Testarossa by JD Cary: Review

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Sometimes a book comes around that surprises the heck out of me. This book I happened to review on a whim has become one of my favorite reads of the whole year.

Testarossa is a story that has been rewritten several times. I think the author has created a huge winner. Read on for my full review.

Testarossa by JD Cary
Series: A John Testarossa Novel (Book 1)
Publisher: Bowker (August 20, 2019)
ISBN-13: 978-1732578531
Kindle version release date: Sept 24, 2019

ABOUT:
Things are never what they seem; especially in police work. John Testarossa is an LAPD cop with an NYPD attitude who has seen it all. The dead, the dying and the decomposing are all in a day’s work for the red-headed Italian from Brooklyn. After an arm rolls up on a Santa Monica beach, and the dead body to which the arm was once attached is discovered, John and his partner, Alex Ortiz, enter the world of college sports, athletes, and the illegal drugs that enhance their performance.

Rage and revenge come together in a toxic cocktail John is all too familiar with. It defined him as a young boy, and ultimately still does as a man. He carries a dark secret. It is in the beautiful Dr. Karen Gennaro—who has a few secrets of her own— that John finds a soft place to land. Even as he knows all too well what falling in love with a cop can do to a woman.

What sustains this hard-boiled detective is the bond he shares with his brave and dedicated partners. When that bond is destroyed in a senseless act of violence, will his past, and a desire for vengeance, destroy him? From Los Angeles, where Venice Beach, Marina del Rey, and the dream of Abbot Kinney’s Venice Canals paint a picture of bliss, Testarossa will take you on a deeper, darker journey.

Testarossa by JD Cary

I don’t think I was more than a few chapters in and I realized this book is going to be something special. The main character John Testarossa is a fabulous character.

We get to know quite a bit about him and what drives him in his career – family, friends, the job, and even his love life. Each piece creates a driven, intense, conflicted, fun loving, romantic man.

And I totally fell for him. I absolutely love this character.

The author did a fabulous job with the story. Lots of action, unique crimes, and a great look at an active police detective all of the nuances that entails. Highly detailed descriptions that put you right into the action really make a huge difference in this crime drama.

I loved John’s tight-knit relationship with his coworkers. They really are a family along with all of the snark, love, and respect that is wonderfully obvious.

His relationship with Karen is a delicate blossoming affair that has its ups and downs. John is not without its issues but he is upfront and has his limits. I love the two of them together and I hope that future stories will continue this delicate connection.

Overall, like I said, one of my favorite stories of the year. I can see this character becoming a long-running series of books very easily.

Cary has come from out of nowhere to make a huge splash with this series. An impactful, intense blend of police action, crime, love, the past, the present, and the future.

Sign me up for more. I cannot wait to the next installment. A big publisher needs to seriously grab this author and series!

Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.