2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty Mystery is a Real Page-Turner, September 8, 2009
This review is from: A Deadly Habit: A Penelope Santucci Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)
Both my husband and I enjoyed reading this novel. This is a fast-paced mystery with lots of clever commentary. It's well-written and holds the reader's attention throughout. Penelope Santucci begins by making a confession to Father Daniel. The fact that she is not herself a Catholic is unimportant to both of them. Pen has just found her estranged husband's dead body. She is certain that she will by considered the principle suspect in his murder.
Father Daniel recommends the services of a criminal attorney who is willing to help her in spite of her bad habits. Pen has both a smart mouth and a smart mind. Convinced that
a certain judge is the murderer, she tries to break into his house with disastrous results.
Her cohorts in crime are none other than Father Daniel and her sister, Sister Germaine.
In spite of receiving several beatings courtesy of some nasty thugs, Pen manages to interview a number of suspects and ferret out the truth. A very entertaining novel, that I hope will be the first in a long series.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A thrilling chase, August 20, 2009
This review is from: A Deadly Habit: A Penelope Santucci Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)
A Deadly Habit
Andrea Sisco
Five Star Publishing, 295 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, Maine 04901
ISBN: 978-1594147951
$25.95
Reviewed By: Emily Decobert
Andrea Sisco was a book reviewer before publishing her first novel, A Deadly Habit. We are sure she knows what does and doesn't make a good story because with this book she manages to cook up an interesting and diverting plot.
This story is about a woman, Penelope, who confesses to a priest who is an old acquaintance. What she has to say is she discovered the corpse of her husband dead in their house, but swears not to be the author of the crime. The problem is she broke into the house because they were estranged.
Of course the police investigate, but she finds an ally in the priest confessor. The police, however, are sure she is guilty of the murder. She has no choice but to prove her innocence, helped by many people along the way
How does she plan to do it? By breaking into her dead husband's house, again! She opens the safe and finds a key. That key, she thinks, can open a locker somewhere. By doing this, she put herself in other problems and has to manage to get out of them.
This novel is refreshing, like a cool spring breeze. Forget the dark atmosphere of the serial killer novel, or the heavy ambiance of the noir story like those by Dashiell Hammet. With this one we appreciate the bons mots and the light tone.
Andrea Sisco has probably read a lot of thriller books because she delivers a great one in A Deadly Habit. It has an unusual plot and situations rarely encountered in other books of this genre.
The heroine, a new kind in the world of thrillers, is funny and charming. The reader wonders what she going to do to clear her name in this bad situation. She seems sometimes awkward, but never foolish. She is so natural and convincing the reader understands and agrees with her actions and reactions as events unfold.
The tone of the book is light, meaning that everybody can read it to have a good time. Gone is the horror of being plunged into the darkness of a serial killer soul or the cloak of an interminable investigation. It's a simple plot, but the principal character is endearing to readers, so we tag along on this funny and also strange adventure.
This is a refreshing read by an author full of promise. We look forward to what she'll give us next.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Marvelous Debut Novel, August 1, 2009
This review is from: A Deadly Habit: A Penelope Santucci Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)
Who is Penelope Santucci? She's not a Catholic although she tends to go to confession on occasion. She is not a murderer although the police suspect she might have killed her husband. She is fearless and determined to prove that although she was getting a divorce that she most certainly did not kill her husband.
She discovered her husband Paul's body when she broke into his house to recover her belongings. Being a good citizen, she did call the police and report what she found but she failed to give her name and she did disguise her voice. After explaining all of this to Father Daniel Kopecky, he advises her that she had better get a lawyer and do it quickly.
Father Kopecky refers her to Mario Silva, a defense lawyer, who agrees to take the case as a favor to Father Kopecky. Mario soon finds he has his hands full as Pen Santucci decides to head up her own investigation.
Pen manages to include not only Father Kopecky in her antics but gets her sister, Germaine, who is a real Catholic and a real Nun, to participate as well. Pen takes her reader on a wild ride with never dull moment.
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