Deceptive Cadence: Conor McBride International Mystery Series

Written by Kathryn Guare

Narrated by Wayne Farrell

Book 1 in the Action-Packed Conor McBride Series!

Conor McBride is a man with deadly skills he never wanted to learn. That doesn't mean he won't use them.

The matter is urgent, and your assistance will be required almost immediately, for an extended stretch of time…

When a British intelligence officer shows up on his farm to deliver this message, Conor McBride doesn’t trust the man, or the motives that brought MI6 to the west coast of Kerry on a mission to recruit an Irishman. The stranger’s summons is hard to resist, though. It promises the solution to a mystery that’s haunted him for years.

Before it all fell apart, Conor thought he had everything - a beautiful fiancé, a bright career in Dublin, and a talent that would carry him far beyond his quiet life in the west of Ireland. Those dreams shattered the day he was arrested, framed for a crime by the man he’d trusted most in the world. Now, he’s living with a permanent record, a mountain of debt, and unanswered questions: What turned his mild-mannered brother into the criminal who betrayed him; and where was he, now?

MI6 says they know, but they’re not giving information for free. First, Conor must accept his recruitment for a club he never wanted to join, acquire skills he never wanted to learn, and take an undercover assignment that goes far beyond the mystery he’d hoped to solve.

Assuming a new identity, he disappears into the tumultuous back alleys and bazaars of India, working with an American partner who’s got a sketchy history and his own personal demons. While the mission grows more crooked and treacherous by the day, Conor’s own goal is unwavering. Traveling from Mumbai to the snow-capped mountains of Kashmir, he’ll do whatever it takes to get the answers he’s looking for, and to give his brother one last shot at redemption… before it’s too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kiltumper Close Press
• Release date: Mar 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781987125146

Reviews for Deceptive Cadence

[NNEAMAKA PAYNE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I think of this book some words come to mind and they are An intriguing and dramatic thriller! I recommend it and it is enjoyably entertaining.
Deceptive Cadence was a thrilling also a well-written story. There were many twists and turns that formed a believable plot. Some of them you didn’t see coming. There just enough action and suspense to keep the readers very interesting. The characters were well developed including well describe with clarity. You can tell that the author did her research in detail, which added credibility to the story. Kathryn did a splendid job in immersing the reader in the different countries that she writes about. You will that you are really there in that country with the characters.
Wayne Farrell did a great job with the narration. He had a clear and crisp voice that was easy to follow. He did a great job with the voice inflections and many accents. His narration sounded more like real storytelling than simply reading a book.
This is the first book that I have read by Kathryn Guare. I recommend Deceptive Cadence to anyone that enjoys reading a thrilling espionage suspense novel.
In addition, At one point in his life, Conor McBride was a successful concert violinist, but he’s reverted back to his roots and has gone home to Ireland to care for his mother and the family farm. This life change came after his brother, Thomas, was involved in an international case of fraud that just so happened to involve Conor after he signed documents that he didn’t bother to review. Thomas disappeared and Conor spent the next several years living a life of simplicity, paying the fines that the McBride family became stuck with. Five years go by and a gentleman from the British intelligence agency knocks on Conor’s door requisitioning his assistance in locating the brother he presumed was long gone. Suddenly, his life of simplicity gets very complicated.
While Deceptive Cadence is a fast-paced spy thriller, however, the real essence of the story centers around family and the lengths that you would go for them regardless of history. The idea of a simple farmer (or even musician) being commissioned to become a member of MI6 at the drop of the hat may be far fetched, but Conor McBride is one of those individuals that catch on quick but the fact that he has to do well in order to protect his brother is never far from his mind. His fast-paced training takes him out of the villages in Ireland and thrusts him into a new world. While searching for his brother he experiences religious retreats known as ashrams in Rishikesh India to the cities of Mumbai.
The authors' clear research into this part of the globe takes the reader on a fascinating journey to far-off parts of the world and describes Conor’s surroundings in fantastic detail. Conor was an enjoyable character that managed to contribute a dash of whimsy to a story that could have been nothing but dark and mysterious.
In addition to a compelling main character and an enticing storyline, the Ireland-born audiobook narrator, Wayne Farrell, only further impressed me with his storytelling ability. If you’re a fan of John le Carré and/or spy-thrillers, Deceptive Cadence could be an unexpected treat.