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9-1-1: A Peter Andrassy crime thriller

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He’s a liar and a thief. Now his sins may ruin him…

Scott Lyon owns a title company with an office on the 105th floor of the World Trade Center South Tower. He's been stealing money from clients, and when one client threatens to expose him, he makes plans to retaliate. When a plane hits the north tower, Scott knows he’s been handed a golden opportunity. He can fake his own death and disappear with millions.

But when he tries to withdraw his fortune, after his escape, he’s devastated to learn it’s vanished. Someone stole it from him. Desperate to find the money, and eager to disappear with a new life, Scott risks everything investigating its disappearance.

Can Scott find the fortune he stole? Or will Peter Andrassy find him and bring him to justice?

Five-star praise from advanced readers of 9-1-1


★★★★★ “The book had me locked in from the beginning with plenty of twists and turns keeping it interesting! I thought the connection to September 11th was done very well and all wrapped together well. ”

★★★★★ “Maughan delivers a masterful portrait of a deeply flawed protagonist whose greed and desperation propel a relentless chase. ”

★★★★★ “Once I started I didn’t want to put the book down. It kept me interested from the very first page.”

★★★★★ “Fascinating book to read. Had inner connecting stories from different people. Once you start you want to read it straight through. Great read.”

★★★★★ “The story blends the tragic events of the 9/11 attack with a thrilling crime plot in a way that feels respectful and well-thought-out. The characters are compelling and their journey through the narrative keeps you invested.”

★★★★★ “One thing after another astounded me in this story. The twists and turns were incomparable.”

★★★★★ “This book is phenomenal! I was hooked after the first few chapters and read it in about a day. The plot had multiple twists and turns that kept surprising me just when I thought I had it all figured out. ”

★★★★★ “I read it until 1:30am when I had to get up for work at 5:30am. Every time I thought I had the plot figured out, I was wrong.”

★★★★★ “I remember the day the towers were hit and DJ did a great job getting the details right and really describing how it felt that day. It really tied in with the story line! Huge fan of this author and can’t wait for more of his books!”

★★★★★ “Sooo engaging from start to finish. This was my first Peter Andrassy book (and honestly first D.J. Maughan book as well) and it blew my expectations out of the water. 85% of my to-do list was thrown out the door because I just HAD to finish this in one day. Great characters, twists and suspense throughout.”

★★★★★ “I have to say if I could have read it all in one day I would have. It had so many twists and turns I didn’t want to put it down. Right when you think you’ve figured it out, another scenario pops up and it turns out you were COMPLETELY wrong. Great read and highly recommend!”

★★★★★ “Suspenseful from start to finish, through every twist and reveal. You'll love some characters, and hate others.

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2025

214 people are currently reading
391 people want to read

About the author

D.J. Maughan

15 books215 followers

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5 stars
231 (46%)
4 stars
196 (39%)
3 stars
56 (11%)
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9 (1%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
Profile Image for D.J. Maughan.
Author 15 books215 followers
February 20, 2025
If I didn’t think it was five star worthy, I wouldn’t have published it. I’m extremely proud of this book.
Profile Image for April.
656 reviews180 followers
April 2, 2025
Very well written crime thriller! This book did not have a dull moment, and I loved everything about it from the writing style, the plot, the characters (of course there’s always a villain in a good thriller), but overall very well written characters.

Rating: 5⭐️
Format: eBook📲
Perfect for: Crime Thriller fans
What I loved: Peter & Zsuzsa’s underlying love story. Alternating POVs from Scott & Peter
Pages: 287p

This story takes place during the time of 9/11. That alone, set the premises for a very good story. Scott works in the World Trade Center, and decides to take this tragedy to his advantage. He has been stealing millions from his clients, and what better way to avoid the consequences of these actions, then to pretend you no longer exist. Peter is an ex NYPD detective, and simply visiting the big apple on his honeymoon. Feeling compelled to stick around and see if he can help, he is hired to look for Scott & ultimately ends up in a cat and mouse game with him. Secret are revealed, as shocking moments continue throughout the story.

This was simply overall an amazing read, that makes me want to dive deeper in this author’s catalogue. I was entertained from start to finish and it was very well paced! Thank you to Voracious Readers Only for this reader copy! All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jayne.
1,052 reviews703 followers
April 29, 2025

Not my favorite D.J. Maughan book.

Yes, "9-1-1" lacked the thrills I was seeking.

My favorite part of the book was the author's introduction.

I have certainly not given up on this author, but this release was disappointing.

I always enjoy multi-cast narrations and narrators Nick Mathews and Kelly McGawoth gave superb performances.
Profile Image for Laura.
318 reviews
August 29, 2025
Peter is a former NYPD detective-turned-PI who has returned to NYC with his new Hungarian bride, Zsuzsa. It’s early September, 2001. After arriving, they watch in horror as the terror attacks unfold in Manhattan. Soon after, Peter is asked to look into the disappearance of a friend's husband Scott, who is missing and believed to have been in Tower Two on 9/11. But is Scott really dead? When it turns out he was stealing money from his clients, Peter and Zsuzsa follow the trail and what they find may be dangerous for them all….

This book completely surprised me, in a good way! Mr. Maughan is an independent author with several other books, including a few others featuring this character of Peter Andrassy. I hadn’t read those, and I thought I would be confused, but I wasn’t! This can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone. I loved the connection to 9/11, and I appreciate the research and thoughtfulness the author put into that aspect of the story. I thought it was done really well. Told in alternating POVs between Scott, Peter, and Zsuzsa, I loved Scott’s POV the most, as it was tense and action packed. I also enjoyed the character of Peter, who was returning to NYC after years away. He was a great detective. All of the characters were well written and easy to connect to and sympathize with as a reader. There was a twist partway through the book and another at the end and I didn’t see either one coming. And I loved them both! Sometimes it’s hard to read a self-published book because of spelling and grammatical errors but there weren’t any in this book, which also impressed me. I definitely enjoyed it, and I would read more from this author and more about Peter Andrassy!
4.5⭐️

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the author for choosing me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
111 reviews9 followers
March 2, 2025
This is my first Peter Andrassy novel, and it made me want to go back and read the first four.

This book does take place over the events of September 11, in New York City. If that subject matter isn’t for you, then I’d skip this one.

In addition to that this book navigates relationships, theft, fraud, murder, disappearing, and a former NYC cop back in the city on his honeymoon finding himself caught right in the middle of it.

I enjoyed the twists and turns, trying to figure out who did what and who knew what.. with some extra bonus twists I didn’t see coming at all. A great surface level crime thriller.

Overall, I’d recommend!
Profile Image for Amanda Lindsey.
20 reviews2 followers
February 23, 2025
I was fortunate to be picked as an ARC with this book. D.J. Maughan Author has done an amazing job with making you think you had it figured out but damn was I wrong. The release for the hardcover will be March 1st on Amazon and the release for everything else on March 27th. I definitely recommend this book and Idaho Fall (his last release). These are the only 2 books I have read but won’t be the last. Thank you for the opportunity of bring an ARC. I rate it a 4.5/5 ⭐️.
Profile Image for Shannon.
38 reviews5 followers
March 24, 2025
This is the second book i read from d.j maughan (Idaho fall being my first) and i am impressed!

Thank you so much for another arc copy :)

I love a book that sucks you right in and keeps you interested all the way through and that is how i feel when i read this author.

This book kept me on my toes the whole time.
I really enjoyed the characters and the 9/11 story was well written and in good taste of such tragic events.

and that ending :O ! wow

Like he said he wouldn’t have published it if he didn’t think it was 5 stars! This is a must add to your tbr list

i can’t wait to read other books from this author !

ill be thinking about this one for a while
Profile Image for Codi  King.
18 reviews3 followers
February 23, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive the ARC for 9-1-1 from D.J. Maughan Author and I’m so happy that I did. This book kept my attention from the very beginning. I work BSA for a bank so I was pretty stoked to see a book that involved money laundering, as silly as that sounds.
Anyways, I haven’t read any of the other Peter Andrassy books from the author but I was able to read this one with no confusion. The character development was great without diving deeper than needed.
The book had me locked in from the beginning with plenty of twists and turns keeping it interesting! I thought the connection to September 11th was done very well and all wrapped together well. I have definitely going to have to go back and read the others in the series and can’t wait to see what D.J has up next!
Profile Image for Morgan.
26 reviews2 followers
March 18, 2025
This was my 2nd time being chosen as an ARC reader for D.J. Maughan. Another great read! While this is a standalone of his character Peter Andrassy - it definitely makes me want to go read the other 4 books with this character. While 9/11 can be a trigger for some, but I think it was handled with care in this book.

D.J. is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!
Profile Image for Steph Adkins.
79 reviews3 followers
March 2, 2025
Another great read from author D.J. Maughan. This is a medium to fast paced crime thriller with Private Investigator Peter Andrassy back in action. *Please note this is a standalone book and separate from the other Peter Andrassy books.

Retired PI Peter Andrassy is visiting his once home of NYC when the Twin Towers are attacked and NYC erupts in chaos. Following the attacks, a friend asks him to help with a case of a missing family member and their 3million dollars. Peter learns that not everyone is who he thought they were. Will Peter be able to solve the missing persons case and retrieve the money or will it all go away without a trace?

The attacks of the Twin Towers are mentioned in the beginning and towards the end of the book. Basic details regarding what happened on that horrible day back in 2001 are mentioned but it’s not too graphic and not done in poor taste. Please take that into consideration when starting this book, if this is a subject that is hard for you to read.

I personally thought that using the attacks of 9/11 as the background for this story was a brilliant idea. I myself have always wondered how many people actually in real life tried and/or succeeded in faking their death/ leaving behind their life/ changing their life during the chaos that ensued that day.. there had to be many, right?! Or am I crazy for thinking that? This is seriously something that I have thought about a lot since the attacks happened. This story overall was gripping and a page turner. My second book I have read by this author and it didn’t disappoint.



*I received an ARC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for VDKeck.
577 reviews81 followers
February 18, 2025
9-1-1
by DJ Maughan
Release day: 03/27

A taut, morally ambiguous thriller set against the harrowing backdrop of September 11, 2001. Scott Lyon, a duplicitous title company owner perched high in the South Tower of the World Trade Center, seizes the chaos of that fateful day to orchestrate his own vanishing act. A liar and a thief, Scott’s carefully laid plans to escape with millions unravel when he discovers that someone has beaten him at his own game.

Maughan delivers a masterful portrait of a deeply flawed protagonist whose greed and desperation propel a relentless chase. The novel is as much about survival and self-reinvention as it is about justice and karma. The plot grips you from the start, seamlessly weaving high-stakes tension with the psychological unraveling of a man whose sins threaten to consume him.

The pacing is brisk, the stakes are sky-high, and the moral dilemmas are compelling. Scott’s quest for his stolen fortune—and his struggle to evade Peter Andrassy, a dogged pursuer seeking justice—creates a layered narrative brimming with intrigue. Maughan’s vivid, atmospheric prose captures both the catastrophic events of 9/11 and the shadowy aftermath in which Scott operates.

Perfect for fans of morally complex thrillers, 9-1-1 poses a chilling question: What happens when a man who takes everything loses it all? Maughan’s exploration of greed, justice, and redemption is haunting and unforgettable.
Profile Image for Sloane Hayley.
2 reviews1 follower
March 8, 2025
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC copy of this book, and my god do I feel so lucky and so happy I was given the chance to read this!!


First off all, I have lived in New York State my entire life, and so the premise of a crime thriller based around the 9/11 attacks was very intriguing to me. I may have been young, but I remember. I know D.J says in the beginning and the end that people may find "profiting" off of a tragedy is taboo, but I whole heartedly feel he did it such justice and with so much respect throughout the whole book. Never Forget means we have to keep talking and teaching about it and this book does an incredible job of that!

This is the first book in so long that I feel like I don't have ANY unanswered questions at the end. Everything was wrapped up and written so beautifully and left me feeling satisfied. I love the characters, I love the twists (some of which actually made my jaw drop and have to process for a moment).

I didn't realize there were more Peter Andrassy books until I read the epilogue, and D.J had said he wanted to make the book for people who had, and hadn't read about Peter before. He did an amazing job, I never once felt confused about the back story and anything that was brought up by the characters.

Overall, I really, truly enjoyed this book and I will certainly now be picking up more D.J Maughan books. This is exactly how thrillers should be written!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read 9-1-1 and I hope everyone else enjoys this book as much as I have!!!

Profile Image for Beth Tuley .
152 reviews23 followers
March 5, 2025
Fun and fast read. At first I was a little hesitant to read a book with 9/11 being a major part of the story line, given that I vividly remember it happening, but after being selected to read the ARC I gave it a shot.

I was pleasantly surprised, the plot was interesting and it moved quickly, I didn’t feel like the tragedy was exploited, and it had a solid ending that wrapped everything up with a mostly HEA. I figured out the twist about 3/4 on but I was still hooked enough to finish, so it earned a solid 4 stars from me.

My only real complaint is the way one of the MMCs spoke about women- “she smiled and I noticed her teeth were a little crooked so I lost interest.” “If she lost 20 lbs I’d date her.” Dude, you’re already married and have a bit on the side… don’t be such a pig.

Other than that- solid book.
Profile Image for Justice Singh.
42 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2025
Five star read!! If you are interested in Sherlock home style books then this is for you!

Once I started I didn’t want to put the book down. It kept me interested from the very first page.

Some readers may not like that it takes place during 9/11 but I thought the author did a great job using this setting for the story line.

I have not read other books with Peter and Zsuzsa not realizing the other books he’s written had them in it. It was a great stand alone book even though I didn’t read others prior. But now I will be adding them to my TBR.
Profile Image for Michelle Williams.
81 reviews6 followers
March 15, 2025
Another amazing book by D.J. Maughan! I was among the individuals who received a ARC book.

This is my first introduction to Peter. I now want to go read the other books this character is in. The author did a great job with this character that new readers get to know Peter and a little bit about his background.

9-1-1 - shows real character emotions that you can relate to as they watch the towers collapse. Brings back where I was and my feelings on this very sad day. I absolutely respect that the author used this event for Scott's story. It shows respect for New Yorkers and the feeling of everyone during that tragedy.

I would definitely recommend this book to people. It's an amazing read. Love the twist, I did not see that coming. I'm a somewhat slow reader but finished this book quickly as it holds your attention and is definitely a page turner!
Profile Image for Mayra Saldana .
15 reviews4 followers
March 20, 2025
First book by D.J. Maughan and loved it! It’s an easy read and easy to follow.

I enjoyed the character development of Zsuzsa. Her strength to be alongside Peter even when it was dangerous for her, as well as not listening to him and following her own intuition was refreshing. BUT I have never disliked a character more than I did Scott. I wanted to punch him several times.

There were some great twists and turns as well. Overall great read and makes me want to read more of his books.
2 reviews
March 25, 2025
This is my 2nd book by this wonderful author and I was hooked from the start! It was a face-paced thriller and mystery that was hard to put down. I love the multiple points of view and the way the author developed each character and his descriptions are so well written. I can’t wait to read more and more from DJ Maughan and will be highly recommending all of his books! Thank you for the advanced copy and I look forward to more!!
Profile Image for Brittany  M Michelle.
6 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2025
D.J. Maughan has quickly become one of my favorite authors. This is the 2nd book of his that I have read in one day! I couldn’t put this book down! I am so appreciative to have been able to be an ARC reader once again to this awesome Author.
Profile Image for Molly C.
34 reviews24 followers
March 5, 2025
A solid fast-paced detective tale set around the time of 9/11 and its aftermath. The author skillfully captures the emotions and atmosphere of that tragic period, while weaving a compelling mystery into the narrative - exploring themes of relationships, theft/fraud, murder, obsession and disappearances.

The relationship between two of the main characters, retired detective Peter Andrassy and his new wife, Zsuzsa, was thoughtfully developed and felt authentic. And though the story featured several characters, each was crucial to the story and seamlessly fit into the plot.

I appreciated the twists and turns, always guessing who was responsible for what and who knew what with a few unexpected surprises thrown in. Overall, a great, fast-paced crime thriller.

Note: I did receive an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review! Thank you again DJ. I can’t wait to read more Peter Andrassy stories.
1 review1 follower
March 20, 2025
Definitely different from my normal read! Filled with various POVs. It definitely did take me a little while to adjust to the changing point of views and to get to know all the characters, but it is definitely worth a read!
Profile Image for Anne Leone.
50 reviews5 followers
February 22, 2025
Fascinating book to read. Had inner connecting stories from different people. Once you start you want to read it straight through. Great read.
Profile Image for Martin Isherwood-Smith.
4 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2025
I was lucky to be chosen as an ARC reader for this book and despite that I promised I would write an honest review.

This book was phenomenal. Although set against a backdrop of a very difficult time with the 9/11 attacks the author handles this in a really sympathetic and sensitive way. It's is simply the background.

The characters are well developed. And the story is very engaging with a lot of twists. I read a lot of thrillers and often figure out the twists but this one left me shocked.

I would highly recommend that when this book is available you download/order/read/share this book with anyone you can.

D. J. Maughan - you have found a new fan and I have downloaded a few other books of yours... ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
105 reviews5 followers
March 2, 2025
I was lucky enough to be chosen to receive an ARC version of this book (please keep sending, I will keep reading lol).

I love the fact that this was a quick read. I read it in one day. The story kept me engaged, however, I had the plot ALMOST figured out. There were a few twists I didnt see coming. It was a good read and I would recommend it to someone who was looking for a fast paced thriller. I’ve read 2 books from this author and will continue to do so.
Profile Image for Alyssa Marie Heaton.
4 reviews2 followers
March 26, 2025
This is my 2nd ARC that I have been privileged to be able to have by this author! He nailed it again! This book has you hooked from beginning to end, makes you feel like you are back in that exact day all over again!!! No matter how old you were when this happened in real life, you will get to see all the ends and out and all the details. This book just pulls you IN!!!!!! I loved this book so much!!!! It’s so powerful!!!! I don’t like doing spoilers but I truly think everyone should give this book a try, especially if you do like to read about true events that have happened here. I loved it! Thank you D.J for this masterpiece once again!
Profile Image for Brian Donovan.
18 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2025
I was selected to be an ARC reader for this new book and I have to say if I could have read it all in one day I would have. It had so many twists and turns I didn’t want to put it down. Right when you think you’ve figured it out, another scenario pops up and it turns out you were COMPLETELY wrong. Great read and highly recommend!
Profile Image for Jordan.
37 reviews1 follower
February 27, 2025
ARC REVIEW

I love it !
Honestly it was fast paced and had a couple twists and turns to keep you drawn in.
Some may not like the 9/11 aspect however I dont feel it was in poor taste and the author did a good job using it for a gripping story line and also showing the different aspects of that event
5 stars 🌟
Profile Image for Kristi Butterfield.
61 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2025
Thank you to D.J. Maughan for the opportunity to read this and post my review! I absolutely loved this book. This is my second book by this author and I will definitely be reading more. This one had so many good twists and had you on the edge of your seat the whole time, after the first few chapters I was hooked! Cannot wait to read more!
6 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2025
I received a copy of this as an ARC reader! I really enjoyed the story and genuinely could not guess what was coming next which is always a plus for this genre. I also really liked that it used actual historical events as elements of the story but they weren’t the entire overarching theme. Overall I would totally recommend this one for fans of crime and thriller novels!
44 reviews6 followers
February 23, 2025
9-1-1 by DJ Maughan REVIEW
5⭐

First of all, the cover is stunning. That itself would draw you in and want to read! I am a new reader of the Peter Andrassy novels, and reading books written by DJ Maughan. I will definitely have to go back and read Books 1-4 that have Peter and Zsuzsa’s backstory in them. 9-1-1 had an excellent plot with twists that kept you wondering how this crime thriller was going to be solved. It had 3 parts and different POVs which all seemed to flow easily. This is not my normal genre to read, but I felt as though I could NOT put the book down. It was a quick easy read. I still remember what I was doing on 9/11. DJ did an amazing job of capturing how New York and the rest of our country responded to such an attack. His title and references to that tragic day is what drew me to want to be one of his new readers.

Peter and Zsuzsa had come to America for their honeymoon. Zsuzsa is Hungarian, and has very limited English. This does not stop her from helping Peter in any way possible. Being in an unfamiliar country with language barriers just adds to the twists that DJ had entwined into the incidents in the novel. The incorporation of the 9/11 events made this story seem as if this crime could have possibly happened during that tragic time. It was the perfect opportunity to fake one’s death. Scott didn’t plan on the attacks that day, he just knew that it was time for him to run. When the plane hit tower one and he was in the South tower, he saw it as an opportunity. After all, he needed to disappear, and for good. That way, no one would be looking for him. Scott stole a lot of money from his clients, but who stole it from HIM? The NYPD can not find where the money went, so they are holding his wife, Cindy accountable. Peter has been asked to help Cindy. Is Scott alive? Did he make it out of the towers before they collapsed? What happened to the money? Read and find out how this crime is solved. You will be shaking your head and wondering how Peter figured all this out! Congratulations DJ on a FANTASTIC book. I rated it 5⭐.
There is also a bonus epilogue to download! Take advantage of reading!
548 reviews22 followers
March 2, 2025
This book hooked me from the beginning. I read it in two days which is faster than I normally read.

Scott Lyon is a corrupt closing officer who uses the 9/11 Twin Towers disaster to an advantage toward his plan of thievery and deception. Not the least bit worthy of sympathy.

Peter Andrassy is a fascinating character. Born in Hungary, he moved to the U.S. as a youth and became a detective in the NYPD. After his wife was murdered, he retired and moved back to Hungary. He marries ZsuZsa, an amusing character, and they decide to honeymoon in NYC. They arrive right before 9/11 and Peter ends up investigating Scott. Not the honeymoon they hoped for. Especially for ZsuZsa, who doesn't speak English.

There are many twists and many mysteries. I got fooled more than once.

I am a tough proofreader and was pleased to find an absence of typos and grammatical errors. There was only one word that I would have changed.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews

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