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A Luca Mystery #1
Am I the Killer?
Is it really possible not to remember killing someone? Peter, a brain-injured veteran with a motive, is arrested for murder. The victim bullied Peter throughout his youth, and, on the night of the murder, he discovered the bully stole his fianceé while Peter served overseas.
Detective Luca leads the investigation but believes the marine's inability to recall events on the fateful night are injury related and not an attempt by Peter to hide the truth.
As political pressure to solve the case rises, Luca pursues other leads but evidence points at Peter. Even his brother, Vinny, who dropped everything to help his injured brother recover, begins to question Peter's guilt.
Peter's lawyers, faced with a client either unwilling or unable to assist in his own defense, recommend he cop a plea. Frustrated, Luca attempts to move on but is haunted by an old case that fuels his obsession to determine the truth about what happened that night.
Detective Luca leads the investigation but believes the marine's inability to recall events on the fateful night are injury related and not an attempt by Peter to hide the truth.
As political pressure to solve the case rises, Luca pursues other leads but evidence points at Peter. Even his brother, Vinny, who dropped everything to help his injured brother recover, begins to question Peter's guilt.
Peter's lawyers, faced with a client either unwilling or unable to assist in his own defense, recommend he cop a plea. Frustrated, Luca attempts to move on but is haunted by an old case that fuels his obsession to determine the truth about what happened that night.
297 pages, ebook
First published August 7, 2015
574 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
About the author
Dan Petrosini
125 books176 followersDan is a USA Today and Amazon best seller author, who wrote his first story at the age of ten and enjoys telling stories and jokes.
Dan gets his story ideas by exploring the question; What if?
In almost every situation he finds himself in, Dan starts exploring what if this or that happened? What if this person died, was hurt, or did something unusual or illegal?
Dan’s non-stop mind spin provides him with plenty of material to weave into interesting stories.
A fan of books and films that have twists and are difficult to predict, Dan crafts his stories to prevent the reader from guessing correctly. He writes each and every day, forcing the words out when necessary and has written over twenty novels to date. It’s not a matter of wanting to write, Dan simply has to.
Dan passionately believes people can realize their dreams if they focus and act, and he encourages just that.
His favorite saying is – “The price of discipline is always less than the cost of regret”
Dan likes to remind people to get the negativity out of their lives. He feels it is contagious and advises people to steer clear of negative people. He believes having a true, positive mind set makes it feel like life is rigged in your favor. When he gets off base, he tells himself, ‘You can’t have a good day with a bad attitude.’
Married with two daughters and a needy Maltese, Dan lives in Southwest Florida. A New York native, Dan teaches at local colleges, writes novels, and plays tenor saxophone in several jazz bands. He also drinks way too much wine and never, ever takes himself too seriously.
He has an active blog at http://danpetrosini.com, where you can sign up for a newsletter featuring articles, his writing and special deals.
Dan gets his story ideas by exploring the question; What if?
In almost every situation he finds himself in, Dan starts exploring what if this or that happened? What if this person died, was hurt, or did something unusual or illegal?
Dan’s non-stop mind spin provides him with plenty of material to weave into interesting stories.
A fan of books and films that have twists and are difficult to predict, Dan crafts his stories to prevent the reader from guessing correctly. He writes each and every day, forcing the words out when necessary and has written over twenty novels to date. It’s not a matter of wanting to write, Dan simply has to.
Dan passionately believes people can realize their dreams if they focus and act, and he encourages just that.
His favorite saying is – “The price of discipline is always less than the cost of regret”
Dan likes to remind people to get the negativity out of their lives. He feels it is contagious and advises people to steer clear of negative people. He believes having a true, positive mind set makes it feel like life is rigged in your favor. When he gets off base, he tells himself, ‘You can’t have a good day with a bad attitude.’
Married with two daughters and a needy Maltese, Dan lives in Southwest Florida. A New York native, Dan teaches at local colleges, writes novels, and plays tenor saxophone in several jazz bands. He also drinks way too much wine and never, ever takes himself too seriously.
He has an active blog at http://danpetrosini.com, where you can sign up for a newsletter featuring articles, his writing and special deals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
August 10, 2016
I was fortunate enough to receive a free download of Dan Petrosini’s fourth novel "AM I THE KILLER?", in exchange for an honest review. When I first saw the title and cover, I knew I had to read this book. I was not disappointed! This was an absorbing thriller that had me flipping the pages to see what would happen next.
His name is Peter Hill and he had been charged with murder of William (Billy) Wyatt. The cops say he beat someone to death. He did hate this person but DID HE REALLY KILL HIM?
Peter has memory issues from a head injury he suffered while serving in the army in Afghanistan. Two years before his arrest, Peter and his army buddy, Tony Burato, had just finished their tour and were heading home, when Peter suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). His buddy was not injured.
They flew Peter to Germany for treatment, and Tony contacted, Vinny, Peter’s brother in Dallas, to provide him with details. Vinny said he would notify Peter’s girlfriend, Mary. Peter was eventually transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Washington, to achieve the highest degree of functionality.
The story is told through multiple POV’s: Peter, the protagonist, first-person point of view, to the detective, Frank Luca, a George Clooney look-alike, investigating the case third-person view.
Peter has no alibi and admits that he could be the killer…but he doesn’t remember anything!
But what is worse is that we also find out that the victim had bullied Peter in the past and then stole his fiance while he served overseas.
Detective Luca feels Peter is being railroaded for the murder of Wyatt.
“I am not convinced your brother had anything to do with Wyatt’s death.”
So who is THE KILLER?
This is a riveting story that will keep you guessing if he is the killer.
His name is Peter Hill and he had been charged with murder of William (Billy) Wyatt. The cops say he beat someone to death. He did hate this person but DID HE REALLY KILL HIM?
Peter has memory issues from a head injury he suffered while serving in the army in Afghanistan. Two years before his arrest, Peter and his army buddy, Tony Burato, had just finished their tour and were heading home, when Peter suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). His buddy was not injured.
They flew Peter to Germany for treatment, and Tony contacted, Vinny, Peter’s brother in Dallas, to provide him with details. Vinny said he would notify Peter’s girlfriend, Mary. Peter was eventually transferred to a rehabilitation hospital in Washington, to achieve the highest degree of functionality.
The story is told through multiple POV’s: Peter, the protagonist, first-person point of view, to the detective, Frank Luca, a George Clooney look-alike, investigating the case third-person view.
Peter has no alibi and admits that he could be the killer…but he doesn’t remember anything!
But what is worse is that we also find out that the victim had bullied Peter in the past and then stole his fiance while he served overseas.
Detective Luca feels Peter is being railroaded for the murder of Wyatt.
“I am not convinced your brother had anything to do with Wyatt’s death.”
So who is THE KILLER?
This is a riveting story that will keep you guessing if he is the killer.
March 16, 2020
Am I the Killer? is the first instalment in the Detective Frank Luca series and has a captivating premise: an apparent murderer who claims to have amnesia. I can imagine this being just as torturous on the victims family as on the killer himself, if in fact the memory loss is genuine and not being utilised as a get out of jail free card (or at least a ploy to be charged with a lesser offence). It starts off relatively steadily and I was concerned I was not going to be able to be hooked in by the narrative as it was slower than usual to grip me yet when it did there was no stopping me.
So that being said, give it a little time as you have to remember that this being the first in a brand spanking new series means the author is trying to balance the introduction and development of characters, the main plot, minor/side plots and also the setting up for the upcoming instalments. Overall, this is an exciting, twisty and palpably tense opener. I look forward to reading more of these characters, especially Luca, in upcoming/future instalments. Recommended. Many thanks to BOTBS for an ARC.
So that being said, give it a little time as you have to remember that this being the first in a brand spanking new series means the author is trying to balance the introduction and development of characters, the main plot, minor/side plots and also the setting up for the upcoming instalments. Overall, this is an exciting, twisty and palpably tense opener. I look forward to reading more of these characters, especially Luca, in upcoming/future instalments. Recommended. Many thanks to BOTBS for an ARC.
March 11, 2020
Am I The Killer? is the first book in the Luca Mystery Crime Series.
The story starts off here we meet Peter who, after fighting in Afghanistan, is set to return home when he suffers a brain injury. This results in him having a long spell in hospital as well as affecting his memory. It was good to see this side of things as we get to see his and his brother Vinnie’s relationship and start to feel a connection with them.
It sets the story up nicely getting to know Peter of which we arn’t sure whether he is a killer or whether he is a victim. This is where Frank Luca comes into it as he needs to solve the case. I didn’t envy him when the main suspect can’t remember but he has a good reason why he would want the victim dead.
Luca is a character that I liked. In fact I am looking forward to getting to know him better as I feel like we have only brushed the surface where he is concerned.
Am I The Killer? was an intriguing read and a nice start to a new series to me. It isn’t a fast paced read but has enough mystery and suspense to keep you hooked and turning those pages. Looking forward to more from the author.
My thanks to the author for a readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story starts off here we meet Peter who, after fighting in Afghanistan, is set to return home when he suffers a brain injury. This results in him having a long spell in hospital as well as affecting his memory. It was good to see this side of things as we get to see his and his brother Vinnie’s relationship and start to feel a connection with them.
It sets the story up nicely getting to know Peter of which we arn’t sure whether he is a killer or whether he is a victim. This is where Frank Luca comes into it as he needs to solve the case. I didn’t envy him when the main suspect can’t remember but he has a good reason why he would want the victim dead.
Luca is a character that I liked. In fact I am looking forward to getting to know him better as I feel like we have only brushed the surface where he is concerned.
Am I The Killer? was an intriguing read and a nice start to a new series to me. It isn’t a fast paced read but has enough mystery and suspense to keep you hooked and turning those pages. Looking forward to more from the author.
My thanks to the author for a readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
March 13, 2020
I was convinced after reading the book that nothing bad could happen to you if you had DI Frank Luca at your corner.
Peter was a war veteran who had a traumatic brain injury and complications post injury. His memory was haywire, and most times, he remembered nothing of the recent past. His mate Billy was killed, and Peter was accused. The politics higher up were eager to pin it on him, but Luca wanted to investigate in depth.
My first book by author Dan Petrosini, I loved, loved, loved Luca. He breathed life into the story, thanks to the author, else it would have been just another police procedural. My excitement knew no bounds in the scenes with Luca in it. The pages turned fast even when I wanted to savor moments of his investigation. (he did have a babe, but my new obsession didn't allow me to read her parts)
His support of the underdog and his determination worked wonders for the book. Past shadowed the present, but that lit the fire in him. I loved when he spoke with a conviction. The characters were quite varied in the story, the author really etched them well. For me, this was the first time when a TBI patient had been accused of murder in a police procedural, and I kept wondering about the truth as it was so difficult to decipher the clues.
I found the book to be fast paced - was it because of my crush on Luca, I wondered? Nevertheless, all that made it a fun read. Luca and his author Dan Petrosini made it super-fun.
P. S. Now I need real life crushes... 😂 😂
Peter was a war veteran who had a traumatic brain injury and complications post injury. His memory was haywire, and most times, he remembered nothing of the recent past. His mate Billy was killed, and Peter was accused. The politics higher up were eager to pin it on him, but Luca wanted to investigate in depth.
My first book by author Dan Petrosini, I loved, loved, loved Luca. He breathed life into the story, thanks to the author, else it would have been just another police procedural. My excitement knew no bounds in the scenes with Luca in it. The pages turned fast even when I wanted to savor moments of his investigation. (he did have a babe, but my new obsession didn't allow me to read her parts)
His support of the underdog and his determination worked wonders for the book. Past shadowed the present, but that lit the fire in him. I loved when he spoke with a conviction. The characters were quite varied in the story, the author really etched them well. For me, this was the first time when a TBI patient had been accused of murder in a police procedural, and I kept wondering about the truth as it was so difficult to decipher the clues.
I found the book to be fast paced - was it because of my crush on Luca, I wondered? Nevertheless, all that made it a fun read. Luca and his author Dan Petrosini made it super-fun.
P. S. Now I need real life crushes... 😂 😂
March 4, 2018
Am I the Killer? - a review by Rosemary Kenny
The title says it all! Afghanistan US Veteran Peter Hill is grievously wounded in a car accident - it was one
of the Army's own vehicles, although this is not revealed at the time. Eventually invalided back to the US
after emergency surgery in Afghanistan, the cost of being treated at Walter Reed hospital proves almost
devastating as the Army won't cover and finds his fiancee Mary has betrayed him to move in with the ex
school bully, Peter despairs...
Am I the Killer - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Who is loyal to Peter both in Afghanistan and when they're back home?
Why is Peter arrested - and who is his victim? What effect does his brain-damage have on his sentence?
What does Inspector Luca nelieve and how does this influence the case?
Who is Jimmy Johns and what does Luca discover about him?
As things go slowly with the investigation Luca and Peter have to accept the truth may never be revealed - or will it?
Dan Petrosini's tense thriller will make the hairs on the back of the reader's neck bristle as Luca must test his powers
of deduction and his gut instincts to prove that 'Truth will Out'!
The title says it all! Afghanistan US Veteran Peter Hill is grievously wounded in a car accident - it was one
of the Army's own vehicles, although this is not revealed at the time. Eventually invalided back to the US
after emergency surgery in Afghanistan, the cost of being treated at Walter Reed hospital proves almost
devastating as the Army won't cover and finds his fiancee Mary has betrayed him to move in with the ex
school bully, Peter despairs...
Am I the Killer - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Who is loyal to Peter both in Afghanistan and when they're back home?
Why is Peter arrested - and who is his victim? What effect does his brain-damage have on his sentence?
What does Inspector Luca nelieve and how does this influence the case?
Who is Jimmy Johns and what does Luca discover about him?
As things go slowly with the investigation Luca and Peter have to accept the truth may never be revealed - or will it?
Dan Petrosini's tense thriller will make the hairs on the back of the reader's neck bristle as Luca must test his powers
of deduction and his gut instincts to prove that 'Truth will Out'!
November 5, 2015
I'm not sure if I revealed enough in this review to say that there are 'spoilers', so continue to read at your own risk if you haven't already read the book.
Overall I enjoyed this book. First person perspective from Peter. Third person perspective from his brother, the lead detective, and others. I liked that.
I would have been content to accept that Peter had been through a very traumatic injury to the head, rather than go through it blow by blow from Afghanistan to Germany to the US, and so on. Presumably the inclusion of all that was to stress that he legitimately had a brain injury; a fact that was fairly obvious in that we were there with Peter and his brother in the aftermath... in Peter's head, even. Just knowing what had happened would have been sufficient.
I was disappointed that the photo didn't evolve into something more. The photo placed Peter at Billy's house. That's a big deal. Mary said that it was Billy in the other half of the photo. Peter said that it was himself that was in the other half of the photo. I thought that would go somewhere more interesting. Also, why was Mary wearing the locket Peter had given her? Not sure why that was in the story. Seems like it would have held significance, or why allude to it?
Mary ended up lesser a character than I thought she would be. She was critical in the early investigation. Her mother's intensity seemed important, but it wasn't. Mary just kind of faded to the background of the story.
As I was reading the book I found it interesting, and mysterious. A character that isn't even sure if he was the killer. That's a great premise. However, toward the end my interest waned as I encountered too many loose ends, and the end itself was a disappointment.
So, had a few things unraveled differently, and the ending been more fulfilling, and had more of an angle to it, I would have rated it 4 stars.
Overall I enjoyed this book. First person perspective from Peter. Third person perspective from his brother, the lead detective, and others. I liked that.
I would have been content to accept that Peter had been through a very traumatic injury to the head, rather than go through it blow by blow from Afghanistan to Germany to the US, and so on. Presumably the inclusion of all that was to stress that he legitimately had a brain injury; a fact that was fairly obvious in that we were there with Peter and his brother in the aftermath... in Peter's head, even. Just knowing what had happened would have been sufficient.
I was disappointed that the photo didn't evolve into something more. The photo placed Peter at Billy's house. That's a big deal. Mary said that it was Billy in the other half of the photo. Peter said that it was himself that was in the other half of the photo. I thought that would go somewhere more interesting. Also, why was Mary wearing the locket Peter had given her? Not sure why that was in the story. Seems like it would have held significance, or why allude to it?
Mary ended up lesser a character than I thought she would be. She was critical in the early investigation. Her mother's intensity seemed important, but it wasn't. Mary just kind of faded to the background of the story.
As I was reading the book I found it interesting, and mysterious. A character that isn't even sure if he was the killer. That's a great premise. However, toward the end my interest waned as I encountered too many loose ends, and the end itself was a disappointment.
So, had a few things unraveled differently, and the ending been more fulfilling, and had more of an angle to it, I would have rated it 4 stars.
August 4, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.Its in the first person and also the third. Its about a soldier coming back from Afghanistan after a serious brain injury, then being accused of murdering a friend. The soldier doesn't remember much of the incident. A detective pursues the investigation and doesn't think the soldier committed the crime and goes about finding out the truth. With the soldier's brain injury you wonder if he really did do it as he isn't sure himself, but I found the author kept you guessing who was the real killer.
I found the book flowed along nicely, had a good plot to it. Had alot of twists and turns to it. I also liked how the detective was compared to George Clooney in the looks dept. That was an interesting twist to the book. I enjoyed it and would read more books by the author.
I found the book flowed along nicely, had a good plot to it. Had alot of twists and turns to it. I also liked how the detective was compared to George Clooney in the looks dept. That was an interesting twist to the book. I enjoyed it and would read more books by the author.
October 3, 2015
My dad read the book in record time. He recommended that I read it. I took his advice and am glad I did so! We both loved it! It is fast paced, with twists and turns. Should be made into a film. We look forward to new books by this author. I am going to buy his previous books right now!
April 17, 2016
Interesting story, especially considering the brain-injured ex-soldier. It was good but not especially riveting.
March 17, 2020
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Am I the Killer? is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Frank Luca series and I thought that it was great!
The plot is great and I thought that the author has just the right amount of detail in the book to set the scene and to introduce the reader to the characters in the series. I liked the mix of characters and how they worked together. The pace is steady and it does build up towards the end and after a few chapters I was hooked.
It is 4 stars from me for this one, it is a great start to a new series and I am really looking forward to reading the next book – highly recommended and can’t wait to read more about Detective Frank Luca and his colleagues!
Am I the Killer? is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Frank Luca series and I thought that it was great!
The plot is great and I thought that the author has just the right amount of detail in the book to set the scene and to introduce the reader to the characters in the series. I liked the mix of characters and how they worked together. The pace is steady and it does build up towards the end and after a few chapters I was hooked.
It is 4 stars from me for this one, it is a great start to a new series and I am really looking forward to reading the next book – highly recommended and can’t wait to read more about Detective Frank Luca and his colleagues!
April 4, 2022
Am I the Killer? by Dan Petrosini is a classic police procedural populated with the requisite seasoned detective, department politics, and of course, a murder.
Luca is a big city cop who is a bit old school and needs his conscience to be clear on his cases. So, when an Iraq war veteran with brain damage becomes the prime suspect in a local but high profile murder, Luca isn’t quite sure. And he needs to be sure they’ve got the right guy.
Despite pressure from his superiors, the DA’s office, and even his fellow detectives, he follows his gut on the case. He soon become obsessed with the case - which doesn’t help his rep within the department, nor with his wife with whom he is trying to reconcile. Complications abound but in the end, Luca gets it right.
If you like the classic detective stories with a gritty undertone, you’ll enjoy this story.
Luca is a big city cop who is a bit old school and needs his conscience to be clear on his cases. So, when an Iraq war veteran with brain damage becomes the prime suspect in a local but high profile murder, Luca isn’t quite sure. And he needs to be sure they’ve got the right guy.
Despite pressure from his superiors, the DA’s office, and even his fellow detectives, he follows his gut on the case. He soon become obsessed with the case - which doesn’t help his rep within the department, nor with his wife with whom he is trying to reconcile. Complications abound but in the end, Luca gets it right.
If you like the classic detective stories with a gritty undertone, you’ll enjoy this story.
January 28, 2022
This was one great novel! The suspense and mystery kept you sitting on the edge of your seat. There were more twists and turns that a spiral staircase. Is this guy guilty? Did he commit the murder? Is he conveniently not remembering? Or can't he remember, and he is being blamed by the real killer? See what I mean more twist and turns than a spiral staircase!
March 7, 2020
Fast paced. Couldn’t put it down.
This was a hard one to put down. It starts off with Pete getting arrested. And then it back tracks and builds up to the first chapter again.
There was the occasional section where it would switch from Pete’s thoughts to his brother Vin’s without any notion that the character view had changed.
Overall it was a good crime novel with different pieces of evidence popping up that kept you second guessing on who was guilty.
This was a hard one to put down. It starts off with Pete getting arrested. And then it back tracks and builds up to the first chapter again.
There was the occasional section where it would switch from Pete’s thoughts to his brother Vin’s without any notion that the character view had changed.
Overall it was a good crime novel with different pieces of evidence popping up that kept you second guessing on who was guilty.
February 28, 2023
Good book
August 16, 2015
Plenty of 'whodunnit' mysteries revolve around locating the perp. The majority of them feature the investigator's viewpoint and readers either know the identity of the killer or follow the leader in uncovering it.
True to its intriguing title, however, Am I The Killer? offers a different perspective: one in which the first-person protagonist admits he could be the killer - but really doesn't know if he's guilty or not. Thus begins a yarn of not just discovery but self-discovery as an ex-soldier with memory issues faces the possibility that he could have beaten to death a guy he never liked.
Peter's always tried to do the right thing, but life has dealt him some hard blows; and it seems that no matter how much he tries, his choices just lead to trouble. Now he's in the biggest trouble of all - and this saga begins with his arrest and works backward and forward in recounting the circumstances that led to and from this point. The big question is: what's he going to do now?
Witch hunts, police seizures, closed cases, open hearts… as events swirl around Peter's struggle to discover himself, readers are treated to a vivid series of insights surrounding evidence and puzzles.
"Sometimes you solve a case but never know what actually happened." The juxtaposition of Peter's first-person world with a third-person investigator's efforts creates a satisfyingly multi-faceted, well-rounded story that grabs readers from the first few paragraphs and doesn't let go until its unexpected end. Readers of detective fiction will find the psychological depth and detail of Am I The Killer? simply sterling.
True to its intriguing title, however, Am I The Killer? offers a different perspective: one in which the first-person protagonist admits he could be the killer - but really doesn't know if he's guilty or not. Thus begins a yarn of not just discovery but self-discovery as an ex-soldier with memory issues faces the possibility that he could have beaten to death a guy he never liked.
Peter's always tried to do the right thing, but life has dealt him some hard blows; and it seems that no matter how much he tries, his choices just lead to trouble. Now he's in the biggest trouble of all - and this saga begins with his arrest and works backward and forward in recounting the circumstances that led to and from this point. The big question is: what's he going to do now?
Witch hunts, police seizures, closed cases, open hearts… as events swirl around Peter's struggle to discover himself, readers are treated to a vivid series of insights surrounding evidence and puzzles.
"Sometimes you solve a case but never know what actually happened." The juxtaposition of Peter's first-person world with a third-person investigator's efforts creates a satisfyingly multi-faceted, well-rounded story that grabs readers from the first few paragraphs and doesn't let go until its unexpected end. Readers of detective fiction will find the psychological depth and detail of Am I The Killer? simply sterling.
February 8, 2016
"Am I the killer?", the fourth novel by Dan Petrosini, is an intriguing and unique thriller that caught my attention from the title itself.
As the author states, most ‘whodunnit’ mysteries either show us the identity of the killer from the start and we then follow the detective in the persecution, or we discover the killer's identity together with the detective as he uncovers clues.
In this case however, Peter, the protagonist, admits that he could be the killer. Due to a brain injury that he sustained he can't remember if he beat someone to death. So, the question that burns deep in Peter's mind leads us on his quest to discover the truth.
As the story unfolds, we move from Peter's first-person point of view, also discovering that he was a marine in Afghanistan, to the detective investigating the case's third-person view, providing us with a dual perspective of events. Also, we discover that the victim had bullied Peter throughout his youth and then stole his fiance while he served overseas.
Overall, motives are strong and provide a gripping story that will keep you, just like Peter, guessing if he is the killer. A real page-turner of a book.
As the author states, most ‘whodunnit’ mysteries either show us the identity of the killer from the start and we then follow the detective in the persecution, or we discover the killer's identity together with the detective as he uncovers clues.
In this case however, Peter, the protagonist, admits that he could be the killer. Due to a brain injury that he sustained he can't remember if he beat someone to death. So, the question that burns deep in Peter's mind leads us on his quest to discover the truth.
As the story unfolds, we move from Peter's first-person point of view, also discovering that he was a marine in Afghanistan, to the detective investigating the case's third-person view, providing us with a dual perspective of events. Also, we discover that the victim had bullied Peter throughout his youth and then stole his fiance while he served overseas.
Overall, motives are strong and provide a gripping story that will keep you, just like Peter, guessing if he is the killer. A real page-turner of a book.
December 9, 2018
Is it it possible not to remember killing someone? Dan Petrosini tries to give a view into this question through a veteran who suffers from PTSD, exhibiting random short and long term memory loss. Detective Luca tries to find the truth while the local government tries to force a verdict. The story is involving and the description of the veteran's mindset is interesting. The story has a short-coming in that it doesn't fully complete the psychological investigation. Still, it is a compelling tale that raises some interesting questions about memory.
March 30, 2019
First book I read for 2016 & all I can say is "WOW" this was truly an awesome book that had me guessing until the very end.
Going to put this on my Favorites List.
There were a few editing errors, such as left out words, wrong word used, but it was so minimal it didn't slow the story down any.
Grab a copy & read it you won't be sorry.
I am off to check out this authors other books, but let me tell you this one is going to be hard to beat.
Going to put this on my Favorites List.
There were a few editing errors, such as left out words, wrong word used, but it was so minimal it didn't slow the story down any.
Grab a copy & read it you won't be sorry.
I am off to check out this authors other books, but let me tell you this one is going to be hard to beat.
July 18, 2018
This was a good start to a promising series. I hope that in the next book the author lets us know what happens to the brothers - that was disappointing so many leads left untied at the end of the book- but now I want to read the next to see if those loose ends are tied up??!!
Overall a pretty good read!
Overall a pretty good read!
October 31, 2015
Good read
Good story line and well thought out characters. Not truly sure of the ending until I got there. I would read more of this author's books as I was engrossed until the end, which is rare. I recommend that others enjoy this work of fiction as much as I did.
Good story line and well thought out characters. Not truly sure of the ending until I got there. I would read more of this author's books as I was engrossed until the end, which is rare. I recommend that others enjoy this work of fiction as much as I did.
August 6, 2016
**SPOILER FREE**
Intriguing and fast paced! Will keep you glued to your reader! Well written and great plot and characters!
Intriguing and fast paced! Will keep you glued to your reader! Well written and great plot and characters!
July 5, 2018
Kept me on my toes until the last page
Very real characters; story of “who done it?” That kept me guessing until the very last page. Check it out.
Very real characters; story of “who done it?” That kept me guessing until the very last page. Check it out.
October 10, 2018
Messes with your head
There was a lot of in-depth explanation of medical and physical therapy procedures at the beginning but once you are past that, the story is good.
There was a lot of in-depth explanation of medical and physical therapy procedures at the beginning but once you are past that, the story is good.
November 7, 2022
What If You Couldn’t Remember?
Interesting story about a man with a TBI, traumatic Brian injury, & how the memory loss side effect can have real consequences.
Interesting story about a man with a TBI, traumatic Brian injury, & how the memory loss side effect can have real consequences.
March 17, 2020
If there's one thing I like doing, it's discovering new authors. Dan Petrosini is certainly a new author for me but after having enjoyed 'Am I The Killer?' as much as I did, I can say with absolute certainty that I will be reading more of Dan's work in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Am I The Killer?' but more about that in a bit.
I read the synopsis and it immediately intrigued me. I just knew that I had to read this book as soon as I could because I had to know whether or not Peter was telling the truth when he said that he couldn't remember killing Billy. The more of the book I read, the more intrigued I became and the more I had to read. I made the unfortunate mistake of starting to read this book shortly before I went to bed. Let's just say that bedtime was delayed and I had aa lack of sleep hangover the following day. I found it nigh on impossible to put this book down for any length of time. If I wasn't reading the story, I was thinking about it. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I became more and more desperate to discover the truth. I reached the end of the book far quicker than I had anticipated, which I was disappointed about. I don't mean that to sound derogatory but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wished that the book had been longer and that I could have been more disciplined in how much I read in one go so that I could prolong my enjoyment of the story. I soon cheered up when I realised that I had 9 other books to read in the series.
'Am I The Killer?' is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start with an incident that will stay fresh in my mind for a long time to come. The storyline was certainly interesting and I can honestly say that I have never read a book like this one. The story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. That's how I felt at any rate. I had a theory as to what was going to happen and whether or not Peter was telling the truth, but the author threw a curveball in and sent me down another path entirely. There were more twists and turns to this story than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. This was one of those books that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat throughout. Rarely have I read an opening book in a new series as good as 'Am I The Killer?'
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Am I The Killer?' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Dan's work in the future. In fact as soon as I finish here, I will be dashing off to Amazon to download the other books in the series. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I read the synopsis and it immediately intrigued me. I just knew that I had to read this book as soon as I could because I had to know whether or not Peter was telling the truth when he said that he couldn't remember killing Billy. The more of the book I read, the more intrigued I became and the more I had to read. I made the unfortunate mistake of starting to read this book shortly before I went to bed. Let's just say that bedtime was delayed and I had aa lack of sleep hangover the following day. I found it nigh on impossible to put this book down for any length of time. If I wasn't reading the story, I was thinking about it. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I became more and more desperate to discover the truth. I reached the end of the book far quicker than I had anticipated, which I was disappointed about. I don't mean that to sound derogatory but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wished that the book had been longer and that I could have been more disciplined in how much I read in one go so that I could prolong my enjoyment of the story. I soon cheered up when I realised that I had 9 other books to read in the series.
'Am I The Killer?' is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start with an incident that will stay fresh in my mind for a long time to come. The storyline was certainly interesting and I can honestly say that I have never read a book like this one. The story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. That's how I felt at any rate. I had a theory as to what was going to happen and whether or not Peter was telling the truth, but the author threw a curveball in and sent me down another path entirely. There were more twists and turns to this story than you would find on a 'Snakes & Ladders' board. This was one of those books that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat throughout. Rarely have I read an opening book in a new series as good as 'Am I The Killer?'
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Am I The Killer?' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Dan's work in the future. In fact as soon as I finish here, I will be dashing off to Amazon to download the other books in the series. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
June 26, 2020
I received a free review copy of this audio book, at my request, and am voluntarily leaving this unbiased review.
I was excited to get started on this book, the prospect of a mystery in a mystery really had my interest peaked. Unfortunately, it didn't really pan out that way.
The story starts out with the main character receiving a head injury, causing his focus and memory to be drastically affected.
Once we lead from his injury to the murder, we then switch to the detectives POV and progress to the murder investigation.
There isn't a dual mystery, it's simply a who did it. It's also a "who did it" that was fairly simple and straight forward. It's also not that hard to get a handle on whether the main character has done it or not. I was hoping for a deep mystery with twists and turns and something that would really leave me wondering. This was not to be the case.
The characters are likeable, but 1 dimensional. No real depth is added to their background and no attempt is made to flesh them out. They are who they are and that's it.
The setting is, similarly, not much to comment on. It's a run down town in the US. Over worked police, crime, etc.
The story really fails in 2 ways. First we have the predictably of everything. The story follows the path of so many others before it, that it looses its mystique.
Second, it doesn't realize the mystery it says its supposed to be addressing. The title is "Am I The Killer" and the description suggests that the main character is trying to figure out if he did it or not. However, this is not the case. The main character has memory and focus issues, meaning other than the odd "I wonder if I could have done it", Pete really doesn't focus too much on the murder at all. He only has a passing interest in the mystery and is definitely not an active participant in the investigation, or the story at all.
There is also an issue with the unsatisfying ending, but I don't really want to go into that, because of spoilers.
The narration, by Francis G Kearney, is jarring. He has a way of shouting the whole story. No real differentiation between characters, no real tender moments, no joking, just shouting all the time, with a weird inflection on the end of sentences. It's the second book by this narrator I've heard and it definitely seems to be his style. It's not horrible, but I don't think it's for me.
Like I said though, the characters are likeable, the story is interesting enough. It's not a bad story, just definitely not the story that was advertised. The narrator takes some getting used to, and the ending is unsatisfying.
I won't be continuing this series.
I was excited to get started on this book, the prospect of a mystery in a mystery really had my interest peaked. Unfortunately, it didn't really pan out that way.
The story starts out with the main character receiving a head injury, causing his focus and memory to be drastically affected.
Once we lead from his injury to the murder, we then switch to the detectives POV and progress to the murder investigation.
There isn't a dual mystery, it's simply a who did it. It's also a "who did it" that was fairly simple and straight forward. It's also not that hard to get a handle on whether the main character has done it or not. I was hoping for a deep mystery with twists and turns and something that would really leave me wondering. This was not to be the case.
The characters are likeable, but 1 dimensional. No real depth is added to their background and no attempt is made to flesh them out. They are who they are and that's it.
The setting is, similarly, not much to comment on. It's a run down town in the US. Over worked police, crime, etc.
The story really fails in 2 ways. First we have the predictably of everything. The story follows the path of so many others before it, that it looses its mystique.
Second, it doesn't realize the mystery it says its supposed to be addressing. The title is "Am I The Killer" and the description suggests that the main character is trying to figure out if he did it or not. However, this is not the case. The main character has memory and focus issues, meaning other than the odd "I wonder if I could have done it", Pete really doesn't focus too much on the murder at all. He only has a passing interest in the mystery and is definitely not an active participant in the investigation, or the story at all.
There is also an issue with the unsatisfying ending, but I don't really want to go into that, because of spoilers.
The narration, by Francis G Kearney, is jarring. He has a way of shouting the whole story. No real differentiation between characters, no real tender moments, no joking, just shouting all the time, with a weird inflection on the end of sentences. It's the second book by this narrator I've heard and it definitely seems to be his style. It's not horrible, but I don't think it's for me.
Like I said though, the characters are likeable, the story is interesting enough. It's not a bad story, just definitely not the story that was advertised. The narrator takes some getting used to, and the ending is unsatisfying.
I won't be continuing this series.
March 18, 2020
This is a nail-biting whodunit crime thriller that leaves you scratching your head and wondering what just happened.
Peter Hill has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a freak accident in the military. The TBI leaves him with little to no short-term memory needing physical and cognitive therapy in his home. His brother and only living relative, Vinny, has adjusted his life to help Peter transition to his new way of life. When Billy Wyatt’s body is discovered in his home, suspicion lands on Peter because of their violent past and Billy was seeing Peter’s girlfriend when he was deployed. When the police ask Peter what he remembered, of course he couldn’t because of the TBI…but what about the nightmares?
Detective Frank Luca is being pressured by his superiors to find a killer to save face for the Monmouth County Prosecutor William Stanley who is a typical politician wanting all the glory. However, the man they want to prosecute with circumstantial evidence is Peter Hill, a military hero with a TBI and Frank has a gut feeling it is a meth addict with priors. Time is not on Frank’s side.
Petrosini does a terrific job hooking the reader from the very beginning. His characters are well developed and complex making them more realistic. Peter’s afflictions are distressing, but the way he copes is commendable considering he can’t remember something that happened a short time ago. Peter’s brother Vinny seems selfish at first, but he comes around and supports his brother when he needs him. However, I just don’t understand why Vinny is so dense and forgiving about how Billy treated his brother as a kid. As for Frank Luca, he seems like a sleazebag when it comes to ogling women even though he’s trying to reconcile with his wife. As for Frank’s instincts as a cop, he is a bulldog with a bone when it comes to finding his perp.
My introduction to Mr. Petrosini’s writing with the first book in the Luca Mystery series is a great experience. This fast-paced crime thriller introducing the main character drew me in completely to where I wanted to read more on detective Luca. If you like police procedural crime thrillers with a surprising turn of events, give this book a try.
Thank you to Mr. Petrosini for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Peter Hill has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a freak accident in the military. The TBI leaves him with little to no short-term memory needing physical and cognitive therapy in his home. His brother and only living relative, Vinny, has adjusted his life to help Peter transition to his new way of life. When Billy Wyatt’s body is discovered in his home, suspicion lands on Peter because of their violent past and Billy was seeing Peter’s girlfriend when he was deployed. When the police ask Peter what he remembered, of course he couldn’t because of the TBI…but what about the nightmares?
Detective Frank Luca is being pressured by his superiors to find a killer to save face for the Monmouth County Prosecutor William Stanley who is a typical politician wanting all the glory. However, the man they want to prosecute with circumstantial evidence is Peter Hill, a military hero with a TBI and Frank has a gut feeling it is a meth addict with priors. Time is not on Frank’s side.
Petrosini does a terrific job hooking the reader from the very beginning. His characters are well developed and complex making them more realistic. Peter’s afflictions are distressing, but the way he copes is commendable considering he can’t remember something that happened a short time ago. Peter’s brother Vinny seems selfish at first, but he comes around and supports his brother when he needs him. However, I just don’t understand why Vinny is so dense and forgiving about how Billy treated his brother as a kid. As for Frank Luca, he seems like a sleazebag when it comes to ogling women even though he’s trying to reconcile with his wife. As for Frank’s instincts as a cop, he is a bulldog with a bone when it comes to finding his perp.
My introduction to Mr. Petrosini’s writing with the first book in the Luca Mystery series is a great experience. This fast-paced crime thriller introducing the main character drew me in completely to where I wanted to read more on detective Luca. If you like police procedural crime thrillers with a surprising turn of events, give this book a try.
Thank you to Mr. Petrosini for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
June 6, 2020
I enjoyed this book. I found with in just a few minutes that I cared about the characters and hoped that he would turn out to be innocent of the crime he was accused of. The story starts with how the suspect was injured and what he and his brother went through while In hospital and is told through there eyes. Then after the murder the book is told by several characters but mainly by the lead detective Luca and the two brother, which I think works really well and keeps the story interesting. The mystery was good and it did keep you guessing whether he was guilty or innocent all the way through. The main character is stubborn and goes with his gut, a lot which makes the top brass unhappy but makes for a great character and I look forward to see how he develops with each book and I hope the author has plans for the rest of the series to be released as audio books.
Pete Hill is on his way home from fighting in Afghanistan when he is injured. The head injury turns his and his brothers world upside down, as he has to relearn how to do everyday tasks. The biggest problem is the effect the trauma has on his memory, so when a man is killed Pete has no idea if he is guilty or not. Billy was a bully and one of his victims at school was Pete but his biggest crime was stealing Pete's girlfriend while he was away. Could that be the motive? He just can't remember. The detective in charge of the investigation thinks that Pete makes an easy target and with his bosses pushing for homicide cases to be sollved more quickly he refuses to be rushed into making a quick arrest. With the evidence stacking up against Pete, the more Luca believes someone else is responsible. Can he find who really killed Billy before he send another innocent man to jail?
I liked the narrator and thought he did a good job, there was a lot of characters from suspects to doctor's but he tried to give them all there own voices.
Pete Hill is on his way home from fighting in Afghanistan when he is injured. The head injury turns his and his brothers world upside down, as he has to relearn how to do everyday tasks. The biggest problem is the effect the trauma has on his memory, so when a man is killed Pete has no idea if he is guilty or not. Billy was a bully and one of his victims at school was Pete but his biggest crime was stealing Pete's girlfriend while he was away. Could that be the motive? He just can't remember. The detective in charge of the investigation thinks that Pete makes an easy target and with his bosses pushing for homicide cases to be sollved more quickly he refuses to be rushed into making a quick arrest. With the evidence stacking up against Pete, the more Luca believes someone else is responsible. Can he find who really killed Billy before he send another innocent man to jail?
I liked the narrator and thought he did a good job, there was a lot of characters from suspects to doctor's but he tried to give them all there own voices.
May 1, 2019
Dr. Mancino (Bagram, Afghanistan Airfield head of triage) had sent Peter Hill (USMC) to Ramstein then Landstuhl, Germany.
A long operation but Dr. Brown & Dr. Molanari seemed pleased.
Tony Burato was by his bedside.
Vinny Hill (Peter’s brother, FedEx upper-level mgr., Dallas, TX.) soon arrived.
Soon he would be headed back home to Walter Reed Hospital for rehab.
Dr. John Clalia (MD, lead physiatrist) met with Peter & Vinny.
He will also work with a speech pathologist, a neuropsychologist, an occupational therapist, a recreational therapist, & a social worker.
Vinny hired Melika (Russian lady) to watch over Peter.
Keansburg (7th St.). Detective Frank Luca & Detective J.J. Cremora (partner) were greeted by Officer O’Reilly (Middletown PD) at the crime scene.
Mary Rourke (20+, daughter) had found William “Billy” Wyatt (26, Mary’s fiancé) body.
Peter Hill (TBI, military vet) has been charged with murder of Billy.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written Crime Thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great Crime Thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookSends; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
A long operation but Dr. Brown & Dr. Molanari seemed pleased.
Tony Burato was by his bedside.
Vinny Hill (Peter’s brother, FedEx upper-level mgr., Dallas, TX.) soon arrived.
Soon he would be headed back home to Walter Reed Hospital for rehab.
Dr. John Clalia (MD, lead physiatrist) met with Peter & Vinny.
He will also work with a speech pathologist, a neuropsychologist, an occupational therapist, a recreational therapist, & a social worker.
Vinny hired Melika (Russian lady) to watch over Peter.
Keansburg (7th St.). Detective Frank Luca & Detective J.J. Cremora (partner) were greeted by Officer O’Reilly (Middletown PD) at the crime scene.
Mary Rourke (20+, daughter) had found William “Billy” Wyatt (26, Mary’s fiancé) body.
Peter Hill (TBI, military vet) has been charged with murder of Billy.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written Crime Thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great Crime Thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookSends; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
April 5, 2020
There’s that saying “what goes around comes around” and Billy Wyatt appeared to be well overdue his fair share of karma. But who battered this bully to death in his own home? Only Frank Luca is determines to find out the truth. Was it former victim and veteran Pete Hill who can’t remember what he did that night or was it someone else?!
Pete’s recovery was heartbreaking but it felt so real. I was frustrated for Pete as he was tested by the experts and as he tripped over the hurdles that his damaged brain put in front of him. And oh the thought of memory loss, that would scare the crap out of me. As the story went in, the full extent of Pete’s injuries becomes more apparent and he as a character becomes more unreliable and by golly I love an unreliable character!
Despite his choice in women (I’ll come to that), I really liked Frank Luca. His desire to get the right suspect and his tenacity for truth is just what I want from a detective. He is like a dog with a bone, but was he chasing his tail unnecessarily?
I’ve got to say the character of Debra seriously annoyed me. She married a cop, one with ambition. Does she really expect him to work office hours?! She really needs to get a grip of what being the wife of a detective entails! I really wanted to slap her for not being more supportive of the ambitious Luca.
I raced through Am I The Killer? in an evening, the pace and switching of perspectives gripping my attention as I read. This is a cracking start to a series and I hope to try and squeeze some more of Petrosini’s books into my reading
Pete’s recovery was heartbreaking but it felt so real. I was frustrated for Pete as he was tested by the experts and as he tripped over the hurdles that his damaged brain put in front of him. And oh the thought of memory loss, that would scare the crap out of me. As the story went in, the full extent of Pete’s injuries becomes more apparent and he as a character becomes more unreliable and by golly I love an unreliable character!
Despite his choice in women (I’ll come to that), I really liked Frank Luca. His desire to get the right suspect and his tenacity for truth is just what I want from a detective. He is like a dog with a bone, but was he chasing his tail unnecessarily?
I’ve got to say the character of Debra seriously annoyed me. She married a cop, one with ambition. Does she really expect him to work office hours?! She really needs to get a grip of what being the wife of a detective entails! I really wanted to slap her for not being more supportive of the ambitious Luca.
I raced through Am I The Killer? in an evening, the pace and switching of perspectives gripping my attention as I read. This is a cracking start to a series and I hope to try and squeeze some more of Petrosini’s books into my reading
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