The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge: The Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti

The Wicked Wives is the book I chose as my Thriller/Suspense selection for The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge. It is also a book I received from the author in exchange for a review.

Book Info:

ISBN #: 978-1936780631

Page Count: 292

Copyright: 2008

Publisher: Mill City Press

Book Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

The Wicked Wives is based on the true story of the 1938 Philadelphia murder scandals in which seventeen wives were arrested for murdering their husbands.

Mastermind conspirator Giorgio DiSipio, a stunning Lothario and local tailor who preys upon disenchanted and unfaithful wives, convinces twelve of them to kill their spouses for insurance money.

The murder conspiracy is very successful until one lone assistant D.A., Tom Rossi, uncovers the plot and brings the perpetrators to justice.

The Wicked Wives is a story made for Hollywood, combining murder, corruption, treachery, love, lust and phenomenal detail as it vividly captures Depression-era Philadelphia.

Mandy's Review:

I love fiction that is based on truth. So, when the author requested I review this novel, I could not turn it down.

The story is set in Depression-era Philadelphia, which is teeming with various races, mobsters, bookies and difficult economic times. To survive, many turned to illegal activities. One of those was Giorgio DiSipio, a man who loved the ladies ... not because of any affection he felt, but because he knew he could manipulate them to do whatever he needed them to do. Sex was his tool of manipulation; lonely housewives his victim of choice.

Giorgio would seduce the women, convince them to acquire life insurance policies on their husbands (through some "friends" of his in the insurance biz), give them the poison to kill their husbands and then have them split the life insurance money with him. He also had a "friend" who was an undertaker that would perform the autopsies on the victims, claiming they had died of various forms of pneumonia.

But, of course, with every great and master plan comes complications not foreseen by the masterminds ... Will Giorgio get away with his plan? Or will the wives fess up and have him convicted of murder?

This book combines elements of romance, lust, intrigue, murder and conspiracy to tell the story of these wicked wives. I would agree with the part of the summary that states this is a story made for Hollywood, but I would say it's made for old-time Hollywood as that is what it kept reminding me of ... you know, the old black-and-white whodunits that were so prevalent. This story would be perfect for that type of Hollywood movie.

My only issue with this book is that some slight editing is needed. There are times when people flashback to a previous event in their thoughts, but with the way the chapter is written, it almost made it seemed like it was happening now. It kind of threw me for a loop until I read further in the chapter and realized it was a flashback.

Other than that, the story flowed well and maintained my interest. There are some steamy scenes depicted in the story, so I wouldn't recommend it for young adults, but I would recommend it for adults who want to read an interesting suspense novel based on factual events.

The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge: The Shake by Mel Nicolai

The Shake is the book I chose as the Crime/Mystery Fiction selection for The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge. It is also a book I received from the author in exchange for a review.

Book Info:

ISBN #: 978-1453748831

Page Count: 238

Copyright: September 27, 2010

Publisher: CreateSpace

Book Summary:

(Taken from back cover)

In The Shake, Mel Nicolai has turned to a hybrid genre combining hard-boiled realism with vampires. Contemporary central California is the setting. Shake is the vampire. Who to take off the menu is the question. Driven by contradictory needs, Shake pursues an elusive balance: a way to satisfy his need for human blood, preserve his suburban anonymity, and somehow acknowledge his debt to the people upon whom his life depends.

Mandy's Review:

To say I loved this book would be a small understatement. I didn't love it for the entertainment value, although it certainly was entertaining. I loved this book because of the intellectualism of the main character's view. I have a certain affinity for things, whether they be books, movies or people, that can make me think as well as entertain me during the process. This book definitely did both.

The first few chapters are an introduction to Shake, the main character and a vampire, through an internal philosophical monologue. Yes, I realize this may sound utterly boring and I did wonder if the whole book was going to be this way, but it was not boring (and, no, the whole book was not this way). As a matter of fact, those first chapters helped to build the foundation of my understanding of Shake.

Shake is a very contemplative individual. Even though he's a vampire, he doesn't kill just for the sake of killing. He has refined his selections of "donors" to those that are deemed "not worthy of living" through a process of elimination created to help alleviate whatever guilt he may briefly feel from feeding on a human. Not only does his process help alleviate guilt, but Shake also uses it to maintain his anonymity in his suburban life.

It is during one of his feedings that Shake's curiosity uncovers a coincidence relating to his own life. He chooses to follow the coincidence as far as he can ... not because he feels responsible, but because he's interested in finding out why things happen as they do and why people choose to act as they act. It is throughout this journey the reader follows Shake.

Entirely told in first-person, the reader is  introduced to Mio, Karla and Tony, the people in Shake's inner circle. Each of these complimentary characters have their own unique persona and combine well within Shake's world. The dynamics of the group give just enough lightness to the story so the reader isn't bogged down by Shake's contemplations, but not enough to consider this a "fluff" piece. It is extremely well-balanced and will satisfy both left- and right-brainers. I am eagerly awaiting the next segment of Shake's life to be published and released.

The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge

The aim of The Eclectic Reader 2012 Challenge (hosted by shelleyrae at Book'd Out) is to push you a little outside your comfort zone by reading up to 12 books during the year from 12 different genres.

To read the official rules, click on the link above to go to the Book'd Out site.  Below is my list of books that I'll be reading next year for this challenge:

1.) Literary Fiction: The Yoga Club by Cooper Lawrence
2.) Crime/Mystery Fiction: The Shake by Mel Nicolai
3.) Romantic Fiction: Faith Found in Frisco by Robin L. Scott
4.) Historical Fiction: The Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow
5.) Young Adult: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
6.) Fantasy: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
7.) Science Fiction: Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson
8.) Non-Fiction: Love from the Other Side by Carol Shimp
9.) Horror: The Dark Half by Stephen King
10.) Thriller/Suspense: The Wicked Wives by Gus Pelagatti
11.) Classic: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
12.) My Favorite Genre - Mystery Fiction: Killer Sweet Tooth by Gayle Trent

I'll be joining other challenges as I find the ones that interest me. To keep up with the challenges, I'll be adding a link on the right titled '2012 Reading Challenges.'