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Chris DeAngelo #1
A Season To Kill
A 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist
A 2016 Readers Favorite Honorable Mention winner - Murder Mystery
As the new sheriff in the rural town of Macon, Pennsylvania, Chris DeAngelo digs into a series of unsolved cases - only to unearth a dangerous secret that puts him into a killer's crosshairs..."Brilliantly written and truly suspenseful" (San Francisco Book Review)
...
When small-town deputy sheriff Chris DeAngelo is suddenly vaulted to the top law enforcement job, his first case is the disappearance of a local meth dealer. It looks like a routine case of a marginal petty crook gone missing, but as Sheriff DeAngelo dutifully follows the evidence he plunges into a disturbing web of treachery and deceit that rocks the placid hunting town. This crisp, imaginative thriller boasts a vivid sense of place, richly drawn characters, and an intricate plot that keeps unfolding until the very last page.
"Author Mucci sets up a juicy murder mystery, opening with a coldblooded murder and an early indication of conspiracy...the novel's latter half really ignites." (Kirkus Reviews)
"In this page-turning thriller, Michael Mucci will gratifyingly delight your senses, make you question conspiracy or coincidence, and intrigue your curiosity, while whetting the appetite for a chilling well told narrative. A Season to Kill left the reader championing the new sheriff in town." (Manhattan Book Review)
"Kudos to Mucci for creating a brilliantly written and truly suspenseful debut novel! Indubitably, A Season to Kill is not only earmarked to be a highly popular and best-selling read, but also one story that this reviewer would love to see on the Silver Screen." (San Francisco Book Review)
"A captivating crime thriller bursting with rural flavor and hard hitting revelations. Highly recommended for all crime & mystery fans, but especially for those of the Justified book & TV series.
You'll savor DeAngelo's discoveries through his own eyes as he fumbles and second-guesses his way through them en route to a compelling character arc.Coupled with a pace that is perfectly suited to both the character and the rural setting, this book - reminiscent of those in Elmore Leonard's Raylan Givens series - is highly recommended." (BestThrillers.com)
A 2016 Readers Favorite Honorable Mention winner - Murder Mystery
As the new sheriff in the rural town of Macon, Pennsylvania, Chris DeAngelo digs into a series of unsolved cases - only to unearth a dangerous secret that puts him into a killer's crosshairs..."Brilliantly written and truly suspenseful" (San Francisco Book Review)
...
When small-town deputy sheriff Chris DeAngelo is suddenly vaulted to the top law enforcement job, his first case is the disappearance of a local meth dealer. It looks like a routine case of a marginal petty crook gone missing, but as Sheriff DeAngelo dutifully follows the evidence he plunges into a disturbing web of treachery and deceit that rocks the placid hunting town. This crisp, imaginative thriller boasts a vivid sense of place, richly drawn characters, and an intricate plot that keeps unfolding until the very last page.
"Author Mucci sets up a juicy murder mystery, opening with a coldblooded murder and an early indication of conspiracy...the novel's latter half really ignites." (Kirkus Reviews)
"In this page-turning thriller, Michael Mucci will gratifyingly delight your senses, make you question conspiracy or coincidence, and intrigue your curiosity, while whetting the appetite for a chilling well told narrative. A Season to Kill left the reader championing the new sheriff in town." (Manhattan Book Review)
"Kudos to Mucci for creating a brilliantly written and truly suspenseful debut novel! Indubitably, A Season to Kill is not only earmarked to be a highly popular and best-selling read, but also one story that this reviewer would love to see on the Silver Screen." (San Francisco Book Review)
"A captivating crime thriller bursting with rural flavor and hard hitting revelations. Highly recommended for all crime & mystery fans, but especially for those of the Justified book & TV series.
You'll savor DeAngelo's discoveries through his own eyes as he fumbles and second-guesses his way through them en route to a compelling character arc.Coupled with a pace that is perfectly suited to both the character and the rural setting, this book - reminiscent of those in Elmore Leonard's Raylan Givens series - is highly recommended." (BestThrillers.com)
310 pages, Paperback
Published October 23, 2015
About the author
Michael Mucci
3 books23 followersMichael Mucci, an award-winning author has spent his entire adult life traveling and exploring the world. Being a zealous adventurer and explorer, he has lived on 3 continents, and has traveled to over 40 countries.
From rafting down the Amazon in a dug-out canoe, panning for gold in Alaska, or going on safari in Africa, Michael has enjoyed learning and participating in different cultures around the world.
He grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where the people and places have inspired his novels and now calls southwest Florida home.
www.MichaelMucciAuthor.com
From rafting down the Amazon in a dug-out canoe, panning for gold in Alaska, or going on safari in Africa, Michael has enjoyed learning and participating in different cultures around the world.
He grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where the people and places have inspired his novels and now calls southwest Florida home.
www.MichaelMucciAuthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 20, 2015
A week into his new post, Sheriff Chris DeAngelo has more on his plate than he plans when a Macon, Pennsylvania, local and highly suspected meth dealer suddenly vanishes. Initially figuring that the case is drug related, Chris begins to wonder if it has any probable connection to an eleven-year period of unexplained disappearances—all strangely occurring in the month of December. Chris’ sleuthing not only unwittingly opens a Pandora’s box into the unsolved cases of ten missing people, but also unearths the ugly truth behind his seemingly unsuspecting childhood borough.
First-time author Michael Mucci spins a story shrouded in deception. Designed with a hard-boiled edge to it, Mucci’s first-person narrative features Chris DeAngelo, a man whose past and personality peg him as an underachiever. It doesn’t help that his self-perception is that of “a half-drunk loser.” Mucci surrounds his well-developed principal character with an equally well-developed foiled cast (including his close childhood friends) who either tactfully or tactlessly reminds him of his limitations. Regardless of the patronizing tone and personal problems, Chris determines to piece together a flurry of puzzling and ostensibly unrelated evidence.
Throwing in one red herring after another, Mucci does an excellent job keeping readers engaged as they, too, are trying desperately to identify the plot’s villains. Carefully weaving in possible clues, Mucci’s approach to storytelling is nothing less than unnerving. A combination of a humble small town ambiance and a laid-back cast, Mucci’s fictional setting offers miniscule amounts of anticipated behind-the-scene situations. Mucci instead focuses the bulk of his narrative on dialogue, Chris’ relationships with close friends, and Chris’ brainstorming amid ongoing investigations. Holding to a continual undercurrent of tension from chapter to chapter, Mucci slowly but ultimately builds to a nail-biting climax.
Kudos to Mucci for creating a brilliantly written and truly suspenseful debut novel! Indubitably, A Season to Kill is not only earmarked to be a highly popular and best-selling read, but also one story that this reviewer would love to see on the Silver Screen.
Originally posted on San Francisco Book Review, Anita Lock--Book Reviewer
First-time author Michael Mucci spins a story shrouded in deception. Designed with a hard-boiled edge to it, Mucci’s first-person narrative features Chris DeAngelo, a man whose past and personality peg him as an underachiever. It doesn’t help that his self-perception is that of “a half-drunk loser.” Mucci surrounds his well-developed principal character with an equally well-developed foiled cast (including his close childhood friends) who either tactfully or tactlessly reminds him of his limitations. Regardless of the patronizing tone and personal problems, Chris determines to piece together a flurry of puzzling and ostensibly unrelated evidence.
Throwing in one red herring after another, Mucci does an excellent job keeping readers engaged as they, too, are trying desperately to identify the plot’s villains. Carefully weaving in possible clues, Mucci’s approach to storytelling is nothing less than unnerving. A combination of a humble small town ambiance and a laid-back cast, Mucci’s fictional setting offers miniscule amounts of anticipated behind-the-scene situations. Mucci instead focuses the bulk of his narrative on dialogue, Chris’ relationships with close friends, and Chris’ brainstorming amid ongoing investigations. Holding to a continual undercurrent of tension from chapter to chapter, Mucci slowly but ultimately builds to a nail-biting climax.
Kudos to Mucci for creating a brilliantly written and truly suspenseful debut novel! Indubitably, A Season to Kill is not only earmarked to be a highly popular and best-selling read, but also one story that this reviewer would love to see on the Silver Screen.
Originally posted on San Francisco Book Review, Anita Lock--Book Reviewer
November 25, 2015
A taut, fast-paced, intelligent thriller. Set in rural Pennsylvania, in December. The weather is relentlessly grey and dreary; the local economy is still in the grips of the recession. Alcoholic sheriff Chris DeAngelo investigates the mysterious disappearance of a meth dealer, only to uncover a bizarre series of similar events. The writing is crisp, clean, and thankfully free of either literary pretension or the phony "bluntspeak" that too many thriller writers use to generate shallow excitement. The characters are utterly believable and richly drawn. The plot unfolds at a natural pace and there are fresh revelations right up to the last page. This book would make a terrific movie!
February 7, 2017
"...
“This is crazy!” shouts the man. “You can’t do this! In our country we have police and courts! You can’t just take a man out into the woods and shoot him!” The mask goes back on. “Yes, I can.”..."
With these words in the opening chapter, author Michael Mucci sets the stage. It's only because the murder is so brutal and the reader has no idea where the story is going, that one might miss it. This exchange holds the key to this book's mystery.
As the plot unfolds we learn that Chris DeAngelo has become sheriff of the little town Macon, PA more or less by accident. His predecessor, the man who hired him, dropped dead from a heart attack. Unprepared for such an event, the city picked "the next best guy" - Chris DeAngelo.
Chris did not go to college, he has a drinking problem, and nobody really thinks that he is an outstanding cop or outstanding in any kind of way.
Chris himself holds on to the belief that at least the deceased Sheriff Holbrook saw something in him. Sadly, he realizes soon, that the late Sheriff may have hired him because he too thought that Chris would not be able to put two and two together. The late Sheriff Holbrook had a major problem that he did not want to be found out about.
Still, below the surface of his problems, Chris is a good guy. He believes in "the law" and that it applies to all citizens, even to who he calls scumbags. Chris also believes in walking the steady pace. He does not want to succumb to the temptation to just make a case go away or find the easiest answer.
As he works to uncover the case he finds out more. People who disappeared or supposedly "left town" may really be dead, killed by the same killer, who lives in Macon. Maybe all of these events, including Sheriff Holbrook's indiscretions, are connected.
Overwhelmed by the events, Chris tries to find comfort in the friendship with his buddies, Cindy Crossman, Michael Russo, and Phil Nero. They don't seem to be bothered by that he did not go to college and that he isn't as rich as they are. They are his buddies. They are "the Deerbusters," who hunt together as most people do in Pennsylvania.
Still, resting on this friendship won't be enough. Chris will need wits and determination to solve this one.
I don't believe in spoiler reviews, so I won't even give a hint. When reading the story I detected only one of the "bad guys" at around 30% of the book.
I love this book's prose, the choice of casual easy words, which make the reader think they are thinking what Chris thinks.
In part, it's hilariously:
"... He didn’t say it, but I knew that Michael was not only horrified by my outfit but by my choice of weapon. Michael carried a Cooper Western Classic, a very fine deer rifle that cost several thousand dollars. I carried a .44 Magnum pistol with open sights that cost less than a thousand bucks. Lots of hunters don’t think you can hunt deer with a pistol, but at fifty or seventy-five yards you can get a good clean kill shot. I used my handgun to bring down my buck last year, and I’d be happy to do it again. ..."
[ Postscript: Chris got the stag - with his .44 Magnum]
5 stars, plus I recommend to follow this author,
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
“This is crazy!” shouts the man. “You can’t do this! In our country we have police and courts! You can’t just take a man out into the woods and shoot him!” The mask goes back on. “Yes, I can.”..."
With these words in the opening chapter, author Michael Mucci sets the stage. It's only because the murder is so brutal and the reader has no idea where the story is going, that one might miss it. This exchange holds the key to this book's mystery.
As the plot unfolds we learn that Chris DeAngelo has become sheriff of the little town Macon, PA more or less by accident. His predecessor, the man who hired him, dropped dead from a heart attack. Unprepared for such an event, the city picked "the next best guy" - Chris DeAngelo.
Chris did not go to college, he has a drinking problem, and nobody really thinks that he is an outstanding cop or outstanding in any kind of way.
Chris himself holds on to the belief that at least the deceased Sheriff Holbrook saw something in him. Sadly, he realizes soon, that the late Sheriff may have hired him because he too thought that Chris would not be able to put two and two together. The late Sheriff Holbrook had a major problem that he did not want to be found out about.
Still, below the surface of his problems, Chris is a good guy. He believes in "the law" and that it applies to all citizens, even to who he calls scumbags. Chris also believes in walking the steady pace. He does not want to succumb to the temptation to just make a case go away or find the easiest answer.
As he works to uncover the case he finds out more. People who disappeared or supposedly "left town" may really be dead, killed by the same killer, who lives in Macon. Maybe all of these events, including Sheriff Holbrook's indiscretions, are connected.
Overwhelmed by the events, Chris tries to find comfort in the friendship with his buddies, Cindy Crossman, Michael Russo, and Phil Nero. They don't seem to be bothered by that he did not go to college and that he isn't as rich as they are. They are his buddies. They are "the Deerbusters," who hunt together as most people do in Pennsylvania.
Still, resting on this friendship won't be enough. Chris will need wits and determination to solve this one.
I don't believe in spoiler reviews, so I won't even give a hint. When reading the story I detected only one of the "bad guys" at around 30% of the book.
I love this book's prose, the choice of casual easy words, which make the reader think they are thinking what Chris thinks.
In part, it's hilariously:
"... He didn’t say it, but I knew that Michael was not only horrified by my outfit but by my choice of weapon. Michael carried a Cooper Western Classic, a very fine deer rifle that cost several thousand dollars. I carried a .44 Magnum pistol with open sights that cost less than a thousand bucks. Lots of hunters don’t think you can hunt deer with a pistol, but at fifty or seventy-five yards you can get a good clean kill shot. I used my handgun to bring down my buck last year, and I’d be happy to do it again. ..."
[ Postscript: Chris got the stag - with his .44 Magnum]
5 stars, plus I recommend to follow this author,
Gisela Hausmann, author & blogger
January 23, 2016
I have to admit this story could have gone off the deep end. The author himself admits it here: “It seemed farfetched. But then again, the whole crazy pattern was farfetched. If I had read about it in a mystery novel I would have thought the author had gone a bit too far". But, the reality is, he tells a believable story! He gives us palatable scenarios which meticulously explain how each theory is formed. We get to be inside Sheriff DeAngalo's mind; giving us the reasons to believe. I thought perhaps the author had some experience in detective work because he seemed to have a grasp on the psychological relationship needed between suspects and DeAngalo, as a officer of the law. Sheriff DeAngalo keeps himself in check. He may be portrayed as a slacker but I think he just had a drinking problem.
The author takes his time building the plot and introducing characters in the first half of the book, but I must admit I found it a bit fastidious. The second half of the book kept me on the edge of my seat; I read it in one afternoon. I have been reading a lot of books lately and none have really met my expectations. You know how you see the cover of a book and read the back and you can't wait to read it, but then you realize your expectations were too high? Well, that won't happen with this book! Bravo, Mr. Mucci!
The author takes his time building the plot and introducing characters in the first half of the book, but I must admit I found it a bit fastidious. The second half of the book kept me on the edge of my seat; I read it in one afternoon. I have been reading a lot of books lately and none have really met my expectations. You know how you see the cover of a book and read the back and you can't wait to read it, but then you realize your expectations were too high? Well, that won't happen with this book! Bravo, Mr. Mucci!
November 7, 2015
Mucci's first novel is a strong one out of the gate. It's a great story that struck a chord for me as a shared resident of this central Pennsylvania backdrop. Hunting camps, small towns, high school friends pitted against the drama and suspense of serial murders. Mucci has a gripping style. Engaging from beginning to end. He skillfully captures the beauty and bleakness of winter in the woody hills of PA. I look forward to another book from him whether as a continuation along this storyline or something altogether different. It's release is also great timing as hunting season in PA is in full swing now!
January 23, 2016
Easy read but holds your interest
Good character development. Story holds your I interest even though you know pretty early in the book who the bad guys are. I will definitely read this author again.
Good character development. Story holds your I interest even though you know pretty early in the book who the bad guys are. I will definitely read this author again.
January 22, 2016
Excellent!
The protagonist in the Story is a totally likable character, and the plot has enough twists to keep you spellbound. Hard to put this one down. Purely enjoyable reading.
The protagonist in the Story is a totally likable character, and the plot has enough twists to keep you spellbound. Hard to put this one down. Purely enjoyable reading.
March 23, 2017
This story pulls you in from the first few pages. Michael Mucci does a great job placing the reader right smack dab in the middle of Small Town USA. Actually, it's Macon, Pennsylvania... but with all the characteristics you'd find in a small town anywhere that hunters show up in numbers during hunting season.
When the Sheriff of Macon suddenly dies, his spot in the department is filled by Chris DeAngelo. Known for his drinking and not exactly who you would think of as being the new sheriff, Chris begins to take his job seriously and soon starts putting pieces together regarding a string of "disappearances" over the past eleven years. Although it becomes fairly apparent to the reader as to who is responsible for these disappearances, it seems to take Chris quite a while to figure things out. Perhaps that's because of his drinking problem... I'm just not sure.
There was quite a bit of repitition and needless wording in the first half of the book, but things began to pick up a bit in the second half. All in all, it was a pretty good read.
* Disclosure: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author. Although a review was not required, I was compelled to provide one. All comments, thoughts and opinions are my own.
When the Sheriff of Macon suddenly dies, his spot in the department is filled by Chris DeAngelo. Known for his drinking and not exactly who you would think of as being the new sheriff, Chris begins to take his job seriously and soon starts putting pieces together regarding a string of "disappearances" over the past eleven years. Although it becomes fairly apparent to the reader as to who is responsible for these disappearances, it seems to take Chris quite a while to figure things out. Perhaps that's because of his drinking problem... I'm just not sure.
There was quite a bit of repitition and needless wording in the first half of the book, but things began to pick up a bit in the second half. All in all, it was a pretty good read.
* Disclosure: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author. Although a review was not required, I was compelled to provide one. All comments, thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 3, 2016
What does Sheriff Clay Holbrook, unaccounted for bank deposits, eleven unsolved deaths in Macon, Pennsylvania, the Deerbusters, and the installment of the new Sheriff Chris DeAngelo all have in common? They are the main elements of a great crime, mystery, and thriller novel, A Season to Kill by Michael Mucci. During Sheriff Holbrook’s leadership, the town of Macon had eleven unsolved deaths that were ruled as merely disappearances. Suddenly, Sheriff Holbrook passed away and he is replaced by Chris DeAngelo. DeAngelo had been the deputy under the leadership of Sheriff Holbrook for over 20 years. Now with the latest death of Roger Sharpe, it is Sheriff DeAngelo’s job to uncover the murder. As DeAngelo begins moving forward in solving the crime, several other elements begin to unfold, including that of the unsolved deaths of over eleven years ago.
I loved reading A Season to Kill by Michael Mucci because it is well-written, easy to read, and had a lot of essential mysterious components that kept me in suspense through and through. A Season to Kill puts me in the mind of the movies Along Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls in James Patterson’s Alex Cross Series. I once again visualized Morgan Freeman going through the challenges of trying to not only solve the death of Sharpe but that of Rose, Reisling, and Santapaula that are amongst the eleven unsolved murders. At the end of each day, I relaxed by reading this great mystery before turning in for the night. I just couldn’t put it down. Before this becomes a best-seller and turns into a movie, you want to get a chance to read A Season to Kill by Michael Mucci for yourself.A Season to Kill
I loved reading A Season to Kill by Michael Mucci because it is well-written, easy to read, and had a lot of essential mysterious components that kept me in suspense through and through. A Season to Kill puts me in the mind of the movies Along Came A Spider and Kiss the Girls in James Patterson’s Alex Cross Series. I once again visualized Morgan Freeman going through the challenges of trying to not only solve the death of Sharpe but that of Rose, Reisling, and Santapaula that are amongst the eleven unsolved murders. At the end of each day, I relaxed by reading this great mystery before turning in for the night. I just couldn’t put it down. Before this becomes a best-seller and turns into a movie, you want to get a chance to read A Season to Kill by Michael Mucci for yourself.A Season to Kill
June 28, 2016
Chris DeAngelo has a problem drinking. He's been a deputy in the small Pennsylvania town of Macon when the chief dies suddenly and he's thrust into the job of sheriff. It doesn't take long before he stumbles into a pattern of disappearances that have taken place in December, for 11 years. He also learns something about the sheriff that's a puzzle. He deals with problems by drinking, but after a time he smartens up (if that is a term) and realizes that he can't do that anymore. His close friends are supportive as he begins to unravel what appears to be some cult doing away with people who have done bad things. I began to suspect the direction of the plot and the way in which Chris would ultimately unmask the killers, but it takes Chris a while to figure it out. The author does a good job of developing Chris's character, keeps the tension rolling and drops hints along the way with care.
June 26, 2016
What a fun "whodunit"!! The characters are quite flawed especially the new sheriff, but they are well developed and hold your interest. I found it harder and harder to pause my reading as I raced to find out if I had drawn the right conclusion. This mystery is well written and a fun read. Watching the plot unfold, the "friends" help each other, was definitely worth the time. Take a summer trip to Pennsylvania, enjoy! Very deserving of being a 2016 Next Generation Indie finalist.
June 30, 2016
Very well written but any real armchair Sherlock will have figured out who the bad guys were by the time they have read the first half of the book. Their dialogue really gives them away, yet the actual ending was a surprise in the way it came about. I would read this book again without equivocation.
February 3, 2017
Predictable
I knew who the killer was about a quarter of the way through. So disappointed that the author couldn't have put some twists that weren't so obvious. Definitely won't be reading the next book.
I knew who the killer was about a quarter of the way through. So disappointed that the author couldn't have put some twists that weren't so obvious. Definitely won't be reading the next book.
April 2, 2016
Predictable
And transparent. Though the plot was interesting, it was very obvious "whodunit". Even with friendship, the sheriff , in real life, would never have discussed a case so openly. I cannot recommend this book for any reason
And transparent. Though the plot was interesting, it was very obvious "whodunit". Even with friendship, the sheriff , in real life, would never have discussed a case so openly. I cannot recommend this book for any reason
July 8, 2016
I enjoyed the book from beginning to end. The characters were interesting and the story moved right along. I love reading a book that allows me to see it in my mind. The only dissapointment was 3/4 of the way in I was wondering why the Sheriff couldn't see the obvious.
June 1, 2016
Waiting for more books
May 26, 2016
It took a while to get into but is well written
July 30, 2016
Smooth
Maybe a little to smooth, but yet a good read. I hope he writes more.
Thanks thanks required words written.
Maybe a little to smooth, but yet a good read. I hope he writes more.
Thanks thanks required words written.
August 7, 2016
It was okay but predictable...
September 10, 2016
Okay
Fairly good book, but a little too predictable. It held my interest but not sure I would highly recommend it.
Fairly good book, but a little too predictable. It held my interest but not sure I would highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews