Faking Game: A promise is a promise (Paperback or Softback)

They did the worst thing you can do to a woman… and only revenge will do.

Mikky dos Santos is a changed woman. Ever rebellious, the reformed European art thief takes on two assailants who stole a gem from her more precious than any work of art—leading her hot on their tails in an international mystery that blends eastern European intrigue with page-turning psychological suspense.

The ex-forger has traded her life of crime for domestic bliss—these days she’s an aspiring portrait photographer but at a birthday celebration in an idyllic Spanish villa, tragedy strikes.

Mikky embarks on a one-woman quest of vigilante justice, tracking the thieves through Spain, Poland, and Estonia, and enlisting help from her past life in the European underworld.
But it’s not long before she realizes the art thieves aren’t at all who they’d seemed and her vendetta becomes unimaginably dangerous.

Set in Barcelona (Spain), Wroclaw (Poland) and Tallinn (Estonia) – this international fast paced action packed novel will keep you spell bound.

Mikky’s combination of vulnerability and strength will appeal to fans of female protagonists and readers of crime thrillers in the style of Lucy Foley, Donna Leon, Estelle Ryan, Laura Morelli, CJ Lyons and Carmen Armato.

★★★★★ “An excellent crime thriller with a well written plot and good believable characters. A fast paced read that is a real page turner. An interesting read that also teaches us the nature of art. An interesting read that I would highly recommend.”

★★★★★ "I thoroughly enjoyed this exciting and fast paced book with Mikky De Santos, Josephine, Eduardo and some new likeable characters. The action begins immediately and escalates through the story. The author is not afraid to tug at the readers emotions. Lots of twists and turns. When you think you have it figured out, you are taken off in another direction.”

★★★★★ “Wow! I don't know anything about art, but this was a spectacular book. The creative ideas and insights were amazing and very realistic to me. I loved the characters and Mikky just gets better and better at what she sets her mind to. I loved the whole thought process and how the truth finally gets revealed.”

5.0 out of 5 starsA Brilliantly Written Thriller

13 April 2019 - Published on Amazon.com

I did receive an ARC of This book, but the review is my own opinion, freely given.

This book has it all - sharp writing, excellent plotting, in depth characterization, and scenes that live in memory.Add in themes that explore deeper issues, and this book is a fantastic reading experience.As usual with Pywell's books, an important theme is the
nature of art, how it is valued and who owns it.In this book this theme expands into the studio system with apprentices and who owns the concept of a completed work.Addition themes that impressed me were the nature and psychology of revenge and the Mother Child relationship.The startling events that begin the novel are acts of revenge, and when lead character Milkky dos Santos becomes collateral damage in the second of these she sets off on a crusade of revenge of her own.It is a joy to come across such a well written book.

Pete R.

4.0 out of 5 starsA Geography lesson wrapped in an adventure mystery

15 April 2019 - Published on Amazon.com

I found myself wanting to go find a map as the characters went back and forth while the mystery unfolded. The plot kept me involved over three evenings of reading. It wasn't a "Stay up all night" story but it kept it's spot at the top of my bedside book stack until everything was unraveled. Characters were engaging and believable although I've never traveled in any of their social circles.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.