Formula of Deception

<i> 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. </i><br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: <br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/">http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/</a><br /><br />A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons">https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...</a>

Formula of Deception is a book that hooked me from the start. I love how the present crime story has a connection to WW2. Also, the setting Kodiak, Alaska really worked great for me. I love stories set in remote towns or islands. And, a crime novel set in Alaska worked well with me since I don't read many books set in that state. <br /><br />I was engrossed with the story. I found Murphy Anderson to be an interesting character. She's a person I felt I connected with. Her losses in life really moved me. I liked the characters she met in the book and Carrie Stuart Parks managed to add some really nice surprising twists to the story. All and all is this a great book and I hope this is the first book in a series!<br /><br />I have previously read Portrait of Vengeance by Carrie Stuart Parks that I enjoyed and I'm glad to say that this one was just as good as Portrait of Vengeance (from the Gwen Marcey series) and that I definitely want to read more books by her. <br /><br /><i>I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!</i>

Formula of Deception is set in Alaska is filled with international intrigue, historical twists, and a broken heroine who is compelling.This novel is perfect for those who love a suspense that will keep you guessing as you turn the pages. I can't tell if it's the first in a series or a stand alone, but I was tugged through the story with a force that kept me wishing for just a few more minutes. It has pacing, a fascinating historical twist set in WWII so you know I loved it, and a heroine I just wanted to protect. A great story.

I love the way Carrie Stuart Park writes. I have only recently discovered her and enjoy her books immensely. <br /><br />That said, I'm not exactly reading them in order which in some cases can cause confusion if they are not meant to be a stand alone. <br /><br />This was decent mystery, clean, well paced. The audio version was read well, and the narrator did very admirable job with a wide range of voices and accents. <br /><br />However, Ms. Parks really hones her skills in future authored works with wit, wisdom and hilarious dialogue with a more engaging mystery. All in all, this is a good book and anxious to discover some more of her works.<br /><br />3.5 STARS

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.<br /><br />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 region 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 Vesper and her family, 'Uncle' especially, and Bertie. <br /> Highly recommend for suspense fans looking for a great stand alone story with no romance. <br /><br />(An e-book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

~3.5 stars~<br />Whoa! Just give me a minute here while my head stops spinning! This story will certainly keep you on your toes, but I think I lost my balance right at the end as all the revelations and reversals kept piling up—some of which were more believable than others.<br /><br />But let me start at the beginning. I love Carrie Stuart Parks’ characterisation, and this book was no exception. She invests each of her characters, no matter how important, with a unique personality—and in several cases, a helping of dry humour (always a win for me). I was particularly intrigued by Murphy’s character, as it became clear as the story went on that there were some psychological elements in play. I wasn’t quite sure how that was going to pan out, but her mental conversations with her dead sister were just one clue that there was something going on.<br /><br />The plot moved at a crisp pace and provided plenty of danger and suspense (and an increasing body count!), but I found myself sceptical of some of the conclusions Murphy was able to draw at different points in the story. Sometimes they felt just a little too convenient, or as though the evidence she had wasn’t strong enough to justify the connections she was making. And by the end, the circumstances she uncovered were almost too convoluted for me to get my head around. I think if I went back and read it again I would probably be able to make better sense of it. In fact, maybe I should have done that at the time. If someone had been telling me the story, I would have made them stop and repeat a number of things just to make sure I had it all straight! But it was one of those stories where the idea of stopping to take stock doesn’t occur to you, because you’re too busy gorging yourself on all the revelations!<br /><br />There were two somewhat disappointing elements, however. First, we get teased with the prospect of a romantic interest, but we hardly see him. Yes, I’m pouting. If you’re going to dangle that carrot, at least let us grab a few bites. On second thoughts, perhaps that wasn’t the best metaphor… <br /><br />The other thing was the resolution of the plot surrounding the sister’s killer. I’m going to have to be REALLY careful not to let spoilers slip here, but it felt a bit far-fetched to me. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say I felt a little duped. Maybe a bit of both. That’s probably all I can say without revealing too much.<br /><br />With all that said, the story certainly kept my attention, so if that’s what you’re after, go for it!<br /><br />I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

4.5⭐️<br /><br />My brain hurts. This book was a RIDE! I love Carrie Stuart Parks’ writing and I feel like she takes Christian thrillers in a different direction than a lot of writers. Some of the plot points were confusing and there was a LOT going on, but most of it made sense in the end. There were elements that were annoying while I was reading them, because they seemed like plot conveniences or just weird characterization. However, once I reached the end, a lot of those annoying things actually made sense and there was a reason why Parks wrote it the way she did. <br /><br />Overall, loved this book! My expectation for Christian fiction is often pretty low, so maybe that’s why I enjoyed it so much, but it was a fun ride either way.

Oh book reviews – sometimes you’re hard to write!<br /><br />This one wasn’t a hit for me. After thinking on this for a while, I figured out what missed the mark: The book had too many lines cast out. There was the personal drama Murphy was going through, the mysterious prologue, the current crimes she was helping to investigate, and more as the truth was ultimately revealed. While there were some intriguing bits, it started to lose its credibility towards the end. I also thought some developments were rushed and that always makes it hard for me to connect with characters.<br /><br />I admit, I often compared this to Gwen Marcey’s stories (the main character in Parks’ previous novels), and it didn’t match those reading experiences (which is a hard thing to do because I LOVE those novels and Gwen is hilarious).<br /><br />So, while the history was interesting, this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations.<br /><br />(Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for a copy of the book. All views expressed are my own.)

"You can't trust him. You can't trust anyone . . . . You have a mission." <br /><br />Memories are a funny thing; some are quite trustworthy, while others may present themselves as a "formula of deception". Murphy Anderson finds herself caught in between, as bewildering flashbacks handicap her ability to recalibrate her life in Kodiak, Alaska following the heinous murder of her twin sister. <br /><br />Posing as a forensic artist, Murphy is pulled beside the deathbed of another Alaskan who is forcing painful memories to the surface. Capitalizing on her artistic abilities, his trail of sketchy details leads the crime team to the remote Ruuwag Island, where a rather routine search for clues turns into a labyrinth of evidence so volatile that everyone who comes in contact is promptly eliminated. <br /><br />Deemed a "soul searcher" by the natives, Murphy's unique skill for gathering details has placed her squarely in the crosshairs of those who are carefully guarding their secrets. So many questions. And so few answers. This thrilling novel by Carrie Stuart Parks has more twists and turns than an underground cave, and its readers will be awestruck when they discover how she fits it all together.

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