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Deadly Illusions (2005)

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3.54 of 5 Votes: 2
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ISBN
077832138X (ISBN13: 9780778321385)
Language
English
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mira books

Deadly Illusions (2005) - Plot & Excerpts

Francesca Cahill was working on another case. The Slasher had sliced three Irish women's necks with a penknife. Francesca started by looking into the lives of women living in the neighborhood where the attacks had taken place.The first victims were Francis O'Leary and Kate Sullivan. Francis's husband had left her a couple of years previously and Kate had left her husband. Francesca went to visit Francis and found out that she was recently engaged to Sam Wilson. Francis told Francesca that Thomas O'Leary had left one day and never came back. He was always saying he was going out West and Francis hadn't seen him since the day he left. Francesca determined that she needed to locate him. Kate Sullivan told Francesca that the man who attacked her was tall, had very blue eyes, he wore an expensive ring and wore a tailored suit jacket the color of charcoal. His hands were smooth. Francesca found out that the police chief had intentionally left those details out of the police report. The third victim, Margaret Cooper, died from her neck wound. Margaret had been found by her neighbor Gwen O'Neil. Gwen was frightened and felt like she was being followed. Gwen had come to America with her daughter, Bridget, after her husband had been arrested for trying to kill Gwen's boss and lover back in Ireland. Bridget was questioned by Francesca who told her that she thought she had seen her father in America. It turned out that Lord Randolph had dropped the charges of attempted murder against her husband and he never went to jail. He had come to America to take Gwen and his daughter back home with him. Lord Randolph was also in America on business. Both had come to visit her and Gwen refused to go with her husband. She expected Lord Randolph to be more friendly to her and want her back but he didn't come across that way so she didn't go with him either. He never really asked, he just offered her money for herself and Bridget. Gwen refused his money. He came back after a few days to see her and it was like they were never apart. Gwen fell into his arms and kissed him as if they had never been separated. Leigh Anne had recovered enough to go home after being run down by a carriage. Leigh Anne wasn't sure that she was ready to go home and face the girls and Rick at home. Rick Bragg had his butler pick her up and take her home while he went back to work. Leigh Anne wanted it that way. She was depressed about not being able to walk and having to use a wheelchair that she didn't know how to handle. Rick had hired a male nurse to help her get around. Rick told Francesca that he loved Leigh Anne, always had and always would. Rick blamed himself for causing Leigh Anne to be distracted when she got run over. Evan had broken his engagement to Sarah Channing. Sarah was painting a nude picture of Francesca for Calder Hart. Francesca and Sarah had become friends. Francesca mentioned to Evan that she suspected he had feelings for Maggie Kennedy who was a seamstress who lived two apartments down from Margaret. Evan went to see her to try and persuade her to stay with Francesca's until the Slasher was caught. Evan had a mistress, Bartolla Benevente. Bartolla had contacted Leigh Anne and told her that her husband, Rick, had fallen for Francesca Cahill. Leigh Anne had come back to Rick after being in Europe for four years. Bartolla had been married to a wealthy man sixteen years older than her. He had died and left his money to his children. Bartolla was now broke, pretending to still have money. She was scheming to marry Evan for his money. Evan was with his mistress but thinking of Maggie. Bartolla felt like Evan was losing interest in her and told Evan that she was pregnant.The Slasher went back and attacked Kate again. This time he killed her. Francesca and Rick went and talked to Sam Wilson both before and after Kate was found dead. Sam was a clock repairman. He wasn't home the night Kate was murdered and he lied saying he was. Sam was taken to the police headquarters for further questioning. When Francis was questioned, she told Francesca that Sam was with her and had been trying to protect her reputation. Francesca still didn't think that was the truth but Sam was released. The police found Kate Sullivan's husband but he was dead of a gunshot in the head. It appeared to be a suicide but it was not. The person who found the body told the police that Kate's husband hated Kate passionately. Daisy, Calder's mistress who he no longer visited but was staying in an apartment paid for by Calder for the time remaining that they had agreed upon, went to Calder's office to see him. She told Calder that he would soon tire of Francesca and take her back. Calder was fighting himself in the fact that he was trying to be a better man and stop his womanizing ways for Francesca. It was proving to be difficult and Daisy made him doubt himself once again. He was called in by Francesca's father and asked to break off the engagement due to the same reasons and because he was still providing for Daisy. Francesca had gone to Rick Bragg's house to see Leigh Anne and was invited to go to the park for a picnic. Joel was with her. They agreed to go to the park and Rick showed up. Leigh Anne asked to be taken home. Francesca and Joel stayed and spent the afternoon with Rick and the girls. Joel's family was staying in Calder's house rather than at Francesca's. Soon after they arrived home, Joel mentioned to Calder that they had spent the day at the park with Rick and the girls. Calder was upset about that as well as being upset after his discussion with Daisy and then Andrew.When Francesca returned home that afternoon, Andrew told Francesca that the engagement was off and Calder did not voice any objection. She was upset and went to see Calder. She and Calder had a pretty big argument. Calder told her that he was biding his time in regard to her father and their engagement. He was not giving up but was she? Calder's attitude was that he would win over her father in time. Francesca left feeling that her engagement was off. After the argument with Calder about the engagement being broke up, Francesca decided to take Maggie to observe Lord Randolph. Calder joined them to the surprise of Francesca due to how the argument ended. With Maggie watching from a distance with Francesca, Maggie agreed that it was Lord Randolph that she had run into outside her apartments when she found Margaret's body. They followed him back to the apartments and found him inside with Gwen kissing her. They took him in for questioning but felt like he was not their Slasher. The next day was Kate's funeral. Daisy spoke to Francesca then and told her that Calder Hart would soon tire of her and return to his womanizing ways. Francesca was upset but then felt like Daisy was up to something in regard to her comments. Lord Randolph and Gwen's husband got into a fight and Francesca noticed a man that she did not entirely recognize. He was a gentleman and had bright blue eyes. Francesca asked how he was related to Kate and he said that at one time she was his sister. Apparently Kate had run off with someone back home and her family had disowned her. The guy left her and she somehow met and married Sullivan, who was also now dead. Frank Pierson, the brother, told Francesca that her parents were very distraught after Kate left. He had apparently never forgiven her and blamed her for their father dying six months after she left and her mother was ailing. Frank blamed Kate for the deterioration of the health of his parents. Kate and Bragg now had another suspect and questioned his alibi's. They determined that he needed to be watched by a policeman.They went back to police headquarters and soon found that someone had stolen the nude picture of Francesca from Sarah's studio. Rick was furious when he found out that Francesca had posed for a nude picture and that others would soon find out and her reputation would be ruined. Calder told Rick that he would find the painting using his own resources rather than the police force in order to keep the theft out of the news.Francesca received a telegram from someone asking to meet with her because they knew who the Slasher was. It was at a hotel at noon. Joel was with her watching from a distance, as was Calder. She waited for half an hour, going through the suspects in her head as she waited. She figured out that all the women were in the parish of Father Culhane. He was tall and had bright blue eyes. Margaret looked much like Maggie so far as her size and hair. She determined that Maggie was the intended victim and they were all sent there as a distraction because Maggie was at Calder's house rather than there with her. She quickly called for Joel and Calder and headed back to Calder's home.In the meantime, Evan was supposed to go shopping for a ring for Bartolla. They were to elope at the end of the week due to her pregnancy. She came to meet him as he was headed out. He had forgotten about their plans. He told her that he had to leave. He was headed to Calder's house to see Maggie.Father Culhane was at Calder's house. He had come to see Maggie and they went for a walk in the garden. It was there that he attacked Maggie but Evan had arrived asking for Maggie. The butler told him that she was in the gardens with Father Culhane and Evan went to find her. He was fighting with the priest when Francesca arrived with Hart, Bragg. Evan punched Father Culhane and he went down, most likely with a broken nose. Bragg turned him over and cuffed him. Hart went to Evan to hold him up. Joel ran to his mother and Francesca noted that she appeared to have fainted with only a scratch that was causing her neck to have blood on it. She was OK. The police determined the knife that the priest had was the same one used in all the murders.Lord Randolph went to see Gwen and asked him to come back home with him. He wanted to marry her and raise Bridget as his own daughter. He told Gwen that he had arranged papers to make it appear that her husband was actually a cousin so the marriage could be annulled when they returned back home. She had given her husband money in exchange for him to leave and go to California. Harry told Gwen that he loved her and Gwen told him that she loved him too. She would go back home with him and marry him. Bragg and Francesca talked and Rick told her that he was not going to say anything yet about the pieces of information left out of the case files by his lieutenant. Rick said that he wanted to find out what Farr was up to before he said or did anything more. Evan waited until Rourke had finished checking on Maggie and bandaging her neck before he went to see her. Joel grabbed Evan hand hugged him hard, thanking him for saving his mother before he left the room. Evan went to sit beside Maggie and kissed her. They kissed until she fell asleep and then he left thinking how sad it was that he was to marry Bartolla when he was in love with Maggie.Francesca and Calder talked. The agreed that they did not like to be in disagreement with each other. Francesca confessed to Calder that she was in love with him. After the case was resolved, Francesca was talking with Calder and they agreed that they must marry immediately. They were planning on eloping. Calder Hart told Francesca that he loved her.

This re-release of Ms. Joyce’s 2005 title made me want to go back and read all the previous titles in the Deadly series. The murder mystery is interesting—who is killing the poor, but hardworking Irish women in the tenements?--but it’s the characters that carry this book. Each character is multi-dimensional. Francesca Cahill is bright, witty, daring, and beautiful yet a bit reckless. Her fiancé, the notorious rake Calder Hart, is arrogant and self-assured yet needy and jealous when it comes to Francesca. The police commissioner Rick Bragg, Calder’s half brother, has unresolved feelings for both his beautiful wife and Francesca. Francesca’s gambling-addict brother secretly loves a poor widow, but is openly involved with Bartolla, a scheming widow who is after his money but doesn’t quite understand he’s been disowned by his father and is broke. Francesca is flawed in ways appropriate for an heiress in early 1900’s New York. She lives in a privileged society and though she sleuths in New York’s seedy underbelly, things come far too easy for her. The poor she befriends are the working poor who don’t hold her privilege against her. And while the reader may suspect the poor live in desperation, the feeling of those scenes is more of gentile poverty than squalor and fear. She travels about with little or no concern for her safety. The gun she carries is of more danger to herself than to anyone else. Everything simply comes easily to Francesca. Her family may disapprove of her sleuthing, but they take no steps to stop her. Her fiancé is willing to give up his evil ways to be with her. During their sexual interludes, Calder is the sensitive one committed to postponing consummation until marriage. Despite the risks Francesca takes, she is safe with him, and he makes certain she is safe while they are apart. During the final moments of the mystery, Francesca just has to think hard and the answer comes to her. In other words, Deadly Illusions is a light, fun, character-driven, romantic suspense set in 1902 Manhattan. Despite the complexity of the characters, the story is entertaining but not deep. I enjoyed the suspense, but was never really worried about any of the key characters because the outcomes were predictable. Still, I have two more of Ms. Joyce’s Deadly titles on my shelf and have no doubt they’ll be as entertaining as Deadly Illusions was.originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

What do You think about Deadly Illusions (2005)?

Leggendo la trama di questo libro – una trama davvero affascinante e allettante - non avevo fatto tanto caso al nome dell’autrice, saltatomi all’occhio solo in un secondo momento.Di Brenda Joyce ho letto già dei libri, o meglio la serie “Master of Time”, e se devo essere sincera non è che mi abbia allettato più di tanto: una serie paranormal romance senza lode e senza infamia, un tantino banale e scontata.E così delle remore su questo nuovo romanzo ci sono state poiché, “vittima” spesso di quarte di copertina davvero uniche, scusate la ripetitività, affascinanti e allettanti, spesso mi sono ritrovata poi per le mani dei libri veramente pietosi - e quest’ultimo mese non è stato da meno - mettete in più che in precedenza la Joyce non mi avesse convinta più di tanto, quindi scusatemi se mi sono accostata a questa lettura con i metaforici “piedi di piombo”.Ma mai timori sono stati più vani di questi…Ringrazio di cuore la casa editrice Harlequin Mondadori, per avermi dato l’opportunità di leggere questo romanzo… mi sarei persa davvero una bellissima e coinvolgente lettura.“Vittime del peccato” è “un avvincente Historical Crime” ambientato nella New York di inizio ventesimo secolo, che vede come protagonista la bellissima Francesca Cahill, una ragazza di buona famiglia e di nobili origini, indipendente, audace, temeraria, che sfida continuamente il pericolo e le convenzione sociali – che la vedono solo come moglie, madre e totalmente remissiva – per coltivare la sua grande passione: l’investigazione.Sì, perché Francesca è un ottimo investigatore privato e adesso il suo talento la porta ad investigare sulle vittime di un efferato serial killer: tutte donne giovani, belle, irlandesi e sole…L’investigazione la mette in stretta relazione con il capo della polizia Rick Bragg, uomo affascinante e bello, nonché ex amante di Francesca e fratellastro del fidanzato di quest’ultima, Calder Hart, un affascinante Don Giovanni, che ha giurato fedeltà e devozione a Francesca.Ma presto la costanza e la bravura di Francesca la metteranno sulla strada dell’assassino facendola diventare il suo bersaglio principale.Altri protagonisti entreranno in gioco: i genitori e il fratello di Francesca, Evan Cahill, l’amante di quest’ultimo, Bartolla, la moglie di Rick Bragg, Leight Anne, e tanti altri… insomma ogni personaggio, dalle comparse a chi ha avuto maggior spessore nella storia, sono stati tutti ben curati e caratterizzanti, dando l’impressione a noi lettori che nulla sia stato lasciato al caso.Anche la storia, la trama, gli eventi in sé sono stati narrati con una dovizia di particolari che lasciano il lettore estasiato ed appagato.Il libro in sé merita un giudizio positivo, le cinque stelline potrebbero essere assicurate, ma…Leggendo “Vittime del peccato” ho avuto la sensazione che mi fossi persa qualcosa. Ad un certo punto questa sensazione è stata talmente forte tanto da smettere di leggere e andare a vedere su internet se per caso avessi saltato un libro di questa serie.Ebbene, i libri che ho saltato non sono uno, né due, ma sono ben sette. Avete letto benissimo sette, e non si è trattato di un mio errore di distrazione, assolutamente no, visto che in Italia ancora devono essere pubblicati i restanti sei.“Vittime del peccato” è il settimo libro della serie de “L’indagini di Francesca Cahill”, una serie che fin’ora si compone di nove libri – non so se è giunta a conclusione – di cui la casa editrice Harlequin Mondadori ha pensato bene di iniziarne la pubblicazione dal settimo libro appunto.MA PERCHÉ?Perché iniziare una serie dal settimo libro… cioè, hanno iniziato a pubblicare la serie dalla fine – o quasi.E anche se la storia narrata si capisce – la bravura della Joyce sta proprio nel fatto di presentare i personaggi come se fosse la prima volta dando al lettore una descrizione accurata e minuziosa - il lettore allo stesso tempo ha il sentore di aver perso qualcosa, o più di qualcosa, di importante.Ad esempio, il feeling che c’è tra Francesca e Rick Bragg e tra Francesca e Calder Hart è qualcosa di maturo, qualcosa che è cresciuto con il passare del tempo, però un passare del tempo che a noi è venuto meno. Continuando a leggere si capisce che i rapporti tra i vari protagonisti sono passati attraverso diverse esperienze, vicissitudini e avventure.Leggendo ho avuto la sensazione che c’era qualcosa dietro di non narrato o, in questo caso, di narrato e celato, di narrato e non portato alla luce, insomma di narrato e non pubblicato.Non capisco ancora il perché di questa scelta.Perché non seguire il giusto ordine di pubblicazione soprattutto visto che la serie vede un’unica protagonista, Francesca Cahill e poi tutti gli altri personaggi che compongono il suo mondo.Ecco il motivo della quattro stelle, di questa “declassazione” – tanto per restare in tema con i nostri giorni: trama bellissima, personaggi ben caratterizzati, narrazione impeccabile, uno stile elegante, intrecci unici, storie d’amore appassionanti, elemento thriller da suspance, indagini meticolose… ma iniziare a tradurre e pubblicare la serie dal terz’ultimo libro no, non è accettabile.Ebbene, il libro è certamente consigliato - perché non consigliare la lettura di questo romanzo? – però contiene parecchi spolier e se la casa editrice ha intenzione di pubblicare l’intera serie, iniziando finalmente dal primo libro, ebbene vi rovinerete un bel po’ di sorprese veramente gradite: in certi casi il bello della sorpresa è tutto.Il mio consiglio è quello di acquistare il libro e se non ve ne frega niente degli spolier allora leggetelo perché nonostante tutto è una lettura che merita, ma se amate il “brivido” dell’attesa, scoprire pian piano gli intrecci, le varie relazione e scoprire la storia dal principio, ebbene, allora compratelo – perché non si sa mai se poi non verrà più pubblicato - e aspettate… LA MIA RECENSIONE ANCHE SU "LASCIAMI LEGGERE":http://lasciamileggere.blogspot.com/2...
—Blake16

Una giovane donna irlandese è stata brutalmente assassinata e tutte le proveindicano che è l'ennesima vittima del killer Il Coltello. FrancescaCahill è una giovane investigatrice privata che collabora con la polizia:questo nuovo caso fa proprio al caso suo! Premetto che la casa editrice hadeciso di saltare ampiamente i sei libri precedenti della serie per pubblicarequesto che è il settimo volume: ovviamente la trama principale, quindi il caso investigativo, è autoconclusivo ma la storia dei protagonisti nonostantevenga ripresa risulta essere dimezzata. La narrazione è scorrevole e l'autricemostra un innato talento catturando immediatamente l'attenzione del lettore:l'unica pecca risultano i libri mancanti che non aiutano il lettore ad "entrare"subito in sintonia con i personaggi. I primi capitoli sono stati di ambientazione,almeno per me, molti sono i sottointesi e i riferimenti a eventi passati eho fatto fatica a far mio il filo del discorso. A parte questo piccolo intoppoil libro parte in quarta e le indagini di Francesca coinvolgono subito illettore grazie anche alla narrazione in prima persona di molti personaggi dicui conosciamo i pensieri e le intenzioni. La protagonista è una donna moltocoraggiosa che non ha paura di infrangere ogni convenzione dell'epoca: ha sceltoinfatti una professione pericolosa che la mette spesso in pericolo di vita..chedire il brivido è il suo mestiere! Una storia davvero avvincente, un HistoricalCrime che conquista e intriga con i suoi misteri e la sua protagonista a dirpoco affascinante. Consigliato agli amanti del genere, davvero imperdibile!
—Silvia Liotta

Un romanzo degno di nota!Deadly Illusions è un romanzo ricco di mistero, essendo incentrato al 90% sull’investigazione (investigazione che l’autrice riesce a condurre dalla prima pagina fino all’ultima con maestria) e con una parte romance altrettanto interessante anche se meno ampia (ma sicuramente molto intensa).Come sapete se avete letto la quarta di copertina la protagonista è Francesca Cahill, signorina della società bene di New York agli inizi del ’900…quegli anni in cui il movimento per l’emancipazione femminile era in pieno svolgimento e in cui, quindi, Francesca è ritenuta un originale per aver trovato nell’investigazione lo scopo e la passione della sua vita.Francesca è sagace, intelligente, audace, perfino spericolata quando è concentrata su ciò che l’appassiona. E da un anno a questa parte (periodo in cui è iniziata la serie) ha scoperto che ciò che ama e l’attira più di ogni altra cosa e risolvere un caso complicato.Questa volta si tratta di un assassino.Qualcuno stà assalendo giovani donne della classe operaia di origini Irlandesi. Donne che vivono sole, senza la protezione di una famiglia e che apparentemente non hanno nulla in comune fra loro se non la provenienza.Coadiuvata dal Commissario Braggs, suo ex-amato, Francesca è in corsa contro il tempo; ha solo una settimana per scoprire chi si cela dietro al Coltello (nome che la stampa ha affibbiato all’assassino) perchè l’ultima vittima non è stata fortunata quanto le due precedenti, che hanno subito “solo” un’orrenda ferita alla gola.Francesca si sentirà presa fra vari fuochi, poi, quando la propria vita personale tra famiglia, fidanzato ed ex amanti (di quest’ultimo) si metteranno sulla sua strada distogliendone l’attenzione e creando nuovi problemi.La Joyce è un autrice di tutto rispetto e in questo romanzo tutta la sua bravura si sente e viene riconfermata.Nonostante la mia perplessità verso la decisione di iniziare a pubblicare una serie dal suo settimo romanzo, non posso che comprenderne alla fine la scelta da parte di Harlequin.Il romanzo riprende tutto ciò che è successo nei precedenti libri della serie, chiarendo man mano al lettore tutto cìò che ha bisogno di sapere delle relazioni sotterranee e superficiali esistenti tra i personaggi, senza per questo far perdere nulla dal lato emozionale e anzi creando una bella tensione di fondo. Ma sopratutto è un romanzo di svolta nella vita privata di Francesca e permette quindi al lettore di entrare direttamente nel clou degli avvenimenti.Sono sicura vi innamorerete di Calder Hart, fidanzato di Francesca, uomo complesso e imprevedibile quanto lei e del Commissario Braggs con i suoi molti problemi familiari.Nonchè degli altri personaggi che ruotano attorno a Fran.Attendo con interesse il prossimo romanzo che la vedrà nuovemente all’opera.http://azurestrawberry.altervista.org...
—❥ Azzurra

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