Review of Deceptive Calm
Posted: 25 Jun 2025, 02:43
[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper.]
It’s funny how some books sneak up on you. Deceptive Calm started out like background noise—interesting, sure, but not loud. Then it lingered. Got under my skin. The more I sat with it, the louder it got. On the surface, it’s about Vanessa Vaughn, a successful TV anchor married into San Francisco wealth and status. But look closer, and it’s a slow-burning psychological thriller wrapped around a raw, intimate story about racial identity, power, and the emotional cost of pretending to be someone you’re not.
Vanessa’s life is a balancing act. On one side, she’s the polished, camera-ready wife of Tod Von Westerkamp, heir to a cold, old-money dynasty. On the other, she’s quietly suffocating—passing as white, hiding who she really is, and trying to survive in a world that wouldn’t accept her otherwise. That tension—between who she is and who she has to be—is what gives the book its emotional punch. It’s not just backstory; it’s the story. Her inner conflict is constant, sharp, and deeply relatable if you’ve ever felt pressure to shrink or disguise yourself just to feel safe.
Reading her unravel felt like watching someone try to hold their breath forever. Her pregnancy, Tod’s escalating cruelty, and the bombshell of Brett’s diagnosis—all of it builds with such unbearable pressure. The moment Trisha pulls them from the water? I had to reread it just to catch my own breath. Those scenes hit hard—but what really kept me hooked was the emotional depth. Vanessa is one of those characters who’s quietly strong, the kind of brave that doesn’t show off. And Trisha? Honestly, one of my favorite best-friend characters in recent memory. Her loyalty doesn’t just move the plot forward—it saves lives.
If I had one small critique, I wish a few of the side characters had been given more room to develop. Suzanne Von Westerkamp was haunting in her coldness, but I found myself wanting to understand her better. Same with Gabrielle—Blair’s wife—who felt a bit too polished and underused. It’s a minor thing, really, but in a story this rich, a little more depth around the edges would’ve made it even stronger.
Still, none of that changes how I feel. This is a 5-star read, no question. The way it explores identity—especially the quiet devastation of being erased to survive—left me thinking about it long after I closed the book. Deceptive Calm isn’t just a good story; it’s a haunting one. And maybe that’s the best kind. The kind that doesn’t let you go.
******
Deceptive Calm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
It’s funny how some books sneak up on you. Deceptive Calm started out like background noise—interesting, sure, but not loud. Then it lingered. Got under my skin. The more I sat with it, the louder it got. On the surface, it’s about Vanessa Vaughn, a successful TV anchor married into San Francisco wealth and status. But look closer, and it’s a slow-burning psychological thriller wrapped around a raw, intimate story about racial identity, power, and the emotional cost of pretending to be someone you’re not.
Vanessa’s life is a balancing act. On one side, she’s the polished, camera-ready wife of Tod Von Westerkamp, heir to a cold, old-money dynasty. On the other, she’s quietly suffocating—passing as white, hiding who she really is, and trying to survive in a world that wouldn’t accept her otherwise. That tension—between who she is and who she has to be—is what gives the book its emotional punch. It’s not just backstory; it’s the story. Her inner conflict is constant, sharp, and deeply relatable if you’ve ever felt pressure to shrink or disguise yourself just to feel safe.
Reading her unravel felt like watching someone try to hold their breath forever. Her pregnancy, Tod’s escalating cruelty, and the bombshell of Brett’s diagnosis—all of it builds with such unbearable pressure. The moment Trisha pulls them from the water? I had to reread it just to catch my own breath. Those scenes hit hard—but what really kept me hooked was the emotional depth. Vanessa is one of those characters who’s quietly strong, the kind of brave that doesn’t show off. And Trisha? Honestly, one of my favorite best-friend characters in recent memory. Her loyalty doesn’t just move the plot forward—it saves lives.
If I had one small critique, I wish a few of the side characters had been given more room to develop. Suzanne Von Westerkamp was haunting in her coldness, but I found myself wanting to understand her better. Same with Gabrielle—Blair’s wife—who felt a bit too polished and underused. It’s a minor thing, really, but in a story this rich, a little more depth around the edges would’ve made it even stronger.
Still, none of that changes how I feel. This is a 5-star read, no question. The way it explores identity—especially the quiet devastation of being erased to survive—left me thinking about it long after I closed the book. Deceptive Calm isn’t just a good story; it’s a haunting one. And maybe that’s the best kind. The kind that doesn’t let you go.
******
Deceptive Calm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon