The Art of Deception

Seattle police biggie Lou Boldt is trying to track a serial killer, while Daphne Matthews, gorgeous forensic psychologist is investigating the untimely demise of Mary Ann Walker who was thrown (?) jumped (?) from Aurora Bridge. A boyfriend, known for physically abusing Mary Ann, is a prime suspect. Before we know it Pearson, always a master of surprises, connects the two cases by spotlighting one suspect. However, a solution is never that easy. Along the way emotions are stirred as a member of Boldt's team finds himself drawn to Daphne, who once had a fling with Boldt. Add a mega underground chase scene through streets long buried beneath contemporary Seattle and you have a high octane finish. Pure Pearson - pure pleasure.

A taping by Dick Hill, named one of the industry's golden voices by AudioFile Magazine, guarantees a first-rate listening experience, which is precisely what one finds with the latest installment of the Boldt/Matthews series by Ridley Pearson. Seattle police biggie Lou Boldt is trying to track a serial killer, while Daphne Matthews, gorgeous forensic psychologist is investigating the untimely demise of Mary Ann Walker who was thrown (?) jumped (?) from Aurora Bridge. A boyfriend, known for physically abusing Mary Ann, is a prime suspect. Before we know it Pearson, always a master of surprises, connects the two cases by spotlighting one suspect. However, a solution is never that easy. Along the way emotions are stirred as a member of Boldt's team finds himself drawn to Daphne, who once had a fling with Boldt. Add a mega underground chase scene through streets long buried beneath contemporary Seattle and you have a high octane finish. Pure Pearson - pure pleasure. - Gail Cooke

The lastest novel in Ridley Pearson's 'Lou Boldt' series really isn't about Lou Boldt. Instead, the focus shifts to Daphne Matthews and John LaMoia in 'The Art of Deception'.Matthews' personal life is a mess. She fills all her free time with police and charity work. At the novel opens, she is consummed with caring for runaway girls at a local women's shelter. She checks up on a witness as a favor to LaMoia, and suddenly finds herself being stalked not only by the witness, but by a deputy from the sheriff's office.LaMoia, after an intervention by Boldt and Matthews, has kicked an addiction to pills. Still working for Boldt, LaMoia gets drawn into the investigation of a couple missing women assigned to his former 'Sarge'. In addition, he finds himself looking after Matthews once she starts having run-ins with the witness she interviewed.Boldt has reluctantly taken a promotion to Lieutenant in order to fulfill a promise to his family that he would be safer on the job. However, he gets involved in a case when a family friend turns up missing. An old informant, Mama Lu, further involves him by asking him to look further into the 'accidental' drowning of an Asian man that perhaps isn't so accidental after all.'Art of Deception' is quite possibly Pearson's best novel yet. First, the clues are easily grasped. Much more so than in previous novels. They rely less on forensic evidence, which is interesting, but at times overwhelming in past novels. Second, there are multiple suspects. Pearson introduces nearly all of them early on and keeps your attention on them. He builds a sound case for each one. Third, the setting is incredibly interesting. The Seattle Underground is almost a character in itself. With its former buildings buried under the streets of present day Seattle, it is has become a maze in the darkness and Pearson expertly uses it to create edge of the seat suspense.The characters themselves continue to grow, which sets this series apart from those of other authors. Old problems, such as Boldt's wife's cancer, have fallen aside, and new challenges have replaced them. Daphne struggles to find meaning in her life, LaMoia re-examines his life prior to his pill addiction daily, and Boldt wrestles with conflicting feelings as his two friends and coworkers grow closer.The list of great things about this novel goes on and on. Pearson has long been one of my favorite authors because of his mastery of the suspense novel and his extensive knowledge of the police and forensic science. He does not disappoint in 'The Art of Deception'. I would recommend this novel to any fan of suspense novels, or detective stories. It is also a great introduction into the genre.

Lieutenant Lou Boldt of the Seattle Police department is back in the field and enjoying every moment of it except that two women have disappeared and the police don't have a clue what happened to them. One of the women is his wife's friend so it is very important to Lou that he solves the case so the families can have some kind of closure.Police psychologist Lieutenant Daphne Matthews finds herself deeply involved in a case that might tie in to Lou's. The brother of a woman who was killed and thrown off a bridge insists he has some knowledge about the two missing women. The problem is that he wants to deal on his own terms with only Daphne with whom he has taken an unholy interest in.Readers of this long running and popular series will feel very comfortable with the way the characters are evolving, especially Sergeant La Moia who is in control of his sexual and drug addictions. His relationship with Daphne is also evolving into something more personal and the audience will think this pairing makes for a better story. The mystery is complex, intricate and totally absorbing, a one sitting read that shows why Ridley Pearson is the grandmaster of the police procedural.Harriet Klausner