The Storm Killer

by Mike Jastrzebski

Take a trip to the dark side of 1935.Reporter Jim Locke is devastated when he finds out his sister was murdered. Determined to discover who did it, Jim embarks on a dangerous journey from the gritty bars of post-Depression Manhattan to old Key West, even though it means facing a major hurricane along the way.With a thrilling and suspenseful Noir-style narrative, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoyed Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, you'll be sure to love this book.Grab your copy now and head back to the not so good old days!

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Suspense, Historical Fiction, Crime, Amazon

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2010

Reviews

[Craig Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, there were some very good portions of this book and I started it with a 4, then started deducting. I deducted one for the weak wrap up of main character and Mary. I was going to leave it at a 3 but the ending kind of just ended and what really bothered me: Yes I know he was trying to make this a throw back novel, "She walked into my life, a sultry blond in a backless red dress" I get it, but every other page talked about lighting the cigarette, lighting someone elses, the smoky bar. If you took out every reference to smoking the book would have been a short story, really. I guarantee every third page dedicated a paragraph to smoking. It went on and on, just like this review, so like the book I am done.

[John Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Storm Killer is yet another example of why Kindle and e-books will change the publishing business. I purchased the book for $2.99, read it on my iPhone, and experienced a great read from an exciting new author.

The Storm Killer puts you in New York City in the 1930s and takes you for a ride all the way to Key West, Florida where the story reaches a climax that ties in Ernest Hemingway and the momentous Hurricane of 1935.

Finding The Storm Killer on Kindle is like spotting a rising new recording artist on an independent radio station, you get to enjoy the artist's work while rooting for them on their blossoming success.

Let's hope we don't have to wait long for more from Mike Jastrzebski.

[Richard Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read if you overlook the constant smoking and the use of "copper" for police officers. That seems to be the main effort to give the story a 30's feel, and tended to irritate. Still, it's an exciting novel for suspense and mystery.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast-paced film-noir read. It was surprisingly good for a self-published book. Author Mike Jastrzebski has a flair for writing 1930s period detail, from the dialogue to the post-speakeasy underbelly of New York City "goons" and "coppers on the take." Ernest Hemmingway references of The Sun Also Rises, and a surprise appearance by the author, made this book all the more enjoyable to read. The ending, however, was abrupt and needed an epilogue to tie up loose ends--so abrupt was the ending that it felt like the novel was unfinished. Some minor hard-to-believe details also crept into some parts of the book, the most bothersome of which was the hero's ex-girlfriend Mary announcing that she's a lawyer without the men batting an eyelid. It was only later on was it mentioned that women lawyers were rare in the 1930s and was somewhat glossed over. Overall, however, Jastrzebski did a very good job keeping readers on tenterhooks until the very end.

[Wendy Bertsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Storm Killer an excellent piece of light entertainment in the style of the classic Depression era mysteries.

A reporter is suspected of his sister’s murder by an oddly determined cop, and has to find her killer before he’s locked up himself.

The plot is deepened by a rekindled romance, a friend who walks on the shady side, and the surprise involvement of a literary giant and his gutsy sidekicks. Add a killer with a twisted psyche and a violent act of nature and you have a book worth spending time with. There are some interesting twists, and just when you think you know how it’s all going to end – it doesn’t.

I haven’t read a lot of those vintage who-dunnits, but I’m thinking maybe I’d like to sample a few more . . . .

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like many things about this book, especially the way the author evoked the feel of 1930s era NYC and Key West. But the ending was quite abrupt. Without including spoilers, it's impossible to say exactly why I found the ending so unsatisfactory, but I would have given this book four stars had there been a more complete resolution.

[Traci Heinz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really, really good!

An alcoholic newspaper reporter, beautiful lawyer and vindictive copper - what's not to like? Setting it up in 1930's New York City and Key West...an excellent historical thriller!

[Rich Bussom · Rating 1 out of 5]

It had its moments where I could see the outline of a really good book but I found the first 3/4 tedious and the last 1/4 was Hemingway fan-fiction and, by the way, there's a hurricane coming. No real point to either.

I want to emphasize that one star is according to the Goodreads rating system and only means "I didn't like it". The book wasn't awful but didn't work for me.

[Mary Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read with a good story.... enjoyed it .....would recommend it ....

[Carol Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Bad

Not to bad slow in parts needs a bit more polish, worth a quick read, although the title says it all.

[Donna Murdock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Keeps you guessing as to which person was the killer

First time reading this author. Will look for others books by him.

[Dannye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story took me back in time to when my mother belonged to a book club that focused on mysteries and detective stories, all written in the 30's and 40's. Although I've read several books this year that started out in this classic style, this is the only one that held up all the way through to the end. The plot was solid with characters who came alive and drew you into the era of the 1930s. The insertion of Ernest Hemingway into the story was a quirky, but intriguing plot twist.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries, and if you're a person who likes to watch the classics on TV, you'll feel right at home.

[Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book in Ebook format about a week or so ago but had not had an opportunity to sit down and give it any attention. Yesterday the weather was pretty chilly outside and a perfect day for cuddling up and reading, which I did ~ "Storm Killer" from beginning to end!! The storyline kept me interested from the first sentence and even got my heart thumping pretty rapidly a few times from the suspense and surprising twists. Having Hemingway involved was brilliant! LOVED this book!!

[Marr Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice historical mystery written in a hard boiled noir style. The plot is fairly well conceived but the ending was wrapped up a bit too simply. No real mystery regarding the killer but that's not what I was looking for with this one.[return][return]This had the feeling of a book one in a series. There is certainly the potential for more especially with the tie in to Key West as a historical mystery setting.

[bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I ended up settling on 3 stars because the book was okay and I couldn't really point at a whole lot wrong with it other than minor repetition towards the end. But on the other hand it wasn't all that great either. I certainly wasn't that keen on the use of Hemingway. Not that I'm a Hemingway fan, but it just doesn't seem right to make such significant use of a real historical figure. It was fine until he became a character. I've seen worse--far worse--but it just didn't feel right.

[Blondie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story, therefore the 4 stars, but I didn't see the 'grit' and 'noir' and especially not the 'hard-boiled' that have been mentioned in other reviews. Also some parts seemed a bit rushed, his addiction was over-emphasized for my taste, and the end was rather abrupt.

All that said, though, I will read his next book as I think he is on his way to being a very good writer.

[Cherrybomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great read! I will buy the second book by this author for sure. Quite a few times in this book I found myself saying, "Wow, I didn't see that coming." This was so well written that I could picture the characters and surroundings as if I were there. Never a dull moment, I enjoyed every word of it.

[Stephen Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not a big fan of historical fiction but since I so thoroughly enjoyed Mike's other book (Key Lime Blues) I decided to try it. I've got to say I wound up really enjoying it and would love to see what happens next with the books characters if he decides to take them forward. If you read and enjoyed Key Lime blues I'd definitely recommend the Storm Killer.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabs you and drags you into darker side of New York and to the streets of Key West. Twists and turns keeps the reader from putting down this book until the very end, leaving the reader to want more. There are loose ends ... Do we, the readers, fill in the blanks or is this a clever ploy, wetting our appetite for book 2?

[Dava Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, light reading. The characters are pretty good, and it took me awhile to figure out whodunit. My biggest criticism is probably something lots of people like, and that is what seemed like overuse of words and phrases that are supposed to contribute to the setting - dame, the skirt, and again and again - copper, as in "the copper was watching."

[Rkb 2015 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crime beat reporter on a 1935 newspaper becomes the main suspect in his actress sisters murder. When he becomes involved in his own investigation he uncovers more murders done in similar fashion. The police don't believe him and he ends up being the one to catch the criminal.

Well done in the dark, gritty stylized detective novels of the period.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crime beat reporter on a 1935 newspaper becomes the main suspect in his actress sisters murder. When he becomes involved in his own investigation he uncovers more murders done in similar fashion. The police don't believe him and he ends up being the one to catch the criminal.

Well done in the dark, gritty stylized detective novels of the period.

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book because I got tired of EVERY character calling the policemen "copper". What are the chances of EVERY character from every level of society calling them that. Me thinks the author was trying too hard to set the time period.

Only the final chapters were exciting. The rest was a little formulaic.

[Samantha Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in 1 day

Loved this book. I read it one day. Blew off all my plans because I was so caught up in this book, first time in years I did this. However the ending was a big let down. Doesn't tell you anything of the cast when it was all over, no mention of a part 2 or anything...otherwise I would be giving it 200 stars.

[Darlis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this--set in NYC in the 1930's, the reporter's sister is murdered, along with anyone who believe that he didn't do her in. The story ends in Key West with Ernest Hemingway so there is a strange plot twist there. Fun, mystery read.

[Erin Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not actually finished with this book yet but so far it's good! I'll write another review when I'm done but I just wanted to add a few comments! I'm loving the suspense of finding out who did it and Locke is an interesting character definitely!

[Michelle White · Rating 1 out of 5]

While the overuse of the slang word "coppers" drove me crazy, and it was totally unbelievable because of the use of a prominent writer as one of his characters in his book, I did read to the end even with several severe eye rolls and deep sighs.

[Larry Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read. Great new author.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It had my interest all the way through. A very good read and the price for the Kindle version can't be beat.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read