Sleight Malice

Mystery/Suspense

Fiction - Mystery - Murder
238 Pages
Reviewed on 02/12/2014
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Based in rural Victoria, Australia, bestselling author Vick Tyley writes fast-paced mystery and suspense novels in contemporary Australian settings.

Born and raised in New Zealand, she moved to Western Australia with a single suitcase when she was nineteen years old. She has travelled extensively, spending a year touring the world before terrorism was an influencing factor. She has lived in the central business districts of large cities, suburbia, idyllic seaside locations, rural areas, bushland, and remote desert mining camps.

In the lead up to her writing career, Vicki worked in a multitude of different industries including banking, stockbroking, importing and wholesaling, human resources, mining, hospitality, civil engineering, and toys, in predominantly accounting, IT and management roles.

All these life experiences are brought to bear in her writing.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Julia Hopkinson for Readers' Favorite

Sleight Malice is the second in Vicki Tyley's series of stand-alone thrillers set in Melbourne, Australia. Following her recent separation from cheating husband, Trent, website designer Desley James, has been leaning on best friend, Laura, for support. After waving Laura off home after a wine-filled girls’ night in, Desley is woken in the middle of the night by sirens, in time to witness her best friend’s house burning to the ground. If that isn't enough, there is no sign of Laura or her boyfriend, Ryan; only the charred body of a unidentified man. Frustrated by the local police’s lack of progress, Desley starts to investigate, aided by new client and PI, Fergus Coleman. Soon enough, Desley knows she’s searching in the right direction when her house is broken into and her own life is threatened…

Vicki Tyley has written another corker! Sleight Malice is a modern, complex, multi-layered mystery which deals its twists and turns skilfully. The plot is enhanced by good dialogue, a little romance and some sprinklings of humour. Whenever you might think you’ve worked it all out or guessed what's coming next, know for sure that you have not - there is an ocean-full of red herrings on offer here! The story is quite dark in places, is structured well and builds cleverly to a tense climax. I was reading through the last few dozen pages at double speed, desperate to find out what happened next; and it was well worth the wait. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to all mystery and thriller fans.

Lit Fest Magazine

In her heart-pounding second novel, author Vicki Tyley confirms what readers of her debut novel Thin Blood already knew; Ms. Tyley is a talented, masterful writer who develops thrilling, chill inducing tales like no other. Sleight Malice may be Tyley’s second novel, but it reads as if a seasoned professional, who knows exactly how to captivate readers, has perfectly crafted it.

Sleight Malice begins with a fire. Desley James is fighting terribly to get inside the burning home of her best friend Laura, as firefighters hold her back. When a body is pulled from the ash, Desley is heartbroken and completely stunned. The story, however, takes a dramatic turn when the body pulled from the home is male and Laura is nowhere to be found. In no time, Desley finds herself stuck in a terrible web of deceit, as she tries to unearth the secrets of her once best friend.

In perfect Vicki Tyley fashion, Sleight Malice entertains and stuns its readers. The characters are marvelous, complex people meticulously constructed for our enjoyment. With this novel Ms. Tyley has proven to be a contender, an author to keep your eye on because one day you’ll find yourself in a bookstore saying, “I’ve read her novels from the beginning”.

Reviewed by Amanda Goossen for Lit Fest Magazine

Chapter Chicks

I read about this book on line and I was really intrigued. I contacted Vicki Tyley and asked if I could have a copy to review. She was nice enough to send me a beta copy of the book. I was looking for a story that was not young adult fiction but still had the ability to fascinate the way that YA does. I found exactly that in this story. Like Desley in the story I was wanting to know what happened to Laura. I was suspicious of every character in the book. I even had the mystery work out in my head. With each new clue that would present itself, my theory would change. It is a fun book to try to solve with the main character. However, I was completely off in solving it.

~Reviewed by Stacy~

MotherLode Blog

Vicki Tyley gives us another great read. Suspenseful and intriguing, this book is hard to put down, and each small twist and turn keeps you engaged right through to the end.
Each new secret that is uncovered leads you to make new guesses as you try to discover the truth right along with Desley. With well-developed characters and interesting connections tying them together, there is never a dull moment. You are pulled further into the story with every new discovery, and it's hard to put the book down before you find out what truly happened.