Deception is a detective novel with a Christian under-theme. In the grand tradition of such novels, the story of Ollie Chandler twists in your hands until you have been convinced of the guilt and innocence of almost every character in the story. In the book, a well-known professor has been murdered in a bizarre way and Detective Chandler, a tough eccentric cop, is assigned to the case. (Fans of the Colombo television series will especially welcome the bumbling, be-wrinkled style of Ollie Chandler). But the truly unique part of the story is the way in which the author gives the reader frequent glimpses of the parallel reality of what is happening in Heaven. Ollie's wife, who had a long battle with cancer, had become a believer before she died but Ollie became bitter and rejected God. Her prayers for him as she watches him battle through this case, and God's incredible concern for a man's soul, are played out as a sub-theme to this gripping story.

Randy Alcorn's writing style is refreshingly believable. As in Safely Home, the novel Deception has no off-putting loopholes of logic that one often finds in such stories. I now look forward to reading his other bestsellers, Deadline, Dominion and Heaven. — V. R.