Tangle of Lies

by Patricia Potter

Convinced that her mother had once been a member of a violent group of anti-war protestors and was responsible for a thirty-year-old crime, the FBI arrests Liz Connor's mother for murder, forcing Liz to turn to an enigmatic former cop for help to uncover the truth and to protect her and her young niece from escalating violence. Original.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary Romance, Suspense

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 7, 2005

Reviews

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book opens strong, with no slow lead-in. You’re thrown straight into the mystery as the protagonist discovers her mother may not be who she claimed to be. That hook is instantly compelling, and the pace feels spot on for this style of book.

The protagonist is well written and easy to embrace. While the danger never feels particularly intense, it's more midday movie than nail-biting thriller, it suits the overall tone of the book. It’s a relatively gentle story that emphasises character dynamics and slow-burn intrigue rather than gritty confrontation. As a reader, I'm probably more inclined to want my thriller on the gritty side, I don't mind reading books that have this gentle tone, as long as the plot in intriguing and the characters well written.

Speaking of characters, there are morally gray characters and shady motives, which add texture. That said, the romance in this book didn’t quite land well. It felt more functional than believable, serving the plot more than the emotion.

Overall, this is a solid mystery. It’s not trying to shock or devastate the reader. It’s aiming to entertain, and it does. A good choice if you’re after something suspenseful but not too heavy.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off fairly good but when approaching the middle of the book, the author may have gone too far into detail of well, everything. She spent too much time describing one thing and then describing it over again. Other than this, once getting through a little rough patch, the second half of the book is quite gripping. Things start happening and adding up and you keep reading, not able to put the book down. The climax is enthralling, so many peoples lives in danger and the one who you think can do something about it is refusing to talk to anyone. Let alone an attorney. If you like a good crime mystery and can get through the few rough patches in the beginning, I highly reccommend it to you. The ending is pretty good, but the surprises along the way make this book very interesting.

[Jaime · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish it. It started with an interesting premise--middle-aged paragon of a housewife arrested by the FBI for murders committed 30 years earlier--but by page 24 I was ready to pull out my hair, completely aggravated by the author's repetitious writing and annoying need to hammer home every detail 72 times . By page 50 I was ready to pull out HER hair. I threw the book across the room instead.

[SuperWendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The heroine's life takes a turn when her apple pie homemaker mother is arrested by the FBI, accused of being part of an armored truck heist that left two guards dead during the Vietnam War era. Threats escalate soon after that shock, her house catches on fire (arson) and her niece is nearly abducted at her day camp by a man claiming to be the child's uncle. On top of that out waltzed our hero from the woodwork "to help" - a former Boston cop obsessed with the crime "for reasons." Not that the heroine knows those reasons - and we're off to the races with that tried and true Romancelandia trope - the Big Secret.

This was a fast-paced read with the action starting in the first chapter and not letting up. The romance is a bit thin and takes a while to cook - the Big Secret and all the suspense action not really making enough time for me to buy into the lovey-dovey stuff. The ending gets a little cheesy in spots and I'm not sure I bought into the epilogue, but this was an entertaining read. More like a 3.5 or B- on my scale.

[Penny Sitler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tangle is the right word for the plot's action in Tangle of Lies. Patricia Potter does an exceptional job of building the story lines, entangling the various characters and keeping her readers engaged. Liz Conner and Caleb Adams made for wonderful main characters and I am happy with how everything was tied up with a neat bow at the end.

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liz Connor is privately celebrating the opening of her new business when her father calls. Her mother is missing. Their housebound dog is in the yard, the computers are gone and her mom is nowhere to be found. Racing to the sheriff's office to try to guilt them into starting an instant manhunt she is surprised to find two FBI agents waiting for her. It turns out Betty Connor was never Betty Connor, the mom Liz knew and loved. She is actually Sarah Ann Maynard, a fugitive on the FBI's most wanted list for having killed two armored car guards.

Caleb Adams became a cop to find out who killed his dad. He worked the case for years on his own time but never came close to finding the militant peace group that robbed an armored car and killed the guards in a supposed protest of the Vietnam war. When he hears that the Maynard girl has finally been caught he raises to Santa Fe New Mexico to find out whatever he can about the other members and receive whatever justice is available.

Liz is determined to prove her mother's innocence and is delighted when retired cop Caleb Adams offers his help in exchange for information for his book. She can't help but feel an instant draw to the rugged, handsome man. Caleb for his part is drawn to Liz. He doesn't want to hurt her yet telling her the truth will cost him her trust and leave him outside an investigation that may be his only chance to learn the truth. But lots of secrets surround the robbery and some men will do anything to see those secrets kept. Liz finds herself chased across Arizona, Chicago and Boston as she battles stalkers whom she has never seen. And who seem determined to keep it that way.

I liked this book though I found the feisty Liz is a bit annoying. Her mother confessed to the crime. Liz did not need to gallivant all over the country looking for information that would clear her, so in that sense she was a bit TSTL.

[Marca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooops! I goofed and picked up a mystery-romance. Trouble is, I got hooked on the mystery before the lusting began. Nearly every man in the tale wants to bang Liz Conner, a young woman whose mother Betty was just arrested for killing armored car guards during a robbery years ago as part of a protest action of the Vietnam war (story similar to one the headlines). Betty’s husband and their daughters had no idea of Betty’s past. After the arrest, there are attempts the lives of Betty, Liz, and other family members. Someone doesn’t want Betty to talk. Where are the other protesters who were part of the robbery? And then there is Betty’s childhood family in Boston who offer to help their long-missing family member. Not to mention Caleb Adams, a gruff retired police detective who harbors a dark secret while growing closer and closer to Liz. If you can get past the males’ observations about Liz, painting her both strong and brave, yet needing protection and good lovin’ (one character even thought Liz had moxie (yes, moxie)), then you have a pretty good mystery.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the story behind Sarah's past; it reminds me of an episode from the Simpsons where Homer's mother was involved with the destruction of a science lab belonging to Mr. Burns and how she has to hide from authority. I also find it similar to how they hide messages in the newspaper. Good suspense and romance. Recommend. Especially if you're a Potter fan. 4/5 stars.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hits the ground running, and it doesn't slow down from there. Despite there not being a lot of plot twists or more graphic crimes like you'd see in many other books of this genre, this was a great book. I really enjoyed it.

[Vikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Gentry recommended this. Suspense. A girl's mother is taken by the FBI for a robbery and murder that occurred thirty years earlier. Very good.

[Dzillich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good suspense, twists and turns. Illustrates that we may not know everything about the people we are closest to.

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting tale and would read other Potter books but some she's written were strictly romance.

[Liz Sergent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!! Lots of twists and turns.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I liked how there were different mini stories going on, and learning about the characters along the way.