A Touch of Deceit (Nick Bracco Series #1) [Kindle Edition]

Gary Ponzo (Author)

Book Description

Winner of the Southwest Writers Novel Contest, Thriller category!

FBI agent Nick Bracco can't stop a Kurdish terrorist from firing missiles at random homes across the country. The police can't stand watch over every household, so Bracco recruits his cousin Tommy to help track down this terrorist. Tommy is in the Mafia. Oh yeah, it gets messy fast. As fast as you can turn the pages.

Writer/Director Stephen Carpenter said, "Couldn't put it down and now I want more. Bravo."

Judith L. Pearson author of "Wolves at the Door," and "Belly of the Beast," said, "Gary Ponzo is simply the best new thriller writer out there."

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gary Ponzo's short stories have appeared in numerous magazines, including Potpourri and Amazing Journeys. Two of his stories were nominated for the very prestigous Pushcart Prize. A Touch of Deceit won the Southwest Writers Award for the Thriller category.

Product Details

• File Size: 556 KB
• Print Length: 340 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1453644857
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003O85YEM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,837 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #92 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers > Spy Stories & Tales of Intrigue

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

115 of 121 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read! June 29, 2010

By Clement Singarajah

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was my first paid Kindle read and I read it almost non stop on my iphone! This was a great read, well paced, interesting characters and plot line. For new author this bodes well, as he is at least as good as any Robert Ludlum or "established' thriller author. This is not just another political thriller, it offers new twists and is a surprising read. Even though I don't necessarily agree with the main protagonists decisions, I was enthralled. I only stopped reading it at 3 am when I knew had to go get some shut-eye before work! Whether the end justifies the means can be, and has been debated for centuries; this book offers a real world, in-your-face situation where in the good guys have to play fast and lose with this issue, to achieve their ends. Somehow Ponzo manages to portray the inner workings of the FBI and other agencies as if he is an insider, or at least very credible. The set pieces are exciting and I can just see this on the big screen making a great movie. It is sort of like a Kindle version of NCIS or NCIS LA two of my favorite shows. It has scenes as good as any in Clear and Present Danger, the president of the USA is likable like Harrison Ford in Executive Decision and the main FBI character is as fascinating and human as Jason Bourne. It has nice surprises both good and bad; the bad guys are not simple stereotypical terrorists with no reason to hate the USA. Ponzo admits to the fact that US policy is a grey area and the consequences are often delayed and bad for us as well as our allies.
I hope Mr Ponzo writes more and more and has a sequel or two planned.
You big shot editors out there in NY ( or wherever you sit and ignore new talent ), you are missing a great new writer, get of your ... and sign him up for more.

50 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Action & Adventure Story June 25, 2010

By Ardee Eichelmann

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

"A Touch of Deceit" by Gary Ponzo is a great action & adventure story that will keep you turning the pages so you can find out what happens next. Nick Bracco of the FBI is part of the agency's counter terrorism team. In that role he is trying to prevent Kurd militants from destroying the White House and the security of America in general.

Nick recruits his cousin, Tommy Bracco who is in the mob to help with the case and soon the mob is very actively involved for a multitude of reasons. This book is hot from the first chapter on. There is no time to stop and breathe.

I can highly recommend this book, am eager for the hard copy version so I can give it to friends who do not have Kindle (and who do not want to download the software on their PCs) and hope that there is a sequel soon. I want to see what happens next. This story was too good to end...there has to be more.

"A Touch of Deceit" is worth the read. The characters are realistic, the dialogue is great and the plot is tight.

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A Promising Debut Novel March 27, 2011

By William Skipper

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kurdish terrorists attack the US on our soil in an effort to force our troops out of Turkey. The US government makes a deal with the devil in an attempt to take the terrorists down.

Gary Ponzo seems to be going for a Lethal Weapon sort of partnership with his lead characters, FBI agents Nick and Matt (there's even a subsidiary character called Martin Riggs in the book), but the banter seems a bit forced. Despite this, the partnership itself rings true. They're likable guys and competent agents, and it's a pleasure to spend some time in their company.

The plot itself offers some surprises. Kurdish terrorists on our soil are unexpected, and it keeps the story away from devolving into obvious cliches. The terrorists themselves are well conceived, brilliant even.

Yet, there are times when the plot fails. The US government somehow allows a top level Kurd to escape from prison, which absolutely defies credulity in the era of Guantanamo. An assassination attempt in a hospital falls into the same category.

The female characters are too simple. As a son, a husband (twice), a brother and a father of girls, I think women are more complicated that Ponzo would have us imagine. The relationship between Nick and his wife falls very flat.

The story fires on all cylinders when politics, espionage and action are in play, but fails on the personal side. Objections could be made with the conclusions reached, as well. The US has far more options in dealing with terrorists than the author would have us believe.

More About the Author

Author Gary Ponzo began his writing career over a decade ago by writing short stories. He quickly discovered a knack for the short form. In just five years he'd published seven short stories in various publications, two of which were nominated for the very prestigious Pushcart Prize.

His first novel, "A Touch of Deceit," took five years to write and one to pick clean. The story was born from his childhood experiences working in his father's candy store in Brooklyn, NY. His father was Sicilian and became friendly with some local members of a different kind of Sicilian family. Since Gary was just fifteen at the time, these family members would make sure he was protected whenever he would work late at night by himself. He soon discovered a side to the mafia not many people knew. It was these relationships which caused him to write about Sicilian FBI agent, Nick Bracco, who recruits his mafia cousin to chase down the world's most feared terrorist.

"A Touch of Deceit," went on to win the 2009 Southwest Writers Novel Contest, Thriller category. He is currently working on the 5th book in the Nick Bracco series as well as trying to create world peace in his spare time. Gary currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Jennifer and two children, Jessica and Kyle.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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

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

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

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