Dead Wood [Kindle Edition]

Dani Amore (Author)

Book Description

By author Dani Amore, WINNER OF THE 2011 INDEPENDENT BOOK AWARD FOR CRIME FICTION

"DEAD WOOD is a superbly written thriller...a tour de force." 
--Bookiio.com

"Dani  Amore is a sensation among Kindle owners who love fast-paced thrillers."   
 --Mystery Tribune

"From its opening lines, Dani Amore and her private eye novel DEAD
WOOD recall early James Ellroy.  This is the first new private
eye novel in a long time that just swept me along for the ride.  Amore is
definitely one to watch."
-- Edgar-nominated author Craig McDonald

Dani Amore's writing reminds me of the great thriller writers --
lean, mean, no nonsense prose that gets straight to the point and keeps
you turning those pages."--author Robert Gregory Browne

In the exclusive enclave of Grosse Pointe, Michigan, a woman who builds custom guitars is murdered. A disgraced ex-cop turned private investigator is hired by the dead woman's father and immediately becomes the target of a violent ex-convict. An enigmatic music star performs damage control on her links to the dead woman. And a professional killer who idolizes Keith Richards is brought into town by a mysterious employer.

Dead Wood is what great mysteries are all about: love, hate, faith and vengeance, all wrapped up in an explosive story that simply refuses to let up.

"As gritty as the Detroit streets where it's set, DEAD WOOD grabs you early
on and doesn't let go. As fine a a debut as you'll come across this
year, maybe any year." --author Tom Schreck

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dead Wood is a fast-paced, unpredictable mystery with an engaging
narrator and a rich cast of original supporting characters."
--Thomas Perry, Edgar-winning author of The Butcher's Boy.

From the Author

Follow Dani Amore on Twitter:  @authordaniamore

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 326 KB
• Print Length: 204 pages
• Publisher: Slogan Books (April 7, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005KKUVX6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,900 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

105 of 110 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read! September 12, 2011

By CJ Mac

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

John Rockne: A young police officer who makes a terrible mistake that ends up costing the life of a teenage boy.

Fast forward: Convinced his daughter was murdered by her boyfriend, Clarence Barr hires John (now a private investigator) to prove or disprove his theory.

And so it goes. John is a likable, believable and sometimes hapless man who works hard to find answers for his client. He still feels guilt for his past mistake but we aren't inflicted with prolonged angst, nor is he a boozer or recovering alcoholic. He's just an ordinary guy with two daughters and two strong women in his life; his wife and sister.

The murdered woman was an artist who made fine guitars and was killed while completing one she made for a famous singer. Lurking in the background is a killer for hire who moves closer to John as the investigation progresses.

The story is fast paced and has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I liked John so much and got so involved in the book that I wanted to slap him on the back of the head when he did something stupid and held my breath when he was in danger.

Can't recommend it enough. As soon as I read the last page I went online and bought Dani Amore's previous book Death By Sarcasm

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the very best new mysteries of this year! December 8, 2011

By RP Dahlke

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

The dead wood of this book refers to both old wood salvaging from Michigan's Lake St. Clair and the incredibly gifted guitars made of them by Jesse Barre, the young, talented, beautiful and recently murdered daughter of an elderly retired country western crooner/songwriter who is asking John Rockne, P.I. for help finding her killer.
The author gives us wonderfully complex characters, a P.I. who is not, as his wife says, Russell Crowe, a sister who is the Grosse Pointe's Chief of Police and whose biting remarks about his sleuthing abilities would discourage a lesser mortal. And though John covers the barbs with clownish humor, he's also a guy that isn't easily discouraged. After all, as the author shows us, he's successful at what he does since has a back-log of business waiting for him, if he can solve this murder case . And, John will get to the end of case or die trying, because people keep trying to kill him. From a retired CIA spook, to the low life characters who traffic in stolen property, it seems like everyone is trying to cut off some or all of him. He doesn't quit, which is after all, what I'd want if I were were to ask a P.I. to help me find the killer of my daughter. And, because he doesn't quit, the end has a very satisfying twist to it.
I very much admire an original story and the ability to make me turn the page again and again. So, for me, never mind that the book is only $.99 I'd happily pay a lot more for another John Rockne mystery.
This is a well deserved five star read!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ordinary PI with 'No' hangups. July 30, 2012

By Nash Black VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I like John Rockne, who is an ordinary guy with no addictive hangups, he doesn't need crutches with the load of guilt he carries around. Dani Amore creates a compelling character in DEAD WOOD. The story's plot twists around the upscale neighborhood of Grosse Point, MI and its close neighbor Detroit.
John's sister Ellen is the chief of police who spends much of her time getting her little brother out of hot water.
This is not your normal PI story, but it is a fun read.
Nash Black, author of SANDPRINTS OF DEATH.

More About the Author

"Original...fast-paced...engaging..."
-New York Times bestselling author Thomas Perry on Dani Amore

WINNER OF THE INDEPENDENT BOOK AWARD FOR CRIME FICTION

My name is Dani Amore, and I'm a crime novelist living in Los Angeles. I currently have nine novels for sale on Amazon. They are KILLING THE RAT (A Thriller) THE RECRUITER (A Thriller), THE CIRCUIT RIDER (A Kindle Serial) BEER MONEY (The First Burr Ashland Mystery) MURDER WITH SARCASTIC INTENT (The 2nd Mary Cooper Mystery) THE KILLING LEAGUE (A Thriller), DEATH BY SARCASM (The First Mary Cooper Mystery), DEAD WOOD (The First John Rockne Mystery), and TO FIND A MOUNTAIN.

I love to hear from my readers and I answer all emails. Stop by my site, www.daniamore.com or email me at dani (at) daniamore (dot) com.

Thank you for your support, I hope you enjoy my books.

Dani

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#18 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

#27 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals

#93 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

#18 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

#27 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals

#93 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery