Teach Yourself Treachery
A lesson in treachery… Rachel Petersen and her grandma, Mrs. Watson became widows at the same time. For years now, Rachel has been her grandfather’s secretary, the infamous archaeologist Hammond Watson. Hammond Watson’s love of Viking history was only matched by his glee at tearing into other archaeologists’ long-held theories. It never helped that he was always proven right in the end. And he had loved Rachel too, nurturing in her the same curiosity for new discoveries and suspicion of the pompous and sycophantic academia. She travelled around with him, dismissing the rumours that her grandfather led to the death of a disgraced Danish archaeologist, one Hans Ascomann. Ascomann allegedly died of a broken heart, after Hammond revealed that a piece of evidence Ascomann used to prove his pet theory, was actually a forgery. While staying in Copenhagen, she meets Erik Petersen and the two embark on a whirlwind romance. Three weeks later, and the pair are married. But before the honeymoon even begins, gone is the passionate, romantic Erik she fell in love with. He treats her coldly and cruelly, and is only interested in working with her grandfather, who offered Erik work on his latest dig in Holland. Rachel is stuck in a loveless marriage, sure that her now husband only wanted to gain access to the capricious Hammond Watson. Instead of being with her, he takes to rifling through her grandfather’s belongings – clearly looking for something. And then an accident happens and both Hammond Watson and Erik Petersen are tragically killed. Then just a few hours after the memorial, a man shows up at her grandfather’s house. Her father's last assistant, Adrian Brent swears it’s her husband. But Rachel doesn’t recognise him – in fact, he’s definitely not Erik, the man she married. He doesn’t even act like Erik. Yet everything from his passport to his papers, say he is Erik Flemming Petersen. How is that possible? Who is this stranger? And more importantly, if this stranger is right, then who really was her husband? Rachel isn’t going to let this mystery go unsolved, and the journey ahead is a much darker, bloodier trail then she could’ve ever anticipated… Teach Yourself Treachery is a chilling and suspenseful thriller, filled with memorable characters and intelligent twists.
John Burke wrote an intriguing and thrilling mystery that will have you guessing from the beginning. It undoubtedly provides a unique plot that will have even the reader questioning what they thought they knew as they try to figure things out along with Rachel.
The plot was well-written with a fast pace, credible and great story line that will rouse your interest as Burke unravels Rachel’s mystery with his very proficient talent. He has created some realistic and striking characters encasing their development in chilling and suspenseful twists.
We all know life is full of unexpected turns but Burke makes you seriously question the old phrase “truth will set you free” in this book especially when the truth could imprison you more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Endeavor Press for allowing me to review this book.
*synopsis and pic from netgalley.com