Frankly Speaking

Frank Rozzani #1

by Don Massenzio

A 16 year old girl has disappeared. The police believe she is a runaway. Her parents believe she has been taken and is being held against her will. When the parents enlist the services of Frank Rozzani, a former police officer turned private detective, a series of events begins to unfold that implicates a popular local pastor and the religious stronghold of the ultra-conservative community. Frank Rozzani, a transplant to Jacksonville, Florida from Syracuse, New York, must find the young girl despite the obstacles launched at him from the local police and others whose interests may be compromised by his investigation. Frank enlists the help of his associate Clifford “Jonesy” Jones to find the girl, uncover the conspiracy, and stay alive. While solving the case, Frank must deal with the demons that drove him from Upstate New York causing him to leave traumatic memories and his children behind.

Genres: Mystery Thriller, Mystery

257 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2014

About the author

Like his character, Frank Rozzani, Don was born in Syracuse, New York to first generation Italian American parents. He’s an avid reader. Some of my favorite authors are Harlan Coben, David Morrell, Stephen King, Jonathan Kellerman, John Grisham, and Hugh Howey. His favorite book of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird.

He started writing as a way to combat the long hours of travel and numerous hotel stays that are part of the ‘glamorous’ world of corporate life. He use writing as a therapeutic outlet to combat his homesickness.

His first published book, Frankly Speaking, rose to the top of the Amazon charts. It was the first in a series of books focused on the character, Frank Rozzani, a Florida private detective. The series is a throwback to the days of pulp detective novels with a tip of the hat to Jim Rockford from the 70’s television show, The Rockford Files. He's also released a collection of short stories called Random Tales that is available for your Kindle or in paperback.

Also, look for his non-fiction book, The Ultimate Guide For Independently Published Authors: Tips for improving quality and selling your work, now available on Amazon.com as an eBook or in paperback

He moved to Jacksonville, Florida 22 years ago where he currently lives with his wife, daughter, and three dogs.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a series introducing Frank Rozzani. He's recently relocated from New York where he was a detective to Jacksonville, Florida, where he is now a Private Investigator.

A teenage girl has disappeared and the parents want to hire Rozzani to find her. Local police feel that she's just a runaway and aren't making much attempt at locating her.

Rozzani and his associate Clifford 'Jonesy' Jones start their investigation .... and the closer they get to finding the girl, a series of strange things start to happen. Someone plants a moccasin in Frank's trailer home, when it attacks Lucy, his dog. Jones' place of business is set afire.

Someone wants them to keep their noses of whatever is going on.

There's a good amount of suspense, a lot of suspects. A church that may be more a cult than anything else ... a crooked cop with ties to the same church.

And while Frank is looking for the girl, he's fighting his own memories of a murdered wife and having to leave his children somewhere safe.

I really like the characters. Frank is tough, and flawed, but very much human. He's a jazz pianist with a small band and that helps to keep him sane. Jonesy is a drummer with the same band. He has such a sense of humor ... but there's no one better with a computer. They have a friend on the force and she helps out wherever she can. And there's Lucy ... Lucy is this wonderful dog. Frank figures he only has friends because of the dog.

This looks to be a good series ... lots of adventures ahead!

My thanks to the author who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Robbie Cheadle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listed to the audio book version of Frankly Speaking and I really enjoyed it. I liked the little touches of romance and the pleasure that Frank takes in the company of his friends. I also enjoyed the role that Frank’s dog, Lucy, played in the story. It made the whole book feel very natural and believable.

Maggie is the perfect student and daughter. She is a high performer at school and a strong teenage member of a very popular local Church. She has friends and is very pretty so why would she run away from home? When it becomes know that Maggie has disappeared while attending a Church retreat her parents are unsatisfied when the police declare her disappearance to be just another teenage runaway story. In order to find out the truth they resort to hiring a private detective to investigate Maggie’s disappearance.

Frank and Jonesie start to sniff around the Church asking questions. Their actions put them into conflict with one of the local law men and also result in their becoming the victims of some rather amateurish attacks. Their findings also eventually put them on the trail of a very evil man who has some very wicked ideas on teenage girls and their morality.

I must admit that I was a bit shocked by this story as, while I know that really bad things happen in life and that there are some truly terrible people out there, this just seemed such a frightening but possible situation for a young and naive girl to find herself in.

I found this book to be a really good story with some interesting twists and turns and lots of action.

Frankly Speaking was fast paced, so while the narrator spoke at a slow and measured pace, it did not negatively impact on the audio book and I found the readers voice and style of reading the story to be quite pleasant.

[John W. Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 16-year-old girl has disappeared. The police believe she is a runaway. Her parents are sure she has been taken and is being held against her will. When the parents enlist the services of Frank Rozzani, a former police officer turned private detective, a series of events begins to unfold that implicates a popular local pastor and the religious stronghold of the ultra-conservative community.

Frank Rozzani, a transplant to Jacksonville, Florida from Syracuse, New York, must find the young girl despite the obstacles launched at him from the local police and others whose interests may be compromised by his investigation. Frank enlists the help of his associate Clifford "Jonesy" Jones to find the girl, uncover the conspiracy, and stay alive. While solving the case, Frank must deal with the demons that drove him from Upstate New York causing him to leave traumatic memories and his children behind. (Blurb from Amazon)

Frankly Speaking is the first book in the "Frank detective novel," series. When I started the book, I was half expecting a formula detective story. You know the kind. A hard-drinking private eye who used to be on the force but was kicked off for shooting someone who deserves it. A beautiful blond who adores his roughness and a bunch of clients who have dark secrets exposed one by one. If you are expecting that kind of story, you will be surprised to find Frankly Speaking is a more profound and more vibrant story. The detective is a human being with a subtle way of finding out the truth. He has friends and a sweet dog. The friends help him cope with what was a catastrophic event in his life while also helping him solve the crime du jour. Without going into spoilers let me say the author Don Massenzio has developed a set of characters that resonate as authentic and believable. He moves them adroitly around the world he has created. He tells a great story with the sights, smells, and ambiance of Jacksonville and in later books of Syracuse. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a terrific tale well cast and well written.

[Victoria Zigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent mystery, which held my attention and kept me eager to keep reading/listening until the end. I listened to the audio version, and though I wasn't sure about the narrator's reading pace at first, I soon started to feel it worked really well to compliment the story's pacing. As for the book itself: the characters are believable, and the plot is both action-packed and full of twists, so kept me guessing and re-evaluating my own conclusions about who did what really well. I definitely look forward to reading more from this author, and continuing the series.

[A.R. Bredenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "Frankly Speaking," a private investigator with a dark past investigates the disappearance of a teenage girl, as he roams the mean streets of Jacksonville, Florida. A well-told story with good characters, Don Massenzio's novel deserves four stars for its quality and for its contribution to good indie fiction.

The main fault I find in the story has to do with the motivation of some of the characters. Granted that church people can sometimes be a little judgmental, but I found it hard to believe that some of the characters would have supported the kidnapping of pregnant teenage girls, the theft and sale of their babies, and then the condemnation of the young mothers to human trafficking and sexual slavery -- with the excuse that they were sinful girls anyway. Of course, maybe Massenzio has more experience with fundamentalism than I do!

That's the kind of problem that might have been flagged by a traditional editorial team, but it could also be corrected in a future version, if the author wanted to do a re-work. I give "Frankly Speaking" a five-star cleanness rating for minimal profanity and sensuality. The story does portray some violence, but it is not pervasive or overly explicit.

ARK

[Tamye Whitener · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author painted a picture that was easy to see, and step right into, as if I were inside a detective movie.

Superbly written tale of mystery and intrigue interlaced with humor, and southern flavor. Frank Rozzani and his colorful friends and colleagues use their wits, and anything else they can commandeer to discover what has happened to missing teen. The novel is peppered with an assortment of possible villains and helpers. The trick is to figure out who, is who, and why. There's a vet, a beautiful lab/border collie mix, a couple of cops....(think good cop - bad cop), a few lawyers, (the good, the bad, and the super smart, savvy surfer dude. Preachers, nurses, thugs, and Big Sam. And all of this takes place in and around Jacksonville, Florida.

This was a front to back read for me. The author was able to draw me in from the beginning, and easily kept me enthralled until the extremely satisfying conclusion. My only complaint was the words, "The End" I hated to leave Frank Rozzani PI and his friends Luckily there are more "Frank Rozzani Detective novels, and I planned to read the rest.

[Wendy Unsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a good deal of series around featuring a disillusioned ex-cop turned private investigator ( and I am a sucker for them anyway!) but this book, the first in a series about investigator Frank Rozzani felt fresh and a little different.
A teenager has gone missing and the police department have labelled her a 'runaway' but her family are convinced that she would never do such a thing and enlist Rozzani to uncover the truth about her disappearance. As soon as Frank begins to delve there is a nasty attack on him, though his lovely dog, Lucy takes the brunt of it, and it soon becomes clear that his investigation is rustling some feathers!

The case turns out to be far more sinister and far reaching than the story of one youngster and I enjoyed the unfolding process as Frank and his partner, Jonesy work to untangle a quite complex plot. I also loved the character of Anita who is prepared to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

This is a really enjoyable read and I will, no doubt, be going back into the world of Rozzani for more.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Rozzani, detective-turned PI, is hired to help desperate parents find their missing daughter. Florida police declare her a runaway, but a little bit of digging tells Rozzani there's more to her disappearance than an angry girl escaping. He and his cybersleuth-gifted partner set out to find her before it's too late.

I enjoyed this detective mystery so much I will be reading the entire series. The story is fast-moving with all the twists and turns I like in detective mysteries. The two main characters are likable and well-developed with plenty of mystery to move them into a sequel. The story is positive and upbeat with a constant baseline of jazz music to underscore the plot.

[Tawa Witko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for old fashioned detective novels and I wasn't disappointed in this one. The plot was well orchestrated and the characters were charming. Don revealed just enough at the right times to make me continue to turn the pages and not figure out what happened to early on in the story. The relationship between Frank and Jonesy is fun to read and I adored Lucy, Frank's canine companion. Overall great story. Now on to Book 2 in the series!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable cast of characters

Really enjoyable cast of characters

Nice rhythm among Frank, Jonesy, and Anita. Their easy friendship and obvious loyalty made them very believable. Good story with interesting plot twists and turns. I'd like to know more about Fat Sam and his "eyes and ears" around town.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book had a good plot, great characters, and a doggy that is always a plus! Good story lines kept me guessing threw many twists and turns, I like that in a book not knowing how it will all come to an end instead of knowing it all by chapter two. Hope there will be a second book because the last page might have killed me a little inside lol, now I need more!!

[Linda Crowder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the dog in this one. The rest of the book was well worth the read too, but this dog stole my heart. I liked the characters and how almost magically Jonesy gets information. What knocked it from five stars to four is that if you look too deeply, the core of the mystery unravels. I can't go into why without being a spoiler but I liked the characters well enough to move to book two.

[D. Peach · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a teenager goes missing on a church retreat, the police write her off as a runaway. Her family doesn’t believe it, and they hire detective Frank Rozzani and his surfing-lawyer friend, Jonesy, to find out what really happened. What follows is a fast-paced investigation that ruffles the feathers of Jacksonville, Florida’s elite.

This is an enjoyable crime fiction read that moves at a good clip. I found the investigation, including the choices and the actions of the characters, completely plausible. Frank and Jonesy work efficiently to crack the case, follow the natural leads, and bend the law when necessary. Time-pressure adds to the suspense.

The pair of lead characters are fully-developed three-dimensional people and their friendship feels genuine. Massenzio does a nice job creating a believable cast as well as engaging subplots. Frank, in particular, has some emotional depth including ghosts from the past who still haunt him. There are a few red herrings thrown into the mix, so my initial assumptions about the culprits were satisfyingly wrong.

I thought the book wrapped up well with few loose ends. This is the first read in the Frank Rozzani series, a great intro to the setting and characters along with a few enticing reasons to pick up the next book. Readers of PI detective novels will find a lot to like about this book.

[Audrey Driscoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the basic premise behind this mystery--ex-cop PI with a troubled past rebuilding his life in Florida with a dog and jazz gigs at a local eatery. Frank is a sympathetic character, and his developing not-quite-romance with veterinarian Nancy adds a nice touch of romance. The case itself presents a few twists, with one rather nice red herring. I did think that Frank and Jonesy get way too many lucky breaks in carrying out their investigation, in part because Jonesy's capabilities border on the superhuman. Those quibbles aside, Frankly Speaking is an engaging book that kept me reading.

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent storyline to this story. The author does a good job introducing the characters, although there is certainly more to tell. The reader can really enjoy the portrait of the life the characters have chosen, or been forced to live. The detectives delve into the mystery before them and slowly unravel the clues. Not all is above board, but fortunately they are clever enough to stay out of too much trouble. They help to break up some serious criminals doing serious crimes.

If you like mysteries with slightly offbeat detectives this one will work well for you.

[Phillip Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well crafted noir with characters slightly underdone

Don Massenzio launches his writing career with a first rate suspense tale that almost carries his readers into a non-stop, nail-biting, never-let down, cover-to-cover thrill ride. Unfortunately, his detective fails the Spade/Marlowe test and spills onto the plate soft-boiled and slightly runny. Only Massenzio's characters hold Frankly Speaking back from greatness.

Fortunately, the private lives of detective Frank Rozzani and his partner Clifford Jones (aka Jonesy) claim very little of our attention. Massenzio devotes most of the pages to the story of a missing girl, and a suspiciously cult-like Megachurch with connections to the police and criminal justice system that seem too cozy to be coincidence.

Massenzio threads the narrative through a labyrinth of deceit and betrayal, constantly tossing his detectives and the readers off the scent with subtle misdirection. They stumble onto a criminal enterprise far more devious and sadistic than a single missing girl.

When Massenzio turns away from the story to develop his characters, however, he offers little to keep the reader engaged. Rozzani and Jones lack much depth, if they offer the reader any at all. Like John Connolly's detective Charlie Parker, Rozzani loses his wife and son to violence while working as a police detective on the East Coast (although Rozzani gives his son up to adoption to keep him safe).

While readers form a deep emotional connection to Parker's grief, Rozzani barely exhibits any grief at all. Masenzio assures readers he feels it, but it fails to bleed through his pages. The most telling scene, where Rozzani reveals his past to the veterinarian (would be love interest Nancy), reads more like a bashful face-off between two shy teenagers.

Many readers won't notice these distinctions, so it will hardly matter. Some readers will. Both will still enjoy Frankly Speaking, the first more so. Purists won't hate the book, but probably won't put it on their list of must reads either. Suspense and mystery fans looking for a book they can finish in a few evenings—or read through the night—will like this one. I found the suspense elements tight enough to break only once, pick up the next night and finish before daylight.

Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Cigerets, Guns & Beer, Raising Hell and the new release Seeing Jesus. You can follow him @stephens_pt.

[Janice Spina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mystery/Thriller with Action that Twists and Turns!

Frankly Speaking is a gripping mystery that keeps the reader swiftly turning pages. The characters are well defined and rough around the edges but likeable. The main protagonist, Frank Rozzani, a former cop turned PI along with his best friend and sidekick, Jonesy, a computer genius, are pulled into helping find a missing teenager. A different aspect of this story is the addition of a sweet dog, Lucy, who adds a nice relief to the tension and action that is all around.

What Frank and Jonesy find during their investigation is shocking and they race against time to save not only one life but many others.

This was an enjoyable read and I look forward to more books from this author.

[Ryan]

Frankly Speaking is a great private detective mystery. Ex-cop Frank Rozzani is now living in Florida and working as PI He and his partner in crime solving, Clifford Jones a.k.a. Jonesy, a local lawyer/surfer dude are called in by a weathy lawver to find his missing 16 year old daughter, who dissapered during a church retreat at a local mega church. alothing with the help of Jacksonville PD detective Anitha, Frank and Jonesy go thought a lot of twist and turns to reunite this girl with her family and solve an even bigger mystery. I really enjoyed this detective mystery and cant wait to read the next one. the characters were well developed and the story and plot was great

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Read

Ex-cop Frank Rozzani is a P.I. in Florida these days. He's hired to find the missing sixteen year old daughter of a wealthy lawyer. The police feel she's just a runaway, but the parents think different.

With his partner Jonesy, Frank piles in and starts asking questions. A charismatic religious figure is involved and Frank is soon visited by a red neck cop warning him off.

Amateurish tricks plague them. A copperhead in Frank's trailer, a brick through a local bar's window, harassment wherever he goes. It tells Frank he's ruffling somebody's feathers.

I got pulled into this tale quickly and couldn't stop reading.

Recommended.

[Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in Don Massenzio's series about Frank Rozzani, a former cop turned private investigator who is hiding out in Florida to escape his past. When he is hired to find out what happened to a missing girl, Frank is aided by his best friend and fellow musician, Jonesy. The banter between the two characters provides an element of comic relief in a fast-moving tale that reveals troubling crimes. I don't want to spoil the story for others, so suffice it to say that the mystery unraveled with twists and turns, like a good mystery should, and the pages kept turning into the wee hours of the night.

[Elizabeth Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of fun to read. I decided to read this because I had signed up for the author's newsletter, for a contest, and found out that book 3 will be out shortly. Since at this time, Frankly Speaking is available on KU, I decided to try it out. Now, I'm completely hooked! The main character, Frank, is an Italian ex-cop turned private eye from New York. His sidekick is a surfer dude who is a brilliant lawyer and competent hacker. This series would make an excellent tv show ( think Bosch mixed with The Finder). It's ofttimes irreverent characters are too smart for their own good! Great book!

[Edward Beavers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frankly speaking

This book was much better than I anticipated. It's a shame that the editor failed to find the various typographical errors in the text. Although the typographical errors were numerous they didn't diminish the book. I hope the remainder of the series is as an enjoyable read as this one.

[Shelbah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankly,

A good, quick read with lots of energy, suspense, adventure and Frank! Go ahead, turn the page and let the journey begin!!!

[Andy Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to say this is one of the best written books I've read but I found the story intriguing and cared enough about the characters. A few neat twists kept it fresh.
A good 'beach book'

[Beth Lechman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of action. A little bit of romance, suspenseful and filled with humor. A wonderful read.

[Maureen]

Loved this

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent!