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Sam Smith Mystery #7
Family Honour
Please note: the print length of this book runs to 50,000 words and 248 pages, not the estimate listed by Amazon.
When the biggest villain in the country makes you an offer you can't refuse, what should you do? In my case, I decided to accept that offer, made by Mr Vincent Vanzetti. Vanzetti hired me to find his missing daughter, Vittoria, while threatening reprisals should I fail in my task. While searching for Vittoria, I had to deal with the other members of the Vanzetti clan: Sherri, Vanzetti's second wife, at twenty-two the same age as Vittoria. Sherri was an 'actress', a porn star with ambitions to appear on Reality TV; Catrin, Vanzetti's granite-hard ex-wife, the power behind his criminal empire; and V.J. Parks, Vittoria's boyfriend, a boxer, a young man in his prime, in training for a shot at the world title.
Meanwhile, closer to home, it was decision time for yours truly and my lover, Dr Alan Storey. Alan was keen on marriage while I was still coming to terms with my past and years of physical abuse. Could I find the courage to finally lay the ghosts of my past and pledge my future to Alan?
Family Honour, the story of a villain and his family, the story of a moral dilemma. Should I kill in the name of justice, or should I allow a villain to walk free? In answering that question I discovered a lot about myself and the person I longed to be.
When the biggest villain in the country makes you an offer you can't refuse, what should you do? In my case, I decided to accept that offer, made by Mr Vincent Vanzetti. Vanzetti hired me to find his missing daughter, Vittoria, while threatening reprisals should I fail in my task. While searching for Vittoria, I had to deal with the other members of the Vanzetti clan: Sherri, Vanzetti's second wife, at twenty-two the same age as Vittoria. Sherri was an 'actress', a porn star with ambitions to appear on Reality TV; Catrin, Vanzetti's granite-hard ex-wife, the power behind his criminal empire; and V.J. Parks, Vittoria's boyfriend, a boxer, a young man in his prime, in training for a shot at the world title.
Meanwhile, closer to home, it was decision time for yours truly and my lover, Dr Alan Storey. Alan was keen on marriage while I was still coming to terms with my past and years of physical abuse. Could I find the courage to finally lay the ghosts of my past and pledge my future to Alan?
Family Honour, the story of a villain and his family, the story of a moral dilemma. Should I kill in the name of justice, or should I allow a villain to walk free? In answering that question I discovered a lot about myself and the person I longed to be.
- GenresMystery
ebook
First published May 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 1, 2016
Wow--Hannah Howe has done it again! This series just keeps getting better and better. I have become a dedicated fan of the Sam Smith series and I was so excited to get my hands on Family Honour. In it we find Sam working a case involving the disappearance of the daughter of an organized crime kingpin, a man Sam has dealt with in the past. She knows exactly what he's capable of (this is the reason he can't go to the police for help) yet the impassioned plea of a father desperate to know what has become of his young-adult daughter pulls on Sam's heartstrings. As in all the books in this stellar series, as the case is worked we get a deeper picture of Sam as a person, her strengths and weaknesses, her loves and fears. The author touches on intense themes of the double standard of male and female viewpoints of sexual assault, as well as what it truly means to be a family. Several of my favorite characters from previous books return for this one as well! I loved every page of this book. Immaculately written, Family Honour will pull you in immediately and not let go until the last page is read. Don't miss this one!
May 14, 2020
If you like the private eye genre—think Kinsey Milhone—I think you’ll like Sam Smith, a Welsh “enquiry agent.” Family Honour is the seventh book in the series. It’s the first one I’ve read, but since it stands on its own, not having read the first six was no problem. In this one, Sam is hired by a mobster to find his missing daughter. She does, but when she does, the plot thickens, and that’s all I’m going to say because I don’t want to ruin the fun for the next reader.
The story kept me wanting more, but the characters are what really make the book. Sam, her psychologist fiancé, the mobster, his current and ex-wife, and the villain and his abused, Stockholm-Syndrome-suffering wife are all well drawn individuals—sometimes pitiful, sometimes funny, sometimes scary, and always interesting. I look forward to reading the earlier books to learn how Sam gained some of her more helpful friends, like Mac and Sweets, and to learn more about Sam’s dysfunctional past, which is only mentioned in passing in this book. And then there are all the later books—seventeen in total for this series. Looks like I’ve got a lot to look forward to! Thank you, Hannah Howe!
The story kept me wanting more, but the characters are what really make the book. Sam, her psychologist fiancé, the mobster, his current and ex-wife, and the villain and his abused, Stockholm-Syndrome-suffering wife are all well drawn individuals—sometimes pitiful, sometimes funny, sometimes scary, and always interesting. I look forward to reading the earlier books to learn how Sam gained some of her more helpful friends, like Mac and Sweets, and to learn more about Sam’s dysfunctional past, which is only mentioned in passing in this book. And then there are all the later books—seventeen in total for this series. Looks like I’ve got a lot to look forward to! Thank you, Hannah Howe!
September 24, 2017
Sam Smith is back again kicking the butt of crime. This story took the series back to its original film noir flavour, which I loved. Sam has to trace the missing daughter of crime boss Vince Vanzetti or face his wrath. Her new sidekick Faye, is away mystery shopping, so it's just Sam doing her thing. Tough, female, tiny, gutsy; you gotta love Sam Smith. You know she's going to get into some scrapes and situations along the way, but you also know you are going to love the ride. I have paced myself with this series because I want to really enjoy each story [and I do] rather than rush through them all. As ever, this Sam Smith story is brilliant.
August 6, 2018
This is such a great series! Sam Smith is a tough yet vulnerable character whose heart is huge and soul demands she is on the side of right.
This time, Sam is asked to find a missing young woman, though nothing is straightforward. This story tackles abuse of power, it also highlights the struggle to leave behind a troubled past and trust in the future...and other important themes.
It's very well-written - fast-paced with an easy flow and style - and definitely a page-turner.
Loved it, as I do all this author's work.
Highly recommended.
This time, Sam is asked to find a missing young woman, though nothing is straightforward. This story tackles abuse of power, it also highlights the struggle to leave behind a troubled past and trust in the future...and other important themes.
It's very well-written - fast-paced with an easy flow and style - and definitely a page-turner.
Loved it, as I do all this author's work.
Highly recommended.
March 22, 2018
The thrills continue
Book seven in the Sam Smith series continues to be exciting and wish a new curve around every corner it keeps you guessing. None of the characters are supermen or superwoman so the story line is very believable.
Book seven in the Sam Smith series continues to be exciting and wish a new curve around every corner it keeps you guessing. None of the characters are supermen or superwoman so the story line is very believable.
January 24, 2021
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Once again, a very good read from author Hannah Howe. Kept me wondering what was coming next from beginning to ending. Another very good reason to do what I love to do. Reading! Again, one of life’s simple pleasures. Next!
Once again, a very good read from author Hannah Howe. Kept me wondering what was coming next from beginning to ending. Another very good reason to do what I love to do. Reading! Again, one of life’s simple pleasures. Next!
November 17, 2017
Moving in places, funny in others, the best book in the series so far. Outstanding.
September 9, 2019
Really good series
This installment is an improvement over Book 6. More realistic, characters with greater depth, good plot. Looking forward to the next book.
This installment is an improvement over Book 6. More realistic, characters with greater depth, good plot. Looking forward to the next book.
June 29, 2016
Probably her most electric premise for a story so far. The investigation gets off to a quick start when Sam’s hired by a mobster to find his daughter. Failure isn’t an option, if she expects to live. This is chapter one, so no hesitation with jumping into the deep end of the pool.
Each chapter thereafter makes you think you’re following one of those Mardi Gras parades, because the colorful characters keep coming. Maybe they could be more colorful, or odder, or weirder, but they keep coming, and there’s no shortage of them as you can imagine when dealing with the seedy underworld. Two of my favorites are Sweets, the guy with the bad jokes, who fires them off Gatling gun fashion. And the “bone crusher” mob enforcer who feels he missed his calling as a poet. Lol. I can’t even say it without laughing.
Perhaps no stronger or weaker than any of the other installments in the series, just solid.
I can’t help but think things might have been pointed up with a hair-raising chase or two throughout. But then that would be an action-thriller, as opposed to a mystery, which might alienate some fans while drawing others.
Each chapter thereafter makes you think you’re following one of those Mardi Gras parades, because the colorful characters keep coming. Maybe they could be more colorful, or odder, or weirder, but they keep coming, and there’s no shortage of them as you can imagine when dealing with the seedy underworld. Two of my favorites are Sweets, the guy with the bad jokes, who fires them off Gatling gun fashion. And the “bone crusher” mob enforcer who feels he missed his calling as a poet. Lol. I can’t even say it without laughing.
Perhaps no stronger or weaker than any of the other installments in the series, just solid.
I can’t help but think things might have been pointed up with a hair-raising chase or two throughout. But then that would be an action-thriller, as opposed to a mystery, which might alienate some fans while drawing others.
May 13, 2016
I certainly did love it.Sam is something else. And I love that dang cat. All of the characters shine and the action is great. Excellent reading. This one kept me up into the wee hours and I couldn't be happier. Fine series.
July 5, 2016
This is the best book in the series...so far
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews