seeing how far the other would truly go in order to save their child.
The duo really had to do some jaw-dropping things in order to make it through each level of the game and get enough money by the end to pay for their son's heart transplant. Seeing both of them change throughout the book in completely different ways was heartbreaking at times and the author did a fantastic job placing us right in their shoes as they worked their way through various decision-making. The book was fast-paced and really kept an emotional hold on me the entire time and the devastating circumstances Miles and Emma found themselves in during the climax of the book were genuinely hard to see play out. This was a fantastic book with some truly realistic talking points and a read that will definitely stick with me for a while.
What an incredibly gripping and thought-provoking read! Jack Jordan has such a unique way of telling a story filled with so much suspense and tension while managing to change the characters involved sometimes for the better and sometimes for the absolute worse. The main overarching question this book asks is what you would personally do in order to save your child. That question gets answered in a pretty shocking yet decisive manner and it made for one hell of a wild ride.
This story really reminded me of The Chain by Adrian McKinty and The Collective by Alison Gaylin mixed with the movie John Q! It kicks off with husband and wife Miles and Emma sitting at the bedside of their sick child who has just been shortlisted for a heart transplant. With medical bills piling up and their health coverage waning the two are approached by a mysterious organization which offers to pay in full for their son's medical care in exchange for entering into a very dangerous game. This game totally tests their morals and really makes them question that fine line between right and wrong and leads to some potentially deadly consequences as they make their way through each level. The heavy focus on healthcare in America and how hard it is for the average person to afford it and how the rich continue to get richer is prevalent throughout the entire book which added some terrifying realism to it all. The stakes were extremely high for Miles and Emma and as their morals were tested their relationship was also put to the test with each seeing how far the other would truly go in order to save their child.
The duo really had to do some jaw-dropping things in order to make it through each level of the game and get enough money by the end to pay for their son's heart transplant. Seeing both of them change throughout the book in completely different ways was heartbreaking at times and the author did a fantastic job placing us right in their shoes as they worked their way through various decision-making. The book was fast-paced and really kept an emotional hold on me the entire time and the devastating circumstances Miles and Emma found themselves in during the climax of the book were genuinely hard to see play out. This was a fantastic book with some truly realistic talking points and a read that will definitely stick with me for a while.
June 1, 2026
Emma and Miles are targeted by a mysterious syndicate called The Levels, who offer them the chance to complete a series of tasks in order to earn money to afford their son's life-saving treatment. The catch? Each task is a crime, and as they escalate in intensity so will the payout. As the levels get darker, they must ask themselves how far they’ll go and how much they’ll risk to save their child.
Wow, what an emotional rollercoaster of a read, I feel that if I’d be wearing a heart monitor whilst reading this the results would be through the roof!
Jack’s writing has that way of instantly grabbing your attention, getting you as the reader to put yourselves in the eyes of the main characters, giving you a moral dilemma to make you question what you would do in the same situation, making you think about just how far you would go.
This latest title definitely takes us to the extremes, (you might say to the next level - pun intended!) as we see our two main characters, Emma and Miles, doing everything they can to afford the hospital treatment that will save the life of their son. When they are suddenly offered a way to make the amount of cash needed, and quickly, it does ring alarm bells but knowing their son will die speeds up the decision process and they both find themselves in a crazy game - The Levels.
Without saying too much more (no spoilers!) it is evident that The Levels progress in difficulty as they progress further. There is an element of having to suspend reality at some points as I’m not sure some of the tasks would be as straight forward as it is explained, but it’s evident that the author is asking all the questions that you would if you were in the same situation.
Jack’s books always guarantee you a fast paced, exhilarating, emotional thriller with a conclusion that will leave you reeling and I’m pleased to say that Deception is no exception. Just a warning, once you’ve picked it up, I promise you won’t want to put it down so clear your diary!
Wow, what an emotional rollercoaster of a read, I feel that if I’d be wearing a heart monitor whilst reading this the results would be through the roof!
Jack’s writing has that way of instantly grabbing your attention, getting you as the reader to put yourselves in the eyes of the main characters, giving you a moral dilemma to make you question what you would do in the same situation, making you think about just how far you would go.
This latest title definitely takes us to the extremes, (you might say to the next level - pun intended!) as we see our two main characters, Emma and Miles, doing everything they can to afford the hospital treatment that will save the life of their son. When they are suddenly offered a way to make the amount of cash needed, and quickly, it does ring alarm bells but knowing their son will die speeds up the decision process and they both find themselves in a crazy game - The Levels.
Without saying too much more (no spoilers!) it is evident that The Levels progress in difficulty as they progress further. There is an element of having to suspend reality at some points as I’m not sure some of the tasks would be as straight forward as it is explained, but it’s evident that the author is asking all the questions that you would if you were in the same situation.
Jack’s books always guarantee you a fast paced, exhilarating, emotional thriller with a conclusion that will leave you reeling and I’m pleased to say that Deception is no exception. Just a warning, once you’ve picked it up, I promise you won’t want to put it down so clear your diary!
June 25, 2026
I found this book to be very intriguing. It's interesting how one goes through life assuming according to a certain bearing on an inbuilt moral compass, until one is pushed into extraordinary, life-altering circumstances that force one to re-evaluate one's limits and all those lines in the sand that are crossed, blurred, erased, wiped out. Personally, I found it very interesting how I leamed toward one character's frame of reference at the beginning of the book, and yet by the end I found myself in the corner of an altogether different character. All in all, this story kept me hooked and challenged me in unexpected ways as I sped through it. Very much enjoyed.
November 24, 2025
This book had me questioning my own moral compass and how far would people go when put in the position to save the one they loved.
This had me well and truly gripped and I’ve never felt so tense while reading a book before and also so many emotions!
How this was written just had me rooting for the main characters stories so much that I was fully invested in them.
This is my 3rd book by this author and I think it’s actually my favourite.
A definite bingeable book which will have you on the edge of your seat and questioning all morals
This had me well and truly gripped and I’ve never felt so tense while reading a book before and also so many emotions!
How this was written just had me rooting for the main characters stories so much that I was fully invested in them.
This is my 3rd book by this author and I think it’s actually my favourite.
A definite bingeable book which will have you on the edge of your seat and questioning all morals
July 2, 2026
The background to Deception is the grotesque billions American Insurance companies and other corporations are making, preying on the heartbreak of millions of families everyday, will it soon be cold robotic AI algorithms that decide who is worth saving, or who to throw on the ‘didn’t make the grade’ pile?, having said that this is a story about desperate families and just how far they will go to save a loved one?.
Emma and Miles have a son, Ryan, who has spent most of his life in hospital, his health deteriorating, and on a heart and lung donor transplant list, they are desperate to save their son, whilst at the same time fighting of being made bankrupt for the second time, the operation will cost over $2 million to go ahead. This is where a shady organisation called The Levels also preys on the desperation of parents, offering to pay all their medical expenses and debts in exchange for participating in certain tasks they are given, each time a task is completed they go up another level and each level involves a more serious crime, this is where the moral compass comes into force, and how far will a person go, what crime or sacrifice will they commit to save their child?.
I have given 3 stars and not 4stars only as I found it a little far fetched in places, making certain crimes seem to easy to commit, but what do I know, I hope I am never in a position to find out.
Emma and Miles have a son, Ryan, who has spent most of his life in hospital, his health deteriorating, and on a heart and lung donor transplant list, they are desperate to save their son, whilst at the same time fighting of being made bankrupt for the second time, the operation will cost over $2 million to go ahead. This is where a shady organisation called The Levels also preys on the desperation of parents, offering to pay all their medical expenses and debts in exchange for participating in certain tasks they are given, each time a task is completed they go up another level and each level involves a more serious crime, this is where the moral compass comes into force, and how far will a person go, what crime or sacrifice will they commit to save their child?.
I have given 3 stars and not 4stars only as I found it a little far fetched in places, making certain crimes seem to easy to commit, but what do I know, I hope I am never in a position to find out.
June 21, 2026
This book is a whole roller coaster of emotions! Very fast paced, probably too much at one point! What would you do for your sick child to help them get better? I enjoyed this one and it’s very well written: I would have liked a little bit more from the police/fbi side of things running concurrently with it though
June 12, 2026
4.5 Absolutely devoured it
June 24, 2026
So gripping. Kind of reminded me of squid games. Also cried at the end. Very clever
June 23, 2026
Really enjoyed this one, the characters were really likeable, fast paced, plenty of action. Kept me engaged but the end was a bit predictable hence only 4 stars
June 21, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️ I really like the idea of this book but it was just SO SAD.
June 17, 2026
Not my usual type of book but I enjoyed it. I like that it got into the story quite quickly and was very fast paced. I would definitely read more of Jack Jordan’s books
June 16, 2026
Meh. Poor writing style. Characters not likeable- and background plot not built fully. Wouldn't recommend
June 21, 2026
3.5 Stars
November 26, 2025
*Book Review*
📌 🅟🅤🅑🅛🅘🅢🅗🅘🅝🅖 ➍🅣🅗 🅙🅤🅝🅔 ➋⓿➋➏
This one has been a huge buddy read organised by the people over at @tandemcollectiveuk and it has been fun enjoying watching everyone’s thoughts unravel as they get through the book all at different speeds.
To be honest i did read this book pretty quick and I feel that is down to the great writing skills from @jackjordan_author himself. I find his books so easy to read and you are easily able to envision the scenes as they unfold without having to think too much. I was instantly taken in by the storyline and their situation, you can feel the raw emotion created by Jordan’s descriptive techniques right from the beginning.
The book is set out at such a great pace it can be very difficult to put down. I do feel if I hadn’t of had a busy few days whilst reading this I could have probably read it a whole lot faster. The way that you come across the main characters moral dilemmas really does get your brain thinking. You go through the book second guessing could you make those decisions if you were faced with something like this.
This book is set over six sections with a dual narrative which I feel adds so much more depth the story as each section takes you on a new adventure adding more suspense and emotion to the story. I enjoyed the dual narrative because you really get to know what Emma and Miles are really going through at the time with the decisions they have to make.
This is a great book to pick up if you’re after a real rollercoaster of a ride and would make the perfect buddy read for you and your besties. You’d be silly to miss it.
Thankyou to Jack, everyone at tandem and the teams over at @simonschusteruk and @likely_suspects for having me along for the buddy read. It has been fab!!
#deception #JackJordan
📌 🅟🅤🅑🅛🅘🅢🅗🅘🅝🅖 ➍🅣🅗 🅙🅤🅝🅔 ➋⓿➋➏
This one has been a huge buddy read organised by the people over at @tandemcollectiveuk and it has been fun enjoying watching everyone’s thoughts unravel as they get through the book all at different speeds.
To be honest i did read this book pretty quick and I feel that is down to the great writing skills from @jackjordan_author himself. I find his books so easy to read and you are easily able to envision the scenes as they unfold without having to think too much. I was instantly taken in by the storyline and their situation, you can feel the raw emotion created by Jordan’s descriptive techniques right from the beginning.
The book is set out at such a great pace it can be very difficult to put down. I do feel if I hadn’t of had a busy few days whilst reading this I could have probably read it a whole lot faster. The way that you come across the main characters moral dilemmas really does get your brain thinking. You go through the book second guessing could you make those decisions if you were faced with something like this.
This book is set over six sections with a dual narrative which I feel adds so much more depth the story as each section takes you on a new adventure adding more suspense and emotion to the story. I enjoyed the dual narrative because you really get to know what Emma and Miles are really going through at the time with the decisions they have to make.
This is a great book to pick up if you’re after a real rollercoaster of a ride and would make the perfect buddy read for you and your besties. You’d be silly to miss it.
Thankyou to Jack, everyone at tandem and the teams over at @simonschusteruk and @likely_suspects for having me along for the buddy read. It has been fab!!
#deception #JackJordan
November 27, 2025
another great book by jack jordan, really loved how everything came together at the end!
November 27, 2025
Nine-year-old Ryan is dying of congenital heart and lung failure. His parents, Emma and Miles, sit at his hospital bedside in despair, wondering what they can do. Even if Ryan makes it to the top of the donor list, they can't afford the exorbitant cost. When they are suddenly offered the chance to earn enough money to cover the cost of the surgery Ryan desperately needs, the big question is what are they willing to do to save their son's life?
I've loved the books I've read by Jack Jordan, the king of the moral dilemma thriller, particularly Redemption (you can read my review here). Having been blown away by Redemption, I wondered how on earth the author could top it.
Deception is one of those "read in one sitting" novels. From the heartbreaking opening through to the gut-wrenching conclusion, you keep turning the pages, desperately needing to know more. The opening chapters are written with such empathy that they really set the scene for what is to follow. We learn that the couple has already faced bankruptcy as a result of the huge medical costs they have accrued over Ryan's short life. Miles is working three jobs simply to keep their heads above water. It is a stark reminder that the American health care system is a business. I could feel my chest tightening as Miles explained the predicament the family was in. Alongside this, we see that Emma is filled with doubt, wondering if they are doing the right thing by prolonging Ryan's life. She questions who they are actually doing it for.
When the family is offered the opportunity to earn enough money to cover the medical expenses of a heart and lung transplant for Ryan, you can feel their elation. There is also scepticism. Why would someone offer to give them so much money, and what do they have to do to earn it? This is where the moral dilemma happens: what would you be willing to do to save your child's life? Both Emma and Miles are adamant that they would do anything, but when it comes to putting words into action, will they?
Readers are taken on a rollercoaster journey as the couple are faced with a range of moral dilemmas and danger. It is impossible not to put yourself in their place, wondering if you would have the courage and ability to carry out the tasks they are given. This is a novel where moral ambiguity is pitted against amorality, and we are faced with the question: Is it acceptable to do the wrong thing to negate or expose something even worse?
The pace never lets up, as the couple is faced with crisis after crisis. You are taken through a series of highs and lows as you will the pair on, hoping for success. I particularly loved the way in which we participated in the emotional journey both Emma and Miles went on, seeing the way in which their conviction waxed and waned, and the strain it put on their relationship. By the conclusion, I was fully invested in the outcome, one which left the couple with an agonising decision to make.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
I've loved the books I've read by Jack Jordan, the king of the moral dilemma thriller, particularly Redemption (you can read my review here). Having been blown away by Redemption, I wondered how on earth the author could top it.
Deception is one of those "read in one sitting" novels. From the heartbreaking opening through to the gut-wrenching conclusion, you keep turning the pages, desperately needing to know more. The opening chapters are written with such empathy that they really set the scene for what is to follow. We learn that the couple has already faced bankruptcy as a result of the huge medical costs they have accrued over Ryan's short life. Miles is working three jobs simply to keep their heads above water. It is a stark reminder that the American health care system is a business. I could feel my chest tightening as Miles explained the predicament the family was in. Alongside this, we see that Emma is filled with doubt, wondering if they are doing the right thing by prolonging Ryan's life. She questions who they are actually doing it for.
When the family is offered the opportunity to earn enough money to cover the medical expenses of a heart and lung transplant for Ryan, you can feel their elation. There is also scepticism. Why would someone offer to give them so much money, and what do they have to do to earn it? This is where the moral dilemma happens: what would you be willing to do to save your child's life? Both Emma and Miles are adamant that they would do anything, but when it comes to putting words into action, will they?
Readers are taken on a rollercoaster journey as the couple are faced with a range of moral dilemmas and danger. It is impossible not to put yourself in their place, wondering if you would have the courage and ability to carry out the tasks they are given. This is a novel where moral ambiguity is pitted against amorality, and we are faced with the question: Is it acceptable to do the wrong thing to negate or expose something even worse?
The pace never lets up, as the couple is faced with crisis after crisis. You are taken through a series of highs and lows as you will the pair on, hoping for success. I particularly loved the way in which we participated in the emotional journey both Emma and Miles went on, seeing the way in which their conviction waxed and waned, and the strain it put on their relationship. By the conclusion, I was fully invested in the outcome, one which left the couple with an agonising decision to make.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on:-
Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
Instagram; @reading_for_leisure_blog
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews