Our Lady of Immaculate Deception

Roxy Abruzzo #1

by Nancy Martin

Big truck, big dog, big hair. Bad attitude.

Roxy Abruzzo, bestseller Nancy Martin’s latest creation, is a loud-mouthed, sexy, independent-minded niece of a Pittsburgh Mafia boss trying to go (mostly) straight. She’d like to stay completely out of her uncle Carmine’s shady business dealings, though he's trying to reel her in. She'd like to concentrate on the architectural salvage business she runs mostly on the up and up for a tidy profit. She'd like to keep her rebellious teenage daughter on the straight and narrow. But Roxy knows where all the good intentions in the world usually lead, and when she can’t help herself from tucking away an ancient Greek statue that's not really hers, she pays for it by getting caught up in the chaos surrounding the sordid murder of the statue’s former owner, heir to a billion-dollar Pittsburgh steel fortune.

Of course, she has plenty of help getting in and out of trouble, including her sidekick “Nooch” Santonucci, too dumb to say no to whatever Roxy wants to do and strong enough to do it; her widowed aunt Loretta, a lawyer whose big hair and short skirts are as big a help to her in court as her brains; and Patrick Flynn, ex-marine, professional chef, and former high school flame, fresh from Afghanistan to torture Roxy, just like old times.

With her wicked sense of humor and a devilishly clever new series premise, author of the beloved Blackbird Sisters mysteries Nancy Martin has crafted another mystery destined to be a besteller.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Humor, Cozy, Chick Lit, Audiobook

310 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Winner of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement award for mystery writing from Romantic Times magazine, Nancy Martin announces the release of the 8th book in her popular Blackbird Sisters mystery series, NO WAY TO KILL A LADY. Set in Philadelphia, the story features three heiresses whose parents have run off with their trust funds. Now thay have a chance to regain their wealth when their aunt, "Madcap Maddy" Blackbird dies in a volcano and leaves her estate to the sisters. But Nora Blackbird soon discovers all the treasures in Aunt Maddy's house have disappeared...information that leads her to believe maybe Maddy didn't die the way everybody thinks.

Author of 48 pop fiction novels in mystery, suspense, historical and romance genres, Nancy created The Blackbird Sisters in 2002--- mysteries about three impoverished heiresses who adventure in couture and crime --as if “Agatha Christie had wandered onto the set of Sex and The City.” Nominated for the Agatha Award for Best First Mystery of 2002, HOW TO MURDER A MILLIONAIRE won the RT award for Best First Mystery and was a finalist for the Daphne DuMaurier Award. Currently, she is at work on the Roxy Abruzzo mystery series for St. Martin’s Minotaur. In 2009 she received the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award for mystery writing.

Nancy lives in Pittsburgh, serves on the board of Sisters in Crime and is a founding member of Pennwriters. Find her on Pinterest and Facebook.

Reviews

[Spuddie · Rating 1 out of 5]

#1 Roxy Abruzzo mystery, featuring modern girl Roxy, who is (for lack of a better description) an architectural scavenger by trade, gleaning what she can from the aftermath of fires, buildings set for destruction, etc. When the owner of a burned-out mansion ends up shot to death shortly after talking with Roxy at the site, she and her not-too-bright-but-muscley assistant Nooch are both being questioned by the cops. And since Roxy's uncle is big in the local Mafia, she's always learned to be leery of cops.

Besides, she did take a big Greek or Roman statue that is apparently worth a lot more than she originally thought, and definitely wasn't on her approved list. Soon several family members and the family lawyer are trying to find the statue of Achilles, Roxy's getting shot at, and her uncle Carmine wants her to start "running errands" for him and sends her a wad of cash as an advance. Since her daughter Sage's school tuition is overdue, it's very tempting, but that situation is then complicated when Sage (who is seventeen) thinks she may be pregnant.

I finished this book, but mostly because it was a book I received to review. The writing style was easy enough to read, but it just wasn't that interesting to me--perhaps I'm older than the target audience because I just felt rather curmudgeonly reading about the over-sexed Roxy hopping into bed with every other guy she met, and yet somehow managing to be indignant when her daughter suspected she was pregnant. And really, I don't need repeated descriptions of her nice ass, steamy truck windows, and other cheesy sex scenes. I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination, but I intensely hate gratuitous sex and so-called romance. Bah.

Roxy, who I think was supposed to come off as a tough, independent, rebellious "modern" woman, just came of as a wishy-washy boring floozy. (OMG, I used the word floozy! I must be getting old!) The other characters (the book was told alternately from several different POV) were equally inane--the crooked family lawyer trying to work an angle to retain the most money, the anorexic, Xanax-popping artsy-fartsy niece of the dead man, the jilted ex-wife (who is the one who burned down the house when she caught her husband with a barely-legal pop tart) and so on.

I couldn't get interested. I didn't really care whodunit. This is the first book I've read by this author and unless someone actually pays me to read another, it will be the last.

[Dee Renee Chesnut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in the mood for a blue-collar heroine, or should I say a hoodie-and-jeans heroine, who drives the Monster Truck instead of a blue roadster. We are introduced to the characters who are important in her life and we readers hope Roxie Abruzzo will be around for a series set in modern-day Pittsburgh. The author introduced a lot of characters and did a lot of "world-building" and this whets my appetite for more books.
Roxie's architectural salvage business puts her near the scene of the murder of multi-millionaire Julius Hyde. She does not want to be a person of interest in the police investigation while she tries to find a buyer for a statue she removed, without permission, before scheduled demolition of his burned-out mansion.
I might warn some readers that they may be shocked as Roxie displays some behavior that make the reader wonder if she can ever have a wholesome relationship with a loving man. The writing is not graphic nor lewd, but her behavior may startle the more prudish among cozy mystery readers.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment! I just loved the Blackbird Sisters series which was quirky and fun but still with real heart and characters I cared about. With this book, the first of a new series, the main character is a nymphomaniac with violence issues - not someone I feel I can relate to. Even the characters that it appears Martin is hoping will catch our fancy and interest, such as menopausal aunt and low intelligence helper have not touched any chord in me at all. Even the dog she chooses as the heroine's companion, a pit bull, seems to have been chosen to repel rather than attract the reader to this woman. Only Flynn, the ex-army, now highly skilled chef, Roxy's ex-boyfriend from her youth and father of her teenage daughter Sage and Sage herself were in any way loveable and interesting.

Sorry, Nancy, this one didn't hit the bullseye with me, but as I loved your earlier books so much, I will give you one more chance to make more of this series then I wont bother.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to Roxy Abruzzo, sort of a slutty, tougher Stephanie Plum with a successful aunt and a smart daughter. She works by pulling art out of homes about to be destroyed.

[Patricia]

Roxy Abruzzo, is beautiful and sexy. Roxy has a soft heart when it comes to protecting the under-dog but if Roxy is crossed, she is a force to be reckoned with. Roxy runs Bada Bling Architectural Salvage in Pittsburgh. Her right-hand man is Nooch Santonucci. Nooch has had some problems in the past and has a parole hearing coming up soon. Roxy is hoping to find some respectable business people to speak up for Nooch at his hearing. The third member of Roxy’s company is Rooney, a pit bull she rescued.

Roxy also has a 16-year-old daughter, Sage. Sage’s father is Patrick Flynn. Flynn hasn’t been in Sage’s life until recently and Roxy is still trying to get used to the idea of his involvement.

While picking up salvage at the mansion owned by Julius Hyde’s 92-year-old mother, Roxy runs into Julius and has a brief conversation with him. Julius is murdered shortly after their conversation so Roxy now has to prove that she had nothing to do with the murder.

To make matters even worse, Roxy and Nooch have loaded up an antique Greek statute that Roxy spotted in the Hyde garden. This was not on the list of the items that she was to salvage. Hyde’s mother is more concerned about the whereabouts of the statue than the murder of her son.

This is the first book in a new series by Nancy Martin and Roxy is a very interesting character. Roxy is the grandniece of a Pittsburgh Mafia boss and although he does have a part in this book, Roxy does her best to avoid him.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a big fan of Nancy Martin through her Blackbird Sister Mysteries, loving the zany Blackbird family from book one. I was excited to see that the Abruzzo family was getting their own series with the introduction of Roxy. The book was entertaining, but it fell a bit flat of what I had come to expect. The story was a bit grittier than previous books with characters that had more emotional damage to tell about. Roxy is the definition of "tough broad" that wasn't nearly as likable as her sidekick, Nooch or the man from her past, Flynn. However it was a good start to a new series and I love forward to the next book, in which I hope Roxy is fleshed out more.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite author of mine is changing it up, and wow! What a wild ride!!! Roxy is definitely an individual, with issues and flaws.

Roxy is definitely not Nora from the Blackbird Sisters, but then, this isn't a Blackbirds Mystery. And I liked it. A lot. I so enjoy when an author decides to change things up and introduce something new for my enjoyment.

This was a well-paced book, with characters galore. And even though I had my suspicions as to the outcome, I was definitely surprised. And totally thrilled.

More! More!!!

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

With a nod to her Blackbird Sisters series, Martin introduces us to Roxy Abruzzo, a slightly mob-connected, sex-obssessed, architectural salvage specialist. She and soon to be off parole assistant, Nooch, stumble onto a murder mystery after "salvaging" what turns out to be a priceless Greek statue from the Hyde estate. There are only so many incarnations of Stephanie Plum possible and although the mystery was fine, I don't know if I'll bother checking in with Roxy again.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxy Abruzzo, tough & feisty, runs an architectural reclamation business, not always on the up & up, but hey, it makes her a living.

Her current client, Julius Hyde, is dead as. His wife, Monica, has been looting her mother-in-law's house of high-end artwork for years and has torched it, which is where Roxy comes in...

While salvaging the remains of the once great house Roxy stumbles upon a Greek antiquity of Achilles hidden in the garden and with the help of her loyal but not-so-bright muscle, Nooch, Roxy adds the statue to her cache of salvage items.

Then there is Dorothy (Dodo) Hyde, matriarch, Julius' mother; living in a residential home and going in and out of a coma as desired... She's willing to write off her losses, after all these are her progeny, but not Achilles. Dodo sends her attorney, Henry, to get back her treasure or else.

Also in the mix: Sage, Roxy's daughter who is living with Loretta, widowed aunt & tough-as-nails attorney; Flynn, Sage's father, ex-marine, & chef; and Roxy's Uncle Carmine, who is ill & would like Roxy to take over his business for him.

I liked Roxy, her crazy family, & friends and I didn't figure out who-done-it, but I really didn't try as I was swept away with the story.

There is no end to the action and on-the-edge humor, which can be compared to Carl Hiaasen, although not as finely crafted. But the book held my interest, I was up until 4:00 am in order to finish it.

The book seemed very familiar to me, the name Abruzzo rang a bell. Then I remembered that I had begun another series, The Blackbird Sisters (which I dropped) had a character named Nick Abruzzo in it. Turns out to be by the same author. I know I'll not be returning to complete The Blackbird Sisters but I'll give Roxy a second go around.

[Darcysmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roxy Abruzzo is a fast-talking, fast-living, and entirely charming character. She loves her daughter and friends with tremendous ferocity. Everyone else, well they can prove themselves or get out of her way. Roxy has spent her entire adult life trying to separate herself from her Uncle Carmine (a small-time mobster who runs her neighborhood).
As life gets more expensive and much more complicated, it gets harder and harder to stay away from Uncle Carmine and the financial stability he offers.
In Our Lady of Immaculate Deception, Roxy has to contend with stolen statues, murder, and the out-of-control problems of the Hyde family.
I enjoyed this introduction to Roxy, her friends and family, and her tight-knit neighborhood. I will definitely continue with this series.

[Jessica Geyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I began reading this book with no expectations, and I was pleasantly surprised, even though I wish there was more clue gathering. Some of the biggest clues seem like they were gathered off screen. There really isn't any paper trail that leads the statue to the killer, either, other than that it... exists. Lots of loose ends that aren't tied up (looking at you, Arden's Greek boyfriend!) also left me scratching my head. It's not that they are red-herrings--just a lack of follow through.

Also, the title makes no sense at all. Don't try to figure out when it comes into the plot.

I'd read the next one, though!

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Roxy Abruzzo book, which I read AFTER I read the second Roxy Abruzzo book. I liked this one MUCH better. Oddly, the second book was written in first person while this one was third person and I think it made for a better story.

I'm interested in a third book with the character, see how that is.

As for this story, the mystery was good. I definitely liked it better than the second one. However, there were some copy editing errors that I found surprising.

[Ryan Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun series and first book. Set in Pittsburgh, the novel follows Roxy Abruzzo, the niece of a local crime boss, trying to keep her life on the straight and narrow. She works as an architectural scavenger/salvager, drives a big truck, and has a pitbull named Rooney. She finds a Greek statue of Achilles in the burned out masion of former multi millionaire, Julius Hyde. It introduces a great heroine, who has her faults, but is still likeable.

[Ace McGee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read 90% of this book and only finished because I was at the gym on a treadmill with nothing to do. Our hero spends an excessive amount of time searching for, in the words of Erica Jong, ‘a zipper less fuck’. People repeatedly ask her, ‘did you fuck him?’ or something similar. What few redeeming factors this book has are quickly overshadowed by acts of sex, talk of sex, reminiscences of sex, or wondering about sex.

Just not worth the time.

[Jess · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. I couldn't get into the characters. Roxy was missing the heart and soul of the Blackbird sisters, the kind of connection. Felt very bland. Stopped less than a 1/3rd done. Sad, too. Because I like Martin's work and her ability to world build through character relationships. But I think I'll skip this series.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the Blackbird series & this was my introduction to the works of Nancy Martin. I gobbled this up & promptly read book 2, Sticky Fingers. Doesn't this book go under the name "Foxy Roxy" as well? If not, I'm in line for that one. I never know if authors read these, but if you're out there, Nancy, give us plenty more of Roxy Abruzzo & her entourage!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prefer the Blackbird sisters

This was okay but rather too drawn out when it was obvious who the murderer was early on. The story had too many elements that seemed thrown in. A bit disappointing

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found a used copy of this at my local bookstore. Not the normal mystery I read, it is along the lines of Janet Evanovich or Lisa Lutz. Single woman solving murders with a touch of romance/sex, humor, and dealing with family drama.

[Patricia]

I am old. I am not rating this book because I may be prejudiced. Although I understand that the main character was damaged ( father in jail for killing her mother), I had a hard time relating to her or understanding her behavior. It was hard to root for anyone except for her daughter Sage.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love The Blackbird Sisters mystery series, so was very excited to read this first book in a new series. This book took a little while to get into. I thought the mystery was well done, but found the character development a bit lacking. However, I can see a lot of promise for future installments.

[Jules · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love The Blackbird Sisters mystery series, so was very excited to read this first book in a new series. This book took a little while to get into. I thought the mystery was well done, but found the character development a bit lacking. However, I can see a lot of promise for future installments.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our Lady of Immaculate Deception is edgy original and funny, although the humor is often dark.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, funny.

[Suzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast and fun read. Reminds me of Simon Brett's Mrs. Pargeter series, which I love. Fun dialog and great (crime) family interaction -- and what a family. Well executed mystery, too.

[Jennifer Sexton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy characters, good mystery. Fun read.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun easy read

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun listen for a road trip. Reminded me of Stephanie Plum stories, but because this was set in Pittsburgh, the reader made an attempt at a western Pennsylvania accent...not so good.

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Mrs.johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The mystery was good - the heroine was a little over the top.

[Eamount · Rating 5 out of 5]

"rough" but fun. Great writing style.