Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo
Published by: Inferno Publishing Company
Publication Date: April 12, 2012
ISBN-10: 0985030208
ISBN-13: 978-0985030209
Pages: 438
Review Copy from: Author
Edition: Kindle
My Rating: 5

Synopsis (from author):
A string of brutal murders has bodies piling up in Brooklyn, and Detective Frankie Donovan knows what is going on. Clues left at the crime scenes point to someone from the old neighborhood, and that isn’t good.

Frankie has taken two oaths in his life–the one he took to uphold the law when he became a cop, and the one he took with his two best friends when they were eight years old and inseparable. Those relationships have forced Frankie to make many tough decisions, but now he faces the toughest one of his life; he has five murders to solve and one of those two friends is responsible. If Frankie lets him go, he breaks the oath he took as a cop and risks losing his job. But if he tries to bring him in, he breaks the oath he kept for twenty-five years–and risks losing his life.

In the neighborhood where Frankie Donovan grew up, you never broke an oath.

My Thoughts and Opinion:
I hope you will indulge me as I feel that I need to add a caveat to this review. Prior to three (3) years ago I was an avid reader and consumer. Since that time I have added a few more titles, such as blogger, reviewer and tour coordinator. Since finding this book blogging community, I have had the opportunity to read and review many titles that I wouldn’t have read, due to other bloggers’ reviews, review requests, and through my new venture, Partners In Crime Tours. When I first started reviewing, because I valued and relied on other bloggers’ thoughts as a meter to read a certain book or not, I have always, no matter who, how and/or where a certain book was obtained from, written a review based on my honest opinion for those that relied on my POV. And as I have stated in many of my reviews, I am always a bit skeptical when I first pick up a book knowing that it is a debut novel. With all that being said, I will now give you my honest impression of Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo, a debut author and book that, starting today, is kicking off his virtual tour with Partners In Crime Tours.

An author once told me, that a reader should be hooked by a book, within the first 15 pages. This book pulled me in within the first few paragraphs and never gave me the chance to get away. I had to keep turning the pages. The story alternates between the past and the present day with two (2) of the main protagonists’ narratives. The writing flowed and was descriptive. The characters came alive. The plot believable. The suspense and action non stop. This novel had all the elements whereas I was able to create vivid imagery as if I was watching a movie in my mind, engrossing to the point that time got away from me, compelling and thrilling to the point I had a hard time putting it down. It is a debut novel that was written as if it was penned by a seasoned author. A writer, that can make the reader question, why at times you would root for the “bad guy”.

There are some explicit scenes that contain graphic descriptions of violence and strong language, however, and this is my opinion only, that it made the story more realistic. I would not recommend it to those who find those factors offensive. But as an overall mafia-like, calculating, suspenseful, dynamic and dramatic story, it was a knock out entertaining reading experience by a debut author. A debut writer that I am sure you will be hearing more about. If you enjoyed The Godfather and Goodfellas, you will definitely want to read Murder Takes Time. It was tense and intense!! I am looking forward to the next book in this series!!

…of Murder Takes Time by Giacomo Giammatteo

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An email has been sent to the winner and she has 48 hours to respond with digital version requested or another winner will be notified.  Didn’t win??  You have a 2nd chance.  Stop by Saturday when Giacomo Giammatteo kicks off his virtual tour with Partners In Crime Tours.    There will be another giveaway and another chance to win!!!!!!!

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This week’s question:
How do you organize/store your books? Do you go through them often? Or
do you pretty much just shelve them and then leave them alone until
you need them?

My answer:
What a fun question!!  However, looking at my shelves, it’s time to do a little rearranging.

I am surrounded by 3 different shaped bookcases, each with it’s own purpose in my office/reading room.   The corner bookcase is for books I have finished reading and are lined up by height with photo albums on the bottom shelf.  The top shelf is for electronics.  Th 3 shelf bookcase holds my precious signed copies of books. And the bottom 2 shelves are books I have won over the years.  Again all shelved by height.  And the big 5 shelf one holds 2 shelves of requested review books, cataloged with a post it that holds date received, from who, date of review and any notes.  These are stored in the order that I receive them.  The next 2 shelves are TBR personal shelves that are lined up by height.  The bottom shelf is TBR PBs, which are doubled up in width and height so that they fit.  And my EReaders sit on the table next to my recliner.

Most of the shelves are left alone except for my requested review shelves. Those shelves I visit often especially when I’m almost done with my current read and need to decide what’s next.

What about you?  Do you organize your books in a certain way?

……….of Angels Landing by Rochelle Alers

7 Maureen Carol Follow @CherylMash on Twitter

10 Anita Yancey Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’

2 Melissa Thayer Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond with a mailing address or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.

Hosted by Miz B at Should Be Reading

I didn’t put in much reading time this past week, real life was quite busy.

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

Today I have 2 special guests that I have the pleasure to introduce you to.   I was contacted by Jessica at Forever/GCP  and asked if I could read and review today’s guest author’s book.  Jessica is the new publicity manger at Forever so this will also be her first time visiting CMash Reads.  However, because I have said YES too many times for requests, I just can’t seem to say that word NO to books, I am completely backlogged, but asked if the author would stop by, visit and talk about her new book.  So, I ask if you could help me give both Jessica and Ms. Webb, a warm welcome to the CMash blog!!

DEBRA WEBB

DEBRA WEBB, born on a farm in Alabama, wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the military behind the Iron Curtain—and a five-year stint with NASA—that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has penned more than 100 novels including her internationally bestselling Colby Agency series. Her debut romantic thriller series, the Faces of Evil, propelled Debra to the top of Amazon’s bestselling lists for an unparalleled twenty-four weeks and garnered critical acclaim from reviewers and readers alike. Don’t miss a single installment of this fascinating and chilling twelve-book series!

Debra has won numerous awards, including a Romantic Suspense career achievement award and multiple Reviewers Choice awards. She has appeared on the Borders, Waldenbooks and USAToday bestseller lists. One part of her work that she loves most, she confesses, is the research. She spent four months in Camden, Maine, in the dead of winter to write a romantic suspense novel. Can you say snow?

All else aside, Debra’s absolute favorite thing in the world to do (besides writing killer books) is to explore and renovate old houses. While in Maine on research she explored dozens of centuries old houses. When she and her family returned to Alabama they bought a century old house of their own that was ready to be condemned and completely restored and renovated it from top to bottom. She and a neighbor who was doing the same type of reno challenged each other to get the job done with as much repurposing as possible. Debra’s entire kitchen is made up of repurposed items from other people’s castoffs during renovations. Even the granite countertops are remnants!

Debra is incredibly excited about her newest writing venture, the Faces of Evil series. The first two books, OBSESSION and IMPULSE, received amazing reviews. New York Times bestseller Cindy Gerard said of OBSESSION, “Move over Jack Reacher, Jess Harris is coming to town!” Top ten New York Times bestseller CJ Lyons praised the novels, saying “…readers won’t be able to resist.” And if you’re still not convinced that you need to give the Faces of Evil a try, RT Book Lovers magazine rated the newest release in the series, POWER, with an amazing four and a half stars and boasted: “Jess Harris doesn’t have to go looking for trouble–it finds her. Jess is one of the toughest, smartest, most stubborn lady cops to strut the pages lately, but Webb’s given her just enough vulnerability to keep her likable. This third entry in the Faces of Evil series is a hard-to-put-down police procedural with pitch-perfect voice, well-developed characters and a setting that is as much a part of the cast as the protagonists”
Connect with the author at her website, on her Facebook or Twitter.

Q&A with Debra Webb

ABOUT THE BOOK

POWER, an e-book original on sale September 4^th,  the third of the series, sees FBI Special Agent Jess Harris begins the next chapter of her life as the new deputy chief of Birmingham’s major crimes division, reporting to her first love, Chief of Police Dan Burnett.  She’s focusing all of her attention on work, including the demise of a celebrated ballet instructor, whose death is ruled an accident. Jess’s instincts tell her otherwise and, even with the case now moved to another division, she can’t shake the feeling there’s more to the story.  Her investigation leads her to Birmingham’s gang culture and its powerful elite, where she soon becomes the killer’s next target.

THANKS TO JESSICA AT FOREVER BOOKS, I HAVE AN AMAZING
GIVEAWAY PACKAGE FOR YOU.  “FALL IN LOVE WITH FOREVER”.
A SET OF SIX (6) UPCOMING FALL FOREVER TITLES.
THE WARRIOR by Margaret Mallory
BAREFOOT IN THE RAIN– by Roxanne St. Claire
AN HEIRESS AT HEART by Jennifer Delamere
WHERE ANGELS REST by Kate Brady
TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE by Cara Elliott
TWO SINFUL SECRETS by Laurel McKee
U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY. BOOKS WILL BE SHIPPED IN NOVEMBER.

CLICK HERE TO BRING YOU TO
THE GIVEAWAY ENTRY PAGE.

DISCLAIMER
Giveaway copies are supplied and shipped to winners
via publisher, agent and/or author. This blog hosts
the giveaway on behalf of the above.
No items that I receive
are ever sold…they are kept by me,
or given to family and/or friends.