book cover of Man-Killer
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Man-Killer

(2024)
(The first book in the Gina Cototi Cases series)
A novel by

 
 
"Lawrence Kelter is an exciting new novelist, who reminds me of an early Robert Ludlum." –Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author

Gina Marie Cototi is a feisty Sicilian sparkplug, a Brooklyn-based PI with a fondness for family, friends, and one roguishly handsome Casanova named Rocco Benelli. Hey, nobody's perfect.

This headstrong sleuth drives a split-window '63 Corvette coupe and never, I mean never, misses Sunday dinner with Ma, Dad, and her sister Theresa.

Broke, brooding, and breathtaking, Benelli, an out-of-work parole officer is cursed with more charm than any man deserves. Deep down, Gina knows she shouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole, but she's got more cases than she can handle, and Benelli's ready, willing, and able-bodied, the perfect partner to help her get the goods on Vlad "The Scud" Rzhevsky, a disreputable boxer running point on dirty deeds for Luca Mura, a mobster as evil as he is dangerous.

Gina must somehow close the case without losing her life to Mura or her virtue to Benelli, but a moth working alongside a flame is always in danger of catching fire.

For fans of Janet Evanovich. Think of Man-Killer as Stephanie Plum meets Moonstruck.

Genre: Mystery

Praise for this book

"Firecracker dialogue, and well-drawn characters with attitude to spare, propel this page-turner to a new high for best-selling author Lawrence Kelter. Keeping the pace fast and magnetic, Kelter reels you in with his fiery Glock-toting PI to a surprising and deliciously satisfying end. But will you find out who, or what, the man-killer is?" - Jenn Bregman

"Lawrence Kelter's Man-Killer is as fun and exciting as a full throttle romp through Brooklyn in a '63 split-window Corvette Stingray with Billy Joel blasting on the radio. Its characters ooze Italian sexy and New York cool, and the story's surprise ending leaves you wanting more of Gina and Rocco. Climb in and fasten your seat belts." - Daniel Burke

"Lawrence Kelter's Man-Killer is an irreverent, laugh out loud romp through the world of PI Gina Cototi. Think The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel meets Spenser for Hire. Brilliant!" - Bruce Robert Coffin

"Snarky and fun! Kelter has a winner on his hands." - Christie Craig

"Kelter has crafted a feisty, funny, and fearless protagonist in Gina Marie Cototi. Man-Killer is chock full of colorful characters, vivid settings, and a page-turning plot. A fun and fast-moving thrill ride with heart, humor, and attitude." - Alex DeMille

"In Lawrence Kelter's 'Man-Killer', meet a new and attractive PI character, Gina Cototi, who's in the middle of a non-PC romp involving stolen cars, mobsters, sexual inuendo, gunfights, fistfights, and members of her argumentative Brooklyn-based Italian family. Oh, yes, while she's risking her life and desperate to solve her case, time and space must be made for the traditional three p.m. Sunday family dinner. A crackling good read not to be missed." - Brendan DuBois

"You know you've just read a great book when you are not Sicilian like the main character, but you walk around talking like her for weeks. Just picture it. Gina Cototi, PI, stuck with me and wouldn't let me go. This is Lawrence Kelter * Supercharged * as he embarks on another entertaining crime series starring an incomparable cast and strong female leads." - Janet Fix

"If you like your mysteries suspenseful, sizzling, and full of romance, 'Man-Killer' is for you! Exotic cars, organized crime, a sassy PI, and a sizzling romance - what's not to love about this book?" - Gemma Halliday

"Oversize load warning! Lawrence Kelter delivers a truckful of laughs along with likable characters, vicious villains, an inspired storyline, and stellar suspense. I enjoyed every moment I spent with tenacious P.I. Gina Cototi, and can't wait for the next book!. Frickin' hilarious!" - Diane Kelly

"Lawrence Kelter's Man-Killer is a dark joyride of a book. Written with a Brooklyn attitude and a delightfully irreverent sense of humor, the story careens through New York City at a madcap pace. Kickass protagonist Gina Marie Cototi leads a cast of memorable characters and for my money is the most compelling PI to hit the mystery scene in a good long while. I predict readers will be clamoring for Kelter to give them more of Cototi, her engaging cohorts, and the colorful streets of Bensonhurst." - William Kent Krueger

"A propulsive novel with an adrenaline rush of a story. Gina Cototi is a PI who's rough around the edges and everywhere in between as she finds the power of family, loyalty, and who has your back when it matters most. This Ozark meets Sopranos plot will keep you turning pages." - James L'Etoile

"In Larry Kelter's fast-paced and funny MAN-KILLER, Brooklyn PI Gina Marie Cototi searches for her father's vintage coupe, only to find herself elbow deep in mobsters and mayhem. MAN-KILLER is fast-paced and fun, fully loaded with wiseguys and wisecracks." - Richie Narvaez

"I totally fell in love with Gina Marie Cototi. Gina is the star of Man-Killer. She's a private eye in modern day Brooklyn. Funny and smart and beautiful and tough, but also insecure and very human. I love the snark. I love the humor. Every character in Man-Killer leaps off the page. Gina's wild and hot as hell older sister, Theresa. Their protective retired detective father. Their traditional and tough as hell mother. And Rocco Benelli, her long-time unrequited crush. A case goes sideways and things get crazy in the best way possible. There are Italian mobsters and Russian boxers and everything that makes Brooklyn Brooklyn. I found Man-Killer entertaining from the first page to the last. It's not only hilarious and exciting but filled with heart and characters you really care about. I can't wait to revisit Gina Marie Cototi and see where her next adventure takes her." - Haris Orkin

"Gina Cototi is a fantastic character and Man-Killer is a wicked read! What an enjoyable, wild ride! Kelter knows how to write a thriller! I couldn't put it down. Kelter knows how to write a character, and this book has them all!" - Jonas Saul

"Outstanding! Gina Marie Cototi is a Brooklyn native, daughter of a cop, and a whip-smart, tough-as-nails PI who finds herself in the middle of a mob-connected nightmare after she recovers her father's stolen '63 Corvette. With assistance from her extended family, friends, and a handsome womanizer named Rocco Benelli, Gina takes on the Russian Mafia, a corrupt boxer, and the legal system in his tightly written, wickedly funny, and wildly entertaining tale. Gina is a character worth rooting for, and Lawrence Kelter is a talented writer. Highly recommended." - Sheldon Siegel

"Lawrence Keltner has mastered the rhythm of Brooklyn in MAN KILLER, immediately transporting the reader to the city with snappy dialogue, memorable characters, and a clever, street-savvy wit. Gina Cototi, the protagonist, is a compelling, hard-working, feisty private investigator. With old fashioned values and a keen sense of justice she never misses Sunday dinner with her family. But havoc ensues when Gina's vintage Corvette is stolen, and she decides to ask Rocco Benelli, a handsome, out-of-work parole officer, to help her track down the thieves. Gina and Benelli are quickly thrown into the world of organized crime, black mail, kidnapping, theft, and the threat of murder. MAN-KILLER is an exciting ride, and a book you cannot put down until the very end." - C L Tolbert

"A dash of humor, several splashes of intrigue, and molto attitude from two strong sisters, such that the men in their lives, good or bad, don't stand a chance. There's more to lust after than collectible cars. I hopped in and loved that Lawrence Kelter's MAN-KILLER. It put me in a New York state of mind. A pitch-perfect page-turner." - Gabriel Valjan

"Funny, poignant, and action-packed--Lawrence Kelter's latest delivers it all. Brooklyn born and raised, wise-cracking private investigator Gina Cototi knows a thing or two about fast cars and wise guys. When her daddy's prized Corvette is lifted, Gina will stop at nothing to recover the Vette even if it means donning a little black dress known as the Man Killer." - Lynn Chandler Willis

"Great read! Gina Marie Cototi is a firebrand with serious investigative chops but flawed in all the right ways. If you're looking for a rowdy mystery and some ribald humor, Gina is your girl!" - Frank Zafiro


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