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Deceive Me
YOUR DAUGHTER IS MISSING.
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO FIND HER?
When Jo's teenage daughter goes missing, she feels like the world is collapsing around her.
The police believe Grace is just an angry teenager, punishing her parents by hiding out at a friend's house, but Jo is terrified that her daughter is in grave danger. With so little urgency from the police, Jo decides to take matters into her own hands.
But, as Jo gets closer to discovering what has happened to her daughter, a devastating secret is uncovered that threatens to destroy the family she has been trying so very hard to protect...
HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO FIND HER?
When Jo's teenage daughter goes missing, she feels like the world is collapsing around her.
The police believe Grace is just an angry teenager, punishing her parents by hiding out at a friend's house, but Jo is terrified that her daughter is in grave danger. With so little urgency from the police, Jo decides to take matters into her own hands.
But, as Jo gets closer to discovering what has happened to her daughter, a devastating secret is uncovered that threatens to destroy the family she has been trying so very hard to protect...
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2019
1156 people are currently reading
1655 people want to read
About the author
Karen Cole
18 books89 followersKaren Cole grew up in the Cotswolds and got a degree in psychology at Newcastle University. She spent several years teaching English around the world before settling in Cyprus with her husband and two sons, where she works at a British army base as a primary school teacher. She recently completed the Curtis Brown writing course where she found her love of writing psychological thrillers.
Deliver Me is her debut novel.
~ from Quercus
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Deliver Me is her debut novel.
~ from Quercus
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
August 21, 2021
Karen Cole’s books are released in print in the US for the first time thanks to Mobius Books. I was so excited to pick up my first one, Deceive Me, and it did not disappoint.
I’ve mentioned before that I love a British crime thriller, and that’s exactly what I found here. Jo’s teenage daughter, Grace, is missing. Did she run away or has she been kidnapped? Those teenage years are tough between mother and daughter, Jo and Grace.
The police are not interested in investigating because she’s “probably a teen runaway.”
The characterization is so strong here, even for the secondary characters. As a result, I was completely immersed in the story and the compelling writing. It is a slower build due to that strong character-building, and the clever ending is one I never saw coming. I’m really looking forward to reading Deny Me next!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I’ve mentioned before that I love a British crime thriller, and that’s exactly what I found here. Jo’s teenage daughter, Grace, is missing. Did she run away or has she been kidnapped? Those teenage years are tough between mother and daughter, Jo and Grace.
The police are not interested in investigating because she’s “probably a teen runaway.”
The characterization is so strong here, even for the secondary characters. As a result, I was completely immersed in the story and the compelling writing. It is a slower build due to that strong character-building, and the clever ending is one I never saw coming. I’m really looking forward to reading Deny Me next!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
July 28, 2019
4 Stars ⭐️
March 15, 2020
Well I wasnt expecting that!!
I had so many scenarios in my head that were going on in this book, turns out I was way off!
With a massive twisted and shocking ending, I couldn't have asked for more.
I was gripped through the whole book and couldn't wait to see what was really going on.
A really enjoyable book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I had so many scenarios in my head that were going on in this book, turns out I was way off!
With a massive twisted and shocking ending, I couldn't have asked for more.
I was gripped through the whole book and couldn't wait to see what was really going on.
A really enjoyable book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 17, 2019
On Monday morning, Jo drops her two kids—Jack and Grace—off at school. But in the afternoon, only Jack is home. Grace is nowhere to be found and as it turns out, she never showed up to any of her classes that day. So where could she be?
Jo and Chris only moved to Cyprus recently after wanting a fresh start for Grace. But Grace’s boyfriend, Tom, picked up his whole life to follow their family to a foreign country. Chris is convinced that Tom has something to do with Grace’s disappearance, but Jo isn’t so sure.
The more Jo looks delves into Grace’s life, the more she realizes how much she doesn’t know her daughter. She discovers a side of Grave she didn’t know was there. And in the process of looking for her daughter, Jo is reminded of the summer before having Grace—the last summer in Cyprus before everything changed. And now the past is coming back to haunt her.
Deceive Me is Karen Cole’s latest twisty thriller release. After reading and enjoying Karen Cole’s Deliver Me, I had high hopes for Deceive Me. The story delivered on being fast-paced and having shocking twists. It’s told through two timelines: currently during Jo’s search and back to when she nannied in Cyprus in 2000. You’re wondering the whole time how the two timelines intersect and I was shocked by the twist. Unfortunately, the delivery of the twist wasn’t my favorite and I felt the end was rushed. I always enjoy these short twisty thrillers and can’t get enough! 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus and Karen Cole for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jo and Chris only moved to Cyprus recently after wanting a fresh start for Grace. But Grace’s boyfriend, Tom, picked up his whole life to follow their family to a foreign country. Chris is convinced that Tom has something to do with Grace’s disappearance, but Jo isn’t so sure.
The more Jo looks delves into Grace’s life, the more she realizes how much she doesn’t know her daughter. She discovers a side of Grave she didn’t know was there. And in the process of looking for her daughter, Jo is reminded of the summer before having Grace—the last summer in Cyprus before everything changed. And now the past is coming back to haunt her.
Deceive Me is Karen Cole’s latest twisty thriller release. After reading and enjoying Karen Cole’s Deliver Me, I had high hopes for Deceive Me. The story delivered on being fast-paced and having shocking twists. It’s told through two timelines: currently during Jo’s search and back to when she nannied in Cyprus in 2000. You’re wondering the whole time how the two timelines intersect and I was shocked by the twist. Unfortunately, the delivery of the twist wasn’t my favorite and I felt the end was rushed. I always enjoy these short twisty thrillers and can’t get enough! 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Quercus and Karen Cole for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2019
Deep, dark secrets. Dysfunctional families. Unrelenting intrigue. And a powerful twist at the end!
I wasn't sure what to expect from Karen Cole's DECEIVE ME, but it wasn't this! I thought it would be another missing child/runaway teen thriller...but I was wrong. So very wrong. What it was...was just WOW! And that conclusion was so unexpected.
Joanna and her husband Chris have relocated to the island of Cyprus with their two children, Grace and Jack. From the very beginning, we learn that Grace has disappeared from school on Monday morning, having been absent from her classes, leaving Jo in a state of panic. They call in the police who don't appear overly concerned but rather more jovial with each contact, dismissing Grace as a teenage runaway who will soon return home. But Jo knows different. Grace wouldn't just leave, would she?
Their move to Cyprus had been to give Grace a fresh start...and some distance from her boyfriend, Tom, who Jo felt was far too old for her. But Tom, it appears, picked up his whole life and followed them to the Mediterranean isle to be near Grace. Could he know where Grace is? Chris is convinced he has something to do with her disappearance and can barely contain his anger. But Jo isn't so sure.
As Jo searches for answers, she does everything she can to find Grace. Questioning her friends, Tom and even searching her room. Jo is under no illusions that her relationship with her daughter has been tense lately, but it's only because Jo wants what's best for her...and doesn't want her making the same mistakes she did. But as Jo delves into Grace's life she realises how little she really knows her daughter.
From early on, we learn that Chris is Grace's stepfather though she adores him and considers him to be her only father. Whilst growing up, Grace showed no interest in her biological father stating that if he was at all interested in her then he has had 15 years to seek her out...and he hasn't. So when Jo learns that Grace had crossed to the northern side of Cyprus, where her biological father Hakan (a Turkish Cypriot) lives, she begins to wonder if she went looking for answers herself. It prompts Jo to visit Hakan herself as she is reminded of her last summer in Cyprus seventeen years ago, before she had Grace. And the past that she has so desperately tried to escape comes back to haunt her.
DECEIVE ME is told from two perspectives - Jo in the present day and Jo seventeen years ago. This dual timeline was incredibly effective as we meet the much younger 17 year old Jo facing the challenges of her life at the time which led her to take up a post in Cyprus with Hakan and his wife Helen. Whilst the story is primarily set in the present day of 2017 surrounding Grace's disappearance, we get snapshots of the past through Jo's eyes which has ultimately culminated into the present day events.
Jo's loneliness could be felt within the pages as she returned home to England, to her mother's house to find her useless junkie stepfather shacked up with someone named Mandy. But the reader could really get a sense no more than when Jo went into labour and gave birth to little Gracie. Then came Hakan's promises...quickly followed by his excuses. And Jo's life changed course in a way you never saw coming.
Characters such as Jo, Chris, Grace, Tom and even the useless Dave were all well-developed. Even Hakan was developed enough for the part he played in the story but boy I could have smacked him on more than one occasion! And when Dave turned up in Cyprus, I just knew this could only mean trouble. I just didn't think he was smart enough to put the pieces together. Jo irritated me a little. Particularly when she told Chris "No more lies" and then proceeded to continue lying to him herself! I found the police a little patronising at times but that could just be down to the language and cultural barrier. Detective Dino did try his best to keep Jo and Chris at ease, treated them with respect throughout and didn't let personal opinions cloud the investigation. Despite playing such a minor role in the story. But everyone else? Everyone else was suspect.
I really enjoyed watching Jo's story unfold throughout the two timelines, wondering what would happen next and if she would just wake up to Hakan. It's abundantly clear to everyone but 17 year old Jo that he didn't really care for her; he just wanted to get his leg over. And then the older Jo, searching for her missing daughter, you had to wonder - just what is she trying to hide?
DECEIVE ME is not a fast paced story but it is unpredictable at almost every turn. Just when you thought you knew how it would turn out, everything is turned on its head! By the end, pretty much anything could happen...and it did! Even when the reveal of Jo's big secret came I was shocked I didn't even see it coming! And it didn't stop there...the shocks just kept coming...and coming! And then that ending?! WOW! I don't even have the words.
A very different missing teenager story, DECEIVE ME will even have the reader deceived! A definite recommend.
I would like to thank #KarenCole, #NetGalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #DeceiveMe in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I wasn't sure what to expect from Karen Cole's DECEIVE ME, but it wasn't this! I thought it would be another missing child/runaway teen thriller...but I was wrong. So very wrong. What it was...was just WOW! And that conclusion was so unexpected.
Joanna and her husband Chris have relocated to the island of Cyprus with their two children, Grace and Jack. From the very beginning, we learn that Grace has disappeared from school on Monday morning, having been absent from her classes, leaving Jo in a state of panic. They call in the police who don't appear overly concerned but rather more jovial with each contact, dismissing Grace as a teenage runaway who will soon return home. But Jo knows different. Grace wouldn't just leave, would she?
Their move to Cyprus had been to give Grace a fresh start...and some distance from her boyfriend, Tom, who Jo felt was far too old for her. But Tom, it appears, picked up his whole life and followed them to the Mediterranean isle to be near Grace. Could he know where Grace is? Chris is convinced he has something to do with her disappearance and can barely contain his anger. But Jo isn't so sure.
As Jo searches for answers, she does everything she can to find Grace. Questioning her friends, Tom and even searching her room. Jo is under no illusions that her relationship with her daughter has been tense lately, but it's only because Jo wants what's best for her...and doesn't want her making the same mistakes she did. But as Jo delves into Grace's life she realises how little she really knows her daughter.
From early on, we learn that Chris is Grace's stepfather though she adores him and considers him to be her only father. Whilst growing up, Grace showed no interest in her biological father stating that if he was at all interested in her then he has had 15 years to seek her out...and he hasn't. So when Jo learns that Grace had crossed to the northern side of Cyprus, where her biological father Hakan (a Turkish Cypriot) lives, she begins to wonder if she went looking for answers herself. It prompts Jo to visit Hakan herself as she is reminded of her last summer in Cyprus seventeen years ago, before she had Grace. And the past that she has so desperately tried to escape comes back to haunt her.
DECEIVE ME is told from two perspectives - Jo in the present day and Jo seventeen years ago. This dual timeline was incredibly effective as we meet the much younger 17 year old Jo facing the challenges of her life at the time which led her to take up a post in Cyprus with Hakan and his wife Helen. Whilst the story is primarily set in the present day of 2017 surrounding Grace's disappearance, we get snapshots of the past through Jo's eyes which has ultimately culminated into the present day events.
Jo's loneliness could be felt within the pages as she returned home to England, to her mother's house to find her useless junkie stepfather shacked up with someone named Mandy. But the reader could really get a sense no more than when Jo went into labour and gave birth to little Gracie. Then came Hakan's promises...quickly followed by his excuses. And Jo's life changed course in a way you never saw coming.
Characters such as Jo, Chris, Grace, Tom and even the useless Dave were all well-developed. Even Hakan was developed enough for the part he played in the story but boy I could have smacked him on more than one occasion! And when Dave turned up in Cyprus, I just knew this could only mean trouble. I just didn't think he was smart enough to put the pieces together. Jo irritated me a little. Particularly when she told Chris "No more lies" and then proceeded to continue lying to him herself! I found the police a little patronising at times but that could just be down to the language and cultural barrier. Detective Dino did try his best to keep Jo and Chris at ease, treated them with respect throughout and didn't let personal opinions cloud the investigation. Despite playing such a minor role in the story. But everyone else? Everyone else was suspect.
I really enjoyed watching Jo's story unfold throughout the two timelines, wondering what would happen next and if she would just wake up to Hakan. It's abundantly clear to everyone but 17 year old Jo that he didn't really care for her; he just wanted to get his leg over. And then the older Jo, searching for her missing daughter, you had to wonder - just what is she trying to hide?
DECEIVE ME is not a fast paced story but it is unpredictable at almost every turn. Just when you thought you knew how it would turn out, everything is turned on its head! By the end, pretty much anything could happen...and it did! Even when the reveal of Jo's big secret came I was shocked I didn't even see it coming! And it didn't stop there...the shocks just kept coming...and coming! And then that ending?! WOW! I don't even have the words.
A very different missing teenager story, DECEIVE ME will even have the reader deceived! A definite recommend.
I would like to thank #KarenCole, #NetGalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #DeceiveMe in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
November 9, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley, Karen Cole and Quercus Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
3 stars.
Secrets will all be revealed in this story, Deceive Me by Karen Cole. This was a good story throughout. I had not expected it to turn out the way it did so I was pleasantly surprised by that. Plus the ending?! I again hadn't expected that.
The story starts out with Jo, the mother last having seen her Daughter, Grace, in the morning, entering the school she attends. That same day she's back at the school to pick up both of her kids, but panic soon starts as she can only find one of them. Her son. Her Daughter is nowhere to be found and she quickly discovers that Grace had not attended any classes that day.
While the story was good, it was only just good. Meaning it was not this huge psychological thriller it had been described as. So for that reason it was a bit of a let down. Still, I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't re-read it.
3 stars.
Secrets will all be revealed in this story, Deceive Me by Karen Cole. This was a good story throughout. I had not expected it to turn out the way it did so I was pleasantly surprised by that. Plus the ending?! I again hadn't expected that.
The story starts out with Jo, the mother last having seen her Daughter, Grace, in the morning, entering the school she attends. That same day she's back at the school to pick up both of her kids, but panic soon starts as she can only find one of them. Her son. Her Daughter is nowhere to be found and she quickly discovers that Grace had not attended any classes that day.
While the story was good, it was only just good. Meaning it was not this huge psychological thriller it had been described as. So for that reason it was a bit of a let down. Still, I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't re-read it.
June 20, 2020
Just brilliant and lots of twists to keep you guessing!
November 16, 2019
The missing person search was too slow and I began to find it a bit repetitive.
July 20, 2021
Grace is 16 years ago, and as a typical teenager hates, her mother. She's seeing a guy that's a little older and her mom and stepfather don't approve.
Grace and mother, Jo, have a very noisy confrontation ending with harsh words and slamming doors. Come Monday morning, Jo drives Grace to school .. in mostly silence... and watches as she walks into the building.
When Jo arrives to pick her up after school, she learns that Grace did not attend any of her classes that day. So where is she?
After many hours, the police believe that Grace is a run away, probably staying with a friend to punish her parents. But Jo thinks otherwise.
Jo starts questioning Grace's friends ... who all seem to know something but will not share any information that they may have. The community starts participating with some people thinking the stepfather knows more than he's telling.
But as Jo gets closer to the truth, she finds that Grace knows the secret that Jo has kept hidden for many years .. and uncovering the secret will destroy the very family that she has tried to protect all these years.
Jo remembers her own home life in detail .. those things that have brought her to this day. She wants desperately to find her child.
Suspenseful from the get-go, the intensity increases and maintains a steady level until the shocking conclusion. Read in 2 sittings, I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away as the twists and turns kept knocking me sideways. I never saw the ending coming ... highly recommended reading!
Many thanks to the author / Mobius Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 21, 2019
Wow! This book was amazing .. it kept my interest and it started at a very good pace and stayed there,. I found myself so invested in Jo.. I was silently praying for a good outcome as I read well into the night. This book really makes you think. What if you took your daughter to school and watched her go into the building and then upon picking her up everyone says they never saw her and even the teachers says that she didn’t show up..without giving anything away I will say that you need to read this book. The characters were so easy to connect with and most of all I love how well developed the characters were. Guaranteed to give you all the feels . This book makes me think about how you never really know a person until you dig into their past. I recommend this book.
July 15, 2019
WOW! Definitely one of the best psychological thrillers I have ever read!!! This one completely blew me away. The ending was something that caught me so off guard and was something I couldn't have come up with in my wildest of dreams. Simply amazing!!!!
June 22, 2019
A very well written book. With great characters, fast paced, full of twist and turns. This book is really really good.
May 2, 2024
This was another great book by Karen Cole. Looking forward to reading more of Karen’s books.
July 7, 2019
I have enjoyed Karen Cole’s previous books and this was another compelling read. Chris, Jo and their family are living in Cyprus when Jo’s teenage daughter goes missing. She has been seeing Tom, an older boyfriend and he is the first person to be questioned. Has she just run away or has she been abducted? Jo starts to question Grace’s friends and finds that there may be a reason for Grace to have run away as she may have uncovered a deep dark secret that Jo has been hiding. The story is told in the present where Grace is missing and in the past as we follow Jo’s life. The tension builds as so many secrets are revealed with lots of twists and turns and an ending that left me gasping. A gripping read, well recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book
.
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book
.
July 13, 2019
OMFG!!!!
A PERFECT FAMILY OR A PERFECT LIE?
When Jo's teenage daughter goes missing, she feels like the world is collapsing around her. Has Grace been taken or have recent tensions between mother and daughter driven her away?
I finished this book after a few days after Karen Cole had me twisted up in knots. As I read, I looked with disdain at every single man in this book. Which evil jerk was involved in Grace's disappearance? Why is every man a douche? Why are my palms sweating? Why do I need a valium?
But the last few chapters. Strap in children!!! STRAP IN!!! Yes, there were clues if you're sharp but even if you think you know, you're not even ready for this!!!! BRAVA!!!!
A PERFECT FAMILY OR A PERFECT LIE?
When Jo's teenage daughter goes missing, she feels like the world is collapsing around her. Has Grace been taken or have recent tensions between mother and daughter driven her away?
I finished this book after a few days after Karen Cole had me twisted up in knots. As I read, I looked with disdain at every single man in this book. Which evil jerk was involved in Grace's disappearance? Why is every man a douche? Why are my palms sweating? Why do I need a valium?
But the last few chapters. Strap in children!!! STRAP IN!!! Yes, there were clues if you're sharp but even if you think you know, you're not even ready for this!!!! BRAVA!!!!
February 7, 2022
There are many twists ,turns and secrets throughout this book. It's hard to pick who to believe. All of the characters are well developed and they all had a secret that they were keeping . None of them wanted their secret exposed. The biggest twist however came at the end . It totally blew me away .
November 7, 2019
Very well done! Jo's daughter is missing, but why? This was a dark and twisted thriler with a different kind of twist which made it all the more surprising. I am definitely interested in reading more books by this author. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
July 17, 2021
Simmering, intricate, and sinister!
Deceive Me is a menacing, addictive thrill ride that takes you to the beautiful island of Cyprus and into the lives of the Appleton family as their worlds get turned upside down when their teenage daughter goes missing without a trace, and everyone seems to have something, past or present, they’re willing to do anything to hide.
The prose is tense and tight. The characters are anxious, tormented, and volatile. And the plot told using a back-and-forth, past/present style is an unsettling tale of twists, turns, familial drama, secrets, lies, deception, relationship dynamics, mayhem, and swirling emotions.
Overall, Deceive Me was so much better than I ever expected. It’s a tragic, compulsive, well-executed tale by Cole that highlights the desperate, selfish side of human nature and reminds us that secrets almost always find their way to the surface no matter how well they are hidden or buried.
Thank you to Mobius Books US for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Deceive Me is a menacing, addictive thrill ride that takes you to the beautiful island of Cyprus and into the lives of the Appleton family as their worlds get turned upside down when their teenage daughter goes missing without a trace, and everyone seems to have something, past or present, they’re willing to do anything to hide.
The prose is tense and tight. The characters are anxious, tormented, and volatile. And the plot told using a back-and-forth, past/present style is an unsettling tale of twists, turns, familial drama, secrets, lies, deception, relationship dynamics, mayhem, and swirling emotions.
Overall, Deceive Me was so much better than I ever expected. It’s a tragic, compulsive, well-executed tale by Cole that highlights the desperate, selfish side of human nature and reminds us that secrets almost always find their way to the surface no matter how well they are hidden or buried.
Thank you to Mobius Books US for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2024
Highly recommend.Kept you guessing,with a twist that I didn’t see coming.
March 29, 2022
This book was unputdownable!! Honestly, so many twists and unexpected bystories that shake you you your core definitely one that will stick with me for some time I think!
May 15, 2020
A great read, so many twists at the end, my head was spinning!
August 27, 2019
Ok, wow
That was something else. I’ll admit it, I got bored at the halfway point and searched reviews to see what I was missing. I didn’t find what I was looking for
So I kept going. Glad I did.
This is a crazy story, not going to lie. There are so many twists and surprises once the story gets going (about the 70% mark) that it gets crazy. It’s a slow burn and you really have to be patient. Your mind will jump to so many conclusions (and they won’t be right). Maybe you will you seen what’s coming. I didn’t, so that was fun.
You know there are big reveals, we are told that from the start, but they weren’t what I was expecting at all.
Overall if you are expecting a feel good, you may be disappointed. As this ends I’m not sure how I feel about it but it wasn’t what I thought or expected so I’m not disappointed. It was different and strange but not in a bad way. So many of these stories are similar, this wasn’t- kudos!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Quercus Books for a copy in exchange for a review.
That was something else. I’ll admit it, I got bored at the halfway point and searched reviews to see what I was missing. I didn’t find what I was looking for
So I kept going. Glad I did.
This is a crazy story, not going to lie. There are so many twists and surprises once the story gets going (about the 70% mark) that it gets crazy. It’s a slow burn and you really have to be patient. Your mind will jump to so many conclusions (and they won’t be right). Maybe you will you seen what’s coming. I didn’t, so that was fun.
You know there are big reveals, we are told that from the start, but they weren’t what I was expecting at all.
Overall if you are expecting a feel good, you may be disappointed. As this ends I’m not sure how I feel about it but it wasn’t what I thought or expected so I’m not disappointed. It was different and strange but not in a bad way. So many of these stories are similar, this wasn’t- kudos!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Quercus Books for a copy in exchange for a review.
June 18, 2019
Deceive Me by author Karen Cole delivers a powerful twist at the ending! Oh My Goodness, the conclusion was unexpected! As I read about Jo's life as a teenager, trying to care for her Mom and then the courage it took for her to get away and make a new start, I felt compassion for her. Jo's world falls apart when her moody teenage daughter, Grace goes missing. Jo watched Grace go into the school but later finds out she did not attend any classes and she can not be found or traced. Could there be a link to a secret in Jo's past which caused Grace to go missing? Jo soon discovers she is not the only person in her family with secrets. Deceive Me is a powerful thriller!
Publication Date: July 1, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Publication Date: July 1, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
June 20, 2019
Deceive Me by Karen Cole is another compelling and twisty thriller from an author who has become a must read for me. This one will keep you guessing right up until the final page has been turned.
When sixteen year old Grace goes missing, her mother, Jo, is frantic for answers. As the narrative alternates between the present and past, it quickly becomes apparent that Jo is a woman harbouring a plethora of secrets. Is her daughter's disappearance a random coincidence, or is it somehow connected to the secrets that Jo had prayed would stay buried in the past? With skillful execution, and a motley cast of suspects, Ms Cole will keep you questioning everything you think you know. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC
When sixteen year old Grace goes missing, her mother, Jo, is frantic for answers. As the narrative alternates between the present and past, it quickly becomes apparent that Jo is a woman harbouring a plethora of secrets. Is her daughter's disappearance a random coincidence, or is it somehow connected to the secrets that Jo had prayed would stay buried in the past? With skillful execution, and a motley cast of suspects, Ms Cole will keep you questioning everything you think you know. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC
June 9, 2019
Deceive Me really deceived me and took me by surprise.
Having read dozens of psychological mystery thrillers, very few books stand really out as unique.
Karen Cole just did that, where she managed to take the recurrent theme of a case of a missing person and weaved and original and gripping mystery that was impossible to predict.
When Grace disappears her family frantically search for her. But things are not quite as they seem, and the deeper the investigation goes the more long buried cracks emerge with shocking consequences and an unforeseen ending.
Thanks Netgalley, Quercus Books, and author Karen Cole for a chance to review this book.
Having read dozens of psychological mystery thrillers, very few books stand really out as unique.
Karen Cole just did that, where she managed to take the recurrent theme of a case of a missing person and weaved and original and gripping mystery that was impossible to predict.
When Grace disappears her family frantically search for her. But things are not quite as they seem, and the deeper the investigation goes the more long buried cracks emerge with shocking consequences and an unforeseen ending.
Thanks Netgalley, Quercus Books, and author Karen Cole for a chance to review this book.
June 13, 2019
4.5/5
Wow, what a book! Really enjoyed this fast paced, twist laden journey that kept me guessing until the very end. There was just the right amount of suspicion cast on most people throughout to keep you on your toes and the final few reveals were pleasantly surprising.
I love the thriller genre and this is no exception. I highly recommend it.
A mothers worst nightmare, a child goes missing and an investigation into her disappearance begins. As we delve further and further into family life, we realise things may not always be what they seem.
Thank you to Netgalley, Quercus Books and Karen Cole for allowing me to read this book.
Wow, what a book! Really enjoyed this fast paced, twist laden journey that kept me guessing until the very end. There was just the right amount of suspicion cast on most people throughout to keep you on your toes and the final few reveals were pleasantly surprising.
I love the thriller genre and this is no exception. I highly recommend it.
A mothers worst nightmare, a child goes missing and an investigation into her disappearance begins. As we delve further and further into family life, we realise things may not always be what they seem.
Thank you to Netgalley, Quercus Books and Karen Cole for allowing me to read this book.
June 25, 2019
I had never read anything by this author and for the first 3 quarters of the book I would have described it as an average read. Enjoyable but not terribly exciting. Then suddenly everything changed. The tension started to build as the reader realised that there was so much more to this story. I was reading this at 3am but there was no way I could put it down. The shocks just kept coming and the end left me with my jaw on the floor. Absolutely brilliant.
Review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon and recommended on twitter.
Review will be posted on Goodreads and Amazon and recommended on twitter.
June 20, 2019
Joanna and Chris are living known Cyprus when Joanna’s daughter, Grace, goes missing. Fingers point at her older boyfriend, Tom, and to stepfather, Chris. Has Grace’s birth father taken her? Joanna is trying her best to find her daughter but it’s going to cause a lot of pain!
This was a slow burn and before I knew it I was finished. Last few chapters brought this to a 4 star. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
This was a slow burn and before I knew it I was finished. Last few chapters brought this to a 4 star. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2019
I love love loved this book! It took me a few chapters to really get into and I honestly wasn’t sure how I felt but I didn’t know what to expect with each twist and turn I was taken on. Down to the last page I had no idea what to expect. The writing was great and kept me engaged and flipping quickly to see what was going to happen.
September 16, 2019
A brilliant, gripping read. With a storyline that is exceptional, coupled with a host of well rounded characters, this is a must read novel. Definitely recommend this to all.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my arc.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my arc.
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