Monday, June 15, 2015

Book Review/#Giveaway: Dying for the Past byTJ O'Connor



 Dying is not for the faint of heart . . . . . . Neither is the murder of a mysterious philanthropist with ties to the Russian mob and 1939 gangsters.

At an A-list charity ball organized by his wife, Angela, former detective Oliver "Tuck" Tucker is doing his best to prove that ghosts know how to have a good time--until a man is murdered in cold blood on the dance floor.

Never one to let a mystery go unsolved, Tuck is on the case with help from Angela and his former police-detective partners. Together, they must be the first to read "the book"--deceased gangster Vincent Calabrese's journal that names names and reveals the dirty secrets of several modern-day spies.

As Tuck learns the book's secrets, he begins to unravel his own family's wayward past, leading to the question--is being a ghost hereditary? Even while chasing a killer, the biggest challenge Tuck must conquer is how to be back amongst the living . . . but not one of them.





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REVIEW

I really enjoyed Dying for the Past.  The supernatural elements (hello, ghost detective) were done just right, making the story seem natural and plausible.  And I was charmed that Tuck worried about what his living wife, Angela, would think of the gangster's gal from the 1930's.

There was plenty of mystery to go around as well.  The gangster Calabrese apparently kept a journal of his *ahem* activities before he died, and many, many people want that book.  Maybe they are named therein and want to squash the potential hazards to their life and limb.  Another source of value for the journal would be to blackmail Calabrese's former associates.

The scenes underground in the tunnels leading from one building to another on the Calabrese estate was positively gripping.  Here was a strong picture of the lines between this world and the next and the things a ghost can and cannot do in the physical world.

Angela, of course, could see and converse with Tuck's ghost.  His former detective partner could 'sense' him, but not see or speak with Tuck.  I enjoyed watching him struggle with his feelings and eventual acceptance that Tuck was not entirely gone.

Dying for the Past is a enjoyable romp of a read.  I cannot wait to read Dying to Know, this book's predecessor.  And I eagerly await January 2016, when the third of this eight novel series (Dying to Tell) is released!

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AUTHOR INFORMATION



TJ O’CONNOR is the author of DYING TO KNOW and DYING FOR THE PAST, available in books stores and e-books from Midnight Ink. Tj is an international security consultant specializing in anti-terrorism, investigations, and threat analysis—life experiences that drive his novels. With his former life as a government agent and years as a consultant, he has lived and worked around the world in places like Greece, Turkey, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and throughout the Americas—among others. He was raised in New York's Hudson Valley and lives with his wife and lab companions in Virginia where they raised five children. Dying To Know and Dying for the Past are the first of eight novels to be published.  Look for Dying to Tell coming in January, 2016.

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GIVEAWAY!!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Click the above banner to go to the tour schedule.  There are more reviews as well as guest posts and interviews with the author.  You can also apply to become a reviewer for Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours!

(Disclosure:  I received a print copy of this book from the author and publishers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.)

3 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this review and allowing me to participate with you during my book blog tour. I hope your followers will consider sending me an email (available on my web site) and let me know what they think of my work and Tuck's adventures! Very best to all and happy reading! Tj O'Connor

    ReplyDelete
  2. congrats to TJ.......
    cannot wait to read this!!!

    ReplyDelete