Truth and Deception

Deception and the search for the truth is one of the main themes of the book. The title, Deception Point, even reinforces this. The main plot is hinged on a large-scale fraud designed to ensure NASA's future. The subplot of Senator Sexton accepting illegal campaign contributions is also about Sexton deceiving others, and throughout the novel, Sexton is described as a consummate liar. References to high tech military and intelligence equipment are also generally described as secret, and Pickering's concerns about security relate to keeping information from the public so as to protect national security.

Throughout the story, Rachel is seeking the truth behind the meteorite and trying to ensure that others discover that truth. One of Rachel's primary reasons for disliking her father has to do with his lack of honesty and lying to her mother. Rachel's feelings about other characters tend to hinge on...