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Deuce Mora
Deuce Mora Mystery Series Vol. 4-5 Plus Maximum Impact
Three gripping thrillers featuring hard-hitting reporter Deuce Mora –
and a twisty, pulse-pounding Watergate-type cover-up of a massive plane crashA Jean Heller read guarantees an intricate, action-packed mystery. Here are three of her a locked-room murder puzzle embedded in a contemporary mob mystery, an international crime ring embedded in corrupt government, and a government cover-up that loops and careens to a shocking climax.
Fiery, tough, athletic, and a dirty fighter when she has to be, journalist Deuce Mora tends to lean more heavily on her "investigative reporter" profile than her “lead columnist” title strictly requires. Rather than shying away from fights, she tends to pick them. Cases in Ill Wind and Black Marsh. She didn’t have to go there. But she always does.
Ill Wind
Veteran reporter Deuce Mora is awakened in the pre-dawn hours and called to the scene of a gruesome hanging to identify the body of a dear friend, an FBI agent on the verge of taking down one of Chicago's biggest Mob operations. Deuce knows it's murder, but the authorities have no choice but to call it a suicide - the death scene was triple-locked from the inside.
Black Marsh
Deuce discovers a whole new dimension of danger when she wakes up in a swamp next to a plane crash, with no memory of how she got there – and in no shape to argue with the mysterious swamp hermit who claims he needs to hide her from the search helicopters circling above. He’s the only help that’s coming, since the forces of what passes for law and order in remote Joe Pye County are led by a sadistic sheriff steeped in the corruption Deuce came to investigate.
Maximum Impact
Three hundred thirty-three fatalities and no survivors. Investigating the deadliest accident in U.S. aviation history in which a new plane's engine disintegrated, reporter Steve Pace uncovers a Watergate-type cover-up involving the government and industrial leaders.
The character of journalist Steve Pace first appears in his own standalone novel, Maximum Impact, the third volume in this boxed set. Since the character is more fully developed in Maximum Impact and some events of Maximum Impact are referenced in Ill Wind, some readers may wish to start with Maximum Impact and circle back to Ill Wind.
and a twisty, pulse-pounding Watergate-type cover-up of a massive plane crashA Jean Heller read guarantees an intricate, action-packed mystery. Here are three of her a locked-room murder puzzle embedded in a contemporary mob mystery, an international crime ring embedded in corrupt government, and a government cover-up that loops and careens to a shocking climax.
Fiery, tough, athletic, and a dirty fighter when she has to be, journalist Deuce Mora tends to lean more heavily on her "investigative reporter" profile than her “lead columnist” title strictly requires. Rather than shying away from fights, she tends to pick them. Cases in Ill Wind and Black Marsh. She didn’t have to go there. But she always does.
Ill Wind
Veteran reporter Deuce Mora is awakened in the pre-dawn hours and called to the scene of a gruesome hanging to identify the body of a dear friend, an FBI agent on the verge of taking down one of Chicago's biggest Mob operations. Deuce knows it's murder, but the authorities have no choice but to call it a suicide - the death scene was triple-locked from the inside.
Black Marsh
Deuce discovers a whole new dimension of danger when she wakes up in a swamp next to a plane crash, with no memory of how she got there – and in no shape to argue with the mysterious swamp hermit who claims he needs to hide her from the search helicopters circling above. He’s the only help that’s coming, since the forces of what passes for law and order in remote Joe Pye County are led by a sadistic sheriff steeped in the corruption Deuce came to investigate.
Maximum Impact
Three hundred thirty-three fatalities and no survivors. Investigating the deadliest accident in U.S. aviation history in which a new plane's engine disintegrated, reporter Steve Pace uncovers a Watergate-type cover-up involving the government and industrial leaders.
The character of journalist Steve Pace first appears in his own standalone novel, Maximum Impact, the third volume in this boxed set. Since the character is more fully developed in Maximum Impact and some events of Maximum Impact are referenced in Ill Wind, some readers may wish to start with Maximum Impact and circle back to Ill Wind.
1459 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2024
268 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Jean Heller
13 books52 followersMy mother once confronted my husband and me, put her hands on her hips, and asked, “Can’t one of you hold onto a job?”
She was joking – sort of. Both of us were journalists, and we kept getting better jobs, which required moving. A lot. Moving frequently is, I have discovered, a good way to avoid having to clean out the closets, the garage, and the cabinets under the kitchen sink.
Through it all, I have been one thing above all else, a writer.
I started my first novel when I was in the third grade, the story of people living at the center of the earth. I liked the concept, but I really didn’t have a good plot point, and when I discovered what it’s really like at the center of the earth, the project sort of went up in flames, so to speak.
My first complete novel, a thriller called “Maximum Impact,” was published by Forge, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, in 1993. My second, “Handyman,” came two years later. Both received great reviews from critics, and both will be available in Kindle editions in early 2015.
The new one, also a thriller, is called “The Someday File.” It is the first in what will be a series set in Chicago, a city I have loved since I was in college and which I have called home for years. I set it here because Chicago is such a great character in its own right. The stories I can build on these bones – quite literally in the case of “The Someday File” – have infinite possibilities.
_________________________________________________
Jean’s news career included serving as an investigative and projects reporter and editor for The Associated Press in New York City and Washington, D.C., The Cox Newspapers and New York Newsday in Washington, D.C. and the St. Petersburg Times in Washington, D.C. and Florida.
Jean has won multiple awards, including the Worth Bingham Prize, the Polk Award, and is an eight-time Pulitzer Prize nominee.
She was joking – sort of. Both of us were journalists, and we kept getting better jobs, which required moving. A lot. Moving frequently is, I have discovered, a good way to avoid having to clean out the closets, the garage, and the cabinets under the kitchen sink.
Through it all, I have been one thing above all else, a writer.
I started my first novel when I was in the third grade, the story of people living at the center of the earth. I liked the concept, but I really didn’t have a good plot point, and when I discovered what it’s really like at the center of the earth, the project sort of went up in flames, so to speak.
My first complete novel, a thriller called “Maximum Impact,” was published by Forge, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, in 1993. My second, “Handyman,” came two years later. Both received great reviews from critics, and both will be available in Kindle editions in early 2015.
The new one, also a thriller, is called “The Someday File.” It is the first in what will be a series set in Chicago, a city I have loved since I was in college and which I have called home for years. I set it here because Chicago is such a great character in its own right. The stories I can build on these bones – quite literally in the case of “The Someday File” – have infinite possibilities.
_________________________________________________
Jean’s news career included serving as an investigative and projects reporter and editor for The Associated Press in New York City and Washington, D.C., The Cox Newspapers and New York Newsday in Washington, D.C. and the St. Petersburg Times in Washington, D.C. and Florida.
Jean has won multiple awards, including the Worth Bingham Prize, the Polk Award, and is an eight-time Pulitzer Prize nominee.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 12, 2025
Fantastic Story
If you're looking for a fantastic story that is very well written by someone who knows the subject that I highly and I mean highly recommend this book. The author is a well versed pilot and this story is about an aviation crash and the cover up of the crash. I found no problems in typos or errors and the story flowed smoothly throughout the book. It is a nominated story and I figure from reading it that it should have been a top award winner. Don't miss this book if you want a great read.
If you're looking for a fantastic story that is very well written by someone who knows the subject that I highly and I mean highly recommend this book. The author is a well versed pilot and this story is about an aviation crash and the cover up of the crash. I found no problems in typos or errors and the story flowed smoothly throughout the book. It is a nominated story and I figure from reading it that it should have been a top award winner. Don't miss this book if you want a great read.
March 6, 2025
mystery
This was a weird set, the first book was included in the last boxed set, so a duplicate. The last book not part of the series, a brief connection to the deuce mora character through the father of the foster kid she made friends with. The main connection was both deuce and Steve were reporters who risked everything for a story and a high body count each book.
This was a weird set, the first book was included in the last boxed set, so a duplicate. The last book not part of the series, a brief connection to the deuce mora character through the father of the foster kid she made friends with. The main connection was both deuce and Steve were reporters who risked everything for a story and a high body count each book.
March 30, 2024
Good read
I was bit disappointed to find book 4 in this collection as it also appeared in the volume 1 thru 4 collection . The stories were well written and complex enough to keep you guessing .
I was bit disappointed to find book 4 in this collection as it also appeared in the volume 1 thru 4 collection . The stories were well written and complex enough to keep you guessing .
May 14, 2024
This boxset is packed with some of the best writing there is out there. Jean Heller is a skilled and one of a kind author. Her ability to bring to life a story with so much layers and so much mystery is truly remarkable. Reading her books is a real treat .
March 1, 2024
Please see individual stories for review.
March 8, 2024
Enticing read
I love how this makes you think and try to see how it goes. Keeps your mind very busy at solving issues
I love how this makes you think and try to see how it goes. Keeps your mind very busy at solving issues
March 12, 2024
Three great stories with serious characters. I read the third one first as recommended, I think it would not have made sense otherwise.
June 13, 2024
Outstanding
I was glued to the stories. Great writer. I highly recommend these books. Thumbs up for Jean Heller. Looking forward to reading more. Thanks.
I was glued to the stories. Great writer. I highly recommend these books. Thumbs up for Jean Heller. Looking forward to reading more. Thanks.
October 27, 2024
Really enjoyed books four and five. I thought Maximum Impact would be the same, took me a lot longer to read but that ended up being great too. I do like the books with Deuce in them better.
February 3, 2025
great reading
Once you start reading these books you can’t stop. The mystery keeps growing and growing. The ending is even wonderful
Once you start reading these books you can’t stop. The mystery keeps growing and growing. The ending is even wonderful
February 28, 2025
GREAT READ!
Absolutely engaging. The detail and drama, turns, and twist... kept me captivated. It gave me a lot of to think about!
Absolutely engaging. The detail and drama, turns, and twist... kept me captivated. It gave me a lot of to think about!
July 27, 2025
Time to Fly
Great characters making a cast of hundreds. Clear and clever development of said characters. I look forward to reading more books.
Great characters making a cast of hundreds. Clear and clever development of said characters. I look forward to reading more books.
September 7, 2024
First rate thriller.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews