Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Paperback
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fantastically twisty domestic thriller!
Desperate for help, super-realtor Dara Banks impulsively hires Merry Rafter to fill the position of her assistant, even though there's just something âoffâ about the woman and her slim resume. What with her disabled husband sinking deeper and deeper into depression since his accident, a teenage stepson withdrawing from the family and leaning more toward undesirable companions, and a young stepdaughter with autism, Dara has her hands full; she's stressed and certainly doesn't have time to vet the woman's past. But happily, Merry proves to be a quick study, a willing worker, and amazingly resourceful, even if she tends to sing her own praises a little too much. As she becomes indispensable at the office, her helpfulness begins to extend to the Banks's household, with her winning over each one of the family members with elaborate and studied measures. When Merry copies Dara's hairstyle and color and always seems to be taking her place at events or with clients, Dara realizes Merry's real goal may be to take over her entire life.
Deadly When Disturbed is a twisty new domestic thriller by author D.M. Barr, and it kept me on the edge of my seat from its shocking opening to its surprising, gasp-inducing resolution. With its clever characters and cunning, complex plot, this is one heck of a page-turner!The story unfolds from two points of view, Dara's and, eventually, Merry's, so readers get the inside track on what both of these women are thinking. From the start, Dara refers to âCeleste,â who is her psychological inner voice, guardian, and protector, and, at times, the one who is actually calling the shots. However, Dara was such a sympathetic character that I tended to forget about âCelesteâ until Dara brought her up. Dara stepped into her marriage with Jason to help him after a work accident damaged his hands beyond use. She's also the guiding light for a successful children's autism non-profit in honor of her stepdaughter and devotes any free time she has to fundraising and volunteer work. She's the top-producing realtor in her area for a good reason, though, as she's absolutely ruthless in her dealings with buyers and sellers alike, with âCelesteâ often pulling the strings.
Merry Rafter is an odd character, and Dara is right when she senses something is âoffâ with her. She wears designer clothes, but they're all either too tight, too short, or too low-cut, and she chooses to accessorize with gaudy or inappropriate baubles. Merry takes on any task, nothing is too menial, as she ingratiates her way into Dara's life. But her background is a little murky until Dara starts looking into it, already regretful she didn't do her due diligence.The plot is fast-paced and complex, with Merry always several moves ahead of Dara as she manipulates Dara's and her family's perception of what she's up to. When Dara begins to question Merry's motives and actions, her research into the other woman's background reveals surprise after surprise. However, the women have a lot in common, and it is the way they choose to deal with their pasts that differentiates the two. The story becomes a race between the two to see who will come out on top.
I recommend DEADLY WHEN DISTURBED to readers of domestic or psychological thrillers.I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.
