HEART OF DECEPTION
From M. L. Malcolm, the acclaimed author of Heart of Lies, comes a powerful sequel that spans the years from World War II to the turbulent 1960s—the riveting story of a family struggling with choices forced upon them by war . . . and the consequences that will take a generation to unfold.
A man of many contradictions, Leo Hoffman is a Hungarian national with a French passport, a wealthy businessman with no visible means of support, and a devoted father who hasn’t seen his daughter in years. He is also a spy.
From M. L. Malcolm, the acclaimed author of Heart of Lies, comes a powerful sequel that spans the years from World War II to the turbulent 1960s—the riveting story of a family struggling with choices forced upon them by war . . . and the consequences that will take a generation to unfold.
A man of many contradictions, Leo Hoffman is a Hungarian national with a French passport, a wealthy businessman with no visible means of support, and a devoted father who hasn’t seen his daughter in years. He is also a spy.
Recruited by the Allies to help lay the groundwork for their invasion of North Africa, Leo intends to engage in as little espionage as possible—just enough to earn his American citizenship so he can get to New York and reunite with his daughter, Maddy. But while Leo dodges death in France and Morocco, Maddy is learning shocking truths about her father’s mysterious past—haunting knowledge that will compel her down her own dangerous path of deception and discovery.
- Harper Paperbacks
- Paperback
- April 2011
- 352 Pages
- 9780061962196
Buy the Book
$13.99
About M L Malcolm
M. L. Malcolm has won several awards for short fiction, including recognition in the Lorian Hemingway International Short Story Competition, and a silver medal from ForeWord magazine for Historical Fiction Book of the Year. Malcolm has lived in Florida, Boston, Washington, D.C., France, New York, and Atlanta, and currently resides in Los Angeles.
Praise
“Engaging….Malcolm movingly depicts the enduring love of a father for his child.” — Publishers Weekly
“Malcolm spins a mesmerizing tale of love, deceit, and betrayal as a father and daughter are torn apart by a world increasingly spinning out of control.”
— Booklist
Discussion Questions
What is your opinion of Bernice Mason, Leo’s sister-in-law? Were her motives in separating Leo from his daughter altruistic, or deceptive? Similarly, when Amelia informs Maddy about her husband’s infidelity, was she being helpful or vindictive?
What explains Leo’s attraction to Christine, given that he knows that she’s not likely to be faithful? Is there anything about their respective characters that make them better spies?
What do you think of Leo’s decision to go to France when his actions jeopardize his ability to reunite with his own child? Why do you think he decided to fight in the cold war rather than try to win back his daughter’s affections?
Do you think that Maddy’s decision to refuse further contact with her father was the correct one? Why or why not?
At Katherine’s graduation celebration, Maddy is envious of her friend’s ability to “never feel guilty about what she wanted, or to fret about the price she might have to pay to get it.” What do you suppose makes her feel this way? As the novel progresses, does Maddy change in this regard?
Why was it so imperative that Maddy break off her relationship with Gene? Was it credible that she would rethink this decision later in life?
How are the decisions that Maddy makes in her one life similar to or different than the decisions her mother, Martha and her father, Leo made? Do Maddy and Leo go about trying to correct their mistakes in the same way?
Maddy’s piano teacher tells her, “Artists are different.” Christine Granville tells Leo, “Some of us are just not suited to the rhythm of ordinary life.” Do you agree that people with special talents ought not to be judged by what Gene refers to as, “rules created for other people?”
The author makes substantial use of real historical figures. Do you think she did so effectively? Which was your favorite character (real or fictional) and why?
There’s an old piece of advice for writers: “If your plot requires more than two coincidences to keep moving, start rewriting.” Were there any such coincidences in Heart of Deception? Did they seem credible, or contrived? Has your own life or the life of someone you’ve known ever been dramatically affected by coincidence?