Second Advent (Five Star First Edition Mystery) [Unknown format] [Hardcover]

Tony Perona (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star First Edition Mystery | Publication Date: December 2002

When Nick Bertetto is asked to return to his hometown of Clinton, Indiana, to investigate the death of the town patriarch, he views it as a chance to spend time with his dad. It isn't long before his attitude changes. The alleged suicide is probably murder, and members of the family are drawing battle lines over the will.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A winning first novel."
-- "Mystery Scene"

Product Details

• Hardcover: 271 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786243279
• ISBN-13: 978-0786243273
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,068,504 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tony Perona is a former General Motors advertising/public relations manager who became the first man at GM to take the corporation's two-year leave-of-absence policy to care for his children. While at home he kept up his writing by becoming a newspaper correspondent and columnist. When the company could not reinstate him, he opened his own business, Tony Perona Writing, to service the writing, marketing, and public relations needs of other companies. Perona's first novel, SECOND ADVENT, was labeled a "distinctive first novel" by Publishers Weekly and termed a "winning first novel" by Mystery Scene magazine. The follow-up, ANGELS WHISPER, was cited as "the second in a series to watch" by Booklist. SAINTLY REMAINS is the third in the series about stay-at-home dad/freelance reporter Nick Bertetto, and has received strong reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and Library Journal, which termed it a "compelling read." Perona also served as co-editor for the mystery anthology Racing Can Be Murder, a series of nineteen short stories revolving around the Indianapolis 500 race. It was a finalist for the 2008 Indiana Book of the Year.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars entreating private investigative tale, December 17, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Second Advent (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

Nick Bertetto quit his job as an investigative reporter when an assignment led to the abduction of his wife Joan. As she still tentatively recovers from her harrowing experience, Nick receives an offer to investigate the recent death of Clinton, Indiana town patriarch Signor Gregorio Iavello which was ruled a suicide by the police. His granddaughter Martha and local priest Father Skip think otherwise. Though he believes he should reject the offer, Nick could use the fee and deep inside his heart he likes this type of work albeit he feels some guilt.

Nick begins his inquiries, but fumbles his first interrogation of Martha's brother Tom. Still with the encouragement of his former mentor, he quickly returns to the groove especially questioning the motives of his clients. When former con artist Anna Veloche claims that she receives messages from Mother Mary warning of the Second Coming with the support of Father Skip and Martha, Nick wonders what he has gotten into, particularly when the danger mounts.

Though Nick carries too much baggage from his personal life with his taking care of his three-year-old daughter and the mental troubles of his wife, fans will like him as he seems so everyday people. The story line moves briskly forward as Nick works the case while the religious fanatics work him. To learn whether murder or suicide occurred or whether Anna is pulling a con or actually talks with Mary read the book; it is worth the time as SECOND ADVENT is an entreating private investigative tale.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read Start to Finish, September 19, 2004

By 

K. L. Nappier ""Original and totally addi... - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Second Advent (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

If you're looking for a mystery that's far from the ordinary, then you're looking for "Second Advent". From the protagonist -a star investigative reporter who's turned stay-at-home dad to save his marriage (and trying to repress his newshound nose)- to the murder in his hometown that brings him out of semi-retirement whether he likes it or not, everything in this read takes you where you don't expect to go.

This is pure fun that'll keep you guessing. If you go to the author's website you'll learn he's making this a series, so we've got that much more to look forward to.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fast paced and intriguing, May 3, 2003

By 

Teri Barnett "teribarnett dot com" (Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Second Advent (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

what do you get when you take murder, visions of the virgin mary, and a reporter who refuses to shrug off these events as coincidence? you get Second Advent, featuring nick bertetto as a stay-at-home dad/reporter who, while trying to keep his marriage intact, is also trying to solve the string of murders in small town clinton, indiana and their connection to sightings of mary.

if you like your men of mystery sensitive, caring, and damn smart, then you'll love nick! tony perona is an up and coming author in the genre - i know we'll be seeing more of him.