Gun-Fu and Mafia intrigue
592238
With the exception of the pilot episode, Gungrave is primarily flashbacks of the main characters life. The first two DVDs have really in-depth story lines, but not as much action compared to the first episode. The third collection is probably the best so far for the series since it really picks up on Brandon's shooting techniques and introduces the infamous necrolization project that eventually turns Brandon into Beyond the Grave. It still has the intrigue in Millenion with a traitor in the organization and Harry's ambitions realized. Look for Fangoram(or at least one who looks like him) from Gungrave: Overdose on the episode called "Kind."
1899635
The protagonist, as the blurb says, is an assassin who hunts assassins. Interesting, but not amazing.

However, when the mob decides that the assassin who hunts assassins should be assassinated, and the FBI gets involved, things get heated up very nicely.

The book is a quick, exiting read. The author writes so that even though the plot is complicated, it is clear what is happening.  Chris Holm has written a book that is well worth the reading.
1712299
Alexis Abbott does mafia stories with grit and action all rolled up in steamy goodness. It has a hero and heroine you want to cheer for because of their pasts.

I liked Sals character, he was the quintessential badass assassin who finally realizes the mafia bosses he works for are the scum of the earth for luring unsuspecting and desperate young men and women trapping them to the mafia underbelly. His guilty conscience eventually drives his decision to withdraw from the life by retiring mafia style which leads to discovering Eva when he goes on the lamb.

Eva is abducted and imprisoned by her kidnapper, but Sal stumbles on her by accident when he deals with her repugnant kidnapper. The story unfolds from there and we learn Evas abduction is not random at all. Although she is portrayed as a strong heroine by character and behavior, there is redundancy use of the word broken in describing Eva. Okay, she is weepy most of the time, but the girl has moxy.

Abducted does live up to the action and erotic scenes, but I had to take some stars off for word redundancy and plot holes that left me shaking my head. The part about her fathers illness and the demise of her half-brother are glossed over without explanation and no closure. Still, I look forward to Ms. Abbotts books. I received and voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
2522987
This is a very intriguing story of organized crime at a high end level. It seems to have some sarcasm early on with kind of like detective Sam Spade type (rapid fire cliches) dialogue but the story becomes very interesting as it progresses. The ending is very interesting.
2248044
Always enjoyable, Vergil has a knack for stepping into gun fire and women, although in this book is exploits are more to the gun and less to the bed. I'm looking forward to the next F'n Flowers installment.
576277
Interesting story and some rough scenes where sadism and masochism occurs. Suspense and action. Matteo is the illegitimate son of the Abbott mafia and not publicly recognized as a son of Abbott. Matteo got abandoned, pumped full of drugs and trained into a killing machine where he became the Blood Hound, deadliest assassin of the Abbott family. Hired to kidnap the De Costa family princess, Bianca, Matteo sees this beauty to his beast.
Lust is rampant and Matteo rekidnaps Bianca from his father to stake his claim only she gets kidnapped by an insane psycho and Matteo must find her. Calling a truce between the two mafia families, Abbot and De Costa set aside their grudge to find De Costa's daughter. Only the insane psycho turns out to be one of the Hounds own killing crew. De Costa dies from bad kidneys and leaves Bianca as heiress but she must pay the price to keep her man. Insane Psycho returns and gets his comeuppance. Other twists and turns that keep the plot interesting.

Personally I get that dominance and submissive was a huge factor in this story but it was only while reading in Bianca's mind that kept me slightly empathetic. However her actions and thoughts made me want to slap the stupid and weak out of her. I almost yelled at her to get a freaking backbone. Only toward the end did I see her stand up for herself. Matteo went from over dominant- all alpha to alpha with a temper. I enjoyed his control over some of the sexual play they started with but he went soft with the feelings. That was odd since it didn't fit his original role. I don't know. I like this story but I found the heroine too wimpy most of the time. I would think being in the mafia the women would be more fearsome than the men but what do I know?
4051792
What a great book!  Frank Dimatteo takes us along on an inside trip through Mafia land;  not the blood & guts part so much, but the everyday activities of these wanna-be bad guys who sometimes ARE pretty bad. I couldn't resist cranking up Google Maps to get a lay-of-the-land look at their neighborhoods, which added a lot to the interest. Can't wait for Part 2.
713140
After a night op drug bust went awry, Michael Callaway of the U.S. Customs Service found himself in the hot seat with his attention grabbing boss, Major Dick.

The afternoon before a meeting where he would likely be fired, he received a financial windfall that changed his life. He bought a boat, grabbed his former partner, and took off for the Bahamas on a fishing and beer drinking trip. Their trip turned deadly when they came up against a ruthless drug lord, placing their lives in grave danger.

Doug Giacobbe wrote with a fast-paced, smooth cadence that drew me into the story and kept me there. His characters were interesting and well thought out - especially the main characters, both good and bad.

The author was able to portray the feeling of excitement and the fear the characters were experiencing, a tool he put to good use. Really cool were the descriptive locales and detailed action scenes that brought the story to life. I'm really looking forward to reading more of Giacobbe's stories.
1027465
This could be written as a movie script of a high speed view of the Mafia, how they live and play with the worlds fastest and most expensive top model cars. It brought back memories, when two of the gang are sent to Dubai to buy the worlds fastest car, of me taking pictures of them parked as they are outside hotels and in the plush shopping malls in UAE to attract rich buyers. Of course, I don't know a Lamborghini from a Ferrari, but the author does and also how they are constructed and can be adapted to make them run faster.
A book full of the technology and gadgets to give his Mafia characters the ability to break out of prison and heist sufficient money to feed their habits; where Russian Roulette is played out on a mine field of explosive action (literally), where loose cars and fast women (or is it the other way round?) are never too far away from revenge. Exciting reading - another story that could be made into a movie. Excellent writing especially one supposes it is not the authors first language. Now where did I put the keys to my Mini? (Pat McDonald British Crime Writer)
1766826
Last of the Gunmen ISBN: 9781932113792, Lauric Press, an e-book in the western genre by W. Hock Hochheim.
Johann Gunther, West Point graduate who, following service in Afghanistan at the request of President Teddy Roosevelt, now is the proprietor of Remedies Detective Agency in Fort Worth, TX with his Pilipino partner, Jefe with whom he served in the Philippines. They are attending an exclusive party given by one of the wealthy individuals they have helped in the past when approached by the lovely oriental fianc of the mans son because she needs protection from attendant would-be kidnappers. They discover that the fianc is not exactly what she has appeared to be while taking care of the men. After reporting the situation to the man and his son, they receive a call from the Governor of Texas who is in need of help in solving a robbery and several murders extending from Fort Worth to Austin. The robbery took place on the highway with the wife of an unusual police officer and her woman attendant being murdered along with a former Louisiana congressman and judge who had attempted to intervene. The judge was a friend of the Louisiana Governor who was a personal friend of the Texas Official. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the police officer whose wife had been killed was in jail accused of having murdered a wealthy entrepreneur. The story gradually unfolds as Johann and Jefe attempt to solve the crimes and discover they not only are battling a minor baseball team, members of which participate in vicious crimes, but also a crooked Texas Ranger, a sadistic hit man, a group of the countrys wealthiest industrial barons and even a couple of Johanns former West Point associates. The characters are interesting and even include the legendary Bat Masterson and the action is relentless as Johann moves to solve the crimes in his own manner.
Discussion: The author has provided a western that is quite unique. He has presented a story in which a gunman with the attitude and attributes of the old west must function in a changing world where modern concepts of crime and punishment are evolving and vying for acceptance. This in a world somewhat chaotic with simultaneous interspersion of newly devised automobiles, and motorcycles extending the mode and distance of travel, methods of communication similarly rapidly expanding, new methods of crime solution being recognized and even the appearance of activity by Sigmund Freud. However, the end results of this tale make the reader wonder if the books title, Last of the Gunmen, might have been a misnomer and whether, perhaps, there still might be a need for such an individual to be around for a little while longer.
2591824
The Duffle Bag Crew n Bitches are real street rollers, they live to setup and kill major ballers, so much gunplay in this book. Their crew is pure muscle and beauty, deadly combinations!! Dallas is the leader, he is powerful and organize. Be prepared for the ride of your life. On yes waiting on the sequel, it ended with a very interesting cliff hanger....
2836854
Old Wounds is an engaging and well-written crime thriller.

The Houston Police Department was scrambling for answers. Women were being brutally murdered, hacked up and tossed into dumpsters. On the verge of panic, the Houston Police Chief, paired up her two best detectives, hoping to make an unbeatable team. Star detectives, Gino Cataldi and Tip Denton, became partners for the first time.

Although the murderers hideous killing style, was not identical in each of the womens deaths, they were similar. And even though these savage acts were carried out hundreds of miles apart from the other, the star Detectives were convinced that they were related. When evidence began to pile up, and point, accusing fingers, at three highly respected and influential people, tempers, threats, and repercussions started to fly.

Detective Gino Cataldi knew that he wasn't at the top of his game. He was having trouble staying focused. Guilt over killing three men, in cold blood, and his son, becoming addicted to drugs, was weighing him down. Detective Tip Denton demonstrated his loyal, and caring side, to his partner, when he turned a blind eye, to Ginos glaring secrets, and helped him with his son.

The author brings the reader behind the scenes and into the minds of two top-notch detectives, as they worked, to unscramble the clues. This case was a political time-bomb ready to explode. It had the potential to strip elite individuals from their lofty positions, as well as the Detectives from their badges.

I enjoyed reading Giacomo Giammatteos latest crime thriller and anxiously await his next book.
4620480
Interesting and humorous use of unusual slang and colloquialisms
Sometimes just a bit too snarky, with one character that crosses the line into politically incorrect.
Lots of action, good plot twists, humor, and a fast paced story.

Recommended
658637
An entertaining read, when a Rocky Mountain policeman goes to Italy to claim his brothers body after an alleged suicide. He quickly finds enough evidence to convince him that it was a murder. Enter the Italian politics, crime and confusion as he faces various policemen, politicians and devout bureaucrats. Putting himself at risk, he agrees to a three day look into the evidence with police help. There is a really nice twist at the end.
906404
In this latest book from the Rosato and DiNunzio series, Mary DiNunzio is once again embroiled in neighborhood/family business. Mary gets embroiled in what appears to be a relatively straightforward discriminatory firing of a young man from the neighborhood who has a very sick child.
As the investigation begins DiNunzio soon realizes the complexities with which she is dealing. The actual case is complicated by the fact that the parent firm she intends to sue is owned by a large corporate conglomerate represented frequently by her partner Bennie Rosato. Before she can begin, internal legal and ethical issues must be resolved.

The characters from the South Philadelphia neighborhood are amusing as usual, and the new characters play their roles well. The storyline twists and turns with murder and danger lurking throughout the pages. The story is entertaining with its suspense, intrigue, and drama. A good light read!

This ARC copy was received from St. Martins Press and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
3067590
Mafia-PS2.

Very fun it's like an Old school GTA, at first can be frustrating cause of the handling of the cars and graphics, also I really don't like the ending, It took me awhile to beat but was fun,can't wait for MAFIA II for PS3!
1861346
A cop and a mob enforcer pursue the same quarry, a brutal serial rapist/murderer. The enforcer, unrestrained by legal niceties, hunts his prey with brutal efficiency while the cop relies on standard investigative techniques, instincts and forensics. The narration alternates between the two and the story leads them to an inevitable confrontation. The enforcer has no reservations but the cop must grapple between right and wrong, the law or justice.

this is a fairly fast paced book. It is violent and the language is, at times, foul. The enforcer's motivation is unconvincing but he is the most interesting character in the book. The detective is far less compelling and his interaction with his wheel chair bound nephew's  babysitter is just plain creepy. The bulk of the characters are seedy, hookers, drug addicts, criminals, gang members, politically motivated, ambitious superiors, lazy and/or corrupt cops. They are  one dimensional and it was hard to work up any enthusiasm for them. the writing isn't brilliant but it is not a bad read.