Once you turn that first page you will begin a ride with your heart in your throat, from beginning to end.

Brilliant storyteller, Nancy Mehl, has once again crafted a dramatic, spine-tingling suspense—guaranteed to keep you holding on to the edge of your seat with bated breath! My thoughts were all over the place as I took a chilling roller coaster ride into the mastermind behind numerous serial killings and his intended victim, Kate O'Brien. Kate has been living a quiet life in small-town, Shelter Cove, under an assumed name, after a horrendous attack four years prior by a notorious serial killer who took the life of her twin sister. Kate appears strong and whole, but much to her chagrin, handsome Deputy U.S. Marshall Tony DeLuca draws attention to the fact that she is in denial about that horrific night and needs inner healing. Tony has his own denial issues when it comes to his feelings about Kate, and protecting her is definitely in the forefront. He accepts an assignment to escort her back to St. Louis, but a new development in the case forces them to stay in Shelter Cove. However, has something sinister taken hold in sleepy little Shelter Cove...and will Tony be able stop any more killings before it is too late?

Nail biting suspense...murder....intrigue....romance....faith expressed by characters.....if you like all these elements, you will love Nancy Mehl's 2nd book in her Defenders of Justice series. Kate is in witness protection after testifying against the man believed to have killed her twin sister. He is sent to prison, and she fears for her life if he ever finds her....and then he is released from prison. Will he come after her? He would have to locate her first in the small town where she is hiding. When evidence comes to light suggesting he is not the killer, Kate must testify again. She is frightened and rightly so.
Nancy is one of my favorite authors and she did not disappoint me in this book. I did read book one in the series, and while this book can stand-alone, I think it would be helpful to read book one first. I had a lot of trouble keeping the characters straight as there were so many different characters. This did cause some confusion for me as I read.
I highly recommend this book. Readers who love suspense, thrillers and Christian fiction will be delighted.

I am rating this book 4 stars. I received a copy of this book from netgalley and the publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dark Deception
Defenders of Justice #2
Nancy Mehl
Bethany House Publishers, June 2017
ISBN 978-0-7642-1778-4
Trade Paperback

From the publisher—

Kate O’Brien has been leading a quiet life in small-town Shelter Cove, Arkansas, for the past four years when her past suddenly comes roaring back to life. Four years ago, she and her twin sister were attacked by an elusive serial killer. Only Kate survived, and it was her drawing of the attacker–along with some last-minute evidence–that convicted the suspect.

She’s been in witness protection ever since, but new evidence suggests the convicted man isn’t the murderer and she’s been subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Nervous about the risk, she’ll only agree if the same marshal who protected her during the original trial escorts her to St. Louis.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca accepts the assignment to bring Kate to the trial, remembering how her strength impressed him. While in Shelter Cove, however, he gets a call from his chief, advising them to stay in Shelter Cove until a new development in the case can be straightened out. But when Kate’s safety is threatened, Tony must race against the clock to keep her alive and put this ugly case to rest before anyone else gets killed.

There’s nothing quite like a good serial killer story, you know? Well, yes, I know not everyone will agree with that assessment but I happen to like such things, whatever that night say about me or my reading taste 😉 Moving right along, Dark Deception has an extra added attraction, the white-knuckle effect of knowing said serial killer is out to get you, unlike being the usual random target.

Kate is a really likeable woman with the intent to do good but she also is intelligent enough to recognize danger and want to avoid it plus she’s willing to accept help when she needs it, especially from the marshal who looked after her the first time. For his part, Tony remembers Kate and her strengths and accepts his assignment most willingly. The two have a connection from the past and there’s more of that this time around but not so much as to overwhelm the core story.

In a way, the premise here is a little lacking, at least for me. The excitement of a serial killer kind of fizzles when the guy who’s after the heroine may not actually be a serial killer, just a run-of-the-mill wrongfully convicted guy out for revenge. On the other hand, that does mean Tony’s going to have to figure out the truth and I did appreciate that this element makes Dark Deception more intense than many romantic suspense novels.

Lots of twists and turns keep things moving at a good clip and I really enjoyed spending time with Kate and Tony. It’s been a while since I read anything by Nancy Mehl but that’s my mistake, one I plan to rectify ASAP 🙂

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, June 2017.

The suspense plot might be a familiar one. A woman in witness protection is in danger. The man she identified as a killer is now out of jail due to some issues with the evidence. In fact, the authorities now think he may not be the killer after all. The U.S. Marshall involved in the original case goes to the witness to give her the news. The witness, of course, is in immediate danger and the U.S. Marshall must protect her. This results in a great deal of suspense.

This novel has a very complicated plot. Near the end of the novel, the U.S. Marshall is explains it all. I was reading an ebook but I think it would have taken many pages in a print edition. In the midst of the explanation, another character says, “One thing that confuses me. Well, one of the many things that confuse me, I should say.” (Loc 3294/3516) And later the same character says, “Wow. This whole thing is so convoluted it almost hurts my brain.” (Loc 3312/3516) Yes, that's how I felt too.

I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a very convoluted plot involving several people who are not who they appear to be. The character development is relatively well done. There is also a clear presentation of the gospel.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Nancy Mehl is the author of over twenty books. She received the ACFW Mystery Book of the Year Award in 2009. She has a background in social work and writes from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her husband. You can find out more at http://nancymehl.com/home/.

Bethany House Publishers, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

This was a roller coaster ride filled with action and suspense. The story gives the reader a glimpse into the witness protection program. I found the following the storyline with all the different villains proved to be difficult. I like that Kate found here strength and fought back to regain her life. Tony was an admirable character with both toughness and tenderness. Suspense readers will enjoy detangling the web of characters to reach the truth.

There's something to be said for a book that keeps me guessing right up to the very end. Even when I thought I knew what was what I was only partially right and so way wrong at the same time. I was drawn to this book when I saw it on my Bethany House list and jumped because I had to read it. I didn't care that it was second in a series, I was confident that if it didn't read well without the first under my belt that I could grab it from the library. We are talking mystery, intrigue, a touch of romance, and faith all set in my own backyard. I mean, we all know a mystery is the way to my heart. Closely followed by basically almost every other genre there is.

I got a bit caught up in the conundrum of all the characters. I had to go back and re-read a paragraph or page a couple of times like 'who was what?'. Once I had that down it was better sailing through. There were also all the aliases to be contended with. While it was somewhat overwhelming with my lack of ability to remember names the story flowed through with so many twists and turns that I was kept guessing at every one. All in a good way.

Mehl did such an amazing job creating well rounded characters with an intricate story line that drew me in and kept me guessing. Seriously, one thing that is rare is for me to be 100% in the dark about the 'who did what with which weapon in what room' of a book. I had ideas that were partly right. Right person in the wrong roll doing a different thing. I managed to read this in one setting in just a few hours time, I was so drawn in to the story. That, is the hallmark of an amazing book.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House and NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

This book opens up grabbing your attention and holds it to the final pages. The action is intense and the characters passionate. Nancy Mehl is quickly becoming a favorite author.

I really liked Kate O’Brien. She was a strong woman with integrity and passion. And although she was a strong woman she had doubts and fears that she needed to deal with. Likewise, Tony was a great character. He was committed to his job and would do anything to protect his witness.

The action was intense and moved at a quick pace. I found myself not wanting to put this book down. The author did a great job keeping me guessing on who was involved in the killings. The only negative I could say about the book is their is a similar plot twist as we saw in book one, Fatal Frost. BUT it really does not distract from the book or lessen the entertainment.

Although there are characters from the first book that make brief appearances in this book you do not need to read book one to enjoy this book. It stands on its own.

Disclaimer: I did receive a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley.com, I was not required to give a review and the opinions here are my own.

Four years ago, Kate O’Brien and her twin sister were attacked by an elusive serial killer. Only Kate survived, and it was her drawing of the attacker--along with some last-minute evidence--that convicted the suspect.
She's been in witness protection ever since, but new evidence suggests the convicted man isn't the murderer and she's been subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Thus begins this suspenseful book with Deputy U. S. Marshal Tony DeLuca keeping her alive to testify.
Not the best, but not bad either. There were parts that were easy to guess and other parts weren’t. But on balance, the book was suspenseful enough to hold my interest and keep me reading to the end. And Ms. Mehl threw in enough romance to keep it interesting but not so much that it was not a turnoff. I stopped reading true romance books years ago
Having lost a sister I was very close to in the past year, I struggled with what it must be like to lose a twin sister. It was well depicted in the book. I felt the pain. And based on her descriptions, I could almost imagine from her descriptions what it must be like to live in a small place like Shelter Cove even though it has been more than 50 years since I spent much time in a place that small. The café would certainly be the central meeting point in the town.
I do recommend the book for readers of suspense and am eagerly awaiting the next book by Nancy Mehl. I received this book in exchange for a review. The opinions are my own.

A fast paced, gripping story that will leave readers wanting more until the very last page. By far the best I have read by Nancy Mehl.

After surviving an attack by a serial killer four years ago, Kate O’Brien has been living a quiet life in the small town of Shelter Cove, Arkansas in the witness protection program. It has been a struggle to get her life back to something she can be happy with, especially in the beginning when she wanted to end it all. The man that attacked her has been in prison, but now there is new evidence showing he might not be the murderer. Kate is subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Afraid to face her past, Kate refuses to go until Tony DeLuca, the deputy Marshal who was assigned to protect her during the original trial, comes to escort her back. This is one assignment Tony has no problem taking. He has had a hard time getting over Kate O’Brien. She made an impression on him and he hasn’t been able to get her out of his mind. As Tony arrives and prepares to take Kate back, the case takes an interesting turn that ends up putting both him and Kate in danger.

I have been a fan of Nancy Mehl for a while now and I must say that Dark Deception is her best yet. The character development and the situations they found themselves in were what I enjoyed the most. Part of it could be that that Kate is a twin and so am I. Seeing how Kate had to deal with that loss was played out really well. A few instances with Tony could have been fleshed out better to make him more believable in his role. But other than that, I don’t have many negatives to say about this book. The scenes were tight, the characters were written to play out as I felt they actually would, and the suspense was very well written. It can be difficult writing romantic suspense and find the right balance between the two in order to keep the story flowing just right. With each book, I feel Mehl is getting better and better at fining that stride and getting the dynamic just right. I recommend this book to fans of Mehl and romantic suspense novels that will keep you guessing till the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Right.. so.. stars. 4.5!

1: Spine-tingling quality.... check. I mean really. And the needles. I mean come one guys. (Okay, technically one) but seriously, both mysteries I read today had needles. Why? I can barely stand to read the word. (Which is terrible and babyish of me I know.) But totally a scary mystery!

2: I knew it. I never felt comfortable around *********** (That's the guy's name. Not that it's the right length. Nevermind.) I just felt uneasy around him. Well, reading a scene with him in it then. Whatever.

3: So Tony and Kate were a super sweet couple. I loved that they drew strength from each other like that. *cue melting heart* Also, it wasn't a romance with a mystery. It was a mystery with a romance. If that makes sense. Does anything I'm saying right no make sense? Probably not.

4: I absolutely loved Tony helping Kate grow closer to the Lord again. And Leon helping Fred with that as well. Can't get any better than that, now can it?

5: You know I ALWAYS have to say something about the endings. This one...well... it wasn't exactly the neat bow that either I or Batterson wanted. Which means that while it may not have been my favorite ending ever, it's probably the most realistic one ever ;)

Dark Deception starts off with an intense and fear-filled scene that chilled me down to my core.
Kate O'Brien is a survivor, fighter, a warrior. She witnesses her twins brutal murder, was left to death herself but survived, and had to face the killer again and again in this haunting thriller. The personal battle she has to go through to be able to go on, accept that she is still alive, and to get over the survivor's guilt is a wearing road, yet she does champion on, with the help from the people around her and with the faith she finds in God.
I wish I had read the first book in the series before I read this one, the feeling of jumping into a middle of a scene was strong here. With the generous amount of characters, keeping everything in line came to be an effort. Kate's previous connection to Tony DeLuca is referred several times, the developing relationship between them is heavily based on those previous feelings between them, and I wanted to know more about the foundation the new connection, after being apart for years, was based on.
Tony DeLuca is a solid man, straight-shooter, honorable and honest. His faith in God is evident, his trust for God's guidance clear. One of the highlights of the story for me was a conversation between him and Kate, where they share their past hurt and burdens, talk about depression and suicide, when openly and honestly, they admit their brokenness and weakness and help each other to heal.
The suspense in the story is convoluted and distressing. There are clues to the culprits but they lead the trail so close to the protagonists you would rather not believe them. It is twisted, dangerous, tangled mess, that brings the law enforcement to their knees. After the built up I was expecting a bit more fiery solution, but all the loose ends are tightly wrapped up in the end.
An interesting faith-based romantic suspense story, volatile and deadly action and riveting mystery with a touch of romance and the characters growing and developing in their faith in God.
~ Three Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

Once you turn that first page you will begin a ride with you heart in your throat, from beginning to end. “Who’s on first” came to mind as the list of characters on-folds and then changes, evil personified, and they find one another.
The terror begins when Kelly O’Brien is murdered in front of her sister Kate, who is also left for dead, but Kate is a survivor. She has forged through two trials and now a third looms, can she do it again?
She has been under witness protection and hiding in Shelter Cover Arkansas, a picturesque village in the mountains. Now U. S. Marshall Tony Deluca has taken on the job of trying to persuade her to return to testify, but he has personal feelings for Kate, but he is a lot older than her, and ethics takes a place here, but he does need to protect her.
Once one shoes drop be prepared for them to keep falling right to the very last page, one action paced read and you will never see most of it coming. This story is so good, you are going to have a hard time believing it isn’t real, or is it.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

Dark Deception

by Nancy Mehl

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers
Christian

Pub Date 06 Jun 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Dark Deception through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

Four years ago Kate O'Brien and her sister Kelly were attacked by a serial killer Only Kate survived.

After testifying in court Kate was put into the witness protection program since being Subpoenaed but evidence comes to light showing the convicted murder may not be guilty.

He only had one thing on his mind, that was killing Kate O Brien, from the time he was a teenager he had murder on his mind.

Gerald is determined to take Kate out of the picture, and Tony is determined to make sure he does not succeed.

Will Tony be able to protect Kate?

Find out in Dark Deception.

Dark Deception by Nancy Mehl is the story of Kate O’Brien, a woman now in witness protection. Deputy US Marshal Tony DeLuca was there for her as she witnessed her twin’s brutal murder at the hands of a serial killer and nearly became a victim herself. Now, he reenters her life as she is once again called to testify in the case against her sister’s murderer. Things quickly turn dangerous for Kate and Tony as they face danger from many places. There were so many twists and turns in this plot—it will hold your rapt attention and will keep you guessing until the end. I definitely recommend this book for readers who love mystery/suspense. It is book 2 in a series but it is definitely a standalone novel. I have not yet read book 1, but this did not make book 2 difficult to understand in any way. I look forward to book 1 and many more books in this series! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed with this novel. Dark Deception didn't live up to the same standards as book one in the series, which combined romance with lots of suspense and good mystery solving. While Dark Deception combined the same three components, I was frustrated by this story that I thought predictable and lacking in romantic development.

Kate O'Brien survived a brutal attack that killed her sister. Kate's testimony helped put a serial killer in jail. Now, new evidence suggest that Kate might have been wrong and her attacker has been released. U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca is tasked with returning to Kate and convincing her to stand as a witness once again. But when Kate is kidnapped, Tony will have to uncover the truth about the Blue-Eyed Killer once and for all if he is to save her live.

Dark deception promised so much - a romance set against endless tension, and a really interesting mystery about the identify of a serial killer. Unfortunately, instead I found this novel to be really flat and uninteresting. There wasn't a lot of romance in the story. The book relies on the characters' feelings that developed during their time together the first time Kate was a witness. Now they have reconnected, but I didn't think there was enough to explain why their relationship or emotions developed further. Yes, they both experience some tough situations, but their connection didn't grab me (I'd argue there wasn't much of a connection at all). However, I did really like the conversation they had about grief and loss. It's a hard conversation and it touched on some really important topics like suicide and how that leads to more grief and loss. I thought that was the best thing in the story.

The whole book is based around building suspense. Unfortunately, I guessed who the bad guys were and why, pretty quickly, so the big twist wasn't much of a twist for me. The thing that really ruined both the suspense and mystery was the incompetence of everyone, especially Tony. Can I just say, if I needed protection I wouldn't want my life in the hands of these people. Tony was forever disregarding orders and standard procedures, saying he was all about following his instincts but ignoring his gut feelings, being totally unaware of his surroundings, judgemental of people, or just generally being really annoying. And he wasn't the only one. Like the guy who says, oh by the way here is some really important information someone told me to give to you that will solve the case, but I forgot. Whoops. No wonder the boss of these guys is so angry all the time! The only person who did any decent detective work was small-town policeman Leon. I really liked Leon and I enjoyed his sections in the story - they saved me from not finishing this book at all. The ending was also disappointing, I thought. The reader is given a conclusion, but it comes right at the very last second and, once again, is down more to chance than good detective work.

Overall, I was sadly disappointed in this book. Hopefully other readers will enjoy it, but it wasn't the right book for me.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

A serial killer is trying to get to the only witness he's left behind. But things are more complicated than they seem. In fact the case is a bit overconstrued and therefore needs a lot of explaning that somewhat slows down the action, but there's still a lot of suspense.
The characters seem real and relatable, faith issues are brought in without being too pushy.

Kate O’Brien has been in witness protection for four years since testifying against the serial killer who murdered her twin sister. When new evidence comes to light, the killer is released from prison. Suddenly the facts aren’t so clear any more. Just who is the Blue Eyed Killer?
I love the suspense. There are several good options for villains. Also, there are different law enforcement agencies working various aspects of cases. It gets pretty complex trying to figure out who knows what and how all the clues string together. The story was disturbing and intriguing at the same time.
An unusual thing about this story is that the main characters aren’t the focus for a good chunk of the book. There is very little romance development. The story doesn’t end with the main characters. It’s interesting and a bit mysterious. I enjoyed it.
If you like books with a strong sense of danger, urgency, and suspense, I’d recommend this book. Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Dark Deception is Book 2 in the Defenders of Justice series. Kate O'Brien had experienced something horrific in her life four years earlier and she was the only survivor. She has to live in a small town under an assumed name in order to protect her while the criminal is brought to justice. She has already sat through two trials. Something happens and her quiet life in the small town is about to end. Tony DeLuca will have to do everything in his power to protect her against the evil.

I liked the characters. I thought Kate was strong even though she had been through a lot. This story had lots of twists and turns in the story that kept me turning pages. I had to pay close attention because there were numerous characters that I had to keep straight in order to follow the story. I have to admit I had a tiny inkling of who the major villains but that was only because mystery/suspense is my favorite genre to read and I have gotten pretty good at detecting who the villains are.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bethany Publishers for providing me a digital copy of this book to read and review. Dark Deception will be released on July 6, 2017.

Kate O'Brien has been leading a quiet life in small-town Shelter Cove, Arkansas, for the past four years when her past suddenly comes roaring back to life. Four years ago, she and her twin sister were attacked by an elusive serial killer. Only Kate survived, and it was her drawing of the attacker--along with some last-minute evidence--that convicted the suspect.

She's been in witness protection ever since, but new evidence suggests the convicted man isn't the murderer and she's been subpoenaed to testify in the new trial. Nervous about the risk, she'll only agree if the same Marshal who protected her during the original trial escorts her to St. Louis.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Tony DeLuca accepts the assignment to bring Kate to the trial, remembering how her strength impressed him. While in Shelter Cove, however, he gets a call from his chief, advising them to stay in Shelter Cove until a new development in the case can be straightened out. But when Kate's safety is threatened, Tony must race against the clock to keep her alive and put this ugly case to rest before anyone else gets killed.

Kate is in the Witness Protection program after having witnessed her twin sister being murdered. Upon learning that the man responsible for her murder has been released because his conviction has been overturned. Tony is the Marshall responsible for bringing Kate back to St. Louis so she can testify again. While trying to bring her back both of their lives are in danger. Kate and Tony have to rely on each other and God to see them through the dangers that await them.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery. There are twists and turn.

This mystery was simply amazing and such a quick and good read! It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end and was not an easy to figure out. I loved the characters and how fascinating the mystery was,.