Author: Joy Chambers
ISBN: 9780755352654
RRP: $29.99
Joy Chambers has written a novel that will surprise and shock, containing a relatively strong element of intrigue and more than a touch of romance.
All of the events in the novel link back to World War II so even though the narrative opens in Australia in 1947, after the end of the war, it isn’t long before we are transported to wartime Holland.
I am still a little ambivalent about this book, I can’t quite make up my mind. Part of this, a large part of this, is due to it being so heavily centred on WWII and the actions of the Nazis. The book has some stellar selling points but there were also aspects that left me less than impressed.
The chapters are extremely short which is something I really enjoyed. I tend to read in any slot of time I can find and I hate stopping mid-chapter so this was great for that.
We begin in NSW in 1947 with Shelly and Cole Wareing, newly married and far away from everyone they know. They don’t speak much of Cole’s time in the war but we slowly learn the things that Shelly knows, which isn’t much.
The first 130 pages are set in 1947, but not far in the narrative splits off to follow each of the main characters. The Peace time chapters follow three different characters in turn so the fact that the entire tale is narrated makes it much simpler to follow than if there were also multiple points of view.
These chapters raise many questions that can only be answered with a trip to the past, which is how we are returned to 1943. These chapters are concerned less with following all of our characters than with focusing on the character who raises the most questions. There are also brief snapshots of the other characters to share relevant information.
The wartime section was very drawn out and gave a vivid view of goings on in occupied countries, so though our original characters are Australian much of the narrative is set in the war-torn European regions. We read much about the Nazi treatment of the Dutch and the Jews, visiting prison camps with our characters and seeing the way the SS controlled the populace.
I appreciate that there were many questions to be answered in the wartime section but I believe it could have been done more succinctly. Even as these chapters unraveled more questions were raised but all of them were answered quite satisfactorily.
Once the questions were answered it was a quick cut back to post war 1947 to pick up where we left for the journey to the past. It glossed over the ensuing 2 years without telling us much about how they got from where we left them to 1947. Yes, I said not long ago that the war section could have been more succinct and now I’m wishing for elaboration but it isn’t the contradiction it seems.
Once back in 1947 all the loose ends are neatly tied up and some questions are answered that were never consciously asked.
The characters were complex which I think is necessary in a tale of this type. I don’t see how you can have secret agents or double agents that weren’t complex. Tudor, Cole and Laetitia were all quite likeable though with reservations because I was never quite sure what was going to jump out and bite me. They were commendable characters taking great risks for their country. Shelly too is a character to be admired, in the face of questionable evidence she chose to keep faith with her husband and set off on a quest of her own to find answers.
Many of the other characters were nauseating and reprehensible, I have never liked to hear/read/see anything about the fanatical followers of the Fuhrer and the staff he had enforcing his reign throughout the war.
Throughout the novel Chambers has used real historical figures and there are Author Notes to give a little background on the real people that appear in the book. The majority of the characters are fictitious and the story is fictional so the inclusion of historical figures seems a little superfluous.
The Great Deception illustrates the hardship faced by millions during the war, and the lingering effects afterwards. We are given an insight into life for Australians during the war, those still at home and doing what they can but still feeling that bit removed.
All in all an interesting read with all the elements of an engaging story, although it is one I found to be quite hard work. The element of romance was quite strong yet also quite subtle and slow building which worked for me, and I think for the story.
The Great Deception also explored the change the war wrought on people’s behaviour. Attachments and intimacies that may never have eventuated if it weren’t for the very real fear that at any time the reaper could come calling your name.
All of which worked just fine for me and then was instantly ruined with a seriously saccharine ending. I’m all for a happily ever after and everything working out for the best but this one took it a step too far for me, but I’m sure there will be romantics out there who read this and absolutely adore the ending.
I devour books, vampires and supernatural creatures are my genre of choice but over the past couple of years, I have broadened my horizons considerably. In a nutshell – I love to write! I love interacting with a diverse range of artists to bring you interviews. Perhaps we were perfect before – I LOVE WORDS!
I am more than half way through, but am finding the book just too difficult to read. What I mean by that is, the characters are very complex and the descriptions of war just drag on so much that it has become a bit mundane. I love the character of Shelley, and a couple of others, but to say I’ve enjoyed it thus far would be stretching the truth. I hope that towards the end, my perspective will change. I do love the cover of the book I must say, and the love story is nice but I would’ve preferred the focus to be on that instead of so much detail about the war. I must be fair and say that this is a writing genre I wouldn’t normally read, so maybe that has something to do with the way I’m interpreting the book. I thank you for the opportunity to review!
What a fantastic book. I love the historical facts in the book and I really want to research the SOE and the role it played in the war, the story was intriguing to say the least and I would love to know more about the facts of the story apart from the fictional side so beautifully woven into the fabric of such an historical event as WWII.
Joy Chambers has made the characters believable. I love the unknowing quality of Cole, all his secrets are a mystery waiting to unravel and they did so in such a fashion that although I wanted to now what was going on I didn’t want the story to end because I enjoyed it so much.
Shelly is likeable and everything you would think of for an outback girl, where as Letta was the extroverted beauty that you would picture in any romantic espionage film, surely the likes of Angelina would play her if ever put to film. She was full of so much mystery and intrigue, but also had her share of pain and hurt which was revealed later in the book. Even though the words were fiction, knowing that there were people who really did believe the despicable beliefs of the Nazis and their evil doings, made my skin crawl when they described the Jewish people and those who weren’t classed as worthy.
Historical fiction is definitely becoming a favourite genre of mine, and this book really made for an enjoyable read.
The Great Deception opens in rural New South Wales in 1947 where Shelly and her new husband Cole live a seemingly idyllic life. All this changes with the arrival of Tudor, Cole’s wartime friend and colleague, who is out to seek revenge for what he believes is Cole’s betrayal. Cole flees to Europe both to escape and to find answers. He leaves Shelly a note with no explanation for his disappearance only stating that he will return no matter how long it takes.
Worried and perplexed Shelly searches through Cole’s possessions and finds a box containing an SS ring, Nazi medals and a signed photo of a stunningly beautiful woman. Determined to solve the mystery of the woman and her husband’s disappearance Shelly too heads of to Europe.
Nearly two thirds of the book is set in Nazi occupied Holland in 1942 where Cole is working undercover. This section is overly long and tedious. The inclusion of real historical characters and the end notes to explain who they are add nothing to the story. It seems to be just a vehicle for the author to show off her historical research. This part of the book is only broken up with three very short chapters about Shelly’s life in wartime Ipswich waiting for Cole’s return.
The final 45 pages of the book bring all the major characters of the book together in the final denouement. It is overly sentimental and not entirely satisfying and the final paragraph of the book is really appalling.
The Great Deception fails to deliver on its promise. It is badly structured and largely badly written. It is full of grammatical errors and the constant incorrect use of prior had me wincing. The dialogue is often stilted and detracts from the portrayal of the characters. I think the editor must have fallen asleep on the job when handling the manuscript of this book.
Overall a disappointing read
I found this book very time consuming to read, as much as I love a book that goes into detail, this one just tended to drag on way too much, leaving me wanting it to just be finished.
There is a lot of focus on the war and the characters. As likeable as Shelley and Cole were, I just didn’t find it warming enough for me to really get to know the other people in the story.
I did enjoy that the chapters are quite short, meaning if there was one I really disliked I didn’t have too long before it was over.
Unfortunately not a fan of this book at all.
Well I am about a quarter the way through and i have to say am really enjoying it. This is not the type of book I normally read but from the first page it grabs you and for me, flows like an old black and white film. In fact, as I am reading the images I create are in black and white not colour (this is a first for me). There have been a spot or two where I feel the momentum has drifted but after a few pages it comes back on track. Have tried not to read other reviews as I hate the ending being spoilt. Will return soon…..
I I’ve only had the book for 7 days so I’m not finished yet. I found it a bit hard to get into but Im finding it easier to read as I go on. But I’m looking forward to finding out what happens.
*****I just saw ACA last night with Joy Chambers and she was pushing this new book….I do have to say with what I’ve read so far she isn’t a very talented writer, the writing isn’t smooth, it doesn’t carry me along, it is disjointed and choppy…
I only received the novel last Friday so have only just started it…it’s a lovely way to relax between bouts of doing my last uni assignment EVER! Nonetheless, I found the opening chapters very intriguing – why has Cole been so secretive? Is he really a NAZI? How do the other men fit into it? Give me a few days…and I’ll let you know…well, I won’t give anything away!
I am about half way through this novel, and although I was intrigued with the first few chapters and the starting story was full of promise and secrets waithing to be revealed, I am finding it starting to drag the further I read on.
I am not one to give up, so I will give it my full attention to the very end and come back and give a full review. I will not be swayed by other reviews here.
I am becoming more and more interested in history the older I get, so I am sure this part will keep me attentive.
I really enjoyed the majority of this book. I love to read in any spare minute that I can and so the short chapters suited me really well. The main characters were interesting and I was keen to learn more about them as the story went on. I particularly liked Shelly, although she wasn’t really in much of the story-how brave for a young woman to go travelling by herself across to the other side of the world in post WW2 time.
I don’t particularly like reading things about the nazi’s, although I realise some of it was necessary for the story as one of the characters impersonated a nazi officer. I did get confused with the nazi ranks and the German used, but was still able to follow the storyline.
The author used some real people in the book. I wasn’t sure why because to me a made up character could have been used and it would have been just as good. The real people meant nothing to me, as in I didn’t know who they were. The author *’ed the real people and put some information about them in her end notes, but I always find them difficult to read when I have to flip to a different part of the book-it stops the flow of the story to read about the information straight away and if I leave it until later I can’t remember why I’m reading it and what it has to do with the story.
Overall though I did enjoy the book. Thank you Beauty and Lace for another great review offer. >:o)