The Shaman and The Mafia
A Novel
Marietta Collins, a former nun, becomes enmeshed in the tragedy of a brutal murder.
Book Summary
The Shaman and The Mafia
Marietta Collins, a former nun, becomes enmeshed in the tragedy of a brutal murder.
Marietta, now the head of a youth drug rehab center, is dedicated to ridding the community of the growing criminal element. The victim of the suspected mafia hit was her friend Joseph Gleason W, a drug informant. During the course of the investigation, she meets the victim’s brother, FBI assistant director Raymond Gleason. There’s an instant attraction between the two. He becomes her first lover and their romance blossoms into a deep love for each other.
Raymond gives FBI agent Jerry Young, who is also his best friend, the responsibility of investigating the murder and hunting down the mafia’s kingpin. Marietta and Jerry have a brief of a clandestine affair that they are both later sorry for. Jerry, haunted by guilt for his violent past, turns to his childhood mentor, a mysterious Cherokee shaman, to save him from the burning fires of lust and his desire for vengeance. Also involved in the search for the murderer is Detective Riley, a tough, trash-talking female cop formerly with the NYPD, who discovers her new boss, Sgt. Sorrento is on the take from the mob.
While other minor characters help tell this gripping story, this is an action-packed mystery and love story that also examines the conflicted emotions of the characters as they try to make sense of their lives through the web of crime, darkness, and light.
“The Shaman and The Mafia have now been awarded a 5-star editorial book review by Reader’s Favorite Magazine!”
What readers say about the book🧐
The Shaman and the Mafia is a work of fiction in the mystery subgenre suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by author Elizabeth Upton.The book follows former nun Marietta Collins as she is dragged into the aftershock of a tragic murder when her friend Joseph is killed in what looks like a mob hit. As Marietta becomes romantically involved with Joseph's brother and the FBI agent investigating the death, the past refuses to stay buried for all involved as the FBI hunts the mafia boss believed to have ordered the hit while the police search for the killer directly.While the mystery of Joseph Gleason's murder lies at the center of this novel and provides the core narrative around which the characters gather, the outstanding contribution to the story the death makes is to act as a catalyst for an in-depth and intriguing character study of those involved in Joseph's life.Author Elizabeth Upton has created a cast of colorful characters, each of whom has had life breathed into them by her stunning prose, and it's a treat to turn each page and find the direction in which the events of the narrative will push them next.I particularly enjoyed the development of Detective Riley as she is forced to confront the harsh reality of corruption in an institution she has served for years. Beautifully blending the trappings of a love story and a thriller, The Shaman and the Mafia uses the best of both genres to tell a story unlike any other, which will stay with readers long after the final page has been turned.
K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
About the Author
Elizabeth Upton
Elizabeth Upton is a best-selling American author and influential writer of gripping fiction and inspiring self-help non-fiction books.
Her best-selling books, ‘Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story,’ ‘The Silver Woman of Fire’ and the newest ‘The Healing Swords of Love and Innocence’ helped set her firmly within the world’s literary map. With many novels to her credit, her new book in June 2022 is titled ‘Lovers’ Secrets and Revenge,’ a gripping thriller, Elizabeth’s favorite she enjoyed writing was ‘The Shaman and The Mafia,’ as she shares, “The creation of this story has been an exciting journey. If possible, I would love to meet all of the characters in this book in real life.” The author’s non-fiction books and novels are available on Amazon, and Amazon Kindle while featured on fine literary book sites and magazines.
Elizabeth was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA., until the age of sixteen, when she entered a New York State Convent and became a nun for twenty years, but she yearned for a more authentic spiritual life. Elizabeth left the convent and chose to attend and receive her B.A. from Syracuse University. Moving back to her native state of California, she attended and received her M.A. from Chapman University in psychology. The Author began working for over thirty years in family counseling as a social worker and probation officer working with troubled teens and abused children. She is a speaker, spiritual mentor, and advisor.
Elizabeth is happily married and enjoys writing books for her reader fans around the world. When the Author is not writing, she works out with a personal trainer to stay fit and healthy; she loves spending time on long walks on the beach with her husband and dog. Her favorite colors are blue, green, and gold. She enjoys reading good books by some of her favorite authors like Geraldine Brooks, Hanh, Jerry Archer, Joseph Murphy, and Michael Connelly. Elizabeth and her husband reside in Santa Barbara, California.
Visit her new official author and book website for new releases and upcoming updates at
https://authorelizabethupton.com/
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Marietta Collins, a former nun, becomes enmeshed in the tragedy of a brutal murder.