Deception's Fury [Paperback]

As the story continues, Skye and Rhys are now married and have three children. In addition to being a wife and mother, Skye has been involved in many other activities. She has limited involvement with the DEA and works part-time professorships at local colleges. She also handles her air charter business called Skyeborne. Rhys is still very much involved as the head of his company, Genoreach Technologies.

Rhys was in the middle of a board meeting of his company when a secretary handed him a note, which indicated that his wife was waiting to speak with him. Rhys knew that something had to be wrong because Skye had never done this before. Rhys was concerned that something had happened to one of the children. Skye informed Rhys that she needed to pilot a mission to Buenos Aires. Skye stated the mission was not dangerous and she would return in one week. She suggested that since the children were out of school the following week and it would be a good time for Rhys to take them to the cabin in Colorado. Rhys knew too well that she was not telling him the whole truth and pressed for more information. She finally handed Rhys some of the messages she had in her jacket. One email message was signed "Tristan Alaric". Another written in Spanish was signed "Wolf". She explained to Rhys that the email traffic was intercepted and was heavily encrypted. After the message was deciphered, they made reference to some minor drug activity in Argentina and Chile. Why does Skye want to be the one to go on the mission? Her youngest son's name is "Tristan Alaric" and they have always called him "Wolf". Is this just a coincidence or is someone from Sky's past playing games?

Rhys finally agreed to let Skye go on the mission. She left seven letters with him - one to read to the children each day that she was gone.

One week went by and Skye did not return. What happened? Gabe, Skye's boss, knew that something went terribly wrong because he received a report from an agent in Uruguay informing him that DEA operatives were killed in Buenos Aires. If it is possible that Skye is still alive, she has probably been captured, tortured and brutalized.

Gabe agreed to send Rhys on a mission to find Skye. Does Rhys find Skye? Is she still alive?

What makes a good plot? That is one of the questions I ask myself when reading a book. Many books you read seem to have the same old plot with a different twist. This is surely not the case with Jacquelyn Randolph's books. It amazes me how she comes up plots that are so different compared to anything you have read before. This is one of the great characteristics of her writing. As a result, Deception's Fury never gets dull. In fact, it gets more exciting with the turn of each page. The two main characters, Rhys and Skye are well defined. You will especially love Skye because she is so strong willed and determined. Be sure to add "Deception's Fury" to your reading list.

Those who remember and enjoyed the original series for Mission Impossible will certainly welcome Deception's Fury, by Jacqueline G. Randolph. In fact, you will see that this story would have made a great script for that popular show. Fury is an exciting adventure that reveals a world known by few-a world where undercover Americans fight as part of the Drug Enforcement Agency to protect our citizens, demanding of themselves a commitment and loyalty to their mission that can only serve to inspire and amaze us. While this story may be fiction, it, nonetheless, elicits a response-a thankful, prayerful elation that there are those among our fellow Americans who work to serve and protect our United States.

But, wait! Before you read further, let me tell you that you will want to start right from the beginning of this series. Check out my review of Deception's Guard because I believe you'll want to read about the great love affair and the dangerous adventures of the two main characters before you are submerged into the Fury of the greatest challenge to that love in Randolph's second book!

Yes, Deception's Fury continues the story of the love affair between Rhys and Skye Wielde. Skye has moved from her position as a Drug Enforcement Agent into an advisory position and has become Rhys' wife and the mother of three beautiful children¾a set of twins, and later a young son. She is also a part-time professor and has established a local air charter business, sometimes working as one of the pilots. Rhys is head of Genoreach Technologies which is dedicated to research and development of bioinformatic technologies-the mating of biology and information systems. A major deception at Genoreach had originally brought Rhys and Skye together (See Deception's Guard) and nearly ten years of wedded bliss have passed.

Until the day that messages were intercepted. Information that referred to their youngest son, who was called "Wolf," had been discovered on the Internet. There are also references to Omega, the drug that had been created at Genoreach and had been found to be deadly. Had the drug not totally been stopped? Or had other scientists duplicated the process? And what did it mean to have the involved ship, the ship that was known to transport drugs, have the same name as their son, with a captain who was called "Wolf"?

Skye, with her DEA background, extensive knowledge of the earlier mission, as well as having a pilot's license, is asked to participate actively once again. Declaring that she would act only as pilot to other DEA operatives, Rhys agrees to her involvement with the caveat specifying that, if she were not back in a month, he would come looking for her. But a month goes by and Skye is not home. Not only does Rhys begin plans to track her down, but her boss contacts him and asks him to become involved and work with the DEA. For they had received word that three agents were found dead. Skye is missing.

Soon it is discovered that Skye is alive and held captive although she has been beaten and is near death. A local woman who is an undercover agent has been able to convince the assigned guards that a doctor's visit is needed. Skye is known to be a master of disguises but now it is Rhys' turn and he is disguised as an elderly doctor by night while by day he holds a position as an embassy aide. The old woman meets Rhys, as the doctor, and brings him to Skye. She has been beaten and bruised over her entire body, chunks of her neck and face are gone-eaten by rats. She is covered and smells of her own excrement. The horror of seeing her is almost too much for Rhys to bear. But little by little, he is convinced that his wife recognizes him and is able to respond to help his efforts to save her.

Once Skye is saved and well enough to act on her own, she is once again driven and, against her husband's wishes to go home, is relentless in her determination to finish the mission. Reluctantly, Rhys agrees to stay and help the team find the ship transporting the drugs. The trail takes them to Ecuador, Buenos Aries, and finally to the Antarctica, the coldest most uninhabitable place on earth. There, putting together all of the pieces of information she has gathered, Skye locates the ship¾the ship which some claim to be a ghost ship because of its mysterious appearances and disappearances.

But there is talk among the DEA team and bosses of Skye's sanity . . . of her becoming a rogue agent. Skye knows that in addition to her assigned mission, she has a personal need-to seek revenge on the murderer of her former DEA partner-and she doesn't mind questions about her sanity as long as she is able to fulfill that quest as well as find the ship. Rhys is there when she finds the location and is the only witness to a major shift from team plans, which support the possibility she is indeed a traitor. He is forced to believe that Skye is no longer the woman that he has known and loved. Can he allow his wife to return and care for his children? He will always love her, but his trust has been almost destroyed. Can their marriage be saved?

Deception's Fury is indeed a love story, but that story is just a major underlying theme. The character of Skye is a major force, an individual who, in disguise, easily becomes a person who moves through the underworld of drugs and prostitution with its many dangers to overhear, discover and piece together where her target can be found and how to get to it. Needless to say, the suspense and intrigue is heavy; the methods and actions of the team and undercover agents are Frightening. What they must do to stay alive can only be considered monstrous and yet a very necessary part of survival. With a surprise ending, readers are kept in suspense right to the ending!

Randolph has outdone many major writers in the creation of her two main characters and, especially, her female lead. Skye will become one of your all-time favorite characters!

The tone and scenes bring readers into a distressing world and forces them to read on until the heroine allows them to leave...at the end of the book. Her writing is superb, the characters will become your heroes, and you will be searching for the next book in the series long before it is available. Trust me! This author is on the move! Watch her! She is a challenge to J. D. Robb, with her husband/wife team, as well as many other well-established writers. This is definitely a MUST-READ!