Official Review: A Time to Deceive by Ronan Farrell

[EmunahAn]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Time to Deceive" by Ronan Farrell.]

---

4 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

In A Time to Deceive by Ronan Farrell, Bradley Warren is in search of the perfect corpse. He has counterchecked his plan multiple times and thought through every possible hurdle that could arise. With a perfect strategy, he sets out. However, he had not counted on falling in love so deeply before his mission is complete. Janice Marsden is a mother of twins whose brute of an ex-husband left her feeling vulnerable. When she meets Brad, she is drawn to him in a way that she cannot simply explain. Probably, it is the feeling of protection that surrounds her when she is with him. In the background, Britain is in chaos as a result of a radical Prime Minister’s ideas.

I liked that A Time to Deceive was an irresistible story that was jam-packed with exciting twists and turns. Starting with a compelling opening scene, the story moves forward fast. The background accentuates this aspect of the book. Mark Collins, Britain’s Prime Minister, is introducing drastic strategies and ideas to be implemented in the government. First, he seeks to separate religion from the government and also abolish hereditary privilege along with the royal family. Mark’s political life is paralleled with Brad’s intriguing experiences. A strand of science-fiction is then included which makes the story not only a page-turner but also a unique read.

Another feature that I liked about the story was the characters. Brad and Jan are interesting and convincing main characters. They both struggle with aspects of their pasts but together, they are happy more than they have ever been. Brad’s keen eye reveals details about other characters that he meets along the way. This gave me a glimpse of the traits of the other people included in the story. Janice is sentimental and her persona adds emotion to the story. The author is honest, sometimes surprising and sensitive details are revealed which add to the characters’ distinctiveness. Parts of the Celtic history are also told through the recounting of significant events which adds an interesting twist to the plot.

I was concerned about the many details included in the book. There is a lot that is happening which can make it confusing. There are many characters and different subplots. Even though they all come together in the end, in the beginning, the details are sometimes unclear.

A Time to Deceive by Ronan Farrell combines political drama, romance, history, and science-fiction. Readers who are fans of these genres will love the book. For those who prefer simpler plots that follow one particular genre, the book might not be for them. It is also edited well and I only identified one minor error. I rate it 4 out of 4 stars.

******
A Time to Deceive
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Like EmunahAn's review? Post a comment saying so!

[kandscreeley]

Interesting. So, why is Bradley in search of the perfect corpse?? I guess I'm going to have to read to find out. I love that it's fast-paced and starts out right away. Sounds fun. Thanks!

[_Delly_01]

I have no idea why Bradley's looking for a corpse, but it's a nice, little teaser that has definitely piqued my interest. Add that to the fact it has political and science-fiction elements, and I am sold!

Thank-you for your in-depth and engaging review.