Deception

Jack Jordan
Genre: Psychological Thriller
416 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK, 2026

Synopsis
Emma and Miles are out of options. Their son needs life-saving transplant surgery, but in a world of privatized healthcare and impossible costs, they can’t afford it.

Then comes the offer: a shadowy syndicate known only as The Levels promises them the exact amount of money they need. All they must do is complete a series of tasks.

The catch? Each task is a crime. With every level the stakes rise, the payout grows and the line between right and wrong blurs.

But Emma and Miles aren’t the only ones playing this deadly game. As the competition intensifies and they struggle under the weight of their choices, they’re faced with the ultimate question: How far would you go to save the one you love?

My review
I always look forward to a new novel from Jack Jordan, and Deception delivers another gripping story built around an impossible moral dilemma. It may not be my favorite of his books, but it’s a solid, fast-paced thriller that kept me turning the pages.

Emma and Miles are desperate. Their young son, Ryan, needs life-saving transplant surgery, but the cost is beyond anything they can afford. Just when they’re running out of options, a mysterious syndicate known as The Levels offers them a way to get the money they need. All they have to do is complete a series of tasks. The catch? Every task involves a crime, and with each level, the stakes get higher, the payouts get bigger, and the choices become harder to justify.

What worked best for me was how easy it was to root for Emma and Miles. They’re not making these choices for money or personal gain. They’re desperate parents trying to save their child. You can understand their dilemma, even when the decisions they’re faced with become increasingly uncomfortable. It’s the kind of setup that makes you wonder what you would do in their position and just how far you’d be willing to go for someone you love.

The pacing is relentless, and the moral dilemmas keep coming. Just when I thought I had figured out the direction of the story, Jordan shifted things up and kept me guessing. There were a few moments that felt a little contrived, but I was invested enough in the characters and their predicament to let those slide. The story also felt well-rounded, with a satisfying sense of progression from beginning to end.

Deception may not be Jack Jordan at his very best, but it’s a very good read. If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers that put ordinary people in extraordinary situations and explore how far someone might go when pushed to their limits, this one is well worth picking up.

My recommendation: definitely worth the read!