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Defying Death in Hagerstown
Louis Gerhani is a hard drinking, heartbroken, newspaper reporter for the Washington Gazette. He is disinterested in life after his fiancé left him for a doctor, and his final assignment in order to retain his job is to write a full story on Lolita Croome, an 110 year old, philosophical woman, and the oldest living person in the country, who resides in a nursing home in Hagerstown Maryland. As he reluctantly begins the assignment, he uncovers a 90 year old unsolved triple murder of three young women, that Lolita lived through, and a full diary from Lolita from 1923, the year of the murders. Consumed with solving the murders, turning out the story of a lifetime, and using the diary, Lou begins to wake a sleeping giant that someone is clearly trying to keep unsolved at all costs. Major violence erupts in this quiet town as Lou tries desperately to stay alive, finish the story, solve the murders, fall in love, and learn from a very wise, old woman. Defying Death In Hagerstown is the page turner on the century.
300 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2014
1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read
About the author
John Paul Carinci
29 books3 followersJohn Paul Carinci has been a successful insurance executive and president of Carinci Insurance Agency, Inc., for over 35 years.
John is also an author, songwriter, poet, and CEO of Better Off Dead Productions, Inc., a movie production company.
As a worldwide published author, some of John’s works include:
An All-Consuming Desire To Succeed, The Power of Being Different, In Exchange of Life, Share Your Mission #5, A Second Chance , The Psychic Boy Detective, Better Off Dead, Better Off Dead In Paradise, An All Consuming Desire To Succeed, Defying Death In Hagerstown, and A Gift from Above.
John is also co-writer of the screenplays: Better Off Dead, A Second Chance, and Better Off Dead in Paradise, which were all adapted from his novels, and may one day be produced as motion pictures.
John’s first and second self-help books, The Power of Being Different, and An All-Consuming Desire To Succeed, have been translated and published in many foreign countries.
He lives in Staten Island, New York.
John is also an author, songwriter, poet, and CEO of Better Off Dead Productions, Inc., a movie production company.
As a worldwide published author, some of John’s works include:
An All-Consuming Desire To Succeed, The Power of Being Different, In Exchange of Life, Share Your Mission #5, A Second Chance , The Psychic Boy Detective, Better Off Dead, Better Off Dead In Paradise, An All Consuming Desire To Succeed, Defying Death In Hagerstown, and A Gift from Above.
John is also co-writer of the screenplays: Better Off Dead, A Second Chance, and Better Off Dead in Paradise, which were all adapted from his novels, and may one day be produced as motion pictures.
John’s first and second self-help books, The Power of Being Different, and An All-Consuming Desire To Succeed, have been translated and published in many foreign countries.
He lives in Staten Island, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 7, 2020
I gave it 3 stars only because the mystery was interesting and the story was filled with tidbits of spiritual wisdom and quotes.
However, I started it because I'm familiar with Hagerstown and I enjoy stories set in places I've been. Unfortunately there was nothing familiar about Hagerstown as portrayed in this novel. There didn't seem to be much evidence of the author researching. As well, some of the plot twists and plot details stretched credibility. Dialog was often stilted. Overall, more research, description, and tighter editing would have helped.
However, I started it because I'm familiar with Hagerstown and I enjoy stories set in places I've been. Unfortunately there was nothing familiar about Hagerstown as portrayed in this novel. There didn't seem to be much evidence of the author researching. As well, some of the plot twists and plot details stretched credibility. Dialog was often stilted. Overall, more research, description, and tighter editing would have helped.
June 13, 2019
This book grabbed me from the beginning and kept me interested the whole way through. I loved the way the author developed his characters and plot. I think the thing that I loved the most were Miss Lolita's words of wisdom, little pearls that hit me and really made me think about the meaning of life and why we are here. The way and times they were interjected into the storyline was the perfect place to do so and didn't make the story "preachy". This book was truly an inspiration and I enjoyed every minute of reading it! I will definitely be watching this author and reading more of his works! I give this a 4.5!
March 29, 2015
Defying Death in Hagerstown was truly surprising. This book is about a man named Louis Gerhani, a journalist in the throes of heartbreak who was slowly declining in his career and well-being. When threatened with job termination by his unsympathetic boss, his last chance to keep his career was dependent upon writing a story about a 110-year old woman: Lolita, a resident of Hagerstown, Maryland.
Louis made the trip to Hagerstown but was less than enthusiastic. However, after meeting the elderly Lolita, evading gunfire, and circumventing some lethal poison, Louis got more than just a fluff piece for his newspaper. His once standard mission morphed into an investigation about the murders of three woman in 1923, Hagerstown. As he became more involved with finding clues to uncover the suspect in the murders, he became the victim of several near-death experiences, bringing about a constant safety net of personal police surveillance.
Defying Death in Hagerstown has inspirational moments that really share life lessons. Author John Paul Carinci nailed the part of a 110-year-old inspirational woman to a tee, offering sage-like lessons you can actually experience and then take away from the book and apply to your own life. There is also a strong entertainment portion in the story – never a dull moment! When the protagonist isn’t talking about solving a crime, he’s talking about love and the past. Carinici also incorporates the ever-salient struggle of overcoming alcoholism.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, mystery, or police procedural – as well as to anyone with a love for great fiction. The combination of genres makes it a really easy read. The book comes to a very surprising conclusion that neatly answers all of the questions posed throughout the book. I truly think I will look into reading more of Carinci’s novels based on Defying Death in Hagerstown. (PORTSMOUTH REVIEW 2015)
Louis made the trip to Hagerstown but was less than enthusiastic. However, after meeting the elderly Lolita, evading gunfire, and circumventing some lethal poison, Louis got more than just a fluff piece for his newspaper. His once standard mission morphed into an investigation about the murders of three woman in 1923, Hagerstown. As he became more involved with finding clues to uncover the suspect in the murders, he became the victim of several near-death experiences, bringing about a constant safety net of personal police surveillance.
Defying Death in Hagerstown has inspirational moments that really share life lessons. Author John Paul Carinci nailed the part of a 110-year-old inspirational woman to a tee, offering sage-like lessons you can actually experience and then take away from the book and apply to your own life. There is also a strong entertainment portion in the story – never a dull moment! When the protagonist isn’t talking about solving a crime, he’s talking about love and the past. Carinici also incorporates the ever-salient struggle of overcoming alcoholism.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, mystery, or police procedural – as well as to anyone with a love for great fiction. The combination of genres makes it a really easy read. The book comes to a very surprising conclusion that neatly answers all of the questions posed throughout the book. I truly think I will look into reading more of Carinci’s novels based on Defying Death in Hagerstown. (PORTSMOUTH REVIEW 2015)
March 15, 2015
PORTSMOUTH REVIEW: Defying Death in Hagerstown was truly surprising. This book is about a man named Louis Gerhani, a journalist in the throes of heartbreak who was slowly declining in his career and well-being. When threatened with job termination by his unsympathetic boss, his last chance to keep his career was dependent upon writing a story about a 110-year old woman: Lolita, a resident of Hagerstown, Maryland.
Louis made the trip to Hagerstown but was less than enthusiastic. However, after meeting the elderly Lolita, evading gunfire, and circumventing some lethal poison, Louis got more than just a fluff piece for his newspaper. His once standard mission morphed into an investigation about the murders of three woman in 1923, Hagerstown. As he became more involved with finding clues to uncover the suspect in the murders, he became the victim of several near-death experiences, bringing about a constant safety net of personal police surveillance.
Defying Death in Hagerstown has inspirational moments that really share life lessons. Author John Paul Carinci nailed the part of a 110-year-old inspirational woman to a tee, offering sage-like lessons you can actually experience and then take away from the book and apply to your own life. There is also a strong entertainment portion in the story – never a dull moment! When the protagonist isn’t talking about solving a crime, he’s talking about love and the past. Carinici also incorporates the ever-salient struggle of overcoming alcoholism.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, mystery, or police procedural – as well as to anyone with a love for great fiction. The combination of genres makes it a really easy read. The book comes to a very surprising conclusion that neatly answers all of the questions posed throughout the book. I truly think I will look into reading more of Carinci’s novels based on Defying Death in Hagerstown.
Louis made the trip to Hagerstown but was less than enthusiastic. However, after meeting the elderly Lolita, evading gunfire, and circumventing some lethal poison, Louis got more than just a fluff piece for his newspaper. His once standard mission morphed into an investigation about the murders of three woman in 1923, Hagerstown. As he became more involved with finding clues to uncover the suspect in the murders, he became the victim of several near-death experiences, bringing about a constant safety net of personal police surveillance.
Defying Death in Hagerstown has inspirational moments that really share life lessons. Author John Paul Carinci nailed the part of a 110-year-old inspirational woman to a tee, offering sage-like lessons you can actually experience and then take away from the book and apply to your own life. There is also a strong entertainment portion in the story – never a dull moment! When the protagonist isn’t talking about solving a crime, he’s talking about love and the past. Carinici also incorporates the ever-salient struggle of overcoming alcoholism.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance, mystery, or police procedural – as well as to anyone with a love for great fiction. The combination of genres makes it a really easy read. The book comes to a very surprising conclusion that neatly answers all of the questions posed throughout the book. I truly think I will look into reading more of Carinci’s novels based on Defying Death in Hagerstown.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews