Double Deceit

I was delighted to be offered a review opportunity for Julienne Brouwers new Dutch thriller, Double Deceit. This novel starts with a brilliantly tense scene as a toddler, Jennifer's son Tim, goes temporarily missing during a family holiday. The episode brings marital disharmony to a head resulting in Jennifer's husband, Oliver, storming off. When his body is finally located, Jennifer struggles to cope with bereavement, the stresses of caring for young Tim, and with the realisation that her marriage was even more flawed than she thought. I am always intrigued by unreliable narrator stories and particularly appreciated how Brouwers handles this aspect of Double Deceit. Jennifer can clearly see her perceived truth and her convictions seem perfectly plausible to readers, but when Brouwers has Jennifer explain her findings to outsiders, I began to wonder if she really was the person I should believe.

Double Deceit is a slow-burn thriller. I appreciated Brouwers taking time to develop utterly believable characters and her detailed portrayals of Amsterdam allowed me to clearly picture more of this city than just the touristy centre with which I am familiar. Jennifer herself is a fascinating woman. Out of her depth for most of the story, she just about manages to keep up with her everyday responsibilities, but her mental fragility is always obvious. The thriller narrative itself is well paced with new information gradually being added as Jennifer refuses to stop her investigation. I loved how the atmosphere slowly darkens in reflection of her increasing paranoia. Double Deceit kept me guessing right up to the end and I very much enjoyed this compelling read.