A Seed for Murder

A Joey Mancuso, Father O'Brian Crime Mystery, Book 11

By: Owen Parr

Narrated by: Randy McCarten

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

(Author's note: I apologize for the incorrect mention of NJPD throughout the book. It should be NJSP (New Jersey Sate Police). It is my error.)

In a matter of minutes, they ruled Myrna Tucker's death a suicide. But one must ask, did the detective assigned to the case conduct a thorough investigation? If not, why not?

In his latest addition to the acclaimed Mancuso and O'Brian Crime Mysteries series, author Owen Parr plunges listeners into the world of industrial espionage and murder. A Seed for Murder delves into the timely and gripping subject of genetically modified crops, exposing a tangled web of deceit and greed that is ripped straight from today's headlines. As with all of Parr's works, the truth may not be apparent at first glance, making for yet another thriller.

Did Myrna Tucker really commit suicide, or was foul play involved? As the head researcher for NuvoSeed, an agricultural firm specializing in genetically infused seeds, she was on the cusp of a revolutionary discovery that could change the industry forever. However, NuvoSeed has noticed several breaches in their computer servers and fears their intellectual property is being stolen, possibly by an insider. With the company on the brink of a lucrative sale, is NuvoSeed hiding the truth about Myrna's death and the server breaches from the acquiring company? Could they be utilizing Mancuso and his team under a non-disclosure agreement to keep the details under wraps?

Enter the dynamic duo of Mancuso and O'Brian Investigative Services. This diverse team comprises former NYPD homicide detective, Joey Mancuso, and Father Dominic O'Brian, the pastor at St. Helens in Brooklyn, and Joey's half-brother. Both licensed private detectives, they are tasked with investigating the theft of intellectual property and the possible murder of Myrna Tucker. The team is further bolstered by the inclusion of Joey's wife, Marcy Martinez, a retired FBI agent from the White Crimes Division in New York, as well as African American Lucy Roberts, Joey's former partner and mentor at the NYPD.

In addition to these seasoned veterans, the team also includes fresh talent in the form of Jimmy Johnson, also known as JJ, an 18-year-old African American computer genius and hacker, who works alongside Agnes Smith Persopoulus, a skilled computer researcher. With their offices situated in an Irish Pub and Cigar Bar in the financial district of New York City, a venue that has been in the O'Brian family since 1948, the team's eclectic makeup is further emphasized.

Fans of crime mysteries and esteemed authors such as James Patterson, Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, and Lee Child will surely be captivated by Mancuso and his team.

©2023 Owen Parr (P)2023 Owen Parr

Never guessed

I have to say my all time favorite book is Murder of Paolo Mancuso. But I have to say
This one is right up there. This book kept me guessing until the very end. What a great story line. I can't wait until the next book comes out. Thank you Mr Parr for your
Wonderful story telling.

Another one for the collection

Since discovering Owen Parr’s books I haven’t heard one that wasn’t liked. Looking forward to the next one.

Another great book.

Can't wait for the next one. I'm glad no one on the team got hurt this time.

Outstanding!!

This was an outstanding wild twisted ride to the truths. Joey gives me shades of Holmes, Hercule Poirot, and Charlie Chan, and I loved every minute. I liked that Joey continues with tenacity even when the odds are piling against him and his team. The root of evil goes deep and Joey isn't afraid to follow the dark trail. I loved Joey's integrity and his gut feelings are spot on. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job bringing it to life.

Another Great Story From Parr

Just like with all of the other stories in this series, Parr absolutely nails the intrigue, mystery, and whodunit vibe. I like that they’re written in a way you could pick them up at any point, but reading them as a series has been extremely enjoyable. It’s fun following the progress of the bar, their relationships, and the overall team as a whole.

In this one, we deal with the suspicious death of a prominent researcher, and their notes and entire laptop go missing. As always, in a Parr novel, there is not a shortage of people who could have done it. Many of them had real gripes with the victim or the company at large.

I think the thing I like the most about Parr’s novels is his ability to weave realistic stories into his fictional world. After finishing this, I was browsing YouTube and stumbled across a clip on Chinese industrial espionage and how we ended up catching one for the first time ever. So to say his work is poignant is almost an understatement.

I find it interesting that Father O’Brian has a smaller role in some of these stories, depending on the case. But there was no shortage of Joey Mancuso being Mancuso. Including the theatrical reveal at the very end, which every time I think will feel overkill and every time it feels perfect with the way the novels are set up.

Overall, the excellent performance by Randy McCarten, combined with Parr’s excellent storytelling ability, turned A Seed for Murder into one of my favorite stories in this series. As always, Parr kept me guessing throughout, feeling like every person they interviewed could be a suspect.

Keep you Guessing

I have enjoyed all the books in the series so far. I usually can figure out who the killer is, but this one had me guessing. Was a little disappointed about what the favor payment was.
Looking for to the next one and have started on Jacks series