Devil's Food

Loretta Kovacs #1

by Anthony Bruno

Loretta Kovacs and Frank Marvelli, from the Parole Violators Search Unit, aka the Jump Squad, are in hot pursuit of Martha Lee Spooner, a legendary embezzler who's jumped bail and headed for Florida. She manages to stay one step ahead of Frank and Loretta, transforming what should have been an easy arrest into a wild roller-coaster ride. Soon enough, Frank and Loretta realize their jobs are on the line and time is running out. they vow to snag the slippery Spooner if it's the last thing they do.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Cozy Mystery

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 18, 2014

About the author

Anthony Bruno is the author of the non-fiction books, THE ICEMAN: THE TRUE STORY OF A COLD-BLOODED KILLER and co-author of THE SEEKERS: A BOUNTY HUNTER'S STORY with Joshua Armstrong, which was nominated for an Edgar Award.

He is also the author of the crime novels SEVEN (based on the Brad Pitt-Morgan Freeman movie), BAD GUYS, BAD BLOOD, BAD LUCK, BAD BUSINESS, BAD MOON, BAD APPLE, DEVIL'S FOOD, DOUBLE ESPRESSO, and HOT FUDGE.

His coming-of-age novel, THE TEMPTATIONS OF ST. FRANK, and latest thriller, BLEEDERS, are ebook originals.

Reviews

[L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was too good... I was just looking for something mindless to read during breaks between exams and paper writing, but I actually got hooked and finished the whole thing.

[Frank Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It had believable characters and plot. The plot had some twists. During some of the action sequences, some of the events were very funny and even though I tried not to, I couldn’t help myself.

I will definitely read the rest of the series.m

[Carla Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very easy read. Nothing too full on but made a good before bed page turner

[Sherri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really did not like the main character in this book. Did not find any redeeming qualities.

[Siesta · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Marissa
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book

What a fun book! A light, easy read with a little action and a lot of humor.

Loretta is a plus-size woman with a snarky inner voice. She thinks the same things I often do when confronted by peppy, young, skinny people. When she goes undercover at a Florida weight loss center she is confronted by a bouncing aerobics instructor who can’t stand still and a waiter with a calculator to tally her calories as she orders, not to mention the woman she is trying to arrest and the biker who is trying to kill her. But behind the snark, Loretta has some very valid points – “So what’s wrong with being fat?…It’s not like being stupid…”

Joe Marvelli is her new partner at the Jump Squad, a nickname given to the Parole Violators Search Unit). His wife is dying of cancer so his mind is split between doing his job and helping Loretta keep hers, and his wife and family and how he will cope once she’s gone. Internally, Joe proves to be a strong man with a good sense of humor. And he’s loyal to Loretta even though they’ve only been partners for a day. His only drawback is that he occasionally thinks things like, “Too bad she’s so heavy.” However, this is honest – people think like this in real life – so I can’t be too critical.

One character I would love to learn more about was Roger Laplant. He was a pseudo-bad guy, owner of the weight-loss center, and in trouble with the IRS. But it seems that underneath he’s a good guy. When he finds Loretta death in a sauna, thinking she is an undercover IRS agent out to arrest him, he could have left her but he saved her life. He sputters about his early life and I kept thinking, “There’s another story here.” I hope it gets written.

[Rob Kitchin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil’s Food is a comic crime caper and a fun read. With an oddball set of characters, a slightly screwball plot, snappy dialogue, it rattles along at a quick pace. The first couple of chapters were excellent, before it settles down into a mostly solid read, occasionally sparking back into top form. There are a couple of places where the plot becomes a little threadbare or overly farcical, but they soon pass. The condition of Marvelli’s wife adds a welcome slice of pathos to contrast with some of the madcap action, but nonetheless I spent a lot of time reading with a smirk on my face and occasionally guffawing aloud. Overall, an enjoyable piece of non-weighty reading that provided a bit of much needed light relief.

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loretta Kovacs is an overweight ex parole officer who has asked to be transferred to the jump squad. She is partenered up with Frank Marvelli and given a week to find Martha Lee Spooner who has jumped bail. She is reported to be in Florida. Loretta has had some bad breaks and is not very likeable. The story is good, funny in places. But I did not like the part with the dog. What about the fact that the dog had a good home with people who loved him and wondered what happened to him? This is not fair to the dog or the owners. I was hoping for a blurb toward the end of the book addressing this. I waited 1 day to write the review to see if I could write it without mentioning this part. Sorry, not possible.

[Georgiann Hennelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loretta Kovacs is a plus size women she is an ex parole officer. She has asked to be transferred to the jump squad that is the last step before termination. She is paired with Frank Marvelli and they are given a week to find to find Martha Lee Spooner who has jumped bail/ It is reported she is currently in Florida working at a fat farm. Franks wife is dying of caner he doesn't want to go but finally gives in only problem Loretta has to be a client at the fat farm, and she was there once before the program didn't work for her. Add in a family feud and another government agency who also wants Martha Lee and you have a fantastic read.

[Excalibur Snape · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is just precious and I can`t wait to read more of the serise.
I..............have no words.
Its Xfiles meets Stephanie Plum novels.
This is a feel good book.
Don't let the title fool you it is miss leading.
I love the Characters.
I don't normally like the bad guys but in this book the bad guy was an okay guy.
It was a little busy a story within a story within a story.
Normally I don't like this but it works.
It has a combined ending of being sad and being happy.
This book has a split personalty but thats what makes it interesting.
Can't wait to read more.

[Colleen McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet Thrills

Here is a detective novel that keeps you involved with characters as flawed and human as you can get. Not your typical detective, Loretta Kovacs is a heroine that is simply trying to survive. Working as a parole officer assigned to bring a runner back to justice, Loretta finds herself confronting her own demons. Add to that a new partner with a dying wife, a fancy fat farm, and a family feud and you have a great read.

[Chazzle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Devil’s Food, by Anthony Bruno - 2 and ½ stars; suggested on the Novelist database as a read-alike to Janet Evanovich; I really liked the writing style, and I really enjoyed the "stream-of-consciousness" passages which described what the characters were really thinking, but I didn’t like the protracted chase "scenes" and the protracted fight "scenes" - rather juvenile.

[Jjanovyak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun summer reading. This caught my eye on a special display at the main library, and I was ten pages into it before the person I was waiting for showed up. It's light and goes fast. The plot becomes more than a little silly, yet there's tension in the personal lives of the characters that proveds to be surprisingly touching.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an interesting concept with interesting characters, but it felt forced. Kovacs' continual self hate may fit with the location they end up in, but the relationships are not fluid. I've never read a book that used the word 'horny' so often. It was very distracting from the story line - which may have been getting the bond jumper back but could have been about possible relationships.

[Skeeter Jorgensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story line, just not all the bad language. I just don't understand how bad language can enhance the story...profanity...especially taking Gods name in vain several time So I can only give 2 stars, I considered leaving one star, but I did like the antics that Loretta found herself in.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into this book. Like another reader posted, I picked this up because it was recommended as similar to the Janet Evanovich books. This book was painful. I just couldn't get into the characters. I just wanted it to be over.

[Linda Look · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rate this a 3.5. Parole Violators Search Unit members Loretta Kovacs & Frank Morelli are on the hunt for an embezzler. An easy catch turns into a complicated mission. Easy, non complicated, read. I rate this a 3.2.

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

A woman clearly written by a man

ok premise but could have more developed. The female main was badly drawn. The mystery itself was not intriguing. I couldn't recommend this to a friend.

[Shell Swinscoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. Loved the two main characters, I think their relationship was just petfect!

[Sharon Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, but found this got a little boring.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a nice, light read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Can't wait to read the next one.