Title: Murder with Deceit: A John Stone Mystery
Author: Winnfred Smith
ISBN: 978-1-64361-969-9
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 384
Reviewed by: Suzanne Gattis
Pacific Book Review
With murder mysteries which need to be solved, bad guys lurking around every corner, good guys with connections watching over you, and a few whirlwind romances, Winnfred Smith’s Murder with Deceit: A John Stone Mystery becomes a family affair which is a definite page turner. Throw in the entrancing setting of Paris and this novel is sure to please the lovers of life and mystery alike. From the first chapter of the book, you know you are going to be taken for a ride.
What started as a quick pick up line on the sidewalk takes readers on the adventure of a lifetime. A simple dinner date with a beautiful stranger turns in the search for answers, answers of what really took a father away from his family. As more suspects and characters are brought into the story, a series of half-truths and lies await the reader. Overcoming these obstacles, the hero John Stone, always accompanied by the lovely and loving Nicole, must navigate the twisted web that is being spun to find once and for all the truth.
While the genre is obviously mystery in this book, a vivid look at relationships is also explored in the passages. Not only the relationships of lovers, but also of family dynamics. You will find families that have been torn apart by tragedy but still love fiercely. Even with the knowledge that John Stone can’t possibly stay, the characters open their hearts and secrets to this man.
As far as the writing goes, I liked that there was always an answer when reading this novel; no twist or turn was left unresolved. One of my few recommendations would be to explore and work more on the conversations between characters; at times, they fell a little flat for me. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to others who love a good mystery; with love sprinkled in between.
