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A Path of Deception and Betrayal #1
Three: Deception Love Murder
Betrayal. Deceit. Danger. Murder.
How would you feel if you discovered your death was planned by someone you loved? You didn't know how or when or even why. Would you feel anger or fear or hopelessness knowing your fate. All you could do was wait. Tick Tock.
One early spring morning, Emma Collier, an art history professor awakens to find her lover gone. Vanished. In a desperate attempt to locate him, she is stunned to discover that he is not an art dealer at all. But he is part of a powerful organization dealing in international money laundering, forged art, and human trafficking.
Implicated as a willing participant in his malevolent world, she struggles to clear her name. But when her body double is found brutally murdered she knows she is marked for death. As her life is ripped apart she must formulate a plan to stay alive. Now with the help of Agent Cillian O’Reilly, of the FBI Arts Crime Team, they pursue a trail that snakes across three continents and leads her to a plan for mass murder. Will she survive?
How would you feel if you discovered your death was planned by someone you loved? You didn't know how or when or even why. Would you feel anger or fear or hopelessness knowing your fate. All you could do was wait. Tick Tock.
One early spring morning, Emma Collier, an art history professor awakens to find her lover gone. Vanished. In a desperate attempt to locate him, she is stunned to discover that he is not an art dealer at all. But he is part of a powerful organization dealing in international money laundering, forged art, and human trafficking.
Implicated as a willing participant in his malevolent world, she struggles to clear her name. But when her body double is found brutally murdered she knows she is marked for death. As her life is ripped apart she must formulate a plan to stay alive. Now with the help of Agent Cillian O’Reilly, of the FBI Arts Crime Team, they pursue a trail that snakes across three continents and leads her to a plan for mass murder. Will she survive?
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2018
About the author
K.J. McGillick
50 books176 followersK. J. McGillick writes legal and psychological thrillers shaped by nearly three decades inside the courtroom and a background in nursing. Her stories are built the way real cases are built — on forensic detail, procedural reality, and the pressure of a system where truth and verdict don't always align.
Art history runs through everything she writes. A lifelong fascination
with forgery, provenance, and the crimes hidden in beautiful objects
threads through her work, alongside a deep interest in Tudor England and the women history tends to misplace or rewrite. Her cozy mystery series range from a Vermont bookshop to a Northumberland village to the windswept Yorkshire coast — each one grounded in place, character, and the particular satisfaction of a puzzle solved.
She is the author of more than thirty independently published works — novels, novellas, and short fiction — spanning legal thrillers, cozy mysteries, and historical fiction. Across all of them, one idea holds: the truth is rarely where people expect to find it.
Originally from New York, she now lives in metro Atlanta — usually with a cup of coffee nearby and a notebook within reach.
Check out her books at https://kjmcgillick.com/
Art history runs through everything she writes. A lifelong fascination
with forgery, provenance, and the crimes hidden in beautiful objects
threads through her work, alongside a deep interest in Tudor England and the women history tends to misplace or rewrite. Her cozy mystery series range from a Vermont bookshop to a Northumberland village to the windswept Yorkshire coast — each one grounded in place, character, and the particular satisfaction of a puzzle solved.
She is the author of more than thirty independently published works — novels, novellas, and short fiction — spanning legal thrillers, cozy mysteries, and historical fiction. Across all of them, one idea holds: the truth is rarely where people expect to find it.
Originally from New York, she now lives in metro Atlanta — usually with a cup of coffee nearby and a notebook within reach.
Check out her books at https://kjmcgillick.com/
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 14, 2018
4.5 stars
It’s always a delight to discover a new talented author, who knows the subject she is writing about!
Intelligent writing, interesting and well researched plot, complex characters, plausible storyline.
I’m a passionate suspense-reader, grown up with Agatha Christie’s and Rex Stout’s books I sometimes wonder why am I tilting at windmills in contemporary romance at all?!
I need to rethink my reading choices *lol*
It’s an intelligent thriller, not packed with action, but with puzzles.
It was never my target, but I now I definitely know a lot about money laundry *lol* and I gained some new insights into the art world.
As I mentioned above, the author did her research and has substantiated knowledge and experience in the subjects she is writing about - which is unfortunately not a usual approach in modern books.
I won’t spoil the suspense, sorry but not sorry.
The romance part was slightly underdeveloped, IMO, but it’s a thriller and not a romance, so I didn’t take off the stars for it. The heroine wasn’t an extremely strong character, but still coherent and smart; she grew a backbone, she became stronger and she did it mostly on her own.
The hero was a good man, not a Superman cloned with Batman, but real.
Safe.
Aunt Mary stole the show. Incredible character. This woman was hilarious, but sharp and smart.
Heroine’s BFF Eloise created another amazing side character. I would like to read more about her!
This book/whole series is on KU.
I’m already reading the 2nd one – hooked, totally hooked.
It’s always a delight to discover a new talented author, who knows the subject she is writing about!
Intelligent writing, interesting and well researched plot, complex characters, plausible storyline.
I’m a passionate suspense-reader, grown up with Agatha Christie’s and Rex Stout’s books I sometimes wonder why am I tilting at windmills in contemporary romance at all?!
I need to rethink my reading choices *lol*
It’s an intelligent thriller, not packed with action, but with puzzles.
It was never my target, but I now I definitely know a lot about money laundry *lol* and I gained some new insights into the art world.
As I mentioned above, the author did her research and has substantiated knowledge and experience in the subjects she is writing about - which is unfortunately not a usual approach in modern books.
I won’t spoil the suspense, sorry but not sorry.
The romance part was slightly underdeveloped, IMO, but it’s a thriller and not a romance, so I didn’t take off the stars for it. The heroine wasn’t an extremely strong character, but still coherent and smart; she grew a backbone, she became stronger and she did it mostly on her own.
The hero was a good man, not a Superman cloned with Batman, but real.
Safe.
Aunt Mary stole the show. Incredible character. This woman was hilarious, but sharp and smart.
Heroine’s BFF Eloise created another amazing side character. I would like to read more about her!
This book/whole series is on KU.
I’m already reading the 2nd one – hooked, totally hooked.
December 29, 2017
I took a break from romance to go the thriller way and this Author KJ's debut book just grabbed my attention.
Emma Collier gets a phone call from a bank in Boston that her Safety Deposit Box had an issue. Maybe it was compromised and FBI needs her to fill up a form to verify and claim
She Doesn't have a Safety Deposit Box, that too way over in Boston !!!!!
And her "Domestic Partner" aka boyfriend is vanished ....dissappeared....missing !
The theory was that Jude White produced forged art and Dmitri Roselov, his business partner, sold the art. Through this enterprise, they helped fund terrorism. Dmitri Roselov, a London art dealer with ties to Russia, had been placed under scrutiny by MI5. His game? He laundered money.
Now, both Roselov and White were in the crosshair of coordinated teams from Homeland, US Customs, and the FBI .
The story just grabs you by the throat and makes you sit up and notice. Like a loose end on a tightly knit sweater , you pull one thread and the entire sweater unravels! It jumps across continents. From a nondescript art college in Maine to Boston, London, Rome, Paris, and Qatar!
this case was like an enigma wrapped in a riddle. There were so many interconnected subplots that suggesting a satisfactory result for everyone was nearly impossible.
And you can't just stop yourself from pulling or reading. A Pandora's Box opens and shit flies around , landing everywhere. Layers and layers of lies, deception, camouflage, intrigue, espionage, black marketing, racketeering, money laundering , art theft, forgeries, slave trade and what not comes to light !!!
It was a free and fast flowing story. Very intense , kept my tummy clenched and edge of the seat excitement wouldn't let me keep the book down. It's been years since I picked a good thriller and this one just hit the sweet spot!
The end is so spine chilling 😮
The headline on the television read, “BREAKING NEWS.”
The newsman started, “Ladies and gentlemen. Today, May 16, 2017, there is breaking news coming in from............... **gasp**😱
Aunt Mary is funny , Jillian is sexy and Emma is naive girl caught up in a maelstrom
A good story written very tautly , very intensely researched and very knowledgable and informative
4 -"Three,Two,One ....BOOM !!!" STARS
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Emma Collier gets a phone call from a bank in Boston that her Safety Deposit Box had an issue. Maybe it was compromised and FBI needs her to fill up a form to verify and claim
She Doesn't have a Safety Deposit Box, that too way over in Boston !!!!!
And her "Domestic Partner" aka boyfriend is vanished ....dissappeared....missing !
The theory was that Jude White produced forged art and Dmitri Roselov, his business partner, sold the art. Through this enterprise, they helped fund terrorism. Dmitri Roselov, a London art dealer with ties to Russia, had been placed under scrutiny by MI5. His game? He laundered money.
Now, both Roselov and White were in the crosshair of coordinated teams from Homeland, US Customs, and the FBI .
The story just grabs you by the throat and makes you sit up and notice. Like a loose end on a tightly knit sweater , you pull one thread and the entire sweater unravels! It jumps across continents. From a nondescript art college in Maine to Boston, London, Rome, Paris, and Qatar!
this case was like an enigma wrapped in a riddle. There were so many interconnected subplots that suggesting a satisfactory result for everyone was nearly impossible.
And you can't just stop yourself from pulling or reading. A Pandora's Box opens and shit flies around , landing everywhere. Layers and layers of lies, deception, camouflage, intrigue, espionage, black marketing, racketeering, money laundering , art theft, forgeries, slave trade and what not comes to light !!!
It was a free and fast flowing story. Very intense , kept my tummy clenched and edge of the seat excitement wouldn't let me keep the book down. It's been years since I picked a good thriller and this one just hit the sweet spot!
The end is so spine chilling 😮
The headline on the television read, “BREAKING NEWS.”
The newsman started, “Ladies and gentlemen. Today, May 16, 2017, there is breaking news coming in from............... **gasp**😱
Aunt Mary is funny , Jillian is sexy and Emma is naive girl caught up in a maelstrom
A good story written very tautly , very intensely researched and very knowledgable and informative
4 -"Three,Two,One ....BOOM !!!" STARS
#BookBistroBlogApproved
Follow us on
FB - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookB...
Blog -https://bookbistroblogcom.wordpress.com
Blog -https://bookbistroblogger.blogspot.com
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/BookBistro
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/BookBistroBlog
Want to Read
August 11, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (8/11/2018)!💝
Blurb:
Betrayal. Deceit. Danger. Murder.
How would you feel if you discovered your death was planned by someone you loved? You didn't know how or when or even why. Would you feel anger or fear or hopelessness knowing your fate. All you could do was wait. Tick Tock.
One early spring morning, Emma Collier, an art history professor awakens to find her lover gone. Vanished. In a desperate attempt to locate him, she is stunned to discover that he is not an art dealer at all. But he is part of a powerful organization dealing in international money laundering, forged art, and human trafficking.
Implicated as a willing participant in his malevolent world, she struggles to clear her name. But when her body double is found brutally murdered she knows she is marked for death. As her life is ripped apart she must formulate a plan to stay alive. Now with the help of Agent Cillian O’Reilly, of the FBI Arts Crime Team, they pursue a trail that snakes across three continents and leads her to a plan for mass murder. Will she survive?
Blurb:
Betrayal. Deceit. Danger. Murder.
How would you feel if you discovered your death was planned by someone you loved? You didn't know how or when or even why. Would you feel anger or fear or hopelessness knowing your fate. All you could do was wait. Tick Tock.
One early spring morning, Emma Collier, an art history professor awakens to find her lover gone. Vanished. In a desperate attempt to locate him, she is stunned to discover that he is not an art dealer at all. But he is part of a powerful organization dealing in international money laundering, forged art, and human trafficking.
Implicated as a willing participant in his malevolent world, she struggles to clear her name. But when her body double is found brutally murdered she knows she is marked for death. As her life is ripped apart she must formulate a plan to stay alive. Now with the help of Agent Cillian O’Reilly, of the FBI Arts Crime Team, they pursue a trail that snakes across three continents and leads her to a plan for mass murder. Will she survive?
July 16, 2019
4☆ A Taut, Twisty, Enthralling Page Turner!
THREE: Deception Love Murder is a Taut, Gripping, Twisty Thriller and it's everything you want from a thriller.
I just want to take a moment to say how much I love the cover to this book! It's Seductive, yet full of intrigue!
What would you do if you found out the Man you loved was living a lie and he was about to drop you in it up to your neck!?
And
The person you thought was a colleague turned out to be undercover?
Well that's what happens to Emma!
Emma believed her boyfriend Jude was an innocent Art Dealer.
But when he disappears without so much as a note, she sets out to find him.
But what she discovers is far far more sinister and dangerous!
Just what has Jude Got her into.
THREE: is a Pacy, Compulsive and Enthralling Read full of Intrigue, Suspense and perfectly plotted twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
It's a story full of Deceit, Convictions, Fraud, Lies, Secrets and Danger, with a dash of Romance.
The story is told from Two Viewpoints which actually worked really well.
The Characters are Strong, well thought out, Flawed and believable.
THREE is the first book in the Path to Deception and Betrayal series and the Authors debut novel.
I'm excited to see where this Series goes next.
So if you are looking for a new Thriller series to sink you're teeth into, that's Enthralling, Taut and Suspenseful then you will really enjoy THREE :Deception Love Murder!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
THREE: Deception Love Murder is a Taut, Gripping, Twisty Thriller and it's everything you want from a thriller.
I just want to take a moment to say how much I love the cover to this book! It's Seductive, yet full of intrigue!
What would you do if you found out the Man you loved was living a lie and he was about to drop you in it up to your neck!?
And
The person you thought was a colleague turned out to be undercover?
Well that's what happens to Emma!
Emma believed her boyfriend Jude was an innocent Art Dealer.
But when he disappears without so much as a note, she sets out to find him.
But what she discovers is far far more sinister and dangerous!
Just what has Jude Got her into.
THREE: is a Pacy, Compulsive and Enthralling Read full of Intrigue, Suspense and perfectly plotted twists and turns to keep you on your toes.
It's a story full of Deceit, Convictions, Fraud, Lies, Secrets and Danger, with a dash of Romance.
The story is told from Two Viewpoints which actually worked really well.
The Characters are Strong, well thought out, Flawed and believable.
THREE is the first book in the Path to Deception and Betrayal series and the Authors debut novel.
I'm excited to see where this Series goes next.
So if you are looking for a new Thriller series to sink you're teeth into, that's Enthralling, Taut and Suspenseful then you will really enjoy THREE :Deception Love Murder!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0...
June 23, 2019
If you enjoy crime thrillers I have no hesitation in advising you to grab a copy of this book asap and read that instead of my review. This is an enthralling story of deception, double crossing, deadly danger and romance with well developed characters and plenty of twist and turns to keep you guessing. It is packed with suspense and has a side helping of romance, too.
The story is told from two different points of view. The first is that of Emma, a Professor of Art History at the University of Maine and the second is that of her Adjunct teaching partner, Cillian O'Reilly. Emma lives nearby with her boyfriend, Jude White. Although Emma doesn't know it, Cillian is actually an undercover agent who is working alongside Emma to enable him to have an insight into Jude's activities. When Emma has a call from a bank in Boston concerning her safety deposit box there she's baffled as she knows nothing about it. However, the bank manager and FBI need her to check it. This is the start of revelations that raise more questions and the start of an intriguing, suspense filled story that had me turning the pages, reluctant to put it down. Trying to keep this spoiler free, you need to read it yourself to discover just how this riveting story develops!
I am so impressed with this brilliant book and very happy to discover it is the start to a trilogy - I can't wait to read the other two books! The characters are well developed, brought to life in the pages of the book and, best of all, they seem like real people, flaws and all. Emma seems somewhat weak initially, someone who likes to keep the status quo, intelligent, quiet and unassuming but she definitely develops some backbone and strength as the story progresses, despite the shocking revelations making her rethink everything she'd assumed previously. Her Aunt Mary is another brilliant character whose quirky behaviour brings a dash of humour to the story though her insights are key to helping uncover so many things but only when people actually listen to her ramblings!
This is a thought-provoking, gripping read that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
The story is told from two different points of view. The first is that of Emma, a Professor of Art History at the University of Maine and the second is that of her Adjunct teaching partner, Cillian O'Reilly. Emma lives nearby with her boyfriend, Jude White. Although Emma doesn't know it, Cillian is actually an undercover agent who is working alongside Emma to enable him to have an insight into Jude's activities. When Emma has a call from a bank in Boston concerning her safety deposit box there she's baffled as she knows nothing about it. However, the bank manager and FBI need her to check it. This is the start of revelations that raise more questions and the start of an intriguing, suspense filled story that had me turning the pages, reluctant to put it down. Trying to keep this spoiler free, you need to read it yourself to discover just how this riveting story develops!
I am so impressed with this brilliant book and very happy to discover it is the start to a trilogy - I can't wait to read the other two books! The characters are well developed, brought to life in the pages of the book and, best of all, they seem like real people, flaws and all. Emma seems somewhat weak initially, someone who likes to keep the status quo, intelligent, quiet and unassuming but she definitely develops some backbone and strength as the story progresses, despite the shocking revelations making her rethink everything she'd assumed previously. Her Aunt Mary is another brilliant character whose quirky behaviour brings a dash of humour to the story though her insights are key to helping uncover so many things but only when people actually listen to her ramblings!
This is a thought-provoking, gripping read that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it.
June 27, 2019
Every book I’ve read by K.J. McGillick has been fantastic. She does her research to make her stories feel real, and she has a talent for giving readers a puzzle to solve and only revealing the answer when she wants us to know. I love her writing. Three is no different! It’s immersive, compelling and travels down the road of double-crossing, deception, and romance.
The characters in Three are very well developed. This story is told in two points of view. Emma is a Professor of Art History and Cillian O’Reilly is Emma’s Adjunct teaching partner. They both have their roles to play, which I won’t go into too much detail as not to spoil. I love how realistic and life-like they are. It’s always a good read when you start thinking this is a true story.
I was glued to the pages reading Three. It has everything an intelligent suspense novel should have. The puzzles are not easily deciphered, the characters are well-developed, and the entire plot is thought-provoking. I recommend checking this one out! I’m excited that this is a trilogy and I can’t wait for the next book!
*I read this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
The characters in Three are very well developed. This story is told in two points of view. Emma is a Professor of Art History and Cillian O’Reilly is Emma’s Adjunct teaching partner. They both have their roles to play, which I won’t go into too much detail as not to spoil. I love how realistic and life-like they are. It’s always a good read when you start thinking this is a true story.
I was glued to the pages reading Three. It has everything an intelligent suspense novel should have. The puzzles are not easily deciphered, the characters are well-developed, and the entire plot is thought-provoking. I recommend checking this one out! I’m excited that this is a trilogy and I can’t wait for the next book!
*I read this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*
August 16, 2018
3.5
I enjoyed the story, and all of the background details into the seedy underbelly of the crime world and art theft- but something didn't really click for me.
I never really felt that the h was in any real danger, nor did I feel any real romance between the two leads. She was a little to 'wet blanket' for me- and Cillian was just ho-hum and there.
Maybe Emma will get a little more backbone in the next books?
Did love me some crazy Aunt Mary though :)
I enjoyed the story, and all of the background details into the seedy underbelly of the crime world and art theft- but something didn't really click for me.
I never really felt that the h was in any real danger, nor did I feel any real romance between the two leads. She was a little to 'wet blanket' for me- and Cillian was just ho-hum and there.
Maybe Emma will get a little more backbone in the next books?
Did love me some crazy Aunt Mary though :)
February 5, 2018
Three
Reviewed for Cherry0Blossoms Promotions
Ohhh loved Three.
Full of intrigue, twists and turns.
Emma is an art lecturer, who is in the middle of splitting up with her partner, Jude. All she wanted was a husband and family, but his shock vasectomy put an end to that.
But nothing is what it seems, Jude is missing and she is pulled into an underground world of art thieves, trafficking and terrorism. Could she be implicated as a criminal, as she finds her name has been used to authenticate fake paintings which are being sold around the world.
Even her co workers at the university and not who she thought. Agent Cillian is not the university worker she though, the FBI are on hand to help her out of this mess.
Totally action packed and a real page turner. With a touch of humour as Mad Aunt Mary is fantastic fun, do her crazy ideas have some truth to them?
Great read. Looking forward to the next one.
Reviewed for Cherry0Blossoms Promotions
Ohhh loved Three.
Full of intrigue, twists and turns.
Emma is an art lecturer, who is in the middle of splitting up with her partner, Jude. All she wanted was a husband and family, but his shock vasectomy put an end to that.
But nothing is what it seems, Jude is missing and she is pulled into an underground world of art thieves, trafficking and terrorism. Could she be implicated as a criminal, as she finds her name has been used to authenticate fake paintings which are being sold around the world.
Even her co workers at the university and not who she thought. Agent Cillian is not the university worker she though, the FBI are on hand to help her out of this mess.
Totally action packed and a real page turner. With a touch of humour as Mad Aunt Mary is fantastic fun, do her crazy ideas have some truth to them?
Great read. Looking forward to the next one.
January 10, 2018
Reviewed for Cherry0blossoms promotions.
5 Star read *****
I actually can’t believe this is K J McGillicks’s debut novel. It was amazing. This isn’t your typical romance. I’d say it’s more thriller with a tad of romance happening amongst it all.
Emma Collier finds her her partner missing herself involved in a Money laundering scandal with her identity stolen. She soon discovers that his goes deeper and darker and more dangerous than she could ever have believed. It’s a nightmare. FBI agent Cillian O’Reilly comes along and works with Emma to find the truth and keep the baddies away....
I can’t really say much more without spoiling but I absolutely loved the mystery and suspense this story brought me, I really enjoyed being on the edge of my seat most of the way through. I do warn you though... there’s a cliffhanger at the end !! I cannot wait for book 2 x
5 Star read *****
I actually can’t believe this is K J McGillicks’s debut novel. It was amazing. This isn’t your typical romance. I’d say it’s more thriller with a tad of romance happening amongst it all.
Emma Collier finds her her partner missing herself involved in a Money laundering scandal with her identity stolen. She soon discovers that his goes deeper and darker and more dangerous than she could ever have believed. It’s a nightmare. FBI agent Cillian O’Reilly comes along and works with Emma to find the truth and keep the baddies away....
I can’t really say much more without spoiling but I absolutely loved the mystery and suspense this story brought me, I really enjoyed being on the edge of my seat most of the way through. I do warn you though... there’s a cliffhanger at the end !! I cannot wait for book 2 x
August 20, 2019
she learns that her murder was planned to the last letter. how bad she not seen it coming. her lover car has been found burnt and abandoned so the policemen knocking especially as some very valuable paintings have gone missing. Will she find out what is going on? Who is behind it all? See where she will be taken
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 2, 2019
I have read a few books now by K. J McGillick and this has been my favourite yet!
This is a well written multi level thriller with some well conceived characters . There were many intricacies as the complex story unravels and we discover that Emma's life is not what it seems to be.
With a well paced plot, and a plot that kept the mind engaged, I very much enjoyed this story.
This is a well written multi level thriller with some well conceived characters . There were many intricacies as the complex story unravels and we discover that Emma's life is not what it seems to be.
With a well paced plot, and a plot that kept the mind engaged, I very much enjoyed this story.
April 30, 2018
Review by Cassandra
Reviewed for Cherry0blossoms promotions.
5 Star read *****
I actually can’t believe this is K J McGillicks’s debut novel. It was amazing. This isn’t your typical romance. I’d say it’s more thriller with a tad of romance happening amongst it all.
Emma Collier finds her her partner missing herself involved in a Money laundering scandal with her identity stolen. She soon discovers that his goes deeper and darker and more dangerous than she could ever have believed. It’s a nightmare. FBI agent Cillian O’Reilly comes along and works with Emma to find the truth and keep the baddies away....
I can’t really say much more without spoiling but I absolutely loved the mystery and suspense this story brought me, I really enjoyed being on the edge of my seat most of the way through. I do warn you though... there’s a cliffhanger at the end !! I cannot wait for book 2 x
Review by Lisa
Reviewed for Cherry0Blossoms Promotions
Ohhh loved Three.
Full of intrigue, twists and turns.
Emma is an art lecturer, who is in the middle of splitting up with her partner, Jude. All she wanted was a husband and family, but his shock vasectomy put an end to that.
But nothing is what it seems, Jude is missing and she is pulled into an underground world of art thieves, trafficking and terrorism. Could she be implicated as a criminal, as she finds her name has been used to authenticate fake paintings which are being sold around the world.
Even her co workers at the university and not who she thought. Agent Cillian is not the university worker she though, the FBI are on hand to help her out of this mess.
Totally action packed and a real page turner. With a touch of humour as Mad Aunt Mary is fantastic fun, do her crazy ideas have some truth to them?
Great read. Looking forward to the next one.
Reviewed for Cherry0blossoms promotions.
5 Star read *****
I actually can’t believe this is K J McGillicks’s debut novel. It was amazing. This isn’t your typical romance. I’d say it’s more thriller with a tad of romance happening amongst it all.
Emma Collier finds her her partner missing herself involved in a Money laundering scandal with her identity stolen. She soon discovers that his goes deeper and darker and more dangerous than she could ever have believed. It’s a nightmare. FBI agent Cillian O’Reilly comes along and works with Emma to find the truth and keep the baddies away....
I can’t really say much more without spoiling but I absolutely loved the mystery and suspense this story brought me, I really enjoyed being on the edge of my seat most of the way through. I do warn you though... there’s a cliffhanger at the end !! I cannot wait for book 2 x
Review by Lisa
Reviewed for Cherry0Blossoms Promotions
Ohhh loved Three.
Full of intrigue, twists and turns.
Emma is an art lecturer, who is in the middle of splitting up with her partner, Jude. All she wanted was a husband and family, but his shock vasectomy put an end to that.
But nothing is what it seems, Jude is missing and she is pulled into an underground world of art thieves, trafficking and terrorism. Could she be implicated as a criminal, as she finds her name has been used to authenticate fake paintings which are being sold around the world.
Even her co workers at the university and not who she thought. Agent Cillian is not the university worker she though, the FBI are on hand to help her out of this mess.
Totally action packed and a real page turner. With a touch of humour as Mad Aunt Mary is fantastic fun, do her crazy ideas have some truth to them?
Great read. Looking forward to the next one.
June 28, 2019
"Oh my God, how could this be? All I did was open myself up to a person who acted as if his world would end without me. While apparently, he was thinking how my world could end to his benefit."
Did you ever feel like your life just couldn’t get any worse? Emma sure does. Her boyfriend is missing, her colleague at the University of Maine is an FBI agent with the Art Crimes Team, she is losing her job, and she finds out she is a victim of identity theft. And it gets worse… she is implicated in an art theft ring funding terrorists which puts her life in danger. How could she trust anyone again? Is there anything more devastating than deception and betrayal?
"Whether she realized it or not, her life had just gone straight to hell. Her boyfriend was now definitely twisting in the wind. We had his money from his safe deposit box and now his paintings. Desperate men do desperate things. I didn’t want him involving her further."
Cillian is undercover at the University of Maine and he is worried Emma is in danger. He’s got his work cut out for him to get Emma to trust him again and he is falling in love with her. Can he save her from a dangerous terrorist?
This is a great debut novel with suspense, romance, humor and art theft. The plot is genius and oh, so fascinating. McGillick’s details about art theft funding terrorism is something I had never thought about.
The characters are also a win! My favorite is, of course, Emma’s Aunt Mary. That woman will keep you in stitches with her amateur sleuthing, her nicknames for Emma’s former boyfriend, and matchmaking wordplay.
It is a fast-paced read that will blow your mind about art and terrorism with a twist at the end! Recommend highly!!
Thank you to Ms. McGillick for giving me the opportunity review this book with no expectations of a positive review given.
Did you ever feel like your life just couldn’t get any worse? Emma sure does. Her boyfriend is missing, her colleague at the University of Maine is an FBI agent with the Art Crimes Team, she is losing her job, and she finds out she is a victim of identity theft. And it gets worse… she is implicated in an art theft ring funding terrorists which puts her life in danger. How could she trust anyone again? Is there anything more devastating than deception and betrayal?
"Whether she realized it or not, her life had just gone straight to hell. Her boyfriend was now definitely twisting in the wind. We had his money from his safe deposit box and now his paintings. Desperate men do desperate things. I didn’t want him involving her further."
Cillian is undercover at the University of Maine and he is worried Emma is in danger. He’s got his work cut out for him to get Emma to trust him again and he is falling in love with her. Can he save her from a dangerous terrorist?
This is a great debut novel with suspense, romance, humor and art theft. The plot is genius and oh, so fascinating. McGillick’s details about art theft funding terrorism is something I had never thought about.
The characters are also a win! My favorite is, of course, Emma’s Aunt Mary. That woman will keep you in stitches with her amateur sleuthing, her nicknames for Emma’s former boyfriend, and matchmaking wordplay.
It is a fast-paced read that will blow your mind about art and terrorism with a twist at the end! Recommend highly!!
Thank you to Ms. McGillick for giving me the opportunity review this book with no expectations of a positive review given.
June 1, 2019
Inviting a stranger into your home can be dangerous. Inviting a stranger into your life can turn deadly.
How would you feel if you discovered your murder was meticulously planned by someone you loved? You didn't know how or when or even why. All you could do was wait.
Emma had it all.
Or did she?
When her lover’s car is found burned and abandoned in another state and paintings worth millions go missing the police come asking some hard questions. Was he kidnapped, and was Emma in on this art heist? What she discovers upends her world completely. Jude White, a man she intended to marry, had been living a double life right under her nose. A deceitful life, a treacherous life. Who was this man that had already groomed another woman to take over Emma's life? A woman who was Emma's body double and now dead.
Why had she so easily trusted this psychopath with her heart? Betrayed on every level, consequences not of Emma’s making were nipping at her heels. Tick. Tock.....
Wow!! For a debut novel this is excellent. I call this more of a thriller with a bit of romance.
Excellent writing and plot line; really loved it.
Really well written and developed characters.
Felt really sorry for the character Emma.
Really enjoyed reading and recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
How would you feel if you discovered your murder was meticulously planned by someone you loved? You didn't know how or when or even why. All you could do was wait.
Emma had it all.
Or did she?
When her lover’s car is found burned and abandoned in another state and paintings worth millions go missing the police come asking some hard questions. Was he kidnapped, and was Emma in on this art heist? What she discovers upends her world completely. Jude White, a man she intended to marry, had been living a double life right under her nose. A deceitful life, a treacherous life. Who was this man that had already groomed another woman to take over Emma's life? A woman who was Emma's body double and now dead.
Why had she so easily trusted this psychopath with her heart? Betrayed on every level, consequences not of Emma’s making were nipping at her heels. Tick. Tock.....
Wow!! For a debut novel this is excellent. I call this more of a thriller with a bit of romance.
Excellent writing and plot line; really loved it.
Really well written and developed characters.
Felt really sorry for the character Emma.
Really enjoyed reading and recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 3, 2019
After reading a lot of romantic stories, even a romantic soul like me needs to read something completely different.
So let’s go from romance to a true thriller!
And it was exactly what I needed.
Emma is living together with her boyfriend, but is not in the happy relationship as before. Just when she decides to end things, the boyfriend goes missing.
If that wasn’t enough, he appears to be involved with some not so legal affairs, and somehow he dragged her right into it!
As the FBI starts knocking on her door, she finds herself in a nightmare.
What I sometimes really hate about some stories, is that after a few chapters you figured it all out. You know who is responsible, why he or she did it and what the finale will be like.
So when after a few chapters, I still had a lot of questions, I was happy!
When one question was answered, the next one popped out and it was even more intriguing than the previous question.
And so the whole story evolves... very very slowly the greater picture is coming out and more than once it was just jaw dropping!
As a whole story with dramatic twists would be just too much, we are lucky to have Aunt Mary with conspiracies she thinks are just everywhere. This was a great way to lighten the story up, because those ideas were just bollocks. Or not...
So this was a great thiller, keeping you on the edge of your seat
So let’s go from romance to a true thriller!
And it was exactly what I needed.
Emma is living together with her boyfriend, but is not in the happy relationship as before. Just when she decides to end things, the boyfriend goes missing.
If that wasn’t enough, he appears to be involved with some not so legal affairs, and somehow he dragged her right into it!
As the FBI starts knocking on her door, she finds herself in a nightmare.
What I sometimes really hate about some stories, is that after a few chapters you figured it all out. You know who is responsible, why he or she did it and what the finale will be like.
So when after a few chapters, I still had a lot of questions, I was happy!
When one question was answered, the next one popped out and it was even more intriguing than the previous question.
And so the whole story evolves... very very slowly the greater picture is coming out and more than once it was just jaw dropping!
As a whole story with dramatic twists would be just too much, we are lucky to have Aunt Mary with conspiracies she thinks are just everywhere. This was a great way to lighten the story up, because those ideas were just bollocks. Or not...
So this was a great thiller, keeping you on the edge of your seat
January 10, 2018
3.5 stars - I liked it
This is K.J McGillick’s debut book.
Art fraud, money laundering and identity theft feature in this story as Emma Collier discovers her live-in boyfriend Jude has disappeared and her own identity has been used to create a web of deceit.
Emma is a reactionary character in this book as things have already taken place without her knowledge and the book takes us on her journey of discovery about what really happened to Jude and why someone has been framing her.
I liked the characters of Emma and Cillian but I wish they were more relaxed, especially Emma. Often she comes across as robotic and overly formal, and when she does act, it seems out of character. The love interest between Emma and Cillian provides a good balance and I wish we knew more about them before they come together in this book.
Aunt Mary is very funny and brings a lightness and comedic relief to the book.
I enjoyed the plot and overall themes. You can tell much research has gone into the story but the flow does get bogged down at times due the volume of what I consider to be unnecessary detail and repetition.
Future books look intriguing and I am interested in reading them.
This is K.J McGillick’s debut book.
Art fraud, money laundering and identity theft feature in this story as Emma Collier discovers her live-in boyfriend Jude has disappeared and her own identity has been used to create a web of deceit.
Emma is a reactionary character in this book as things have already taken place without her knowledge and the book takes us on her journey of discovery about what really happened to Jude and why someone has been framing her.
I liked the characters of Emma and Cillian but I wish they were more relaxed, especially Emma. Often she comes across as robotic and overly formal, and when she does act, it seems out of character. The love interest between Emma and Cillian provides a good balance and I wish we knew more about them before they come together in this book.
Aunt Mary is very funny and brings a lightness and comedic relief to the book.
I enjoyed the plot and overall themes. You can tell much research has gone into the story but the flow does get bogged down at times due the volume of what I consider to be unnecessary detail and repetition.
Future books look intriguing and I am interested in reading them.
December 17, 2017
Reviewing on behalf of Amo's Book Corner.
Three is a fantastically gripping story about a woman named Emma who is betrayed and lied to by her partner and is unknowingly implicated in all of his criminal activities. With the help of her aunt, her friends and the FBI she goes on a mission to not only find this man, but to find all the others who work with him in the criminal world in the intention of stopping them in their tracks and literally saving the world.
If you love the author Dan Brown, then I'm sure you will love this. K J McGillick - your writing style reminds me so much of his and I love this book so much. It is fast paced, action packed and leaves nothing to the imagination. I was literally on the edge of my seat throughout; there were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming and aunt Mary added just the right amount of humour to make me chuckle every now and then.
I have given this book a 5 star rating and I can't wait to see what K J McGillick writes next!
Three is a fantastically gripping story about a woman named Emma who is betrayed and lied to by her partner and is unknowingly implicated in all of his criminal activities. With the help of her aunt, her friends and the FBI she goes on a mission to not only find this man, but to find all the others who work with him in the criminal world in the intention of stopping them in their tracks and literally saving the world.
If you love the author Dan Brown, then I'm sure you will love this. K J McGillick - your writing style reminds me so much of his and I love this book so much. It is fast paced, action packed and leaves nothing to the imagination. I was literally on the edge of my seat throughout; there were so many twists and turns that I didn't see coming and aunt Mary added just the right amount of humour to make me chuckle every now and then.
I have given this book a 5 star rating and I can't wait to see what K J McGillick writes next!
June 26, 2019
This is a clever crime thriller, with lies, betrayal, danger and a little romance ….
It’s full of great characters and enough twists and surprises to keep you intrigued….
Emma wakes one day to find her boyfriend, Jude has disappeared….then the surprises start, a safety deposit box in her name that she knew nothing about….and so much more (no spoilers here)…she also finds out her friend, Cillian, is actually an undercover FBI agent and he’s interested in Jude!
Aunt Mary is another great character, quirky and eccentric and brings a little light humour to the story……a clever, well plotted and engrossing thriller…
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
It’s full of great characters and enough twists and surprises to keep you intrigued….
Emma wakes one day to find her boyfriend, Jude has disappeared….then the surprises start, a safety deposit box in her name that she knew nothing about….and so much more (no spoilers here)…she also finds out her friend, Cillian, is actually an undercover FBI agent and he’s interested in Jude!
Aunt Mary is another great character, quirky and eccentric and brings a little light humour to the story……a clever, well plotted and engrossing thriller…
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
December 31, 2017
Wow. K.J. McGillick really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat! I have never read a romance quite like this and was sad when it ended. In this legal thriller-romance, Dr. Emma Collier's world is turned upside down when she's thrown into the world of art forgery, money laundering and terrorism thanks to the man she thought she knew. With the help of her feisty Aunt Mary and Cillian, an undercover FBI agent and friend, Emma tries to make sense of what's become of her life. This book was exciting, dark, emotional with just enough love to keep it all together. The only criticism I have is that things moved slowly at first and there were times the legal stuff became a bit overwhelming. Definitely worth a read! I hope this story continues in another book!
December 4, 2017
What a phenomenal debut book for K J McGillick! While this isn't your typical romance read, it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. The mystery, suspense, and danger. Boy oh boy was I hooked.
Like I said this is not my typical book, but it was nice to get outside of my comfort zone for a change. I felt that the author did a superb job with the plot. It was quite different, and I felt that the author was very knowledgeable about the art community. Her characters were perfect and complimented each other well.
All in all a great mystery book that had me staying up late into the night wanting more from Emma and Cillian.
Like I said this is not my typical book, but it was nice to get outside of my comfort zone for a change. I felt that the author did a superb job with the plot. It was quite different, and I felt that the author was very knowledgeable about the art community. Her characters were perfect and complimented each other well.
All in all a great mystery book that had me staying up late into the night wanting more from Emma and Cillian.
January 9, 2018
This was a good debut book. The writing and storyline was interesting and different. I enjoyed it. There were places that it felt a bit stagnant and others where I wanted more information. The ending seemed a bit hurried. I’m happy to see this is going to be a series. It’s a gripping story about betrayal and lies. I liked the characters for the most part and just loved Aunt Mary for the humor and fun she added to the story.
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I will leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I will leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.
January 9, 2018
What a freaking fantastic debut book. This is a series that I can't wait to read the rest of. She did an amazing job bringing the reader into the character's life. I can only imagine what I would do if I found myself in this situation. Gripping, suspenseful, and very interesting. I enjoyed the writing and the direction the author went with this story and I found myself cheering for Emma and then curious about Cillian FBI. Great debut and excited. Thank you for allowing me to read this and write about it.
August 16, 2018
Victim of an international art scam
He said he loved her. Entered into a domestic agreement. Little did she know he was very busy. He needed her credentials as a University art history teacher, then stole her identity to produce fake art works with her seal of approval, which became human trafficking, body parts being harvested, prostitution rings, child labour and every other horrible thing. Working closely with the FBI they managed to arrest three key players. The end was off-putting though when famous landmarks were blown up.
He said he loved her. Entered into a domestic agreement. Little did she know he was very busy. He needed her credentials as a University art history teacher, then stole her identity to produce fake art works with her seal of approval, which became human trafficking, body parts being harvested, prostitution rings, child labour and every other horrible thing. Working closely with the FBI they managed to arrest three key players. The end was off-putting though when famous landmarks were blown up.
July 7, 2019
I always love getting to read K. J. McGillick’s books, having already reviewed Karma Never Loses An Address, Facing a Twisted Judgment, Trust Me
This book is the start of a new three book series, A Path of Deception and Betrayal and is followed by Two and One.
This is another great read, and follows Emma as her life falls apart, as her relationship falls apart and then her partner goes missing. As she tries to find him she is drawn into a world she wasn’t aware of. A brilliant read full of deception, murder and love.
This book is the start of a new three book series, A Path of Deception and Betrayal and is followed by Two and One.
This is another great read, and follows Emma as her life falls apart, as her relationship falls apart and then her partner goes missing. As she tries to find him she is drawn into a world she wasn’t aware of. A brilliant read full of deception, murder and love.
June 5, 2019
This is the 2nd book I've read written by K.J. McGillick; she has done a great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
January 14, 2018
The suspense is heavy in this one and the characters on their own are very interesting. However I do wish we had more of them before they get together. I do not get the exact attraction and I wish it was more clearly described.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.
I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing.
June 4, 2019
Ok so this book had a lot of moving parts. Between questions to answers to more questions this book left you reeling. It does end its own way but brings you right into the next start of an adventure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 16, 2019
I love the way KJM writes down-to-earth sassy women. Reminds me of Sara Paretsky's VI Warshawski. Her knowledge of the art world is apparent in this fast-moving tale which held my attention from beginning to end.
April 15, 2019
Fast paced intense story. Perfect Mystery.
Enjoyable read
Enjoyable read
June 16, 2019
Holy moly
This is a story that held my attention. It’s scary how easily the deception was played. Both for the characters and international security.
This is a story that held my attention. It’s scary how easily the deception was played. Both for the characters and international security.
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