Fiction-Psychological thriller/suspense
Whimsical Publications,
LLC/paperback 282 pages
April 2010
$13.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-06-7
Whimsical Publications,
LLC/paperback 282 pages
April 2010
$13.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-06-7
When the whispers in the night, the whispers of her lover, are the whispers of a killer, will Margot escape before she
becomes the next victim?
Deep in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon, a serial killer stalks. He leaves his signature—a skull mask on the corpse. But
when the homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a case never solved ten years ago--all fingers point
to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the killer, her life becomes a living nightmare.
becomes the next victim?
Deep in the foothills of Red Rock Canyon, a serial killer stalks. He leaves his signature—a skull mask on the corpse. But
when the homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a case never solved ten years ago--all fingers point
to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the killer, her life becomes a living nightmare.
Suspecting her affair with Carlos, he had surveillance equipment installed all over the mansion. Once he showed her the
very graphic video of her and his uncle going at it in the satin-lined coffin, he’d used it to his advantage.
Michael suspected his uncle knew more about his parents’ accident than he’d let on, but couldn’t prove a thing.
Desperate to uncover the truth, Michael blackmailed Candace into getting Carlos to confess on tape. If she failed, she’d
be killed. Stuck between a rock and a hard spot, Candace had done things to the old coot that disgusted even her. But
those things had made the old man sing like a canary and the taped confession had saved her life. After her mission
was a done deal, Michael kicked her out of Vegas and told her if she ever returned, he would rip her lungs out.
Reaching Carlos DeVeccio’s bedroom, she got a little thrill as old memories surfaced. Just a few more seconds and she’
d fall into the arms of her lover. She smiled to herself. She had returned to Vegas for a reason. She was flat broke. But
after tonight, Michael would be her ticket back into the world of luxury. Then she’d be mistress of the manor once more.
And more to the point, she’d have access to his billion dollar bank roll.
With a devious smile, she pushed her way through the heavy mahogany door. Crossing the threshold, she entered the
house of horrors. Carlos DeVeccio had been a real nut, one straight out of the books. But with her fetish for face masks,
she loved his collection and had often come into his wing just to admire them. What a thrill it had been to have sex in the
coffin, howling along with the werewolf. Some might think it a bit kinky, but they didn’t know what they were missing.
Calling out to her lover, her pulse quickened a beat. “Michael? Are you here yet, darling?”
That’s when she heard it, manic laughter from the final circle of hell. A slither of fear trickled down her spine, releasing a
wild rush of adrenaline. Carlos?
She thought about the death of Lacy Diamond. Two Ninja assassinations were no coincidence. Sensing danger, she felt
for her sword. It was gone. Panic soared through her. Where the hell was it?
The laughter got louder and louder, moving in closer and closer. It seemed to be bouncing off the walls. She couldn’t tell
from which direction it was coming. Just then, the bell in the tower gonged, thundering off the walls like canon balls.
Instinctively, she covered her ears with her hands. Where the hell was Michael?
Evil eyes from the face masks followed her every move. She had to escape this hell before it was too late. She couldn’t
think over the gonging of the bell. Every few seconds, the werewolf howled at the moon. She screamed, even though
she knew no one would ever hear her. Floundering in wild disarray, disoriented by the darkness and relentless gonging,
she searched in vain for the door. Her arms swam in mid-air, like a person drowning, desperate for an anchor,
something to hold onto. She reached out and grabbed at nothing. She had to find a way out of this mausoleum of the
living dead before it was too late. Where the hell was Michael?
The laughter got closer. Perspiration drenched her skin. The chilling laughter echoed in her ears, louder and louder,
closer and closer. The bell in the bell tower broke through the thin filament of sanity she had left. The werewolf open his
mouth and howled at the moon. Where was Michael? He’d know what to do. He was a master swordsman. His fencing
skills were extraordinary. He could wield a Ninja star with his eyes closed and hit the mark. Where was he?
Blood thundered in her ears, but not loud enough to block out the manic laughter. It was close but she couldn’t see a
thing. She wished she had her sword. She turned to run; it was too late. She heard a distinct click. The killer had just
depressed the button on her Zorro sword, releasing the thirty-seven inch blade. His psychotic laughter reached an ear-
splitting crescendo just as the bell in the tower gonged out its last chime. From the dark shadows, Valentino pounced,
her Zorro sword gleaming in the moonlight.
“Surprise!” he thrust the sword into her heart. “I promised to make you scream, darling Candace. Let me hear you
scream.”
very graphic video of her and his uncle going at it in the satin-lined coffin, he’d used it to his advantage.
Michael suspected his uncle knew more about his parents’ accident than he’d let on, but couldn’t prove a thing.
Desperate to uncover the truth, Michael blackmailed Candace into getting Carlos to confess on tape. If she failed, she’d
be killed. Stuck between a rock and a hard spot, Candace had done things to the old coot that disgusted even her. But
those things had made the old man sing like a canary and the taped confession had saved her life. After her mission
was a done deal, Michael kicked her out of Vegas and told her if she ever returned, he would rip her lungs out.
Reaching Carlos DeVeccio’s bedroom, she got a little thrill as old memories surfaced. Just a few more seconds and she’
d fall into the arms of her lover. She smiled to herself. She had returned to Vegas for a reason. She was flat broke. But
after tonight, Michael would be her ticket back into the world of luxury. Then she’d be mistress of the manor once more.
And more to the point, she’d have access to his billion dollar bank roll.
With a devious smile, she pushed her way through the heavy mahogany door. Crossing the threshold, she entered the
house of horrors. Carlos DeVeccio had been a real nut, one straight out of the books. But with her fetish for face masks,
she loved his collection and had often come into his wing just to admire them. What a thrill it had been to have sex in the
coffin, howling along with the werewolf. Some might think it a bit kinky, but they didn’t know what they were missing.
Calling out to her lover, her pulse quickened a beat. “Michael? Are you here yet, darling?”
That’s when she heard it, manic laughter from the final circle of hell. A slither of fear trickled down her spine, releasing a
wild rush of adrenaline. Carlos?
She thought about the death of Lacy Diamond. Two Ninja assassinations were no coincidence. Sensing danger, she felt
for her sword. It was gone. Panic soared through her. Where the hell was it?
The laughter got louder and louder, moving in closer and closer. It seemed to be bouncing off the walls. She couldn’t tell
from which direction it was coming. Just then, the bell in the tower gonged, thundering off the walls like canon balls.
Instinctively, she covered her ears with her hands. Where the hell was Michael?
Evil eyes from the face masks followed her every move. She had to escape this hell before it was too late. She couldn’t
think over the gonging of the bell. Every few seconds, the werewolf howled at the moon. She screamed, even though
she knew no one would ever hear her. Floundering in wild disarray, disoriented by the darkness and relentless gonging,
she searched in vain for the door. Her arms swam in mid-air, like a person drowning, desperate for an anchor,
something to hold onto. She reached out and grabbed at nothing. She had to find a way out of this mausoleum of the
living dead before it was too late. Where the hell was Michael?
The laughter got closer. Perspiration drenched her skin. The chilling laughter echoed in her ears, louder and louder,
closer and closer. The bell in the bell tower broke through the thin filament of sanity she had left. The werewolf open his
mouth and howled at the moon. Where was Michael? He’d know what to do. He was a master swordsman. His fencing
skills were extraordinary. He could wield a Ninja star with his eyes closed and hit the mark. Where was he?
Blood thundered in her ears, but not loud enough to block out the manic laughter. It was close but she couldn’t see a
thing. She wished she had her sword. She turned to run; it was too late. She heard a distinct click. The killer had just
depressed the button on her Zorro sword, releasing the thirty-seven inch blade. His psychotic laughter reached an ear-
splitting crescendo just as the bell in the tower gonged out its last chime. From the dark shadows, Valentino pounced,
her Zorro sword gleaming in the moonlight.
“Surprise!” he thrust the sword into her heart. “I promised to make you scream, darling Candace. Let me hear you
scream.”
| Reviews for Mask of the Betrayer |
| Excerpt for Mask of the Betrayer |
Comment/review = I just finished Sharon Donovan's Mask of The Betrayer and it blew me away.
I couldn't put it down and kept thinking. What would I do?????
One of the best reads I have had in an awfully long time!
Amazon review by: Mary R
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Have you ever watched a really scary, creepy movie where the heroine is all alone in this spooky
house, and goose-bumpy music is playing, and the heroine reaches for a door where the bad guy is lurking, and you're
sitting on the edge of your seat screaming, "Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!" That's how you feel throughout this
book. You're wanting to tell Margot, "Don't believe him! Run away! Why are you sticking around?"
And I won't tell you the reasons why she does -- Again, read the book, and find out why.
Could this book become a movie, and Michael DeVeccio the next Freddy Krueger? Oh, yeah, but don't ask me to watch
it. The book terrified me all by itself.
Amazon review by: Miss Mae
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Ms. Donovan has written a gripping suspense- thriller meant to charm and chill her readers. During
the day you’ll run background checks on everyone you know and meet. Nights will offer no respite, bringing only
maniacal laughter with its starlit skies.
Recommendations:If you enjoyed the movies Touched by Evil, Sleeping with the Enemy, and Enough you’re going to
enjoy this novel. It’ll also appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, thrillers, and anyone who watches the
television show C.S.I.
My thoughts: It’s eerie when someone drugs Margot with hallucinogenic drugs. And when the murderer’s last hold on
reality slips, the emergence of his different identities is purely sinister.
Favorite scene: Detective Santiago knows the gravity of keeping duty and desire as far from each other as possible.
When he’s no longer capable of hiding his feelings for Margot, he’ll let her know. Mmm-hmm, no question!
-Susan S., guest reviewer
Love Romance Passion
Rating: 4 Stars
Comment/review = In Mask of the Betrayer, Michael DeVeccio is the nephew of a gangster Carlos DeVeccio who raised
Michael since he was twelve and taught him that it was acceptable to kill anyone who gets in your way. Michael is rich,
believes he is God and a psychopath. He wants the DeVeccio dynasty to live on and when he meets Margot, he thinks
she is the one to carry on the DeVeccio legacy. There is a serial killer on the loose called the Red Rock Slasher who
leaves his signature-a skull mask on the corpse. When A homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a
case never solved ten years ago-all fingers point to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the
killer, her life becomes a living nightmare. What happens to Margot and does Michael get what he deserves? I guess
you have to read the book to find out.
I loved the book but I really disliked Michael. I was at the edge of my seat and I wanted Margot to run away and get away
from the psychopath. It was hard for me to put the book down. I was happy it was summer vacation and I did not read it
on a school night. The characters were developed fully and I could feel Margot's emotions. There was twists and turns
throughout the book that made it even more exciting. This was one of the best books that I have read this year! I cannot
wait to see what happens to Margot in the next book of the series, Vendetta.
Amazon review by: Melissa
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = I have to confess: in the course of reviewing several of her works, I've become a Sharon Ann
Donovan fan. In `Mask of the Betrayer' she's brought us another heart-stopping blend of suspense, anxiety, love and
hope. The magic in her stories is that the affairs of the heart never take a backseat to the thrills: Even while you are
reading, white-knuckled, hoping just for survival - feeling the approaching presence of the evil hunter, perhaps
imagining him outside your own window - you are still madly hoping the two will somehow recognize their feelings for one
another. We so want them to be happy!
Michael is one of those `have it all' sorts; smart and charming, while Margot impresses by her competence, mostly in her
professional career. She's a curator, and the backdrop of the art world is both understated and interesting. In a few
events, like the masquerade ball, we expect things to happen, but there are also surprises along the way. As we are
drawn in, we find ourselves expecting certain alliances - but hope and expectation also bring with it a certain
predictability, and Donovan is never predictable. Other characters seem to pique our interest as well... and at some
point, we aren't even sure what we hope for.
The aura of the story may be dark, but many moments and descriptions offer respite by way of contrast. The following
paragraph takes our heroine away from the hustle and bustle so thoroughly, we find ourselves relaxing as we read:
The beckoning wail of sax drifted out of the piano bar; the bluesy sound of jazz getting into her skin. After spending the
better part of the afternoon negotiating at an art auction, unwinding over a chilled martini sounded like utter bliss.
Seduced by the sound, she sauntered up the three steps leading to the mezzanine and ordered a Pomegranate martini.
She is `seduced by sound,' `saunters' and in a moment, we can almost taste that martini, too. Descriptions are powerful
- and the frightening ones, no less so.
Intriguingly, or perhaps just creepy, is the close-up understanding we gradually gain into the serial killer himself, `The
Hunter.' His dark mind is something of a psychological study, and the scenes that allow us to gain understanding just
add to our fear level! There are also some innocent-seeming moments that tip us off to the imbalance in his mind - like a
certain parallel to the twin personalities of the artist of the `Two Fridas" that will eventually give us chills. (it's more than
dark and threatening; its sorrowful. It's a reminder of how that character suffered. Donovan builds character in subtle but
powerful ways.)
For all of the character depth, plot twists and intriguing lifestyles, this story remains fast-paced throughout. You will
simply not want to stop turning the pages: There's more to it than just suspense, just mystery, or just romance; but all
those layers of meaning and suggestions are so cleverly imparted that the story never slows for a second.
J. Thomas
LASR reviewer
Rated: 5 stars
I couldn't put it down and kept thinking. What would I do?????
One of the best reads I have had in an awfully long time!
Amazon review by: Mary R
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Have you ever watched a really scary, creepy movie where the heroine is all alone in this spooky
house, and goose-bumpy music is playing, and the heroine reaches for a door where the bad guy is lurking, and you're
sitting on the edge of your seat screaming, "Don't do it! Don't do it! Don't do it!" That's how you feel throughout this
book. You're wanting to tell Margot, "Don't believe him! Run away! Why are you sticking around?"
And I won't tell you the reasons why she does -- Again, read the book, and find out why.
Could this book become a movie, and Michael DeVeccio the next Freddy Krueger? Oh, yeah, but don't ask me to watch
it. The book terrified me all by itself.
Amazon review by: Miss Mae
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Ms. Donovan has written a gripping suspense- thriller meant to charm and chill her readers. During
the day you’ll run background checks on everyone you know and meet. Nights will offer no respite, bringing only
maniacal laughter with its starlit skies.
Recommendations:If you enjoyed the movies Touched by Evil, Sleeping with the Enemy, and Enough you’re going to
enjoy this novel. It’ll also appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, thrillers, and anyone who watches the
television show C.S.I.
My thoughts: It’s eerie when someone drugs Margot with hallucinogenic drugs. And when the murderer’s last hold on
reality slips, the emergence of his different identities is purely sinister.
Favorite scene: Detective Santiago knows the gravity of keeping duty and desire as far from each other as possible.
When he’s no longer capable of hiding his feelings for Margot, he’ll let her know. Mmm-hmm, no question!
-Susan S., guest reviewer
Love Romance Passion
Rating: 4 Stars
Comment/review = In Mask of the Betrayer, Michael DeVeccio is the nephew of a gangster Carlos DeVeccio who raised
Michael since he was twelve and taught him that it was acceptable to kill anyone who gets in your way. Michael is rich,
believes he is God and a psychopath. He wants the DeVeccio dynasty to live on and when he meets Margot, he thinks
she is the one to carry on the DeVeccio legacy. There is a serial killer on the loose called the Red Rock Slasher who
leaves his signature-a skull mask on the corpse. When A homicide cop realizes the crimes are the reenactment of a
case never solved ten years ago-all fingers point to Michael DeVeccio. And when Margot realizes she is married to the
killer, her life becomes a living nightmare. What happens to Margot and does Michael get what he deserves? I guess
you have to read the book to find out.
I loved the book but I really disliked Michael. I was at the edge of my seat and I wanted Margot to run away and get away
from the psychopath. It was hard for me to put the book down. I was happy it was summer vacation and I did not read it
on a school night. The characters were developed fully and I could feel Margot's emotions. There was twists and turns
throughout the book that made it even more exciting. This was one of the best books that I have read this year! I cannot
wait to see what happens to Margot in the next book of the series, Vendetta.
Amazon review by: Melissa
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = I have to confess: in the course of reviewing several of her works, I've become a Sharon Ann
Donovan fan. In `Mask of the Betrayer' she's brought us another heart-stopping blend of suspense, anxiety, love and
hope. The magic in her stories is that the affairs of the heart never take a backseat to the thrills: Even while you are
reading, white-knuckled, hoping just for survival - feeling the approaching presence of the evil hunter, perhaps
imagining him outside your own window - you are still madly hoping the two will somehow recognize their feelings for one
another. We so want them to be happy!
Michael is one of those `have it all' sorts; smart and charming, while Margot impresses by her competence, mostly in her
professional career. She's a curator, and the backdrop of the art world is both understated and interesting. In a few
events, like the masquerade ball, we expect things to happen, but there are also surprises along the way. As we are
drawn in, we find ourselves expecting certain alliances - but hope and expectation also bring with it a certain
predictability, and Donovan is never predictable. Other characters seem to pique our interest as well... and at some
point, we aren't even sure what we hope for.
The aura of the story may be dark, but many moments and descriptions offer respite by way of contrast. The following
paragraph takes our heroine away from the hustle and bustle so thoroughly, we find ourselves relaxing as we read:
The beckoning wail of sax drifted out of the piano bar; the bluesy sound of jazz getting into her skin. After spending the
better part of the afternoon negotiating at an art auction, unwinding over a chilled martini sounded like utter bliss.
Seduced by the sound, she sauntered up the three steps leading to the mezzanine and ordered a Pomegranate martini.
She is `seduced by sound,' `saunters' and in a moment, we can almost taste that martini, too. Descriptions are powerful
- and the frightening ones, no less so.
Intriguingly, or perhaps just creepy, is the close-up understanding we gradually gain into the serial killer himself, `The
Hunter.' His dark mind is something of a psychological study, and the scenes that allow us to gain understanding just
add to our fear level! There are also some innocent-seeming moments that tip us off to the imbalance in his mind - like a
certain parallel to the twin personalities of the artist of the `Two Fridas" that will eventually give us chills. (it's more than
dark and threatening; its sorrowful. It's a reminder of how that character suffered. Donovan builds character in subtle but
powerful ways.)
For all of the character depth, plot twists and intriguing lifestyles, this story remains fast-paced throughout. You will
simply not want to stop turning the pages: There's more to it than just suspense, just mystery, or just romance; but all
those layers of meaning and suggestions are so cleverly imparted that the story never slows for a second.
J. Thomas
LASR reviewer
Rated: 5 stars
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| Mask of the Betrayer Sharon Donovan |
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