Review of Deceptive Calm (Barnes & Noble Edition)

[Randall C]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm (Barnes & Noble Edition)" by Patricia Skipper.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Deceptive Calm, by Patricia Skipper, is a compelling historical fiction set in the tumultuous year of 1968. The governor of South Carolina declares martial law, and the state is fraught with segregation. The characters are caught in the middle of this radical disorder and grapple with the profound implications of the era.

Enter Vanessa Condon, abandoned and left on the doorstep of an orphanage as a mere infant. She is discovered by Sister Rosalie, a slightly whimsical but caring and authoritative person. She is also well-versed in the deep, rich history of South Carolina. The author leads her to intersperse this history in all significant situations throughout the book, piquing my interest. She takes good care of Vanessa and treats her like her own child.

Vanessa becomes friends with Trisha, who demonstrates an unselfish, committed friendship with her, even in the face of an uneventful near-death experience. Unsatisfied with her current racial situation, Vanessa assumes the identity of a deceased infant. She goes to the West Coast, attends college, finds employment, and marries into a well-to-do family.

She gives birth to a child, and a dark secret from her past soon emerges, resulting in a punch in the gut to her snobbish in-law's societal status. However, she cannot escape the struggles that have followed her since childhood. Especially the conflict Vanessa experiences with intimate relationships that follow her throughout the book. But love will eventually find her, coming full circle, resulting in a bittersweet ending.

I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars. The author's story setting will enlighten readers. It brings out the cultural complexities of the characters and their purpose, which enhances the story's direction.

I discovered several typos in the book but didn't appear to affect the flow of character interaction or the storyline. I deducted one star as I thought that there were too many robust instances of sexuality that I felt did fit the storyline. However, they were too descriptive and could have been slightly toned down. This book is a must-read if you are a history buff of South Carolina and thrive on intrigue.

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Deceptive Calm (Barnes & Noble Edition)
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