Portrait of Deception (A Southwest Suspense Novel) by Kathryn Dodson – Review by Jennifer Gordon

Portrait of Deception by Kathryn Dodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was hooked from start to finish with this fast paced and action-packed story. Margo, a photographer on the brink of fame is in Italy competing for a prestigious award. She is approached by a corrupt politician who wants her to devise a clever portrait to improve his reputation, but despite the large sum of money offered she refuses. Margo then wakes up in her hotel room, with no memory, having been slipped a blackout drug. Somehow, she has amassed $40,000 worth of damages to her hotel room and is then expelled from the contest. Left with no choice Margo is forced to go to the despot’s personal estate and ask for his help. Her plan is to earn enough money to cover her debts and then get back to her life. However, whilst at his remote castle in the mountains she discovers many of his secrets and lies, but increasingly fears the oligarch’s creepy propositions and demands will put her in further danger. I was gripped by this gritty thriller, and I literally could not put the book down. The plot twists and turns kept me guessing as to the outcome of the story. The descriptive narrative brought the setting vividly to life, making me feel immersed in the storyline. I loved Margo as the main character, likeable and relatable as well as being a tough, independent women.

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