Review of Deceived

[Kibet Hillary]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Deceived" by Jean Porro.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Martin Sacco, or Marty, is no stranger to death, having served as a soldier and later as the chief of the Norwood Police Department. However, the loss of his wife, Connie, hit him particularly hard and in a way that was different from anything he had experienced before. Currently, there is a serial killer on the loose, one who has been molesting and killing young boys at a school attended by children from extremely wealthy families. Things take an unexpected turn when Marty receives a call from one of the biggest crime bosses in New England. Frank Gibran requests his assistance, as Paul Gibran, his grandson, was also killed, and he will not take no for an answer from Marty. When the investigation begins, Frank Gibran and the team are about to discover that the case goes back further in time than they had initially thought, and it is deeper than anyone could have foreseen. Fortunately, Marty and Jim were almost right in their initial suspicions.

“In my line of work, you have to know whom you can trust, and Mr. Sacco, I know you cannot be bought. Do you remember the Markus case? Well, a lot of my old friends tried to get you off their backs, but it didn’t work. You stayed the course.”
His voice wavered. “Please,” he said at last.

Porro, Jean. Deceived: Murdered Innocence (p. 3). Jean Porro. Kindle Edition.

Deceived: Murdered Innocence, a murder thriller by Jean Porro, is a gripping story featuring relatable characters. As the reader follows Marty, they get an inside look at how an investigator with a keen eye can notice subtle details that become the key to narrowing down possibilities and solving the case. Though it was still difficult to see how the needle would be found in the haystack, Marty’s decision to work with an old colleague, Jim Taylor, and others, especially a friend from an investigative agency, made a huge difference. For example, Jim was able to play a crucial role by asking the right questions and offering insights that proved invaluable to the investigation.

The part I liked most about the book was the twists and turns towards the end. It was hard to predict how the standoff would end, as lives were at risk and the tension was palpable. For fear of giving away spoilers, I will not discuss the specifics, but readers will find the unfolding events and their outcomes enthralling. However, this level of excitement did not carry through the entire book. Many of the chapters felt rather dull, and even some of the conversations between Marty and Jim were repetitive. Additionally, one of the cases Marty handled as head of the Norwood division of dead files felt predictable. While the case itself—solving the murder of a woman named Susan Hall, killed more than two decades ago—was intriguing, the outcome of the investigation became almost obvious once certain clues were revealed. While this may reflect the nature of real crime investigation work, it made the novel feel somewhat less gripping.

As an avid reader of historical fiction, I am always thrilled when a novel incorporates elements of history. I appreciated how the author included notable events from the 1960s in the United States. However, due to the predictability and some minor errors I encountered while reading the book—such as abrupt changes in character name spellings—I rate Deceived: Murdered Innocence four out of five stars. Despite the predictability, it did not significantly detract from my enjoyment of the story.

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Deceived
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[Williams Jaden]

In Untitled, Marty Sacco, a grieving police chief, is pulled into a serial killer investigation after a crime boss's grandson is murdered. As he delves deeper, Marty uncovers a darker, more complex mystery than he first imagined, leading to shocking revelations.