Deja Who?

Art Spotlight Mystery #2

by Deb Brammer

In Déjà Who? (Book 2 in Art Spotlight Mysteries) Jordan Axtell, a talented young artist, and Zophie Zobel, his girlfriend, move to Minneapolis to help with a ministry to international students. On their first outing, Jordan is confronted by a painting he’s sure is a forgery. Jordan does what he can to right this one wrong and move on, but his decision backfires when a stranger steals his identity.
Zaxx, a ghost from his previous life in Boise, haunts him with a promise he cannot break. Jordan’s ironclad promise makes him look guilty, and Jordan is forced to prove who he is or lose his reputation. When the FBI brushes him off, will Jordan and his friends be able to figure out who the real fake is before it’s too late? Or will Jordan’s innocence become the victim of his good intentions?
While Jordan searches for answers to his own identity crisis, he is forced to discern illusion from reality in the world of art and in the people around him. Zophie challenges his crazy definition of romance, while his adult “children” with post-grad degrees come to him with impossible expectations.
Will Jordan and Zophie’s relationship survive their goldfish bowl romance? Will they expose the forger, or will Zophie’s crazy schemes defeat Jordan’s best efforts?
Déjà Who? Is the sequel to Broken Windows, Book 1 in Art Spotlight Mysteries.

268 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2017

About the author

Deb Brammer is the author of ten fiction books, one memoir and a Bible study book, as well as a variety of ministry resources. The New Beginnings series features her three most recent novels. She and her husband have served as church planting missionaries since 1978. They served 16 years in Taiwan and have served since 1998 in Invercargill, New Zealand.
Deb Brammer used the pen name Dillon Forbes as she authored the book Careful Enough?
Deb offers many free ministry resources on her website. This includes ESL Bible studies, church programs, and puppet scripts, which have been tested in her ministries.

Reviews

[Rebekah Schrepfer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deb Brammer has done it again. This sequel to “Broken Windows” follows the same vein of wholesome Christian fiction for young adults.

I enjoyed the discussion beginning in chapter 10 about relative truth vs absolute truth, and real vs. fake conversion. Deb Brammer demonstrates her thorough understanding of far Eastern thought and the difficulties of cross-cultural communication.

I especially love how normal Christian life* is woven into the story. The main character goes to God for prayer, and his prayers are … normal. Asking Him to give strength and wisdom, leaning on God for direction. It actually caused me to think of situations that I’m facing personally and go to God in prayer myself.

Having studied biblical gender roles, I greatly appreciated the author’s support of complementarianism. Chapter 17, loc 1383. It is interesting to me, too, how issues in introversion and extrovertion and other personality traits affect following God’s plan in one’s life. These characters struggled with how to share their faith and reach out. This story took all of that and showed a young dating couple with struggles and flaws, and made them an example of how to work through it and grow.

So often Christian fiction skirts around these ideals rather than embracing them. It often gives credence to non-biblical philosophies like feminism or egalitarianism, purity issues, and the like, not to mention irregular church attendance, or steady personal devotions, and godly friends. Most fiction I have come across embraces the struggling, weak, or fallen among the Christian community. Not much is out there for the mature believer to identify with. I’m not saying the latter is not needed or even necessary, but there’s a gap in the market for the former. And maybe that is part of why the normal, healthy Christian life is misunderstood and criticized. Chesterton said, “It’s not that the Christian life has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.”

Maybe good fiction, like Deb Brammer’s, needs to be tried in more Christian fiction.

Read more of my book reviews at MostlySensible.com

[Victoria RD · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Broken Windows” (first book in the series) was so much better. I didn’t feel there was a fully fleshed out cast of characters in this book like there was in “Broken Windows.” Also, Jordan annoyed me. I felt like he was kind of a jerk in this book, at least in the beginning. Jordan & Zophie argue all the time, and because they are extremely conservative Christians, they barely let themselves kiss - but then in the end they get engaged!? Uh, okay. I finished this one mainly out of curiosity about the extremely conservative Christian point of view.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deja who has Integrity?

This is the second Deb Brammer book I have read. I loved it mainly because it made me look at myself. I have to question how much integrity I have demonstrated in my life.

The book gave a deep meaning to the word. It has mystery, suspense, as well as romance and a look at parental and personal responsibility. I don't think anyone could want more from one book.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Déjà Who is the second book in The Keyhole Mysteries series by Deb Brammer. This superbly researched and written Christian cozy mystery mirrors current events lifestyle challenges with amazing insight and accuracy. As a reader, I gained a wealth of knowledge specific to forgery. I, also, learned that forgery and fraud often occur simultaneously and lead to challenges of one’s integrity. Jordan Axtell, an art instructor with an eye for detail, and his girlfriend Zophie Zobel have relocated from Boise to Minneapolis. They are host parents to international students through a ministry program. Jordan befriends a young local student named Felipe, who has a similar talent and a keen eye for art. Felipe asks Jordan if he would serve in the role of “Father” as the man who claims to be his Father is essentially absent and a fraud. During a visit to Sorensen’s School of Business, both Jordan and Felipe question the integrity of a painting by Brady which is supposed to be on display at a museum in Denver. The tightly woven plot and integrated subplots carry the reader through the process of investigating original art work by renowned artists and copies being gifted and/or sold as originals. Felipe questions Jordan. “Is this a forgery?” Who noticed? Who is aware? Who is responsible? Why does it make a difference if it is genuine or forgery? In short, it all comes down to integrity. In the process of seeking the truth and identifying the forger Jordan’s past comes back to haunt him. Zaxx, a ghost from his life in Boise, haunts him. Jordan made a promise which he will not break. It come down to integrity. By keeping his promise, Jordan looks guilty. Jordan and his friends are forced to prove his identity to maintain his reputation. Both the local police and the FBI refuse to address Jordan’s concerns. Can Jordan and his friends figure out who the real fake is before it’s too late? Or will Jordan’s innocence become the victim of his good intentions? Will Jordan and Zophie’s relationship survive having their budding romance scrutinized? Will they find the forger? Will Zophie’s crazy schemes foil Jordan’s best efforts? Déjà Who?

Forgery is defined as the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Fraud is the crime of deceiving another, through the use of objects obtained through forgery. Reproductions may become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. In some situations, an individual’s actions fit the definition of forgery or fraud. There was recently a trial in New York where during the hearing the Art Forgery Trial officials asked: Were dealers duped, or did they turn a blind eye? The jury verdict: fraud and money laundering. Deja Who has well developed characters and a superbly written plot with an amazing portrayal of real life situations. Biblical principles and strong moral character examples intertwined. This intriguing, informative, clean cozy mystery leave the reader wanting more. If you are looking for a well written cozy mystery that will not be able to put down, then you need to read this book.

I received a complimentary advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed in this review are my own.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting plot uncovering a conspiracy of forgeries where the FBI is involved in a possible cover-up. Aspiring artist Jordan Axtell helps solve the mystery and attempts to clear his name when daring to be the whistle-blower costs him his job. I also enjoyed how the author delved into the area of how we can run into forgeries in our personal lives, as it relates to integrity and authenticity.

[Deb Brammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in my Keyhole Mystery series. I enjoyed writing it and learned a lot about the world of art as well as Minneapolis!

[Tom Show · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read!

A story that catch you by surprise with its ending. Yet, you sense the way it will end for the main characters. Good read!!