They Never Die Quietly

Sami Rizzo #1

by D.M. Annechino

They Never Die Quietly tells the story of homicide Detective Sami Rizzo, who is assigned to head a task force investigating serial killings in San Diego. Simon, the highly intelligent, cunning, and deceptively charming villain, redefines the depths of human evil. He believes God has given him absolute authority to purify his unholy victims through a ritual that ends in a grisly crucifixion. Driven by warped religious beliefs and guided by his dead mother, very much alive in his subconscious, Simon abducts “chosen ones” and holds them captive in a Room of Redemption. There, the victims helplessly await their crucifixion. Detective Rizzo urgently yearns to solve the case and gain the respect of her male colleagues, but her obsession to apprehend the killer on her own clouds her thinking. When Simon outsmarts Rizzo and captures her, determined to make her his next victim, she must employ all her resources—both physical and intellectual—to outwit the villain at his own game.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Suspense, Ebooks, Serial Killer

278 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

It wasn't until I hit my 40's that I discovered my God-given talent for the written word. I'm not totally clear on how the first book came about. I wrote it in 1992. I think it was on a dare. I had been working as a General Manager in the retail automotive business, and a colleague suggested that someone should write an intelligent guide on how to buy a car and beat the dealer at his own game. It was a challenge that beckoned me, and for some reason the whole idea excited me. With pen in hand--I didn't own an early computer or word processor back then--I wrote the entire book longhand. I tackled this undertaking without an outline or even the most remote idea how this book would unfold. My approach was totally unorganized and unconventional. I just started writing, and the chapters poured out of my head. I could barely keep pace with my thoughts and ideas. For fear a fresh idea would fade to oblivion, I often had to stop writing long enough to scribble notes about a new idea that popped into my head.

To date, Amazon Publishing has published three of my novels: They Never Die Quietly, Resuscitation, and I Do Solemnly Swear. The three books combined have sold 150,000 copies worldwide. I'm not yet hanging up there with the big guns--not even close--but for a skinny kid who nearly flunked English in high school, I think I've done pretty well.

Hypocrisy, my fourth novel was released March of 2014, and A Piece of You, novel number five, should be released later this year. The moral of the story? If you have a passion for writing, don't let rejection hold you back or discourage you. Persevere and remember that rejection is a prerequisite to success. Keep those fingers poised above the keyboard and write, write, write.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up from the Amazon Prime lending library after reading a review or two there and noting the overall star level (four as of this writing). I wish I'd read more reviews before deciding on this.

The plot telegraphs itself early on. Attractive female super detective Sami Rizzo is hot on the trail of bad guy Simon, who is tall, handsome, and charming. Her partner Al loves her from afar. You can see the ending from a mile off.

As noted by several other reviewers, the book would have benefited from a strong editorial hand. Annechino describes his anti-hero as "the charming man who had stirred her womanly emotions." Wow. Dialogue was clunky throughout as well. I bookmarked this gem, in which Sami is speaking to a homeless guy who is a potential witness: "We have at our disposal sophisticated information resources and new technologies with global capabilities." Most people don't talk that way if they're not giving a prepared speech. Two paragraphs later, Annechino writes, "For a fleeting moment all her worldly troubles and despair seemed to be eclipsed by the euphoric timbre in this stranger's voice."

I'd read a couple of thrillers prior to this one, and sadly, this book suffered in comparison, showing the lack of research that went into it. Thriller readers and watchers of CSI-type TV know that, in the wake of a murder, detectives work a lot of hours chasing leads. Murder solve rates are much higher in the 24-48 hours following the crime. In this book, crucified women are turning up every few days; yet Sami is home with her cute daughter in the evenings and goes into the office at 9am. She may be smarter than all her colleagues, but no detective gets ahead like that. I also noticed Sami and Al's tradition of watching NFL football on Saturday night. I'm not a huge football fan, but I do know that in general, Saturday is for college football and Sunday belongs to the pros.

The book is well-paced, and I finished it, despite shaking my head from time to time at Annechino's phrasing and over-use of adjectives. It's unlikely I'll pick up another of his novels, though.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a fan of this series. However I have read this series our of order. I started with book two and recently finished book three and then jumped back to book one. Only this is the first book I have not read but listened to in audio version. Which I have to say that I found that the narrator, Christina Traister did a good job of narrating this book on audio version. Yet despite Ms. Traister's work I had a hard time really getting into this book as much as I have the other two novels. At first I was into the story but than I started to lose focus on the story and would occasionally get pulled back in.

Sami does show a little of how she can hold her own in a man's world. Yet she has really grown into a powerful force as the series as progressed. Also, there is some strong language used in this book so be warned if you do not like this type of language. Although this book is not my favorite I still am a fan of this author's work and will read more books in this series.

[Barb · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book - couldn't even finish it. Too bad you can't give negative numbers.

[#ReadAllTheBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

With all of the glowing recommendations from the other reviewers, I figured that this would be a book I'd really love. After all, I'd already wanted to read it ever since I'd missed out on getting it via the vine program. What I'd forgotten in the process was that this is a "new" writer & that this is one of his first published books. While that doesn't equate with bad, it does mean that I should have expected the book to be a little rough around the edges.

Detective Sami Rizzo is desperately searching for a serial killer who is targeting women with children. Not content to merely murder them, he tortures them by crucifying them & letting them die slowly. The killer, a seemingly ordinary physical therapist named Simon, believes that he is saving their souls from sin. As Sami gets more pressure from above to find the killer, she gains the notice of the killer himself- who is determined to make her his next victim!

I'm kind of torn on this book. On one hand, the book had a lot of promise & there were parts of the book that were interesting enough. Unfortunately this book also had a lot of flaws & rough edges. The cat & mouse game between Sami & Simon just didn't seem to be able to keep momentum enough to make it all that interesting. Plus the characters just didn't seem to "pop" for me & while Annechino managed to keep from making the characters completely cardboard & one-dimensional, the characters could have used a little more work on them.

I also had a few problems with the sheer amount of coincidences in the book. Sami just so happens to zoom in on Simon as the killer, despite having absolutely no evidence to believe so. There are other coincidences in the book, but I won't list those because they are spoilers. (Even though others have already listed some of them.) I'm also a little irritated by how incredibly stupid Sami was towards the end of the book. I understand that pride can stand in your way, but this just seemed incredibly reckless even for the most foolhardy detective.

This wasn't terrible & I was interested enough to finish it, but Annechino definitely has some rough edges to smooth over. I can deal with being green, but in the end this book's worst flaw was that it didn't really bring anything new to the detective thriller vein.

This would make for a nice enough beach read & I emphasize that any potential buyers keep in mind that this is a new author. Even Patricia Cornwell didn't become a perfect writer overnight. Hopefully the author's next book will smooth out some of these rough edges. I just know that rather than purchasing it outright, I'll just check this one out from my local library instead.

[Eryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the Amazon Library and am so thankful that I did not pay for this novel that is terrible. At first, I could tolerate it and thought I'd get through it. But it got worse and worse as I kept reading and I had to stop.

Spoilers:
The serial killer, Simon, has sex with his mother and continues to believe he has sex with his mother with his dead victims. Simon is also, in general, a stupid character who has nothing to him but pleasing his crazy mother and God. Each character is so one dimensional. The plot is very predictable. Sami Rizzo can't think about anything that doesn't have to do with chauvinistic men and getting emotionally involved in the case and how awful serial killers are.

Honestly, I was disgusted and would not recommend the book to anyone.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's start with the positives. The plot is coherent and fairly well paced. I wanted to know what happened and the writing was largely clear and well managed so you knew what was happening throughout.

However...
The plot was also pretty familiar:
- A sociopath with religious delusions
- A brilliant female cop, struggling to keep her life together in a male dominated world, and as a single mother
- A former alcoholic partner, struggling to stay on the straight and narrow
- The hard bitten police chief who is always berating the central characters for how long it is taking them to solve the crime.

These weren't show stoppers, but it did have a familiar feeling.

I had more of a problem with the writing *repeatedly* in the text the phrase ' and she ...'. I found this grating. I'm sorry. Its bad English. A good edit would have fixed the problem.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prompt #41 on the 2020 Reading Challenge: A book published when I was 20 years old (2009).

Not my favorite genre, but this one had free narration with Kindle Unlimited. It was a good book, toed a couple of lines that would have made them impossible to stomach. I didn't particularly like the protagonist or her partner.

But, hey--the whole point of a book challenge is to break out of your normal reading patterns and try new things!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

main character is too concerned with the size of her hips.

there is a sentence about "having an asian accent." um.... there are countries?

this was...okay. it could have done with a good editor. there was too much about Al's "love" of Sammi. it just seemed unpolished. there were more comments than i would have liked about various women's appearances (sammi's hips, the hr woman's chubby fingers and "wedging" her hips into her chair). appearance isn't always irrelevant, but in many instances where it was called out it wasn't necessary.

[Thilak Ramakrishna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great and absurdly stupid at the same time

A protagonist who is built up to be the best could be so stupid...who knew! A very good story with grisly details that never reached the heights the first few chapters promises it to be. A definite page turner.

[Christin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline was really interesting with some plot twists and made it hard to put the book down at times. However, the description of the female characters showcases the male gaze and is sometimes painstakingly stereotypical.

[Cynthia Reyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my thing

Disappointing read with predictable formula. The story is a repeat of so many takes on "strong" women making all the wrong choices- only to be rescued by a man. No thanks.

[Brandy Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A villain I truly hate.

[Julia Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending felt a bit rushed, but I loved the story, honestly, and the suspense! I was on the edge of my seat the whole book! Look forward to book 2!

[mary reddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable

Characters. were s hallow, very predictable all the way through to the end. Disappointing. One book by this author is enough.

[Amy Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

the plot is about a detective on a case of a religous serial killer it has many intense moments and is a decent read although not the best i have read it was enjoyable but was lacking in some things.

[Natascha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein fesselnder Thriller aus verschiedenen Perspektiven ohne Umschweife erzählt. Fein abgestimmte Charaktere mit viel Tiefe - große Empfehlung!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

They Never Die Quietly by D. M. Annechino Meet the serial killer, Simon, who is also a physical therapist. He’s a self-appointed savior of humanity, cleansing people one at a time in his Room of Redemption. After his third victim is found, Detectives Sami Rizzo and Alberto Diaz are assigned the case. The pressure is on as San Diego politicians demand results in the hunt for the killer.
This book started off pretty strong and interesting. The reader knows right from the start who the serial killer is and that also makes us privy to his motivations. His physically dead mother is still giving directions in his head.  He truly believes that God and his mother want him to cleanse these women in order for them to be redeemed. However, his cleansing leaves them crucified, a rather brutal death.
Simon isn’t stupid. He’s careful about how he selects his targets, typically choosing women he has no ordinary contact with. He also picks women who have small kids and he scoops them up in a non-threatening way together. Later, he releases the kid at some public place.  The bodies keep turning up at religious sites. The inner workings of Simon were twisted, but in a logical sense. Overall, Simon is a very interesting antagonist. I think this book is set perhaps in the 1990s. People are still smoking indoors and Sami is the only female detective. This also means there is limited forensic knowledge and tech. As such, Simon isn’t leaving much evidence on the bodies for the detectives to work with.
Sami Rizzo is a single mother, Angelina being about 2 years old. Angelina’s father, Tommy DiSalvo, walked out on them some time ago. Sami is an intriguing character because she is both obviously feminine but also a detective, working with an all male cast day in and day out. She’s a voluptuous woman and not a twig, which was a nice touch. She lives near her mother Josephine who babysits often even though the two ladies don’t get along.
Al Diaz is another interesting character. Being of Mexican decent, he catches some crap from some of the fellows at work. Sami and he are a good detective pair, being able to both joke around and divide and conquer the work load. Al still has contacts across the border and these come in handy for a side plot involving Sami’s ex-husband.
As you can see, the set up is real good. I was hooked from the start and definitely caught up in the main characters’ lives. I also appreciated that the victims we see alive and in Simon’s hands aren’t all meek. Victim #4, Peggy, fights verbally and physically for her life and then for the safety of her daughter April.
A chance meeting on Thanksgiving Day puts Sami and Simon in the same room. Of course, neither knows who the other is at first. Much later on, Sami suspects she knows who the killer is. And this is where the story becomes a bit cliched. She decides to try to take him down all on her own in order to prove something. She doesn’t tell anyone where she is going or leave a note, just in case. I had to roll my eyes a little at this because it is an overly used plot device. Yes, it gave us drama and, yes, I wanted to see how things would turn out. I was invested in the characters and the book as a whole at this point. I was hoping there would be some unexpected twist at the end, but there wasn’t. Things pretty much followed the boiler plate plot from this point forward.
Overall, it was an entertaining read. Perhaps two-thirds of it had me completely sucked in and trying to guess what would happen next. Even after things got predictable, I still wanted to see it through. The side plot that had Diaz tapping his contacts over the border was a good one, adding some additional mystery to the plot.
I received a copy of this audiobook at no cost as part of the iReads Book Tour in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration:  Christina Traister was a great voice for Sami. She’s assertive without being a jerk. I like that she can sound both grateful and exasperated at the same time (this happens quite a bit when Sami is dealing with her mother). Her male voices were believable and distinct. Her pronunciation  of Spanish words needs assistance and her Spanish accent could use some improving. 

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet the serial killer, Simon, who is also a physical therapist. He’s a self-appointed savior of humanity, cleansing people one at a time in his Room of Redemption. After his third victim is found, Detectives Sami Rizzo and Alberto Diaz are assigned the case. The pressure is on as San Diego politicians demand results in the hunt for the killer.

This book started off pretty strong and interesting. The reader knows right from the start who the serial killer is and that also makes us privy to his motivations. His physically dead mother is still giving directions in his head. He truly believes that God and his mother want him to cleanse these women in order for them to be redeemed. However, his cleansing leaves them crucified, a rather brutal death.

Simon isn’t stupid. He’s careful about how he selects his targets, typically choosing women he has no ordinary contact with. He also picks women who have small kids and he scoops them up in a non-threatening way together. Later, he releases the kid at some public place. The bodies keep turning up at religious sites. The inner workings of Simon were twisted, but in a logical sense. Overall, Simon is a very interesting antagonist. I think this book is set perhaps in the 1990s. People are still smoking indoors and Sami is the only female detective. This also means there is limited forensic knowledge and tech. As such, Simon isn’t leaving much evidence on the bodies for the detectives to work with.

Sami Rizzo is a single mother, Angelina being about 2 years old. Angelina’s father, Tommy DiSalvo, walked out on them some time ago. Sami is an intriguing character because she is both obviously feminine but also a detective, working with an all male cast day in and day out. She’s a voluptuous woman and not a twig, which was a nice touch. She lives near her mother Josephine who babysits often even though the two ladies don’t get along.

Al Diaz is another interesting character. Being of Mexican decent, he catches some crap from some of the fellows at work. Sami and he are a good detective pair, being able to both joke around and divide and conquer the work load. Al still has contacts across the border and these come in handy for a side plot involving Sami’s ex-husband.

As you can see, the set up is real good. I was hooked from the start and definitely caught up in the main characters’ lives. I also appreciated that the victims we see alive and in Simon’s hands aren’t all meek. Victim #4, Peggy, fights verbally and physically for her life and then for the safety of her daughter April.

A chance meeting on Thanksgiving Day puts Sami and Simon in the same room. Of course, neither knows who the other is at first. Much later on, Sami suspects she knows who the killer is. And this is where the story becomes a bit cliched. She decides to try to take him down all on her own in order to prove something. She doesn’t tell anyone where she is going or leave a note, just in case. I had to roll my eyes a little at this because it is an overly used plot device. Yes, it gave us drama and, yes, I wanted to see how things would turn out. I was invested in the characters and the book as a whole at this point. I was hoping there would be some unexpected twist at the end, but there wasn’t. Things pretty much followed the boiler plate plot from this point forward.

Overall, it was an entertaining read. Perhaps two-thirds of it had me completely sucked in and trying to guess what would happen next. Even after things got predictable, I still wanted to see it through. The side plot that had Diaz tapping his contacts over the border was a good one, adding some additional mystery to the plot.

I received a copy of this audiobook at no cost as part of the iReads Book Tour in exchange for an honest review.

The Narration: Christina Traister was a great voice for Sami. She’s assertive without being a jerk. I like that she can sound both grateful and exasperated at the same time (this happens quite a bit when Sami is dealing with her mother). Her male voices were believable and distinct. Her pronunciation of Spanish words needs assistance and her Spanish accent could use some improving.

[Dhivya Balaji · Rating 3 out of 5]

FIRST IMPRESSION:

I have always been a fan of the thriller genre. Though there are many classifications under this broad topic, police procedural thrillers hold a special place in my heart - especially given the fact that I love James Patterson's books. Needless to say, a strong woman detective, police psychological thrillers and a good title and cover are reasons why I picked this book up.

The cover is simple in its brilliance. The bloody hand print is promising, chilling and of course made me want to read the book. The title sounded like a mockingly sad words of a serial killer - a strong meaning under a simple sentence.

REVIEW:

The prologue - (I should have expected this from the summary, though) failed to impress me in any new way. Agreed that it was from a different view point and it definitely sets the tone for the book. But sadly, and this might partly be due to the enormous number of such thrillers I might have read before in this genre, the prologue had nothing new. I just read it through like a story description instead of the spine chilling effect it should have had on me.

The story from then on follows the same mood. Of course it is written well. But I could not help shake the feeling that it follows a basic formulaic plot. A psychotic serial killer who believes he has a reason to commit the murders he so ruthlessly does, a lone woman detective in a testosterone filled department, scenarios set for the detective and the killer to meet out of work and get acquainted and finally the detective suspecting the truth. But Sami Rizzo somehow fails to exhibit the shrewd acumen of a lone 'more intelligent than the men' lady detective and gets into the hands of the killer. Whether or not she gets out of the situation alive forms the rest of the story.

Not to be too harsh on the story and the plot, it is quite interesting if the reader is new to the genre. There is the thrill element and then there are lots of little details that seem interesting but are additions to the story that don't offer much to the improvement of the plot as is but manage to draw the reader in. The story is true to its summary, and the language is decent. But the major complaint is that, the plot manages to become predictable and uses many cliched elements. It does not offer anything new to its readers. But overall, a great attempt and if you are not put off by the highly predictable twists and turns or the occasionally frustrating Lead Detective, you might love this book.

WHAT I LIKED:
•The title. It sends a good message and makes the reader expectant
•The cover image. Simple, striking and intriguing.

WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER:
•The plot and its elements are too predictable
•The lead character surely does not fall in line with other iconic role models of her type
•The police procedures, rules and details should have been written a bit more carefully.

VERDICT:

This book might interest you if you have not read thrillers before, and think that every plot element mentioned here has never been done or even tried before. But if you are an avid fan like me, please give this a miss.

RATING: 3/5

[Victor Gentile · Rating 4 out of 5]

D.M. Annechino in his new book, "They Never Die Quietly" Book One in the Sami Rizzo Series published by Createspace Publishing introduces us to Sami Rizzo.

From the back cover: Experience a new kind of terror. Meet Simon. This highly intelligent and deceptively charming physical therapist loves to touch people: “Inflicting pain through aggressive manipulation helped the healing process.” Simon has a secret calling. He believes that God has given him absolute authority to purify his unholy victims through a ritual that ends in grisly crucifixions. Driven by twisted religious beliefs and guided by his dead mother, very much alive in his subconscious mind, Simon abducts “chosen ones” and holds them captive in a Room of Redemption. There, the victims helplessly await deliverance.

In this breakneck-paced, exquisitely horrific thriller, Detective Sami Rizzo is assigned to head a task force investigating serial killings in San Diego — brutal murders unlike anything the city has ever seen. Detective Rizzo urgently yearns to solve the case and gain the respect of her male colleagues, but her determination to apprehend the killer on her own clouds her thinking. When Simon outsmarts Rizzo, determined to make her his next victim, she must employ all her resources — both physical and intellectual — to beat the villain at his own game.

There is a serial killer on the loose in San Diego. There is a woman detective that is looking to gain the respect of her peers. Both Simon and Sami know each other. And Simon wants to make Sami his next victim. Get ready Mr. Annechino has given us a fast-paced page-turning thriller. "They Never Die Quietly" is loaded with twists and turns that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. Sami Rizzo is a character that captures your attention and makes you want to root for her to succeed. This book is going to take up all of your attention so start reading early because once you get started you will not want to put this book down until you actually finish. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from IRead Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Stefani Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has presented quite a challenge when it comes to writing a review. So let's start with the basics, this is a first novel for this author, or at least the first published novel and unfortunately that shows. The story is not very tight and concise and there were a lot of loose ends that could have been tidied up with just one more edit of the book. But willing to overlook this, we will continue on. Detective Sami Rizzo and her partner Al are confounded by a case of women and their children being abducted. The women are crucified and left at the foot of public churches while the children are found unharmed in department stores around the area. Even with living witnesses in the children, no one can seem to provide a single clue with which to even think of a suspect. Frustrated and with her boss threatening to pull her off the case, Sami follows a hunch that could break the case wide open but her moment of recklessness could also lead to her being the next victim.

Based on that, this could be a five star book right? Wrong. While the identity of the serial killer is never a secret from the reader, the back cover gives away everything. Reading those two paragraphs will tell the reader everything they never wanted to know about where the plot is going. Even when you can overlook those awful and blatant spoilers, it is still painfully predictable. If you have ever watched a police procedural on TV then you know all the high points of how this plot is going to go. Now, the serial killer is a great character. He is charming and interesting and you could easily see how he would lure these women in. His delusions are original and a few times they made my skin crawl. But the rest was mostly a bunch of female cop cliches and a weekly episode on (insert TV police procedural show here). While it had a few points that were excellent the rest was just mediocre and a bit forgettable. Ulatimely I don't know how to rate this book. I cannot say that it was terrible, in fact I was rather entertained by it. But neither can I say it was good, because it was far too average for that. So in the end I have to say that while the author shows great promise for improvement in the future, this debut was a flop.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

They scream, but no one can hear them, much less help them. They are in a sound-proofed basement that is much like a mini-apartment. They could live there indefinitely without ever leaving, if they lived.

After he kidnaps the women, always with one of their children, he keeps them their for 72 hours, until the time has come to be "cleansed." Then, he crucifies them and drops the child off somewhere so they can be returned to their dad. He doesn't harm the children, they are leverage, a tool so he can control the women.

Sami Rizzo is the homicide detective leading the case for the serial killer. Police work really isn't in her heart, but she promised her dying father she would choose it as a career. She has something to prove to herself as well as the men in her precinct. Everyone knows women have to show that they are just as good as the men. But the man she thinks may fit the profile is just too handsome and polite. When he asks her out, she decides to go, not only to enjoy herself, but to also scope out his place. But, her gut instinct proved correct, and she soon finds herself waking up naked in a basement behind a steel door. She's grateful that her daughter is with her mother, until Simon kidnaps her and brings her as well. Now, Sami will have to use all her instincts and training to make it out of there alive; unfortunately, Simon has moved up the deadline.

They Never Die Quietly is chilling, horrific, and thrilling. Mr. Annechino has really researched about serial killers and it shines through his writing. Simon is someone whom you wouldn't know has that sort of evil in him; after all, he works with the general public everyday. Sami is a great character, full of so many depths and lengths she will go to for what she believes in. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough, wanting to know more, yet dreading what I would find. Even after I've closed the book, the story has stayed with me. Mr. Annechino writes so vividly, it's like a motion picture playing across your eyes. Definitely a must-read for thriller and mystery fans!! Highly recommend and I can't wait to read the next one!!

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have heard many times about novels "There's nothing new under the sun" and its something I agree with. However just because there is nothing truly original to throw into novels I still hold the firm belief that authors can at least try to spice up their books with something unusual or at least 'do the cliche well'

Never Die quietly does neither. In terms of originality, everything in this book is tired tired tired. The villian is a religous purist haunted by the voice of his sexually abusive, tyranical mother. The protaganist is a woman detective, struggling to achieve the same recognition/treatment as her male colleagues. Surprise, suprise our protaganist has alot in common with the female victims of the killer and eventually becomes his target.

There's a subplot about the main characters ex which seems to have nothing to do with anything, but somehow ends with our hero becoming fairly rich (or at least very well off) which just seems totally implausible since her ex is the sort of scum-bag unlikely to maintain life-insurance payments.

The cliches aren't the only problem, the prose and writing are quite frankly, amatuer, I actually wondered if the novel was a self-published piece that I had read some time ago on a fan-fiction website. The author needs to read a few books about what it means to 'show' rather than 'tell'.

Their are also a few errors, like a character saying "surely" when they mean "sure" and some lines which should be considered errors like "Womanly desires" and "Didn't have an Asian accent". The author also needs to study up on the definition of terms such as Sociopath, modius operandi and the psychological research around repressed memory and multiple personality disorder. I realise this is a work of fiction, but I still prefer a little authenticity.

Of late I have been trying to be more positive in my reviews, but somedays honesty trumps diplomacy

[Marilyn Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

They Never Die Quietly is the first of three books I will be reviewing featuring San Diego homicide detective Sami Rizzo along with her partner Detective Al Diaz. Each of the three deal with serial killers. Each serial killer is definitely creepy and got under my skin. Because of the way the victims were killed - and the reason for the killing - these books fall under the thriller category for me as I have a vivid imagination. They are just over the line - disturbing, but you should be able to sleep.

In They Never Die Quietly, we start with a murder as it is happening, but from the victim's point of view. We quickly learn it was a painful crucifixion with the woman's child asleep in the same room. Sick! Then the author introduces us to the characters involved. There are a few expected things about the plot. Sami Rizzo is the only female detective in an all male squad, so has to be better and smarter than her colleagues to gain their respect. She is a single mom balancing work and home. She is the first to start to guess who the killer might be. From there the book is told from three points of view - the killer's, Sami Rizzo's and Al Diaz's.

The storyline kept my interest from start to finish and the method and reason behind the killings were unique. As a writer I give the author kudos for being able to go into that dark space creatively. I would have had nightmares. But if you look at the reviews on Amazon they range widely. Why? I think you have to love reading thrillers with creepy killers first of all. Secondly, there were a few small plot details that perhaps needed revisiting such as Sami's choice to meet the suspected killer alone without backup - a bit unbelievable for a smart, top-notch detective.

Love your murder mysteries with more of a thriller bent? Then the killer here will be right up your alley.

[Remy G · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this thriller, Detective Sami Rizzo, the only woman to reach the rank in the Major Offense Squad, is assigned to spearhead a force investigating a series of murders in San Diego, with the primary antagonist, Simon Kwosokowski, believing the Lord has granted him total authority to sanctify his victims with rituals terminated by crucifixion. Rizzo wishes to resolve the case while earning the respect of her male coworkers, although her desire to apprehend Simon independently leads to her own capture, the murderer determined to make her his next victim, and thus, Rizzo must somehow outwit Simon.

They Never Die Quietly opens with a prologue, the only chapter in narrated in the first person, in this case by Linda Cassidy, an initial victim of Simon’s brutal crucifixion murders. In the first of the main chapters, Simon awaits his next victim, with some backstory revealed revolving around his tenure as a physical therapist, a later revelation involving closeness to his mother. The second chapter introduces protagonist Sami Rizzo, who investigates Simon’s murders with Alberto Diaz. In a break from the murder investigation, Sami spends Thanksgiving with her daughter Angelina and her mother after volunteering for the less fortunate at Katie’s Kitchen.

Following a meeting with their boss, Captain Davison, Sami and Al visit Andrew McDonald, husband of one of Simon’s recent murder victims, Peggy. Simon ultimately takes Sami and her daughter hostage, intending to crucify her alongside his other victims three days after her capture, with Al essentially alone with his investigation of the case, going to the human resources department at Bayshore Hospital. Ultimately, this is a fairly enjoyable thriller that definitely keeps readers hooked and remains riveting until the very end. Those who typically enjoy novels in the genre definitely won’t be disappointed.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up They Never Die Quietly and its sequel in a Kindle sale. Given that I’d already bought the sequel, I was really hoping that I’d enjoy this thriller. And since I read the entire book in less than a day, the answer to that is a resounding “yes”.

This is the first thriller by D. M. Annechino, and he writes very well. As a fan of Tess Gerritson’s work, I can say any fan of hers will enjoy this. Sami Rizzo, the heroine detective, comes from the same mould as Gerritson’s Rizzoli (they even have similar surnames), but still manages to be her own character and distinctly different. Rizzo is a good detective, but she is a reluctant one – attempting to be the son her father wanted to follow in his footsteps. While she has the brains for detection, and the determination and skill to track down killers, she doesn’t have the stomach for the blood and guts part of the job.

The serial killer in this novel is a sadistic religious zealot who believes he is doing God’s work when he murders young mothers. Annechino takes us inside the head of his killer, and we can see his motivations, hear his schizophrenic voices and be horrified by his traumatic childhood. The murders are horrific and gruesome, but Annechino never dwells too much on the brutal details. The closest he gets is in describing an autopsy from Rizzo’s POV, and then she is so disgusted by it that she leaves before the end, asking her partner to give her a full report later.

I won’t give too much away, but fans of Gerritson and Val McDermid should definitely check this book out. I think I will be moving on to the sequel in very short order.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another formulaic, predictable, "female cop in peril" thriller, January 6, 2010
This novel was so disappointing. I love thrillers featuring smart, competent female detectives who use their brains and police procedure to solve a case involving a heinous serial killer. Ever since Clarice Starling got into Dr. Hannibal Lecter's head, I've loved the genre and reading about that odd relationship between mind-hunter or cop and criminal. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those good books.

Sami Rizzo, a single mother, is assigned to the investigation of a psychopathic murderer who is crucifying women and taking their hearts as souvenirs. Even though he typically captures the women along with their children, he released the children when he's finished killing their mothers. Sami and her partner, Al, (romantic interest) don't have many concrete leads when Sami gets the bright (read: stupid and so cliché it's ridiculous) idea to use herself as bait by going on a date with a man who fits many of the characteristics described by other witnesses and by the children of the women who were abducted. Even admitting that what she is doing is dumb when she accepts a dinner invitation from Simon -- she goes ahead with her harebrained scheme and ends up locked in the basement of his isolated home.

As far as I'm concerned, the novel's entertainment value and believability ended on page 146 and limped to its predictable climax and ending a very long 130 pages of Sami in captivity later.

Skip it.

[Amie's Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ I received a free copy of this audiobook from iRead Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Chilling, horrifying - a mother's worst fears exploited - one Hell of a book.

Detective Sami Rizzo is a single mother to an adorable two year old girl named Angelina. Like most mothers, Sami's whole world revolves around her daughter.

Sami also has a dead-beat ex-husband who seems to believe that child support and visiting his daughter is optional.

Despite the drama in her personal life, Sami must put everything aside when she is working. As a homicide detective, it is her job (along with her partner, Al) to catch the bad guys.

When women start turning up dead, their bodies left in open spaces, Sami and Al are put in charge of the case.

This audiobook is extremely well done. The narrator has an amazing sense of when and where to place inflection on certain words and phrases, and her pacing is perfect.

As the story goes on, Sami becomes more and more obsessed with catching the elusive killer. In fact, she is so determined to catch him that she takes some chances that she normally wouldn't.

As Sami becomes more and more involved, so does the listener. I do not think it is possible to not get caught up in this psychological thriller.

THEY NEVER DIE QUIETLY is a non-stop thrill ride that will have listeners on the edge of their seats.

I highly recommend this audiobook and I also highly recommend the Detective Sami Rizzo series of books by D.M. Annechino.

I rate this audiobook as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Matt Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

The seed of this story has real potential. That's what's so disappointing.

They Never Die Quietly never really got off the runway. It would try to take off. It would grab me tight for a minute. But then it would inevitably set me back down with--and I hate to use this word--infodump after infodump, clogging the story's action until I finally gave up. This kind of exposition may occasionally help a story, but not done to the degree it is here. Further, Annechino would make a great sentence or point or character observation, but then lose it with several surrounding sentences that were weaker and nullified his strongest prose. The last fatal flaw for me was the amount of sophisticated words that were needlessly thrust into many sentences, forcing them to read awkward and like something out of a brochure. Sure, I understood them, but what I didn't get was if Annechino was trying to impress me with his vocabulary or make the narrative seem more polished than it really was. A sleek, edgy novel doesn't need big words to be sophisticated. It needs a robust story. Annechino may have one here, but he just lets too many other things get in the way.

I would've been interested to see the finish of They Never Die Quietly. Too many unnecessary things, unfortunately, kept me from it.

Can't recommend, but those who like religiously-inspired bad guys might find it worth trying.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Once I started it I couldn't stop. The book is about a Religious fanatic Simon, who kills women in front of their small children. He feels that killing these women purifies him. His mother who has been dead for years keeps telling him he is doing God's work.
Sami Rizzo is assigned to head the task force on the case of the murders. She wants to end the terror so much so that a handsome face clouds her judgment at first, before she becomes suspicious of the man who she is attracted to.
She ends up in the middle of the insanity herself.

This book is very fast paced. From page one this book drug me in and didn't turn me loose until the last period in the book. There is just enough description of surroundings to keep you in the know but not so much as to bore you. At least not for me. D.M. Annechino has done a great job with this book. I can't wait to get started on the next book.

I listened to the Audio Book which is read by Christina Traister. She does a wonderful job. you can feel the characters emotions in her voice. She as well as the book has a way of keeping you involved. I really like when listening to a audio book and the narrator makes it sound more like a conversation then just a fat book. You know when the character is smiling because you can hear it, I will be looking for more books read by her.

I was given an audiobook by the Author in exchange for my honest review.