Customer Reviews

Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When one starts to read a book by an author and from a publisher that he has never heard of there are certain expectations and none of them are good. In cases like this there are almost always typos galore, holes in the story, a meandering plot, loose ends and often an ending that really leaves a lot to be desired. I am very happy to report that this book didn't meet any of those expectations. This is a book that in fact puts the writing of a lot of very seasoned and famous mystery writers to shame.

The main character in the book is private detective Johnny Denovo, a very enjoyable and fully believable character whose knack for his profession has brought him wealth and great fame. Denovo brings to the table qualities belonging to some of the greatest fictional detectives of all time and reminds me of what you would get if you were to cross Sherlock Holmes with Mike Hammer and Lieutenant Colombo. Like Holmes he has a brilliant mind and great deductive powers along with the ability to read people's personalities and therefore deduce what their reaction might be to certain scenarios. The Hammer reference comes from the touch of the noir genre that Denovo exhibits on occasion, especially with his womanizing. Colombo figures into the mix because early on in the story the reader along with the detective figures out who the guilty party is and the rest of the book revolves around Denovo's efforts to prove what he already knows. This detective however doesn't wear a ratty raincoat like Colombo but instead dresses to impress and to keep up his image.

Surrounding Denovo is a cast of very intriguing and well-developed characters, especially his business manager and sidekick Mona. Mona has always just handled the money and has never been involved in a case until this one but once she is on the case their business relationship soon develops into an on the job partnership and possibly even something more. Other than Mona the most notable character is Denovo's childhood friend Tucker who is by this time a computer genus that works for the government among other employers. Tucker becomes a key in figuring out what is going on and how it is being done and is basically a very fun character. Being a baby boomer and therefore not having been raised using a computer I started to get worried when I saw how big of a part computers were going to play in this story because I knew if things got too technical I would be lost. There was no need for me to have worried though because the author handled everything so well that it all made perfect sense to me despite my lack of computer skills. Just to be honest the author handles everything well and this book is about as well written as any book I have ever come across. The plot is compelling and strong, the writing is superb and the author is a master storyteller.

My fellow mystery fans, this book is not to be missed. If true talent rises to the top then this is not the last we have heard from Johnny Denovo and his creator Andrew Kent. I very much hope that there is a second installment in the works.

I loved this fast-paced mystery; I could not put it down. Johnny Denovo is a quick-witted detective who confounds his adversaries at every turn. Johnny and his agent, Mona, an auburn-haired she-devil with the brains and killer instinct of a panther, must untangle a web of deceit that has penetrated the security of the U.S. Government. The caper in which they find themselves entangled takes them from Boston to the Virginia suburbs to the South of France.

The appeal of Johnny & Mona is undeniable and the sparks that fly between them only add to the mystery and adventure laid out before them.

Spam & Eggs is a good old fashioned mystery set in today's high-tech, high stakes world of the Internet which I'm sure every reader will enjoy and find hard to put down.

I tried but just could not stay interested in this. The main caricature (no that not a typo) is at best laughable. This could be a very good story line if it were told better with more believable characters.

This would be a great book if it was meant to be campy...but I don't think it was. It appears the author has some very limited exposure to a variety of places, professions, and lifestyles and quickly overwrites descriptions. I'd just love to be able to reroute a satellite to read an rfid. The justification for disguising meanings in a phone call because it might be overheard but not doing so in an immediate following phone call makes it a little hard to keep track of the major character's purpose. I'm trying hard but don't think I'm going to make it to the last chapter. I did like the concept of the Denovo character and it too bad the story didn't live up to its potential (at least in my view).

A delightful and fun read. I couldnt put it down and I am looking forward to the next.

A mystery for intellectuals! Johnny Denovo, the main character in this novel, is a neuroscientist turned super-detective. He uses brain science to track down the bad guys. Denovo carefully cultivates his image and has rock star status in the world.

I enjoyed the plot and the dialogue was great. Kent uses a lot of pretty words but I found his style was a lot more "telling" than "showing" and consequently I couldn't get lost in the story as easily as I would have liked.

It is always with fear of disappointment that I launch myself into a new mystery writer's world.

You may have no such fear here. Andrew Kent has created a likeable, approachable hero fit for all the family. To me Johnny Denovo is interesting because he is clearly not a muscle-bound superhero. He is without doubt self-assured, smart, sexy, yet vulnerable in a geeky way, which leads me to want to see his personality evolve over books to come.

The plot is imaginative and well threaded. We are all hounded by email spam. Johnny Denovo sees patterns and plot emerge in front of him on the computer screen - a premise both believable and engaging. The story once launched rattles along, with cheeky characterizations, and page turning action scenes. You will encounter a sizzling gallery of characters, my favorite being Tucker whose high tech world is believably intricate. The writing is first rate; spare, yet roomy enough for humor. Action scenes are the highlight. Kent's ability to stitch a reader to the page is enviable and leaves you wanting more.

When is the sequel coming out?

A fresh and entertaining take on the detective novel, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read. It introduces the very model of the hero for a new age. Cerebral and daring in equal measure, Johnny Denovo, solves the mystery (and gets the girl) with plenty of old-fashioned action, but mostly by following leads others would have missed, and by understanding language and our networked world in a way that others cannot.

If you are looking for an intelligent, yet humorous and fast-paced, read, Johnny Denovo's Span & Eggs is the perfect fit. You will be left awaiting his next adventure.

I found Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery (The Johnny Denovo Mysteries) a lightweight and entertaining read. The leading good guys are likable. The master detective is a psychological diviner who interprets the crime's "metaphors" to detect, harass, then foil the perpetrators. Suspense level was good. The author does play fast and loose with technical and psychological details, so don't take them too seriously. The story is told with a little tongue-in-cheek humor. If you can adequately suspend reality checks, you will probably enjoy the book.

Johnny DeNovo, Detective, is intellectual, riveting and just enough over the top to keep you turning the pages. This first mystery from newcomer Andrew Kent kept me happily reading through two airplane delays to be sure I got to the end - and promptly wishing for more stories. DeNovo's carefully crafted persona has a sassy exterior and a cagey mind grounded in the scientific. His wonderfully gifted friends add to the depth of the story. This is not the ordinary mystery plot - lots of technology, psychology, and intuitive thinking. More, please!