I thought I had this one all worked out...then I didn't...then I did again...then I didn't...but such is the amazing talent of Maggie James to drop in more red herrings than the fish quay at North Shields. So I gave up trying to work it out, and just went along for the ride!

Ellie and Lyddie are really close sisters, more so after Ellie attempted suicide on multiple occasions. Lyddie is understandably overprotective of Ellie so when Ellie is duped by a con-artist into giving him all of her inheritance, Lyddie vows revenge. Lyddie sets up a fake profile on some dating websites to lure the con-man into her web so she can get her revenge but he always seems to be one step ahead of her... Then Lyddie unexpectedly finds the man of her dreams but she worries that she will lose him when she comes clean about her fake dating profile. Lyddie might just have to choose between finding love for herself or getting revenge for her sister.

I loved how Maggie James so cleverly led me in one direction then blindfolded me, spun me around and sent me back to square one. I also think it's good to remind people about the dangerous predators lurking online. I've dabbled in online dating in the past but I can't bear dishonesty and there's always that fear that the person you are corresponding with is somebody else entirely. I'm sure that there are some honest people out there but I've never found one in the world of online dating.

Ellie's mental health is also a big part of the story and very topical at the moment as we are encouraged to be aware of mental health. I did feel that Lyddie mollycoddled her a bit and I wondered what Ellie's failed suicide attempts were really all about when she clearly has a family who love her. Maggie James is never one for leaving loose ends so all of this becomes clear as the story progresses and it's all beautifully wrapped up in a big bow at the end.

Deception Wears Many Faces is a fabulously entertaining, gripping and totally addictive book from the dark and twisty mind of the wonderful Maggie James. It's definitely a read-in-a-day kind of book as I couldn't bear to put it down once I'd picked it up; Maggie James has this amazing ability to tie your brain in knots so you know you're going to get a top-notch thrilling read when you pick up one of her books. There's a bit of a pattern forming here on The Book Magnet as Maggie James scoops another huge 5 stars from me.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

Lyddie Hunter is flying back home after she receives the news that her younger sister, Ellie, has tried to commit suicide. This is not the first time Ellie has tried to kill herself, either. Ellie has been on a downwards spiral after a tragic accident that happened several years ago. Lyddie loves her sister and will do anything to protect her even if it means leaving her home in Spain for a while to take care of her. Soon, we learn the reason behind Ellie’s latest suicide attempt. Ellie was swindled out of all of her money by a suave con man. Determined to seek justice, Lyddie vows to herself to find the man responsible and make him pay for what he did to her sister.

Taking on a new identity, Lyddie puts up a fake profile on a dating website hoping to reel in the same con man who took advantage of her sister. But, has she now made herself a target to a thief that will do anything to keep his identity hidden?

Lyddie seems like such a strong character and her determination to help her sister is admirable, but when it comes to men, Lyddie sometimes doesn’t always make the best decisions. So I was kind of torn as to how I actually felt about her joining dating websites because her track record with men is shaky at best. I felt that she was very flighty when it came to love and romance and made some pretty stupid decisions right from the beginning. Don’t get me wrong. She is very smart, but I don’t feel she was experienced enough with men to recognize a con man.

Maggie James takes the perils of internet dating and writes about it in such a realistic way showing the ups and downs and how easy it is to be snowed by a swindler. These guys have many many years of experience conning money from women. You hear about women falling victim to a scammer over and over again and sometimes I ask myself how anyone could fall for the lies and manipulation. Many times women are sending money to guys that haven’t even met in person and sometimes live in another country. I can’t even fathom doing something like that.

The plot of Deception Wears many faces really starts off strong and that prologue…omg! You know Lyddie is going to be way over her head especially since she is getting threats. As the story moves along, I was back and forth trying to figure out who was behind it all, but Maggie James throws out so many red herrings that I had a hard time figuring out the truth through all of the lies. I found myself really engrossed in the story and not able to put it down. I did have a few issues with Lyddie and how quickly she falls for a man she meets…a little too quickly for my liking and kind of borders on insta-love.

Deception Wears Many Faces really lives up to its title. There is deception around every corner you turn. You are left trying to piece together all of the information and just when you have it all figured out it gets shot down forcing you to question what is really going on. All in all, it is an intense, mind bending thriller that takes you down a windy road filled with secrets, lies, and manipulation that will make you question who to believe and who not to believe. ( )

Deception Wears Many Faces by Maggie James

Twisted…that was the first word that came to mind when I finished the book. Lydia and her sister Ellen had a strange relationship that became even stranger as I read the book. Their relationship with their parents was also a bit uneven. I had trouble believing that the con artist had the power he did over so many people and was as ruthless and evil as he turned out being. At one point I wrote in my journal, “Lydia is STUPID!” and even at the end of the book I felt both of the women were a wee bit too easily taken in by the men met when online dating. The one I found myself most drawn to was Richie and I am not sure what really happened to break Lydia and him up in the past.

Did I enjoy the book? Mostly
Would I read another book by this author? Probably
Were there surprises I was not expecting? Yes

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars ( )