House of Cards: Dead Men Tell No Tales (Martelli NYPD, #2) by Theodore Jerome Cohen

House of Cards: Dead Men Tell No Tales (Martelli NYPD, #2) Reviews

• 
  Grampy

  Reviewed by Lee Ashford for Readers' Favorite.
  
  “House of Cards” by Dr. Theodore Jerome Cohen is the second of Cohen’s novels featuring NYPD Detective Louis Martelli.
  
  When a prominent philanthropist and CEO of a major Wall Street Investment firm is gunned down in Times Square, Martelli is assigned the case. For reasons not yet clear, the FBI suddenly appears on the scene, demanding NYPD turn over the case to them.
  
  The Mayor and Police Commissioner reject the FBI’s ‘request’, agreeing only to work cooperatively with them. As more bodies begin to turn up, Martelli discovers the common denominator linking the murders.
  
  When he learns the FBI is withholding information, Martelli wisely decides to not trust his FBI contact, and moves ahead with the investigation. But this time, he might have bitten off more than he can chew.
  
  He’s making some mighty powerful people angry, and some of them will stop at nothing to get their way. There is an excellent chance he won’t live to the end of the book. Will this be the final Cohen story featuring Martelli?
  
  “House of Cards” is another gem from the brilliant imagination of Dr. Cohen. As with his other novels, Cohen valiantly researched the background setting for “House of Cards”, tying fact and fiction together in a manner that can only be described as genius. I do have one complaint, though: Detective Martelli is only a part of the fiction. America could use a few Martellis right now.
  
  In that vein, I zealously urge you to read “House of Cards”, as well as Cohen’s other novels. The facts behind the fiction need to become widely known. Dr. Cohen’s exceptional Martelli novels are a most enjoyable way to learn those facts. Somebody needs to be held accountable, and you, the reader, can help make that happen.
  
  Read “House of Cards” by Dr. Theodore Jerome Cohen, and tell your friends to do the same. They will thank you.
  
• 
  Rabid Reader

  A great detective story laced through with thought provoking facts about the 2008 USA financial/housing crisis. An assassination during the New York Halloween celebrations starts the ball rolling for detective Louis Martelli to be drawn into an investigation of murder, duplicity and terrorism. The author mixes facts with fiction brilliantly, bringing to light shocking facts about the corruption in the US financial world, while at the same time creating a thrilling murder mystery. The narrator also did a good job of bringing the story and characters to life. His pace was just right and his vocal intonation enhanced an already intriguing story. I really enjoy how this author interweaves financial market revelations into the basis of his stories.
• 
  Michele bookloverforever

  complex murder of a wall street banker complicit in the financial meltdown of 2008 is murdered. despite thousands of suspects of irate customers, turns our one client is a front for something far more deadly .. good story but too much jargon used.
• 
  Carolyn Wilhelm

  Narrative nonfiction explaining the 2008 financial crisis in a captivating manner
  
  “And still, not a single financial executive responsible for the financial meltdown of 2008 has gone to jail.” An embellished nonfiction story with many true facts and real people who brought about the housing and financial problems and how it affected millions of people. True and terrible information is revealed in this book, and the author has done a great service by writing this book to reveal shocking truths. I can read this because it is in story format while books like Dark Money upset me too much to finish reading.
• 
  Kristjan

  Book: **
  Performance: ****
  
  The best thing this recording has going for it is the narration; from a completely nostalgia aspect it reminds me of the old radio detective dramas in the 50-60's ... which I still listen to. That was what hooked me when I listened to the sampe and what ultimately saved the book. The series follows an NYPD detective (and military vet with a prosthetic leg) who plays fast and loose with the rules to get the bad guys ... not a plus in my book as it typically lends to lazy writing.
  
  In this episode, Martelli falls into a conspiracy involving a terrorist organization and a fraudulent hedge fund scheme Collateralized Debt Obligation (CDOs) and Credit Default Swaps (which were at the center of the financial crisis of 2008 ... of which the author apparently needs to go into great detail using info dumps thinly disguised as dialog. Too much unneeded detail is the watchword for this piece as the author shows off his mastery of jargon and testosterone replacements.
  
  For some reason not completely clear to me (outside a typical manly measuring contest), Martelli also needs to stay clear of the FBI (they guys that would normally get involved in this kind of thing) , so he engages in various hijynx to make them the rube here while he himself engages in extrajudicial activities that somehow never taint the case. Just for fun, he also throws in a few pontifical monologues a a jab or two at the NYPD administration ('cause they got nuttin' better to do than get in the way of real police work). Then you have the cheesy ending that is cleaned up in the Epilogue …
  
  I was given this free advance review/listener copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
  
  #HouseOfCards #MartelliNYPD #FreeAudiobookCodes
• 
  Ann

  I enjoy how Mr. Cohen delivers his work when in an audiobook. Listening to the story is like watching a police movie in my mind. I have listened to previous Martelli books and have enjoyed them. Narrator Greg Rizzo does a great job of capturing the persona of Detective Louis Martelli.