K.J. Corchoran is an assiduous journalist, viewing his field as a critical counterbalance to government overreach and corruption. Although public opinion for the media has soured, K.J. throws himself into his work, even to the detriment of his homelife. His instinct to follow a lead, no matter how tenuous, leads him to a divorce proceeding in progress. Imagining little more than a dead end, K.J. stumbles into a veritable pit of vipers. Marriage is only the first victim in a case whose parties are well known in deep-pocketed political circles. And while it looks like a predictable case involving greed and hostility, a closer examination reveals that this divorce has at its center a fourteen-year-old daughter who may be the subject of unethical medical and psychological experimentation. With a number of past personal sins to atone for, K.J. won’t let anybody off the hook without doing all he can to bring truth and justice to light. But when so much is at stake, keeping the truth buried is worth more than a few lives, especially when the deceit runs deep and begins at home.
Domestic Deceit by H.C. Johnson is an intriguing political thriller that unquestionably lives up to its name. The duplicity comes from every possible angle, making for a plot that is complex and unpredictable. Less erudite readers’ eyes may glaze over as they wade through medical and legal jargon, but this just speaks to the depth of reliable research and workable science Johnson has built into the novel. These involved details all contribute to a contemporary and thorough novel that may even eclipse Tom Clancy’s technically accurate and meticulously detailed writing style. Likely due to the author’s background as an investigative reporter, K.J. stands out as the most authentic character among a distinct and diverse cast. The emotional volatility, unfair office politics and personal sacrifices that he endures keep an audaciously entertaining plot grounded in reality. As much a legal thriller as it is a story exploring the bifurcation of the country’s political and cultural views, Domestic Deceit is an in-depth exploration of a waning watchdog media struggling to keep tabs on almost limitless corruption.
