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BY LARRY TERHAAR

ONCE A DETECTIVE …

By LARRY TERHAAR

Her brother was murdered. After two years the NYPD had given up. It was now up to me to find the murderer.

Once a Detective… introduces Dan Burnett, an NYPD detective who opts for retirement after failing his physical. At fifty-five, he becomes a private investigator, learning the ropes from a P.I. with a similar history. Divorced and living on a sailboat, his one source of happiness is his college-aged daughter.

After assisting his new partner with ongoing cases, he lands one of his own: a beautiful woman whose brother was murdered. With the NYPD abandoning the case, it's up to him to find the murderer, all while grappling with his attraction to the client.

The suspects? Las Vegas casinos, where the brother owed a million dollars, and his second wife, who inherited millions upon his death. Dan doggedly works the case, drawing on his lifelong skills, with the help of a former colleague initially assigned to the case. Tracking a mob hitman leads him on a chase across the country, searching for the truth and ultimately finding it.

Reviews for “ONCE A DETECTIVE …”

  • "Once a Detective," is a fast-paced romp through the streets of New York by former Detective Dan Burnett, in search of a killer. Larry Terhaar is a great storyteller. His characters were well developed and compelling. I could feel the grit from the streets and taste the flavors of the fabulous food described. A fun summer read with lots of action....."

    — John W. Long, author of “In the Name of the Father”

  • "Larry Terhaar's Once a Detective is a masterfully plotted mystery with a compelling narrative voice, vividly drawn characters, and sizzling dialogue. A nuanced, emotion-filled portrayal of a struggling ex-cop who becomes a private eye, this novel is much more than a simple whodunit. It is impossible not to become immersed in the story-the book will grip you from beginning to end."

    — Urs A. Boelsterli, award-winning author of “Dead Natural”

  • "A well written and fast paced detective novel in the tradition of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. I hope this absorbing and entertaining book is the first in a series."

    — Steve Skurka, author of "Pharo and the Murder at Smoke Lake”

SNEAK PREVIEW

Read the first chapter here:

Oceanside real estate novel

OCEANSIDE

By LARRY TERHAAR

1/2 price e-book now just $2.99

Nearly one hundred people died.
It could have been prevented.

OCEANSIDE is a work of fiction inspired by the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, FL, in June of 2021. This disaster thriller is a novel-in-parts featuring three stories that span the 40-year life of the building. All linked by the looming tragedy. In the summer of 2021, in the dead of night, Lieutenant Dan Crawford and his team of firefighters race against time, responding to the harrowing collapse of the Oceanside Condominiums at 88th Street and Collins Avenue in Miami Beach, Florida. Then, we flashback to 1979, when Jack Brooks, a real estate developer from New York, relocates to Florida, where his success hinges on one crucial element—the construction of a new condominium called Oceanside. Then, we jump to the winter of 2018 to find Hannah and Bob, who have become “Snowbirds,” trading the cold and snow of Westchester for the sun and sand of Florida. Relishing their retirement, they delve into the real estate market and purchase their second home—a condominium that seems to meet all their criteria and just so happens to be located on 88th Street and Collins Avenue. OCEANSIDE is Larry Terhaar’s debut novel. He is a recently retired real estate developer who has built a condominium complex and serves on the board of directors of a high-rise condominium in southern Florida. He is uniquely qualified to tell this multi-layered story, brimming with romance and captivating characters, that ultimately reveals the cause of this tragedy.

What They’re Saying About “OCEANSIDE”

  • E.M.T. 

    “OCEANSIDE is required reading for anyone considering retiring to the beach in Florida.”

  • The Prairies Book Reviews

    “OCEANSIDE: A page-turning disaster thriller.”

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    “An instant page-turner” — K.D.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    “Great fast read” — D.H.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    “Recommended reading” — D.T.

  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    “Impressive debut novel” — D.C.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    “Pulled me right in!” — A.P.

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    “Fantastic read! Riveting!” — CT Reader

  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    “Stayed up late to finish the book!” — Netgalley

  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    “A well-written novel; I could not put this on down!” — Netgalley

  • Midwest Book Reviews

    “OCEANSIDE is a novel that’s hard to put down.”

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