Deceitful Intentions

Carlo Armenise's Deceitful Intentions: A Revenge Mystery is a gripping exploration of trauma, memory loss, and the search for truth woven into a compelling tale of revenge and redemption. The story follows twenty-four-year-old Raven Redman, who is struggling to reclaim her life after surviving a horrific car accident that claimed her mother’s life and left her with significant physical and emotional scars. It unfolds through Raven’s eyes as she struggles with the memories of her past—a past that is jagged and scarred by loss. The author brilliantly captures the intense psychological landscape of a young woman in recovery, exploring Raven’s amnesia following the accident and her desire to remember her mother, Alice, who was not only her parent but also her closest confidante. She moves back to her hometown, where a friend helps us piece the elements of her past together, but everything changes with the discovery that her mother’s death wasn’t an accident.   

Armenise captures Raven’s emotional journey to rediscover herself against a small-town mystery that unfolds in layers. The plot is twisty, and readers will be keen to uncover what happens next when Raven learns about the possible involvement of her mother’s friend, Muriel, in a series of deceptions and tragedies surrounding her family. The tension increases as the suspicion that Muriel may have played a role in both Alice’s death and Dunlap’s murder builds. The author’s skillful execution of suspense and Raven's recovery create a captivating atmosphere of unease—Raven’s uncovering truths about her mother’s affair with Chief Manfred and Muriel's hatred. Muriel’s descent into villainy is chillingly depicted, evoking sympathy for her tragic circumstances while simultaneously delivering the thrill of a psychological thriller. The moral ambiguity surrounding the characters challenges readers’ perceptions of loyalty, love, and the consequences of one’s choices. Deceitful Intentions is hauntingly captivating, emotionally intense, and suspenseful.