Misconception


Fiction - Thriller - Psychological
335 Pages
Reviewed on 11/21/2024
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Denise Forsythe is an awarded and recognized writer of mystery, horror, and science fiction short stories under the pen name Denise Johnson.

Her domestic suspense novel, MISCONCEPTION, is now available for purchase.

A member of Sisters in Crime, Inc. and multiple Sisters in Crime chapters, she is a Charter Member of the Sisters in Crime Grand Canyon Writers chapter.

My inspiration for the book came from a brief article on the rare condition of heterosuperfecundation. I couldn't get it off my mind to the point I began to wonder "what if" and the story and characters developed from there.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

In Misconception, a psychological thriller by Denise Forsythe, there’s only one thing Cassie Nicols wants in life, and that’s a baby. Her marriage is falling apart because she suspects her husband of having an affair, and she believes a baby is the only way to bring them back together again. But things never turn out the way people want them to. A miscarriage and a struggle to conceive lead to IVF, but Cassie’s biological clock is ticking. In a bid to ensure a successful pregnancy, Cassie does the unthinkable, but will it work? Or is her life now a tangled web of murder and deceit and not the happy ever after she wants?

Misconception by Denise Forsythe is a gripping tale of deception and murder that will leave you wondering what you just read. At its heart, it is a thriller, but it’s also a story about the lengths people will go to get exactly what they want, regardless of who gets in the way. The characters are deeply developed to the extent that you’ll know them inside out by the end of the book. The plot is unique, tightly woven in a narrative that flicks seamlessly between the present and the past. The tension builds slowly, gradually tightening its grip on you, leaving you unable to put it down until the end, each chapter leaving you wanting to read just a little bit more. This is not a fast-paced story, but it does pick up the pace gradually, drawing you into the main character’s web of lies and deceit. A thoroughly enjoyable story, and highly recommended to anyone who loves a good thriller with the ability to hold their attention from start to finish.

Pikasho Deka

In Misconception, a psychological thriller by Denise Forsythe, after suffering two miscarriages, Cassie Nichols' marriage is under strain. Complicating matters further is her husband Jake's overbearing mother and the fact that she suspects Jake is cheating on her. Pressured by her mother-in-law to have a child, Cassie and Jake embark on an expensive IVF procedure, which puts further stress on their relationship. Additionally, Jake continues to act suspiciously. After an incident at work, Cassie accuses her coworker of assault, who, in turn, sues her. Meanwhile, Cassie discovers that she's pregnant. But her joy turns to ashes when she is charged with her husband's murder. With Jake's siblings blocking his life insurance money, will Cassie be able to find a decent lawyer to defend her? What's going to happen to her baby?

A gripping tale of lies, betrayal, and murder, Misconception demonstrates the troubles of a dysfunctional marriage and its unintended consequences. Denise Forsythe tells a fascinating tale of a woman struggling to navigate a tumultuous marriage and slowly losing herself along the way. Cassie is not the typical heroic protagonist you want to root for. Instead, she is a flawed and complex person who gives in to her paranoia, further exacerbated by her hormone medication, leading to devastating consequences down the line. She is not very likable, yet you can't help but become invested in her story. The relationship dynamics feel real, and so do the stakes. Furthermore, there are a couple of shocking reveals that are bound to take readers by surprise. Overall, it's a thoroughly riveting thriller. If you enjoy stories with anti-hero protagonists, you will love this book!

Courtnee Turner Hoyle

In Misconception by Denise Forsythe, Cassie Nichols wants nothing more than to have her husband Jake's baby, but a loss and her mother-in-law's cryptic advice make her consider other avenues for conception. Once her pregnancy dreams become a reality, Cassie must battle worries about her husband's infidelity as she handles fainting spells and a lawsuit. Convinced she is doing everything possible to secure a healthy child for her husband and her, Cassie elects to have a procedure that changes her perspective about her pregnancy. Cassie's lies build an insurmountable wall between her husband and her, threatening the happy family she'd envisioned and the baby growing inside her. Family drama, raging hormones, and well-guarded secrets build a tight web of misconceptions.

Denise Forsythe knows how to keep the suspense going so you won't stop turning the pages. Each chapter reveals a new discovery that deepens the mystery and keeps you guessing. Readers may predict the novel has a big twist coming, but it will be hard to figure out, as the characters cover up lies and tell half-truths while they run around each other in circles. The jaw-dropping ending is delivered with well-timed foreshadowing and attention to detail. The author provides book club questions at the end of the story to help readers reflect on the events and characters. The moral dilemmas raised in the book are great discussion points for clubs or groups of friends to discuss. Readers who enjoy suspenseful novels that remind them of the complexity of human experiences will love Misconception.

Jennifer Donovan

Misconception is a twisted domestic thriller. After suffering a miscarriage and discovering that she and her husband both have factors contributing to their infertility, Cassie will stop at nothing to have a baby. The closer she gets to having a child of her own, the further she will spiral, committing unthinkable acts. And the more she spins her web of lies, the more she comes to believe in their validity. Starting on the night Cassie shot her husband and then jumping back in time, Misconception by Denise Forsythe explores everything that led up to Jake’s murder. With Jake dead, what will become of Cassie and her unborn child?

At first, Cassie is mostly normal, though she struggles with her tense relationship with her mother-in-law. As the story progresses, her sanity fractures. Just when you think Cassie could not do anything worse, she does. She is a character you will love to hate, but all along, you will be held captive, wondering what will become of her baby. Denise Forsythe’s characters are well-crafted. All of them are morally grey, even minor characters, harboring secrets of their own that will have an impact on the plot. The author’s depiction of these multifaceted characters makes this borderline unbelievable tale believable; you don't want to think that people would do such things, but you realize that some people will do whatever it takes, no matter how evil. The action and pacing are well-balanced, taking time to explore the relationships between the characters as well as their motivations without dragging the momentum of the plot. Misconception deals with highly triggering topics, so you must be comfortable reading such content before you embark on this journey. Overall, readers who enjoy suspenseful thrillers with psychological elements and shocking twists will love this book.

Viga Boland

Who would think that a subject like infertility would give birth to an absorbing psychological thriller? In Misconception, Denise Forsythe leads readers down a path where the plot twists of pregnancy developments surprise us and keep us glued to the page, wondering what else could go wrong. When Cassie succumbs to the charms of a handsome co-worker in a hotel room, she is riddled with regrets and worries that her husband might find out about her indiscretion. Their relationship is already shaky; she lives with the hope that a baby will resolve their differences. But what she then does to cover up her guilt complicates everything further, so much so that her husband ends up dead, and by her hand yet!

Incidentally, this is where the novel begins, “in media res”, always a captivating way to open a story and suck readers inside. Readers then enjoy unraveling the complications which bring us to the point where Cassie shoots the husband she loves. But why did she do it? And does the story end there with Cassie being carted off to prison? You won’t believe how what you think might happen doesn’t! That is such clever writing. Those who have undergone fertility treatments and IVF will relate to Cassie’s concerns and subsequent predicaments, but they might be unfamiliar with several aspects of fetal development that Denise Forsythe brings to light. I was very surprised by what I learned. So Forsythe not only teases our imaginations with the plot twists, but she opens our eyes to some fascinating, but frightening truths about fetal development that you may find hard to believe. I did. Want to know what I’m talking about? Read Misconception!