This was a wonderfully done novel, it had that element that I was hoping for and enjoyed the mysterious element to this. The characters had that realistic feel that I was hoping for and was invested in what was happening. Jastrow Hill has a strong writing style and am excited for more.

The Paroxysm Deception is about Camille and her plot to kill her own parents, for not cosigning on her apartment. Camille is a smart girl who we get snippets of her childhood and environment throughout, from birth to her trying to make it out on her own. The investigators and lawyers involved in the case afterward are what really bring the case alive.

This was written how I imagine court testimony to be written. A lot was covered in the first half, from the background to the crime itself. I was looking forward to the actual court events, as the author was an attorney. I think there is some great questions that are brought up and plot that gets convoluted as the story goes on that could be worth reading. The first half of the book was somewhat dry and filled with a little too much dialogue (although some of the descriptions I very much enjoyed and thought were well-written). I’m not usually a fan of what I feel like is an overdoing of expletives and found their use to be overdone in a way that made the characters fall flat and had me questioning their motives and personalities.

4/5. This was a quick and enjoyable with painfully flawed (but still very human) characters. It may just be my own cynicism, but it felt timely given recent events.

The Paroxysm Deception by Jastrow Hill was a riveting, page-turning thriller that I couldn’t and didn’t want to stop reading.
Overall, this is a captivating, intriguing, page-turner. Great storytelling and amazing read.

The Paroxysm Deception is an original take on a crime novel. The first part of the book follows the life of Lisa and Dave and their only child Camille. After getting a good feel of the family dynamics, the second part of the novel follows the crime Camille commits and the subsequent trial. I couldn’t put this book down.

This book was definitely an interesting read-- it was an interesting exploration of justice, law, and manipulation. The first half follows a group of people who plan to commit a crime, while the second half follows the repercussions of getting caught for said crimes. The second half reads like it was written by a prosecutor while the first half is a lot more casual. It felt drawn out at some times, but the characters were fairly developed, it was well-written, and the second half was thought-provoking.
Sincere thank you to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review!