Review of Deceptive Calm
Posted: 10 Jun 2025, 17:40
[Following is a volunteer review of "Deceptive Calm" by Patricia Skipper.]
Deceptive Calm is a fast-moving, suspense-filled historical fiction set in South Carolina during the Jim Crow era of the 60s and 70s. The author tells a riveting story of a young black girl trying to make her way in a society that sees her as less than. Readers are taken on a journey with the main character which hits on every emotion - happiness, anger, fear, sadness, concern, you name it. It is easy to fall into the world created by the author. I found myself thinking about the characters and events of the story whenever I wasn’t reading and contemplating what would happen the next time I jumped back in.
The book carries a theme of racial segregation and traditional gender roles throughout, with white supremacy and male domination taking a front seat. Readers should be cautioned to strong racial slurs and violence right from the first chapter. While action-packed and suspenseful, the book also stays true to the time and society in which it is set. Because of this, the author does not shy away from using language that was deemed acceptable in the past but is largely unacceptable in today’s world. Further into the book come detailed instances of trauma, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, so readers with a sensitivity to these subjects should take caution.
The story is well-edited, save for a few instances of misspellings or misplaced quotation marks, mostly within the last chapter. There are a couple of spots throughout the story where the dialogue or chronology are a bit unclear, but these instances don’t affect the overall narration or take away from the story. I was able to sort out the intended narration and move on without trouble.
Overall, I found this book captivating and hard to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who would enjoy a story of overcoming challenges in spite of society, mixed with a tumultuous romance and a hint of suspense. Beware, though: the end will leave you waiting for a sequel.
******
Deceptive Calm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Deceptive Calm is a fast-moving, suspense-filled historical fiction set in South Carolina during the Jim Crow era of the 60s and 70s. The author tells a riveting story of a young black girl trying to make her way in a society that sees her as less than. Readers are taken on a journey with the main character which hits on every emotion - happiness, anger, fear, sadness, concern, you name it. It is easy to fall into the world created by the author. I found myself thinking about the characters and events of the story whenever I wasn’t reading and contemplating what would happen the next time I jumped back in.
The book carries a theme of racial segregation and traditional gender roles throughout, with white supremacy and male domination taking a front seat. Readers should be cautioned to strong racial slurs and violence right from the first chapter. While action-packed and suspenseful, the book also stays true to the time and society in which it is set. Because of this, the author does not shy away from using language that was deemed acceptable in the past but is largely unacceptable in today’s world. Further into the book come detailed instances of trauma, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, so readers with a sensitivity to these subjects should take caution.
The story is well-edited, save for a few instances of misspellings or misplaced quotation marks, mostly within the last chapter. There are a couple of spots throughout the story where the dialogue or chronology are a bit unclear, but these instances don’t affect the overall narration or take away from the story. I was able to sort out the intended narration and move on without trouble.
Overall, I found this book captivating and hard to put down. I would recommend it to anyone who would enjoy a story of overcoming challenges in spite of society, mixed with a tumultuous romance and a hint of suspense. Beware, though: the end will leave you waiting for a sequel.
******
Deceptive Calm
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon