The Finger Trap

by Johnny Worthen

Winner:
League of Utah Writers, Diamond Quill


With wit and humor, this modern mystery is a refreshing spin on the noir detective genre 

Tony Flaner is a malingering, part-time comedian who is full of sarcasm and never finished a thing in his life. He’s had 12 years to prepare for his divorce and didn’t. He had his entire life to choose a career and hasn’t. Now time’s up, and he’s in a world of trouble. But all of that changes when Tony takes a first date to a drunken party and ends with him facing prison for the murder of a girl he hardly knew. To save himself, wise-cracking Tony must discover who the mysterious girl was, what she was involved in, and what the hell she saw in him in the first place.

Genres: Mystery, Humor, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

Published November 24, 2015

About the author

Johnny Worthen is an award-winning, best-selling author of books and stories. A Utah Writer of the Year. Trained in modern literary criticism and cultural studies, he writes upmarket multi-genre fiction, symbolized by his love of tie-dye and good words. “I write what I like to read,” he says. “This guarantees me at least one fan.”

Johnny is best known (so far) for his award winning, nationally acclaimed, best-selling young adult novel, ELEANOR, THE UNSEEN. It is a great book and if you haven’t read it, you need to. Johnny’s debut novel, the adult occult thriller, BEATRYSEL along with its companion story DR. STUART’S HEART explores the darker sides of love and Magick.

CELESTE, THE UNSEEN BOOK 2, continues Eleanor’s story as she tries to maintain a life in Jamesford, while distant events and local suspicion conspire to threaten everything. DAVID, THE UNSEEN BOOK 3, sees the powerful transformative conclusion of this awarding series as Eleanor learns her past and builds her future.

Johnny’s entry into mystery with THE BRAND DEMAND won a Silver Quill Award from the League of Utah Writers in the best novel category, while, his genre-bending comedy noire, THE FINGER TRAP, introduces Tony Flaner, a flawed slacker every-man detective who can’t throw a punch but can slay a room with sarcasm.

Johnny's short stories appear in a number of anthologies including the Dark Fiction LITTLE VISIBLE DELIGHT (The Point), Utah Horror, OLD SCRATCH AND OWL HOOTS (Keep Sweet), IT CAME FROM THE GREAT SALT LAKE (May 15th), Utah Fantasy, SECRETS & DOORS (A Thousand Secret Doors), HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT (The Lost Curse of the Witch's Nest) and the limited edition commemorate Salt Lake Comic Con anthology HEROIC: TALES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY (The Grape Whisperer).

Johnny lectures and teaches about writing and life whenever anyone will listen. He edits professionally for Omnium Gatherum, a dark fiction press. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah with his wife, sons and a cat.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

*********** On Sale Kindle For 99 Cents (6/7/21) ***********

This was a lot of fun to read; I loved it. It’s part snarky conversation, part mystery/thriller. It takes the classic noir mystery and places it in the modern day.



Tony Flaner drifts from hobby to hobby and job to job. Now he’s a ticket counter agent at the airport.

I sympathize with modern travelers. People like me vex them, frustrate them, and humiliate them. We search them, screen them, rob them, and then, if they didn’t complain, we’ll identify them as suspicious and bring out the guys with the big fingers and blue rubber gloves just to see how far we can take it. There is a good reason weapons aren’t allowed in airports; any sane person would use them after going through the post-9/11 hell of American air travel.

When Tony gets charged with murder, it’s up to him to solve it and prove his innocence. It’s dangerous and suspenseful yet still plenty snarky. I think Johnny really enjoys showing jerks getting their comeuppance. It’s a wish-fulfillment thing we can all enjoy.

There are some typos. Moderate amount of strong language. Sexual content is mostly innuendo.

Book Blog

[Johnny Worthen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS - Great book! Would write again. AAAA++++

[Audrey]

*GR Duplicate*

Review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to my nail tech as he gave me my manicures across several weeks. There were times I thought we were going to fall out of our chairs laughing! Johnny Worthen's Tony Flaner is truly a delight of cozy mystery and it's attendant adventures, presented by a first time, sarcstic and irreverent detective. Who is also the only suspect in a murder and only he has any interest in finding the real killer and saving his own skin. Set in Salt Lake City, many of the locations were ones we knew. Sometimes an event in the book started a side conversation of times we each had been there. And, no, neither of us guessed who dun it.

[Monique Snyman]

Some authors have the ability to draw you into a story, regardless of the story’s genre, and keep you tied up in their tale, while the rest of the world continues without you in it. Johnny Worthen is one of those authors. I’ve devoured almost every book that he’s published over the past few years, and I always seem to find myself lost in his words, the characters, the entire plot … It’s not an easy feat. And while I know Johnny Worthen is always broadening his horizons by writing stories in a variety of genres, the eloquence of his words are always present. From horror to young adult to mystery, I’ve never read a book by the man that I haven’t enjoyed.
The Finger Trap by Johnny Worthen is a tale that’s slightly more personal, but even if the author hadn’t let me in on this secret, one needs only to read the novel to notice.
We are presented with Tony Flaner, a down-on-his-luck protagonist who’s gotten himself into quite a predicament. He’s one of those people who goes with the flow, and never bothers to actually plan out his life – even though he’s had many opportunities to do so. This, unfortunately, is one of the reasons why his marriage didn’t work out, why he’s never kept a job for very long, and why his whole life is about to take a turn for the worst. When he’s framed for a murder, however, it’s up to Tony to put on his big boy pants, get to the bottom of the mystery, and save himself from serving time for something he didn’t do.
Witty, sarcastic, and incredibly enjoyable, The Finger Trap is a book in its own league that’ll entertain you for hours! I flew through the pages, enjoying Tony Flaner’s adventure, catching myself giggling every now and then. In other words, if you’re in the mood for a mystery that’s slightly different, a whole lot of funny, and extremely gripping, this is the book for you.
Furthermore, The Finger Trap has strengthened my belief that Johnny Worthen is a must-read writer. I can’t wait to see what he’ll come up with next!

Review originally posted at:

[Jo Schneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder mystery with the best character arc I've read in ages.
Tony has never finished anything in his life. He's started a hundred hobbies only to give them up before he finishes. When he's framed for the murder of Rose, a girl he was hoping to get to know better, he decides to use his vast knowledge of detective novels to solve the crime himself. Tony starts out as a loser, but ends a finisher. The mystery is good, but everything about Tony's journey is why you should read this book. The writing is stellar, and Tony's voice is familiar enough that you will probably find some of you in him.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a free Kindle copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review and here it is:
This is a wonderful story that covers a number of genres. It's basically a comic murder mystery I guess. The main character Tony Flaner is so endearing with a caustic sense of humour that often made me laugh out loud which is no mean feat! The comedy, however, doesn't take away from the mystery of who murdered Rose, in fact it keeps you guessing (and Laughing) to the very end. This book would make an extremely entertaining film.

[Suzanne Niebuhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Flaner is a guy who just can't seem to decide what he wants out of life. From various jobs to a non traditional agreement with his wife.

His life takes a turn for the crazy when he wakes up in the apartment of a dead woman and is suddenly faced with murder charges. Tony's sarcastic humor often times gets him into trouble, but he is not going down for this one without a fight. The only way out is through.

[Jen Ellwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is an entertaining and delightful adventure while still grounded in reality and relatable. Its been a while since I've read a book that can make me laugh as much as this book does. Johnny Worthen has a knack for sarcasm and blunt humor.

While at first, I didn't find much in common with the protagonist, my relationship with him grew as the book progressed. Tony Flaner's incorrigible curiosity gets him into some tight situations. His propensity to give up before finishing a project or to quit after a certain amount of time working on something really hit home for me. It was great to see his character grow and develop through the story, and for all his flaws, his bravery and determination rose up as redeeming qualities. Worthen succeeded in making an ordinary, failure-ridden man into a true hero, and that was impressive to me.

The supporting characters are interesting and well-fleshed out. I was surprised to find myself worried for Justin after only meeting him for one scene. At first, I did not understand Critter's existence and thought it was a childish cop-out for humor, but my first impression of him was so wrong, and now I ADORE Critter. He is one of my favorites in Tony's friend group. I love Dara's feisty, crass attitude and I love how I went from hating Mudge to feeling sorry for him. Do not get me started on the coffee incident with Rex or the broken television. Hilarious and so satisfying.

I love how we learned more about the murder victim after her death. I love the brief yet complex and symbolic relationship she has/had with Tony. I love Tony's ex-wife and son, and I love the miserable public defender Tony decided to keep.

I'm a sucker for symbolism, and I was happy to find that symbolism is deeply woven through the humor and adventure of this book. I will never look at a finger trap the same way again. This book pulled me in, and pushed me on to the sequel.

[Wpayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Finger Trap

Got such a kick out of this book! Funny, great mystery with lots of interesting characters. Really liked Tony. The way his mind wandered around just made me laugh out loud a lot..

[Susan Loomis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring

Tedious, boring, uninteresting, barely readable, ca I think of twenty more words to describe this wreck of a novel. It’s a great soporific, if you’re ha ing Trouble falling asleep, this is the book for you. Not sure why I continued to read it.

[Louisa Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Johnny Worten, you made me laugh! Tony is a messed-up detective after my own heart. The way he gets into and out of trouble is a wonder to behold. If you love detectives with a sense of humor and a death wish, you’ll love this series.

[Jan Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it. It held my interest and made me laugh. Some of the funniest parts were so subtle they nearly slipped by me. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Debra George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing mystery. Laugh out loud funny

[ronald pieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read.

Great characters. Story moves along with many twists and turns. Main character is strong throughout the book. Great ending. I would read more of this author.

[Steve Prentice · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun an witty murder mystery.

[Daniel Yocom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Finger Trap is a fun read.

We are introduced to Tony Flaner before he’s the detective he has to become. This is his origin story and he gives insights into the type of person he knows himself to be. We are given points of fantasy as he sees them and the brutal honesty as he understands it. Tony was never a hard-nosed cop who hung a shingle out for himself. In his previous life, he wouldn’t have made it through the academy.

Here is a guy we have all met or heard about. He is the guy who has survived by wit and sarcasm without doing anything constructive. The guy who has so much going for him and hasn’t accomplished anything.

I found myself creating time to read a few more pages to see what Tony came up with next.

For complete review https://guildmastergaming.blogspot.co...

[Terra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars which I rounded up since this was such a great character story. Filled with subtle as well as blatant jokes and references throughout I found myself laughing and smiling and loving Tony Flaner. The story is told as a microcosm of the main character's life who wanders and throws himself into whatever he comes across until he gets bored. But when his latest obsession winds up dead he has to figure out how to finish something. Perhaps the first thing ever in his life. It was a fun and funny ride until about the halfway mark when the action ramps up and then I couldn't put it down until I figured out what was at the end of the mystery Tony was embroiled in. Excellent and satisfying ending. Can't wait for the next one!

[Barbara White]

Comedy and mystery.....two of my favorite genres, and how wonderfully Johnny Worthen has incorporated them in The Finger Trap. I was engaged from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed, as is the plot. Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of this great book. Read it, you'll love it.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with wit, sarcasm, and ridiculous repartee this voice driven story is a far more about the character, Tony Flaner, than it is about the mystery he gets wrapped up in. He finds purpose in life when he must defend himself from the accusation of murder and becomes...a private detective! You'll enjoy it for the mystery, but you'll remember it for Tony. Looking forward to the next one!

[Travis Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often read about authors needing to find their voice. I feel that in The Finger Trap the authors voice resonates with the main character. The mystery is a really fun read, it twists and turns, but always keeps you entertained with the characters involved in the story. I would recommend this to almost anyone, assuming they don't look like a fish or talk through a puppet.

[Craig Kingsman · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few of chapters to get into the main character, Tony Flaner, but after that, I quickly warmed up to him. Funny, sarcastic, and in trouble. I enjoyed the twists and turns. I was also left guessing who the murder was until Tony began to suspect him and dig up clues. Well done. A terrific read. I'm looking forward to more Tony Flaner adventures.

[Laurie Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a bit to get into this book, but I'm not sure why. I loved the voice in The Finger Trap. This is a classic mystery with a few quirky odds and ends to keep you awake. I'm ready for the next Tony Flaner mystery.

[Lori Cipro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read, kept me guessing. I really liked Tony who is funny and a real wise cracker. I did not realize the author was from Utah when I put this book on my To Read list. It was especially fun to read the story set in the Salt Lake area. I look forward to reading what Tony is up to next.

[David Armstrong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five stars for brilliant, hillarious writing. Deducted one star for gratuitous vulgarity. The book would have been just as entertaining, witty, and captivating without the four-letter words. Great plot, great characters, sparkling wit. As Johnny promised at the book signing, I laughed out loud.

[MIracle Maiava]

It mysterious