Lily Anderson has it all. A beautiful son, a wealthy fiancé, and a luxury apartment in Edinburgh.
But Lily is living a lie. Estranged from her family, she’s tired of covering up the truth about her relationship with Nathan Collesso.
Lily’s not the only one with troubles. Her friend, Sam, is being pursued mercilessly by a rogue cop determined to silence him. Living on the streets, Sam sees and knows too much.
As Lily’s wedding approaches, a desperate bid to escape leaves her with a head injury and a missing fiancé. Did she harm Nathan? Did she kill him? She can’t remember.
The net tightens, entangling Lily and Sam in a web of deception that stretches from Edinburgh to Poland. Hard truths come to light, and every decision Lily has made since the day she met Nathan Collesso comes back to haunt her.
One false move, and she could lose her son, her friends and her life.
An absolute page turner, I finished this book in very few sittings, it was a gripping story. I particularly loved that each character had their own chapter and that the chapters were nice and short, the story flitters nicely between the different characters POVs. Very cleverly written. I loved the characters in this story in particular Lily, Sam, Julie and David. This story has many descriptions of physical abuse so a warning to anyone that could find this topic upsetting. I was left wanting to read more from this author.
Thank you to Anne at Random Things Tour and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Gosh, another fabulous novel from Helen. Strong, believable, well-structured characters who will make you care or question them at every juncture. There is a powerful narrative at the heart of a story that twists and turns and all the while has you rooting for the main protagonist Lily. I held my breathe in fear for her more than once. No spoilers here except to say that you should expect trauma, an exquisite guide of the streets of Edinburgh, corrupt police and gangster people traffickers, and a gentle nod to Gaelic culture. Read it, I did in one day.
A crime thriller that is set in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is not always an easy read as she tackles some of the hardest social issues that are prevalent in our modern days. This doesn't make the story hard work, though. Helen Forbes still manages to bring a gripping and atmospheric book with the twists and turns to keep you immersed in the plot. Her characters are skillfully and cleverly drawn. We get to know them through the short chapters that are told from the different characters' points of view. This allows the reader to see the individual characters and get to know them or not. Deception is a character driven story, and every character plays their own unique role in the story. All of their roles are relevant and do help to drive the story forward. This is no predictable thriller; you can't even really predict the characters, which adds to the story immensely. The sense of place Helen Forbes has so expertly created is so good that I could feel the damp air of Edinburgh and see the cobbles on the streets. It is a place I have always wanted to visit, and Helen Forbes has made me feel like I could have been already. As the story unfolds, we see the events play out, and just as it seems that we know what's happening, things go off on a tangent. This throws everything you think you know out of the window and really brings doubt to your mind about the characters you thought you knew. A book that definitely doesn't rest on its laurels and one that had my mind going into overdrive as I really wondered who was innocent and who wasn't. I finished this book way too fast, but it was such an amazing read that I couldn't put it down.
From the moment you start you meet Sam and Lily, as the book is told from multiple perspectives. You are left with mystery about Lily and the book is full of friendship, love, infidelity and steam. You start to hate and detest those in authority pretty quickly. The chapters are short and sweet and leave you hanging with vivid descriptions of places and events. There’s so many cliff hangers throughout that it feels unbearable but I’m sure all the answers I need will come out soon enough.
It can be a difficult read in some places that can potentially be trigger points for some people (domestic violence). I liked the history that the author gives on places taking you back to the past with dates that was a lovely added touch as you looked back on a few memories. The way the multiple characters grow with the book is so refreshing. I liked how the book touches on the homeless and everything they experience. Sam was really lovely to read about and his love for Lily deep down.
You really appreciate what the author has done with the research in this including the Gaelic remarks occasionally that was a cute touch. The intensity paces itself but your so captivated by everything else building up you almost forget the plot. You find yourself hoping for Lily. My butterflies in my stomach was going mad with anxiety. This is an absolutely epic read.
Bloody hell I loved this book. It was completely thrilling, action packed, well paced and just so good. I finished it and actually felt emotional it was over, as it was that good.
I really enjoyed the short snippet chapters written from different characters POV as the story progresses and events unfold. It’s completely unpredictable and that made for a really enjoyable read.
There are multiple characters but they are easy to keep track of and all play an important role in the story, there’s no filler characters or events to buff out pages, they’re all involved and relevant.
As you read on more stuff happens and when you think you’ve hit the big event, the main point of action, that turning point of the story - boom - something else shocking and unexpected happens and your opinions of different characters are changed and doubt about each ones motives and actual innocence creep in…
I honestly can’t express how good this book is and how much I enjoyed it! EASY ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I was so thrilled I was given a copy of this to read and review, what a GEM 💎
Helen Forbes is at the top of her writing game with this new novel. Set in a very real and recognisable Edinburgh, its twist and turns will leave you breathless.
The central character, Lilly, is both vulnerable and courageous. A bright personality with a strong social conscience, she is determined to help those on the margins of society, yet seems, initially, unable to help herself.
I loved the interweaving of the characters stories and how the truth is revealed by degrees in an ever tightening web of intrigue.
There is murder, violence - the reality of drugs and women forced into prostitution - but there is also hope, humanity and the possibility of redemption.
No spoilers here, but you won’t regret investing some time in this riveting read. I couldn’t put it down!
Firstly, this book has super short chapters which makes for an easier read. Initially, I did struggle to keep up with all the characters and the storyline as the chapters are broken down into different characters. Although it started as a slow burner, the pace soon picks up and you find yourself lost within the worlds of some complex and dark characters. I ended up really enjoying this book even if I started off a little skeptical 🥰 will definitely be reading more from @helenforbesauthor
This book is amazing I Loved every page. I loved its based on two characters. Lilly and sam with different stories completely. With David and Julie thrown into the mix. I love reading about they lives are so different with so many secrets dark mystery drama. Beautiful writing style I loved easy to understand with plenty of plot twist every chapter was different you be hooked with this story like I was I hope to read more by Helen Forbes in the future.
I throughly enjoyed reading Deception. The plot was well thought out and the characters personalities deepened as the story went on. By the end of the book I knew them well! There were lots of twists and turns as the story developed, my favourite characters were Lily and poor old Sam. Looking forward to the next book!
I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping and hard-hitting thriller. Intriguing and unusual characters, vivid descriptions of Edinburgh, and an intricate and satisfying plot. Highly recommend!
Deception is a tense, emotionally driven psychological thriller that peels back the polished surface of a seemingly perfect life to reveal the danger and desperation underneath. Set against the atmospheric backdrop of Edinburgh, the novel grips from the opening pages and steadily tightens its hold.
Lily Anderson appears to have everything security, wealth, and a loving family but her life is built on carefully maintained lies. As the truth about her relationship with Nathan Collesso threatens to surface, Forbes expertly explores the cost of secrecy and the quiet terror of living inauthentically. Lily’s fear is palpable, her choices increasingly fraught, and her maternal instinct adds an urgent emotional core to the story.
Parallel to Lily’s unraveling is Sam’s harrowing storyline. Homeless and hunted by a rogue cop, Sam represents another layer of vulnerability in a world where power is abused and truth is dangerous. When Lily’s failed attempt to escape leaves her injured, disoriented, and unable to remember what happened to her fiancé, the novel escalates into a chilling exploration of guilt, memory, and survival.
The plot moves with relentless momentum, spanning Edinburgh to Poland, as past decisions collide with present consequences. Forbes excels at sustaining suspense while grounding the story in deeply human stakes particularly the fear of losing a child, one’s freedom, and one’s sense of self.
Fans of psychological thrillers, domestic noir, and character-driven suspense will find Deception impossible to put down. It’s a dark, compelling story about lies we tell, truths we bury, and how quickly a carefully constructed life can collapse.
Helen Forbes’ Deception is a taut, emotionally charged thriller that grips from the very first page and refuses to let go. At its heart lies Lily Anderson, a woman who appears to have everything a son she adores, a wealthy fiancé, and a glamorous life in Edinburgh. But beneath that polished surface is a labyrinth of lies, estrangement, and a relationship far darker than appearances suggest.
As Lily struggles with the suffocating control of Nathan Collesso, her closest friend Sam fights demons of his own, hounded by a rogue cop while trying to survive on the streets. When Lily’s attempt to break free spirals into chaos, a missing fiancé and a fractured memory ignite a chain of questions: Is Lily a victim or a perpetrator? And how far will the shadows of her past stretch to destroy her future?
Forbes writes with razor sharp intensity, weaving domestic suspense, psychological intrigue, and international stakes into a web that tightens with every chapter. The alternating pressures of motherhood, survival, and truth create a layered portrait of resilience in the face of overwhelming deception.
Brimming with suspense, moral complexity, and heartbreaking twists, Deception is not only a crime thriller but also a haunting meditation on the lies we live, the secrets we bury, and the cost of freedom. Fans of Paula Hawkins, Gillian Flynn, or Tana French will find themselves utterly consumed.
Let me say first of all, I loved the book. It was at times a difficult read, dealing with some of our hardest social issues in modern-day Britain. But don’t let that put anyone off reading this fast-moving, twisty-turny story.
I felt the story was insightful, the characters were cleverly, convincingly drawn and not all of them were the kind of people you’d want to spend time with. It was easy to ‘take sides’ so to speak with those characters who seemed to be genuinely good, yet at the same time, I wasn’t quite sure if I was being duped, as it quickly became clear that several people were being less than open about their pasts and about what was going on in their everyday lives in the ‘now’. It’s hard to know if you are trusting the right person at times.
I don’t want to spoil the story for those of you who haven’t yet read it – most of you as the book only comes out today! But there was one moment about halfway in the book when I just sat back and thought, I just didn’t see that coming. (Hats off to You Helen, I’m not usually surprised!)
Deception is exactly what it says: there is deception lurking in every character’s story, and at times the story is quite dark, but there is a sense of resilience and hope at the end of the book which makes the journey worthwhile and ultimately uplifting.
Fans of thrillers definitely need to read this book!
The crime story is interesting but the initial main two characters and their relationship are not believable. I didn't realize just how implausible the relationship was until I finished the book and went searching back through it to try to understand how the dating, getting to know one another, deciding on a life together evolved. Problem is, it didn't.
Read whilst in Edinburgh, so it’s been fascinating spotting the places we’ve visited, or walked past, pop up in the fiction.
A well written and gripping domestic abuse thriller. Maybe it goes on a bit too long and tries for one conclusion too many, but it’s well worth your time.
I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping and hard-hitting thriller. Intriguing and unusual characters, vivid descriptions of Edinburgh, and an intricate and satisfying plot. Highly recommend!
Lily Anderson is living a lie, but how much from this lie she accepted to build herself? How much of this could have been stopped long before, if she would have had made the right step towards giving up the bad habits? But if so, we would not have had this book, isn´t it?
Deception by Helen Forbes has a bunch of bad and very bad characters. If everyone is good there is no sense to write a crime fiction novel, isn´t it? Based in Edinburgh, it leads to the underground of both humans and cities, as far as until Poland.
Although from outside one may say that Lily Anderson has it all, her deep web of lies not only is about to destroy everything, but it risks to take with it everyone she loves, including her son. Sam, her homeless friend, is also in a high risk situation as he is also literally hunted by a scrupleless policeman.
The book includes a big range of characters which are not all clearly developed and defined. However, Lily is by far the most complex character, faced with her weaknesses and will to go beyond her past mistakes - at last! In her carelessness, she is taking risks, including by going out of her comfort zone, both in terms of the people she will meet and the situations she has to face.
The story is reflected through the various points of view of the main characters and this technique allows an in-depth vision of their intentions and their interpretation of the story. Most of the characters do have in common a very bad anger management and a visceral temptation to solve most - if not all - of the problems they are faced with in a very aggressive manner. Maybe they are not my favorite cast, but interesting nevertheless.
Deception is an interesting book to read, for both the situations created and the reactions of the people who created them. It reveals the dark side of us, as humans, which is sometimes only one choice away.
Helen Forbes is a lawyer by day and an award-winning crime writer, living in the Scottish Highlands.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered as part of a book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my ow
Like many cities, Edinburgh is beautiful and historic. But when the sun goes down, darkness hides those that wish to come out and play. And they don’t play nice.
Gripping and disturbing, Deception looks at police corruption, self-esteem and unusual friendships.
Forbes’ unique array of raw, broken characters keep the story interesting, because each one has a backstory and it is never clear whose side they are on. The title of this novel is apt; looks can be deceiving and we should never judge anyone or anything on their appearance.
Sam is a delight. Through his character, Forbes brings the harsh reality of street sleepers to the fore, showing that it’s often a combination of factors out of their control that results in a new and dangerous life. Sam is flawed and misguided with a guilty conscience, but at the same time he is an avid reader and devoted to Lily and her son.
Lily herself is perhaps less feisty than she could have been, but she is doing what she can to save her son. We see several sides to her throughout, but first and foremost she is a loving mother and a loyal friend.
The synopsis is a little misleading and parts of the book feel a little unrealistic; however they do provide a dramatic conclusion and tidy up some loose ends. Other elements of the story raise some important questions about corruption, exploitation and control
Overall an excellent crime novel and a new author’s backlist to peruse.
It’s not always easy to understand that there’s no life without human connections; someone you love, someone you hate… but you always have a personal connection with someone even if you don’t really know them. This is a book about the connection between different characters; how their relationship changes their life for good or bad; childhood friends, brother/sister, work colleague, boyfriend… Also, how these connections can be toxic or healing, how with just one word from someone that cares about you or hates you can make you see your life totally in a different perspective. I’ll say from the beginning that this book talks about difficult themes; abuse, rape… sometimes just thinking about the story makes my skin crawl, not easy to read but interesting how the characters try to survive their own problems. Saying that this is the story of Lily would be a lie, because even though she is the main character, the story is not about her alone but also all the people that surround her; boyfriend, best friend, family-in-law… I am sure you can guess what they have in common apart from Lily, the lies; all the secrets they keep and are scared to be discovered. You’ll have to read the book if you want to know all the truth. This is a multi-layered story, as I said, not always easy to read but easy to fall for the story and keep turning pages till the end. Are you ready for “Deception”?
This was a gripping story that held my attention throughout, focusing on many things such as police corruption and unlikely friendships. The title of the book is very apt, as looks can be deceiving and no one should be judged. Deception can lie anywhere!
There were varied and strong characters within the story, especially Lily who was a mother and a fighter, who essentially did anything for her son. Sam was also a strong character, who shone on a light on the underside of the city and showed real strength.
This was a good Scottish crime novel and is definitely worth a read!