Practice to Deceive

Annie MacPherson #2

by Janet L. Smith

Much to her surprise and relief, smart lawyer-sleuth Annie MacPherson is being wooed by Seattle's most eminent law firm and its most renown partner. But when she enters the rich and hushed halls of Kemble, Laughton, Mercer, and Duff, she discovers office politics isn't a game, it's a deadly obsession. And everyone is a player.

Annie hasn't even cut through the paperwork when top partner Gordon Barclay's secretary and not-so-secret lover kills herself. The dead woman's sister refuses to believe appearances, and wants Annie, so far unseduced by Barclay's legendary charms, to investigate the high and mighty machinations of Seattle's most feared litigator. Things heat up when a sniper targets Annie--just as a shocking glimpse into her family's past blows her life wide open. Soon Annie finds herself caught in a destructive web of love, lies, and murder that only her sharp insight and fierce intelligence can unravel.

The second in the Annie MacPherson mystery series, which began with Sea of Troubles.

Genres: Mystery

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 1992

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practice to Deceive by Janet L. Smith was published in 1992 by Ivy books.
Annie McPherson , lawyer, has just joined a large, prestigious law firm. The partners all knew her father, including top partner, Gordon Barclay.
Barclay seems determined to wine and dine Annie. But,
Annie refuses to succumb to his charms.
Then a shocking death sets into motion a chain of events that is linked to Annie's father.

Part legal thriller, part mystery, this is a quick easy read. The story was somewhat predictable, but I still enjoyed it well enough.
Overall a C.

[Sheila Wyver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Old fashioned but really good murder mystery set around a law firm in Seattle. Good lead, Annie MacPherson, destined to solve the case. Engaging and strong story.

[Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book balances suspense and character development beautifully. Annie’s sharp instincts and determination make her a standout sleuth, and the twists are genuinely surprising.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

PRACTICE TO DECIEVE - Okay
Smith, Janet L. - 2nd in series

Lawyer-sleuth Annie MacPherson is new on the job at a high-power Seattle law firm, when the top partner's secretary and not-so-secret lover, Nancy, kills herself. But the dead woman's sister doesn't believe it, and asks Annie to investigate. Suddenly Annie herself becomes a target, just as a shocking glimpse into her family's past blows her life wide open. And Annie is caught in a destructive web of loves, lies, and murder that only her sharp insights and fierce intelligence can unravel.

I couldn't quite figure this out. It's good, but odd.

[Eleanor Bittner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A challenging mystery with lots of twists & turns. At times kept you on the edge of your seat. The author has a wide enough vocabulary that she did not feel it necessary to resort to "gutter" language & obscenities.
Also she was able to keep romantic passion alive without resorting to lurid graphic descriptions of sex.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Linda T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing moves along nicely until near the end.

By the end, having read her previous book "Sea of Troubles", I was able to predict guilty party based on the type of person and situation she selects for er killer, which was the same in both books.

[Tiersa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found myself enjoying this little book. I would like to read more of this author, but for now, it was fun!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of slow and easy to figure out.

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

figured it out by chapter 6 -- except for minor details, some excellent lines, hard to believe parts were written by someone acquainted with the law --hmmmm-- would not hire Smith as an attorney