Deceptive Calm Audiobook By Patricia Skipper cover art

Deceptive Calm

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Deceptive Calm

By: Patricia Skipper
Narrated by: Tanya Reuter
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About this listen

Against the turbulent backdrop of declared martial law in South Carolina, a stunning light-skinned beauty, Vanessa, lives in a Catholic orphanage for Blacks. After a series of racial traumas, Vanessa obtains the birth certificate of a deceased white baby and uses this document to assume the child's identity. She moves to California and enrolls at UC Berkeley under her newly acquired name.

Vanessa marries into one of California's wealthiest families. Her charmed life abruptly ends eighteen months after the birth of her first child who is diagnosed with sickle cell trait. Discovering that the woman he married is Black, as is his toddler son, Vanessa's ruthless husband plots his revenge but they both survive. The police investigation that follows seems pretty clear-cut until a curious, young detective uncovers some clues to her private life where nothing is as it appears. The aftermath of the discovery brings down a pillar of San Francisco society.

©2023 Patricia Skipper (P)2024 Patricia Skipper
Crime Thrillers Drama & Plays Fantasy
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What listeners say about Deceptive Calm

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A striking story that delivers a powerful dose of reality

Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper is a powerful and emotional story of resilience. It follows Vanessa, a light-skinned Black woman, as she navigates nearly 40 years of challenges in a society shaped by racism, sexism, and inequality. Set in post-martial-law South Carolina, Vanessa’s journey highlights the struggles of women who face discrimination on multiple fronts. Yet, beneath her calm and composed exterior lies a fierce and determined heart.

One of the most striking parts of the story is when Vanessa gets a chance to completely reinvent herself. With the birth certificate of a deceased White baby, she creates a new identity and steps into a life of new challenges and opportunities. This pivotal moment shows her strength and her willingness to redefine her future despite the weight of her past.

Patricia Skipper’s storytelling is heartfelt and clear, making the emotional struggles and societal pressures feel very real. The book also celebrates Vanessa’s determination, her relationships, and her personal growth, showing how the people and places in her life shape her.

While the pacing can feel uneven at times, and the open-ended conclusion leaves some questions unanswered, the story’s focus on Vanessa’s resilience and strength is deeply inspiring. Deceptive Calm is a thought-provoking and moving read, especially for women who may see pieces of their own experiences reflected in Vanessa’s story.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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A romantic book with a wonderful story

The book of Deceptive Calm follows the life of a light-skinned woman named Vanessa, who struggles with identity after traumatic events take place in her life, causing her to move away. She moved across the country with a new identity and was looking for a fresh start. With her new identity, she becomes the first female lead in broadcasting. She finds love and is living a dream that everyone wanted. However, her deceptions catch up to her, turning her life upside down. 

The book highlights Vanessa's resilience, love, relationships, betrayal, marriage, and loyalty. I loved how the author depicted the difference in her love life. The love she got in marriage was not as strong as the love she had at home with her true love. The romance was well-written and gives you a different perspective on what love truly is and how it should feel. The flow was smooth. There was suspense, but it was overbearing in the last two chapters. The ending plot was the best part of the book. The characters were relatable and historical. Overall, the book was amazing and a wonderful story. 

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    4 out of 5 stars
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My view on racism changed

Deceptive Calm by Everand is an enthralling novel that takes readers on a wild ride filled with twists and turns. Set against a backdrop of privilege and power, the story follows two young girls as they navigate a world of deceit and resilience. The intricate plot and well-developed characters kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next. Despite some graphic scenes, the book's unique perspective on racism through the eyes of its characters added depth to the story. I was completely invested in the lives of these characters and found it hard to put the book down. Overall, Deceptive Calm is a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating and thought-provoking novel that will keep them hooked until the very end.

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Nothing really stood out.

The story just didn't involve any strong emotions in me. It was a cool story but rather bland.

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A southern childhood sweetheart

I really loved this book. The main character was a favorite. Her story was full of love, sadness and adventure. A must read for women

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