Carlucci's Heart

Lt. Frank Carlucci #3

by Richard Paul Russo

Lt. Frank Carlucci is drawn into an investigation surrounding the disappearance of his daughter's friend, but as he digs deeper, the corruption and decay he finds is nothing compared to a final horror that could have devastating implications. Original.

Genres: Science Fiction, Cyberpunk, Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Thriller

390 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1997

Reviews

[Bandit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely committed to a month of literary terrors, but had to make an exception for this one as soon as I was able to acquire it through Netgalley, because I just can’t resist Russo. One of my favorite science fiction writers, though far from prolific, so it is very exciting that his Carlucci novels finally got digitally released. Didn’t even have to wait that long. While, when the novels had originally come out, the fans had to wait years in between, the digital versions arrived in fairly quick succession, I read the first one in April, the second one at the start of October and, only fittingly, the last one, at the end of October. And to be fair, the cyberpunk noir futuristic world Russo has created for this trilogy is plenty horrific to be October appropriate in its own right. Despite all the technological advancements, the world has become an ugly place, permanently scarred by the financial disparity, the economically depressed areas (like much of Carlucci’s San Francisco) have become a sort of a jungle, humid, rainy, tropically hot, muggy and, without all the glorious nature of a proper jungle, outright hideous. And yet, to Frank Carlucci it is a world worth saving, a world worth living in and pursuing justice whenever possible and always helping those who can’t help themselves. This time it is a friend of his beloved daughter, someone who gets involved with a secret organization right out of the dirty locus of the Tenderloin district and then disappears. Carlucci, now a more or less desk bound lieutenant, can’t say not to his beloved Caroline and can’t leave a mystery unsolved, so he sets off to uncover a local murder and what turns out to be a global scale nightmare. Familiar characters will be revisited, new ones will be introduced, every one of them multilayered, fascinating and complex in their own right. And with Russo’s inimitable writing, the bleak futuristic world of his imagining will be as compelling of a place to visit vicariously as it would have been unpleasant to do in real life. Such a vividly rendered place, such accomplished world building. Gotta love it. Even though this is by far the darkest and most depressing of the dark and depressing by nature trilogy, it isn’t hopeless, not while Carlucci and those like him are watching over the city, trying to make a difference. There’s still an impression of characters looking in the muddy puddle of their world and seeing stars reflected. Something about an indominable quality of the spirit or a certain muscular blood distributing organ that might have inspired the title. And here’s a reveal appropriate to the end of a trilogy, Frank’s proper name is actually Francisco. Nothing more apt for a man determined to save San Francisco and its underprivileged over and over again. Although having paid such a heavy toll, it is probably a high time for Carlucci to have some rest a retirement is something he contemplates toward the end of the novel and something the author must have granted, since it is a trilogy and not a series. One well worth reading, in fact quite possibly some sort of an underrated genre classic. I can only hope these newly released ebooks will help more readers discover Russo’s talent. There’s so much to love about these stories and the writing is just awesome. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the "lt. Frank Carlucci" trilogy by Richard Paul Russo. It is cyberpunk sci-fi. While that is really not my thing, I really liked this book....a lot. First, Russo does a great job at weaving a great story together. There were many great twist in this. This one moved along at a fast pace. I've also noticed from the prior two books in this trilogy that he is not at all squeamish about killing people off.

Next, I love Frank Carlucci. His character is well drawn and likable. I liked how his family played a role in this book. This opened him up a little bit more and made him a little more real.

Also, I did the audio on this and I thought the narrator did an excellent job.

[Snakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

All three of these books were fantastic. And if this was a religious book, people would talk about how it was a prophecy of COVID-19. Creepy connections.

[Reynard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un passo indietro rispetto al precedente libro della serie, la lettura è gradevole ma piuttosto scontata, il finale deludente. Peccato. Il mio voto: 3 stelle.

[Ericka Clou · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pandemic book hiding in a cop thriller. The plot is unlikely as the others in the series. It also meanders for pages and pages. There was never a payoff in this series.

[Carnac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfetta (ultima) lettura del 2020...

Il tenente Francesco - Frank - Carlucci indaga sulla scomparsa dell'amico di una delle due sue figlie nel bel mezzo di un pandemia di febbre emorragica (La febbre del Core) e sullo sfondo dello scontro tra una multinazionale farmaceutica extraplanetaria (di New Hong Kong...) e un gruppo terrorista di ricercatori medici (Cancer Cell). Per ora questo romanzo, pubblicato originariamente nel 1997, è l'ultimo capitolo della serie ma alcune sottotrame non sono concluse e sono pronte per essere riprese.

[E Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was by far the most compelling of the books in this trilogy, and I appreciated the intricate dynamics between the characters acting in the scenes as well as those acting from afar.
What really stepped this book up from the previous is that it was real, gritty, and didn’t pretend to be happy at the end.
One experiences the plague in this book differently after living through one, and the realism of the irreparable destruction left behind was powerful.

[The Angry Lawn Gnome · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm actually going to through and bump up my ratings on the previous two books in this series to four stars. This is one that will stay with you for a while, and a series that makes more sense in the context of a series that it does as a stand alone novel. But as a series this was an extremely robust bit of world-building.

That narration was also fantastic.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the first book of the trilogy, I really wasn't that impressed. I knew these were written earlier in his career but I loved the book "Ship of Fools" by the same author. Because of that, I gave the second book a chance, which was much improved. I think this one was a little better than that, and much more similar to the second than the first

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is dark, a little uneven, and has too much detail at times. Overall, it's a pretty good sci-fi mystery that is +20 years old. The author is talented and the book recommended.

I really appreciate the copy for review!

[Alfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the only negative thing I can really say about this trilogy is that they are all too similar. More akin to short novels independent of one another these are probably best enjoyed with a bit of separation between.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

All three of Russo’s “Carlucci” books are good. His characters are well written and have a haunted, moody air about them. But this one shined the brightest for me. The depravity of the rich and powerful juxtaposed with the squalor of the poor discarded souls of humanity literally made me cry.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good sci-fi detective novel. Dystopian futuristic world of crowded scummy city and disease. Reads like a 90s version of the future which I was enjoying.

[Trickyplayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not the most cheerful book but excellent nonetheless

Just completed reading all three books in this series even though they were published many years ago. Apart from the obvious tell tales from the time the book was written such as use of cheques, land lines etc it is very prescient particularly with greater inequality, health care problems, pandemics and social unrest. The characters are well formed and the book did spur various emotions which is unusual for a 'Sci fi' orientated book.

[RA · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd installment of the SF-based cyberpunk series, featuring Frank Carlucci.

Belongs in the must-read category of the cyberpunk genre.

[Mathew Carruthers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book, hated to see the trilogy come to a close.