Vanity Fire

John M. Daniel
Poisoned Pen Press (2006)
ISBN 1590583221
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (7/06)

“Vanity Fire” is truly a suspense novel that as you piece together the facts, you will always come up short.  Never ending guessing evolves into utter surprise as you read into the lives of the characters and think you know the answers.  The key word here is Think.  Fortunately for us, Mr. Daniel knows how to keep you drawing conclusions but never finding answers.

This nonstop thriller will seriously challenge the best of mystery solvers.  “Vanity Fire” is a well-written piece of literature that truly would be a wonderful addition to any mystery and thriller collector. 

Guy and Carol think all their dreams have come true as they are suddenly blessed with an offer they can’t refuse that will put their tiny, lifeless publishing business into the headlines with a best selling novel and a financial backing.  But is the dream for real or does it come with unthinkable consequences?

Peppering the story with absolutely wonderful characters, so well described that you know exactly the type he’s talking about, you will enjoy seeing some of the most interesting people you’ve met in a long time become fully engulfed in a rather “scorching”situation.  Combining mystery, business, romance, murder and some pretty good disappearing acts, you will come up drawing conclusion after conclusion only to read a few pages further and go “I can’t believe it!” as your intuitions are quickly put back on the shelf to rest. 

Excellent writing, wonderful characterizations, and an even more intense plot than some of the best mystery writers of today’s literature have been able to bring out.  Highly recommended for anyone that just can’t seem to find a book they truly can’t “figure out” before the end, because I guarantee that what you think is happening, definitely is not!

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