Praise For Deceived – By Authors:

“The novel Deceived by Heena Rathore is a true page turner especially if you are a mystery lover. The story hooks you right from the beginning. A family is brutally murdered and the sole suspect is a little girl that has disappeared. Suspense is created by expertly weaving the tale between the past and present. This had me wondering all along the way how things were going to tie together. The principal characters were emotionally three-dimensional and connected to one another in unforeseen ways. I found myself feeling as if I knew them but wary with suspicions. These subtle nuances left a trail I wanted to follow. All of this led to a well thought out climax where all of my questions were answered. But like any excellent tale, I was left clamoring for more. Let’s hope Miss Rathore does just that and writes another. Kudos to a job well-done.”

– D.A. Pupa, author of The Magician

 

“Gripping and fast-paced, Heena Rathore’s story grabbed me from the start and wouldn’t let me rest until I turned the last page. In this psychological thriller, the author cleverly interweaves past and present, and the travails of her characters touched the emotional strings of my heart. A must read for any thriller and mystery buff.”

– Olga Godim, author of Eagle En Garde

 

“DECEIVED tells a twisting tale of revenge and trauma. It explores the darkest corners of the human soul by placing the reader inside the minds of killers and their victims. It tells the story of two girls, separated by decades but united in trauma, and how it shaped their futures. As the pieces of this compelling mystery begin to fall into place, you realize you can never truly know anyone. A lesson one is not likely to forget after finishing this novel.”

– Priscila Santa Rosa, author of the Those Who Remain trilogy

 

“I knew from the onset that Heena Rathore’s new novel, DECEIVED, was special. A consummate wordsmith, it’s very apparent Heena painstakingly took her time with this masterpiece. Combining magical prose with breathtaking imagery, Heena immediately drew me into the story…
…Wow, what an ingenious plot. I was stunned into silence upon learning that all is not what it seemed and not everyone is who you think they are. The shocking bloody ending will make your hair stand on end.”

– Alretha Thomas, author of the Detective Rachel Storme series

 

“Chilling, suspenseful, and fast-paced, Heena Rathore’s debut novel is a nonstop, hang-on-to-your-hat thrill ride. I would recommend DECEIVED to any fan of the genre.”

– John A. Heldt, author of the critically acclaimed Northwest Passage and American Journey series

 

“Heena Rathore’s debut novel is a brilliant psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. Her heroine, Allison Stone, is a deeply flawed protagonist with a troubled past who is equal parts tragic and compelling. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.”

– Joseph John, author of The Eighth Day

 

Sit back and prepare for a rollercoaster ride as Heena Rathore takes you on a wild journey. Allison Stone struggles with the deaths of her mother and brother, a horrific crime she just can’t seem to understand. But when she reunites with her cousin Steve, the investigation into her family’s killer takes unexpected twists and turns. The novel provides a clever juxtaposition between past and present, winding and turning until you reach the climactic, surprising end. DECEIVED is a “must read’ for thriller lovers and a brilliant debut for Rathore!

– Erin Rhew, Author of The Fulfillment Series 

 

“A captivating read! Heena Rathore starts the reader off with a foreword that immediately puts you in the mindset for this mystery thriller. Things only got better as the author weaved a complicated web tying past and present events leading up to an ending I was not expecting.

… I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new thriller to read.”

– D.H. Gibbs, author of Nika

 

“I found myself turning the pages faster and faster as the killer drew closer to a final bloodbath when the killer’s identity and true motives are revealed. I never guessed who committed the murders of why. That gave Deceived the surprise value that is the mark of a successful and satisfying thriller. The ending provided a dual twist that also was unexpected.”

– Lynne Murray, author of Gravitas Series

“On a content/plot level, Deceived has a lot to recommend it. Its narrative structure weaves together the present day (shown through Allison and Steve’s perspectives, as well as the killer’s journal) with a secondary plot line that occurs in the past (depicted in third-person point-of-view and centering on a woman who killed her parents as a child). The author does a great job of interlacing these stories and giving information to the reader in small bursts.”

– Kate M. Colby, author of Desertera Series

 

“Deceived’ gets off to a great start with the inexplicable murder of a woman and her young son and as the story unfolds there is no let-up in the in chills, thrills and excitement… A must read for lovers of crime and mystery.”

– R. Janaki Anand, author of Clovers

 

“The book stands out for its quality and fast paced approach which is so important for this genre of fiction. It has well fleshed out characters, atmosphere, a meandering dread and a superfast pace – all the elements to shoot it up straight to the top of the genre.”

– Ravi Sharma, co-author of The Quest Of The Sparrows

Praise for Deceived – Reviewers:

“The author has managed to not only keep the reader guessing until the very end but it also managed to give me the creeps every now and then. The story is mingled with flashbacks and Rathore has very cleverly managed to keep the reader wondering where it all fits together. I have read quite a few crime and psychological thrillers and I think I’m qualified enough to say that this one makes up to all the hype that it has created, even before its launch. The writing style is easy, engrossing, detailed and engaging without actually dragging or going overboard with the murder and gore.

…it has managed to make a thriller reader like me happy for this is miles ahead of its Indian counterparts.”

– Shelly Bajwa

 

“Deceived is one of those books that you’ll read and finish but the story itself and the thoughts you had about it will linger in your mind and continue to amaze and horrify you for a long time afterwards. If you ask me, that’s precisely makes a novel of any genre attractive and praise-worthy…
…The author slowly feeds us hungry readers with bits and pieces of information that only manage to make the story more compelling and raise more questions than before! So naturally, I had to stay up all night- half terrified- trying to finish the book before I went insane due to all the suspense!”

– Maya Zada

 

“In terms of being a psychological thriller itself, the book was on point keeping the suspense right until the end and finishing with some dark and twisted result and a few unanswered questions that only make me as a reader marvel and draw own conclusions regarding the ambiguity of it all.”

– Rashmit Mishra

 

“The author has a clever way of getting her words across. I found her writing to be easy to follow along and enjoyable to read…
…I found this novel to be enjoyable and edge-of-your-seat gripping. The writing style and POVs really made the novel what it is and the killer was crafted so well.”

– Rachel Poli


 

“A very engaging read with lifelike characters. I was 100% invested into the story. Some things I guessed half right, but couldn’t confirm them until the very end…
A quality read and a book I’ll surely remember for a long time.”

– Rêvvâ Tênâg

 

“What a fascinating story! Psycopaths, serial killers, unexplicable murders, dark secrets, revenge… this book had it all.”

– Faouzia

 

“The suspense was gripping and the pace intensified with each turn of the page. I thought I had it all figured out and then something else would come up that changed my mind. It kept me guessing. The author did a great job of pulling it all together. That’s the best part of this book.”

– Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill

 

“A wonderful book that was hard to put down. “

– Heather Fellows

 

A bone-chilling, blood-curdling thriller.
A must-read for all the thriller lovers!

– Emily Green

 

I guess we’ve got ourselves an Indian Gillian Flynn here.
Loved the book, the psychological aspect for me was 10/10 and the storytelling skills of the author are exceptionally good. I’ll be on the lookout for more books by this author.

– Vincent Pablo

 

“… where this book catches you off-guard is the sheer unapologetic brutality and savagery the writer has induced in the book.”

– Harshad Sharma

 

“This is an enticing book to read because of the twist and turns it takes. Just when you think you have it figured out, you don’t.”

– Diane Lynch

 

“While the title of the novel is Deceived, it’s about the game of suspicions that you’ll play with yourself, trying to figure out what’s going on, bu… you won’t be deceived in choosing this book to be read, since it has an engaging narrative style, great character development, and a gripping mystery.”

– Alejandro

 

“The suspense was gripping and the pace intensified with each turn of the page. I thought I had it all figured out and then something else would come up that changed my mind. It kept me guessing. The author did a great job of pulling it all together. That’s the best part of this book.”

– Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill, Book Reviewer

 

“An intriguing and engaging story, which I recommend to all the mystery and thrillers lovers.”

– Andrew, Book Reviewer

 

“Deceived is the debut novel by this promising author, and the exciting plot and interesting characters had me finishing this in two sittings. It’s a wonderful page-turner that I recommend to fans of mysteries, suspense and psychological thrillers. I’m eagerly awaiting Heena’s next book!”

– Kim, Book Reviewer

 

“This was a quick read for me, finding that I wanted to keep reading to find out if my suspicions were correct about the killer. And I have to admit that I did like the way the ending was written, the author giving the reader something to ponder long after the book has been carefully placed on the bookshelf. It’s a very impressive debut, and if I’m honest, it didn’t read as a debut. It was well written, well thought out and very interesting.”

– Kate, Book Reviewer

 

“Deceived is a psychological thriller book that you would not want to put down. For a debut novel, it is truly brilliant and exciting to read. From the start up to the last word, this book will keep you wanting for more.”

– Hanna Cristobal, Book Reviewer

 

“All in all, a very good story, and I am thankful for the reading experience.”

– Lene, Book Reviewer

 

“While reading this book, I would highly suggest having a glass of wine nearby, or whatever your preferred adult beverage is. Also, I would not read this while home alone, at night. Deceived is so incredibly suspenseful and creepy I am not sure I have the words in my vocabulary to accurately describe it. However, there were numerous times while reading that chill bumps covered my arms.”

– Jennifer, Book Reviewer

 

“Wow. This is Heena Rathore’s debut novel, but you would never think that when you read her book. She wrote Deceived so masterfully.”

– Galit Balli, Book Reviewer

 

“Sit back and prepare for a rollercoaster ride as Heena Rathore takes you on a wild journey. “

– E., Book Reviewer

 

“The shift in perspective every chapter is genius. I was captivated by all four of them and loved learning more about each and every single character rather than just Allison. This was very necessary to the story, and I also liked that not every perspective was narrated by the character of choice. Heena did a beautiful job interweaving the story through each character’s lens.”

– Francisco Hernandez, Book Reviewer

 

“The author has managed to not only keep the reader guessing until the very end but it also managed to give me the creeps every now and then. The story is mingled with flashbacks and Rathore has very cleverly managed to keep the reader wondering where it all fits together. I have read quite a few crime and psychological thrillers and I think I’m qualified enough to say that this one makes up to all the hype that it has created, even before its launch. The writing style is easy, engrossing, detailed and engaging without actually dragging or going overboard with the murder and gore.

…it has managed to make a thriller reader like me happy for this is miles ahead of its Indian counterparts.”

– Shelly Bajwa, Book Reviewer

 

“Deceived is one of those books that you’ll read and finish but the story itself and the thoughts you had about it will linger in your mind and continue to amaze and horrify you for a long time afterwards. If you ask me, that’s precisely makes a novel of any genre attractive and praise-worthy…

…The author slowly feeds us hungry readers with bits and pieces of information that only manage to make the story more compelling and raise more questions than before! So naturally, I had to stay up all night- half terrified- trying to finish the book before I went insane due to all the suspense!”

– Maya Zada, Book Reviewer

 

“Love it! I felt scared to death for most of the time.

The writing was great and characters superb! I love Ally and Max ❤

Way ahead of other Indian books in terms of writing as well as creativity and imagination.

Can’t wait for the next book by author Heena Rathore P.”

– Preeti Lingayat, Book Reviewer

 

“The plot is well thought out and written quite convincingly. It didn’t let me put the book down and made me keep reading to know what happens next. The element of suspense was present throughout and I believed almost every character to be the culprit at least once during the narration. This exact non-predictable nature of the narration is what made the story very interesting. It was well paced and scary enough to make you hold your breath as you go along with the characters.”

– Anika Kalia, Book Reviewer

 

“I finished this book in one seating and I advise you to keep a few hours empty from your schedule when you are starting with this book because there is no way that you can let it go for even a few minutes. The story gets to you and gnaws at your wit. The pages turn faster as the chapters proceed and you keep guessing the next thing that is going to happen but you are always wrong. That was the best thing about the book. It was extremely unpredictable. Even when I thought I had it, I was cleverly surprised by the turn of events.”

– Aritri Chatterjee, Book Reviewer

 

“It is a book that you will think about even after you finish reading it. The story lingers in your thoughts!

… This is such a page-turner that you will not be able to keep it down at all! It is extremely unpredictable and will keep you guess all the time.

… This was very fresh and different and I think debut author Heena has done a stupendous job.”

– Gunjan Mittal, Book Reviewer

 

“Full of mysteries, serial killers and thriller, Deceived proved itself to be a gem. It has been written with such perfection that at no point you’ll think of it as a debut novel.”

– Pooja, Book Reviewer

 

“A kind of book which doesn’t let me blink eyes for even a second are my favorites and this book belongs to that category.”

– Akanksha Mishra, Book Reviewer

  

“It’s a sure page-turner and by that I mean literally because when the story ended and even though I didn’t wanted to read anymore because I was that scared but I still want to know more. Honestly, as I’m writing this I’m getting goose-bumps thinking about the story.”

– Renuka, Book Reviewer

 

“Its by far one of the best psychological thrillers that I have read yet. Fast-paced, thrilling and tense, once you start reading it you will find it impossible to keep it down until you finish it.”

– Maryleen R. Baidya, Book Reviewer

  

“The storyline was carefully picked and beautifully executed.
Deceived had me biting my nails and kept me turning the pages.
I WANT A SEQUEL!”

– Prarinthepustakaaley, Book Reviewer

 

“… where this book catches you off-guard is the sheer unapologetic brutality and savagery the writer has induced in the book.”

– Harshad Sharma, Book Reviewer

 

“What an excellent debut work. For all those who love suspense and thrill, this book is sure going to keep you on edge of your seat.
You’ll be turning pages and you wouldn’t know it.
Oh! Be ready for the surprise at the end. You’re in for a brutal treat.”

– Naveen Verma, Book Reviewer

 

“I simply loved the way the story was narrated from different perspectives. The journal entries from the psychopathic murderer were the most chilling part of the book.”

– Wander Girl Life, Book Reviewer

 

“The book was simple, easy to understand and very quick-paced. If you love finishing a book in one sitting, this one is definitely for you. The story was quite well structured, considering this is the author’s debut novel.”

– Anagha TK, Book Reviewer

 

“This book was very interesting. It was a Thriller- suspense, some of my fav genres and it was gripping till the very end. The mystery/ suspense was so intense that I read it in one day because I couldn’t put it down.”

– Demigod Lightwood, Book Reviewer

 

“The book has an excellent plot with a breathtaking storyline. I strongly recommend this book to those who love reading psychological suspense thrillers. The book has a phenomenal concept….”

– Nilu Asad, Book Reviewer

 

“In terms of being a psychological thriller itself, the book was on point keeping the suspense right until the end and finishing with some dark and twisted result and a few unanswered questions that only make me as a reader marvel and draw own conclusions regarding the ambiguity of it all.”

– Rashmit Mishra, Book Reviewer

 

“This book must be one of my favorite of the year.”

– Sheetal Maurya, Book Reviewer

 

“The author has done a good job of creating an atmosphere of tension and fear.”

– Supratim, Book Reviewer

 

“A gritty thriller Deceived is a propulsive and imaginative novel that features and satisfies your mystery/thriller starvation. If this one becomes a movie, I’m buying the first show.”

– Archit Ojha, #1 Best India Reviewer on Goodreads

 

“It is a well-written and captivating tale of revenge and drama and a heart-wrenching psychological thriller that will give you an unforgettable experience. Read it to live it.”

– Surbhi Sharma, Book Reviewer

 

“For the lovers of suspenseful thrillers here comes another amazing book. Believe me you don’t want to miss it!! This book will irritate you and frustrate the ever living hell out of you but you will love the angst!! This one is totally recommended.”

– Ammie, Book Reviewer

 

“I have never before read a book that drove me crazy with the mystery. It was really unpredictable and I couldn’t see where it was going. The more I read, the more I wanted to know what would happen next. It got really chilling at times.”

– Tavleen Kaur, Book Reviewer

 

“This book is one of my favorite now in mystery and thriller genre.”

– Divya Agrawal, Book Reviewer

 

“After reading this book, I just can say, Its awesome. After a long time I read a story like this. This book is page turner, the story makes the reader engaged with its twist and turns. All the plots are described intelligently. “
– Sourav Chatterjee, Book Reviewer

 

“WOAHHHH!!!! This book was one hell of a ride! So much was going on… It felt like a dangerous roller coaster. Everything was in a frenzy. And I can’t figure out what’s happening!!! “

– Priya Bhowal, Book Reviewer

 

“A brilliant work by Heena. I recommend this book, if you are looking for a perfect Psychological thriller.”

– Aishwarya Achu, Book Reviewer

 

“After many years a book came that forced me to read till I complete it. “

– Dwani Swadia, Book Reviewer

 

“A perfect psychological thriller, a compulsive page turner, a goose bump inducing racy read, Deceived is deservingly bone chilling.”

– Sona, Book Reviewer

 

“It is a well-written and captivating tale of revenge and drama making it a unforgettable experience. The knowledge of author regarding the thriller and suspense is amazing.”

– Sumith Chowdhury, Book Reviewer

 

“Deceived a psychological thriller is going to give you spine chills and hold your seats, till you reach the end.”

– Pranati, Book Reviewer

 

“For a debut novel, I would have to say it’s one of the best I’ve read.”

– Robyn, Book Reviewer

 

“The plot was absolutely thrilling and the suspense throughout the novel was so well-played. The plot was refreshing and I haven’t read something like this since a long time.”
– Shreya, Book Reviewer