The Grant family's exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation-not murder! When Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz bleeding to death in her massage room, everything falls apart. The salon's reputation is at stake.and so is Naomi's freedom when she discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is found with the other suspect-Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim's ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to light, where can Naomi turn.and whom can she trust?
The Grant family's exclusive Sonoma spa is a place for rest and relaxation—not murder! When Naomi Grant finds her client Jessica Ortiz bleeding to death in her massage room, everything falls apart. The salon's reputation is at stake…and so is Naomi's freedom when she discovers that she is one of the main suspects! Her only solace is found with the other suspect—Dr. Devon Knightley, the victim's ex-husband. But Devon is hiding secrets of his own. When they come to light, where can Naomi turn…and whom can she trust?
Average Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4 out of 5 stars)
7 of 7 Reviews Showing:
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by nora (mall of ga), October 27, 2009
I received a complementary copy of this book and I’m so glad I did.
Camy Tang does an incredible job of packing so much action, suspense, humor and drama in only 212 pages. Wow!! What a different writing style than the one I read in her debut novel Sushi for One, which is a chick’lit style light hearted story. I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading Deadly Intent. Part of me wondered how this chick’lit style writer would write a murder mystery. I was pleasantly surprised and I’m happy to report Camy pens a great who-done-it. I liked the fact that the author kept me guessing up until the very last page. Camy brings the book to a climatic ending that satisfies. Camy had me so hooked to her murder mystery I carried her book with me wherever I went grabbing a few minutes here and there to discover more clues so I could figure out who was behind all these attempted murders and killings.
At the same time Camy Tang touches on issues that cut to the heart of the matter. Because of all the drama and heartache her main character, Naomi, goes through, she starts to wonder about God. Did she really believe in Him and why was God allowing all these bad things to happen to her?
There is something honest and true about Naomi’s struggle—I found out why in the author notes. Camy admits that she had these very same struggles with God that Naomi had in the book, when she was in College. I truly enjoyed this book and the way Camy brought this suspenseful story to life. The characters and their struggles were believable. It was fun to have the setting of this book at a spa. I hope that Camy has the opportunity to write a full length action adventure story. I can only imagine what she could develop with more pages to expand her characters and the plot twists. Way to go Camy!!
Nora St.Laurent
Finding Hope Through Fiction
www.psalm516.blogspot.com
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Deborah (Reston, VA), August 04, 2009
I'm always a big fan of stories set in spas. The setting just seems so relaxing to read about massages, facials, and being in total luxury. I haven't had the chance to go to one in a while, so reading about it is the next best thing. Love Inspired Suspenses can be hit or miss, as some of the stories don't really have good suspense plots. This book, however, has a very good mystery, people actually do die, and there is a romance. This may sound surprising, but there have been some LI Suspenses where the mystery is non existent and there is more emphasis on the romance. A successful book in this series would blend the two together with more focus on the mystery. That is what this book does. I was immediately sucked into the story and tried unsuccessfully to guess who the culprit was. I know a mystery is good when I pick out a background character to be the murderer and I'm totally wrong.
Something I found incredibly funny is that Naomi's sisters are named Monica and Rachel. I'm half surprised Naomi wasn't named Phoebe! (That's a "Friends" joke if you didn't get it). Also Devon's last name happens to be Knightley, a sly reference to a certain leading man in a famous Regency book. I also appreciated how the author has made the lead character half-Asian, but treats her as a normal person. Other than initial descriptions so the reader is aware of her ethnicity, there is no stereotypical descriptions. I really hope this is a series so that way there can be more about the Grant family and more adventures from the spa. Yes there was a murder, but I still came away totally relaxed. This was a really fun book to read and as always Camy Tang has written a winner.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christy Lockstein (Oconto Falls, WIsconsin), July 30, 2009
Deadly Intent by Camy Tang is another arrow in Tang's quiver of fantastic books. Naomi Grant has had to take over the family business, an elite spa Sonoma, after her father's stroke. It's a chore she quickly comes to hate after a murdered woman is discovered and the evidence points to Naomi as the murderer. At first, she suspects Dr. DevonKnightley , ex-husband of the victim, but as the crime spree grows, they are forced to work together to find the real murderer. In the hands of any less able writer, this story would be cliched and timeworn, but Tang makes the characters and their romance fresh and new. Her dialogue is always zippy and her characters well-rounded. This is the ultimate beach read!
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by MJ (Porterdale, GA), July 27, 2009
Deadly Intent was a very enjoyable read for me as far as mysteries go. I was amazed and completely shocked that I really had no clue as to who the culprit was until late in the game. Usually authors give it away so easily, I loved how Camy really gave you so many different factors that the surprise really is there. I recommend this read easily, and I cannot wait to share it with my mom, because I know she'll love it. The mystery is great, the romantic elements are perfectly appropriate, and the Christian tones are exactly what is needed with the plot line. I love it.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Janna Ryan (North Platte, NE), July 22, 2009
I absolutely adore Camy's "Sushi For One" series, but those are Asian Chick Lit, not mysteries. So I was a little curious to see how Camy would pull off a mystery. From the beginning I felt connected to the main character, Naomi, but that is to be expected... Camy is a master at characterization after all. But could she keep me in suspense about who done it? And the answer is... Yes, she can! I read this book breathlessly, waiting to see where she would take us next, and who would die, and just how Naomi would manage to keep getting all the fingers pointing right at her!!! All I can say is that I hope this is the first of many mysteries to come from Camy!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Cara Putman (Indiana), June 20, 2009
Naomi loves serving others as a massage therapist and struggles with her new role managing the spa for her father. Her task is compounded when she discovers the body and finds herself in the middle of a deadly game with few people she can trust. And she's not sure she's willing to trust God or Dr. Knightley. God seems to have abandoned her, and Dr. Knightley has too many secrets.
The book weaves seemlessly between the suspense and romance, with the balance tipping a bit toward the suspense -- just the way I like it. And Naomi's struggles to see God and believe He cares as her life falls apart was so easy to relate to. Who hasn't had times when no matter how deep our faith, our hearts cry out to God, who seems incredibly silent? Dr. Knightley is a great hero. Someone you want to root for but just aren't sure about. And his growth across the book was believable and true to character.
I thoroughly enjoyed Camy's series for Zondervan, but found this to be a perfect summer read.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Stacey (Las Vegas), June 08, 2009
Camy Tang’s “Deadly Intent” is an entertaining Christian romantic suspense novel. Naomi Grant is a sought-after masseuse at her family’s Sonoma resort spa. Since her father has been ill and unable to run things, she is not only the spa’s acting manager, she is also being groomed with her aunt’s help to take over the business. But when one of her regular clients is murdered in her massage room, it seems as though her career will be short-lived since she is one of the prime suspects for the crime! The other prime suspect happens to be the victim’s ex-husband, Dr. Devon Knightly.
This book has it all: murder, romance, humor, a handsome doctor, a spa… It is a decent read, although it wasn’t as fast-paced as I expected it to be. Especially for its size. But I did finish it, and thoroughly enjoyed the story. Camy Tang is a remarkable storyteller in any genre.
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