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A Luca Mystery #8
A Killer Missteps
The pain from being abandoned never went away.
After briefly coming back into her life, Joyce's mother is now gone, for good.
Murdered.
Detective Luca knows he shouldn't work directly with a minor, but he’s a father, unable to resist the call for help.
What he discovers is revolting, more disturbing than murder.
A Killer Missteps is book 8, in the stand alone, Luca Mystery Series.
Grab this page-turning read now.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2019
133 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Dan Petrosini
115 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 4, 2019
A Killer Missteps - a review by Rosemary Kenny
*slight spoilers*
Detective Frank Luca is on a new case that has more twists and turns than a Chubby Checker hit. A Killer Missteps by the Master of Mystery Daniel Petrosini, is Book 8 in the A Luca Mystery series - that just keeps getting better and better!
Victim Mrs Jillian Evans had a very complicated love life - until the time one of the men in her life decided to end it. Two ex-husbands, an 'abandoned' daughter in the middle of a tug-of-love custody battle, a current but soon-to-be-ex live-in lover and a spurned 'fling', any one of whom could be the father of the unborn baby Jillian was carrying when she died. The murder was committed in a 'gated' community - so how was the killer able to enter and leave unseen through the lanai door that was left ajar? Which of several witnesses is telling the truth and who's trying to fool all of the people all of the time, to protect the guilty?
Domestically, Luca's struggling with the way his young daughter is forming a relationship with the Spanish-speaking nanny, whom Mary Ann chose, (without consulting him,causing coolness between them). His cancer follow-up treatment leaves him dependent on an alarm reminder to use the bathroom and professionally he's relying on his sidekick Derrick, to help him trawl through reams of clues and data.
Then there's another twist - Luca's boss Chester re-assigns him to head an urgent, potentially tourism-damaging investigation into violent hold-ups at expensive restaurants, where the perps hide behind full-face Popeye masks.
It causes Luca to miss family time and feel inadequate to protect his daughter from the possibility of future horrors he must deal with every day.
Can he cope, or will Luca crack under the strain? Read A Killer Missteps by Daniel Petrosini, to become totally embroiled in this electrifying and gritty tale of one man's striving to be all things to those he loves, to those who rely on him for answers - and to catch the bad guys too. It's another 5-star winner for sure!
*slight spoilers*
Detective Frank Luca is on a new case that has more twists and turns than a Chubby Checker hit. A Killer Missteps by the Master of Mystery Daniel Petrosini, is Book 8 in the A Luca Mystery series - that just keeps getting better and better!
Victim Mrs Jillian Evans had a very complicated love life - until the time one of the men in her life decided to end it. Two ex-husbands, an 'abandoned' daughter in the middle of a tug-of-love custody battle, a current but soon-to-be-ex live-in lover and a spurned 'fling', any one of whom could be the father of the unborn baby Jillian was carrying when she died. The murder was committed in a 'gated' community - so how was the killer able to enter and leave unseen through the lanai door that was left ajar? Which of several witnesses is telling the truth and who's trying to fool all of the people all of the time, to protect the guilty?
Domestically, Luca's struggling with the way his young daughter is forming a relationship with the Spanish-speaking nanny, whom Mary Ann chose, (without consulting him,causing coolness between them). His cancer follow-up treatment leaves him dependent on an alarm reminder to use the bathroom and professionally he's relying on his sidekick Derrick, to help him trawl through reams of clues and data.
Then there's another twist - Luca's boss Chester re-assigns him to head an urgent, potentially tourism-damaging investigation into violent hold-ups at expensive restaurants, where the perps hide behind full-face Popeye masks.
It causes Luca to miss family time and feel inadequate to protect his daughter from the possibility of future horrors he must deal with every day.
Can he cope, or will Luca crack under the strain? Read A Killer Missteps by Daniel Petrosini, to become totally embroiled in this electrifying and gritty tale of one man's striving to be all things to those he loves, to those who rely on him for answers - and to catch the bad guys too. It's another 5-star winner for sure!
March 22, 2021
Another good read
This is the 8th book book I've read in the Luca series and another good read. I can highly recommend this author and I'm just about to download the next one.
This is the 8th book book I've read in the Luca series and another good read. I can highly recommend this author and I'm just about to download the next one.
April 23, 2021
I enjoyed this book. This is book eight in a series that just gets better as each book comes out. You don't need to read the books in order to enjoy because each book is solved, so no continuation into the next book or cliff hanger that makes you get the next book unless you want to and why wouldn't you? Great if you want to revisit the series again. With so many amateur sleuths books out there it is nice to sit back with a police procedural to see how the real work is done and nobody does it better than Dan Petrosini, who keeps you guessing especially as the main character is working on two cases and playing the hero keeping an eye on a battered wife. With plenty of suspects and false alibis to check on Luca certainly has his work cut out for him, I did guess the killer but was torn between two and it could have gone either way. There is also a nice balance between the cop work and the trails of family life. I liked how this story played out at the end and looking forward to the next book.
When a woman is murdered in her own home Detective Frank Luca is assigned the case and narrows the suspects down to her ex lovers. But which one? Her first husband who will do anything to protect the child she abounded? The husband who wants to get back together with her and the one who found the body? Or the current boyfriend with the troubled past? Her the year old daughter wants her killer found but before Luca and Derrick can even finish the first round of questioning Luca is pulled off the case to investigate a high profile robbery gang that is sending ripples around the city. Will Luca be able to solve the robberies quickly enough so he can turn his attention back to what matters, the difficult murder case and help a little girl find closer?
I like the narrator. He has quite a deep voice but it plays well for the tough but slightly damaged police detective.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
When a woman is murdered in her own home Detective Frank Luca is assigned the case and narrows the suspects down to her ex lovers. But which one? Her first husband who will do anything to protect the child she abounded? The husband who wants to get back together with her and the one who found the body? Or the current boyfriend with the troubled past? Her the year old daughter wants her killer found but before Luca and Derrick can even finish the first round of questioning Luca is pulled off the case to investigate a high profile robbery gang that is sending ripples around the city. Will Luca be able to solve the robberies quickly enough so he can turn his attention back to what matters, the difficult murder case and help a little girl find closer?
I like the narrator. He has quite a deep voice but it plays well for the tough but slightly damaged police detective.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
February 15, 2021
4.25 Stars. In classic Petrosini style, there are quite a few suspects for Luca and Derrick to investigate. There is always such detailed work needed to solve a complex case, like putting together a 5000 piece puzzle. The last few pages of this author’s books are suspenseful, as there is always a dramatic reveal. This time I guessed the correct villain.
The synopsis led me to believe the victim’s daughter would be central to the storyline. She actually had a minor role, though her words gave Luca that extra drive to bring justice for the victim and her family as swiftly as possible.
There are two subplots. One involves a burglary ring that Luca reluctantly takes the lead on. The other is on the home front. Luca has such concerns for his baby girl, from her Nanny to the guys she will be dating. As with the past few books, the readers get a lesson and tips on good wine.
The synopsis led me to believe the victim’s daughter would be central to the storyline. She actually had a minor role, though her words gave Luca that extra drive to bring justice for the victim and her family as swiftly as possible.
There are two subplots. One involves a burglary ring that Luca reluctantly takes the lead on. The other is on the home front. Luca has such concerns for his baby girl, from her Nanny to the guys she will be dating. As with the past few books, the readers get a lesson and tips on good wine.
May 18, 2021
Working with the victim’s daughter Luca gives us a good detail look at a police protocol of handing a murder case. She had been abandoned and now alone. Given audio for my voluntary review Well done and enjoyed
April 23, 2020
Solid police procedural.
February 28, 2021
Another great mystery
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, hard to put down always sad when it is over. Great plots . ill be sad when this series is finished. On to book 9.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, hard to put down always sad when it is over. Great plots . ill be sad when this series is finished. On to book 9.
August 4, 2023
There are so many twists and turns it really kept me trying to figure out who did it. It was a really good read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews