The Deadly Caress is the first novel by Australian author,
O.N.Stefan. When celebrated Australian nature photographer, Amanda Blake
travels to California
to meet Jean Campbell, the birth mother she has only just learned of, she is
apprehensive but hopeful. She wants to find out why Jean, widow of Campbell-
Beare Pharmaceuticals founder, Murray Campbell, gave her up for adoption, and
she hopes she will finally form a real mother-daughter relationship. What she
is certainly not expecting is a twin brother and a step-brother. Her twin,
Brian, seems a stereotypical Aussie male: friendly, laconic and rather casual.
Her step-brother, Dorian, is prickly and antagonistic. But before she has more
than a few hours to connect with the real mother, Jean is found dead in her
ensuite bathroom. The police suspect murder and the Campbell family lawyer, Lionel Cohen reveals
that Jean was preparing a new will that left the bulk of the estate to her
daughter. Amanda finds herself in a houseful of strangers, all of whom seem to
have their own agenda, and is unsure who she can trust. A clue that the police
seem uninterested in following up sends Amanda back to Australia to
see if she can find her mother’s killer. But this is a move that puts her in
more danger than she ever imagined. Stefan has crafted a murder mystery that is
fast-paced, full of suspense and action-packed. The plot has quite a few twists
and turns and none of the characters is what they first seem to be. Amanda
starts off a bit precious, but eventually finds her metal. Everyone, it seems,
even the staff and the lawyer, might have a motive for murder. Stefan manages
to include plenty of excitement: assaults and murders, as well as kidnapping,
shootings, car chases, a suicide and a bomb scare, with organised crime bosses,
a stolen drug formula, adultery and quite a lot of money in the background. The
dialogue is sharp and realistic and readers familiar with the Australian
location will appreciate the chase down the mountain. It will be interesting to
see what Stefan produces next. A gripping read.
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Saturday, July 26, 2014
A new review with four stars...yipee.
This made my day. Posted on Amazon Kindle by a top 500 reviewer. Wow.
Labels:
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Friday, April 18, 2014
My sixth five star review
My sixth five star review. Wow. Sooo excited.
It's nice to get some great feedback.
It's nice to get some great feedback.
P.S. Now on promotion: UK £0.92 US $1.55.
"When I chanced upon an early edition of "The
Deadly Caress," I was caught up
in its brisk pace from the get go with Amanda meeting her mother Jean for the
first time after many years. The backstory surfaces rapidly, Amanda and her
twin Brian adopted out inAustralia when Jean was seventeen and penniless,
but is now a rich widow inCalifornia
able to call them back together. And
then the sudden twist, their time for catching up is cut short by her murder.
It is a busy plot around diverse characters eyeing a huge inheritance while
a murder takes place and suspicion is rife, giving investigators a puzzle to
unravel. The prose is clear cut and to the point in both narration and
dialogue, making the story easy to follow. It is definitely a captivating read
worthy of the five stars I've given it."
The Deadly Caress
in its brisk pace from the get go with Amanda meeting her mother Jean for the
first time after many years. The backstory surfaces rapidly, Amanda and her
twin Brian adopted out in
but is now a rich widow in
then the sudden twist, their time for catching up is cut short by her murder.
It is a busy plot around diverse characters eyeing a huge inheritance while
a murder takes place and suspicion is rife, giving investigators a puzzle to
unravel. The prose is clear cut and to the point in both narration and
dialogue, making the story easy to follow. It is definitely a captivating read
worthy of the five stars I've given it."
The Deadly Caress
Sunday, April 6, 2014
My latest review
My latest review for The Deadly Caress.
The Deadly Caress
The Deadly Caress Web site
'Great cover and curiosity drew my attention to this book. A
quick peek into the book on-line and the quoted poem "On Seeing a Sheep
.." sets a scene of life, fate, innocence, death so I decided to buy it.
The story quickly grabbed my attention and it was difficult to stop reading. An
intriguing tale of an adopted baby growing up in Australia and having a successful
career as a freelance photographer. A surprising turn of events when Amanda
Blake is summoned to America
by her birth mother! The unexpected twists kept drawing me on, even through the
fear, horror and evil. The book draws you quickly to the final chapter. At the
end I was wondering what lay ahead in Amanda's life? Thank you O. Stefan and I
will keep an eye out for your next book.'
The Deadly Caress
The Deadly Caress Web site
Monday, March 3, 2014
ON SALE
Hi
Grab a bargain!
My book is on sale for $0.99 in the US from 5th March until 9th March. UK 6th April until 12th April. Please grab a bargain and enjoy the book. Happy reading.
Here's the link:
The Deadly Caress
Grab a bargain!
My book is on sale for $0.99 in the US from 5th March until 9th March. UK 6th April until 12th April. Please grab a bargain and enjoy the book. Happy reading.
Here's the link:
The Deadly Caress
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