Dangerous Deception

Raff Rafferty Mystery Series Book 3

Fiction - Mystery - Murder
343 Pages
Reviewed on 08/26/2015
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

In Dangerous Deception, Book 3 in the Raff Rafferty Mystery Series by Robert Joseph, after a horrific double homicide at a sex research institute, the police immediately swooped in to investigate. They hit a major roadblock when the head of the center refused to release the list of interview subjects one of the victims had been working with. The only way to get the information needed to solve the case was by sending Fatima, a rookie officer, undercover to take the place of the murdered interviewer at the center. Just when she was starting to make some headway into the investigation, things got even more intense with another murder on the premises. Fatima would not be deterred from her cause and continued to dig deeper and gather clues, and this time she even had a witness. The suspect described by the witness, however, turned out to be a victim of a fatal plane crash that occurred several years ago, even though no bodies were recovered. Could there be any truth to the witness's statement? Can Fatima pull off the double life and solve the murders without risking her own life? And what about the undeniable attraction between her and her new boss, who also happens to be a key suspect in the murders?

Dangerous Deception is the third book in the captivating Raff Rafferty Mystery Series by Robert Joseph and, just like those before it, it is an absolute winner. Robert Joseph keeps the reader on the edge from the very start with a unique and suspense filled plot until all pieces finally fall in place at the very end. The story kept my mind buzzing with possible suspects as the plot thickened further and further with each new chapter, ending with a bang. His story development is incredible and keeps the reader intrigued and eager to know how the plot finally worked out. It is one of those books you do not want to put down because you cannot wait to get to the end of the story. Dangerous Deception has an ending worthy of such a thrilling read with a major twist that I could never have seen coming; not in a million years.

Jack Magnus

Dangerous Deception, Raff Rafferty Mystery Series, Book 3 is a police procedural mystery written by Robert Joseph. Denise Cutler was one of the Coombs’ Center for Research of American Sexual Habits' interviewers. A graduate student in psychology, her good looks and smart attire fitted the profile Harold Coombs’ trophy wife, Brittany, had established for the center's interview staff. Her last interviewee of the day was a late-middle-aged man who asserted that he met the center’s requirement that he be abstinent, but then balked at discussing his sexual activities with her, despite her repeating the center’s assurance of absolute confidentiality. He left without completing the interview, and Denise made sure to thoroughly document the circumstances behind his departure for her boss, Dr. Bruce Harner. When the bodies of the security guard and Denise are found the next morning, Fati Rafferty, a rookie officer, and her partner are called to the scene by the division commander, Captain Fregoso. After facing opposition from Harold Coombs and Harner when asked for the files of the center’s interviewees, Fregoso asks Fati to apply for the research interviewer position and investigate the murder undercover.

Robert Joseph’s police procedural mystery, Dangerous Deceptions, Raff Rafferty Mystery Series, Book 3, is fast-paced and enthralling. While this is book 3 in the series, Dangerous Deceptions can be read as a stand-alone murder mystery. Fati, Raff’s daughter, is the main focus of this police procedural, and Raff, who is studying at a seminary to be a priest, appears in brief cameos throughout the book. Fati is a lot like her father and finds herself in similar predicaments as Raff was wont to do when he was a policeman. The story is well-plotted and contains a number of red herrings for the reader to puzzle over. Unlike book 2, this third book is set in California, and I enjoyed the location settings immensely, especially the sailing cruises Fati takes with her boss. Dangerous Deceptions, Raff Rafferty Mystery Series, Book 3 is recommended for fans of the murder mystery and police procedural genres.

Tracy Slowiak

In a great new installment to the Raff Rafferty Mystery Series, Dangerous Deception by author Robert Joseph, readers are now offered the opportunity to really get to know Fatima "Fati" Rafferty, Raff's attractive daughter, as she starts out in her own career in crime fighting. Starting her career as an LAPD patrol officer, Fati is convinced by the commander of her division to go undercover to investigate the brutal murder of a young woman who was working as an interviewer for the Center for American Sexual Habits. Funded by a seedy men's magazine, one dedicated to the exploitation of the female form, Fati's undercover work takes her to the underbelly of the gritty world of the adult industry. Not surprisingly, we see her dad, Raff, lending a helping hand to both his daughter and the investigation as whole, even if in an unofficial capacity. And when Fati finds herself in the same position as the young woman who was killed, she begins to wonder if she's at risk for the same fate.

Dangerous Deception was a fantastic read...fast-paced, exciting and a real edge of your seat thrill ride. I very much enjoyed the second generation aspect of the book, with young Fati certainly following in Raff's footsteps. Author Robert Joseph has an immense talent for writing police procedurals that come across as very true to life, and mysteries that will keep you guessing until the end. Dangerous Deception would appeal to any reader who loves a great mystery, police procedurals, a suspenseful book with a lot of action, or just a great work of fiction. I cannot recommend this read any more highly, and I am very much looking forward to the next Raff Rafferty Mystery, which I hope is already in the works!