Fatal Deception

Emerald City #5

by Audrey J. Cole

Still recovering from her brother’s murder, Detective Tess Richards transfers out of Homicide…only to find herself in the center of a deadly undercover operation.
When a young woman is found dead after a hit-and-run, all evidence points to Everchange, a high-profile self-help organization renowned for attracting rich and famous members.

As Tess leaves Homicide to take a job within the Seattle Intelligence Unit, she is quickly sent undercover into the Everchange castle on Whidbey Island. What she finds is not what she expected. Surrounded by celebrities and feel-good teachings, Tess has trouble discerning between truth and deception.

Detective Blake Stephenson’s investigation of the Everchange hit-and-run uncovers evidence of their cult-like connection to murder and human trafficking. Embedded in the castle, Tess confronts Everchange’s leader, Colton Everett, who is not only charming and strikingly attractive, but he and Tess have a history.

As Blake links more deaths to the organization, he works to arrange a rescue mission to help Tess escape. While inside, Tess witnesses the death of a member and fights to untangle Everchange’s web of lies—before her cover is blown with fatal consequences.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 11, 2020

About the author

Audrey J. Cole is a USA TODAY bestselling thriller author. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children. Before writing full time, she worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse for eleven years. She’s also a pilot's daughter.

Reviews

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this series a great deal till now but I've been slogging away at this for 6 days (!!!!) and I'd still only reached 56% which speaks volumes...I just couldn't be bothered to pick it up again. That's mainly because it is set in the midst of a cult on an island. A cult of deluded women....and I hate reading anything like this in all fairness. It just doesn't interest me in the least. I had hoped there wouldn't be too much about it as I wanted to continue the series but it is never-ending....passages like "EverChange helped him to become the best version of himself" or "mindfulness is the practice of observing and controlling your thoughts rather than falling victim to them"........I just glazed over and I find it depressing there are people out there that believe all this sort of guff.
Basically, it's a modern day Playboy Mansion with more brains she's created here. You'd think these nitwits would wonder why it's mainly an island of nubile women who need to seek enlightenment !!
I wasn't too keen at the beginning when Tess was already telling her husband of one week a myriad of lies and keeping things from him. They won't be married long at this rate ! However, when I reached a part where the female guard and her machine-gun was revealed to be a world-famous celebrity chef, I'd seen enough. It is just unbelievable stuff and definitely the worst of this series.
There were some errors: fresh written and not afresh, some sentences lost words like to/a/me and this sentence needed a comma to make sense, too-"Was he a big hiker that you remember ?" Not bad going, though.
I'll pick up the next in this series as long as we will NOT be visiting the poor man's Huge Hefner again !!

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read!!! I could not put this one down. The author captured my interest right from the beginning.

The main character is newlywed Tess Richards. Tess is going undercover for her brand new Intel job investigating human trafficking, false imprisonment and murder. The story moves along at an exciting pace with several twists and turns along the way to keep the momentum.

The author did a nice job portraying the characters, the relationships and the investigation in an easy to follow manner. This was my first book from this author and I look forward to reading more from her. I definitely would recommend this book to those that enjoy a easy to read thriller.

Thank you Hidden Gems for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of this author’s books are good. She has an easy writing style that grips you from the beginning. This is the 5th in this detective series. All of the same detectives are in all of these books, but Tess is front and center in this one. She is sent undercover to a medieval castle on an island to investigate a cult like group that recruits famous people. She is still grieving the loss of her brother and her boyfriend detective, Blake, is now her husband. Detective Adams also makes a showing as well as the detectives’ Bose. This is a quick read and will have you reading her other books!

[❀Heather❀Brown❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having just finished "the Vow" on HBO, I really enjoyed this story even more ~ The Nxivm cult meets the Playboy mansion. Didn't see that twist coming. All I could think about was that beady-eyed deviant KR. Probably my favorite book out of the entire series.

[Judy Churchill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nail biter.

[Caitlyn Wittman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had to be my favourite out of all of the Emerald City books!
I flew through this book constantly craving to continue reading and thinking about it throughout the day.
Tess is a complete bad ass dealing with her own problems while still kicking butt doing her job under cover.
Hoping there will be more added to these series 🤩

[Sandra R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just okay for me. I didn't feel a connection to the main characters as much as I should have. I wasn't a fan of the plot and some of the investigation style and kept putting the book down. Sorry - I love some of this author's other thrillers and have several more of hers to read. The writing style is quite simple and easy to read.

[Sara Howe · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. This would be a great Netflix series. Couldn’t stop reading it!!! Was kinda sad it was over

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

You ever read something and go - this feels misogynistic but you can't really prove it? That's this book. Part of this I believe is my fault as I wasn't aware this was book 6 in a series and I've never read any of the others, so I'm very likely to be missing some major character development of Tess. But as it stands on its own, it is rare I want to grab a main character and shake her while yelling "Please, you cannot possibly be this dumb and annoying at the same time!"

Overall - NOT a standalone book and if you want to enjoy it, I would say you probably need to read the entire series.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the series, yet it's the first one I've read. I got enough of the back story to know that Tess's brother Chris was murdered, and she's still reeling from it emotionally. Tess is a homicide detective but goes undercover to infiltrate a cult and find out its secrets so that law enforcement can raid the place. Whoo boy, does she ever! Some things are as she's been briefed; others are not.
Definitely not for young readers. Lots of violence.

[Shaylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

Should I have kept reading this series even though I didn’t like them? Probably not, but mama didn’t raise no quitter.

P.S. Tragically no Bigfoots in this book, only a couple of kookie cult leaders.

[Amk256 King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely my favourite in this series. Very enjoyable read!

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting plot

Easy quick read, even though it was full of tension. Tessa is a tough character, and trusts her gut. Newly married, she's placed in an undercover operation and can't even contact her spouse. This moves quickly , with deadly results.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Tess Richards takes a new job without informing her husband Detective Blake Stephenson. Tess is having a hard time dealing with the death of her brother a while back and thinks a change will be good for her. Why she doesn’t tell her husband about her new job she is not sure.

Tess’s new job takes her undercover inside a self-help organization, Everchange. A girl is found dead on the street. Her death leads to Everchange. Tess goes undercover as a member of Everchange. Everchange helps people who are dealing with loss.

Everchange has a lot of secrets behind its closed doors. People are dying to get out. If Tess is ever discovered by Everchange then she probably won’t make it out alive. Tess’s husband Blake is trying to find out who killed the girl that leads back to Everchange before the ones in charge finds out why Tess is truly there.

Fatal Deception starts out with a bang and never lets up. It has lots of secrets within its pages. It is filled with action from the first page that keeps the pages rolling. The suspense alone is enough to keep you glued to the pages.

You know whenever I pick up one of the Emerald City Thriller novels then I am hooked right away and I am unable to put it down until I have read the last page. Even now I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this world and to see where Tess and Blake go next. Where will future investigations take them.

I highly recommend Fatal Deception to anyone who likes a good mystery thriller. One click your copy of Fatal Deception today! Be sure to check out the other books in the Emerald City Thriller series.

[Catherine Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Deception
(Emerald City Thriller Book 5)
by Audrey J. Cole

Fatal Deception is Emerald City series book 5, a mystery/thriller. An amazing story with a terrific plot full of chills, intriguing mysteries, excitement, action, and few surprises; that will grab the reader from the first page and continues to build more intrigue and suspense up to the last page. Fatal Deception is well written and is an absolutely riveting book, while each book can be read and enjoyed, as a standalone they work better as part of the series.

Author Ms. Audrey has created a series with wonderful characters; each has become more evolved throughout the series, capturing the characters experiences expertly. Ms. Audrey has a clever vision for building the spooky factor within her books, and blends in the sub-plots into her stories seamlessly, making her book and series very addictive.

I loved Fatal Deception, thank you Ms. Audrey J. Cole for this awesome read. It was such a pleasure to read, that I could not put the book down and I am eager to see what the Ms. Audrey has in store for her readers and characters in the next book. I highly recommend Fatal Deception to anyone who likes a good mystery thriller, also the other books in the Emerald City Thriller series. I am honored to have the opportunity to read this book, by the author for my honest thoughts and feelings about the book, each is receiving a 5-star rating. Well done.

[Sharon Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK REVIEW 📖✨

Just finished the fifth book in The Emerald City series and I think @audreyjcole is a thriller genius! I devoured this story line. I always found the cult influence to be intriguing. What makes a person join a cult to the point where they get brainwashed thinking these beleifs they learn is the right way to live?

Welcome to Everchange where the socialites, celebrities, and influencers of come together to transform their minds under the leadership of Colton Everett. We follow Tess, who transferred out of the homicide unit to join the undercover operation. She is the lead undercover agent who gets into this cult to investigate the recent murder of a woman who escaped and was foud in an alleyway. Still struggling with her brothers death (3rd book), she finds a way to manage her panic attacks and focus on her current mission at the castle, where all the women are being kept.

Will she be able to find out the truth behind Everchange and make it out of there before she becomes the next victim? 🫣

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Deception (Emerald City Thriller #5) was another great read by Audrey J. Cole. Detective Tess Richards is still recovering from her brothers murder. She decides to transfer out of Homicide, but ends up quickly in the center of a deadly undercover operation. A young woman is found dead after a hit-and-run, and it points at Everchange, a high-profile self-help organization. Tess is sent undercover into the Everchange castle while working for the Seattle Intelligence Unit. Tess has trouble discerning between truth and deception. Blake continues to investigate the hit-and-run and starts uncovering lots of evidence of murder and human trafficking. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more by the author.

[Julie Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author manages to grab your attention with the first sentence and you have no clue were you are going to end up until it lets you go with the final words. I love the characters, especially Tess one of the main characters as she is tough and determined but at the same time vulnerable and hurting. This makes the character more human and carries the story on from the previous books (all which I have heard and loved). It is not necessary to have listened to the previous books in the series as other than her brother being dead past cases are not mentioned. However I enjoyed this book so much it has me feeling like I want to re listen to the books to remind myself what happen.The story is told by the two main characters Tess and her husband Blake, as they tackle the same case from different angles. I like how the author has gone with both a male and female narrator. There are a few twists in the story and even though there is not a big suspect pool it does keep you hooked and guessing. Definitely an author I add to my must listen/read pile when ever she has a new book out.
Tess is still grieving over the death of her brother and every day as a homicide cop is a struggle because everything brings back images of his murder. So when she gets an offer to transfer departments she takes it with out discussing with her new husband. Her first assignment is to go in under cover at Everchange, a cult that the police believe are running a sex trafficking ring. Tess had been out on a date with Colton Everett and despite them knowing she is a cop they believe she is the way in to find out what is going on behind closed door. At the same time her husband Blake is investigating a hit and run death. The girl had connections to Everchange. She gave up her modelling career and broke all contact with her sister (her only living relative) to join the group but with high walls and arm guards guarding the mansion it will be difficult to find answers. If only they had a way in......the problem is the hit and run accident wasn't the first death connected to the group and with Tess in side with out any back up she could very well be the next homicide Blake has to investigate.
As I said I liked the use of the two narrators it added a little something to the story and you had no problems with knowing who was leading that part of the investigation. In fact I wish more authors would do it this way. Both spoke clearly and was good with the different voices of the characters.

[Katie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart racing suspense and mind-bending twists.....

Fatal Deception is the fifth book in this mystery series featuring two Seattle homicide detectives, Tess Richards and Blake Stephenson. Although I have read the other books in the series, I think Fatal Deception could be enjoyed as a standalone. The book grabbed me from the opening scene with a young woman running away from some unknown threat. The author continued to build the intrigue and suspense from that point. The story is split between three main focuses: Stephenson is investigating the hit and run murder of a young woman, Richards goes undercover to join a suspected cult, and Richards and Stephenson navigate their personal relationship. The author skillfully uses foreshadowing to build the eeriness factor and ties all three sub-plots into one seamless story. I have loved reading all the books in the series, but I think this one was the most addictive, and I listened to it straight through in one sitting. I was certain that I knew what was happening from the beginning, but I guessed completely wrong in the end.

The excitement of the mystery portion of the story is obviously very important, but one of the main reasons that I am such a fan of these books is the wonderful character development. Tess and Blake have become very real people to me, and I love that they continue to grow individually and together in each book. My heart broke for Tess as she struggled with panic attacks and flashbacks from her brother's murder investigation in a previous book, and, as a fellow suffer of panic attacks, I thought the author captured her experiences expertly. Although there was some tension between them in the beginning of the book, Blake was amazingly supportive of Tess and continues to prove himself the perfect match for someone as tough outside yet fragile inside as Tess. I am already excited to see what the author has in store for this couple in the next book.

Marcio Catalano and Veronica Pace narrate all the books in this series, and I appreciate that continuity. They perform in the duet style, with Catalono reading all the male parts and Pace reading all the female parts. It takes great skill to handle that smoothly, and these two narrators succeed. Their timing is perfect, their delivery is flawless, and the sound recording is of professional quality. I highly recommend Fatal Deception for all fans of mystery audiobooks.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first introduced to this author and series through the Hidden Gems ARC program. Although I have read the series in order, I do not think you necessarily need to read prior books to enjoy this one. It is impressive how this author comes up with some unique crimes that are investigated by this group of police detectives.
In this story, Tess Richards is a detective who is still recovering from the murder of her brother and looking at issues she is having with continuing her career with the homicide division in Seattle. She is approached about an opening with the intelligence division and it gives her a good reason to leave homicide. At the same time, this might be an issue with her new husband, fellow homicide Detective Blake Stephenson. His recent case is a young girl whose body was left in a dumpster and it appears she was most recently in a retreat with an organization called EverChange.
While at the same time, the Intelligence Unit decides that Tess is the right person to send undercover with the EverChange organization because of her past connections. They have a complex on an island off the coast of Washington and Tess is sent in to see what kind of information she can get that will allow the police to make their case. The group is cult like and there are some strange practices that keep these women obediently in the compound. The investigation into this organization is peculiar and keeps you reading to see what happens to Tess as it plays out. There is plenty of action and suspense as the story unfolds.

[Sierra Clothier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, another winner in the Detective Tess Richards series. This novel is written as if author Cole is just getting started with no visible fatigue for her titular character. The story was absolutely riveting, bouncing along fast with one revelation after another. The subject may be dark, but the book isn't remotely...it's an easy read for most ages and likes.

I loved the side characters of Stevenson and Mills. These detectives had no traces of those tired police cliches. They worked hard and followed clues that made sense. There were no sudden aha moments...only legit police work.

And let's talk about the premise and the women in the cult like group. Can you say creep factor 10? You read and you think, this could never happen in real life! I would never succumb to a cult! But there's a reason cults can be so successful, and author Cole taps right into the biggest one with Detective Richards: feeling lost after losing a loved one. Even as she investigates, she questions herself. Why does this feel right? This gives a chilling realism to a startling mystery.

This book just zipped along and before I knew it, it was the end. Author Cole really knows these characters so well that they feel like close friends. It was such a pleasure reading a book that seems like it was a joy to write.

[Angelica Pavelock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Hidden Gem for the copy of Fatal Deception by Audrey J. Cole. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.
Detective Tess Richards at the spur of the moment decides to take a new job without discussing it with her new husband Detective Blake Stevenson. After trying to deal with the murder of her brother Tess realizes that homicide is no longer working for her, and she decides to take the job with the intelligence unit. Unknown to both Blake and Tess, Tess’ new assignment is related directly with the murder of a young woman found dead. The young woman had vanished two years earlier when she decided to follow Everchange, a self-help conglomerate with a dangerous reputation.
The story right from the start is engaging and drags you in. The characters are great, and I was particularly drawn to Tess’s flawed psyche, it made her so much more likable. About halfway through the book though I felt like I was missing something, I went back to Goodreads to look at the book and realized this was book 5 in a series. I have to say that while it is not a standalone book, and I have a thing about reading out of order, I still found the story to be very engaging and I finished regardless of the fact I had not read the other 4. Great story, great characters, and a great book.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all of the novels in the Emerald City Thriller series and this may be the best one yet. Part of it might be the setting of Whidbey Island. Born and raised on the island, I appreciate it being the location of the fictional deadly cult compound featured in this book. I really like Cole highlighting the scenic views of mountains Baker and Rainier and the dangerous cliffs that frame much of the island's edge.

But the best part of the book was the exciting plot. Tess, with the Seattle Police Department, goes undercover to become one of of many women following a popular wellness guru with a compound on Whidbey Island. The situation turns deadly and there is a suspenseful climax on the narrow and dangerous Deception Pass Bridge.

There are many issues covered in this book. An issue for Tess are the after effects of her brother being stabbed (in The Summer Nanny). A scary issue in the novel was the way the women were brainwashed by the guru. And where else will you find out about Sequim (pronounced skwim) being in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains?

This is a good novel for readers who like a well crafted suspenseful plot with well developed characters and best of all, a wonderful scenic, though dangerous, island setting.

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Emerald City Thriller, and equal to the best so far. I recognized the locations in this story and appreciated how the author used them. The characters are very realistic, and the suspense is enhanced as the main character, Tess, deals with anxiety attacks. The villain turns out to be one of most evil people in literature. I have enjoyed all the Emerald City Thrillers because they are entertaining, suspenseful and easy to read. The deception involves a self-help organization called Ever Change. The action happens when Tess is recruited to the intelligence branch and sent undercover to the organization's estate, a medieval castle rebuilt on Whidbey Island. The personal interactions are fascinating on many levels as Tess builds relationships with the famous and near-famous people , all women, who are staying at the estate. The new undercover assignment cause much concern for her new husband, a homicide detective. All the action is exciting and engrossing. I got a copy of this book through Hidden Gems, and I am offering a voluntary review because I really liked it.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fatal Deception is the 5th book in the Emerald City Thriller Series. It is full of action and suspense. Tess and Blake are secretly married and she takes a job with Intelligence Unit after anxiety attacks stemming from her brother’s murder make it hard for her to continue working in the Homicide Unit. Blake is working the homicide of a young woman involved with a self help group/cult with rich and famous members. Tess’ first assignment is to go undercover in the cult. She had attended some meetings in the past and even went on a date with the leader. Blake worries about her safety and Tess is in definite danger if they discover her true purpose. This author had me on the edge of my seat and I read way past my bedtime so I could finish. I’ve only read one other book in this collection and had no problem if this is your first book to read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Tess Richards hasn’t gotten over her brother’s murder yet, so she agrees to transfer out of Homicide, only to find herself in the middle of an undercover operation. EverChange is a wellness organization but really a cult, and once Tess gets chosen to be part of the inner circle, will she ever be able to leave?

This is another quick and easy read from Audrey J. Cole. This is the final book (#5) in the Emerald City series, and I enjoyed them all! Tess popped up in an earlier book, and I’m glad to see the focus on her in this one. While cult storylines are not my favorite, this one was light enough on the details that it wasn’t too hard to read. There was a twist that I didn’t completely see coming, so that was also fun. Overall, I’m glad I found this new-to-me author and I’m excited to read other books that she has written.

4.25⭐️

[Sandra Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This had some different twists in it and was different than my normal crime novels. It's about a cult-like group that purports to help its members be the best they can be by taking their classes and following their strict rules. It reminded me of some of the things I've read about Scientology. This book includes some bad treatment of young, beautiful women who are part of the group and follow their rules. There are murders and cover-ups, and our main character-heroine is Tess, a policewoman who goes undercover. There was a small scattering of bad words in the book that I don't like to read, but there weren't a lot. Even though this is book #5, it's the first in the series I've read and it felt like a standalone book.

[Mawgan Dipple · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a first time author for me and a different genre too. its a suspense thriller. Even though it has a base around sex trafficking, it has little to none sexual content. so if you want a book with intrigue, twisted plots, suspense without the darkness this is your book. i love the dark and twisted so this was a surprise for me. i really enjoyed it. i got into the characters and wanted to see what the outcome would be. i found it a little odd that Tess's husband, also a detective was mostly referred to by his last name throughout the book. it almost felt third person-ish. other than that i was a good story.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fifth book in the Emerald City Thriller series by Audrey J Cole was a fast moving and intense detective story combined with plenty of suspense and adventure too. The main character Tess was flawed which helped make her extremely relatable to the reader. The premise of the story was also relatable as it dealt with a cult aspect that also involved murder, extortion, and even sexual servitude. The storyline moved along smoothly from start to finish with good balance between action and suspense. I look forward to adding other books in this series to my TBR file. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.

[Zenizole Gqada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well… I loved it, as expected. Audrey is a brilliant storyteller. I was just disappointed by the amount of grammatical errors and typos in the book. I believe authors have editors and send out early copies to avoid such issues. The errors really put me off as they slowed me down.

I absolutely loved the characters. I fell in love with Stephenson in one of Audrey’s book about a serial killer, I forget the name now but it was GOOD. She set the bar too high with that book and I guess I’ve already held her to that standard.

Ending was rather predictable but I also couldn’t see any other way she would have ended the book. It was good. Worth a read.