Indelicate Deception
a novel
New Release!*
*Retailers & Libraries: Order from Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Overdrive; Paperback ISBN 9781737847939; ebook ISBN: 9781737847922
Caty Robertson arrives in the world physically fragile and abundantly loved, destined to grow tall and strong like her parents. She’s raised in the glow of Daddy’s generous embrace of humanity and his entertaining stories about Caty’s mother, Lenore. But Caty doesn’t remember her mother, and Daddy is vague about the reasons for her absence.
By young adulthood, Caty creates an idealized vision of her parents’ romance in Berkeley of the early ’70s, a hotbed of social and political change. Lenore is a brilliant law student, eager to tackle every injustice. Roy is an injured Vietnam War veteran and talented chef who dreams of owning a restaurant. The lovers are unlike each other in every way—race, class, politics, and values—yet they soar high on their love, powering through money troubles, his PTSD, and her family’s disapproval of their relationship.
Why, then, does Lenore leave Caty and her father? The separation was amicable, Daddy says, and although they’ve lost touch, he’s sure “she’s livin’ a good life” wherever she is. Sensing more to the story, fearing a hurt greater than Daddy lets on, Caty undertakes a secret investigation to protect his feelings. As she begins her search in earnest, she uncovers startling, unimaginable details—but the facts will remain elusive until she can find her mother and demand the truth.
Indelicate Deception celebrates the unbreakable bond of love between a father and his daughter while unraveling the self-deceptive path of a woman who could have had it all.
Who was the real Lenore? What I saw on the outside might not reflect what was inside. I didn’t know if I wanted to understand her.
— from Indelicate Deception
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“V.S. Kemanis’s layered examination of what initially appears to be a love story at the Bay Area epicenter of the flower-power era morphs into a compelling mystery that asks hard questions about race and commitment. In alternating chapters, Indelicate Deception follows Caty, from the 1990s, and her parents, from the early 1970s, until the stories merge and escalate to a chilling conclusion… Caty’s pursuit of the truth…pulses with the page-turning urgency of a thriller. Characters shine with dimension and depth as Kemanis offers honest portrayals of human courage and deep flaws…[asking] what it means to be true to oneself and what we owe to those we love.” — BlueInk Review (Starred Review)
“A woman’s quest for the truth unravels a web of secrets and lies that threaten everything she thought she knew about her family in Kemanis’ utterly absorbing novel… Themes of truth, perception, and deception run throughout, urging readers to question how much of our reality is shaped by what we choose to believe. The novel expertly examines how memory can serve both as a comfort and an obstacle to understanding, particularly within the emotionally charged realm of family history. A beautifully crafted and deeply moving story.” — BookView Review (5 Stars)
“Indelicate Deception by V.S. Kemanis is a compelling exploration of family secrets. The narrative alternates between the 1970s and the 1990s, unraveling the complex relationship between Lenore, a law student, and Roy, a Vietnam War veteran and aspiring chef. Their daughter, Caty, embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about her mother’s mysterious absence, leading to startling revelations. With Caty, we have a fully dimensional character to root for through the story—you won’t soon forget her. This is a novel of emotional nuance and depth, tackling one of the most traumatic periods in 20th-century American history.” — Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Orchid Hour
“Weaving a compelling family drama from the political and social turmoil of the early seventies, V. S. Kemanis demonstrates once more her thoughtful compassion for the human condition. Indelicate Deception presents the reader not only with an intriguing mystery of a young mother who vanishes from her family’s life, but a journey of discovery that her daughter, Caty, sets out upon. Roy, her laid-back and loving father, urges her to move on with her life, but Caty feels she must find her mother and know the truth whatever the cost. These unforgettable characters and their story will linger not just in your memory, but in your heart, long after you’ve read the last page of this powerful novel.” — David Dean, award-winning author of The German Informant
“Gripping, intense, and profound… Evocative prose and authentic dialogue enrich the emotional complexity of the narrative, blending moments of tenderness, humor, and heartbreak. Kemanis masterfully weaves emotional depth with nuanced character development… A captivating, thought-provoking exploration of family secrets and the pursuit of truth.” — The Prairies Book Review
“An absorbing tale that simmers with love, unresolved questions, and surprising twists and turns… Kemanis is especially skilled at drawing important connections between idealization and reality… Libraries choosing Indelicate Deception for its strong characterization, thought-provoking moral and ethical considerations, and psychological depth…will find it easy to recommend the novel to book clubs.” — D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review
“What makes Indelicate Deception so compelling is its ability to capture the shades of gray in every human relationship… The novel’s prose is elegant and restrained, allowing the characters’ emotions to simmer just beneath the surface, creating a tension that lingers long after the final page. I found Indelicate Deception to be an exquisitely moving meditation on the past’s grip on the present… Kemanis has given us a story that is as delicate as it is devastating, and one that, for me, will not soon be forgotten.” — San Francisco Book Review (4.5 Stars)
“Indelicate Deception by V.S. Kemanis is a universally placed, character-driven novel about the nature of love, memory, truth, and the complexity of family dynamics. A mix of nostalgia, suspense, and emotional depth, Indelicate Deception is beautifully written and takes a deep dive into the nature of memory, the stories we tell ourselves, and the truths we can’t bear. V.S. Kemanis skillfully delivers pulsating emotion and psychological density. Kemanis’ prose is vivid and immersive, pulling readers into other ages through lingering descriptions and intimate monologues. A principal strength of the novel is its investigation of memory and truth… Indelicate Deception is a poignant, intellectual take on identity, love, and the interplay of deception and honesty in our lives.” — Manhattan Book Review (5 Stars)
“Colorful prose full of sharply-realized dialogue [and] third-act revelations will keep readers turning pages. An involving story of intergenerational discovery.” — Kirkus Reviews
“RECOMMENDED” — The U.S. Review of Books
“With evocative prose and a gripping emotional core, Kemanis delivers a tale that questions how well we ever truly know the ones we love…a beautifully written and emotionally rich novel that lingers in your mind. Kemanis masterfully weaves a multigenerational mystery with superb pacing and interesting revelations” — Readers’ Favorite (5 Stars)