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Delusion    by Peter Abrahams Amazon.com order for
Delusion
by Peter Abrahams
Order:  USA  Can
William Morrow, 2008 (2008)
Hardcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Lyn Seippel

Twenty years ago Nell Jarreau witnessed the murder of her fiancé, Johnny Blanton. Alvin DuPree was convicted of the killing on her testimony and spent the next nineteen years in prison. But after a hurricane destroys much of the small southern town of Bell View, a videotape is found exonerating him.

At first Nell is sure the evidence will be found fraudulent. When that doesn't happen she struggles to understand how she could have made such a horrible mistake. What really happened?

Nell is married to the detective who arrested Dupree. Clay Jarreau is now Chief of Police and together they have raised Norah, the daughter Nell conceived with Blanton. Norah is being tortured by accusations made by her grandfather about her mother's marriage to Clay soon after the trial. Accusations that she doesn't share with her parents, while trying to find papers written by Johnny just before his death.

Guilt forces Nell to search for the truth about DuPree's conviction. She also wants to find the real murderer. Clay meanwhile is determined that DuPree not settle in Bell View. For the first time in their marriage, Nell and Clay are on opposing sides of a situation. Clay isn't eager to investigate why the videotape didn't surface sooner. His attitude forces Nell to go underground with her own questions.

Despite his possible innocence, Alvin DuPree is unlikeable and possibly mentally unbalanced. He lost an eye in prison during a confrontation with a gang member. He still carries a homemade weapon that he managed to construct and hide from prison guards. He is always only a step away from violence. Don't miss Delusion.

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