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The Deceptions
Long-buried family secrets surface in a compelling new novel from the author of The Teacher's Secret
In 1943, a young woman is taken to a Jewish ghetto outside Prague where one of the guards—a Czech gendarme—is quickly drawn to her. Believing he will offer her protection, Hana reluctantly accepts Karel's advances only to find herself alone and abandoned in Auschwitz. Decades later, Karel carries his regrets to Sydney where he and his family try to make a new life for themselves.
Despite her devotion to the family, Karel's wife is a troubled woman, haunted by a secret that will not leave her. Meanwhile, the couple's daughter continues to reel from her husband's infidelities as, unbeknownst to any of them, their cherished granddaughter becomes more and more entangled with her married boss.
Outwardly harmonious, this is a fractured family whose lives are built on foundations of lies and deceptions—foundations that threaten to completely collapse as old transgressions re-emerge in the lead up to a long-awaited family wedding. Inspired by a true story of wartime betrayal, The Deceptions is a searing, compassionate tale of love and regret within a family whose secrets might better be left alone.
In 1943, a young woman is taken to a Jewish ghetto outside Prague where one of the guards—a Czech gendarme—is quickly drawn to her. Believing he will offer her protection, Hana reluctantly accepts Karel's advances only to find herself alone and abandoned in Auschwitz. Decades later, Karel carries his regrets to Sydney where he and his family try to make a new life for themselves.
Despite her devotion to the family, Karel's wife is a troubled woman, haunted by a secret that will not leave her. Meanwhile, the couple's daughter continues to reel from her husband's infidelities as, unbeknownst to any of them, their cherished granddaughter becomes more and more entangled with her married boss.
Outwardly harmonious, this is a fractured family whose lives are built on foundations of lies and deceptions—foundations that threaten to completely collapse as old transgressions re-emerge in the lead up to a long-awaited family wedding. Inspired by a true story of wartime betrayal, The Deceptions is a searing, compassionate tale of love and regret within a family whose secrets might better be left alone.
288 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2020
12 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Leal
9 books64 followersI'm the author of novels THE WATCHFUL WIFE, RUNNING WITH IVAN, THE DECEPTIONS, THE TEACHER'S SECRET and BORDER STREET.
A regular interviewer and presenter at literary events and festivals, I was the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards from 2017 to 2019 and am now a board director of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. I'm also a lawyer with a background in child protection, criminal law and refugee law. I'm also the weekly host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly place to chat about books online, To join us, sign up (for free) on my website:www.suzanneleal.com.
I live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, David, my four children, a Japanese Spitz called Milly and a cat we accidentally acquired called Leo,
A regular interviewer and presenter at literary events and festivals, I was the senior judge for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards from 2017 to 2019 and am now a board director of BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival. I'm also a lawyer with a background in child protection, criminal law and refugee law. I'm also the weekly host of Thursday Book Club, a relaxed, friendly place to chat about books online, To join us, sign up (for free) on my website:www.suzanneleal.com.
I live in Sydney, Australia with my husband, David, my four children, a Japanese Spitz called Milly and a cat we accidentally acquired called Leo,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
March 30, 2024
I am always pleasantly surprised when I read a historical fiction novel that I love. This is what happened with The Deceptions. I was quickly catching up on this author’s work as I interviewed Suzanne Leal at a library event. This book was easy to read despite the heavy themes, which was an intergenerational tale beginning in 1943 at a Jewish ghetto.
Beginning in World War 2 where a young Jewish girl was defenseless to enter a liaison with a young Czech gendarme, having lifelong consequences for so many. The scenes in this harsh world were remarkable, the desperation, the friendship and the awfulness were all as strong as each other.
Then skip ahead to present day with families joining in marriage, with Australia the back drop of both sides. This merging has unexpected consequences for everyone involved.
One of the most interesting and complex intricacies of this book was unexpected and clever (this is where I love author’s creativity and pose the question to myself ‘how do they come up with this?’) regarding the gendarme’s wife, who was troubled, and the marriage was strained from the outset.
Another present day topic is a granddaughter grappling with her choice of an intimacy with a married man and the trajectory this is taking her, and the way this effecting her state of mind. The way we intimately feel her is remarkable; so many characters drawn out so effortlessly but very sincerely.
Weddings are happy occasions and this young Jewish girl as a mature woman must choose how to deal with deceptions, the truths covered up over the span of lifetimes for the sake of a happy family.
One character which had some issues of her own was Ruth, the Protestant Minister who has seen a lot over the years but has been thrown by a part of this story. The relationship with her father was beautiful who was in deteriorating health was a nice part of the story, his wisdom still evident despite his body failing via Parkinson’s disease. Ruth was a smaller part, which I noticed and would have liked more. We touched on a character of another refugee cohort as well as the carer of Ruth’s father who was another welcomed strand.
From the German treatment of their charges and the survival of the lucky ones, to the modern-day dramas of relationships, and the holding of truths to assist in the greater good of the family, this book has so much body and depth which was told gently while quietly compelling. Many issues are here though unforced and still very easy reading. I was thoroughly absorbed.
I was taken with the narration, performed by Zoe Carides, this read as a BBC stage play, particularly engrossing when young Hana was reflecting back on her life in the ghetto as her mother told her what she must do to survive. I listened to this via the Cloud Library platform and my public library.
Recommended to those who enjoy historical novels and conversely contemporary themes as this gives both in abundance.
Beginning in World War 2 where a young Jewish girl was defenseless to enter a liaison with a young Czech gendarme, having lifelong consequences for so many. The scenes in this harsh world were remarkable, the desperation, the friendship and the awfulness were all as strong as each other.
Then skip ahead to present day with families joining in marriage, with Australia the back drop of both sides. This merging has unexpected consequences for everyone involved.
One of the most interesting and complex intricacies of this book was unexpected and clever (this is where I love author’s creativity and pose the question to myself ‘how do they come up with this?’) regarding the gendarme’s wife, who was troubled, and the marriage was strained from the outset.
Another present day topic is a granddaughter grappling with her choice of an intimacy with a married man and the trajectory this is taking her, and the way this effecting her state of mind. The way we intimately feel her is remarkable; so many characters drawn out so effortlessly but very sincerely.
Weddings are happy occasions and this young Jewish girl as a mature woman must choose how to deal with deceptions, the truths covered up over the span of lifetimes for the sake of a happy family.
One character which had some issues of her own was Ruth, the Protestant Minister who has seen a lot over the years but has been thrown by a part of this story. The relationship with her father was beautiful who was in deteriorating health was a nice part of the story, his wisdom still evident despite his body failing via Parkinson’s disease. Ruth was a smaller part, which I noticed and would have liked more. We touched on a character of another refugee cohort as well as the carer of Ruth’s father who was another welcomed strand.
From the German treatment of their charges and the survival of the lucky ones, to the modern-day dramas of relationships, and the holding of truths to assist in the greater good of the family, this book has so much body and depth which was told gently while quietly compelling. Many issues are here though unforced and still very easy reading. I was thoroughly absorbed.
I was taken with the narration, performed by Zoe Carides, this read as a BBC stage play, particularly engrossing when young Hana was reflecting back on her life in the ghetto as her mother told her what she must do to survive. I listened to this via the Cloud Library platform and my public library.
Recommended to those who enjoy historical novels and conversely contemporary themes as this gives both in abundance.
April 18, 2020
A story of the present and the past colliding, survival, loss and lies. What a compelling story of deception! I found this an incredible story, it was well written and very moving.
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal is the the story of a young Jewish woman Hana who is a holocaust survivor.
Hana is taken from her home in Praque to be imprisoned at a Jewish ghetto just outside Praque where one of the guards named Karel takes a liking to her. Hana accepts his advances only hoping for protection and to avoid transportation to Auschwitz.
The story is set in two timelines Praque 1943 and Sydney 2010, WWII times and modern day Australia.
Decades later Hana and Karel’s paths cross, at what cost will their secrets stay buried?
A great read that will keep you guessing up until the end. This story was inspired by a true wartime story.
I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for an advanced copy of the book to read in return for an honest review
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal is the the story of a young Jewish woman Hana who is a holocaust survivor.
Hana is taken from her home in Praque to be imprisoned at a Jewish ghetto just outside Praque where one of the guards named Karel takes a liking to her. Hana accepts his advances only hoping for protection and to avoid transportation to Auschwitz.
The story is set in two timelines Praque 1943 and Sydney 2010, WWII times and modern day Australia.
Decades later Hana and Karel’s paths cross, at what cost will their secrets stay buried?
A great read that will keep you guessing up until the end. This story was inspired by a true wartime story.
I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for an advanced copy of the book to read in return for an honest review
May 9, 2020
The Deceptions is the third novel by Australian lawyer and author, Suzanne Leal. Once a gendarme of the Provincial Detachment of Bohemia, Czech émigré Karel Kruta is living out his later years in Sydney with Irena, his wife of almost seventy years. Karl, as he calls himself now, spends a lot of time in his garden, tending vegetables and thinking back to 1943, to his days guarding a group of Jewish women digging the garden at Terezin (Theresienstadt), and to one woman in particular: Hana Lederova.
Hana was a fairly naïve young woman who’d had a sheltered upbringing. She had a certain poise, though, and Karel, an unsophisticated farmer’s son, was bedazzled. Before her parents were taken to Auschwitz, Hana’s mother had given her some quite unexpected advice about staying alive, so she cultivated Karel’s ardent, artless love: he gave her kindness and food. But when she received that dreaded slip of paper, where was he?
The German invasion had wrenched her from her comfortable existence in Prague as the daughter of a dentist; “Sara” was inserted into her name by the SS. As Hana Sara Lederova, she was transported to Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, Kurzbach, then a Death March to Gross Rosen and Bergen Belsen.
Settling in England after liberation, she was happy to abandon those names and the awful memories they conjured. Now a widow in her late eighties, she is careful not to let her thoughts stray to the events of her twenties. How could she predict that a family wedding would return the horror to centre stage?
Four narrative strands carry the story: the events of the 1940s are related by Karel and Hana; seventy years on, their voices are joined by Ruth, a church minister, and Tessa, Karel’s granddaughter. The back-cover blurb is a little misleading (that family wedding does not even merit a mention until 60 pages from the end) and the reader is advised to exercise patience to learn how the tenuous links between the characters slowly realise significance.
Hana’s story certainly takes a refreshingly different tone from that of many of the currently circulating Holocaust stories: her voice feels authentic and realistic. Leal does seem to try to fit quite a lot into this novel: as well as the adultery, the secrets and guilt, there are fleeting glimpses of dementia and political refugees.
There are no stereotypes among the characters: all have strengths and weaknesses, good qualities and very human flaws. More of Ruth’s story would have been welcome. And maybe less of Tessa’s affair. Inspired by stories told by Holocaust survivors, this is a moving and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
Hana was a fairly naïve young woman who’d had a sheltered upbringing. She had a certain poise, though, and Karel, an unsophisticated farmer’s son, was bedazzled. Before her parents were taken to Auschwitz, Hana’s mother had given her some quite unexpected advice about staying alive, so she cultivated Karel’s ardent, artless love: he gave her kindness and food. But when she received that dreaded slip of paper, where was he?
The German invasion had wrenched her from her comfortable existence in Prague as the daughter of a dentist; “Sara” was inserted into her name by the SS. As Hana Sara Lederova, she was transported to Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, Kurzbach, then a Death March to Gross Rosen and Bergen Belsen.
Settling in England after liberation, she was happy to abandon those names and the awful memories they conjured. Now a widow in her late eighties, she is careful not to let her thoughts stray to the events of her twenties. How could she predict that a family wedding would return the horror to centre stage?
Four narrative strands carry the story: the events of the 1940s are related by Karel and Hana; seventy years on, their voices are joined by Ruth, a church minister, and Tessa, Karel’s granddaughter. The back-cover blurb is a little misleading (that family wedding does not even merit a mention until 60 pages from the end) and the reader is advised to exercise patience to learn how the tenuous links between the characters slowly realise significance.
Hana’s story certainly takes a refreshingly different tone from that of many of the currently circulating Holocaust stories: her voice feels authentic and realistic. Leal does seem to try to fit quite a lot into this novel: as well as the adultery, the secrets and guilt, there are fleeting glimpses of dementia and political refugees.
There are no stereotypes among the characters: all have strengths and weaknesses, good qualities and very human flaws. More of Ruth’s story would have been welcome. And maybe less of Tessa’s affair. Inspired by stories told by Holocaust survivors, this is a moving and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin.
April 5, 2020
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
Online Book Tour Review
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal is about the lines of concealment, truth and lies. It is an all-consuming tale, that begs the reader to consider the impact of the war, the cost of survival and secrets, with an overarching link to morality. This novel quietly made its way deep into my consciousness and ever since I closed the final page of The Deceptions, I have been contemplating the divisive character dilemmas Leal’s book presents.
The Deceptions deftly negotiates two separate time frames. We are plunged into the depths of Europe in World War II, and then thrown into Australian life, just a decade ago. This integral tale considers long held infractions, marked truths and the toll of a life carefully crafted on false realities. The story begins with Hana Lederova, a young woman who is removed from her home in Prague and transported to a Jewish Ghetto. This crippling and prescriptive confine strips Hana of her liberty. To help safeguard her against a transfer to a concentration camp, Hana befriends a guard, who initially provides Hanna with support, but his intentions are not honourable. Hana will be issued with the biggest test of her life following this acquaintance. The Deceptions transitions to Sydney in 2010, where we meet a Tessa, a woman negotiating the consequences of an illicit affair with her superior. Meanwhile, Tessa’s grandmother Irena has a dark secret that is eating at her. Irena knows that in finally exposing this long held secret, she risks breaking her family’s heart and their collective identity. Simultaneously balancing the depths of love with duplicity, The Deceptions is a remarkable piece of historical fiction, which is guided by a true act of survival during World War II.
From teachers to the war, The Deceptions marks my second outing with author Suzanne Leal. Back in 2016, I really enjoyed Leal’s aptly titled novel, The Teacher’s Secret. As a teacher myself I found much to appreciate in this story. Leal’s latest offering is another novel that lives up to its title. The Deceptions is a book that examines the cost of living a life marred by lies and deceit. Secrets also form a significant component of the novel, as the characters navigate a hidden family mystery. I was visibly moved by the story and the moral conflicts The Deceptions presented. I think this novel will stay with me for some time to come.
It is worth noting that the historical aspect of The Deceptions is inspired by the true experiences of a lived wartime past. Leal pays tribute to this aspect of her novel in her Author’s Note.
‘Although a work of fiction, with all characters imagined rather than real, The Deceptions was inspired by a story told to me by the late Fred (Bedrich) Perger.
Just out of university, I rented a duplex in the beachside Sydney suburb of Tamarama. My Landlords, Fred Perger and Eva Perger (nee Fischerova), lived beside me and over the next six years we became very close. Czech –born and Jewish, Fred and Eva were also Holocaust survivors.
Fred’s wartime memories formed the basis of my first novel, Border Street, and for a year, Fred and I met weekly over coffee to record his stories.’
I think it is important to value this aspect of The Deceptions and I have to say that my awareness of this aspect of the story added further weight to this consuming tale. Leal is loyal to the subjects in which she bases this story on. The Deceptions is an authentic, honest, resolute and unwavering novel. The world building is a sight to behold, it is incredibly vivid and penetrating. There is realness to all the wartime sequences that assisted me to play out the scenes in this book in my head with clarity, but also fear. I was struck by the horrific fight for survival and cruelness of the world in which the protagonists in the past faced. And just when I thought I had a good handle on the Holocaust, I was issued with yet another appalling, but pertinent history of this atrocious time. I think it is important that we acknowledge these histories, not matter how hard it may be to swallow.
The modern day sequences based in Sydney are clearly realised on the pages of The Deceptions. Though not quite as moving as the wartime episodes, this aspect of the narrative still provides the reader with an important set of issues and moral puzzles to solve. There is a piercing looking into our way of life and above all, how decisions in the past can have implications for years to come on the descendants of those who lived during war time. It is often hard to acknowledge that events in wartime Prague would still be felt so many years down the line in Australia. These remarkable bonds and wires of deception are eventually set free in the lasting moments of this sensitive text.
I really appreciated Leal’s approach to her characters. No matter the time frame or situation, each protagonist was expanded to their optimum. At first, it is hard to join the dots with the characters and their related experiences may seem disconnected. However, it you remain loyal to this novel and persist, the final links are more than startling. I have a great deal of admiration for Leal’s presentation of her characters, along with their accompanying backstories.
The Deceptions is a novel that completely revolves around the art of deception. This story considers the long lasting effects of a decision that was made to conceal personal trauma and protect future generations from possible harm and emotional upheaval. It is also about safeguarding the past, preserving personal honour, burying difficult times, conserving existence and minimising guilt. Leal also ties in a set of sub plots that looks carefully at connections, marriage, relationships, adultery, family, regret, lust and above all, love. Many of these themes made their mark on me, but what I was able to pull from The Deceptions was the emphasis on the delicate nature of life and the will to overcome challenges, in a time of complete chaos. In today’s pressing times, this is an essential message from the past to consider.
Enthralling, shocking, revealing and pertinent, Suzanne Leal’s The Deceptions is a staple read, that reminds us of the true cost of war. Highly recommended to all.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Deceptions is book #36 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
4.5 stars
Online Book Tour Review
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal is about the lines of concealment, truth and lies. It is an all-consuming tale, that begs the reader to consider the impact of the war, the cost of survival and secrets, with an overarching link to morality. This novel quietly made its way deep into my consciousness and ever since I closed the final page of The Deceptions, I have been contemplating the divisive character dilemmas Leal’s book presents.
The Deceptions deftly negotiates two separate time frames. We are plunged into the depths of Europe in World War II, and then thrown into Australian life, just a decade ago. This integral tale considers long held infractions, marked truths and the toll of a life carefully crafted on false realities. The story begins with Hana Lederova, a young woman who is removed from her home in Prague and transported to a Jewish Ghetto. This crippling and prescriptive confine strips Hana of her liberty. To help safeguard her against a transfer to a concentration camp, Hana befriends a guard, who initially provides Hanna with support, but his intentions are not honourable. Hana will be issued with the biggest test of her life following this acquaintance. The Deceptions transitions to Sydney in 2010, where we meet a Tessa, a woman negotiating the consequences of an illicit affair with her superior. Meanwhile, Tessa’s grandmother Irena has a dark secret that is eating at her. Irena knows that in finally exposing this long held secret, she risks breaking her family’s heart and their collective identity. Simultaneously balancing the depths of love with duplicity, The Deceptions is a remarkable piece of historical fiction, which is guided by a true act of survival during World War II.
From teachers to the war, The Deceptions marks my second outing with author Suzanne Leal. Back in 2016, I really enjoyed Leal’s aptly titled novel, The Teacher’s Secret. As a teacher myself I found much to appreciate in this story. Leal’s latest offering is another novel that lives up to its title. The Deceptions is a book that examines the cost of living a life marred by lies and deceit. Secrets also form a significant component of the novel, as the characters navigate a hidden family mystery. I was visibly moved by the story and the moral conflicts The Deceptions presented. I think this novel will stay with me for some time to come.
It is worth noting that the historical aspect of The Deceptions is inspired by the true experiences of a lived wartime past. Leal pays tribute to this aspect of her novel in her Author’s Note.
‘Although a work of fiction, with all characters imagined rather than real, The Deceptions was inspired by a story told to me by the late Fred (Bedrich) Perger.
Just out of university, I rented a duplex in the beachside Sydney suburb of Tamarama. My Landlords, Fred Perger and Eva Perger (nee Fischerova), lived beside me and over the next six years we became very close. Czech –born and Jewish, Fred and Eva were also Holocaust survivors.
Fred’s wartime memories formed the basis of my first novel, Border Street, and for a year, Fred and I met weekly over coffee to record his stories.’
I think it is important to value this aspect of The Deceptions and I have to say that my awareness of this aspect of the story added further weight to this consuming tale. Leal is loyal to the subjects in which she bases this story on. The Deceptions is an authentic, honest, resolute and unwavering novel. The world building is a sight to behold, it is incredibly vivid and penetrating. There is realness to all the wartime sequences that assisted me to play out the scenes in this book in my head with clarity, but also fear. I was struck by the horrific fight for survival and cruelness of the world in which the protagonists in the past faced. And just when I thought I had a good handle on the Holocaust, I was issued with yet another appalling, but pertinent history of this atrocious time. I think it is important that we acknowledge these histories, not matter how hard it may be to swallow.
The modern day sequences based in Sydney are clearly realised on the pages of The Deceptions. Though not quite as moving as the wartime episodes, this aspect of the narrative still provides the reader with an important set of issues and moral puzzles to solve. There is a piercing looking into our way of life and above all, how decisions in the past can have implications for years to come on the descendants of those who lived during war time. It is often hard to acknowledge that events in wartime Prague would still be felt so many years down the line in Australia. These remarkable bonds and wires of deception are eventually set free in the lasting moments of this sensitive text.
I really appreciated Leal’s approach to her characters. No matter the time frame or situation, each protagonist was expanded to their optimum. At first, it is hard to join the dots with the characters and their related experiences may seem disconnected. However, it you remain loyal to this novel and persist, the final links are more than startling. I have a great deal of admiration for Leal’s presentation of her characters, along with their accompanying backstories.
The Deceptions is a novel that completely revolves around the art of deception. This story considers the long lasting effects of a decision that was made to conceal personal trauma and protect future generations from possible harm and emotional upheaval. It is also about safeguarding the past, preserving personal honour, burying difficult times, conserving existence and minimising guilt. Leal also ties in a set of sub plots that looks carefully at connections, marriage, relationships, adultery, family, regret, lust and above all, love. Many of these themes made their mark on me, but what I was able to pull from The Deceptions was the emphasis on the delicate nature of life and the will to overcome challenges, in a time of complete chaos. In today’s pressing times, this is an essential message from the past to consider.
Enthralling, shocking, revealing and pertinent, Suzanne Leal’s The Deceptions is a staple read, that reminds us of the true cost of war. Highly recommended to all.
*Thanks extended to Allen & Unwin for providing a free copy of this book for review purposes.
The Deceptions is book #36 of the 2020 Australian Women Writers Challenge
March 31, 2020
The Deceptions is a stunning novel. On the one hand, it documents an incredible story of survival, and indeed, at the end of the book, the author deftly separates fact from fiction for the reader and elaborates on her source of inspiration. The other aspect to this novel is the intimate exploration of human nature and human relationships. Taken together, the result is a deeply moving and well articulated work of fiction.
At the beginning of the novel, we meet Hana as an old woman. Beneath her sarcastic wit are layers of pain and a legacy of reinvention. Hana takes us back to her experiences during the Holocaust. We aren’t privy to why she is recounting this to us; that’s to come. Hana’s story cuts to the quick, not just for what she endures, but for the way in which her story is told. Devoid of dramatic overture and thankfully all aspects of romance, the impact is all the more profound. There is much in what Hana tells us but even more in what she doesn’t. I became particularly invested in the friendship between Hana and Eliska, and the three other women who make up their ‘five’. This is not the type of Holocaust fiction that readers have encountered in recent years through commercial fiction: heroic, romanticised, palatable stories of ‘beating the odds’ and ‘willing survival’. No. This is so much more truthful and consequently, so much more painful, yet far more appreciated – by this reader, anyway!
Hana is not the only narrator within this novel. There is also Karel, the Czech gendarme who was Hana’s guard in Theresienstadt, his granddaughter Tessa, and Ruth, a minister of the church Karel’s family attends. Some of these connections to Hana are obvious – Karel, for example, but others are less so and these connections evolve as the novel progresses. The connectedness of these characters drives home the point of how far reaching the Holocaust was, and more pointedly, how it continues to be so. Holocaust survivors settled all over the world after liberation, but the wire that connects them all has no end; the connections are imprinted and passed down through the generations. To my mind, this is the most important ‘take home’ message from this novel. And it really is a thought-provoking novel in every sense of the notion.
This is my first taste of Suzanne Leal’s writing and I very much like what I have now experienced. There is a crispness to her prose that gives an unflinchingly honest representation. She has an ability to draw you in, as though her story is a pool of water, her words beckoning you to slip below the surface, despite the murky depths that await you. Questions of morality abound, particularly when it comes to truth and consequence. You know that expression, ‘heart in my mouth’? That’s how I felt right the way through reading this novel. As though I was on the verge, breathless, awaiting what was to come with my heart in my mouth. Just brilliant, fiction at its best.
Thanks is extended to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Deceptions for review and for the invitation to be a part of their blog tour.
At the beginning of the novel, we meet Hana as an old woman. Beneath her sarcastic wit are layers of pain and a legacy of reinvention. Hana takes us back to her experiences during the Holocaust. We aren’t privy to why she is recounting this to us; that’s to come. Hana’s story cuts to the quick, not just for what she endures, but for the way in which her story is told. Devoid of dramatic overture and thankfully all aspects of romance, the impact is all the more profound. There is much in what Hana tells us but even more in what she doesn’t. I became particularly invested in the friendship between Hana and Eliska, and the three other women who make up their ‘five’. This is not the type of Holocaust fiction that readers have encountered in recent years through commercial fiction: heroic, romanticised, palatable stories of ‘beating the odds’ and ‘willing survival’. No. This is so much more truthful and consequently, so much more painful, yet far more appreciated – by this reader, anyway!
Hana is not the only narrator within this novel. There is also Karel, the Czech gendarme who was Hana’s guard in Theresienstadt, his granddaughter Tessa, and Ruth, a minister of the church Karel’s family attends. Some of these connections to Hana are obvious – Karel, for example, but others are less so and these connections evolve as the novel progresses. The connectedness of these characters drives home the point of how far reaching the Holocaust was, and more pointedly, how it continues to be so. Holocaust survivors settled all over the world after liberation, but the wire that connects them all has no end; the connections are imprinted and passed down through the generations. To my mind, this is the most important ‘take home’ message from this novel. And it really is a thought-provoking novel in every sense of the notion.
This is my first taste of Suzanne Leal’s writing and I very much like what I have now experienced. There is a crispness to her prose that gives an unflinchingly honest representation. She has an ability to draw you in, as though her story is a pool of water, her words beckoning you to slip below the surface, despite the murky depths that await you. Questions of morality abound, particularly when it comes to truth and consequence. You know that expression, ‘heart in my mouth’? That’s how I felt right the way through reading this novel. As though I was on the verge, breathless, awaiting what was to come with my heart in my mouth. Just brilliant, fiction at its best.
Thanks is extended to Allen & Unwin for providing me with a copy of The Deceptions for review and for the invitation to be a part of their blog tour.
May 3, 2020
Thank you to Allen & Unwin for this ARC to read and review.
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal had me a bit confused at points about what was going on and how all these people in the story fit together. Chapters switched between 1943 and 2010 with a few different characters point of views. At the end the pieces fell into place and everything made sense.
This made it an interesting read as I had to keep going to answer my questions.
I find books set during the wartime very intriguing to be taken back to that time and hear the lengths people had to go to to survive.
Lies and deceptions run throughout as Hana, a young Jewish woman, does what she can to leave her old torturous life of Jewish camps behind and survive in the after war, world.
In the end will it all come out or will secrets be kept hidden that is the question. Read it to find out. It is worth it.
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal had me a bit confused at points about what was going on and how all these people in the story fit together. Chapters switched between 1943 and 2010 with a few different characters point of views. At the end the pieces fell into place and everything made sense.
This made it an interesting read as I had to keep going to answer my questions.
I find books set during the wartime very intriguing to be taken back to that time and hear the lengths people had to go to to survive.
Lies and deceptions run throughout as Hana, a young Jewish woman, does what she can to leave her old torturous life of Jewish camps behind and survive in the after war, world.
In the end will it all come out or will secrets be kept hidden that is the question. Read it to find out. It is worth it.
May 22, 2020
What a deception. It’s true, it is an absolutely compelling story. I got so much out of it. For me it’s that you can be deceptive, to yourself as much as everybody else but the lies are still there. It’s a busy story, there are multiple characters and storylines but I found it so easy to keep them straight, they’re all so different from one another. I thought the central themes of truth and consequences to be so interesting. The lies we tell and the cost of this survival. The writing was so well done. Images and moral dilemmas I know I’ll be pondering over for a long time to come. I wasn’t surprised to all to read this experience of the Holocaust mirrors that of real people. I’ll definitely be reading Border Street.
I definitely made a connection between European Jews and Iranian refugees. The way we’ve just watched. But that might just be my guilt. This is a very moving, powerful novel.
I definitely made a connection between European Jews and Iranian refugees. The way we’ve just watched. But that might just be my guilt. This is a very moving, powerful novel.
March 6, 2020
A moving novel that sensitively explores the actions we take in desperate times, as well as the unintended consequences of those actions long into the future.
July 23, 2020
Suzanne Leal does an excellent job of interweaving four(+) lives over seventy years in an engaging style that is both lyrical and satisfying.
April 13, 2020
3 stars
In 1943 Hana Lederová and her parents are forced to leave their home in Prague and are imprisoned in Theresiensdadt, a Jewish ghetto. When Czech gendarme Karel Kruta starts showing a special interest in her, her mother tells her to do whatever is necessary to stay alive. A task that becomes more easily said than done when Karel suddenly disappears from the ghetto and Hana is transported to a concentration camp. In 2010, Tessa is having an affair with her married boss. It all seems like a bit of fun until she meets someone who could just be the one. But she isn’t the only one in her family that is keeping secrets. Her grandmother Irena also has a secret that has haunted for her decades and one that not even a death bed confession will absolve her of.
As the stories of Hana, Karel, Tessa and Irena intertwine, a modern day connection develops that ultimately reveals a horrific deception.
The Deceptions is a work of fiction based on a true story from World War II. Written in alternating voices and time periods, the plot jumps back and forward between 1943-1945 and 2010-2011. This sets the scene well to build up the characters and to let the plot slowly expand and build to the ultimate revealing of the deception from 1943 which threatens to destroy a modern day event.
The writing is very good and very descriptive; the characters are interesting and complex and it’s clear that much research has gone into the work. Whilst it was a slow burn for me; I can also say that the suspense of what the deception/Irena’s death bed confession was built so well that I did not pick it at all.
The Deceptions is a book for those who enjoy historical fiction and plots in dual time lines. Thanks to @happyvalley_booksread and @mrsb_book_reviews for the recommendation.
To see what else I’m reading and to play along with my Book Bingo, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
In 1943 Hana Lederová and her parents are forced to leave their home in Prague and are imprisoned in Theresiensdadt, a Jewish ghetto. When Czech gendarme Karel Kruta starts showing a special interest in her, her mother tells her to do whatever is necessary to stay alive. A task that becomes more easily said than done when Karel suddenly disappears from the ghetto and Hana is transported to a concentration camp. In 2010, Tessa is having an affair with her married boss. It all seems like a bit of fun until she meets someone who could just be the one. But she isn’t the only one in her family that is keeping secrets. Her grandmother Irena also has a secret that has haunted for her decades and one that not even a death bed confession will absolve her of.
As the stories of Hana, Karel, Tessa and Irena intertwine, a modern day connection develops that ultimately reveals a horrific deception.
The Deceptions is a work of fiction based on a true story from World War II. Written in alternating voices and time periods, the plot jumps back and forward between 1943-1945 and 2010-2011. This sets the scene well to build up the characters and to let the plot slowly expand and build to the ultimate revealing of the deception from 1943 which threatens to destroy a modern day event.
The writing is very good and very descriptive; the characters are interesting and complex and it’s clear that much research has gone into the work. Whilst it was a slow burn for me; I can also say that the suspense of what the deception/Irena’s death bed confession was built so well that I did not pick it at all.
The Deceptions is a book for those who enjoy historical fiction and plots in dual time lines. Thanks to @happyvalley_booksread and @mrsb_book_reviews for the recommendation.
To see what else I’m reading and to play along with my Book Bingo, go to #ktbookbingo and @kt_elder on Instagram.
April 7, 2020
Thank you to the wonderful team at Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
I very much enjoyed this book. I was really intrigued throughout and constantly trying to guess what the secrets could be. I enjoyed the alternating point of views and going between the 1940’s in Europe and 2010 in Australia and was always kept guessing as to how they were connected. The author also did an incredible job to portray the hell Hana goes through for survival.
This book is full of secrets, betrayal and determination. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy books on WWII.
I very much enjoyed this book. I was really intrigued throughout and constantly trying to guess what the secrets could be. I enjoyed the alternating point of views and going between the 1940’s in Europe and 2010 in Australia and was always kept guessing as to how they were connected. The author also did an incredible job to portray the hell Hana goes through for survival.
This book is full of secrets, betrayal and determination. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy books on WWII.
April 17, 2020
I had heard really good things about this book so was keen to read it. I'm a big fan of WW2 novels. I don't know why, but I enjoy reading them, even though the word "enjoy" probably isn't the right word to use. I guess I'm very curious about how these people survived the camps and the horrific conditions they had to endure.
This novel was no different.. loosely based on fact, I flew through this in a sitting. It was a little slow to start and took me awhile to get into it, but the deception revealed at the end was quite shocking (no spoilers).. and had me madly turning the pages.
Very well written, I give this one 4 stars. Thanks to my friend Katie for loaning me her copy and to Happy Valley Books read, Mrs B and Debbish for recommending this one ...
If you're a fan of WW2 novels then you should put this on your list..
This novel was no different.. loosely based on fact, I flew through this in a sitting. It was a little slow to start and took me awhile to get into it, but the deception revealed at the end was quite shocking (no spoilers).. and had me madly turning the pages.
Very well written, I give this one 4 stars. Thanks to my friend Katie for loaning me her copy and to Happy Valley Books read, Mrs B and Debbish for recommending this one ...
If you're a fan of WW2 novels then you should put this on your list..
October 1, 2020
Prague 1943: Hana Lederová is on the verge of womanhood when her life is changed forever. She and her parents are sent to the Jewish ghetto, Theresienstadt. Here her mother implores her to do whatever it takes to stay safe in a world gone mad. When a young Czech gendarme pays her attention, Hana knows she must endure his affection in order to eat, yes, but also to avoid the dreaded train trip to the east from where no one ever returns. Except protection is a fragile thing and the fate that awaits Hana is far worse than anything she has ever imagined.
In modern day Sydney, Tessa is struggling to extricate herself from an affair with her married boss that is threatening to ruin her career and her private life. When she meets Jonathon, finally she sees a future that promises love, not manipulation. How could she ever know that marrying a man like Jonathon would cause everything she knew about her family to unravel?
World War II changed the lives of so many people. It is a period in history defined by loss, horror and terrible choices. For all the wrong reasons, it is a rich seam of material that allows us to examine the worst of human nature but also the best; resilience, courage, hope. The Deceptions is a finely wrought novel about the terrible choices faced by people under enormous duress. It explores a complex and extraordinary web of betrayal and examines lives lived mired in regret. Yet, Suzanne Leal does all of this with tenderness and care for her characters. Just as in her bestselling novel The Teacher’s Secret, Leal’s empathy draws the reader in close, showing both the horror and the beauty, the burden of past mistakes and the lightness of forgiveness. The Deceptions is a delicately poised novel that ultimately affirms our ability to transcend the worst in human nature and find hope.
In modern day Sydney, Tessa is struggling to extricate herself from an affair with her married boss that is threatening to ruin her career and her private life. When she meets Jonathon, finally she sees a future that promises love, not manipulation. How could she ever know that marrying a man like Jonathon would cause everything she knew about her family to unravel?
World War II changed the lives of so many people. It is a period in history defined by loss, horror and terrible choices. For all the wrong reasons, it is a rich seam of material that allows us to examine the worst of human nature but also the best; resilience, courage, hope. The Deceptions is a finely wrought novel about the terrible choices faced by people under enormous duress. It explores a complex and extraordinary web of betrayal and examines lives lived mired in regret. Yet, Suzanne Leal does all of this with tenderness and care for her characters. Just as in her bestselling novel The Teacher’s Secret, Leal’s empathy draws the reader in close, showing both the horror and the beauty, the burden of past mistakes and the lightness of forgiveness. The Deceptions is a delicately poised novel that ultimately affirms our ability to transcend the worst in human nature and find hope.
July 1, 2020
This book is the latest for me in a long line of Holocaust survival stories. But it's one that touches this reader on a deeper level than many, partly because of its present day Australian subplots and partly because of the harrrowing detail, physical and emotional, of Hana's journey from one terrible camp to the next, until her eventual liberation, after the deaths of her family and one by one, her small group of women friends. The small kindnesses between the women and the love Hana shares in the darkest moments with her closest friend are beautifully conveyed in short tense scenes of high tension. The nuanced relationships within the families of both main characters, Hana, and her would-be lover, the gendarme Karel, extend three generations, and in a clever juggling act, interconnect near the end. No plot spoilers, but suffice to say, there is a big twist near the end that leads to a moral dilemma, which also plays out satisfyingly. Part thriller, part wartime saga, part family psychological drama, The Deceptions is a mature and meaningful work that had me gripped from the first chapters, and will stay with me for a long time.
August 1, 2024
So as you read earlier I thought it was more Holocaust survivor story but it was so much more! I felt it was more about our characters, Hana, Irena, Karel and Tessas’, relationships with others and most importantly themselves than a WW2 novel. It didn’t delve deep into the labour and concentration camps like most WW2 books do which was refreshing. I guessed on page 3 that our characters would somehow be connected however I didn’t see that ending. Wow what an ending, it was seriously intense. The title deception is very befitting for this novel as there are a multitude of secrets uncovered throughout the book. The only one negative thought I had was that I didn’t quite feel like Ruth’s chapters needed to be an entire POV. Overall a well written book about the depths people will go to to survive and to continue surviving!
January 28, 2021
An excellent book by a talented writer. The various times and viewpoints are handled in a masterly fashion. Each character which is a 'supporting actor' still has their own, very believable, story arc, and they are very fleshed out characters with hopes, thoughts, dreams which always feel very authentic. Again, you think you've read every book set in WW2 there is to read, but this book shows that there area always more ripples from the war, affecting always new characters in always new ways. Fresh, readable, and well written.
July 10, 2020
Loved this book from start to finish !!Beautifully written, well researched and a wonderful grouping of characters. Loved the addition of Ruth , her father & the Iranian immigrant (doctor) carer .
Can’t wait to read more books written by Suzanne Leal
Can’t wait to read more books written by Suzanne Leal
July 26, 2020
Rainy day ... tea ... and a story well-told.
September 5, 2020
One of my top reads for this year .. loved it. Highly recommended.
October 29, 2020
What an interesting take on the horrors of WW2. Great read!
November 24, 2020
3.5 stars. Interesting book and great story about truths not told. A different twist on a Holocaust story
February 1, 2021
I found this story very moving, very sad and heartbreaking at times, very powerful too, but brilliantly written, highly recommend
March 23, 2021
A tough subject but very compelling. It kept me riveted until the end.
April 14, 2021
I wondered what the title referred to for a long, long time but the narrative reached another level of excellence towards the end and that made all the difference.
8/10
8/10
May 30, 2020
This Holocaust story explores the complexity of truth. We raise children to always tell the truth, but do so is not as simple as it sounds. Suzanne Leila shows this well by using a cast of characters to tell the story of Hana Lederová, inspired by conversations she had with her neighbours who were Holocaust survivors.
Suzanne devotes each chapter to a character. Hana’s are in the first person; the others in the third person. The other characters are gendarme (one level down from a guard) Karel Kruta, his granddaughter, Tessa, minister of religion Ruth Martin.
The Nazis take Hana, who is Jewish, and her parents to the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia. They live in fear of transport to the ‘east’, although they don’t know it will be to their deaths. The Nazis take Hana’s parents, but before they go, her mother tells Hana to do whatever she needs to survive.
Hana meets gendarme (one level down from a guard) Karel Kruta who brings her coveted gifts such as food. She hopes he will stop the Nazis sending her ‘east’ but she ends up on a train to Auschwitz. She survives and after the war, ends up in London where Robert, a translator, employers her as a housekeeper. They become close and marry.
When Hana’s grandson invites her to his wedding in Sydney in 2010, the pace quickens. She is shocked to meet Karel – now Karl – there. They discover a secret that places them in a dilemma: tell the truth and risk ruining the bride and groom’s lives, or, keep the truth to themselves. Hana is clear is her resolve, but Karel is not.
The disparate well-drawn characters each having their own chapter made the story disjointed at first and took a little getting used to, but Suzanne skillfully and seamlessly ties together the various narrative strands at the end. The high standard of writing propels the story that makes it a pleasure to read.
Anyone interested in the Holocaust, philosophical questions about ‘truth’ or family will enjoy this.
Suzanne devotes each chapter to a character. Hana’s are in the first person; the others in the third person. The other characters are gendarme (one level down from a guard) Karel Kruta, his granddaughter, Tessa, minister of religion Ruth Martin.
The Nazis take Hana, who is Jewish, and her parents to the Theresienstadt ghetto in Czechoslovakia. They live in fear of transport to the ‘east’, although they don’t know it will be to their deaths. The Nazis take Hana’s parents, but before they go, her mother tells Hana to do whatever she needs to survive.
Hana meets gendarme (one level down from a guard) Karel Kruta who brings her coveted gifts such as food. She hopes he will stop the Nazis sending her ‘east’ but she ends up on a train to Auschwitz. She survives and after the war, ends up in London where Robert, a translator, employers her as a housekeeper. They become close and marry.
When Hana’s grandson invites her to his wedding in Sydney in 2010, the pace quickens. She is shocked to meet Karel – now Karl – there. They discover a secret that places them in a dilemma: tell the truth and risk ruining the bride and groom’s lives, or, keep the truth to themselves. Hana is clear is her resolve, but Karel is not.
The disparate well-drawn characters each having their own chapter made the story disjointed at first and took a little getting used to, but Suzanne skillfully and seamlessly ties together the various narrative strands at the end. The high standard of writing propels the story that makes it a pleasure to read.
Anyone interested in the Holocaust, philosophical questions about ‘truth’ or family will enjoy this.
April 7, 2020
Story 📖
This is a story set over multi generations and set between war time Prague and modern day Australia.
1943: Hans is a young Jewish woman that finds herself caught up in World War II and finds herself imprisoned in Theresienstadt where she meets a Czech guard called Karel and their meeting is one they will both live with forever.
2010: Tessa has found herself living in Sydney, Australia and caught up in an unhealthy relationship with someone she works with. She meets another man and their relationship is something that could effect her whole family and no one knows that more than her grandmother, Irene.
Summary 📖
I thought this was such an intriguing read. So many threads that went through this book and the author did an amazing job of looping them all in towards the end of the book.
Reading anything associated with the atrocities that occurred in the camps in World War II is always difficult to read but there were some real beautiful moments of friendship in there also.
Suggestion 📖
I thought this book was really well written and I am glad that I had found this at my local bookshop. I really liked the cover and the book jacket intrigued me. I am someone that does often judge a book by its cover and I’m glad I made a good judgement with this book. Would recommend.
April 13, 2020
4.5 stars
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal is a compelling, vivid and moving portrayal of survival, betrayal and the unintended consequences of concealed truths.
From the very start I was drawn in by expert story telling, engaging characters and an intriguing transition between Prague during WWII and modern day Sydney. I couldn’t help but wonder how these characters were interlinked and what deceptions bound them. There’s an underlying theme of morality and exploration of human nature & human connections, which would make The Deceptions an excellent book club choice with plenty to discuss. The author doesn’t sensationalise the brutality of WWII but provides an intriguing perspective on human relationships in it’s various forms and the unintended consequences of long buried secrets.
The Deceptions is a well paced novel that had me reading until the early morning and I finished it in two sittings. It’s had quite an impact on me and left me thinking about the various characters who seemed so real and the choices that they made. I was emotionally drawn into the unfolding events up until the climactic end and I believe The Deceptions is a must read for everyone.
Huge thanks to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy for review.
The Deceptions by Suzanne Leal is a compelling, vivid and moving portrayal of survival, betrayal and the unintended consequences of concealed truths.
From the very start I was drawn in by expert story telling, engaging characters and an intriguing transition between Prague during WWII and modern day Sydney. I couldn’t help but wonder how these characters were interlinked and what deceptions bound them. There’s an underlying theme of morality and exploration of human nature & human connections, which would make The Deceptions an excellent book club choice with plenty to discuss. The author doesn’t sensationalise the brutality of WWII but provides an intriguing perspective on human relationships in it’s various forms and the unintended consequences of long buried secrets.
The Deceptions is a well paced novel that had me reading until the early morning and I finished it in two sittings. It’s had quite an impact on me and left me thinking about the various characters who seemed so real and the choices that they made. I was emotionally drawn into the unfolding events up until the climactic end and I believe The Deceptions is a must read for everyone.
Huge thanks to Allen & Unwin for providing a copy for review.
April 7, 2020
I can only agree with all the positive comments here on this book driven by the skilful portrayal of the main protagonist, the resilient and pragmatic Hana Lederova who endures the utmost horrors of the Holocaust. If like me, you are hesitant to revisit this troubling territory, take heart - Leal's treatment is neither exploitative nor sentimental but utterly authentic and crafted with such skill and with enough distance to feel safe yet involving.
Such beautiful and deft writing sets Leal apart - it is the perfect blend of literary writing and a well-paced plot that I predict will elevate The Deceptions to best-seller status and be on every book club list this year. It also makes the perfect gift for the housebound reader from Mothers' Day till Christmas.
I listened to this book via Audible.com.au read by Zoe Carides whose masterful and nuanced performance adds a dimension of enjoyment and richness one might expect in film or theatre.
In summary, I predict The Deceptions will be shortlisted for every major award going - definitely a Good Read.
Such beautiful and deft writing sets Leal apart - it is the perfect blend of literary writing and a well-paced plot that I predict will elevate The Deceptions to best-seller status and be on every book club list this year. It also makes the perfect gift for the housebound reader from Mothers' Day till Christmas.
I listened to this book via Audible.com.au read by Zoe Carides whose masterful and nuanced performance adds a dimension of enjoyment and richness one might expect in film or theatre.
In summary, I predict The Deceptions will be shortlisted for every major award going - definitely a Good Read.
April 10, 2020
Sydney based Australian author Suzanne Leal already has two successful novels in the bag, Teacher's Secret and Border St. The Deceptions is a tense and vital story of secrets that started during World War Two, and eventually come home to roost in Sydney in 2010.
Hana Lederova is taken from her home in Prague, eventually finding herself imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto of Theresienstadt where life is an appalling day by day battle to stay alive, and to avoid being transported further East. She attracts the attention of a Czech gendarme and reluctantly accepts his advances as he tries to protect her.
Fast forward to Sydney 2010 and Tessa has been manipulated into an arrangement with her married boss but she wants out but doesn't know how to achieve that. He grandmother Irena also has secrets to hide , which if revealed would send shockwaves across the generations.
The Deceptions is an enthralling read , the characters are real , their stories and secrets are heartbreaking.
Hana Lederova is taken from her home in Prague, eventually finding herself imprisoned in the Jewish ghetto of Theresienstadt where life is an appalling day by day battle to stay alive, and to avoid being transported further East. She attracts the attention of a Czech gendarme and reluctantly accepts his advances as he tries to protect her.
Fast forward to Sydney 2010 and Tessa has been manipulated into an arrangement with her married boss but she wants out but doesn't know how to achieve that. He grandmother Irena also has secrets to hide , which if revealed would send shockwaves across the generations.
The Deceptions is an enthralling read , the characters are real , their stories and secrets are heartbreaking.
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