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Overview
On the muddy banks of Washington, D.C.'s C&O Canal, a beautiful supermodel is murdered, unleashing a wave of terror that reaches to the highest levels of power. Devastated by the death of her longtime lover, Connor Hawthorne, a best-selling mystery novelist and former district attorney, is determined to bring the murderer to justice. And when the mystery is solved - almost too easily - she vows to put the experience behind her and rebuild her life across the high desert, aided by a beautiful Navajo guide. As the murderer draws closer, Connor and her guide must unravel a web of treachery, some of which lies in Connor's own past, to save their lives and prevent the discovery of a powerful secret someone is willing to kill for.Editorials
Publishers Weekly -
Opening a debut series set in Washington, D.C., this clumsily constructed novel quickly devolves into a poorly plotted, conspiracy-driven battle between agents of the conservative military-industrial complex and heroine Connor Hawthorne, an affluent, lesbian mystery writer and former assistant DA. After her long-time companion Ariana Gennaro is murdered, Connor is drawn into the tangled world of her own father, former senator Benjamin Hawthorne. Connors close friend, police detective Malcolm Jefferson, takes on the case as a favor. Unfortunately, Connors personal connection to D.C.s police department proves no match for her fathers influenceor for the numerous enemies he has acquired over the years. After an attempt on Connors life, Malcolm talks to the senator, who replies, The people involved in this are beyond your reach, believe me. Reluctantly, Malcolm agrees to accept the monstrous lie that Ariana was killed by a mugger who then took her keys and tried to kill Connor. But on a trip to a mystery writers conference in New Mexico, Connor discovers that the case of Arianas murder may have been closed too quickly. A race across the southwestern wild to find out who really killed Ariana ensues, as Connor follows the trail with the help of Laura Nez, a striking young Navajo woman who acts as her driver, bodyguard and guide. Maddisons hints about the Hawthorne familys gift for second sight only muddle an already awkward plot hobbled by a facile conspiracy theory rooted in both Masonic precepts and white magic.Library Journal
Connor Hawthorne, an attorney turned novelist, enjoys social prominence, a Georgetown townhouse, and a longtime relationship with impetuous Ariana until tragedy wrecks her world. Ariana's murder, the ransacking of Connor's home, and an attempt on her life put Connor on the offensive. Best friend Malcolm, a black policeman, suspects that the violence is directed at Connor's father, one of the powers-that-be in some mysterious branch of the government. While Malcolm searches in DC, Connor discovers the wonders--and dangers--of New Mexico. Rich in ideas, intrigue, incredible psychological suspense, vivid description, and delicate layers of deceit, this ambitious debut deserves a four-star salute.Kirkus Reviews
Deceptions ( paperback original; May; 352 pp.; 1-55583-490-6): When her supermodel lover is murdered in a D.C. park, D.A.-turned-crime-novelist Connor Hawthorne takes off for the wilds of New Mexico to forget the grief of her quarrel with Ariana and her shocking bereavement. But the continent isn't wide enough to keep the killer from dogging her footsteps and those of the beautiful Navajo guide who's befriended her in this first entry in a new series.Book Details
Published
May 10, 1999
Publisher
Alyson Publications Inc
Pages
432
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781555834906