‘It’s a story as old as time. Girl meets boy. They fall in love. Then it all falls apart.‘
– Deceit
[ About Deceit ]
If you love Martina Cole and Kimberley Chambers, don’t miss Casey King’s absolutely gripping and gritty crime thriller about betrayal, revenge and family secrets.
Ten years ago Danielle Lewis marries Jason Flynn to bring together their warring Dublin crime families. It should be a joyous union.
But then someone tries to kill her.
Danielle survives the shooting but loses her unborn son. She can’t prove it, but she knows the attack is an attempt to bring down her new family.
Then Jason cheats on her, just when she needs him most.
She leaves Dublin and her family behind.
NOW DANIELLE’S BACK. AND SHE WANTS ANSWERS.
But her homecoming threatens the uneasy truce that has existed between Dublin’s biggest crime families ever since she left.
Danielle will do whatever it takes to find out who tried to kill her — but is she ready for the truth?
[ My Review ]
Deceit by Casey King published 21st September with Joffe Books. It is a debut novel, the first book in The Dublin Thrillers and is described as ‘an explosive new gangland crime series packed with twists, turns and deceit.’
When Danielle Lewis arrives into Dublin airport she is met with an unexpected welcoming team. Having left home ten years previously, in an attempt to block out what had happened to her, Danielle is back and looking for answers. Danielle lost her unborn child following an attempt on her life and, afterwards, she understandably fell apart. The distance that grew between herself and her husband, Jason, sent him, unforgivably, into the arms of other women. When Danielle discovered this betrayal, it drove her to distraction. Leaving was her only option, in the hope of salvaging her peace of mind.
Ten years is a long time in gangland crime and, when Danielle returns to the fold, the dynamics have shifted. With the onset of more violence between warring families, Danielle finds herself propelled into an unanticipated position of power. Danielle takes this opportunity to uncover the truth of her past. Who tried to kill her? Who ruined her life? And, most importantly, who was responsible for the death of her unborn baby?
Deceit is a fast-moving debut that dives straight into the tale of two top crime families. There are multiple characters in this novel that does cause a little confusion at times but, once you grasp who’s who, it all aligns itself nicely. I do love grit in my crime fiction and I do like to feel I’m immersed in an authentic environment and Casey King pulls this off, with good reason. Casey King has first-hand experience of gangland crime as a member of An Garda Síochána and, with a diploma in Policing Studies, she has an abundance of knowledge. She certainly has the skill set, with all the ingredients there to formulate the perfect plot for a new crime fiction series. I personally would have liked to have read more of Danielle’s backstory as I do feel like I missed out on a chunk of background that was glossed over a little. I think there definitely is material for a prequel here. Unfortunately the ending was way too rushed for me which did taint my overall experience as I was left with an open mouth when I realised that that was the final page!
Deceit has a cast of very credible and nasty characters that really bring the book alive, alongside punchy dialogue and a frighteningly plausible plot. This is a solid debut and I honestly think that Casey King is a writer to watch. I would not be surprised if I heard a TV option was on the cards in the future!
[ Bio ]
Casey King is an Irish crime writer from Co. Cork. She writes gritty gangland crime and thrillers. With a Diploma in Policing Studies, Casey is often the first call for fellow crime writers when including police procedure in their best-selling and award-winning novels.
Throughout her career in the Irish police force, she has worked on numerous gangland operations, drug investigation, and has held various other roles. As well as completing a HDip in Coaching/Coaching Psychology at University College Cork, she’s also a fully qualified Mindfulness Teacher.
Casey loves motivating those who have the will and potential to write; there is always a way.
X ~ @letstalkcrime
