Review of Deceit

[paulinacrruz]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceit" by Vernon Baumrind.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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What do you do when the person you have been married to for over a decade becomes unrecognizable? In “Deceit: A True Story of Domestic Infidelity and Betrayal with Salacious Details by Wiretap” Vernon Baumrind does more than answer that question. His narrative details his thoughts, actions, and the aftermath of being betrayed by the one person he never imagined could. The appalling details of an affair are unraveled not only through his first-hand experiences, but through real-life wiretap recordings questioningly obtained in the 1980s.

Baumrind’s tale is one that resonates with you regardless of your status in society. It does not matter whether you are married, educated, have children, are a professional, or how you choose to identify yourself, there is something to be learned by reading this narrative. As a reader, it is possible to relate to the antagonist, or the protagonist, or simply to an outsider watching Vernon’s life unravel.

It goes without saying that the story is dark, but it is how Vernon rises from the ashes of deception that is illuminating. His experiences bring awareness to one’s surroundings and the people we choose to trust. Feeling powerless is normal when competing with someone of a professional status such as a trusted doctor – a gynecologist, but through resilience and a strong purpose, such as fighting for the custody of one’s children, justice is forthcoming.

Once I picked up the book, I could not put it down until I knew how Baumrind’s story ended. By the end, I felt for the author but praised him for his ability to recount such a desolate tale in an effort to educate readers about humans and their unexpected nature.

In the end, choosing to let the betrayal take its course was not an easy feat, but a necessary one. Vernon’s struggle to become imperturbable when rampage was so easily attainable, was beautifully put on the page. His words are easy to follow and understand, all the while evoking a great deal of emotion. The book’s editing is exceptional and provides almost a diary-esque type of narration. With that, I rate this book 5 out of 5 and highly recommend it to any reader.

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Deceit
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