Customer Reviews

A Deadly Habit: A Penelope Santucci Mystery (Five Star First Edition Mystery)

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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.

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.

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.

A Deadly Habit is an unusual mystery as far as mysteries go. It is laugh-out-loud funny and features a feisty, willful heroine that will both test your patience and steal your heart.

Penelope Santuci -- known to friends as Pen -- is a probation officer. When her big shot laywer ex-husband is murdered, she becomes the first suspect. She would wait for the police to solve the mystery - if only they had brains! Refusing to put her fate on the officers' hands, she decides to take charge and prove her innocence herself. Of course, she has a handsome lawyer (she bullied him into taking her case, but what else is new?), but he wants to do things by the book and unfortunately, that's not Pen's style. However, Pen accepts when she needs help, so she recruits -- against their will -- a nun and a priest to help her. This leads to all types of funny situations. Will Pen find the true murderer and prove her innocence before she completely corrupts them, drives her lawyer crazy, and gets herself killed?

A Deadly Habit is one of the most humorous novels I've read in a long time - more so because it is a mystery. The protagonist's distinct, strong voice combines street smarts, naivete and stubborness and will easily find its way into readers' hearts. The story moves at a quick pace and is full of twists and turns. The dialogue is one of the best aspects of the novel, sharp and witty. This is the first book in the Penelope Santuci mystery series and Andrea Sisco's debut novel. I already look forward to the next book. This is one of those series that makes you wonder what the protagonist will be up to next.

--Mayra Calvani, The Dark Phantom Review

Loved this book - it is funny, fast paced and a good mystery. I hope this is the first of many Pen Santucci mysteries. I would definitely recommend this book.

It was a fun book to read....fairly predictable, but a nice, easy read for when your brain just needs some humor and relaxation.

In Andrea Sisco's debut novel, A Deadly Habit, Penelope Santucci is a probation officer with a penchant for trouble. She can't seem to help it; trouble just finds Pen, no matter where she is. As a child Pen, the product of a Protestant Italian home in a neighborhood of Polish Catholics, always fantasized about becoming a Catholic nun. Pen would dress in bed sheets and roller skate to the local parish, where she would enter the confessional of Father Kopecky, where she would claim outrageous sins that only an 8 year old can imagine. Fast-forward 19 years, and sure enough, Pen is once again in Father Kopecky's confessional. But this time she's confessing about a murder, one she didn't commit, but knows she'll be the police's prime suspect.

Penelope manages to convince Father Kopecky and a nun to help her to clear her name. Along the way, she snags herself a handsome, hunky attorney who tries valiantly to keep her out of trouble. Can Penelope clear her name, solve the murder, stop the murderous thugs who think she has their money and still avoid returning her mom's calls?

Andrea Sisco is off to a great start,the plot was just different enough to stand out, the characters are this side of wacky, lovable, funny and human, and if occasionally, the dialogue feels just a wee little bit stilted, that's okay. This is a debut novel by an author that occasionally strives for fluidity. And as her writing proceeds, I'm certain that this talented writer will find her skills refined and polished. I'm looking forward to many more novels by Andrea Sisco.

I love a good mystery, and it's even better when it happens to be a mystery that is full of humor. A Deadly Habit is Andrea Sisco's debut novel, and in my opinion it is a great start! Pen Santucci is a hilarious amateur detective, trying to clear herself of her soon-to-be-ex-husband's murder. You never know what might come out of her mouth, but chances are she would have been better off keeping it shut. Her sister, Germaine (the nun) is another great character--she lives a life devoted to God but can't resist getting involved with Pen's search for the truth. Yes, you really feel for Pen's lawyer, Marco, who is doing all he can to make sure his client isn't charged with murder, but has to be her keeper, as well. But he is determined to help Pen through this, if only due to the fact that he owes Father Daniel Kopecky a favor. I think Father Kopecky got a little more than he bargained for when Pen came to confession, though.

Yes, a great set of characters really helps to make this story work. As for the mystery itself, it's pretty well done, with just enough given to the reader to let them have a guess at figuring out who really murdered Pen's jerk of husband, Paul. The main focus is really on Pen's crazy antics to discover the truth. I also rather liked that while you sense an attraction between Marco and Pen, it's not really addressed in great detail in the book, just a few lines here and there, leaving you to wonder what may come of the pair. It's become so common to weave in romances between principle characters in suspense/mystery books these days, it was refreshing to be left hanging about that this time around.

While I normally prefer books to be written from a third person point of view, the fact that A Deadly Habit was written entirely from Pen's point of view did not really hurt the book. It actually gives further insight into Pen's character and why she is the way she is. (Hmmm, did I mention her crazy mother??) Overall, the writing is generally easy to read, if a bit choppy at times--to me that is easily overlooked and did not hamper my enjoyment of the story.

If you enjoy mysteries or are looking for a book to give you a few laughs, I'd recommend checking out A Deadly Habit.

Ms. Sisco created a very memorable character with Penelope Santucci. Pen is a hyperactive handful! Get ready for some fun as she impulsively dashes into danger despite the warnings and attempts to hold her back from her stodgy older sister, who is a nun, and the ever-patient Father Kopecky. Unable to subdue Pen, she drags both of them into her well-intentioned escapades.

I would have liked it if Sisco had developed a little more romantic tension between Pen and her hunky Latino lawyer, but I suspect she'll do that in subsequent books. I certainly hope she continues writing more Penelope Santucci Mysteries, because I thoroughly enjoyed Sisco's many twists and turns and her delicious assortment of red herrings.

Andrea Sisco, from Minnesota and the Great Southwest is an accomplished writer-reviewer that has hosted Book Talk on TV, interviewed numerous authors, and succeeded as a Probation Officer. She knows plenty about crime! Co-owner with Connie Anderson of Armchair Interviews, a leading review site with millions of views from 2004 - 2009 already, she and the site have been recognized four times consecutively by Writer's Digest Best 101 Websites for Authors, 2006 - 2009. Andrea Sisco knows about writing! That being true, Andrea is hard at work on a book that will guide authors in how to get their work to the top of reviewer's priority lists. It will be another top-notch accomplishment.

Watch Out For That Nun -- She'll garrott you with her rosary! Bad guys -- This is more than you bargained for. This revitalizing new mystery series is witty, thought provoking, and loaded with delicious danger. As a Minnesota probation officer and an independent crime-solving go-getter - or loose cannon - protagonist Penelope "Pen" Santucci commandeers a leading place among fictional female sleuths.

Hilarious narratives and dialogues, unique storylines, and engaging subplots create fun for the readers that are easily submerged into the story as witnesses. The characters are three-dimensional from the start, as if we are beginning in the midst of their real lives. However, we want to know more, like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone that reveals her self slowly through the Alphabet Murder Series - Pen's favorite possession is, after all, A is for Alibi. While loving Kinsey as a sleuth, Penelope pursues her own cases. Ms. Santucci does not always follow legal code, so "Pen" may be a euphemism for a big house she may one day call home.

Guns and Rosaries - This book is high class because while reading it, I can be present at conflict, murder, bloodshed, and sinister plotting without feeling like a truck ran over me. Works like Drag Me Back to Hell and early Stephanie Plum have that effect. I needed body armor and a stiff drink for those - and I don't drink. A Deadly Habit is deadly enough to be exciting without murdering the reader. It also offers some romantic comedy reminiscent of The Thin Man's Nick and Nora Charles - but with occasionally reversed roles and sometimes in nuns' habits. An offbeat love interest does not interfere with a suspenseful plot, and the inclusion of colorful nuns and priests in CSI antics is a hoot of bloody good fun

Laughter and Bloody Murder - The characters seem real and to experience problems of all sizes, some of which create humor. I was laughing before finishing the first page. By the third page, I had to stop to catch my breath. By the second chapter, I wondered if bloody mayhem could also make me laugh. Pen Santucci became one of my favorite female private eyes at the story's midpoint. I hope to see this amateur CSI team of a Father, a sister or two, a PO, and a criminal attorney again soon.

Dearest Penelope - A woman is desperate to attend Catholic Confession as a Protestant or Undecided. At the same time, a Father Confessor is ready for a sabbatical when he compounds the crimes of that confession.

Pen the child loved drama and pomp of Catholicism, donning bed sheets in imitation of the local nuns. All grown up - almost - she may don a real nun's habit to participate in an extraordinary event. Before that kettle can boil, though, she finds herself in the same confessional where she long ago made up false sins in her bed sheets. She's a Probation Officer married to an attorney, except they're divorced and he's murdered. She'd crept around the scene of the crime, but only to find her First Edition of A is for Alibi - who wouldn't? But the police are after her and her ex-mother-in-law hates her worse than ever.

Father Daniel Kopecky hears her newest confession and hooks her up with a handsome criminal attorney, Marco Silva. Silva plans her case, but Pen complicates it by "helping herself" undercover. Moreover, the Father and a nun help her in her escapades. They cannot resist the wisecracking Penelope, but if a taxi meter were running up the felony account, it would smoke and register TILT.

Add to all this the colorful Santucci extended family, an ex-father-in-law firmly on Penelope's side, and a torrent of felonies of odd origins, and you will be thoroughly captivated and entertained by A Deadly Habit. Someone even falls into an open grave - more than once, with company. What fun!

This blend of mayhem and hijinks is refreshing, suspenseful, and comic all at once. The Penelope Santucci Series will certainly be a hit - in all the word's various meanings.