Reviews
CRIME | THRILLER | MYSTERY NOVELS
Veronica Westbrook is a psychopathic con artist, who thinks she’s hit the jackpot when she discovers that she has a very wealthy identical twin, separated from her at birth. She hatches a diabolical plan to kill her and take over her life. But a brilliant tough-as-nails detective is on the case. Identical Misfortune has its action scenes, plenty of them, but it is primarily a duel of wits between two brilliant women – a con artist and a cop … The duel of wits at the heart of the book is a lively, energetic and intelligent one, and readers who enjoy watching a clever cop piece together a plot laid for them by an equally-clever criminal will find this book a pleasant diversion. -Indie Reader
A convict takes over her identical twin sister’s life in New Orleans, only to arouse the suspicions of a clever, intuitive detective in Zappa’s debut thriller … an energetic tale with wonderfully complex characters; Veronica isn’t a one-note villain; she’s a sociopath who doesn’t experience a normal human range of emotion … Crowder isn’t a squeaky clean hero … A grim and engrossing procedural with a stellar cast. -Kirkus Reviews
The role of genetics in antisocial personality disorder is explored in this utterly spellbinding crime drama/thriller … From the compelling plot and writing to the dialogue to the impressive character development, everything was top notch … a well-imagined and outstanding work of fiction … 4 out of 4 stars. -Online Book Club
Zappa takes the reader on a winding roller coaster ride of betrayal and intrigue, and the aching feeling that evil will triumph in the end. Like life, this story raises as many questions as it answers, and will disturb many, but in the end, as harrowing as the journey is, it’s worth the effort. – Charles Ray, Awesome Indies Book Award Assessor
When the corpse of a young girl arrives on the steps of a Catholic Church in New Orleans, it falls to Detective Jo Crowder to unravel the hidden connections and find the killer – all with her superiors, and the prickly local clergy, dogging every step. The Easter Murders does everything a reader could want: Jo Crowder is a plucky hero with plenty of grit, navigating a world where competing personal agendas often threaten the execution of justice. Zappa’s The Easter Murders keeps readers entertained with solid police procedural work, tense courtroom drama, and insidious backroom dealing. -Indie Readers
An unconventional detective hunts for a killer among the churches of New Orleans in Zappa’s latest police procedural. Detective Crowder can be short-tempered and doesn’t suffer fools gladly, resembling the older-and-wiser version of Agent Clarice Starling in Thomas Harris’ 1999 thriller sequel, Hannibal. Religious elements play a key role in the narrative, and Crowder’s suspicions quickly fall on a respected clergyman. The fact that she’s an agnostic working a religiously charged case makes the situation even more delicate. Zappa beautifully captures these multifaceted tensions in a way that keeps the story moving at an easy clip. The book’s climax is a marvel of suspenseful precision, and the key confrontation at the story’s conclusion will have readers holding their breath. -Kirkus Reviews
A young teenager’s nude body is discovered in front of a church. Unfortunately, she is not the last girl who will be slain – a serial killer is on the loose. The Easter Murders is a thrilling crime drama/mystery with some romance thrown in for good measure. The author is a retired lawyer, so he is qualified to produce this book, much of which takes place in the courtroom. Engrossing and difficult to put down 4/4 stars. -Online Book Club