Murder Most Holy (A Jerome Stankowski Mystery)

by Mike Manno

Book Overview

When a young nun, the daughter of a despised newspaper publisher, is killed by a bomb planted in her dad's car, the state police are called to investigate and Detective Sergeant Jerome (Stan)... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373266405
• ISBN13: 9780373266401
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: Worldwide Library
• Length: 250 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Entertaining Mystery

Mike Manno created a great mystery novel that is also entertaining in every sense. Along with the investigative techniques and gliches, you get to meet other interesting characters and follow the investigation done by "Stan" Stankowski and Parker Noble. The mystery involves all facets of the crime: motive, opportunity, etc., plus identifying the intended victim. Very well done and very entertaining.

Hormonally Challenged and Needing an Escape

Mike Manno has the next book to capture the minds of teenagers the way that Harry Potter did. He gives you an escape that takes you into the mysteries of the soul and back out into the realities of a peaceful existence. Looking forward to the release of his next book. This writer has been blessed with multiple talent and abilities that only someone who has been touched and inspired by God could have. I am anxiously awaiting a series to come out so it can fill the voids in my years to come.

A great mystery for a warm summer day

Manno's background - that of a former newspaper editor and city councillor who now practices and teaches law - brings the characters to life. The book nevertheless retains its hard-boiled feel reminiscent of the old pulp mysteries. It is fun, light reading for a hot summer day. In no way is the book preachy, yet the Catholic faith is nevertheless portrayed positively - in lieu of graphic sex and extreme violence - as a means of telling a good story. This alone makes the book refreshing.

interesting police procedural

Special Investigation Unit Police Captain Hodges assigns Detective Sergeant Jerome "Stan" Stankowski to head the investigation into the murder of a nun. The victim is twenty-five year old Anna Marie Wilborn, daughter of a loathed newspaper publisher, who was killed in a car bombing in the Midwest town of Forbes Island. To Stan's chagrin, the Attorney General's Office punishes him by assigning fastidious Parker Noble to help. While fussy Parker considers raiding the refrigerator of the deceased, the local law enforcement assumes he is in charge. As Stan asserts authority over the case, he interviews friends and the brother of the late Sister. Unable to talk with her father who is hospitalized having suffered a seizure; Stan assumes he was the target not the nun. One of Anna Marie's friends, Buffy Coyle, recently fired from the newspaper, offers more than just assistance on solving the homicide. She seems to genuinely desire Stan, who is taken aback by her attention after his two week matrimonial debacle with Diane. To make maters worse, there are suspects are everywhere especially within the most respected pillars of the community. This interesting police procedural is fun for two prime reasons. First the victim's dad has enemies everywhere and so readers will agree with Stan's premise that he was the target and that his daughter was unlucky to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Second the interrelationships between Stan, Parker, and Buffy make for a delightful often amusing investigation though at times their exchanges overwhelm the case. Fans will enjoy this lighthearted whodunit and want more inquiries led by this noble threesome. Harriet Klausner

I loved it; there are some really funny scenes

I read a review of this book in Crime Spree Magizine and obtained a copy. I loved it! The characters were great and the plot kept me guessing. It took me a while to determine that Parker, not Stan (the narrator), was the main character, but the interplay between the two was very amusing. Parker reminded me of that favorite old curmudgeon uncle you visit every Thanksgiving that you enjoy in spite of his cranky disposition. I also loved Buffy, the out of work newspaper reporter who wanted to help solve the case and win Stan. Buffy's antics and Parker's personality added much to Stan's frustrations and to my enjoyment of the book. My only complaint is that the cover photo does not depict the book as lighthearted as it is -- there are some very funny scenes in it.