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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
The Perfect Lie by Dinah McCall



Mira, May 2003, 6.99, 384 pp.
ISBN: 1551666758

Sixteen years ago in Bel Air, California, Jonah Slade is elated that his girlfriend Felicity Blaine carries his child and plans to propose. However, his bliss ends immediately when Felicity informs him that she aborted the baby and will stop seeing him. Jonah angrily leaves while Felicity knows her inability to stand up to her billionaire father Declyn ended the relationship though she lied about having the abortion.

Over the past six months, Jonah, a CIA agent works undercover as a mercenary for Columbia drugpin Miguel Calderone. Jonah sets up the bust, watches Miguel's son Alejandro kill a friend, so he kills Alejandro. Miguel sees the incident and vows vengeance.

Thugs invade the Blaine home killing Felicity, severely injuring Declyn, and kidnapping her son Evan. Felicity's sister Mercedes, estranged from her father, visits Jonah to enlist his help. He is stunned to learn he has a kid and plans to free him, as he understands Miguel's message, “a son for a son”. As the rescue mission unfolds, Jonah and Macie, as he calls Mercedes, fall in love, but first they must save the teen and survive the mission before seeking anything long-term.

THE PERFECT LIE is an exciting romantic suspense novel that readers will enjoy once Macie visits Jonah. The story line is loaded with action and a strong cast though one traitorous individual seems out of character. Jonah is a courageous protagonist and Evan is clearly his son though the two never met. Macie is a brave person not afraid of the truth even when it proves costly. Dinah McCall provides a taut thriller that the audience will welcome.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story:
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Crime plotlets:
Who's the criminal enemy here? - finding a known killer

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - revenge
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
The Americas (not US): Yes
The Americas: - South

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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