Two women dead: One a twenty-year-old cold case, the other brutally fresh. Both had their lives cut short and their hearts cut from their body.PI Tony Razzolito, working for his favorite pro bono client, can’t seem to stop second guessing the results of the police department’s original investigation as he works to put the pieces together to solve the twenty-year-old murder.And now, as the cops … murder.
And now, as the cops are deep into trying to figure out who committed the new crime, the clues appear to keep leading back to the same suspects from the cold case. And to make matters worse, Tony keeps finding himself stepping on the toes of the seasoned homicide detective who was never able to solve the original murder the first time around.
—This is book two in The Razzman Files – A Tony Razzolito PI Story series—
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What ultimately drives one human being to murder another? To take away everything they are and will ever be. To snuff out a life which once shone bright with hope and dreams. In the majority of cases it has to do with some form of emotional investment. The power of emotions such as love and hate can be exceptionally strong. Be that as it may, it is a cruel and evil deed which society has no mercy for. The powers that be will hunt down such vicious killers with every resource they have at their disposal. However, what happens when that is not enough? When a murderer evades capture and punishment for their crime and continues to kill? This is the point in time when the best of the best become involved…and ensure justice is served. In the novel Deadly Passion by author Joe Congel, we get to see this very same scenario unfold. If you like your murder mysteries peppered with intense human emotions, betrayal and ingenious sleuths… then this novel will provide what you seek!
The story revolves around the brutal slaying of two women. They were both butchered in exactly the same fashion- stabbed to death with their hearts cut out from their body. The puzzling matter however is that the two murders happened 20 years apart from one another. The first case was never solved. Could a sadistic killer who escaped justice the first time around be back in business? Enter Private Investigator Tony Razzolito. He is the cream of the crop when it comes to gumshoe detectives, and has been brought onboard for this case by the police brass themselves. Of course, this does not sit well with the original homicide detective who was unable to solve this senseless murder decades ago. Forced to work together, the two must put their differences aside and stop a sadistic killer before they strike again.
To write out the plot for a great detective/murder mystery is no easy feat. It must contain a number of key elements to be believable and thus successful. For instance, there have to be victims, suspects, puzzles, clues and a number of breathtaking twists and turns. All of this needs to be presented in a way in which the reader becomes a virtual participant in the process. They are solving the crime alongside their favorite detective! When this all comes together you end up with true reader engagement. This is exactly the case with Deadly Passion. The theme of love and revenge is brilliantly supported by exciting and edge-of-your seat story events. The reader becomes emotionally involved in the process which in turn is exceptionally powerful in creating a captivated reading audience.
While the plot of this novel is beautifully written, I do believe it essentially remains a character-driven story. There are a number of significant players in this tale who develop and grow in great detail. From Razzolito and Scott to Cahill and Havens. We get to learn more about the variety of characters, and what drives them, with each passing page. Once again the reader becomes emotionally invested and interconnected with them and their particular plight. What’s more, by utilizing his unique writing style and point of view, the author allows us insight into the minds of victims and villain. Engagement at its best!
Overall, I loved this novel. While the story events are intelligent and intricate, it remains easy to read. This is due to the smooth writing and crisp dialogue which seamlessly flows from page to page. If you are in the mood for a classic and enthralling murder mystery… this is the book for you! Undeniably a true page turner.5 out of 5 Shocking Stars for this one! *****
Author Joe Congel has penned another terrific suspenseful and tension-filled mystery. For investigative fiction, you can’t beat this. The interesting main character, Tony Razzolito, is great to follow around for the entire plot!
First there was “Dead is Forever”. Then there was “The Razzman Chronicles”. Now there is “Deadly Passion”. All good. All worth your time to read and enjoy.
The older I get, the more I enjoy mysteries. Not thrillers, but mysteries. Good old-fashioned whodunits. And my favorite are private investigator mysteries.
While the thriller is all the rage these days, Mr Congel has dusted off the venerable PI mystery. And I’m glad he has. Tony Razzolito is a worthy addition to the cadre of fictional PIs.
“Deadly Passion” is at base a whodunit. A form that is usually plot-driven. Mr Congel, however, has given us a character-driven tale. He’s followed Ray Bradbury’s dictum: create your characters, let them do their thing, and there’s your story. And as the story moves along, and the characters get closer to their goal, the action ramps up accordingly — all the way to the whiz-bang ending.
Mr Congel’s style is light and breezy, making for an easy read. His characters are lifelike and entertaining. They can easily become your good friends. Folks you look forward to seeing again and again.
I’m looking forward to more tales of the Razzman. Even if they keep me up to 2AM, as “Deadly Passion” did.
Highly recommended!
Tony has a perfect mystery to solve as the plot has been built intelligently around the intriguing characters. The story has the right mix of light moments and the dark revenge in it and balances out very well. Enjoyed it.
Once again Tony Razzolito, known as the Razzman, is helping the police. This time he’s trying to solve a twenty-year-old crime. Unfortunately, bodies with the same MO are starting to crop up in the present.
The Razzman is quickly becoming my favorite PI. While not perfect, he’s good at his job. It helps that he has an insightful girlfriend that can put things in perspective. I also love reading about beautiful Charlotte, NC, Razzolito’s stomping grounds. If you are a mystery lover or looking for a few hours of escapism, I recommend this well told tale.
This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.
Deadly Passion by Joe Congel- This is the third book I’ve read by Joe Congel and have to say it did not disappoint. I enjoy the easy flow of words Joe sets to paper, the well-thought-out plot, and the creativity with which he delivers in his stories.
Tony Razzolito, a Private Investigator, works at McHenry Investigative Services in Charlotte NC. He is a character anyone can connect with. He is real, a bit snarky at times, and dives headlong into his work and goes after answers with bulldog tenacity. Called by Rita O’Conner, Captain of the 23rd precinct at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, to assist in the grizzly murders of two young woman, one a cold case, Tony begins to comb through the past reports and suspects.
Congel knows how to weave suspense and tension into his stories and as his character Razzolito begins his investigation, you’ll find yourself trying to guess who committed the murders. And just when you think you have it figured out, he makes an unexpected twist.
The book is engaging and held my interest from the first page to the last and I’m looking forward to reading more of Joe Congel’s suspense-filled novels. If you are looking for a gripping murder mystery, I highly recommend you pick up Deadly Passion, it will not let you down.
A gruesome murder rekindles an investigation into a similar cold case from years before, bringing dashed dreams and broken hearts to light. P.I. Tony Razzolitto is brought in to assist in uncovering fresh clues, but when the lead detective is unreceptive to his involvement, will their clashes cloud their judgement, letting a killer run free once again?
Author Joe Congel gives us a chilling journey through the past and present as we meet the friends and families of the victims. Not all is as it seems, and it’s up to Tony and his reluctant colleagues to untangle the webs of truths and lies that have been buried for so long, unearthing a madness that wouldn’t subside.
This is a thrilling, suspense filled mystery, with many twists and turns to keep your jaws dropping and guessing ’til the end. Great narrative with engaging characters draw you into their world, as they make their way through life’s ups and downs. Survival is at stake, with an ending I didn’t see coming! I’m so glad to have found another intriguing series–I’ll be back for more!
Joe Congel hits it out of the park with “Deadly Passion.” This novel delivers a meaty mystery in the form of a cold case murder that’s eerily similar to a present case. Tony Razzolito is a private investigator asked to review the case and investigate it further. The author provides a well-developed cast of characters including a rival detective, seamy underworld characters, and suspects with depth. It’s fun to follow along as the case takes twists and turns and delivers satisfying surprises. If you like reading about private investigators, you’ll really enjoy this novel.
Another great job by Joe Congel!
This, the second of the Tony Razzolito series, is another winner. I felt as though I’d stepped right into a Mike Hammer novel. Tony has a great voice that captures you from word one. The character development is superb start to finish as Tony goes about solving a cold case with as much precision as if the murder happened yesterday.
The main character pulled me in straight away and the author’s style of writing was very easy to read; fabulously real characters, dialogue and a wonderful story line which kept me turning the pages. There was enough pace to keep me interested and wanting more without exhausting me. A most enjoyable read and I will definitely read more in the series.