Deception Specialist

Rooting out deception is Jack O'Shea's stock-in-trade. <br><br>On the road to redemption from his criminal past, reformed-swindler-turned-private-eye Jack O'Shea investigates a strange death at a shadowy Northern California mountain college-a "visa mill" with clandestine ties to Silicon Valley. <br><br>Accompanied by his retired racing greyhound, Jack discovers the college is built on top of an abandoned gold mine. Dark secrets lie below. <br><br>As he investigates the suspicious death, Jack's prior sins come back to haunt. He suspected one day there'd be a knock on his door. Deception may be his specialty but not everything is as it appears. <br><br>Jack O'Shea was first introduced in a series of short stories published in <i>Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine</i>. The debut won the Shamus Award presented by the Private Eye Writers of America. The second in the series was a finalist for Bouchercon World Mystery Convention's Anthony Award. <br><br>Critical Acclaim for <i>Deception Specialist</i>: <br><br>"I've always been a sucker for a conman, and it's a joy to be taken in by reformed grifter Jack O'Shea as he turns the tables on a murderous conspiracy." -Dennis Tafoya, author of <i>Dope Thief</i> <br><br>"Won't get fooled again, not with Jack O'Shea on the case. Master con man turned PI, O'Shea isn't exactly on the side of the angels, but he's our kind of rogue." -Reed Farrel Coleman, <i>New York Times</i> bestselling author of <i>Sleepless City</i> <br><br>"A good, old-fashioned mystery thriller powered by a completely original and compelling protagonist, John Shepphird's Deception Specialist speeds along at a breakneck pace while also tugging at your emotions. I read it in one sitting." -David Housewright, Edgar Award-winning author of <i>In A Hard Wind</i> <br><br>"Jack O'Shea used to con people, but now he investigates on their behalf. It takes one to know one and he never misses a trick. He's got a scar on his face and one on his soul. Anytime he finds himself in over his head, he fights to rise. <i>Deception Specialist</i> is two stories in one and both will catch you holding your breath." -Jeffery Hess, author of <i>Pascagoula Run</i>, the Beachhead trilogy, <i>No Salvation</i>, and <i>Scar Tissue</i> <br><br>"Scammers, schemers, and scoundrels are no match for former con man-turned-private eye Jack O'Shea. This Deception Specialist navigates a murderous conspiracy while confronting the ghosts of his swindling past in this edge-of-your-seat page turner." -Steve Jankowski, author of <i>Below the Line</i> <br><br>"Tragedy turns a former conman into Shepphird's <i>Deception Specialist</i>: A force for good in a world gone murderously bad." -Lawrence Maddox, author of <i>Fast Bang Booze</i>