Final Deception: A Whidbey Island Mystery

by Dan Pedersen

When a woman's body washes ashore near Deception Pass Bridge on Whidbey Island, it looks like suicide. Brad Haraldsen, her long-ago lover, isn't so sure. Decades after journalist Bella Morelli disappears from Brad's life, she is back and in trouble. She travels 3,000 miles to seek refuge and a new life on Whidbey Island, only to find conflict with powerful interests as she prepares to write the most important story of her life. That conflict continues today.

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2016

About the author

I grew up in Western Washington and now make my home on Whidbey Island with my wife, Sue, and our adventurous canine, Duncan. We live in the woods with the deer, squirrels, owls, coyotes and other creatures that come and go when the spirit moves them.

After studying journalism at the University of Washington and receiving bachelor's and master's degrees, I became a reporter and editor for several newspapers in Washington and Idaho, including a large regional outdoor weekly. For most of my career I managed a magazine and other publications for a large insurance and financial services corporation.

But I saved the best for last. After giving up my good job in the city, I discovered how much fun writing could really be, starting with nature and rural life as my themes and, in time, evolving to writing mysteries, the most rewarding of all. What I love about mysteries is the platform they provide for my characters to stimulate reflection in the minds of readers.

My philosophy is my books should always entertain, but also give readers something more. Readers should come away having learned something new and been challenged to think about what they truly value in their lives.

Reviews

[Jason Pryde · Rating 4 out of 5]

In full disclosure, I have known the author for some time and respect his industriousness, civility, and general good neighborliness. We share many views to varying degrees.
In fact, I find it difficult to read his fiction because I tend to read too much of his own personality into the story. The narrative seems to me to be more autobiographical than it is actually intended to be I think.

This story reminded me a lot of "The Highest Tide" by Jim Lynch The Highest Tide with its Puget Sound settings and well researched local politics. Dan's story gets a little edgier at times and might cause some cringe worthy moments to younger readers. (in my admittedly sheltered opinion anyhow).

As a mystery novel, it maintains a rather syncopated pace with lots of 1 page chapters and one sentence paragraphs. It's designed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Dan may be ambitious enough to be aiming for a screenplay with this story. I don't know.

I do know that Dan believes that an author's main objective is to get the reader to think, not just consume the plot lines. Thus, he cleverly leaves some questions, not only unanswered, but in a state of paradox for the reader to speculate on how the story could/should end.

Without giving away the plot, I can say that the reader's political views and philosophy will probably impact their personal interpretation of the story.

In fact, I would appreciate insights gained from readers NOT residing on Whidbey Island.

Enjoy,

-jgp

[Joe · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so slanted.......

I happen to be one of the key players in the Whidbey jet noise dispute so I cringe at the propaganda woven into this book. First and foremost, we “jet huggers” wouldn’t shove a journalist over the Deception Pass Bridge. Second, this account makes scarce mention of the expense to the US taxpayers to replace OLF or even to move the Field Carrier Landing Practices I watch to another nearby airport. To say those who support the Navy is only about the almighty dollar is hogwash.

Finally to characterize all of us OLF supporters as gun loving bigots is theatre of the absurd. We have Biden fans carpooling with Trumpers. We’re all country first folks here.

Maybe this propaganda ought to add that in. Also the boycotting too. Also all the damn public hearings about this. I can go on...

[Ron Kerrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars: As a resident of Whidbey Island, I knew many of the locations mentioned in the book, although I do not experience the issues that some of the characters do, not living under the flight path of the Navy 'planes. I usually like to read golden age mysteries so I won't offend the author if I dislike the work (most authors of golden age mysteries are dead.) I'm happy to say I did enjoy this book, although I thought there was a bit too much back story at the beginning. The woman whose death prompts her old schoolmates to investigate sounded like we shared a lot of views, although the brief passages (flashbacks) featuring her made her sound a bit annoying and preachy. As a slow reader I appreciated the short paragraphs and chapters, which made it easy to stop at any point and pick it up later.

[Lo Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The past two years have made reading more challenging for me — it hasn’t come as easily as it once did. I picked up this book years ago while visiting a friend in Seattle, wanting to read something by a local author. It immediately drew me in: a story about journalists searching for truth, about the Navy (I’m a Navy brat), and about breathtakingly beautiful places devastated by decline. I ended up reading it in just two days, and I’m glad I did. Dan Peterson passed away in 2021, but I’ll be reading more of his work.

[Traci Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light mystery.
I'd like a vacation on beautiful Whidbey Island, but I won't be jumping off Deception Pass Bridge.