There are three Johnny Denovo mysteries to date:
Click on a title to read reviews from professional reviewers and readers alike.
The cover for the first Johnny Denovo mystery, "Spam & Eggs"
SPAM & EGGS: A JOHNNY DENOVO MYSTERY
Readers and reviewers lavished praise on the first book, “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery.” Here are a few selected reviews and reader comments:
This is a book that in fact puts the writing of a lot of very seasoned and famous mystery writers to shame. . . . My fellow mystery fans, this book is not to be missed. If true talent rises to the top then this is not the last we have heard from Johnny Denovo and his creator Andrew Kent. — The Book Friar
. . . like a Dostoevsky novel, or Auster’s City of Glass, you get the sense throughout this book that the novel is about more than its subject. There’s an undercurrent of double meaning to the entire novel, which is an impressive accomplishment and makes you keep turning the pages to see what will be revealed. You get this sense of double meaning from the title itself – I won’t give away what “Spam and Eggs” is actually referring to, but when the detective Johnny Denovo pieces together the case that revolve around – yes – spam and eggs, the novel truly comes alive. . . . it’s recommended and I’ll be keeping an eye on whatever Andrew Kent puts out in the future. – Henry Baum, author of “North of Sunset”
Andrew Kent’s book is very fast paced and contains a cast of well-developed characters. The plot is unique, as is the writing style. This book is different from any other that I have read. “Spam & Eggs” is a clever, intellectual mystery that will leave you wanting more of Johnny Denovo in the future. I look forward to many more intriguing cases! – RebeccasReads.com
Andrew Kent has a brilliant command of language and is a clever word-weaver. He incorporates sophisticated vocabulary, clever word play, tongue-in-cheek realism, and soliloquies with brisk dialog to create a masterpiece of deductive challenge, engrossing reading, and engaging entertainment in “Spam & Eggs: A Johnny Denovo Mystery.” – ReaderViews.com
Andrew Kent has created a character so memorable and distinct that he will surely dazzle on-screen someday as he dazzles in a book. . . . [the book has] a fast-paced, exciting plot involving vivid characters and geo-political interests. But what really sets this book apart is the author’s mastery of language, vocabulary and metaphor. Reading it is an utter delight, as much for the sheer pleasure in superb writing as for the story itself. Bravo to a new author whose originality explodes from these pages. Highly recommend. – The Urbane Dame
Wow! ‘Spam & Eggs’ is a fast-paced, intelligent thriller fueled by the author’s razor sharp observational skills, understanding of metaphor and psychology, and inspired intuition. It challenges you with an impossible puzzle, then resolves with delightful surprises and a satisfying soufflé of a finish. – Sharon Livingston, PhD
Andrew Kent successfully delivers in this debut both an interesting sleuth as well as a cyber-crime that surprises and challenges the thoughtful reader. . . . Kent writes a satisfying, literate, and neatly executed tale of detection. There is a balance in “Spam & Eggs” between the logical structure of the mystery form chosen by the author, and the nuances of perception and misdirection caused by the reader’s tendency to make assumptions (in much the same way that a detective is required to do in the course of his work). Indeed, the title itself playfully draws on words and symbols which percolate throughout the material. . . . The book avoids predictability, in part because of the running themes that deepen the story. Kent touches on the nature of metaphors, self-presentation in both a physical and virtual sense, the nature of detection, and the brain processes necessarily employed in solving puzzles. Recommended. – MyIndividualTake
Amazon Rating
A fresh and entertaining take on the detective novel.
I was hooked. Great plot!
Amazing book. The ending swept me away.
I couldn’t put it down the last half. I really got involved in the characters and plot. I always feel like a book was good if I think about it afterwards and miss the characters.
. . . full of playfulness in the form of word play, mind play, and mental foreplay. Author Andrew Kent has whipped up a souffle of sophisticated sleuthing that leaves you hungry for more.
I loved it! Great job! Sign me up for the sequel!
The cover for the Johnny Denovo sequel, "The Green Monster"
THE GREEN MONSTER: A JOHNNY DENOVO MYSTERY
And so a second novel — “The Green Monster: A Johnny Denovo Mystery” — appeared in September 2009. It’s also been receiving favorable reviews:
Looking for an absorbing mystery that is chock full of twisting plots and tantalizing clues? A mystery which is too intricate to be solved by reading the first few pages? Then this is the right book for you. . . .The title derives from a seating section in a baseball stadium from where one of the blackmail conspirators sends messages. But that is far too simplistic an explanation of all that happens in this novel. Ultimately Johnny is caught in a web of conspiracies, terrorists and global threats. How Kent manages to tie all these various threads together is amazing. The book captures your attention from the first page to the last. . . . My only question is how long do we have to wait to see Johnny at work on his next case? - The Urbane Dame
This latest addition to the Johnny Denovo series of mysteries has got to be the best one yet. Hired by a CEO of a bio-tech corporation, Johnny’s assignment is just to find out who was blackmailing the man. What Johnny gets into and what he finds goes much deeper and more sinister than just a simple blackmail scheme. . . . From a simple blackmail scheme to a matter of national security, “The Green Monster” by Andrew Kent has it all. It is an intricate read with many branches and lots of action and required me to read it all in one sitting. It is not the kind of book you can put down and pick up later. It is definitely a multi-layered book and will require your undivided attention. The quality of the book is top notch. It is a fast-paced read and the 263 pages go by before you know it. . . . definitely a mystery that keeps you guessing till the end. – ReaderViews.com
Andrew Kent’s new novel, “The Green Monster,” proves that everything in New England revolves around the Red Sox. In this, his second mystery novel following the exploits of supersleuth and Red Sox fan Johnny Denovo, Kent’s characters traverse Yawkey Way, greater Boston, and the wilds of rocky New Hampshire to foil a sinister plan that makes even a Sox loss to the Yankees seem trivial. Addictive and fun, “The Green Monster” weaves baseball action into a fast-paced blackmail plot, creating a top-notch detective story that readers of all types will find hard to put down. – Bill Ballou, sportswriter, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
In “The Green Monster,” Johnny Denovo takes on his second mystery. In this installment he is hired by a man in the bio-tech industry who wants Johnny to find out who is blackmailing him. The case ends up being much more complicated than it first appears and Johnny is drawn into a plethora or conspiracies, threats, and plots. Kent has a very intellectual slant to his mystery writing which I find to be quite enjoyable. However, it is a novel where your full concentration is required so that you are able to keep up with all of its intricacies.
I had the pleasure of reading Andrew Kent’s first Johnny Denovo mystery which is entitled “Spam and Eggs.” When I finished that book I was looking forward to reading more as I enjoyed Kent’s unique and intellectually stimulating writing style. Therefore, I was very excited to see this newest Denovo mystery, “The Green Monster” and after reading it I can say that it certainly held up to, if not passed, the high standard mark that was set by his first book. – Rebecca’s Reads
Another great book from Mr. Kent! I ordered the physical copy, and then downloaded a sample of the electronic copy so I could get started. However, upon getting a taste, I couldn’t get enough and I ordered the full meal and stayed up late finishing it off. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and Johnny Denovo has his hands full with his latest case, but when you have friends like Tucker the Terrible around, you know Johnny will rise to the occasion and save the day. – Amazon customer review
Author Andrew Kent hits it out of the ballpark with the second in his Johnny Denovo mystery series. “The Green Monster” finds detective Denovo at Boston’s Fenway Park, where he and his sidekick, the renowned if sloppily clad technologist and intelligence expert Tucker Thiesen, are approached at a Red Sox game by an adulterous biotech mogul who claims he’s being blackmailed. But world famous sleuth Denovo doesn’t “do petty adultery,” and it turns out this isn’t a simple case, anyway. . . . In “The Green Monster” (named after Fenway’s huge, left-field wall), the brilliant Denovo and his savvy team keep mystery fans guessing till the final inning.- IndieReader.com
The cover for Entanglement: A Johnny Denovo Mystery
ENTANGLEMENT: A JOHNNY DENOVO MYSTERY
In late 2010, the third novel, “Entanglement: A Johnny Denovo Mystery,” hit the shelves and e-bookstores. Early reviews are also glowing:
. . . intriguing, fast-paced and extremely eloquent mystery. With most books in this genre I tend to have a pretty clear idea of what is going to happen as soon as I finish reading the first couple of chapters. This time I had no idea where the story was going until the very end. . . . The dialogue was sizzling, the characters wonderfully intricate, the storyline compelling. Andrew Kent’s writing style is fresh, rich and unique, a cut above. . . . I highly recommend Andrew Kent’s “Entanglement” to anybody who enjoys a well crafted and nicely challenging story, one that keeps you guessing until the very last page and definitely leaves you wanting more. — ReaderViews.com
Whenever I open a new Johnny Denovo mystery I know that I am in for an intellectually stimulating ride, and “Entanglement” was no exception. Filled with word plays and metaphors, Andrew Kent writes in such a unique manner that I really can’t even think of any other author’s style to compare him to. Kent’s novels really make you think and solving the mystery on your own before all of the information is revealed is really a difficult task. If you enjoy an intelligently written mystery, then I definitely recommend “Entanglement” along with Kent’s prior Denovo mysteries “Spam and Eggs” and “The Green Monster.” — Rebecca’s Reads
More reviews will be posted here as they arrive.
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[...] management of my account, in a matter of months (not years), I have a book that has garnered incredibly positive reviews, a readership base of acknowledged fans that spans many countries in the English-speaking world, [...]