The Hemingway Deception is a gripping political thriller by TJ O'Connor. After barely surviving an attempt on her life while searching for her parents in a remote village in Colombia, Ana Karras returns to New York, only to find herself entangled with men from Cuban intelligence who want information about someone called Hemingway. Seeking to protect her adopted daughter Sarah, Ana travels to Mexico with a recently fired NYPD detective and a CIA pilot to rescue her parents, who are FARC guerillas currently held hostage in Mexico. Meanwhile, Cat Reyes, a Cuban assassin, is on a revenge mission that could spark a full-blown war between the US and Cuba. As their paths cross, Ana and Cat will find themselves thrust into a web of lies, betrayals, and secrets that will change their lives forever.

Filled with suspense, political intrigue, and plenty of action, The Hemingway Deception is an absorbing page-turner from start to finish. TJ O'Connor weaves an intricate yarn with some well-placed curveballs and reveals that keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what's happening next. O'Connor's plotting is immaculately tight, and you will think twice before taking a break while reading. Apart from the fast-paced plot, the characters draw your attention. The two main characters, Ana and Cat, have backstories and pasts that give agency to their motives and actions, making them feel relatable and sympathetic. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can't recommend it highly enough.

The Hemingway Deception by TJ O’Connor is a political thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. Ana Karras needed to find her parents, who were somewhere in Latin America. Ana wasn’t your typical woman and certainly not a shrinking violet. Battered and bruised at the hands of Cuban Intelligence, Ana was wary of her past but not afraid. Her priority was to find her parents and look after her adopted daughter Sarah. However, her life took a dangerous turn when Special Agent Trane of Homeland Security approached her and insisted on her help to find someone code-named Hemingway. As an ex-FARC guerrilla, she had the talent and training to do what was asked of her, and she was ready to don the mask of Ana Montilla once again. But with death, lies, deceit, and danger following her every step of the way, would Ana be able to get the job done?

Catalina “Cat” Reyes and Ana Karras were the perfect protagonists. They were cunning and knew how to make every blow count. However, both of them were vulnerable regarding their families. Ana was desperate to find hers and keep Sarah safe while Cat was frantically searching for her son Mateo who had been taken by her husband. These women were hurtling toward the same objective, and when their paths collided they formed a strong alliance. While Trane was brilliant and the information provider, these women took on the opposition with a brute force that entertained me until the end. The story was a little complicated, and I loved that. I enjoyed the way that Trane looked forward to Ana’s council and how Ana looked out for Cat. Brennan was a breath of fresh air and provided some relief from constant action and twists. The identity of our villain Hemingway was concealed until the end. TJ O’Connor ensured his characters were scrambling for the truth as they sought to end Hemingway's threat to national security. I loved the narrative style the most, although the protagonists' character development was a close second. I enjoyed the action, the breakneck pace, and the overall feel of the story. The Hemingway Deception is a perfect page-turner that I would highly recommend.