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Henry Simpson
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Joe Costa's Lonely Hearts: The Talent House Murders Kindle Edition

by Henry Simpson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 114 ratings
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Arrested at the murder scene of his mother’s caretaker, William Talent hires Joe Costa to defend him against a murder charge. Prosecutors posit a revenge motive because the mother died of neglect. Costa and police detective Lena Haynes find evidence linking the murder to Lloyd Love, a paroled convict involved in a lonely hearts scam. Love is arrested and Talent released. Months later, Love’s public defender asks Costa to reexamine the case. He questions Love and concludes that four women remain in danger from a serial killer. Legal authorities refuse to act. Costa pursues the killer alone on a dangerous chase that leads him to the Mexican border.
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  1. Book 3 of 6
    Joe Costa Series
  2. Print length
    268 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    September 25, 2012
  6. File size
    781 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Costa novel time sequence is
1. Joey Costa's Law
2. Open House
3. Joey Costa's New Game
4. Princess Lily
5. Joe Costa's Lonely Hearts
6. Golden Girl
7. Some Kind of Genius

Costa's character and personal circumstances change somewhat in the series. Joey Costa's Law is about his experiences as a nightclub bouncer working his way through law school. He starts Open House as a novice real estate agent who gets tangled up in four murders and other mischief. In New Game, he helps an artist get out ofa life-threatening jam. In Lily, he quits real estate, opens a law office, and helps a beautiful sociopath avoid prosecution. In Lonely Hearts, he tracks down a serial killer and restores a historical home. In Golden Girl, he tracks down a celebrity's missing ex-husband and $7.6 million. In Genius, he finds a close friend's killer and reunites with a lover.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009HB3PSW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Kindle (September 25, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 781 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 268 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 114 ratings

About the author

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Henry Simpson

Henry Simpson

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Henry Simpson is the author of several popular murder mysteries featuring mobster lawyer Joe Costa (Death on the Strand, Falling Star, Golden Girl, Joe Costa’s Lonely Hearts, Joey Costa’s Law, Joey Costa’s New Game, Open House, Princess Lily, Some Kind of Genius) and Special Agent Ed Lane (A Splendid Little Murder, Island of Sprits, Finding Elysium) as well as short stories in literary magazines and anthologies. His fiction is character-based and usually has a plot involving greed, revenge, abuse of power, revenge, jealousy, flimflammery in arts or religion, the unsettled nature of reality, or achieving the American dream. He is married, lives in Monterey, California, and has two adult children and five grandchildren. Writers whose fiction he admires include Elmore Leonard, Patricia Highsmith, Truman Capote, Raymond Chandler, George V. Higgins, James Crumley, and James Dickey. His early influences were Boy Scouts, an urban high school, jazz musicians, surfers, street racers, juvenile delinquents, and a probation officer. At age eighteen, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve and began college. He studied engineering, did graduate work in English and Psychology, and holds a PhD from UCSB. He spent most of his professional career at small consulting companies as a military research psychologist, and worked independently as a software engineer, security consultant, real estate hack, and free lance writer while writing fiction on the side. He welcomes readers to his Facebook page or contact him at woodcrest400@yahoo.com.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
114 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Joyce Metzger
5.0 out of 5 stars Extended Care
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2013
Verified Purchase
Joey Costa' s methods for interrogation and retrieval are sometimes unorthodox, and border on illegal, but, they get results. He had defended mobsters for years, now he needed a semi-honest defendant. He's sitting behind bars because of over zealous police work, a clash of personality, and a mistaken identity.
Lena Haynes is a feisty, attractive homicide detective who moonlights as a motorcycle cop on the weekends. She fits the appearance stereotype of a farmer's daughter with a refreshing flippant attitude. Lt. Dorsey said she was incorrigible.
William Talent is a mild mannered oceanographer who has been arrested for murder. The charge, that he had murdered his mother's caretaker. He's highly educated with everything to lose. William's wife had divorced him. They didn't have children. He can see that Costa is compassionate and fearless. He asked, "Do you always make up stories and fabrications like a con artist?"
The coroner said Talent's mother had been malnourished, dehydrated, and filthy. That he had blamed her caretaker, Mary Butts. Now, Mary had disappeared, and someone cut Harold Butt' s throat. Someone had also emptied bank accounts and maxed out credit cards. Vandals had stripped and victimized his mother's home.
Lloyd Love worked vulnerable, lonely women. They believed his promises. He considered himself a lover, fighter and convict. Ricky Craven was a prison mate of Lloyd Love. He was untrustworthy, but was he a killer, or just filling an angry supporting role?
We have cars, but no wild police chase, skid marks or odor of gasoline. We do have another excellent read from Henry Simpson. Kudos.
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Gee
4.0 out of 5 stars like Joe Costa books
Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2013
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I have read all but one of the Costa books.. I have the last one downloaded to be read. These books are well written and a good read in my opinion. Joe Costa is not a perfect character but he is likable. I like the style of writing by this author and that's very important in what I read. Plus the stories are always interesting and the other cast of characters are interesting for the most part.. I don't get bored reading Joe Costa books.and im pretty picky because I'm an avid reader.
I highly recommend this book.
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claudia haeckel
3.0 out of 5 stars This was a book club selection, o.k. but didn't make me want rush out and read more of this author.
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2013
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This book was a selection for my book club. It's not the type of book i would ever pick on my own, but that's why I belong to a book club.

I did like the way the author ended the book. Most people thought the book got better after the corny beginning.
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J&KN in NC
5.0 out of 5 stars Surprise--A Lawyer you're gonna like!
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2013
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I loved this book! Aside from a few more typos than desired, it was a well-written and well-developed story. Despite Joe Costa's original job defending a mob family, when he breaks away from that career, he benefits from what he's learned about bad people, and applies it to helping his new clients. He also seems to have a well-developed sense of pursuing a case until he gets the truth. As I read each chapter, I made the same errors in judgement that Costa made. But as something bothered him and he dug a bit more, again each layer produced more judgement errors. What a twisted web was woven by the author which Costa finally unravels. As I turned the last page on my Kindle, I immediately went out and bought the next Joe Costa book. It was that good!
One person found this helpful
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gypsy9/8/98
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book - recommended reading for those of who love Joe Costa.
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2013
Verified Purchase
I read this on my Kindle so I had difficulty accessing the list of characters who appeared in the book. Otherwise, it was very good. Lots of twists and turns as usual from this writer, which I really like. Joe Costa is a very interesting character and am looking forward to more books starring Joe Costa in particular and from this author in general.
Thank you!
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Ldub
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, multilevel mystery
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2015
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Joe Costa is a former mob defense lawyer turned real estate agent returned to criminal defense attorney. A case of mistaken identity ends up with Joe spending Saturday night in the general lock up. There he meets the Reverend and the Professor. The Rev is doing community outreach and the Professor is accused of murder. Both men will need Joe's legal assistance and introduce him to issues that will change his life.

The book is chock full of great characters and compelling story lines.
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Twilla B
5.0 out of 5 stars The Talent House Murders
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2013
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I had never read a book done by Henry Simpson, but I did enjoy this one. I liked the attorney ...he was funny, grounded and not so full of himself. He knew he was a good one but also did his best to help the client. The twists and turns of the characters and happenings were great. I couldn't put it down until I was finished. Good read and I would read another of Simpson's books!
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Henry Simpson is an excellent writer, in my opinion
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2014
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Henry Simpson is an excellent writer, in my opinion. Whenever I see one of his books I get it and I am never disappointed. If you like mysteries/courtroom/investigation novels then give any of Mr. Simpsons book a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.
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