Review of Deceptive Calm

[Dolores Lee]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper is a historical fiction gem that grabbed my attention from the first page and refused to let go. I always know a book has me in a chokehold when I find myself saying, “Okay, just one more chapter…” until it's 2 a.m. That was this book.

What initially intrigued me was the perspective. I’ve read several stories set during the Jim Crow era, but most are told through the eyes of Black characters. This time, much of the story is filtered through the experience of a white woman—which added a fresh, and at times unsettling, layer to a narrative rooted in racism, identity, and resilience.

We’re introduced to Barry Hale, Trisha Bibbs, and Vanessa Condon (later Vaughn) as teenagers on their way to school in South Carolina. A brutal, racially motivated attack by the Ku Klux Klan sets the tone early. Barry is Black, and his father is the head doctor at the only hospital allowed to treat Black patients. Trisha is a white Navy brat. Vanessa, orphaned and white-passing, is likely of mixed heritage. When Trisha is gravely injured during the attack, Dr. Hale breaks the law to save her life—offering treatment at the “Black” hospital. That one act of compassion defies the time’s oppressive social codes and sets the foundation for complex relationships that span decades.

From prom invitations to college choices, from friendship to forbidden love, Skipper takes us on a journey of heartbreak, healing, and deep introspection. Barry and Vanessa’s relationship blossoms beautifully but painfully, while Trisha remains a central figure navigating loyalty, race, and friendship.

Over the course of twenty years, we watch these characters evolve, fall apart, and find their way back to themselves. Skipper doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff—prejudice, passing, privilege, and identity are all on the table.

I’m giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. It’s powerful and well-written, but I would’ve loved to see even more exploration from Barry and Vanessa’s points of view. Still, this story lingers—and that’s the sign of a book worth reading.

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Deceptive Calm
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