Julia Bell has crafted an emotionally charged and gripping story about one woman’s fight for independence and the complicated web of lies that threatens to unravel her hard-won freedom. Deceit of Angels is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the courage it takes to start over.
Anna Stevens is the heart and soul of this novel—a brilliantly authentic and credible protagonist who immediately earns readers’ sympathy and support. After nineteen years trapped in a marriage to a faithless husband, sacrificing her dreams of university and a career, Anna finally finds the strength to escape. Her journey to Bristol and her new position with Jason Harrington represents not just a geographical move but a complete reinvention of her life.
Bell creates layered, believable characters, and the relationship between Anna and Jason develops with genuine chemistry and emotional depth. The romance feels earned rather than contrived, which makes Anna’s initial deception—telling Jason she’s a widow rather than admitting she’s still married—all the more painful. But it’s not just this foundational lie that creates tension. As Anna’s estranged husband tracks her down and his menacing presence escalates, Anna compounds her deception by continuing to shield Jason from the truth about what’s happening. Her attempts to protect him by hiding the reality of the situation create an ever-widening gulf between them, and when the full extent of her lies is revealed, the damage to their relationship is devastating.
Bell handles these cascading deceptions with unflinching honesty, showing how Anna’s understandable desire to protect both herself and Jason paradoxically pushes him away. The resulting rifts feel earned and heartbreaking—readers understand why Anna makes the choices she does, even as they watch those choices destroy the trust that should bind her to the man she loves.
The developing relationships between Anna and her new extended family are among the novel’s highlights, providing warmth and hope against the darker elements of the story. These connections make the potential loss of everything Anna has built even more poignant. Bell’s dialogue rings true throughout, and her characters feel like real people navigating complex emotional terrain.
Content Warning: This book requires a significant trigger warning. Anna’s ex-husband’s pursuit of her involves brutal violence that may be deeply disturbing for some readers. Bell doesn’t shy away from depicting the devastating consequences of this abuse, and readers should be prepared for these difficult scenes.
The novel’s pacing is somewhat uneven, with the first half moving at a more measured pace as Bell establishes Anna’s new life and relationships. Some readers may find this opening slower than expected. However, the narrative accelerates dramatically in the second half, building to a tension-filled conclusion that will have you racing through pages. The escalating danger from Anna’s husband and the growing strain on her relationship with Jason create genuine page-turning momentum.
The title Deceit of Angels proves apt—Bell explores how even lies born of desperation, fear, and the desire to protect can exact a terrible price. Anna’s deceptions create a tragic irony: in trying to shield Jason from the danger and ugliness of her past, she damages the very relationship that offers her salvation. The drama of watching their love tested by secrets and half-truths adds layers of emotional complexity to an already tense narrative.
This is ultimately a story about survival, second chances, and whether it’s possible to rebuild trust once it’s been shattered. Bell handles these themes with sensitivity and skill, never offering easy answers but instead presenting the messy reality of impossible choices made under terrifying circumstances.
Recommended for: Readers who appreciate character-driven contemporary fiction, stories about women reclaiming their lives, and emotional dramas that explore the complexities of love, loyalty, and truth. Be prepared for darker content involving domestic abuse, but if you’re comfortable with these elements, Deceit of Angels delivers a powerful and memorable reading experience about hope, redemption, and the courage to start again—even when the past refuses to stay buried and the truth threatens everything you’ve built.
I award 5 stars
