Deep Deceit

by Anne Louise O'Connell

When Celeste Parker’s daughter Tamara goes missing in Dubai the all-out search and rescue mission she anticipates never materializes. Put off by the police as 18-year-old Tamara is technically an adult, and no foul play is apparent, Celeste has a gut feeling something is terribly wrong. New to the city and with her husband away working in Saudi Arabia, Celeste turns to her new friend and fellow expat, Susan Morris, for help. The duo set off on a hunt, which takes them down a dark alley of deep deceit. From exotic nightclubs and high-class call girls to mysterious Saudi palaces hidden behind ominous walls, they follow each lead while uncovering the unthinkable. As they come closer to finding Tamara, the secrets Celeste and Susan uncover threaten not only her daughter's life but everyone in their families’ as well.

296 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2014

About the author

Author, developmental editor and partner publisher, Anne Louise O’Connell, was an expat from 1993 to 2016, then returned to Canada after enjoying the sun and sand of Florida, Dubai and Thailand over a span of 23 years. Anne worked in the PR field for 17 years and then decided it was time to just write. Since 2007, Anne has been writing books while freelance writing, editing, author mentoring and social media consulting, along with conducting writing retreats and workshops. While living the expat life, she contributed to Wall St. Journal Expat, Global Living Magazine and Expat Focus. She has a passion for travel and that adventurous spirit has taken her all over the world. Anne grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has a bachelor of public relations and a certificate in early childhood education from Mount St. Vincent University. In 2016, she established OC Publishing where she mentors other authors, does developmental book editing and partner publishing.

Reviews

[Marianne O’Connell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I got started, I couldn’t put it down! This story really pulled me into the Middle Eastern world of politics and intrigue. I couldn’t quite figure out what was going to happen until the end- my favourite kind of mystery! Definitely a 5 star rating, even if I am a little biased 😉

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dubai (capital) United Arab Emirates (UAE). Susan Morris (wife, former psychiatric nurse, expat) Mitch (husband) had moved to make a life change.
Ivan (aka the Sadist) led an exercise group.
Susan introduced herself to Celeste Parker (wife/mother).
Long’s bar. The 2 of them went to have a couple of cold one’s & get to know each other.
Celeste (40+) & Tamara (18, Celeste's daughter) went house hunting.
After an exhausting day they picked 1 out & Celeste signed the agreement/legal paperwork.
On the way to the hotel Someone was following the 2 of them.
Sheik Zayed Rd. The white Cadillac Escalade SUV had shoved them off the road.

Ryan Parker (PTSD, 2nd husband/stepfather, Kings Community & Convention Center construction project mgr., Harvard) had arrived home for a short time.
He got the family’s passport & immigration papers updated.
went to the police station to report Tamara missing.
There was nothing they could do.
Allura dance club. Celeste & Susan began their own investigation.
They contacted the American Embassy.
Riyadh (capital), Saudi Arabia. Aliya introduced herself to Tamara.

Captain Paul Radford (piolet), Sylvie (flight attendant) made his announcements to Ryan, Tamara (Celeste ‘s daughter), Susan, & Celeste (widow).
Ryan introduced the woman to Miriam (Bashir’s asst.) & Sherri (Ryan’s former asst.).
Ballroom B Bride’s party. Karl (Ryan’s boss) arrived for their dinner/drinks.
Ballroom A Groom’s party.
What news did Celeste receive?
My son has a Shri Lankan college friend that is a piolet for a Saudi King. He lives in Dubai United Arab Emirates. It’s 2nd on my hole in the bucket list. The wonderful young man didn’t get his Visa extended. So he didn’t graduate.

I do not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing free books from publishers & authors. Therefore, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written international thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great description list of unique characters, settings, facts etc. to keep track of. This could also make another great international thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author (s); Goodreads; MakingConnections; Making Connections discussion group talk; OC Publishing; Author; PDF book.
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[ATLANTIC BOOK REVIEWS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Louise O’Connell! This was a nail biter of a story that I read in almost one sitting while waiting for my plane and immersed while on the plane - so much so that I only looked up in time for the landing!
Unputdownable!
A thriller! In a setting I have never read about before.
Anne Louise writes in vivid descriptions that had my heart pumping with fear at all the possible ways this story could have had a much more horrible ending.
Anne Louise weaves situations so deftly and uses language so carefully crafted, her reader cannot help but be taken along for the thrill ride. Psychologically intense.
Anne Louise takes her reader into a world so little well known and only spoken of in whispers.
Wow!

[I.M. Redwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celeste is starting a new life in Dubai with her family, everything goes well until her daughter Tamara suddenly goes missing. With Celeste's husband in another country, she will have to find her daughter with the help of Susan.

Lots of suspense in this story narrating one of the worst nightmares for a parent which also has some plot twists that caught me off guard. This book taking place in Dubai was a great addition, the author does a superb job depicting this city making it come alive in the readers mind.

While I thought it was slightly slow during the first chapters, it improves drastically after that, a great read.

[Jo Parfitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who knows Dubai fairly well, I am always attracted to books that use settings I know. Having lived there for a few years I was always fascinated by the fact that two worlds live there in parallel - the locals and the expats. It is rare that the two combine and therefore I am always intrigued to find a book that explores this. Deep Deceit, like O' Connell's previous novel, Mental Pause, is a page-turner with a good old plot. Although I was not as gripped by this one initially, by half way through there was no way it was going to be put down. Its cast of characters were not always likeable, but that was intentional. As a mother, what other mother would not empathise with Celeste, the expat mom whose 18-yr-old daughter goes missing, supposedly kidnapped from Dubai and whisked away to Saudi? What other mother would not go almost out of her mind with worry? The twist here, is that Celeste's husband, here, Ryan is a thoroughly nasty piece of work.

I really enjoyed the use of Arabic words, the local colour, the food and the glimpse inside an Arabic wedding. A good read!

[Melanie Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celeste and her daughter Tamara are new residents of Dubai. They are simply waiting for her husband to join them to move into their own home. While at an exercise class, Celeste meets Susan. They become great friends and spend much time together. Strange things begin to happen to Celeste and she takes Susan as a confidante. When Tamara goes missing, Celeste, Susan and Susan's husband go searching for her. They can't imagine where she's gone to. Celeste hopes she turns up before she has to tell her husband.

Set in beautiful Dubai, this book entices you. It's a thriller that will make your blood run cold. It's every parents nightmare come true. The writing is solid and the characters could live on your street or in your town. Ms O'Connell crafts this book in such a way you'll never be sure just who is who. I was enthralled with this book from page one. This is a must read.

I found no issues.

I gave this one 5 cheers out of 5 because it is just that great! ~Copy of book provided by author in exchange for a fair review~

[Peter Moreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

O'Connell brings a fascinating world to life. Her strength is bringing to life the mysterious realms of the Saudi aristocracy, and tying it into a thriller that gets the heart racing. The adventuresome O'Connell spent years in the Middle East and she writes with verve and authority about this world. I'm hoping she dives into it again as I'm looking forward to her next work.

[Glenda Bixler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Deep Deceit will appear at Book Readers Heaven, tomorrow, March 8, when available for sale...and to launch her Blog Tour... Come Visit!

[D.G. Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expat Susan is living in Dubai with her pilot husband Mitch. She’s taking a break from her job as a psychological nurse. She meets Celeste, a newbie expat also living in Dubai, in a beach body combat class, and circumstances bring them together as close friends. Celeste’s husband Ryan is a construction project manager working in Saudi Arabia.

Celeste’s daughter Tamara is a spoiled eighteen year old, who obviously hadn’t learned that tactless behavior by women is frowned upon in the Middle-East – or worse. Ryan was once partners with Celeste’s first husband, Donald, who died in ‘mysterious’ circumstances, kidnapped and killed on another project they were working in Africa. Celeste, who inherited Donald’s half of the company, was wooed by Ryan, who proposed to her rather quickly after Donald’s death. Ryan shows no love or compassion for Celeste, and as the story unfolds, seems to be involved in some dirty dealings, undermining the Saudis – who are not stupid.

Excuses to arrest expats are plentiful, and suddenly, Tamara has gone missing. As Celeste is worried sick about her missing daughter, Ryan seems to be making excuses for her disappearance, but Celeste and Susan decide to do some investigating on their own in a male dominated world of the Middle-East, and set out to Saudi Arabia with the help of Susan’s husband, Mitch.

Ryan has no time or shares no worry for his missing daughter, who is actually Donald’s daughter, born after Donald’s demise. That’s because he knows exactly where his daughter is being held, being used as collateral because the Saudi’s are suspicious of Ryan with some nefarious discoveries they made about him. And add a missing Royal Saudi to the suspicion, the heat is on, in more ways than one.

Murder, kidnapping, and mystery from Dubai to Saudi Arabia keep this book a page turner. A delicate wife learns to stand her ground and discovers how blind she had been to so many things. And just desserts will finally be served.

[Olivia Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Louise O’Connell’s Deep Deceit is a haunting exploration of truth, identity, and the fragile balance between trust and betrayal. The synopsis promises tension and emotional complexity, and the novel delivers with rich prose, layered characters, and masterful suspense. The cover design, featuring a veiled woman framed by wrought iron, captures both the allure and the isolation that permeate the story. It’s elegant, symbolic, and unforgettable, just like the book itself.

[Amelia Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Deep Deceit completely blew me away! From the first chapter, I was hooked by the mystery, the emotion, and the nonstop tension. You can feel the danger and deception on every page. And that cover? Stunning! The woman’s eyes alone tell a story, mysterious, strong, and full of secrets. This book looks amazing on the shelf and reads even better. Highly recommend it to anyone who loves a smart, twisty psychological thriller!

[Samuel Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep Deceit is a captivating thriller that grabs you from page one and never lets go. The story is packed with tension, secrets, and emotional depth, keeping you guessing until the end. The cover is just as striking, mysterious and powerful, with the veiled woman’s intense gaze perfectly mirroring the intrigue within. A beautifully written and visually stunning masterpiece!

[Carol Moreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and fast-paced story that revolves around the disappearance of a young girl. For me, the cultural aspects of a novel set in the Middle East made this a fascinating read.