Deceptions: A Connor Hawthorne Mystery

Opening a debut series set in Washington, D.C., this clumsily constructed novel quickly devolves into a poorly plotted, conspiracy-driven battle between agents of the conservative military-industrial complex and heroine Connor Hawthorne, an affluent, lesbian mystery writer and former assistant DA. After her long-time companion Ariana Gennaro is murdered, Connor is drawn into the tangled world of her own father, former senator Benjamin Hawthorne. Connors close friend, police detective Malcolm Jefferson, takes on the case as a favor. Unfortunately, Connors personal connection to D.C.s police department proves no match for her fathers influenceor for the numerous enemies he has acquired over the years. After an attempt on Connors life, Malcolm talks to the senator, who replies, The people involved in this are beyond your reach, believe me. Reluctantly, Malcolm agrees to accept the monstrous lie that Ariana was killed by a mugger who then took her keys and tried to kill Connor. But on a trip to a mystery writers conference in New Mexico, Connor discovers that the case of Arianas murder may have been closed too quickly. A race across the southwestern wild to find out who really killed Ariana ensues, as Connor follows the trail with the help of Laura Nez, a striking young Navajo woman who acts as her driver, bodyguard and guide. Maddisons hints about the Hawthorne familys gift for second sight only muddle an already awkward plot hobbled by a facile conspiracy theory rooted in both Masonic precepts and white magic. (May)