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Martelli NYPD #6
Wheel of Fortune
Even as a child, Katlyn Lundquist was drop-dead gorgeous. She also was willful. In her teens, perhaps out of spite, she created her own name and persona. As she grew up, she readily accepted money and gifts from her parents but thumbed her nose at society, in general, and her parent's way of life, in particular. A seeming infatuation with Tommie Lupinacci, head of a major crime-infested cartage association based in Brooklyn, led her to move east with the mobster. But when she showed up dead with a bullet in the back of her head, NYPD Detectives Louis Martelli and Sean O'Keeffe were stumped.
If this were a mob hit, why dump her body in plain sight? Moreover, who was she and what was the motive for killing her? The investigation leads to the area around Lundquist's hometown in Eastern Pennsylvania and to the mob's efforts to take over the trash hauling and recycling business in Lancaster and York, PA. It's only after Martelli brings IT Specialist Missy Dugan into the case that he and O'Keeffe are able to unravel the mystery.
If this were a mob hit, why dump her body in plain sight? Moreover, who was she and what was the motive for killing her? The investigation leads to the area around Lundquist's hometown in Eastern Pennsylvania and to the mob's efforts to take over the trash hauling and recycling business in Lancaster and York, PA. It's only after Martelli brings IT Specialist Missy Dugan into the case that he and O'Keeffe are able to unravel the mystery.
Audible Audio
First published February 13, 2015
2 people are currently reading
313 people want to read
About the author
Theodore Jerome Cohen
69 books39 followers
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 3, 2017
Engrossing crime drama that hooks the reader from page one. Detectives Lou Martinelli, Sean O'Keefe, and Missy Dugan work together to painstakingly solve the murder of a woman with a cryptic tattoo. With good old-fashioned detective work, they peel back the layers of the crime and unfold the mysteries of the woman's secretive life. Cohen writes with both accuracy and detail, creating credible characters that feel familiar as family by the time the book is finished. Whether he is writing about the waste management, autopsies, tattoos, police procedures, or even the wheel of fortune on a tarot card, Cohen writes with elegance and expertise. A terrific police thriller.
July 27, 2015
I read Wheel of Fortune, by Theodore Jerome Cohen, several months ago. I don't know how or why I neglected to post a review at that time, but it's better late than never, so they say.
In a nutshell, I really enjoyed this story. But then I've really enjoyed all the Detective Martelli adventure/thriller/detective stories. There's a simple reason for that: they are all very good stories.
In Wheel of Fortune, a beautiful woman with an outstanding and unique tattoo on her back (see the cover image) is found murdered. Martelli is tasked with finding her murderer. Yes, he does find the murderer, but the brilliant methods he uses to do so would make Sherlock envious.
If you're looking for some good entertainment, from a hero who does a good job of thumbing his nose at protocol while still managing to get the bad guys, look no further than Wheel of Fortune.
In a nutshell, I really enjoyed this story. But then I've really enjoyed all the Detective Martelli adventure/thriller/detective stories. There's a simple reason for that: they are all very good stories.
In Wheel of Fortune, a beautiful woman with an outstanding and unique tattoo on her back (see the cover image) is found murdered. Martelli is tasked with finding her murderer. Yes, he does find the murderer, but the brilliant methods he uses to do so would make Sherlock envious.
If you're looking for some good entertainment, from a hero who does a good job of thumbing his nose at protocol while still managing to get the bad guys, look no further than Wheel of Fortune.
August 28, 2021
This is the first book I have read/ listened to by Mr. Cohen. He wrote an outstanding murder mystery that had me glued to my ear bud from beginning to end. The flow was great, the descriptions on point and kept me interested.
Mr. Rizzoli, narrator perfectly voiced the many characters in recognizable accents andv tonation. I have not listened to this narrator before. I highly recommend this book!
Mr. Rizzoli, narrator perfectly voiced the many characters in recognizable accents andv tonation. I have not listened to this narrator before. I highly recommend this book!
November 5, 2017
Fabulous read
This book is one if the best in this series and has outstanding characters, clever dialogue, unexpected twists and turns in the plot, and is well explained with nonfiction information to help the reader feel included in the events and situations. I hope the author writes additional books. The epilogue is such a great feature providing an informative ending.
This book is one if the best in this series and has outstanding characters, clever dialogue, unexpected twists and turns in the plot, and is well explained with nonfiction information to help the reader feel included in the events and situations. I hope the author writes additional books. The epilogue is such a great feature providing an informative ending.
December 14, 2018
If you enjoy police procedurals and Mafia, you will probably enjoy this book.
Lou Martelli is a NYPD Detective who served in Iraq, losing his leg in the process. This does not stop him from becoming a great cop. His partner, Sean O'Keefe, is what you would expect from an Irish cop. When a beautiful young woman's body is discovered with a bullet to the brain, the pair first have to identify her. The most obvious clue they find is an intricate design of the Wheel of Fortune tarot card tattooed on her back.
It is soon discovered that she is going by the name of Nicole Davis, but there is more to her than meets the eye. She has been linked to Tommie Lupinacci, the head of a local mob. Her real name is Katlyn Lundquist and she hails from Lancaster PA. Soon, Martelli and O'Keefe are working with the FBI to take down Lupinacci's takeover of the trash hauling business in Lancaster.
The book isn't bad or poorly written, just nothing exceptional. Mostly, it reads like any other book of this genre. The characters are stereotypes of their jobs and names, the action is predictable and the ending seems a little forced after the huge buildup of the book. Several things that were mentioned and featured in the book were never explained to my satisfaction and left me wondering what their significance might have been.
The narrator does a pretty good job, but once again, his voices are so stereotyped that it was a little off-putting. Also, the sound quality wasn't that great and I found myself having to strain to hear some of the narration. I was given a copy of this audiobook by the publisher and chose to review it.
Lou Martelli is a NYPD Detective who served in Iraq, losing his leg in the process. This does not stop him from becoming a great cop. His partner, Sean O'Keefe, is what you would expect from an Irish cop. When a beautiful young woman's body is discovered with a bullet to the brain, the pair first have to identify her. The most obvious clue they find is an intricate design of the Wheel of Fortune tarot card tattooed on her back.
It is soon discovered that she is going by the name of Nicole Davis, but there is more to her than meets the eye. She has been linked to Tommie Lupinacci, the head of a local mob. Her real name is Katlyn Lundquist and she hails from Lancaster PA. Soon, Martelli and O'Keefe are working with the FBI to take down Lupinacci's takeover of the trash hauling business in Lancaster.
The book isn't bad or poorly written, just nothing exceptional. Mostly, it reads like any other book of this genre. The characters are stereotypes of their jobs and names, the action is predictable and the ending seems a little forced after the huge buildup of the book. Several things that were mentioned and featured in the book were never explained to my satisfaction and left me wondering what their significance might have been.
The narrator does a pretty good job, but once again, his voices are so stereotyped that it was a little off-putting. Also, the sound quality wasn't that great and I found myself having to strain to hear some of the narration. I was given a copy of this audiobook by the publisher and chose to review it.
February 23, 2024
Book: ***
Performance: ****
An Ole Timey Mystery for Today
Another mystery in the Martelli NYPD series that should appeal to folks that like the noir style and police procedurals (think of a 60’s style in today’s NYC). The book itself is pretty standard for the genre (so take it all with a grain of salt) with little to raise it above the pack, but that still leaves it as decent entertainment, especially with the solid narration performance. Standard tropes and stereotypes apply … As mentioned, we get the standard murder mystery with a grizzled, veteran police detective with a Jane Doe and a mysterious connection to an archrival in the FBI who has his own case dealing with the “Boy Scouts” (ref Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School) that run NYC trash hauling business. To solve the case, they both play fast and loose with the rules to collar the bad guy(s) which might prompt an eye roll to two, but nothing that was out of place considering what is typical. The End comes up a little quick. but the Epilogue gives an okay summary to wrap everything up.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#WheelOfFortune #MartelliNYPD #FreeAudiobkFacebkGrp
Performance: ****
An Ole Timey Mystery for Today
Another mystery in the Martelli NYPD series that should appeal to folks that like the noir style and police procedurals (think of a 60’s style in today’s NYC). The book itself is pretty standard for the genre (so take it all with a grain of salt) with little to raise it above the pack, but that still leaves it as decent entertainment, especially with the solid narration performance. Standard tropes and stereotypes apply … As mentioned, we get the standard murder mystery with a grizzled, veteran police detective with a Jane Doe and a mysterious connection to an archrival in the FBI who has his own case dealing with the “Boy Scouts” (ref Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School) that run NYC trash hauling business. To solve the case, they both play fast and loose with the rules to collar the bad guy(s) which might prompt an eye roll to two, but nothing that was out of place considering what is typical. The End comes up a little quick. but the Epilogue gives an okay summary to wrap everything up.
I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#WheelOfFortune #MartelliNYPD #FreeAudiobkFacebkGrp
November 9, 2018
A fascinating mystery.
May 15, 2025
This high quality, old school detective mystery ìs loaded with lots of interesting investigation, good dialogue, and plenty of twists and turns.
April 19, 2015
in my opinion, the best in this series. fun, organized crime, a woman killed in pursuit of revenge. bad guys lose, good guys win.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews