Kindle Edition Amazon Category:  Mystery/Suspense Publisher: Anne O'Connell ISBN-10:  0984927263 Pages: 298 Copyright: March 8, 2015 ISBN-13: 9780984927272 Price: $3.99 (eBook) When Celeste Parker's daughter goes missing in Dubai the search for her uncovers a web of Deep Deceit. A suspenseful novel full of twists and turns... reviewers are calling it a 'page turner'! When Celeste Parker’s daughter Tamara goes missing in Dubai the all-out search and rescue mission she anticipates never materializes. Put off by the police as 18-year-old Tamara is technically an adult, and no foul play is apparent, Celeste has a gut feeling something is terribly wrong. New to the city and with her husband away working in Saudi Arabia, Celeste turns to her new friend and fellow expat, Susan Morris, for help. The duo set off on a hunt, which takes them down a dark alley of deep deceit. From exotic nightclubs and high-class call girls to mysterious Saudi palaces hidden behind ominous walls, they follow each lead while uncovering the unthinkable. As they come closer to finding Tamara, the secrets Celeste and Susan uncover threaten not only her daughter's life but everyone in their families’ as well. “Anne O'Connell has written an intimate thriller from an unusual and fascinating point of view: the families of Westerners living and working in the Gulf States. She takes the Not Without My Daughter plot and adds a new and satisfying twist.” - Tim Brookes, author of Endangered Alphabets and director of the writing program at Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont “Deep Deceit is compulsive reading from start to finish. O'Connell cleverly combines the thrill of the chase with intense psychological elements, as her characters unravel under the pressure of events beyond their control. Who is telling the truth? What secrets does domineering husband, Ryan, hide and how far will those in power go to avenge the wrongs he has done? Can anything save his wife and daughter? And where does love fit into this riveting tale?  I couldn't put it down until all had been revealed...” - Jae De Wylde, author, The Thinking Tank and Sleeping People Lie Excerpt Sweat mingled with sunscreen and sand, streaming into Susan’s eyes, almost blinding her. Her arms shook and she didn’t know how much more she could take. “Come on girls… give me 10 more or no water break!” screamed the burly Neanderthal Susan had nicknamed ‘The Sadist’. She looked over at the latest newcomer whose face glowed a brilliant shade of crimson and who, after each push-up, fell flat on her belly, and Susan felt sorry for her. She’d introduce herself and take her for a cold one once this evening’s desert boot camp finished. Susan’s shoulders burned from the effort as she struggled to ‘give him’ two more. Another unchecked grunt burst from between her clenched teeth. The rest of the co-ed class, in various phases of weight-loss and/or bodybuilding obsession, groaned and panted in unison. She snuck another glance at the newbie who returned a wide-eyed, pain-wracked look as she collapsed into the sand again. Susan wondered what could possibly motivate this woman to inflict such pain on herself. This was Susan’s second round at boot camp. The only thing that kept her coming back was that it helped her shed what everyone called the ‘Dubai stone’, a whopping 14 pounds. She had gained it since moving to the most glamorous place on earth, with lots of temptation and not too much work. After she and her husband had moved to Dubai, she had decided to take a break from the psychiatric nursing she’d been doing for 13 years. She hadn’t realized how being on her feet, running from patient to patient, had kept her in shape. She started ‘boot camp’ after she caught a glimpse of her widening rear-end in a shop window reflecting back at her in all its calorie-induced glory. The testing of new restaurants, Friday all-you-can-eat and drink brunches and the thrice- weekly ladies lunches had caught up with her. She swore once she dropped the extra weight, which showed dramatically on her petite frame, she would be more careful in the future. “Okay folks… great work,” the Sadist admitted. “See you next week!” Susan cracked open her bottle of lukewarm water and poured half of it over her head, then downed the rest like a crazed, water deprived person lost in the desert. “I don’t think I’ll be back next week. I’m not cut out for this,” the newbie walked up to Susan and put out her hand. “You were awesome… I’d really like to shake your hand because it looks like you’re a pro.” “Aw, thanks. I sure wasn’t a pro a few months ago but I can do it now without too much pain… I’m Susan,” she said shaking the outstretched hand that was offered. “Celeste,” she puffed. “Sorry, haven’t quite caught my breath yet.” Celeste bent down with her hands on her knees. Susan laughed. “He is a bit of a task master.” She lowered her voice. “I actually call him the Sadist. But I promise it does get easier.” Celeste nodded and smiled. “It’s really nice to meet you. I don’t know many people here yet and I thought this would be a good place to make new friends.” She brushed the sand off her front and tried to smooth down her hair. “It’ll have to be someone who isn’t into looks, that’s for sure!” “Well, I’d love to buy you a drink if you’ve got time… nothing like a cold beer to reward yourself for surviving a work out with Ivan.” Susan tilted her head towards their instructor and grimaced. “Actually, I’d like that. My husband’s away and my daughter is sleeping over at a friend’s so I’m pretty free and easy.” “Great, there’s a place called Long’s Bar not far from here,” Susan offered. “It’ll still be happy hour and they’ve got great pub grub. And, some of the football clubs go there after their games so we can go as we are! We won’t be nearly as smelly as them!” “Okay, sounds perfect,” Celeste stomped her feet to get the sand off as they stepped from the beach onto the sidewalk. “Can I follow you? I don’t know my way around yet and even though I’ve lived all over the world I’m finding it’s probably the most difficult place I’ve had to navigate.” “I felt the same way when we arrived a year ago and I still get lost sometimes. Everyone complains about it but they all say it’s much better than it used to be… it wasn’t long ago that they didn’t even have street names,” Susan rolled her eyes. “It’s not far so why don’t you ride with me and I’ll bring you back to your car when we’re done. I’m right here,” Susan pointed to a red Jeep Wrangler with the top off and vaulted into the driver’s seat. Celeste looked forlornly at Susan. “I’m afraid I’m not quite as nimble as you… I’ve got a few extra pounds.” “Don’t be silly, you’re fine… and, there is a door you can use. Mine’s just broken and I haven’t had the time to get it fixed. Here…” Susan leaned over and pushed the passenger door open. “Seems I’m busier now than when I was working 12-hour shifts!” “Thanks.” Celeste climbed in. “Twelve-hour shifts? What do you do?” “Actually, I’m a nurse but I decided to take a break when we moved here. I’d been working in a psych ward of a hospital in New Jersey and it was pretty stressful.” Susan shifted the Jeep into first gear and pulled away from the curb. “I know she rides a little rough and it’s kind of windy but I’ve wanted one of these since I was in college.” “At least we don’t have to worry about messing our hair,” Celeste laughed. “Mine’s already a disaster anyway.” Susan turned onto Sheikh Zayed Road, the main thoroughfare that ran north-south connecting two of the seven United Arab Emirates, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It was a highway that inspired hair-raising stories around the world, with the YouTube videos to prove it. The wind buffeted their voices so they lapsed into a companionable silence for the short ride. Susan took the next ramp and was soon pulling in front of the Towers Rotana Hotel. “Is it in the hotel?” asked Celeste. “Yeah, it’s in the basement. All the bars here are located in hotels because of the crazy laws around serving and even drinking alcohol.” Susan grabbed a ball cap from the floor of the back seat and stuffed her hair up into it. One black curl escaped under the brim and she brushed it back over her ear. “Do you have your alcoholics drinks license yet?” “My what?” “How long did you say you’ve been here? That was the first thing my husband did… well, as soon as we had our residency stuff sorted out.” Susan linked her arm into Celeste’s and guided her up the stairs and into the lobby. “Just a couple of months but I only have a tourist visa so far. My husband is working in Saudi and he’s supposed to be coming back next week to take care of all the paperwork.” Celeste’s voice cracked and Susan thought her new friend was about to cry. “Well, now you’ve got me and I’m happy to help. Don’t worry… it’ll all come together, you’ll see. We were really lucky. My husband is a pilot for Emirates and they took care of all that for us. I can just imagine what it’s like to have to do it all by yourself. Now that I think of it, you really need that drink!”

You had me at 'give me 10 more'
Right off the bat, the title and the photo had me intrigued. The opening lines portrayed a friendship developing through hardship that would grow, permeate and infuse the arc of the story. This is a book about love, betrayal, loyalty, and friendship written beneath the backdrop of colorful, exotic, androcentric Dubai. For anyone who's ever traveled as an ex-patriot, you'll empathize with the character's needs to find their own "tribal members" and learn the lay of the land quickly. For any of us who are parents, and more fear instilling, parents in a foreign land, this roller coaster ride of emotions will keep you reading through to the satisfying end. While the story itself was a mystery thriller, the author painted life in Dubai with such vivid and evocative language, I felt myself immersed in the region. The descriptions of the wedding and the night club scene were particularly striking.
I look forward to more from this author and to learn more about the character Susan, a natural-born caregiver and sleuth. Well done!


Gripping and Masterful
Deep Deceit is compulsive reading from start to finish. The exotic locations of Dubai and Saudi are authentic and provide a colourful background to the drama and tension the author masterfully brings to an edge-of-the-seat crescendo. Unlike most 'expat' novels, it is the gripping storyline and the universal themes of abuse, neglect and oppression that are central, rather than the humdrum of the often unreal and privileged world of those who work away from home. The author's portrayal of the complexities of emotional damage is insightful and she demonstrates that nothing comes from nothing, and we are all vulnerable when it comes to our mental health. O'Connell cleverly combines the thrill of the chase with intense psychological elements, as her characters unravel under the pressure of events beyond their control. Who is telling the truth? What secrets does domineering husband, Ryan, hide and how far will those in power go to avenge the wrongs he has done? Can anything save his wife and daughter? And where does love fit into this riveting tale? I couldn't put it down until all had been revealed...

A Thrilling Journey
Hard to put down, suspenseful and with an exotic flavour - that's Deep Deceit in a nutshell! The author tackled issues of dependency and mental health in a very skillful manner which made both the characters and tension strong and real; I particularly enjoyed the feeling of being in the main character's gut, so to speak, sensing that something was off and going through discoveries with her only as the plot unfolded. Whether you are familiar with the Middle East and expat kind of life or just looking for an enticing escape from your everyday routine, Deep Deceit is the kind of read that delivers on multiple frontiers.