Heartbreaker

by Robert Ferrigno

After retaliating against a drug lord, savvy, street-tough Val Duran flees to Hollywood. Meanwhile, an L.A. playboy beds a gorgeous redhead and wakes up with a psychopath trying to kill him. Neither Val nor Kilo know it yet, but they are on a collision course with a sexy marine biologist and one lethally dysfunctional family in this "dark, comic tour de force" (James Ellroy).

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Thriller

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 20, 1999

About the author

Robert Ferrigno is an American author of crime novels and of speculative fiction. I've written twelve novels in the last twenty years, most crime thrillers. Sins of the Assassin was a finalist for the Edgar, Best Novel, by the Mystery Writers of America in 2008, and my comic short story, "Can I Help You Out?" won the Silver Dagger, Best Short Story, by the Mystery Association of Great Britain.

Series:
* Jimmy Gage Mystery
* Assassin Trilogy

My most recent book is The Girl Who Cried Wolf (2013), a contemporary crime thriller.

Reviews

[Barbara Elsborg · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Flinch and liking it, I bought two more by this author. I liked this one too. Psychopathic characters, the good guy an enigma and a brilliant twist I had NOT seen coming. There was lots of action, lots of tension, a plot that wasn't too complicated to follow - one of my peeves. Some brilliantly funny lines and I can't wait to read another book by him.

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

PROTAGONIST: Val Duran
SETTING: Los Angeles
RATING: 3.0
WHY: After his best friend is murdered by a drug lord named Junior in Florida, Val Duran sees the writing on the wall and flees to Los Angeles. He meets a woman at his apartment complex and their lives become intertwined. She introduces him to her family, where there's murder afoot. Meanwhile, Junior is sure to be there soon. Not bad writing, but I was expecting something a lot quirkier. The twist at the conclusion didn't quite work.

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last third had good pace and plenty of action and kept me in the groove. First two-thirds had a lot of waste and dialog that didn't really advance the plot, so it was a struggle to get to where the story improved.

[Timothy M. Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ferrigno's character development reminds me of Elmore Leonard. Enjoyable read.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1999. A revenge and chase novel.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid B

[Sarah Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book didn't have fantastic reviews so I was a little hesitant when I started it. But honestly, I love it! It was a great, fast moving read!

[Brett T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although lately he's been focused on his dystopian speculative Assassin series, Robert Ferrigno opened his career smack in the middle of the hard-boiled guys who operate just this side of the law -- on both sides, of course -- and the femme fatales whose beauty endangers as much as it entices. Heartbreaker was the way Ferrigno said goodbye to the 20th century, as ex-cop Val Duran juggles pursuit by a psychopathic gangster, a new ladylove and her lethally dysfunctional family.

Val fled sunny Florida when he saw his best friend beaten to death on the orders of drug runner Junior. Now safely living in Los Angeles, he's put his plan into motion to lure Junior out to California so he can have his revenge. But then he meets the beautiful marine biologist Kyle Abbott and wonders if he can still take care of his business with Junior without getting her hurt. That won't be his only problem, though, because Kyle's wealthy family has its own share of issues and one of them is her stepbrother Kilo's involvement with the beautiful but psychotic conwoman Jackie and her partner, the ugly but nearly as demented Gulf War veteran Dekker.

Some aspects of a good crime noir novel are clockwork, and the skillful Ferrigno knows what to wind up and let go, as well as where to both weave his own touch into that rhythm and how to interrupt it with unexpected twists in the story. His dialogue is witty and profane, and he does an excellent job of painting Val as the tarnished hero who's seen too much to have faith in right and wrong but who somehow can't seem to quit doing so, no matter what it might wind up costing him.

Ferrigno doesn't write with the terse economy of Robert Parker or the lighter touch of Robert Crais but his works are well worth the read, and mistaking him for one of the other crime-'ritin' Roberts will turn out to be no mistake at all.

Original available here.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaker is one of those crime novels where seemingly random groups of criminals cross paths as the story builds. In this merry mix of lawbreakers and sociopaths, Val Duran is trying to start over in California after an unfortunate incident in Florida. He can't quite let it go though and soon his past is coming back to haunt him. The problem is that Val is in love and he's now put his girlfriend at risk.

This is a fast paced book with lots of surprises. Robert Ferrigno is one of those underappreciated writers that doesn't seem to get the acclaim he deserves. Heartbreaker is very entertaining, but not my favourite Ferrigno. Try The Horse Latitudes or Dead Man's Dance for a better read.

[Maranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well written. It was funny and suspenceful. Really keeps you geussing who the bad guy really is.

I read this when I was in middle school. I found it in a free book bin. My mother didn’t check it. It’s not for an audience under 18, but my review still stands. If I read it as an adult I’d likely give it more stars.

[Chuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A South Florida undercover cop witnesses the murder of his partner. His pursuit of the killers is complicated when he falls for a marine biologist who's dysfunctional family plays out a separate agenda.

[Vickie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm working my way through Ferrigno's books, and this one just doesn't seem to be as tight as some of the others, although, there is a good plot twist at the end.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect that it will turn out like that in the end. So that's why it was titled "Heart Breaker".