Out of the Picture

by Augustus Cileone

Vince Singleton, a writer, part-time English professor at Philadelphia Sacred Covenant University, and huge movie fan, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He witnessed the accidental shooting of his wife by a policeman during a robbery. Vince, however, suspects that her death was intentional. Now, an old friend of his is found dead amid unusual clues. Vince helps the lieutenant working the case, despite his wariness of policemen. Faculty members associated with animal abuse and motion pictures are murdered, and strange items are discovered near the bodies. Vince discovers the meaning behind the clues, and, with the help of his daughter, his journalist brother, and a female professor, tries to find the killer before another person is taken … out of the picture.

257 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2015

About the author

I was born in South Philadelphia. I attended Temple University. I have a Master’s Degree in English and teacher certifications in elementary and secondary education. My latest novel, The Bigger Picture, the sequel to Out of the Picture, is, like the first work, a mystery for movie lovers. The latest novel also has a #MeToo theme. My author royalties for Out of the Picture are being donated to an animal shelter, Kitty Cottage, where I volunteered. The royalties from the latest novel go to the Bryn Mawr Film Institute. I won a fiction contest sponsored by Oak Tree Press which published my first novel, A Lesson in Murder. I won first prize for fiction at the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference in 2007 and a short story award at the same conference in 2010. I was cited for honorable mention for one of my plays in the Stage Play/Script category of the Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition. I was one of the winners in this category in 2014. One of my short stories has been published by Don Ron Books, and is included in their volume entitled South Philly Fiction. I also had a short story published in the Fall 2014 edition of Schuylkill Valley Journal. Another short story is included in the Sisters in Crime collection, Death Knell V. In addition to writing and reading, I enjoy taking courses in film studies and traveling. Cookies and white chocolate mocha always put me in a good mood.

Reviews

[Star ☔️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun murder mystery! As a movie buff and avid mystery reader, I loved the film trivia and puzzling clues. Vince, the quirky, amateur sleuth is an interesting character that I enjoyed getting to know. Of course, I had to run out and buy a white chocolate mocha! I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the references to places in and around Philadelphia, I'm not enough of a film buff to recognize the many references to movies. The main character was not endearing and I guessed who was committing the murders about two-thirds of the way through.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of The Picture is the perfect read for anyone who loves mysteries and old movies. A father and daughter who are recovering from the tragic loss of their wife/mother, a group of college students who study old movies, and a series of crimes with links to classic noir films - who could ask for more? Cileone keeps the suspense level high and introduces a cast of characters worthy of the genre they study. There are numerous references to films, some of which I recognized and some I didn't. They make this mystery unique - and a pleasure to read.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a man learning to live again after being widowed. At the same time he helps solve a murder mystery. The book is a mix of academics, animals, food, and films. I enjoyed it except for the many typos and the confusing ending.