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Sam Acquillo Hamptons Mystery #3
Head Wounds
Book by Knopf, Chris
523 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 9, 2020
Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: Sam Acquillo can hide in his windswept waterfront cottage all he wants, but the demons of his past are going to find him. Worse, they've teamed up with some pretty nasty demons of the present, including a very determined Chief of Police whose top detective has Sam caught in the crosshairs.
Part-time carpenter, full-time drinker and co-conspirator with an existential mutt named Eddie Van Halen, Sam tries to lead the simple life. But as always, fate intervenes, this time in the form of Robbie Milhouser, local builder and blundering bully who shares at least one thing with Sam -- an irresistible attraction to the beautiful Amanda Anselma.
Peel back the glitz and glory of the fabled Hamptons and you'll find a beautiful place filled with ugly secrets. This is Sam Acquillo's world. Moving effortlessly across the social divide with wry pal Jackie Swaitkowski and rich guy Burton Lewis, the ex-boxer, ex-corporate infighter seems doomed to straddle the thin red line between envy and love, hate and forgiveness, goodness and greed.
And sometimes life and death. Only this time, the life at stake is his own. .
My Review: This third entry in the Sam Acquillo Hamptons series is, as usual, superior storytelling and top-flight modern noir.
It's set in glitz-a-licious Southampton, New York. The seamy underbelly of same, of course, this being noir. And oh my gracious me is this underbelly seamy! Real estate, in a world as awash in money as Southampton, is going to attract some very unpleasant people. Those there are aplenty in this tale of long-held grudges and long-simmering feuds.
Amanda, Sam's sexy relationship-avoidance cospecialist, is the motivating factor for the story when her efforts to redevelop the neighborhood home she owns in North Sea (Prolehampton, for those not gifted with a Long Island connection) lead to arson and murder, with a trail back to a very dark part of Amanda's pre-glitz Southampton youth. Sam, still running from his inner demons, finds that running from a murder rap is a lot harder than he supposed it would be for an innocent man. Which he's sure he is. We the readers? Well....
Knopf gets the tone of an aging loner's inner monologue pitch-perfect. He knows the indignity of looking in the mirror and seeing someone's grandfather looking back at you from your own eyes. He puts that into Sam's casus belli with the world. Knopf also makes sure we know, without being stupid or unrealistically smutty about it, that Sam's not dead from the waist down, and a cross-section of Southampton Township's females are pleasantly aware of this fact. It's very nice for someone Sam's age to be shown as realistically sexually active and alive, instead of a hyper horndog or simply a man gelded by age.
It's even nicer that Knopf doesn't use it as a ridiculous prop. Sam, while tempted and while quite elozable, isn't about to run out and make more trouble for himself with his bedroom behavior. It's about the only wise thing he does. Glad he picked this one.
Less well-handled are the ins and outs (!) of some series characters, eg Sam's rich lawyer pal Burton and a local paper reporter...clearly inserted for future use; the Township's cops aren't there as more than props; but all of these are minor issues, because the pacing of the story makes deep investments in these sidebar people unwieldy and even, to some degree, undesirable. A little more, a little little bit more...in the name of enriching the tapestry...sacrifice some of the angsting and repetitive violence....
Yes, the violence mandatory in noir is there. Sometimes drearily predictably so. There's a scene with a goon that goes on too long, and in the end is resolved unrealistically, at the end of the book, that strikes me as something we could've done without and missed nothing. A few times, flashbacks to Sam's past are, well, I myownself found that skimming them caused no diminishment in my reading pleasure.
But here's the reason I keep looking for these books, which seem to come out every two years or so: This quote, from the very end of Part 2:
If that fails to raise a smile on you, this book is not for you.
The Publisher Says: Sam Acquillo can hide in his windswept waterfront cottage all he wants, but the demons of his past are going to find him. Worse, they've teamed up with some pretty nasty demons of the present, including a very determined Chief of Police whose top detective has Sam caught in the crosshairs.
Part-time carpenter, full-time drinker and co-conspirator with an existential mutt named Eddie Van Halen, Sam tries to lead the simple life. But as always, fate intervenes, this time in the form of Robbie Milhouser, local builder and blundering bully who shares at least one thing with Sam -- an irresistible attraction to the beautiful Amanda Anselma.
Peel back the glitz and glory of the fabled Hamptons and you'll find a beautiful place filled with ugly secrets. This is Sam Acquillo's world. Moving effortlessly across the social divide with wry pal Jackie Swaitkowski and rich guy Burton Lewis, the ex-boxer, ex-corporate infighter seems doomed to straddle the thin red line between envy and love, hate and forgiveness, goodness and greed.
And sometimes life and death. Only this time, the life at stake is his own. .
My Review: This third entry in the Sam Acquillo Hamptons series is, as usual, superior storytelling and top-flight modern noir.
It's set in glitz-a-licious Southampton, New York. The seamy underbelly of same, of course, this being noir. And oh my gracious me is this underbelly seamy! Real estate, in a world as awash in money as Southampton, is going to attract some very unpleasant people. Those there are aplenty in this tale of long-held grudges and long-simmering feuds.
Amanda, Sam's sexy relationship-avoidance cospecialist, is the motivating factor for the story when her efforts to redevelop the neighborhood home she owns in North Sea (Prolehampton, for those not gifted with a Long Island connection) lead to arson and murder, with a trail back to a very dark part of Amanda's pre-glitz Southampton youth. Sam, still running from his inner demons, finds that running from a murder rap is a lot harder than he supposed it would be for an innocent man. Which he's sure he is. We the readers? Well....
Knopf gets the tone of an aging loner's inner monologue pitch-perfect. He knows the indignity of looking in the mirror and seeing someone's grandfather looking back at you from your own eyes. He puts that into Sam's casus belli with the world. Knopf also makes sure we know, without being stupid or unrealistically smutty about it, that Sam's not dead from the waist down, and a cross-section of Southampton Township's females are pleasantly aware of this fact. It's very nice for someone Sam's age to be shown as realistically sexually active and alive, instead of a hyper horndog or simply a man gelded by age.
It's even nicer that Knopf doesn't use it as a ridiculous prop. Sam, while tempted and while quite elozable, isn't about to run out and make more trouble for himself with his bedroom behavior. It's about the only wise thing he does. Glad he picked this one.
Less well-handled are the ins and outs (!) of some series characters, eg Sam's rich lawyer pal Burton and a local paper reporter...clearly inserted for future use; the Township's cops aren't there as more than props; but all of these are minor issues, because the pacing of the story makes deep investments in these sidebar people unwieldy and even, to some degree, undesirable. A little more, a little little bit more...in the name of enriching the tapestry...sacrifice some of the angsting and repetitive violence....
Yes, the violence mandatory in noir is there. Sometimes drearily predictably so. There's a scene with a goon that goes on too long, and in the end is resolved unrealistically, at the end of the book, that strikes me as something we could've done without and missed nothing. A few times, flashbacks to Sam's past are, well, I myownself found that skimming them caused no diminishment in my reading pleasure.
But here's the reason I keep looking for these books, which seem to come out every two years or so: This quote, from the very end of Part 2:
But old Kant would tell you, reality is only as sure as the mind perceiving it. I wished I could get him to take {the doctor}'s seat across from me in the hospital canteen to I could put it to him straight:
Can a man be outsmarted by his own brain?
If that fails to raise a smile on you, this book is not for you.
March 16, 2015
Knopf is consistent in his writing. It was entertaining; I will look for the next in the series.
May 21, 2015
A good read, perhaps approaching four stars since Knopf does write well. But overall merit keeps it from getting there.
This semi-hard-boiled story seems pretty formulaic. A wiseguy and decidedly alcoholic protagonist (Sam Acquillo), his incredibly attractive woman, Amanda, tough and soft cops, and a variety (too many, actually -- things are pretty complicated) of plot twists which puts a large number of individuals under suspicion at various points in the book. There are varieties of "badness" among the characters, almost a full catalog from thug to white collar criminal, but no bastions of goodness.
Aquillo is often funny, wise-cracking when he is not reading Kant. But he is a bit over the top in almost invariably saying what will get him into hot water, or not saying what might help (as in not leveling with his lawyer). There is a lot of back story concerning his abandonment of a very successful position as an engineering executive, and his actions as his life crumbled back then defy credibility. It's hard to warm up to a jerk who does those things and some which occur in the present tense as well.
The best character perhaps is Sam's dog, Eddie Van Halen. Slim praise, I know, and oddly despite the above, this book was diverting, albeit not what it could have been.
This semi-hard-boiled story seems pretty formulaic. A wiseguy and decidedly alcoholic protagonist (Sam Acquillo), his incredibly attractive woman, Amanda, tough and soft cops, and a variety (too many, actually -- things are pretty complicated) of plot twists which puts a large number of individuals under suspicion at various points in the book. There are varieties of "badness" among the characters, almost a full catalog from thug to white collar criminal, but no bastions of goodness.
Aquillo is often funny, wise-cracking when he is not reading Kant. But he is a bit over the top in almost invariably saying what will get him into hot water, or not saying what might help (as in not leveling with his lawyer). There is a lot of back story concerning his abandonment of a very successful position as an engineering executive, and his actions as his life crumbled back then defy credibility. It's hard to warm up to a jerk who does those things and some which occur in the present tense as well.
The best character perhaps is Sam's dog, Eddie Van Halen. Slim praise, I know, and oddly despite the above, this book was diverting, albeit not what it could have been.
February 7, 2015
I was a bit disappointed that Stefan Rudniki was not the narrator for this audiobook, but the writing and plot were still top notch in my opinion.
I like a protagonist who has a deep sense of schadenfruede, a healthy cynicism and a an inclination to rational problem solving. I enjoy the complex cast of eccentric characters in Sam Acquillo's Hamptons. Worth reading for the window into a dissolute engineer's mind, also for the complex but not implausible plots and the euphony and wit in the way the words are put together.
I like a protagonist who has a deep sense of schadenfruede, a healthy cynicism and a an inclination to rational problem solving. I enjoy the complex cast of eccentric characters in Sam Acquillo's Hamptons. Worth reading for the window into a dissolute engineer's mind, also for the complex but not implausible plots and the euphony and wit in the way the words are put together.
August 12, 2017
This is what happens when people aspire to write literary genre fiction and don't have the brains or the writing chops to carry it off. Meandering plot with the main character doing a lot of irrelevant navel gazing (useless backstory that adds nothing to an already unlikable character or to the current narrative). After being "meh" on Black Swan (a later book in the series) I decided to try another to see if I was being unfair. Nope. This is just horrifying bro-drivel. Time to move on.
November 8, 2016
While I read this book, I found myself so twisted and confused. There were clever and interesting thoughts. Banter was quick and humorous. I was disappointed in that I thought it would be more clear. The plot was muddied and I didn't know what to think. Sam doesn't know his own feelings much less other's towards him. I will read one more, hoping Sam will make more sense.
October 13, 2008
i liked this book - especially because it takes place in the Hamptons which I am famliar with. The plot is a little difficult to follow at times which kept me guessing all along. A real "beach rread".
November 27, 2019
Audiobook review. Narrated by Richard Ferrone. Third in the Sam Acquillo Hamptons mystery series.
Yet another good book, with the characters developing and the story providing twists and turns. Narrator Ferrone isn’t quite as charming as his predecessor, but still does a nice job. Fun read.
Yet another good book, with the characters developing and the story providing twists and turns. Narrator Ferrone isn’t quite as charming as his predecessor, but still does a nice job. Fun read.
October 21, 2009
I originally picked up this book at the library for my husband but he wanted me to read it first to see if he would like it. It was an entertaining story, even if it is forgettable.
August 26, 2012
1st book read by Chris Knopf, liked his writing, and he does keep you guessing until the very end... nice to not know the ending before... the ending :-). Great summer read...
April 18, 2016
A fast read, a fun read....ole boy can write...only criticism is it's a little more complicated than necessary . But I will read another in the series .
November 18, 2018
Sam Acquillo can hide in his windswept waterfront cottage all he wants, but the demons of his past are going to find him. Worse, they've teamed up with some pretty nasty demons of the present, including a very determined Chief of Police whose top detective has Sam caught in the crosshairs. Part-time carpenter, full-time drinker and co-conspirator with an existential mutt named Eddie Van Halen, Sam tries to lead the simple life. But as always, fate intervenes, this time in the form of Robbie Milhouser, local builder and blundering bully who shares at least one thing with Sam -- an irresistible attraction to the beautiful Amanda Anselma. Peel back the glitz and glory of the fabled Hamptons and you'll find a beautiful place filled with ugly secrets. This is Sam Acquillo's world. Moving effortlessly across the social divide with wry pal Jackie Swaitkowski and rich guy Burton Lewis, the ex-boxer, ex-corporate infighter seems doomed to straddle the thin red line between envy and love, hate and forgiveness, goodness and greed. And sometimes life and death. Only this time, the life at stake is his own
November 26, 2022
A basically solid plot, entertaining enough, though not hard to put down. If Sam continues to drink the amount of Vodka Knopf insinuates, Sam will need to start going to AA.
April 3, 2023
3.75 stars
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February 20, 2010Head wounds, by Chris Knopf, A-minus, narrated by Richard Ferrone, produced by Blackstone Audio, downloaded from audible.com. No. 3 in the Sam Acquillo series.
In this one Sam, retired engineer, and part-time carpenter, is just planning to mind his own business, finish some bookcases, work on some houses for Frank, and spend evenings sitting on the shore by his cottage drinking large tin cups of iced vodka with his mut dog, Eddie Van Halen. But fate intervenes yet again. He and Amanda are in a bar one night. Then Robbie Milhouser, who went to highschool with Amanda, and who now builds some sloppy houses, approaches her and flirts with her and tries to get her to partner with him in the building business. Amanda shrugs him off, but the boys with him are even more bullies than she is. So finally Sam knocks some sense into one of them. They go home, and then the house Amanda is getting ready to open as totally rebuilt, is burned to the ground. That same night Robbie is killed. The chief of police believes that Sam killed Robbie over a fight about Amanda. Robbie’s pals believe that Sam is vulnerable because he is a boxer and has had some head injuries and has been told not to get his head hit again or there might be trouble. In order to keep himself out of jail, Sam and his police buddy start trying to find out who really killed Robbie. Sam needs the help of his bud, Jackie Swaitkowski, a lawyer who is very brainy but doesn’t act like a regular lawyer, and Burton Lewis, a more conventional and quite rich lawyer, to help get him out of the mess and to find out who really killed Robbie and why. This book was the best of the three and I’ll probably read more of them because in this one we got to learn more of Sam’s back story. We saw him take more risks regarding his relationship with Amanda and with other friends as well. A very good book.
In this one Sam, retired engineer, and part-time carpenter, is just planning to mind his own business, finish some bookcases, work on some houses for Frank, and spend evenings sitting on the shore by his cottage drinking large tin cups of iced vodka with his mut dog, Eddie Van Halen. But fate intervenes yet again. He and Amanda are in a bar one night. Then Robbie Milhouser, who went to highschool with Amanda, and who now builds some sloppy houses, approaches her and flirts with her and tries to get her to partner with him in the building business. Amanda shrugs him off, but the boys with him are even more bullies than she is. So finally Sam knocks some sense into one of them. They go home, and then the house Amanda is getting ready to open as totally rebuilt, is burned to the ground. That same night Robbie is killed. The chief of police believes that Sam killed Robbie over a fight about Amanda. Robbie’s pals believe that Sam is vulnerable because he is a boxer and has had some head injuries and has been told not to get his head hit again or there might be trouble. In order to keep himself out of jail, Sam and his police buddy start trying to find out who really killed Robbie. Sam needs the help of his bud, Jackie Swaitkowski, a lawyer who is very brainy but doesn’t act like a regular lawyer, and Burton Lewis, a more conventional and quite rich lawyer, to help get him out of the mess and to find out who really killed Robbie and why. This book was the best of the three and I’ll probably read more of them because in this one we got to learn more of Sam’s back story. We saw him take more risks regarding his relationship with Amanda and with other friends as well. A very good book.
August 7, 2008
HEAD WOUNDS (Amateur Sleuth-Sam Acquillo-Long Island, NY-Cont) – VG
Knopf, Chris – 3rd in series
The Permanent Press, 2008, US Hardcover – ISBN: 978157621650
First Sentence: The evening started innocently enough, Amanda’s outfit notwithstanding.
Ex-boxer, ex-engineer Sam Acuillo, and his neighbor and lover Amanda, have their dinner out interrupted by local builder and bully Robbie Milhouser who wants his crew to work on the houses being remodeled by Amanda.
One of Amanda’s houses burns down making Robbie the obvious suspect. Robbie is then found murdered by a tool with Sam’s fingerprints on it. The authorities conclude Sam killed Robbie in revenge for the arson and it’s up to Sam to prove his innocence.
Knopf does a wonderful job of depicting those people who live and work on Eastern Long Island year round, as opposed to the wealthy who migrate out on the weekends and in the summer.
The protagonist, Sam, is very different from the usual; he’s well read, well-spoken, has a professional background but was a boxer and is now a carpenter. This book includes much more background on Sam, which I appreciated, but found it hard to track the two timelines and stronger editing might have added clarity. I did find him unnecessarily glib at times when it was stupid to be, but at other times enjoyed the humor brought to balance with drama of the story.
What I did like was the growth of the character within the plot. The story was very good with Sam working to clear himself of murder and each subplot of was critical to the story.
Knopf is a very talented writer. I’m looking forward to seeing where he takes Sam next.
Knopf, Chris – 3rd in series
The Permanent Press, 2008, US Hardcover – ISBN: 978157621650
First Sentence: The evening started innocently enough, Amanda’s outfit notwithstanding.
Ex-boxer, ex-engineer Sam Acuillo, and his neighbor and lover Amanda, have their dinner out interrupted by local builder and bully Robbie Milhouser who wants his crew to work on the houses being remodeled by Amanda.
One of Amanda’s houses burns down making Robbie the obvious suspect. Robbie is then found murdered by a tool with Sam’s fingerprints on it. The authorities conclude Sam killed Robbie in revenge for the arson and it’s up to Sam to prove his innocence.
Knopf does a wonderful job of depicting those people who live and work on Eastern Long Island year round, as opposed to the wealthy who migrate out on the weekends and in the summer.
The protagonist, Sam, is very different from the usual; he’s well read, well-spoken, has a professional background but was a boxer and is now a carpenter. This book includes much more background on Sam, which I appreciated, but found it hard to track the two timelines and stronger editing might have added clarity. I did find him unnecessarily glib at times when it was stupid to be, but at other times enjoyed the humor brought to balance with drama of the story.
What I did like was the growth of the character within the plot. The story was very good with Sam working to clear himself of murder and each subplot of was critical to the story.
Knopf is a very talented writer. I’m looking forward to seeing where he takes Sam next.
July 7, 2008
I read the first one, Two Time and liked it. This book is a continuation of the story, with the main character, Sam Aquillo getting involved in a land development deal with his sometime girlfriend Amanda and being accused of murder. While he's trying to figure out who is sabotaging Amanda's development deal, he's also trying to figure out who is framing him for murder.
Sam is a cool character, a guy who imploded when his marriage fell apart and he couldn't handle his high powered corporate job. Now he lives a spare life in his childhood home and gets involved in these small-town mysteries.
I enjoyed Two Time more than this book. I knew he wasn't going to be convicted of the murder at the beginning of the book so it kind of felt pointless to read through to the end. Also, his relationship with Amanda seems needlessly complicated and I started get bored with that.
Sam is a cool character, a guy who imploded when his marriage fell apart and he couldn't handle his high powered corporate job. Now he lives a spare life in his childhood home and gets involved in these small-town mysteries.
I enjoyed Two Time more than this book. I knew he wasn't going to be convicted of the murder at the beginning of the book so it kind of felt pointless to read through to the end. Also, his relationship with Amanda seems needlessly complicated and I started get bored with that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2020
Ex-boxer, ex-corporate infighter Sam and his dog, Eddie Van Halen, try to lead the simple life. But as always, fate intervenes, this time in the form of Robbie Milhouser, local builder and blundering bully who shares Sam's irresistible attraction to the beautiful Amanda Anselma. Sam seems doomed to straddle the thin red line between envy and love, hate and forgiveness, goodness and greed. One of my 10 best mysteries read in 2008.
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January 29, 2009"What makes the novel feel fresh is whip-smart, snappy dialogue and intriguing characters, particularly smart women who handily skirt cliché. Knopf is also a dab hand at describing settings and characters. He brings the working-class side of Southampton, where fishermen and mechanics hang out after work, vividly to the page." -The Boston Globe about Knopfs other books.
January 27, 2025
This book uses the worn out plot device of having the lead character, Sam Acquillo, accussed of murder to good effect while fleshing out Sam's backstory in this third installment of the series set in the Hamptons. Listened to the audio version which was narrated by the always excellent Richard Ferrone.
April 20, 2013
Good entertainment. Interesting charaters. Takes place on Long Island. Dislogue is funny. Tough guys have lots of personality and lawers are more than just out of your money. Good take to the beach book.
January 9, 2016
Sam is framed for murder. The set up is pretty solid with physical evidence, so it's up to Sam and his lawyer to find the truth.
The strength of this series is the dialogue and strong characters. The plot itself is a bit predictable, but that's forgivable since I really like Sam.
The strength of this series is the dialogue and strong characters. The plot itself is a bit predictable, but that's forgivable since I really like Sam.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2008
2nd book with same characters dont have to read in order ( i didnt) but same great dialogue, smart, mystery.
March 20, 2010
A new to me series that I'm really enjoying.
November 6, 2013
Good mystery, kept me guessing until the end. This is the 3rd book in the series and my first read from the author. I enjoyed it so I plan to read the first.
April 27, 2024
While I still enjoy Knopf's voice and characters, I just got lost with the plot on this one.
November 1, 2011
Light & fun!
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February 23, 2015read
April 23, 2017
[library audiobook]
Notably set in far Suffolk County, NY. There's some back story left out, how did Aquillo come to have a boxing career and other details. Not enough motivation for why the several female characters are hitting on Aquillo - the lawyer, developer and guidance councilor. Still it was entertaining, and I would read another Knopf if it came up on the library site.
Notably set in far Suffolk County, NY. There's some back story left out, how did Aquillo come to have a boxing career and other details. Not enough motivation for why the several female characters are hitting on Aquillo - the lawyer, developer and guidance councilor. Still it was entertaining, and I would read another Knopf if it came up on the library site.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews