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Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian #1
A Murder on Wall Street
Can a priest, his brother, and the brother's girlfriend solve a murder case and see justice done—or will they be the murderer's latest victim?
A Murder on Wall Street takes us inside the world of Captain O'Brian's Irish Pub and Cigar Bar in Manhattan, a legendary hotspot in the Financial District.
Investigating the death are pub owners Joey Mancuso, fired from the NYPD for his unorthodox methods, and his brother Father Dominic, who isn't your typical priest. Also investigating is Marcy Martinez, a Cuban bombshell and FBI agent who's Joey's girlfriend.
When a customer kills himself after celebrating the night before, the three know something's wrong. Turns out, the customer's death coincides with people losing money, and lots of it—and some of those people are very, very dangerous.
The apparent suicide of a hedge fund executive and the hit and run accident of his assistant leads Mancuso, Father O'Brian, and FBI Special Agent Martinez into the underworld of Wall Street. Money laundering, insider trading, and a Ponzi scheme are but a few of the crimes they uncovered, as they try and piece together this crime-ridden puzzle.
Joey Mancuso spent sixteen years in the NYPD earning his First Grade Detective shield and becoming one of the most successful homicide detectives. His last case, the murder of a homeless person in an alley behind the famed 21 Club, went unsolved. Political pressure undermined the case, as Joey's efforts led him to a congressional candidate and a Wall Street major donor with political juice. His efforts to continue the investigation in spite of the pushback caused his forced retirement from the NYPD. The Internal Affairs Division has sealed his file warning him to cease or else.
Now a half-owner, with his half-brother, Catholic priest, Father Mancuso, of an Irish pub, he continues his quest to solve crimes. Both are private investigators and together with Joey's girlfriend, FBI Agent Marcy, set out to bring to justice perpetrators of crimes, law enforcement is ignoring.
Fast-paced, suspenseful and thrilling, A Murder on Wall Street is one case you'll want to solve yourself. But the ending is unexpected, as the puzzle finally comes together in this page-turner you won't want to put down.
A Murder on Wall Street takes us inside the world of Captain O'Brian's Irish Pub and Cigar Bar in Manhattan, a legendary hotspot in the Financial District.
Investigating the death are pub owners Joey Mancuso, fired from the NYPD for his unorthodox methods, and his brother Father Dominic, who isn't your typical priest. Also investigating is Marcy Martinez, a Cuban bombshell and FBI agent who's Joey's girlfriend.
When a customer kills himself after celebrating the night before, the three know something's wrong. Turns out, the customer's death coincides with people losing money, and lots of it—and some of those people are very, very dangerous.
The apparent suicide of a hedge fund executive and the hit and run accident of his assistant leads Mancuso, Father O'Brian, and FBI Special Agent Martinez into the underworld of Wall Street. Money laundering, insider trading, and a Ponzi scheme are but a few of the crimes they uncovered, as they try and piece together this crime-ridden puzzle.
Joey Mancuso spent sixteen years in the NYPD earning his First Grade Detective shield and becoming one of the most successful homicide detectives. His last case, the murder of a homeless person in an alley behind the famed 21 Club, went unsolved. Political pressure undermined the case, as Joey's efforts led him to a congressional candidate and a Wall Street major donor with political juice. His efforts to continue the investigation in spite of the pushback caused his forced retirement from the NYPD. The Internal Affairs Division has sealed his file warning him to cease or else.
Now a half-owner, with his half-brother, Catholic priest, Father Mancuso, of an Irish pub, he continues his quest to solve crimes. Both are private investigators and together with Joey's girlfriend, FBI Agent Marcy, set out to bring to justice perpetrators of crimes, law enforcement is ignoring.
Fast-paced, suspenseful and thrilling, A Murder on Wall Street is one case you'll want to solve yourself. But the ending is unexpected, as the puzzle finally comes together in this page-turner you won't want to put down.
247 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2017
690 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
About the author
Owen Parr
65 books94 followersOwen Parr is a celebrated author, having won numerous awards for his unique and creative writing style. He has received Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards from respected organizations such as Reader's Favorite and the International Book Reviewer and Award organization. He has also been recognized by the Florida Authors and Publishers Association, Crime Masters International, and New Apple Award organizations. Many of his crime mystery novels have topped Amazon's bestseller list, with several reaching the number one spot.
Parr's novels stand out due to their unique crime mystery plots, full of twists and turns that keep readers engaged and challenged. His descriptions of scenes and characters are clear and concise, immersing readers in the story and allowing them to visualize the characters and settings.
Since 2015, Parr has created several series of novels, starting with the John Powers - International Espionage and Intrigue trilogy, followed by the Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brien Crime Mysteries - twelve novels of riveting crime and murder mysteries. Finally, he has written the Jack Ryder Novellas - three crime and murder mysteries, in the style of Agatha Christie.
Regardless of which series you start with, you will find yourself wanting to read them all, as each one is a treat to experience.
In addition to being an author, Parr is also a wealth advisor and portfolio manager with over 30 years of experience with Wall Street firms. He draws inspiration from his work and uses his observations to craft compelling white-collar crime stories that often reveal the underbelly of Wall Street.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Parr's parents immigrated to the US soon after the communist takeover of the island. Although he started college seeking an electrical engineering degree, he switched to marketing and business after finding the former to be lacking in creativity.
You can find out more about Parr and his work at www.owenparr.com or by emailing him at owen@owenparr.com. Parr donates a portion of his royalties each month to organizations such as St. Jude Hospital, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the Towers to Tunnel Foundation.
Parr's novels stand out due to their unique crime mystery plots, full of twists and turns that keep readers engaged and challenged. His descriptions of scenes and characters are clear and concise, immersing readers in the story and allowing them to visualize the characters and settings.
Since 2015, Parr has created several series of novels, starting with the John Powers - International Espionage and Intrigue trilogy, followed by the Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brien Crime Mysteries - twelve novels of riveting crime and murder mysteries. Finally, he has written the Jack Ryder Novellas - three crime and murder mysteries, in the style of Agatha Christie.
Regardless of which series you start with, you will find yourself wanting to read them all, as each one is a treat to experience.
In addition to being an author, Parr is also a wealth advisor and portfolio manager with over 30 years of experience with Wall Street firms. He draws inspiration from his work and uses his observations to craft compelling white-collar crime stories that often reveal the underbelly of Wall Street.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Parr's parents immigrated to the US soon after the communist takeover of the island. Although he started college seeking an electrical engineering degree, he switched to marketing and business after finding the former to be lacking in creativity.
You can find out more about Parr and his work at www.owenparr.com or by emailing him at owen@owenparr.com. Parr donates a portion of his royalties each month to organizations such as St. Jude Hospital, the Gary Sinise Foundation, and the Towers to Tunnel Foundation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
May 4, 2018
Two more unlikely private investigators - siblings or rather half brothers - one a retired detective who was pushed out of the force for political reasons despite an excellent track record and the other a Catholic priest.
Part of a series but the first book I've read it held my interest throughout with its mix of detective work, tongue in cheek humour, a very nice Irish bar as a setting and incompetent police detectives also in play.
A suicide who happened to drink the previous night at the bar and who was in high spirits convinces Father Dom that there is more than meets the eye in this case. Why is everyone trying to hurry the case through. Ruled a suicide and cremated a day later are all clues gone? Not quite so fast because inquiries reveal a real can of worms. From money laundering to drug deals, from scams of every kind and then murder and attempted murder to cover up the traces our two uncovers a long list of culprits being brought to book.
Very nicely told, very light and very plausible.
Part of a series but the first book I've read it held my interest throughout with its mix of detective work, tongue in cheek humour, a very nice Irish bar as a setting and incompetent police detectives also in play.
A suicide who happened to drink the previous night at the bar and who was in high spirits convinces Father Dom that there is more than meets the eye in this case. Why is everyone trying to hurry the case through. Ruled a suicide and cremated a day later are all clues gone? Not quite so fast because inquiries reveal a real can of worms. From money laundering to drug deals, from scams of every kind and then murder and attempted murder to cover up the traces our two uncovers a long list of culprits being brought to book.
Very nicely told, very light and very plausible.
April 3, 2024
I very much enjoyed the unique PI team that was the center of this story. And the ending was fabulous. Getting all the players together and presenting the evidence was very reminiscent of so many great novels and movies. An intriguing and convoluted story full of interesting people and an amazing wrap up. I will definitely read more of this series!
May 23, 2017
My original A Murder on Wall Street audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
A trio of unlikely crime solvers come together to solve the suicide of a customer. Oddly, this customer had everything to live for and even more to die for! Joey Mancuso, ex-NYPD with unusual methods; Marcy, FBI agent and drop dead gorgeous girlfriend of Mancuso; and, Father Dominic, Mancuso’s brother and co-owner of the Captain O’Brian’s Irish Pub. Suspicious of their friends and client’s death, the three begin their investigation into the seamy underworld of Wall Street finances. Is there a correlation between losing money and death? That is what Joey, Dominic, and Marcy want to know.
The book was a solidly written mystery with strong dialog and detailed descriptions. The characters were fully developed. At the end, Joey Mancuso makes the grand announcement exposing the murderer which felt reminiscent of Columbo or Ellery Queen. The story flow was smooth and flawless. A short listen but the plot was easy to follow.
The narrator, Stefan Rudnicki’s performance gave life to the characters – their voices sounded much like I thought they would/should. His voice was entertaining giving voice to the gravelly sound of mystery and intrigue for Mancuso and Father Dominic was well done too. There were different dialects from Irish to Cuban to Manhattan Mob. He kept them straight, believable and not over the top.
This book will appeal to fans of Owen Parr and anyone who loves dark mysteries with a grandstand at the end – announcing the killer in a room full of suspects. While this is not my favorite style of sitting through discovering who the killer is, it seemed to work.
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
A trio of unlikely crime solvers come together to solve the suicide of a customer. Oddly, this customer had everything to live for and even more to die for! Joey Mancuso, ex-NYPD with unusual methods; Marcy, FBI agent and drop dead gorgeous girlfriend of Mancuso; and, Father Dominic, Mancuso’s brother and co-owner of the Captain O’Brian’s Irish Pub. Suspicious of their friends and client’s death, the three begin their investigation into the seamy underworld of Wall Street finances. Is there a correlation between losing money and death? That is what Joey, Dominic, and Marcy want to know.
The book was a solidly written mystery with strong dialog and detailed descriptions. The characters were fully developed. At the end, Joey Mancuso makes the grand announcement exposing the murderer which felt reminiscent of Columbo or Ellery Queen. The story flow was smooth and flawless. A short listen but the plot was easy to follow.
The narrator, Stefan Rudnicki’s performance gave life to the characters – their voices sounded much like I thought they would/should. His voice was entertaining giving voice to the gravelly sound of mystery and intrigue for Mancuso and Father Dominic was well done too. There were different dialects from Irish to Cuban to Manhattan Mob. He kept them straight, believable and not over the top.
This book will appeal to fans of Owen Parr and anyone who loves dark mysteries with a grandstand at the end – announcing the killer in a room full of suspects. While this is not my favorite style of sitting through discovering who the killer is, it seemed to work.
There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
August 17, 2021
Pair up a retired detective, his half brother priest, and a sexy FBI agent and put them in an Irish pub. When a customer is in high spirits the night before, and a suicide the next day, these three decide to investigate. Easy reading book, great characters, and a good plot make this a great book. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series. I especially loved the ending and epilogue.
November 6, 2024
A good first book in the series. The characters were well fleshed out and I loved the Irish pub setting. The ending reminded me of classic detective fiction (think Hercule Poirot gathering the crowd for the reveal). I would read the next in the series.
June 27, 2021
Entertaining
This is book one of a series. The main characters are two half brothers. Both have private investigator licenses. One brother is a retired NY police dept. Detective the other brother is a priest! You can imagine the situations which come about. A good story, not too heavy but engaging. I will be reading the next book in the series.
This is book one of a series. The main characters are two half brothers. Both have private investigator licenses. One brother is a retired NY police dept. Detective the other brother is a priest! You can imagine the situations which come about. A good story, not too heavy but engaging. I will be reading the next book in the series.
April 19, 2021
I liked the characters here (except Fr. Dom doesn't seem to spend much time at his church), but the book could have used some more editing.
The ending was drawn out, with new names thrown in that the reader couldn't have known about. I also don't need to read about the sentences given to all the criminals.
I'll figure these were beginner's errors, and I will try more books in the series
The ending was drawn out, with new names thrown in that the reader couldn't have known about. I also don't need to read about the sentences given to all the criminals.
I'll figure these were beginner's errors, and I will try more books in the series
April 10, 2021
Eh...this book just wasn't my thing. I didn't think there was enough action for me. The reveal at the end and the what-happened-to-everyone description was the best part of the whole story. I don't think I'll continue on with this series.
July 25, 2019
I did this on audio which helped b/c the narrator Stefan Rudnicki did a great job, especially w/all the different accents of the various characters.
I liked the characters but the story moved slowly.
The mystery was so/so.
But I did like the ending.
Joey gathers all the suspects together at his bar for the big reveal:
It was one of the funniest wrap ups I’ve read.
(it reminded me of scenes from the tv shows Monk or Columbo)
I liked the characters but the story moved slowly.
The mystery was so/so.
But I did like the ending.
Joey gathers all the suspects together at his bar for the big reveal:
It was one of the funniest wrap ups I’ve read.
(it reminded me of scenes from the tv shows Monk or Columbo)
December 4, 2019
Good mystery writing!!!
Fully enjoyed the story and characters. Good humor too. Well developed story and characters. Ready to start the next book.
Fully enjoyed the story and characters. Good humor too. Well developed story and characters. Ready to start the next book.
November 16, 2020
The book sounded much better than it was. AND I listened to it instead of reading it and the narrator was horrible. I will not continue the series.
November 17, 2022
I listened as I read along with this book. It was a great story. I bit unbelievable at the end, but it was entertaining.
August 3, 2021
Liked Book 2 much better!
November 28, 2019
Joey Mancuso, an ex NYC detective and now part owner of a cigar bar and his half brother Father O'Brian team up to investigate the death of a bar patron who apparently jumped from his office at
a wall Street investment firm. Since the man was in the bar the night before celebrating getting a new client for the firm and a ensuing trip to Portugal with a stunning young lady (mistress), they are suspicious about the conclusion that it was a suicide. Joey and father O'Brian have a PI license and
with the help of some friends they unravel the mystery and in a show and tell ending they present the
evidence of not just the non-suicide, but several crimes as well. A decent read and now on to vol 2 of
a boxed set.
a wall Street investment firm. Since the man was in the bar the night before celebrating getting a new client for the firm and a ensuing trip to Portugal with a stunning young lady (mistress), they are suspicious about the conclusion that it was a suicide. Joey and father O'Brian have a PI license and
with the help of some friends they unravel the mystery and in a show and tell ending they present the
evidence of not just the non-suicide, but several crimes as well. A decent read and now on to vol 2 of
a boxed set.
July 21, 2018
“A Murder on Wall Street” starts off rough, but after a few chapters, this story is surprising in the way everything falls dynamically into place.
Read full review in the 2018 July Aug issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 July Aug issue of InD'tale Magazine.
May 17, 2017
Ripped From The Headlines
There is something about a well-written Detective/PI story that makes me not able to put the book down. The interaction of the private investigator (or in this case investigators) and the people surrounding the crime makes for such an enjoyable story.
Joey Mancuso used to be a cop. He was forced off of the force due to some good police work that had him barking up the wrong tree. Now he helps run a bar that is frequented by Wall Street money men while trying to get a PI firm off the ground. He is joined by his half-brother Father O’Brian. And believe it or not, the combination of an ex-cop and a priest make for some awesome detective and PI work.
After finishing A Murder On Wall Street I can tell you this — I will definitely be picking up other audiobooks in this series if Parr and Skyboat make them. I loved the interaction of Mancuso and Father O’Brien along with his interactions with his girlfriend and FBI agent Marcy. Mancuso mentions numerous times that he had a different way of solving crimes and that came out a little, but overall I found him to be one of the more enjoyable PI’s I’ve followed.
The story itself was straight out of the playbook of real life crime TV show “American Greed”. Honestly, after finishing it, I feel like it was real and that I actually watched a documentary instead of reading a fiction book.
Parr did his research — every character in this book felt both believable and like they could have done it. The ending reminded me a bit of the ending of the movie Clue (with slightly less comedy). Mancuso seemed to have an heir for theatrics (but I won’t ruin the ending by explaining why I mean here).
The narration for A Murder On Wall Street was done by Stefan Rudnicki who does a great job. I had no issues at all listening to him tell this story. To be honest, he allowed me to get even more into it. He voiced each character slightly differently, but the overall tone remained the same allowing for an easy listening experience.
Overall, A Murder On Wall Street was a highly enjoyable and relatively short crime thriller/mystery that I think readers of either genre will enjoy. Fans of American Greed should also check this out, it feels like it was ripped right from the headlines.
There is something about a well-written Detective/PI story that makes me not able to put the book down. The interaction of the private investigator (or in this case investigators) and the people surrounding the crime makes for such an enjoyable story.
Joey Mancuso used to be a cop. He was forced off of the force due to some good police work that had him barking up the wrong tree. Now he helps run a bar that is frequented by Wall Street money men while trying to get a PI firm off the ground. He is joined by his half-brother Father O’Brian. And believe it or not, the combination of an ex-cop and a priest make for some awesome detective and PI work.
After finishing A Murder On Wall Street I can tell you this — I will definitely be picking up other audiobooks in this series if Parr and Skyboat make them. I loved the interaction of Mancuso and Father O’Brien along with his interactions with his girlfriend and FBI agent Marcy. Mancuso mentions numerous times that he had a different way of solving crimes and that came out a little, but overall I found him to be one of the more enjoyable PI’s I’ve followed.
The story itself was straight out of the playbook of real life crime TV show “American Greed”. Honestly, after finishing it, I feel like it was real and that I actually watched a documentary instead of reading a fiction book.
Parr did his research — every character in this book felt both believable and like they could have done it. The ending reminded me a bit of the ending of the movie Clue (with slightly less comedy). Mancuso seemed to have an heir for theatrics (but I won’t ruin the ending by explaining why I mean here).
The narration for A Murder On Wall Street was done by Stefan Rudnicki who does a great job. I had no issues at all listening to him tell this story. To be honest, he allowed me to get even more into it. He voiced each character slightly differently, but the overall tone remained the same allowing for an easy listening experience.
Overall, A Murder On Wall Street was a highly enjoyable and relatively short crime thriller/mystery that I think readers of either genre will enjoy. Fans of American Greed should also check this out, it feels like it was ripped right from the headlines.
February 16, 2018
First in the Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian crime mystery series and revolving around two half-brothers who share ownership of a cigar bar and tavern in New York City.
This Kindle was sent to me by the author for an honest review.
My Take
It's all about greed, and its effect on the individual. Well, in this case, the individuals, as there are a number of angles playing into each other. I did enjoy the epilogue that recapped everyone's, um, fate.
There’s a noirish feel to Parr’s writing with Joey zinging 'em out with first person protagonist point-of-view, but any intended (?) seriousness gets lost in the undeveloped and obvious writing. It's all tell and the action is much too easy. It is an interesting story, but Parr needs to give it some meat, some tension and drama.
There's no antagonism among the FBI, the cops, or the ME's office toward Joey and his brother. At least Parr was consistent in this as can be read in the final scene in which Joey does a recap in the style of Hercule Poirot.
Melody is coming on to everyone. Agnes is simply there when Parr has already provided an excuse for drama here. Joey doesn't find the partners' laughter out of place at that initial interview? Why is Marcy annoyed that Joey riffs on her reaming comment? Mrs. Roberts? Not Detective Roberts?
I’m confused about how this ownership thing works with the bar. If Mancuso and Father Dom each own half the bar, where does Father Dom’s other brother, Brandon, fit in?
One of the basic rules of writing is to give each speaker a new paragraph. It can be confusing enough when dialogue tags are left out, but it’s so much worse when writers run the different speakers together in one paragraph. And Parr should refresh his memory on the difference between possessives and plurals.
The Story
Why would a successful money manager, celebrating the night before, want to commit suicide? It's a hinky judgment of suicide that sets Father Dom into action along with his half-brother, Joey Mancuso.
It's a conspiracy of money laundering, insider trading, and a Ponzi scheme on Wall Street and murder that may tie back to the murder case that shoved Joey out of the NYPD.
Along with FBI Special Agent Martinez, the three will attempt piece together this crime-ridden puzzle.
The Characters
Former Detective Joey Mancuso was forced out of Homicide after sixteen years (his dad was Mafiosi). He’s also the half-owner of Captain O’Brian’s Irish Pub and Cigar Bar along with Father Dominic O’Brian, his half brother, who is with the Saint Helen’s Catholic Church in Brooklyn. They inherited from O’Brian’s dad, Marine Master Sergeant Sean O’Brian. Marine Sergeant Brandon O’Brian was Father Dom’s full brother. Marine Captain Sean O’Brian started up the tavern. Patrick “Mr. Pat” O’Sullivan is the bartender who served in the Marines with Brandon. Angela and Alina are some of the waitresses. Customers are nicknamed for their drink orders.
FBI
Special Agent Marcela “Marcy” Martinez wants to cool her relationship with Mancuso. Her brother, Alberto, is a soldier. Special-Agent-in-Charge Victoria Stewart is Marcy’s boss in the white-collar crime division. Special Agent William Casals is with Organized Crime.
NYPD
Frankie “Dr Death” is the medical examiner and a friend of Mancuso’s. Detective Lucy “Lucifer” Roberts is Joey’s old partner; she’s married to Army Drill Sergeant Harold Roberts, and they have three kids: Frank, Dean, and Sammy. Detectives Bob Farnsworth and George Charles (Jenna is Charles' wife) are major jerks.
Evans, Albert, and Associates is…
…a hedge fund that is doing too well and owned by Robert Evans and Thomas Albert III. They had referred to themselves as the Big Swinging Dicks when they were young bond traders. Evans and his wife, Elena Muir, have two (or three) kids, Robert, Jr. and Stephanie. Robert also keeps mistresses: Maria Christina and Katerina Rostova. Albert is married to Lillian Stanley, and they have three kids. Stevan Kapzoff is their attorney. Carla is the receptionist.
Jonathan “Tito” Parker is a senior vice-president and is married to Adelle. Kathy "Stella" Miller is Parker's assistant. Arturo Alvarez, an analyst, is Kathy’s boyfriend. Anita Schilling is Adelle’s sister. Andrew Huffing is Adelle’s wealthy father who started up Andrew’s Sporting Goods. Robert Sands was Huffing’s general manager.
Melody Wright is an aspiring actress working as a model and seeing Jonathan on the side. U.S. Representative Horatio Stevens represents New York and is one of the original investors along with Vittorio Agostino and Luigi Bellascone.
Jimmy is the director of the homeless shelter. [Another] Jimmy and Ed Daniels are some of the homeless men. Bernard Madoff and Allen Stanford ran Ponzi schemes. Aroma’s is a Cuban restaurant Marcy loves, which is owned by Camilo and Marcia Garcia. Dino’s Deli is next door to Captain O’Brian’s. Agnes Smith, who happens to be a good researcher, is very interested in Father Dom. Rafael Galan is an attorney in Mexico. Señor Ricardo Lindo is the alleged drug lord of the Lindo cartel in Mexico. Barry Simon is a New York Tribune reporter. Schultz and Essen are another law firm in New York.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a close-up of a glass of MacAllan 18 scotch and three cigars, a blue smoke trail rising up from one of them, all three resting on a $100 bill on a dark wooden table at Captain O’Brian’s. The author’s name is in a black-outlined red font centered at the top while the title is at the bottom in a black-outlined white. The series information is in white to the left of the scotch.
The title is just a hunch on Father Dom’s part, and he believes it’s A Murder on Wall Street.
This Kindle was sent to me by the author for an honest review.
My Take
It's all about greed, and its effect on the individual. Well, in this case, the individuals, as there are a number of angles playing into each other. I did enjoy the epilogue that recapped everyone's, um, fate.
There’s a noirish feel to Parr’s writing with Joey zinging 'em out with first person protagonist point-of-view, but any intended (?) seriousness gets lost in the undeveloped and obvious writing. It's all tell and the action is much too easy. It is an interesting story, but Parr needs to give it some meat, some tension and drama.
There's no antagonism among the FBI, the cops, or the ME's office toward Joey and his brother. At least Parr was consistent in this as can be read in the final scene in which Joey does a recap in the style of Hercule Poirot.
Melody is coming on to everyone. Agnes is simply there when Parr has already provided an excuse for drama here. Joey doesn't find the partners' laughter out of place at that initial interview? Why is Marcy annoyed that Joey riffs on her reaming comment? Mrs. Roberts? Not Detective Roberts?
I’m confused about how this ownership thing works with the bar. If Mancuso and Father Dom each own half the bar, where does Father Dom’s other brother, Brandon, fit in?
One of the basic rules of writing is to give each speaker a new paragraph. It can be confusing enough when dialogue tags are left out, but it’s so much worse when writers run the different speakers together in one paragraph. And Parr should refresh his memory on the difference between possessives and plurals.
The Story
Why would a successful money manager, celebrating the night before, want to commit suicide? It's a hinky judgment of suicide that sets Father Dom into action along with his half-brother, Joey Mancuso.
It's a conspiracy of money laundering, insider trading, and a Ponzi scheme on Wall Street and murder that may tie back to the murder case that shoved Joey out of the NYPD.
Along with FBI Special Agent Martinez, the three will attempt piece together this crime-ridden puzzle.
The Characters
Former Detective Joey Mancuso was forced out of Homicide after sixteen years (his dad was Mafiosi). He’s also the half-owner of Captain O’Brian’s Irish Pub and Cigar Bar along with Father Dominic O’Brian, his half brother, who is with the Saint Helen’s Catholic Church in Brooklyn. They inherited from O’Brian’s dad, Marine Master Sergeant Sean O’Brian. Marine Sergeant Brandon O’Brian was Father Dom’s full brother. Marine Captain Sean O’Brian started up the tavern. Patrick “Mr. Pat” O’Sullivan is the bartender who served in the Marines with Brandon. Angela and Alina are some of the waitresses. Customers are nicknamed for their drink orders.
FBI
Special Agent Marcela “Marcy” Martinez wants to cool her relationship with Mancuso. Her brother, Alberto, is a soldier. Special-Agent-in-Charge Victoria Stewart is Marcy’s boss in the white-collar crime division. Special Agent William Casals is with Organized Crime.
NYPD
Frankie “Dr Death” is the medical examiner and a friend of Mancuso’s. Detective Lucy “Lucifer” Roberts is Joey’s old partner; she’s married to Army Drill Sergeant Harold Roberts, and they have three kids: Frank, Dean, and Sammy. Detectives Bob Farnsworth and George Charles (Jenna is Charles' wife) are major jerks.
Evans, Albert, and Associates is…
…a hedge fund that is doing too well and owned by Robert Evans and Thomas Albert III. They had referred to themselves as the Big Swinging Dicks when they were young bond traders. Evans and his wife, Elena Muir, have two (or three) kids, Robert, Jr. and Stephanie. Robert also keeps mistresses: Maria Christina and Katerina Rostova. Albert is married to Lillian Stanley, and they have three kids. Stevan Kapzoff is their attorney. Carla is the receptionist.
Jonathan “Tito” Parker is a senior vice-president and is married to Adelle. Kathy "Stella" Miller is Parker's assistant. Arturo Alvarez, an analyst, is Kathy’s boyfriend. Anita Schilling is Adelle’s sister. Andrew Huffing is Adelle’s wealthy father who started up Andrew’s Sporting Goods. Robert Sands was Huffing’s general manager.
Melody Wright is an aspiring actress working as a model and seeing Jonathan on the side. U.S. Representative Horatio Stevens represents New York and is one of the original investors along with Vittorio Agostino and Luigi Bellascone.
Jimmy is the director of the homeless shelter. [Another] Jimmy and Ed Daniels are some of the homeless men. Bernard Madoff and Allen Stanford ran Ponzi schemes. Aroma’s is a Cuban restaurant Marcy loves, which is owned by Camilo and Marcia Garcia. Dino’s Deli is next door to Captain O’Brian’s. Agnes Smith, who happens to be a good researcher, is very interested in Father Dom. Rafael Galan is an attorney in Mexico. Señor Ricardo Lindo is the alleged drug lord of the Lindo cartel in Mexico. Barry Simon is a New York Tribune reporter. Schultz and Essen are another law firm in New York.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a close-up of a glass of MacAllan 18 scotch and three cigars, a blue smoke trail rising up from one of them, all three resting on a $100 bill on a dark wooden table at Captain O’Brian’s. The author’s name is in a black-outlined red font centered at the top while the title is at the bottom in a black-outlined white. The series information is in white to the left of the scotch.
The title is just a hunch on Father Dom’s part, and he believes it’s A Murder on Wall Street.
March 5, 2021
First in a series about two half brothers, one a former NYPD homicide detective (Joey) and one a priest, who own an Irish bar and are private investigators. A bar patron who was celebrating is found dead the next day and it is thought he jumped out a window but the brothers don't think so and decide to investigate. During the investigation the man's assistant is also killed and several others have attempts on their lives. Lots of suspects including the man's mistress, his 2 employers and his wife and father-in-law. it also appears the case ties back to Joey's last case with the NYPD and the murder of a homeless man.
Joey gets his old partner involved along with his girlfriend who is an FBI agent and several others. There is lots going on and the reason for the murder could be greed, insider trading, a Ponzi scheme, cartel ties, jealousy, and several other motives. Joey is a wise cracking guy who sometimes has a hard time taking things seriously. His brother the priest is a bit more sensible and the manager of their bar also is a down to earth man who helps out. They stage a very theatrical finish for all the suspects and law enforcement which I enjoyed.
A decent mystery, I liked the characters, and the story was sprinkled every so often with explanations from the past. Will continue with the series.
Joey gets his old partner involved along with his girlfriend who is an FBI agent and several others. There is lots going on and the reason for the murder could be greed, insider trading, a Ponzi scheme, cartel ties, jealousy, and several other motives. Joey is a wise cracking guy who sometimes has a hard time taking things seriously. His brother the priest is a bit more sensible and the manager of their bar also is a down to earth man who helps out. They stage a very theatrical finish for all the suspects and law enforcement which I enjoyed.
A decent mystery, I liked the characters, and the story was sprinkled every so often with explanations from the past. Will continue with the series.
June 15, 2025
In all fairness, I must begin by saying that I’m not a big fan of this genre where a man of the cloth is also a detective, licensed or unlicensed. I’d read many such novels written by a handful of different authors, but none of them were able to create a priest/minister/detective character that came across as believable. For me, the two career paths had always seemed so opposed. I had never known one in real life, and I had never met one in fiction that seemed believable until I met Father O’Brien, Joey Mancuso’s half-brother. The only reason I gave A Murder on Wall Street a shot was because Owen Parr wrote it, and he’s one of my favorite authors. In Father Dominic O’Brien, I finally met a priest/detective who resonated with me, and the temporary suspension was no longer an issue.
With A Murder on Wall Street, book 1 in the Joey Mancuso and Father O’Brien Murder Mystery series, Owen Parr has a new best-selling series in the making. This was one of those books that kept me glued to the edge of my seat from page one. If you are really into adrenaline-fueled roller-coaster thrill rides, this new series is a must-read for you.
With A Murder on Wall Street, book 1 in the Joey Mancuso and Father O’Brien Murder Mystery series, Owen Parr has a new best-selling series in the making. This was one of those books that kept me glued to the edge of my seat from page one. If you are really into adrenaline-fueled roller-coaster thrill rides, this new series is a must-read for you.
April 20, 2018
An exceptional trio – an ex-detective, his girlfriend, and his brother, a priest – attempt to solve a murder case. This case has been deemed a suicide. Our trio includes Joey Mancuso, recently fired from the NYPD after 16 years, and his brother, Dominic, a priest. They are both private investigators. There is also Marcy Martinez, FBI agent and Joey's girlfriend.
The man who died was just celebrating a promotion at the Pub the brothers own, and he was about to become engaged. Why would he kill himself? Then there is the hit-and-run of the man's assistant. Coincidence? Joey. Dominic and Marcy do not think so, and begin an intense investigation. Meanwhile, the case that led to Joey’s dismissal is something that he cannot let go of, and he is on that as well.
What a quick and fun read! I really love how Owen Parr presents the conclusion. I love this style of writing and look forward to reading more of his books.
Thank you to NetGalley for this book for review.
The man who died was just celebrating a promotion at the Pub the brothers own, and he was about to become engaged. Why would he kill himself? Then there is the hit-and-run of the man's assistant. Coincidence? Joey. Dominic and Marcy do not think so, and begin an intense investigation. Meanwhile, the case that led to Joey’s dismissal is something that he cannot let go of, and he is on that as well.
What a quick and fun read! I really love how Owen Parr presents the conclusion. I love this style of writing and look forward to reading more of his books.
Thank you to NetGalley for this book for review.
August 11, 2020
This is the first of the Joey Mancuso Father O'Brian crime mysteries. We find out that those guys are really half-brothers. Joey was a NYPD cop until a year ago when the case he was working went cold and he left the department. Father O'Brian is working St. Helena parish in Brooklyn. The two of them have inherited a bar and cigar emporium in lower Manhattan. Joey spends most of his time there; Dominic comes in every day for at least an hour. Their main man there is Mr Pat, who serves drinks and cigars and helps with research. Father Dom walks in the day after one of their customers dies and has a "bad feeling" about his death being called a suicide, so they begin investigating since they both have their PI licenses. We meet the widow, the mistress, the employers and the coworkers of the dead guy. They interview everybody, even people they shouldn't. We meet Joey's girlfriend, an FBI agent, and his old partner. Things get set to rights. I enjoyed myself with this book.
August 16, 2022
A Priest, A Former NYC Homicide Detective, and An FBI Agent Walk Into A Bar...
...And investigate the suspicious suicide of a member of a prominent Wall Street hedge fund.
The priest and the detective are half-brothers and owners of Captain O'Brian's, a bar and cigar lounge on Wall Street. They are also licensed private investigators. The FBI agent is the former detective's girlfriend. They use the bar as their headquarters to gather and assess the evidence, motives, and opportunities of the five suspects who last saw the victim alive: The two fund partners, the wife, her father, and the mistress.
A Murder on Wall Street is Owen Parr's first installment in the Joey Mancuso (the detective) and Father Dom O'Brian (the priest) series. It's a fast-paced mystery with a terrific ending where all the suspects are gathered at the bar as Joey and Father Dom reveal the cause of death and each suspect's role.
Well done, and I look forward to the next in the series.
...And investigate the suspicious suicide of a member of a prominent Wall Street hedge fund.
The priest and the detective are half-brothers and owners of Captain O'Brian's, a bar and cigar lounge on Wall Street. They are also licensed private investigators. The FBI agent is the former detective's girlfriend. They use the bar as their headquarters to gather and assess the evidence, motives, and opportunities of the five suspects who last saw the victim alive: The two fund partners, the wife, her father, and the mistress.
A Murder on Wall Street is Owen Parr's first installment in the Joey Mancuso (the detective) and Father Dom O'Brian (the priest) series. It's a fast-paced mystery with a terrific ending where all the suspects are gathered at the bar as Joey and Father Dom reveal the cause of death and each suspect's role.
Well done, and I look forward to the next in the series.
July 2, 2018
The thing that stood out most to me was how everything connected to other events and people. This story must have taken serious planning to ensure everything would be in place for the final reveal. Speaking or the reveal, I really enjoyed the 'Murder She Wrote' style reveal at the end that includes not just who did it, but how and why everything happened.
I enjoyed the style of writing and I think the characters are really well done, very realistic. Great descriptions, it was easy to picture everything that was happening. I liked the moments of humor, they do a good job of offsetting the more serious moments.
The narration is clear and well paced, the character voices are distinct and both genders are believable.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
I enjoyed the style of writing and I think the characters are really well done, very realistic. Great descriptions, it was easy to picture everything that was happening. I liked the moments of humor, they do a good job of offsetting the more serious moments.
The narration is clear and well paced, the character voices are distinct and both genders are believable.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.
August 30, 2023
Bar owners Mancuso and Father Dom are half-brothers and PIs to boot, opening an investigation into a death of one of their patrons. Mr Parker did a very good impression of a pancake when he landed on the apron of his building from the 21st floor. The PIs swing into action with their spatulas, scraping information out of all the suspects. What they don’t realise is the amount of criminality they have uncovered by opening this particular Pandora’s Box.
A classic whodunit minus the butler and the candlestick in the conservatory, although a lot of the investigative work was done behind the scenes, only to be revealed at the presentation at the end, so the reader is not aware of the procedural work done by the PIs. Nonetheless, an entertaining and mysterious plot skillfully woven with reasonable pacing throughout.
A classic whodunit minus the butler and the candlestick in the conservatory, although a lot of the investigative work was done behind the scenes, only to be revealed at the presentation at the end, so the reader is not aware of the procedural work done by the PIs. Nonetheless, an entertaining and mysterious plot skillfully woven with reasonable pacing throughout.
November 28, 2023
I thought it was a good story! I enjoyed reading about Joey Mantusco and his half brother Father Domice O’Brian. They were left an Irish pub on Wall Street by their uncle and are just taking over running it, their way!
Being on Wall Street it has a good selection of customers. Father Dom is a clergyman at a St. Helen’s Church in Brooklyn, NY!
Joey is a retired Ex-detective with NYPD They both have a Private Detective license and are starting to investigate some crimes!
They hear that one of their customers was found dead at his office building, not far from their Pub.
They decide to investigate the crime because they do not believe he fell out of the window on purpose!
They find a lot of crimes from this one.
They decide to have a small group of suspects come to the Pub and stage a @ “play-like” conference!
That helps the men show who and why all these crimes took place.
Being on Wall Street it has a good selection of customers. Father Dom is a clergyman at a St. Helen’s Church in Brooklyn, NY!
Joey is a retired Ex-detective with NYPD They both have a Private Detective license and are starting to investigate some crimes!
They hear that one of their customers was found dead at his office building, not far from their Pub.
They decide to investigate the crime because they do not believe he fell out of the window on purpose!
They find a lot of crimes from this one.
They decide to have a small group of suspects come to the Pub and stage a @ “play-like” conference!
That helps the men show who and why all these crimes took place.
August 24, 2023
This is a very rewarding mystery. Two half-brothers, one a former NYPD detective and the other a Catholic Priest, work together as private investigators, battling the odds against them to uncover and solve several crimes. There is a lot of investigative journalism in the book, plus a little bit of humor and some romance.
I admire the author's development of the characters in the book. And his way of telling of each situation has me visualizing exactly where they are and what the surroundings look like. I can almost picture the characters themselves. This is a great feeling when reading a story like this because you feel drawn into the situations and identifying with the main characters. I highly recommend this book to any mystery lover!
I admire the author's development of the characters in the book. And his way of telling of each situation has me visualizing exactly where they are and what the surroundings look like. I can almost picture the characters themselves. This is a great feeling when reading a story like this because you feel drawn into the situations and identifying with the main characters. I highly recommend this book to any mystery lover!
April 11, 2018
okay, so part of the setting sounds like a setup for a joke.
a priest and a cop owned a bar, and in walked.......
what this story is though is an adventure in crime and sleuthing.
not the Hardy boys, but two adult brothers with very different vallings born to the same mother- a really sharp duo at solving crimes and pouring drinks.
if you like cop mysteries or priest mysteries, this book gives you the best of both worlds.
this particular story deals with homeless men and Manhattan movers and shakers.
looking forward to their next joint venture.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
a priest and a cop owned a bar, and in walked.......
what this story is though is an adventure in crime and sleuthing.
not the Hardy boys, but two adult brothers with very different vallings born to the same mother- a really sharp duo at solving crimes and pouring drinks.
if you like cop mysteries or priest mysteries, this book gives you the best of both worlds.
this particular story deals with homeless men and Manhattan movers and shakers.
looking forward to their next joint venture.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 12, 2019
Absolutely fantastic book!!!!! I read this book straight through and put it down for human nature calls.
My God this was the first time I read from this author and what a treat for me. A delicious treat at that. I became so involved with the characters and was trying to solve on my own, but there was simply to much going on with the many characters. I simply cannot wait to read the next part of this intriguing story character, Joey Mancuso, Father Dom, Mr. Pat and Ms. Marcy.
My God this was the first time I read from this author and what a treat for me. A delicious treat at that. I became so involved with the characters and was trying to solve on my own, but there was simply to much going on with the many characters. I simply cannot wait to read the next part of this intriguing story character, Joey Mancuso, Father Dom, Mr. Pat and Ms. Marcy.
August 21, 2019
Joey is a former cop. Dom is a priest. They are half brothers that own a bar in the Wall Street district of New York. Joey and Dom not own the bar, they are also private detectives. When one of their customers supposedly commits suicide they decide to investigate and as they do there are more people involved in things beyond the death of the customer. They end up making a grand presentation of the facts at the end. Reminds me very much of an Agatha Christie style ending where they gather all the suspects together. The characters were interesting if a little on the stiff side, however Joey and Dom make an interesting team. I may have to read another to see if I can connect.
February 21, 2021
This had potential but several disappointing aspects. Editing, first of all. It was also very repetitive with interviews repeated in the discussion of the case. The big 'reveal' at the end seemed very contrived--more a vehicle for the main character to exhibit his wit and cleverness. And then the whole thing repeated as the characters read the news article to each other. Too much 'tell' and not enough show. It also seemed unrealist that the law enforcement agencies were so cooperative with the main character and each other.
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