Formula of Deception is a great mystery with many twists and turns. The story takes place in Kodiak, Alaska where artist Murphy Anderson takes a job as a crime scene artist with the local police department. She has been asked to draw a crime scene that a dying Russian man stumbled upon ten years ago when he found five bodies on the remote island of Ruuwaq. But it soon becomes apparent that someone is trying to stop the crime from being exposed. In the middle of working on her drawing the Russian and his caretaker are killed.
Murphy is in Kodiak to find out what happened when her twin sister was murdered by her boyfriend, serial killer Clinton Hunter. Murphy is using her middle name and has changed her look so that she won't be recognized. After the Russian and his caretaker are killed, people around Murphy start being murdered or injured. Then she finds out that Hunter has escaped prison. Someone is leaving notes that appear to be from him. Maybe he is the one killing people and is trying to get to her. But there is also something going on with the island where the bodies were found-something that dates back to World War II and is tied to people in Kodiak as well as the government of the US and other countries during the war. Murphy doesn't know who to trust as people around her are killed.
This is a tale that is winding and full of surprises. It is a very interesting story that is hard to put down as the story unwinds and the truth is exposed by layers. Another great mystery by Carrie Stuart Parks.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions stated are mine only.

Isolated in Alaska trying to survive with the bare essentials. A basement apartment, with a crock pot, a bike to get into town, when weather was nice. A photo of her twin, but most would think it was her. As an artist selling a few of her wares at a shop in town. A call they need an artist to draw a face from the memory of a dying man. Before she can show him the finish picture there is murder. She is focused in the news,getting attention, she didn’t want. The words of the dying man are they true.? What follows is what he told of an island, a hut, with bodies.bringing in WW II history. A plot you want to follow, is intruding to the end. Given ATC from Net Galley and Thomas Nelson. for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Murphy Anderson is hiding out in Kodiak, Alaska when her unique skills get her drawn into a mystery. When people around her keep dying, she knows she needs to figure out what really happened on Ruuwaq Island before the police start to think she’s involved!
Parks has done it again! This is a fabulous suspense novel. It covers a lot of ground including a serial killer, nazi germany, biological weapons, forensic art and more and weaves them together seamlessly. The plot is full of action and danger and there are lots of twists and deceptions that left me rethinking what certain people had said or done before. It was fascinating.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book and yet was thrown off by the last bit. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and thinking that I knew what was going on. I look forward to reading more of Carrie's books!

Parks is one of my favorite mystery and suspense authors. That her main character is a forensic artist is a good basis for great plots. Imagine my surprise at a new heroine in this novel. Murphy is not actually a forensic artist although she claims to be one. She is really on Kodiak Island in Alaska to find out what happened to her missing sister who she fears was dating a serial killer.

There were aspects of the plot I really liked and others that left me unsatisfied. I like that Murphy gets to help with the forensic work on a cold case. A fisherman on his death bed reveals he had found several bodies on a small island ten years ago. What Murphy and the state forensic expert find relates to World War II. I learned about the Japanese invading Alaska, trying to distract the Americans from Midway. I also learned about Custer's Cutthroats and their work in thwarting the Japanese army.

The novel also had an intense psychological aspect to it. All is not as it seems nor is everyone who they claim. There were many twists and turns to the plot, many relating to the psychological aspect. At times I felt a little jerked around and definitely deceived. I am just not so sure all of those psychological twists work.

I really like Parks' writing style. She has a way of having tension run continually through the plot. I do recommend this novel to readers who enjoy learning about WW II in Alaska and forensic art while being entertained with a mysterious cold case and a suspenseful current mystery.

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

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

This book was very interesting and kept me guessing clear up to the end. The trauma of the murder of her twin sister, sent Murphy into a tail spin. As Murphy helps the police solve the murders of five people, she is confronted with reliving the death of her sister. I would never have guessed the ending in a million years. I'm not usually this surprised.

I have never read any books by this author before but I will be reading more her of books from now on. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a great mystery.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Murphy Andersen's twin sister was murdered by a serial killer and Murphy relocates to Kodiak, Alaska to escape publicity. Local authorities discover she is an artist and ask for her help in drawing a dying man's memories. But now Murphy fears she has placed herself right in the killer's crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of this man have Murphy drawing the death scene of five bodies on a remote island from ten years ago. Everything about this whole thing have the investigators mystified. The bodies seem to have been deliberately destroyed and they also uncover something startling in an old abandoned Quonset hurt from World War II.

Then people start dying who have seen or investigated all this. Murphy knows something seriously dark is at state. What happened on this secret island during the war? And why are people even now willing to kill to keep it a secret?

I was captivated from the first page of this novel. Carrie Stuart Parks is a master at this. I read this book in just under two days, anxious during every moment to finish to find out what happened. There are many surprises here, most bad, but some good. Highly recommended.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Ms. Parks presents a roller coaster of a story – where determining the good, the evil, and the crazy, becomes almost as important as determining who-done-it. This reader could not put the book down.

Murphy Andersen had a mission to complete, but truth was not part of it. Her sister had disappeared, her friends were dying, and she needed to put the pieces together. Determining who to trust was as difficult for her as it was for this reader, but slowly and surely, the clouds of uncertainty begin to lift. And when they do, she must fight for her own life and the life of those she had learned to trust.

The book had it roots in Alaska’s part in WWII and the United States involvement in chemical and biological weapons in the late 1940’s through the late 1950’s. Sadly, the US government is not as innocent as our history books would have it’s citizens believe. The author has done an excellent job of weaving history and fiction together into a readable tale.

Formula of Deception is a summer or fall thriller that easily earns the reader’s attention. Some church libraries will appreciate it (though the faith component is not as strong as it is for some faith-based books), but the public library could easily find a place for this book in their collection. This book is perfect for the reader looking for a thrill ride along Alaska’s Aleutian Islands.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I was first introduced to Carrie Stuart Parks when I won one of her books in a scavenger hunt. It was one of my favorites from that haul and I promptly bought the other books in the Gwen Marcey series because I loved her writing style - the amount of research she put into it, the drama/action, character development and humor. She had the perfect blend! So, in spite of the fact that this was not part of that series, I was very excited for this new book. While this was still a very enjoyable read, it was not quite to the caliber as the author's prior series, in my opinion.

This book introduces us to Murphy Anderson, who through her artistic ability, is playing the part of a forensic artist on a case in order to earn some money and find out what happened to her sister. She gets called in to do a composite drawing of a man who'd been found dead 10 years ago on a deserted island. The person who found him (and 5 others) finally came to the police for a near deathbed confession. After Murphy does the sketch and assists in the attempt to gather evidence on the actual island, things escalate quickly. Soon, people associated with the case end up missing or dead and Murphy has to work against the clock to find out what is happening before she ends up next.

This book is fast paced, has some surprising twists and turns and ultimately had a major plot twist at the end that I never saw coming. The book was rich in history dating back to World War II and research into various forms of warfare from that time that have continued since. Once again, the author did her homework as it related to the book. I didn't like Murphy as much as I liked Gwen, but that may change with time (I've had 4 books to come to love Gwen). This book was a bit more serious in its overall feeling that I'm used to with this author, and there were times I wondered if the main character was having a mental breakdown (which is all explained, but it left me confused for a good portion). However, overall this is one I would recommend.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this book. The thoughts and opinions stated here are my own.

Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Highly recommended! So many twists and turns in this one! I was practically holding my breath as I turned the pages. It was hard to put down, because I wanted so badly for Murphy to find her sister. Who does she trust and why are so many people around her dying? I was a bit confused at times about what was going on—probably missed some clues because I was reading so fast or just didn’t follow all the various story lines. Based on what I was reading as far as I was concerned, a romance was non-existent, so I was a bit surprised to hear a character refer to Joshua as her boyfriend. As I read, I found myself wondering how she could know so much about police procedures… Everything became clearer in the last few pages of the story. Wondering if this is a stand-alone or the beginning of a series?

An artist, hiding in Kodiak, Alaska, finds herself pulled into a police investigation using her artistic skills for forensic drawings. Her name changed, no one knows that Murphy Anderson isn’t who she says she is and she is certainly not a forensic artist. Yet her skills seem to be good enough for the local police department to not request any credentials. When a local priest is murdered following a visit with Murphy, her picture is shared with the local newspaper.

With additional murders, the case becomes bigger and spreads, along with her picture.. Her biggest fear that the man who murdered her twin sister, and tried to kill her, leaving her face knife scarred, will find her. When she learns he has escaped prison, her fears grow, especially when weird things start happening such as notes and pictures.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the priest’s death leads investigators through a myriad of murders and secrets, some decades old. Something happened on the nearby remote island of Ruuwaq...something related to World War II. What happened? Why are people being killed? What’s with the rats on an island with little to no vegetation or forms of life?

This novel grabbed me from page one until the very end. I read it in 24 hours!

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Moving away from her Gwen Marcey series, Carrie Stuart Parks intrigues readers with this standalone novel that is sure to send chills up the spine. Murphy Andersen is hiding in plain sight in rural Alaska, worried that the serial killer likely responsible for her sister’s disappearance might soon find her. Creating a backstory so as not to alert anyone, Andersen sells herself as a forensic artist and has been brought in by the Kodiak Police Department to sketch some memories of a dying man. These sketches are to represent five bodies the man found a decade ago on a remote island. When Andersen and a crime technician make their way to the apparent crime scene, weather works against them and they narrowly escape with their lives. Soon thereafter, people with whom Andersen has recently had contact end up murdered and her home is torched. Might this all be coincidental or is there someone trying to send a message? As Andersen remains convinced that she will get to the bottom of her sister’s disappearance, she is also working this cold case, where she discovers potential ties to a World War II extremely covert mission. While she is worried that her identity and past may soon be revealed, Andersen cannot be deterred from doing all she can to solve these two Alaskan mysteries. A well-paced thriller that keeps the reader’s attention. Recommended for those who enjoy a police procedural with a twist!

I have long enjoyed Parks’ forensic artist series, as it tackles crime fighting from a unique perspective and helps educate the reader on some of the major aspects of the author’s other career. This move away from the series allows Parks to expand the foundation of her writing, adding a younger and less jaded protagonist. Murphy Andersen proves to be an interesting character, though the intensity of her backstory is diluted as she tries to help with the cases at hand. Parks has done well to introduce a number of interesting supporting characters, many of whom complement Andersen well, though not as well as some of those Parks has created in her aforementioned series. The plot has some interesting aspects—a serial killer, five mystery bodies, a military mission— but I found the entire experience not to be as intense as I might have liked. I was able to read the book with ease, though found myself lacking a connection to much on the page. It might also be some of the psychological aspects and internal conversations that Andersen seems to have, but I felt it lacked the punch Parks usually brings to her novels. The premise is sound and the historic happenings, be they real or fabricated, offered the reader something interest to ponder as they make their way through this piece.

Kudos, Madam Parks, for a decent addition to your writing repertoire. While not my favourite piece, I can still see some of your high-calibre writing that hooked me a while back.

Great story! There were tons of twists and turns that kept me guessing through the entire book. I love Carrie Stuart Parks’ books, and this is another winner.

I liked the unique storyline. The author has knowledge to sprinkle into the details to give it belief. The plot was thick with potential suspects. There were lots of twists and turns to keep the pace going.

I was sympathetic to the main character. I was also surprised by revelations about her personal story that eventually come to light. The ending tied everything up nicely.

I did find it a little difficult to keep track of the characters and the details in the beginning. This is a book you should read in chunks—not bits and pieces—or you risk getting lost.

I give this book four stars, and would read more by this author.

Available for pre-buy now, Formula of Deception releases on July 3, 2018.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow, wow and WOW! The twists and turns take the reader on a crazy ride. You won't know who or what to believe or trust. Christian approved. You won't want to miss this amazing book.

Formula of Deception is an engaging, entertaining book full of surprises and suspense. The entire time I read the book I did not want to put the book down. There are many twists and turns to the plot and several things occurred that surprised me (I did not see it coming). The main character of this book is Murphy Anderson, who is an artist working with the local police. As I read about Murphy’s character and as things were revealed about her, I liked her character more and more. I enjoyed some of the secondary characters as well. Their stories were interesting and engaging. This suspenseful book was fantastic and I highly recommend the book! You will not be disappointed. I have read some of her other books and liked them, but this one is written so well!!!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.

* 3.5 star review *

Murphy Anderson has a sad and dark past. Her sister was murdered by a serial killer who has since escaped from jail. This novel is set with Murphy living in Kodiak Alaska, trying to move on and get some closure from her sister death. In the mean time a ww2 mystery begins to unfold when Murphy is send to help investigate a possible crime scene on Ruuwaq island. This unravels many mysteries with lots of twists and turns. An overall enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was very different from Parks' previous series. It centered around an incident related to World War II. It was hard for me to connect all of the details at the conclusion of the story. I found it confusing to follow.

I am not a big fan of books with war-related plots. So, it may have affected my enjoyment of the book.

Carrie Stuart Parks is making a name for herself in suspense. I have read her Gwen Marcy's stories, and I loved them. I love how she brings her skills in forensic arts to her characters. Of course, Parks has decided to start a new series with Formula of Deception. What could be better than a modern day mystery taking place in Alaska featuring some World War II elements? Which is exactly what Parks does. I was excited when I heard about the new series from Parks in Fall 2017. I couldn't wait to see what happens.
The mystery captured my attention right away, and I couldn't wait to see how Parks would create twists and turns throughout the entire novel. Parks does a great job at inviting into the mystery, and I had hard time putting the novel down. From the first chapter, I was drawn into the mystery with the World War II elements and anxiously flipped through the rest of the story, wanting to see what happens. The mystery was well-researched and captured my attention.
Murphy is an interesting heroine. I really can't wait to see more installments in this series about her. Parks left a lot unresolved about her past with hints of the truth floating around the edge. I hope I learn more about her sister and hopefully find the answers to what happens. Parks created Murphy with past hurts and trying to hide from her sister's killer.
Overall, Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks is a spine-tingling mystery filled with a number of twists and turns and a great introduction to a new fascinating heroine, Murphy. I believe fans of Carrie Stuart Parks' other mysteries will enjoy this novel too. Fans of Steven James, Kathy Herman, and Dee Henderson should pick this book up.
I received a complimentary copy of Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

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Wow, heart pounding suspense with a complex plot! A young woman whose goal in coming to Alaska was to solve her sister's disappearance, Murphy Anderson finds herself in deep with no one to trust. Using her artistic skills and fine sense of details, she poses as a forensic artist, and finds herself in more danger than ever.

This book is a well told tale, intricately spinning together the threads of a cold case, present day murders, and an anti-heroine on the run. Using the interesting history of the Kodiak and Aleutian islands around WWII, the story has a realistic feel that makes it even more thrilling. Surprising twists develop as she uncovers the truth behind the cold cases and the tension ratchets up. Some side characters add a few lighter moments and some faith too. Loved Bertie, Vesper and her family, 'Uncle' especially.
Highly recommend for suspense fans looking for a great story with no romance.