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A Luca Mystery #3
The Serenity Murder
When a detective second-guesses his gut, he'll have to get creative to catch the killer.
Luca worries cancer and divorce have dulled his razor-sharp instincts. So the detective is a bit relieved when his next murder case seems like a no-brainer. When the wealthy victim is found dead in her private-island home, the gold-digging husband seems like the obvious killer.
As Luca digs deeper and follows the clues, however, he uncovers a whole new line-up of possible suspects. No longer able to rely on his gut feelings, Luca puts the victim's sordid affairs and her rivalries under the microscope. With time running out, Detective Luca must find a way to regain his swagger and solve the case before the killer strikes again.
The Serenity Murder is the third book in the riveting Luca Mystery police procedural series. If you like hardened detectives, unexpected plot twists, and seeing the crime from multiple points of view, then you'll love Dan Petrosini's gripping whodunit.
Buy The Serenity Murder to hold on tight for a white-knuckle police procedural today!
Luca worries cancer and divorce have dulled his razor-sharp instincts. So the detective is a bit relieved when his next murder case seems like a no-brainer. When the wealthy victim is found dead in her private-island home, the gold-digging husband seems like the obvious killer.
As Luca digs deeper and follows the clues, however, he uncovers a whole new line-up of possible suspects. No longer able to rely on his gut feelings, Luca puts the victim's sordid affairs and her rivalries under the microscope. With time running out, Detective Luca must find a way to regain his swagger and solve the case before the killer strikes again.
The Serenity Murder is the third book in the riveting Luca Mystery police procedural series. If you like hardened detectives, unexpected plot twists, and seeing the crime from multiple points of view, then you'll love Dan Petrosini's gripping whodunit.
Buy The Serenity Murder to hold on tight for a white-knuckle police procedural today!
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2018
420 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Dan Petrosini
113 books177 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 44 reviews
December 23, 2019
This is the first of the Luca mysteries I have read. It can be read as a stand alone but I would like to have the background on Detective Luca I would gain from reading books 1 and 2. Wealthy philanthropist Marilyn Boggs wants to divorce her husband but the way her father wrote his will she loses 25% if she divorces. Her husband wants rid of her but he wants to keep their private island off the coast of Naples, FL. He begins to research ways to kill her and get by with it. Then Marilyn is found dead in their mansion on the island. Did he do more than just research it? Detective Luca thinks he did but then more suspects surface. Trust Detective Luca to get his man. I listened to the Audible version of this book given to me by StoryOrigin. I enjoyed it but I want to read the first 2 books to understand more of what is going on with Luca. The audio was well done and the narrator did a good job.
December 3, 2019
So this is book 3 of the series and I haven't read any of the first 2 books.
The author did a good job on the character developments. The story is told in a first person point of view and from the point of several characters. The switching of characters was through their own chapters, which is named after them so you don't get too confused when reading/listening.
It starts off quite slow, but when the mystery is revealed then it is very interesting to read/listen to.
The Narrator did a good job reading, but the issue was, there was no difference between characters, so it can break the illusion of hearing the story and trying to remember that it is a different character and not one of the other multiple ones that are talked about.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving am honest review
The author did a good job on the character developments. The story is told in a first person point of view and from the point of several characters. The switching of characters was through their own chapters, which is named after them so you don't get too confused when reading/listening.
It starts off quite slow, but when the mystery is revealed then it is very interesting to read/listen to.
The Narrator did a good job reading, but the issue was, there was no difference between characters, so it can break the illusion of hearing the story and trying to remember that it is a different character and not one of the other multiple ones that are talked about.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving am honest review
January 17, 2020
When a wealthy lady is killed, Luca and his partner are summoned to try and figure out who’s responsible. There are three prominent suspects, and to figure out the truth of the crime, the partners will have to dive deep into their web of secrets and lies.
The mystery and suspense were very well done in this story. It kept me guessing right up until the end, and I was proud that I couldn’t guess who the killer was. Finding out the truth at last left me feeling very accomplished. Luca was a very interesting character, and I found his parts to be the most engaging part of the book.
Narration was easy to listen to.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
The mystery and suspense were very well done in this story. It kept me guessing right up until the end, and I was proud that I couldn’t guess who the killer was. Finding out the truth at last left me feeling very accomplished. Luca was a very interesting character, and I found his parts to be the most engaging part of the book.
Narration was easy to listen to.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
December 8, 2020
Hard To Put Down Crime Thriller
The Serenity Murder by Dan Petrosini is a murder mystery surrounding the stabbing death of a very rich women. Who killed her? Her husband? Her lover? The pool boy? This crime thriller was really hard to put down and kept me guessing until the end. Excellent plot, great characters, beautiful locale. I highly recommend.
The Serenity Murder by Dan Petrosini is a murder mystery surrounding the stabbing death of a very rich women. Who killed her? Her husband? Her lover? The pool boy? This crime thriller was really hard to put down and kept me guessing until the end. Excellent plot, great characters, beautiful locale. I highly recommend.
December 10, 2020
Who would(could) do this?
This was an interesting mystery that kept dragging you back and forth between three suspects. If you like mystery’s, I recommend you pull this one off the shelf.
This was an interesting mystery that kept dragging you back and forth between three suspects. If you like mystery’s, I recommend you pull this one off the shelf.
July 16, 2020
In a direct style, this novel is an example of a thriller. The style was straight and easy to read, but very predictable, I might say.
December 2, 2019
Audible. (Book is available via KU & whispersync enabled) This is my first experience with both the author & the narrator.
Book is slightly hobbled by the narrator. Peter Lerman has a nice voice to listen to ~ but he's possibly more appropriate as a non-fiction "reader" than a true narrator. Despite chapters that alternate POV's and a variety of characters ~ almost everyone sounds the same. Until we get to Raul's chapter where he speaks in a heavy Cuban (or Puerto Rican?) accent, no matter who is talking. Even Marilyn now sounds like her gardener. Lerman doesn't do a consistent job of emoting ~ and the listener is sometimes left determining through context whether characters are angry, frustrated, sad, etc. Once we get to Det. Luca's chapters ~ things flow better and it was much easier for me to get into the story. I'd still give him 3 stars and I can't say my reservations would necessarily keep me from listening to him again.
Despite entering at book 3 of a series, I didn't have any trouble enjoying the story or feeling like there were a lot of unexplained references. Whoever described these stories as being like Law & Order was spot on. As a fan of the show, this really worked for me. We spend a little time learning all the players, including the victim, and then she's murdered. The rest is spent on investigation and police procedures. There's not a huge pool of suspects, and while I happened to guess the "whodunnit" correctly before the end, there were several times I found myself wondering whether I was right. A solid 4 star story and I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Book is slightly hobbled by the narrator. Peter Lerman has a nice voice to listen to ~ but he's possibly more appropriate as a non-fiction "reader" than a true narrator. Despite chapters that alternate POV's and a variety of characters ~ almost everyone sounds the same. Until we get to Raul's chapter where he speaks in a heavy Cuban (or Puerto Rican?) accent, no matter who is talking. Even Marilyn now sounds like her gardener. Lerman doesn't do a consistent job of emoting ~ and the listener is sometimes left determining through context whether characters are angry, frustrated, sad, etc. Once we get to Det. Luca's chapters ~ things flow better and it was much easier for me to get into the story. I'd still give him 3 stars and I can't say my reservations would necessarily keep me from listening to him again.
Despite entering at book 3 of a series, I didn't have any trouble enjoying the story or feeling like there were a lot of unexplained references. Whoever described these stories as being like Law & Order was spot on. As a fan of the show, this really worked for me. We spend a little time learning all the players, including the victim, and then she's murdered. The rest is spent on investigation and police procedures. There's not a huge pool of suspects, and while I happened to guess the "whodunnit" correctly before the end, there were several times I found myself wondering whether I was right. A solid 4 star story and I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 20, 2018
Good read
Interesting characters, plot that keeps you involved. Author did a good job of switching between POV of the different characters.
Interesting characters, plot that keeps you involved. Author did a good job of switching between POV of the different characters.
June 23, 2019
This is the first book by this author that I have listened to and I quite enjoyed it. It took me a while to work out each chapter starts with the name of who's perspective each chapter is about, as there was a number of suspects who wanted to kill Marilyn and you got a few of those reasons before she died. But as all three suspects could have done it the book kept you guessing until the end.
Luca and his partner are called to a private island to investigate the murder of a very wealthy lady. Being on an island limits who could have done it but with three very plausible suspects on hand things aren't that simple as the two partners try to find a way to cut the suspect list down to reveal the murder.
The narrator was easy to listen to.
Luca and his partner are called to a private island to investigate the murder of a very wealthy lady. Being on an island limits who could have done it but with three very plausible suspects on hand things aren't that simple as the two partners try to find a way to cut the suspect list down to reveal the murder.
The narrator was easy to listen to.
March 12, 2020
The Serenity Murder (A Luca Mystery #3), my fourth read from author Dan Petrosini. Seriously well-developed, it takes some getting used to as the author writes in both the first person and also the third. I was given an Audible copy of this book & am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Peter Lerman’s talented narration adds to the book's enjoyment, reminiscent of narrator Bill Nevitt in tone & voice, his narration was nothing less than excellent. Owning both the Kindle & Audible editions I was able to follow along while being read to. I look forward to reading more from this author and in this series. "I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
January 9, 2021
A great thriller with lots of plot twists. This was fast paced and full of cliff hangers. A murder of a wealthy heiress, Marilyn, takes place on a private island. Seems like an easy enough case for Detective Luca. Not when there’s a known ex gang member thief or an arrogant, money hungry sommelier lover, or fed up husband.
The writer delivers a great depiction of the stark differences between the wealthy and the not! The characters are entertaining, but could be better developed. I enjoyed the wine references and while I typically like my Malbecs and Bordeaux’s there were some new mentions I’d like to try.
The writer delivers a great depiction of the stark differences between the wealthy and the not! The characters are entertaining, but could be better developed. I enjoyed the wine references and while I typically like my Malbecs and Bordeaux’s there were some new mentions I’d like to try.
September 21, 2019
I liked the way in which this book is structured. Having the points of view of both, one of the suspects and the police investigating the case is truly original. Particularly when having the suspect's POV is not a way to truly cleaning him up from the crime as he is, at the very least, a very unreliable narrator. That makes it not only original but also truly engaging.
I enjoyed the rapport between Luca and Vargas, and I hope they will continue to work together.
The mystery is very well done and keeps you guessing until the end.
Peter Lerman does a good job narrating this story.
I enjoyed the rapport between Luca and Vargas, and I hope they will continue to work together.
The mystery is very well done and keeps you guessing until the end.
Peter Lerman does a good job narrating this story.
December 20, 2019
This is a great police mystery. It is a straightforward mystery, not a psychological thriller. This is perfect if you like a mystery, but you don't want one that is going to get you too wound up to sleep without finishing it. The characters were good, and would have been even better, I think, had I read the first few books. The plot was excellent, and the reader had a very good voice for this kind of story. I received a free review copy of the audio version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2019
This is the first book in the series that I read and it took me some time to get into it, but once I did, I got caught in the web.
the mystery is enthralling and until the end, I had no clue what the result will be. I loved the detective character and would love to read more stories in this series.
the narrator did a great job with the different characters.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
the mystery is enthralling and until the end, I had no clue what the result will be. I loved the detective character and would love to read more stories in this series.
the narrator did a great job with the different characters.
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 20, 2018
Wow what a fast paced novel. I picked it up thinking I would take a week to read it. It took me two days and I was annoyed when I finished, I wanted it to last. The author has found a way to keep your interest from start to finish.
The only question is what is next for Detective Luca
MORE MYSTERY I HOPE
The only question is what is next for Detective Luca
MORE MYSTERY I HOPE
September 22, 2018
A GOOD READ
I liked everything about this book. Character development. Plot. Wine education. All that stuff. Does Luca partner with Vargas from now on, or he have a new partner in each book?
I liked everything about this book. Character development. Plot. Wine education. All that stuff. Does Luca partner with Vargas from now on, or he have a new partner in each book?
July 17, 2019
Good murder mystery, starts a bit like a Colombo episode, as in you meet the suspects before the murder. When Luca enters, he has to sort through the evidence, trying not to jump to the wrong conclusion.
August 16, 2019
This was my first introduction to Dan Petrosini. Although Serenity Murder is part of a series, it is easily read as a stand-alone. Lots of mystery will keep you guessing till the end. Some parts were a little slow for my taste, but overall I really enjoyed this story.
January 19, 2020
I received this book for free for a honest review. I loved the characters and storyline. it flowed very well and held together. The author did an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. reccomend
April 25, 2018
This was a face paced, riveting read. I couldn't guess what the outcome was and kept changing my mind as the story progressed. Luca is becoming one of my favorite characters.
December 31, 2018
very good
June 1, 2022
The Serenity Murder - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
Wealthy Florida philanthropist Marilyn Boggs is unhappily married, but reluctant to lose 25% of her father's legacy by divorcing her husband.
Spending most of their time apart, in her case on their private island, Marilyn consoles herself in the arms of a lover, while fooling around with her pool boy too, to while away the days of her otherwise lonely existence.
When she's found murdered, Detective Frank Luca must find positive evidence of guilt to prosecute the case...but whodunit?
Get your copy of Dan Petrosini's sensational police-procedural thriller, The Serenity Murder, to see if you've worked it out correctly!
Wealthy Florida philanthropist Marilyn Boggs is unhappily married, but reluctant to lose 25% of her father's legacy by divorcing her husband.
Spending most of their time apart, in her case on their private island, Marilyn consoles herself in the arms of a lover, while fooling around with her pool boy too, to while away the days of her otherwise lonely existence.
When she's found murdered, Detective Frank Luca must find positive evidence of guilt to prosecute the case...but whodunit?
Get your copy of Dan Petrosini's sensational police-procedural thriller, The Serenity Murder, to see if you've worked it out correctly!
October 24, 2022
This is a good, quick read, a little over 200 pages and short chapters. What I liked about it best was it takes place in my area where I live, Naples, Southwest Florida. It’s a Luca mystery and it’s part of the series although you can read any book in the 12 book series and not be confused. This book is book number three. There are three suspects in the murder. It’s a whodunit book. The murder victim is Marilyn Boggs an extremely wealthy trust fund woman who lives in Naples and Keewaydin Island. She is in an unhappy marriage but stays married due to a strictly written trust fund agreement by her deceased father.
December 21, 2020
Just OK
This was the first Luca novel I had read. I don’t know if there was any background from the first two Luca novels needed to feel fully invested in this third novel, but I felt at a loss most of the time. The idea behind the story was good, but something was missing, as in character depth. Doubt I will read any more of this series.
This was the first Luca novel I had read. I don’t know if there was any background from the first two Luca novels needed to feel fully invested in this third novel, but I felt at a loss most of the time. The idea behind the story was good, but something was missing, as in character depth. Doubt I will read any more of this series.
February 15, 2021
After being somewhat disappointed with the previous book, I wasn’t sure what to expect. This case of a murdered socialite held my interest. The author starts the story giving the readers insight into victim’s life and relationships. This sets-up three suspects, each with means, motive, and opportunity.
Luca feels like he is losing his investigational edge due to Chemo Brain. I could totally relate, as I am experiencing Chemo Brain, which is an legitimate condition caused by chemotherapy.
In this book, there is a slight indication that the relationship between Mary Ann and Luca might be moving from strictly professional to something more personal. I sure hope so, as I prefer some romance, as it can’t all be about police investigation.
Luca feels like he is losing his investigational edge due to Chemo Brain. I could totally relate, as I am experiencing Chemo Brain, which is an legitimate condition caused by chemotherapy.
In this book, there is a slight indication that the relationship between Mary Ann and Luca might be moving from strictly professional to something more personal. I sure hope so, as I prefer some romance, as it can’t all be about police investigation.
March 24, 2019
Predictable outcome, multiple motives
I found the multiple characters/suspects interesting. Each had compelling motives and made a good suspect. I thought the cop jumped to conclusions about motive too quickly. The grammatical errors distracted me.
I found the multiple characters/suspects interesting. Each had compelling motives and made a good suspect. I thought the cop jumped to conclusions about motive too quickly. The grammatical errors distracted me.
July 26, 2024
I love reading Petrosini’s books! His characters Luca and Mary Ann make a great pair. You can read these books in any order and they are all good!
I can’t put his books down.
I love that he lives in Naples, Florida and names different restaurants, establishments, etc… that are real places!
I can’t put his books down.
I love that he lives in Naples, Florida and names different restaurants, establishments, etc… that are real places!
January 25, 2019
Just ok. Maybe I should have read one and two, first.
February 24, 2020
it was okay, not my style of book or writing. Characters were okay. If you like the short detective type stories, this might be a good read for you.
February 21, 2021
Luca must try to solve a murder on a private island. There are plenty of suspects but they all seem to have a motive. Can he weed out the killer?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews