While Gabriella Giovanni has never had much luck with love, her passion is reporting the news associated with crimes. Her job at the Bay Herald has helped her to deal with the kidnapping and death of her sister at six years old, but she has never looked back at Caterina's case until now when another girl has gone missing. She is brought face to face with Jack Johnson, who claims to be responsible for both crimes. Her investigative instincts turn to obsession, when she meets with Johnson and allows him to manipulate her until she is on the precipice of losing everything.

Blessed Are the Dead takes inspiration from other serial killer stories, but spins them in a way that gives them new life in this first book in the Gabriella Giovanni Mystery series. Ms. Belcamino takes her experience as a former crime reporter and weaves it into a thriller that is almost impossible to put down. Throughout the story, we are in Gabriella's head as we learn about her strengths as a reporter and her insecurities as a woman. Many elements fill out the plot including Gabriella's family, her Catholic upbringing, her love life, and her relationships with her colleagues. Overall, Blessed Are the Dead is not a perfect book but is an amazing story told by a first time novelist. ( )

4.5 stars. ( )

Gabriella Giovanni is a crime reporter for a newspaper in the San Francisco area. She is so focused on her job that she sacrifices relationships in order to get to a crime scene and file a story. When a young girl disappears in the Bay area, Gabriella gets involved professionally—and personally. The circumstances remind her of the kidnapping and murder of her own sister two decades ago. She makes a connection with the lead detective on the case and is attracted to him, while also trying to get a scoop for her newspaper by interviewing the suspect. The newspaper/reporter aspects of the storyline ring true, and the insight into the personality of the suspect are realistic. I was, however, totally put off by the reckless actions taken by Gabriella such as agreeing to meet the kidnapper/killer alone at night and not contacting police with her information. ( )

Blessed Are the Dead by Kristi Belcamino is a 2014 Witness Impulse Publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by the publisher and Edelweiss.

Gabriella Maria-Grazia takes her job very seriously. She is a crime reporter for a Bay Area newspaper. She has news in her blood. She lives it, breaths it. She is currently coping with yet another break up and an ambitious newbie who isn't beneath trying to a few underhanded tricks to make Gabriella look bad in front her bosses.

But, when a missing persons case involving a young girl is making headlines, Gabriella takes it personally. She has lost a sister at a young age and this case is hitting her hard. Everything else is on a back burner while she joins in the search to find the missing girl.

Told in first person, this taut suspense thriller follows Gabriella as she follows a creepy serial killer down a dark, twisty road in hopes of finding out what happened to a missing girl, but also in hopes of finding out about her own sister whose killer was never brought to justice. As the suspect, Jack Dean Johnson, plays games with Gabriella she will remind you a great deal of Clarice Starling. Gabriella is spellbound by the suspect as she finds herself feeling some kind of empathy for the trauma he suffered in childhood, and he dangles information in front her making her think he knows something about her sister. But,is he the real killer? Oh, yes , he's killed before, many times. But, is he the one that kidnapped the most recent victim and does he really know anything about what happened to Gabriella's sister? Or is he just toying with her?

Also, on the case is a veteran detective, named Donovan who has a bad reputation, but who also finds himself drawn to Gabriella and she to him. However, the relationship appears doomed from the start as their respective careers clash.
The atmosphere is dark and gritty, and this crime thriller is not for the faint of heart. It is always tense when a child is involved in a crime and this book is not only riveting but heart wrenching as Gabriella begins to remember the sadness and grief she and her family suffered when her sister died. Plagued by vivid and horrendous flashbacks of her sister's funeral and her own sense of helplessness and guilt, this case has Gabriella throwing caution to the wind and stepping out into some really dangerous territory. I liked Gabriella from the start to the finish. She was often hard on herself and took blame when she shouldn't have, but she is very easy to understand despite keeping herself closed off to people. Donovan is also a dark and mysterious character that I didn't quite know how to take. Was he using Gabriella? Was he a rogue cop? I just couldn't get a good read on him.
The secondary characters fleshing out the story with Gabriella finding out just who her real friends were and a big dose of karma will see Gabriella coming out a winner in the end. There are lingering questions about some things, but since this is a series I think we will probably get the answers to some of these questions sooner or later. In the meantime, I have found a new mystery/ thriller author to add to my “Must Read” list.
If you like dark suspense thrillers be sure to check this one out. Five stars! ( )

A child kidnapper is on the loose. Time is running out. The case is bringing back painful memories for reporter Gabriella Giovanni. Will justice be served?

A fast paced, detailed narrative laden with mysteries, and a hint of romance, lead the reader and characters through twists and turns.

Characters are passionate, varied, develop as the tale progresses, and caring.

Overall, a thrilling read. ( )