Fake (book) by John DeDakis on AuthorsDen

Professional Reviews
Uncanny

In Fake, protagonist Lark Chadwick emerges from a past filled with grief and trauma to gain insight, strength, compassion, and a genuine sense of self. Author John DeDakis writes with the sensitivity that will give you the uncanny feeling that you and Lark are on a parallel journey. Enjoy the ride as Fake builds to an intense crescendo.

~Adrienne Kraft, Clinical Social Worker (specializing in loss and trauma)

A Chilling Ride
In Fake, John DeDakis� unique take on the seamy side of newsroom politics makes for a chilling ride along that fine, trembling thread that separates us from the truth.

~Lynne Russell, Former CNN Anchor
Author, Heels of Fortune

John DeDakis at His Best
�I really loved this book. This is John DeDakis at his best as he shows how �fake news� has become the tail that wags the dog -- especially when it comes to sex. My God, what a world we live in! And DeDakis captures it perfectly. Fake is a page-turner. Bravo. Well done.

~Christine Talbott, Psychotherapist

Reviewed by De Rose

Reviewed on June 1, 2020

FAKE is JOHN DEDAKIS' fifth Lark Chadwick thriller/mystery.John just gets better and better; FAKE's proof is in the pudding. If you enjoy reading about current events and political intrigue, you'll eat this book up. I finished it in threee days, a record for me, a slow contemplative reader. I like to analyze everything I read and I found this book to be thoroughly enjoyable. I think you will too.

Lark works for the Associated press, she's one of an elite group of journalists within the White House and is in close contact with President Gannon and his wife, Rose. Aside from her job she is trying to deal with recent losses and other deaths, luckily she has a very good grief counselor. Lark is assigned to accompany Will Gannon on an important trip to China, along with a contingent of other staffers. Without giving away the plot, let me just say everything mushrooms during and after this trip.

Troubled Water, an earlier Chadwick entry, is an excellent slow-burn thriller but, hands-down, FAKE is much more exciting. FAKE gives the reader an inside-look at the White House; it's a political history lesson; it lets us walk through journalism's backdoor and so much more. In the last three plus years we have been bombarded with FAKE NEWS and FAKE takes its cue from just that.

FAKE, the winner of a Reader Views award, has a very distinctive front cover with a beautiful picture of the White House in the middle surrounded by blurred newspaper articles, a striking cover. The back cover is easy to read, a white background with black print. Font size and spacing are just right. The 6 by 9 format is standard for a trade paper. I have to say JOHN DEDAKIS is a fantastic writer. I can't wait to read his other novels, Fast Track, Bluff and Bullet in the Chamber. Keep writing John, I'm lovin' it!

Reviewed by E Harris (Reader)

Reviewed on January 28, 2020

Fake, a novel by John DeDakis, is the latest book in the Lark Chadwick Mystery series. While it can be read as a stand alone book, I highly recommend reading the other books. First Lady Rose Gannon suddenly dies during an interview with White House Correspondent Lark Chadwick. From that moment forward, Lark's life careens on a path she never could have foreseen.
Lark is no stranger to grief and is a realist but struggles to understand why she becomes a victim of social media contempt and hatred based on rumor and lies. In short: "fake news". The author skillfully places readers into the world of a White House Correspondent who is trying to report on the President and who finds herself involved in international intrigue. The action packed and riveting plot races to a surprising ending which left me hoping for another book in this series.
Masterfully crafted, this book is well worth reading. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through AuthorsDen. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Reviewed by Kim Aalaie

Reviewed on January 21, 2020

Another Lark Chadwick novel, I knew I was in for a treat before I even began and John DeDakis, as usual, did not let me down. "Fake" is a book for the moment, touching on subjects such as, "Trump's fake news" and the "Me2 movement," just to name a few. The story comes to life following what we are currently talking about in the real news today, sometimes heavy on the "fake." Lark Chadwick, a white house reporter for the Associated Press, has had her fair share of heartbreak (orphaned as a baby, death of the aunt that raised her and two deceased boyfriends), but at this time she is working on a separate story, the biography of the United State's president's terminally ill wife. Suddenly during one of these private sessions the president's wife collapses and passes away. From there the story begins. Weaved in-between the pages are numerous side stories, such as, an impending nuclear war, a grieving president, the love-life of Lark's best friend and coworker, and rumors surrounding not only the death of the president's wife, but also Lark herself. From page one, "Fake" pulls you into the story-line and there the novel starts to provide the reader plot after sub-plot to ponder. "Fake" quickly turns into a real page turner. That's all I'm going to say, sorry, no spoiler alerts because I want you to read and enjoy this wonderful read. Whether reading the novel as a sequel or as a great stand-alone, the story is awesome. "Fake" is another top notch DeDakis novel that leaves just enough loose ends to pick up the story nicely in another book. Keep them coming DeDakis, I can't get enough. Highly recommend you read the entire Lark Chadwick series, but just as a stand alone, this is another great book. A big 10 out of 10!