Suspicion of Deceit

Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana #3

by Barbara Parker

New York Times Miami attorneys Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana are back in action in this “complex, involving tale” ( Booklist ). Now running her own private law practice, Gail has taken on the Miami Opera as her first client. The company’s newest young star—who is set to take the lead in Mozart’s Don Giovanni —recently performed in Castro’s Cuba. And while the Opera’s board of directors couldn’t care less, Miami’s Cuban community could make a great deal of trouble for all involved. To Gail, it seems more like a case for a PR specialist than a lawyer. But she soon discovers that the Opera’s problems may threaten to expose a secret hidden in the history of Cuban emigration to Miami. It’s a secret someone is killing to keep, and a deadly conspiracy that leads Gail to the most unlikely of her fiancé Anthony Quintana. Edgar Award finalist and former Florida state prosecutor Barbara Parker once again serves up “a rich mix of tropical politics, edgy romance and secrets from the past” in the third legal thriller in the bestselling series ( Publishers Weekly ).Suspicion of Deceit is the 3rd book in the Suspicion series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Legal Thriller, Suspense

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Barbara Parker was an American mystery writer. She wrote 12 novels, the first of which, Suspicion of Innocence, was a finalist for the Edgar Allan Poe Award for best first mystery novel by an American author. Parker was on the national board of the Mystery Writers of America and was the chair of its membership committee for two years.

Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gail Conner’s is an attorney that represents the Miami Opera in this third book of the series. She is drawn into a pending crisis by the rising young bass-baritone, Tom Nolan and a recent discovery about a questionable incident in her fiancée’s, Anthony Quintana, past. Nolan scheduled to play Don Giovanni in Mozart's opera in Miami, which some Cuban exiles objected to because he sang in Castro's Cuba about two years ago. There was an awful lot of attention on political implications about Cuba and the exiled citizens in Miami. Conner did self-imposed investigations that were fatally dangerous. Many questions were left unanswered when the story finally came to an end.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am reading this series in sequence and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books. This one disappointed me. Our heroine was just a bit too intrepid for my taste. . . And, for a supposedly smart woman, behaved in an unbelievably foolish manner.

The two initial books in the series included more legal machinations and less political/historical content. I grew up in Miami and love the local color and the Cuban-American cultural differences that flavor this series, but this novel just left me caught in the weeds .

[Grandpa Rondo Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is poorly written, confusing, and doesn't make a lot of sense. I skimmed it but it didn't get any better.

You know how the back cover of a book will often have the name of a book critic saying how great the book is? Well, it says a lot when the critic is the Green Bay Press Gazette! The only time someone reads the local paper in Green Bay is when they are looking for a used car.

I'll pass.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is such a great series and an interesting couple but Ms. Parker has died so the final outcome of this relationship will never be known. I loved this couple so I am very sorry to see it end.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the cast of characters but again like the last one, wasn’t really into the story itself. There’s some good moments but overall I think the story was a little too much. In saying that, I will keep on reading.

[Toni Kania · Rating 3 out of 5]

A heroine exhibiting fewer "smarts" as series progresses. Heroine always in distress syndrome situaion after situation. Will see if I proceed.

[Linda Klages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Attorneys Gail Connor & Anthony Quintana book - intesting.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would read more of these.

[Daved Muttart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relationships tended to be squeezed to fit the plot

[Natalie Niemeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good all in all, some parts dragged out but I still really enjoyed the book.

[Lynne Block · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring, lacks depth, character. Thumbs down for me.

[Andrea Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when I read a book and don’t know how it’s going to end until the end.

[Judith Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned so much from this book!! Miami, Cuba, music, Nicaragua. Now on to another Parker book..

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow reading until the end.

[Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. Great detail and colorful descriptions.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted something lighter to read, and a search of audiobooks available through my library where Barbara Rosenblat was the narrator. I found the Suspicion series, though the digital copies only start at book 3.

Rosenblat, as always, is wonderful. She even does some singing to mimic the operatic songs that are within the plot. I also enjoyed learning more about the nature of Miami politics, particularly as it involves the Cuban community.

The mystery was alright, though people don't start dying until halfway through, so a lot of world building. I didn't care for Anthony - he refuses to tell Gail important things, his story of an important albeit traumatic event keeps changing, he scolds her for not going through him for things related to his family - even though his family have direct involvement in things that overlap with her work for the Miami Opera, he chides her for haring off without thinking even though the times she's in harms way are *completely not anticipatable*. I was really hoping she'd give him the boot... and now I find out another tag for the series is Gail Connor/Anthony Quintana, which really doesn't bode well for him going away.

[Connie Becerra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok read. Had me guessing what I thought was going to be the end. Not really my kind of read, though.

[Jenene · Rating 2 out of 5]

The back and forth between Gail and Anthony was ridiculous and immature. The plot may have been more believable during the time it was written but now seems contrived. The last 50 or so pages were the best part of the book. The earlier books were much better and I hope this book is not indicative of what's to come.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're into the politics of Miami in the 90's an the tensions between the Cuban immigrants and Miami at large, you may enjoy this.

Oh, and if you like opera.

Otherwise, don't waste your time.

[Sherrie74 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently came across all my Barbara Parker books in basement and wondered why I never finished them. I remember buying all of them after picking up the first one and loving it. Now close to end of #3 I fully know why.

At the beginning of Bk #3 there is a disclosure that her main characters background have been changed slightly ...... why?? What did really change was the female character of Gail O'Connor who now seems to be not as "grown-up and mature" as her character was previously. Her getting upset over stupid things and doing and saying stupid things, not what would come from a strong and determined woman. There is no way the male lead of Anthony Q would even consider being with her as she is in this book other than for a midnight romp.

She has started her own law firm, but from what I take in this book has not brought in one penny of earned income as she is just working the pro bono case she is doing for the Opera Company.

So many things that she should be running in the other direction from but she is running to them. This goes for Bk #2 as well with her getting on the boat .. with her daughter yet!!

Unfortunately the books are very dated which you really cant get around when certain things are mentioned. Using certain generic terms would have been better for some of the electronics or business procedures.

I am 3/4 of the way through .... am positive of who is involved and "did it", but then was sure of it by half way through before the murders even occurred.

Dates below are from second time reading.

[Evan Bolick · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a mess! That's the best thing I can say about this. The first problem is centering a convoluted plot involving assassination and a dark secret past centered around a production of an opera whose main star antagonizes the Cuban exile community. Its hard to feel any sense of urgency when 1) Cuban exiles, to my knowledge, have never engaged in acts of wide-scale violence, and 2) the Exiles are angry because the lead in an Opera performed in Cuba at some point in time.

Taking an already hard to swallow plot and combining it with dull and exasperating characters is not a recipee for success (but then again, this is Parker's fourth book in the series, so maybe it is). The protagonist Gayle seems bipoloar with the emotional maturity of a teenager. Her fiancee is, in fact, domineering and hardly a sympathetic character. I felt the greatest amount of pathos for the book's implausible villain, not a good thing.

Also, the author has a penchant for putting in random lines of beginner level Spanish. I'm glad that Barbara Parker passed her high school Spanish class, but really, it was wholly unnecessary - as is this entire novel.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Miami, Florida this novel follows Attorney Gail Connor in her Pro Bono job with the local Opera Society as their lawyer. The Society has hired a singer for its upcoming production and it has gotten out that he has preformed in Cuba in the past and this is causing problems with the Cuban exile community spurred on by a very vocal radio host. Gail’s possible intended is also a lawyer and Cuban born. His family are prominent in the Cuban community and while he has all appearances of a good catch, there are some things he doesn’t share that add mystery and disquiet to their relationship. The tale works out through several murders and a bombing before the real culprits are revealed. An interesting book but, at least for me, not a particularly easy read style wise.
ISBN - 0-451-19549-3, Suspense, Pages - 417, Print Size - R, Rating - 3

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder, political conflicts, family hassles, love troubles all abound in this story. Since I grew up in Miami, the Cuban political conflicts causing conflicting opinions between the different groups of people created a personal connection for me. I enjoyed the tangled web of the characters past and the Cuban history.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a little trouble following the whole Cuban issue since I'm really not in touch with the political issues there and in Miami. It was a good plot, though, but the ending felt a little rushed. It was well written, anyway, and it was a good read, but I wouldn't bother to go out of my way to read anymore of this series.

[Lynne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The back and forth of Gail over Anthony just didn't seem real. I had a hard time believing or caring for any of the characters and the plot line seemed contrived. I did finish it. But thought about putting it down several times.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I learned from this book is hard to tell because I read it four years ago. Barbara Parker is a good author, and I'm sure that it is a decent read.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Barbara Parker.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just found out that I've been reading this series out of order. That makes me mad! Anyway, I liked this book. It wasn't as exciting as some of the others in the series, but it was okay.

[Beth Britnell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not very gripping.

[Natalia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to love these characters. I don't think I do anymore. They're missing some kind of depth and life to them. :(