Mass Murder

Giorgio Salvatori #1

by Lynn Bohart

When a woman is found dead, hanging by her bra strap in the supply closet of the Catholic monastery, Detective Giorgio Salvatori is called in to handle the case. As a veteran New York police detective, he's been faced with some of the worst humanity has to offer. In fact, he moved to this small town in Southern California to get away from the dirt and crime of New York after a shooting nearly killed him. But he has a bad feeling about this case. Soon, his suspicions are borne out when a second body is found buried on the property, and days later, one of the monks is found floating face down in the duck pond. To complicate matters, the specter of a young boy who committed murder and then suicide back in the 1940s, appears to be communicating a message of some sort. But what is it? And does this decades-old murder have anything to do with Salvatori's current investigation?

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Ghosts, Paranormal, Fiction

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2012

About the author

Lynn Bohart holds a master’s degree in theater and has taught writing through Green River College for 10+ years. She has self-published ten popular paranormal mystery novels, two short story books, and two nonfiction books on Amazon.com, including the Detective Giorgio Salvatori mystery series and the Old Maids of Mercer Island mystery series. She is currently working on her first YA book following Julia and her brother Ben from the Old Maids books when they were teens. She is also the founder of Lil Dog Communications, a freelance writing and consulting company.

If you like true crime, visit her website at www.lynnbohart-author.com and sign up to receive her newsletter "Let's Talk About Murder" for free where she interviews authors, law enforcement, journalists and forensic technicians to talk about the ultimate crime. She also writes The Murder Brief Blog to explore topics like The Body Farm, The Serial Killer Gene, and more.

Lynn will be a presenter for the Crime/Thriller Summit in October.

Reviews

[Compulsion Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mass Murder by Lynn Bohart kept me engaged from page one. Bohart was able to set up a suspenseful murder investigation while also painting a realistic picture of the book’s hero, Detective Giorgio “Joe” Salvatori. Little details about Joe’s home life and the peculiarities of secondary characters helped the story come alive, which is more than I can say for the poor woman found murdered in the janitor’s closet at a Catholic Monastery. Bohart also weaves in some paranormal elements that add a spooky, interesting angle to Joe’s investigation. I was left guessing whodunit until the very end.

(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

To have a husband as sensitive to his wife's needs as was Giorgio had me thinking this book must have been written by a female.

How I would love to explore secret passages as were on the grounds of St. Augustine's!

This was a great mystery which held my interest.

[paige sisserman · Rating 1 out of 5]

disturbing

I don't know if this book was enjoyable or not. I actually only read about 10 pages. I found all of the crosses very upsetting. I wonder why the author felt the need to force her belief system on the reader. perhaps she thinks everyone wouldn't care.

[Vanda Bromwich · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good murder mystery set in a monastery. Lots ot twists and turns in the story including a ghost.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at the monastery, disrupted the time with family, after his performance. A dream to do the stage play, will be dulled by morning being called to go to the murder scene. There was a writing conference going on, was the killer among them. The crosses, the history of a past murder,all play a part, as there are more bodies are found. Nice added touch with Giorgio with his concern for this family, and the author description of him. Good plot with twists and turns to the end.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Crime Scene!

Enjoyable read. The last few scenes were “edge of my seat” narrative. Ms. Bohart presented at a symposium a few years back, and I look forward to her newsletter. So naturally, this series is a winner. I’m looking forward to learn about how each case will be solved.

[Brenda Asterino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this Series of books and the writer just keeps getting better and better. If you love good murder mysteries and you love a touch of the paranormal, you will fall in love with Giorgio Salvatori. Oh, to meet this man in real life!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monastery murder mystery...

A murder mystery at a monastery. Interesting plot twists and good character development. I would read more in this series.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story and characters. But can't give 5 stars because I had a real problem with one of the story arcs on the ghosts. To me a disturbing point of view.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me. Too many mistakes and too godly........I lost interest fast and packed it in at 9%.
I got quite irritated at the author who misused an apostrophe for writer's conference yet a few pages in wrote it correctly as writers'. Thought that was careless. The comma in Sergeant, Abe Terrero's name wasn't needed and this sentence-well, spot the deliberate mistake: "We can go to my office, he offered"....really ?
It was all way too descriptive with all the churchy stuff for me and when the biblical quotes started appearing I glazed over, I'm afraid. Not for me.
I liked it was a family affair in that the cover photo/design was done by others in the author's family. I like her black 'n' white covers. They're effective.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghostly Mystery

Mass Murder is a really fantastic murder mystery with just the right touch of paranormal intrigue. Detective Georgio Salvatori has his hands full when the local monastery serves up a twisted tale of murder in the present and a history of murder in its past. As the bodies seem to pile up Detective Salvatori must figure out who killed whom and why. All while experiencing his own family tragedy. Miss Bogart creates very colorful characters and the entire book is so full of descriptions I could see the characters in my minds eye. If you like a good mystery I would definitely recommend this book.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was either a free or .99 cent download on Amazon. It was worth that, but barely. It was a weak attempt at a paranormal mystery, but truthfully the paranormal aspects seemed forced and contrived and didn't fit the overall tone and theme of the novel. The main storyline could have stood by itself without adding in any of the ghosts and buttons that got thrown in, without really adding much to the story.

As a detective/mystery novel is was ok, maybe 3 stars instead of 2, but with the paranormal aspects thrown in, in such a ham handed way, the book is only worth 2 stars.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written story, interesting mystery that I couldn't easy figure out. The characters were rounded out pretty well and created a desire to know more about them. I have a few problems with the book that were editing problems that you run into with digital books but nothing that really detracted from my enjoying the story. A good read. I would recommend it.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. It left me wanting to know more about the main character and his family. The story itself was intriguing and kept me hooked enough to not want to put the book down. Well written, interesting characters and excellent mystery.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

self published (and thus a few annoying typos); but a good story and interesting murder mystery

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good quick read. I liked it. It was free on my kindle

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good murder mystery. It wasn't written perfectly but held my attention

[Sharon Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This had a good pace and kept the tension high. Now sure about the characters, as I found them to be a little stilted in places.

[Shell Swinscoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

great detective nivsl with the added bonus of paranormal! the author had me from the first page to the last!

[Larry Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good mystery. The story was good and easy to follow.

[Hannah Firek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a little while to get into it however it is a great book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.