Crimes In Paradise
Florida author creates detective plots set in South Florida
March 12, 2025
Florida Weekly
South Florida author Dan Petrosini has penned over 16 novels following the trials of lead character Detective Frank Luca in a law enforcement proceeding series set in the Sunshine State. The Luca Mystery chain shadows the New Jersey native investigator as he obsessively pursues crimes and tackles homicide cases in the South Florida, revealing the hidden secrets beneath its sunny exterior.
“I have written about 30 full novels. I began writing when I was 10 years old and went into it full-time in my 40s; that is when I got serious about it. It was my version of the ‘Ferrari midlife crisis.’ I wanted to give it a real chance and dedicate my time to learning how to write and explore the creative side, so I dived into the pool and took a shot,” says Petrosini.
Petrosini noted that as an indie author, he works with a team for proofreading, editing, cover design, and marketing. He highlighted that the role of an author entails “wearing 50 different hats,” with many aspects happening “behind the scenes” in the novel creation process before reaching readers. He mentioned that the entire cycle—from drafting to editing and final publication—typical- ly takes about a year, allowing him to complete around two books annually. Petrosini called this task “relatively painless.”
“I write every day, for hours and hours. My goal is to have about 1,000 words per day, equally about 90,000 words in three months. Then you have to massage it down with a lot of editing, re-reading, and cutting down. You end up with about 75,000 words,” says Petrosini. “While it is being edited, it is out of my hands, and I begin working on another book. Then it comes back, and you have to look at the book again and hash out any issues and all that jazz concurrently, all while writing the next novel.”
Petrosini revealed that he has written numerous stories and series but was advised by publishers to concentrate on a single genre to create a series for readers to get “hooked on.” Petrosini stated, “Readers stay with you when they like and know a character in the story.”
The thriller author said he began the series with a storyline that was “kicking out of his head.” This inspiration led him to develop the Luca Mystery Series, starting with a scenario concerning Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and memory loss. The series shapes in its first volume, “Am I The Killer?”
“I began writing the book and developed a detective to investigate the murder I created, so I called him Detective Luca. I told myself, ‘I hope this book sells because I really like writing about this guy.’ He really hijacked the book,” says Petrosini.
“Am I The Killer?” launched the series, encompassing 16 novels and two prequels exploring the characters’ career and personal life. Petrosini mentioned that during the early stages of development, he considered several settings for the plot before landing in Southwest Florida.
“I decided on Naples since I live here. When you are talking about many investigative crimes, seeing a suspect out, or meeting at a certain restaurant, you can name off real and local spots. It was just easier for me to know the place and get into it,” says Petrosini. “I know what it looks like when you are driving north on Goodlette Frank.”
Petrosini revealed that his novels have inspired fans to visit the settings in person during reading group meetups, forging connections to the places that brought his stories to life. Despite initially envisioning a six-book series, enthusiastic feedback from over 7,000 subscribers to his newsletter prompted him to expand the storyline, ultimately growing it to 17 books. The series built a significant departure from the typical three-book trilogy format.
Additionally, his novels have been translated into Spanish.
“The series has been very well received, not only in our community, but many other places, including Mexico, which is really cool,” says Petrosini. “I have been very thankful that the readers have really dug the series and appreciate the characters and how I develop them. I am a realistic guy, and it has to be authentic.”
Petrosini laughed, “I recently received an email from a reader, and he was telling me how he was a police officer in the Boston area and had worked in law enforcement for over 27 years and wanted to know how I knew so many inside details of the legal system.”
Petrosini attributed the success of the Luca Mystery Series to his meticulous attention to detail. He emphasized the crucial importance of thorough research and realistic elements, stating that for a story to resonate with readers, it must feel genuine and align with reality.
Petrosini completed the series with his final book, titled “The Golden Sellout,” expressing his longing for the character Detective Luca. In this installment, Luca is pulled out of retirement to investigate the tragic deaths of two young boys in his Collier County neighborhood, probing into a money laundering scheme that stretches from the East Coast of Miami to the jungles of Peru.
“There are a million scenes of this book set in Southwest Florida; he is working with the Collier County Sheriff ’s Department and has sections held in Fort Myers and at The Waterside Shops. There is even a scene in the Collier medical examining room,” says Petrosini. “The characters are fictional, but the locations and details are true.”
“I look up a lot of things people miss about the history of here. I wrote about the railroad tracks that went from here to Marco Island, which is now used for a dinner theater. Another book has Keewaydin in it. I weave it into conversation with my characters. If I wrote the book, you could bet money that the area and specifics will be true,” he added. “One of my books, ‘ Buried at the Lake,’ covers a crime scene in the Pine Ridge Estates. It is one of the most popular books in the series, and you can pick it up and read it without going through the first 13 novels.”
Petrosini said that his book series is designed to be an easy read, with each novel having around 450 pages and structured with quick and direct chapters. He added that the series can be enjoyed in any order, as each tale concludes its own story. However, reading the mystery series in sequences provides a deeper understanding of Detective Luca’s life, from marriages, divorces, and health concerns. This style of writing caters to two different types of readers.
“I don’t like cliffhangers. They annoy the heck out of me,” he laughed. “Seeing 16 books can intimidate people, so I wrote them so you can read them in any order. Then there are ‘whale readers’ who can read books quickly and cover them all in order. Those readers won’t even look at a series unless it is six books or more.”
Petrosini’s Luca Mystery Series can be purchased on Amazon and at major bookstores like Barnes & Noble. It is available in various formats, including audiobooks, printed covers, and Kindle editions.
“Finding voice readers for the book was difficult. You have in your head what Luca should look and sound like. A few different people have read his part. In some books, he is in his 40s and needed a voice to fit that, and then a different voice to age him later on when he is 10 years older and in his 50s,” says Petrosini.
Petrosini is a USA Today and Amazon Best-Selling author recognized for his work in the Suspenseful Crimes genre. He credits his extensive series to the strong connection he shares with his character Luca, alongside the fans and the local community. He actively engages in events at community centers to share his publications and writing insights with aspiring authors and bookworms.
“I was lucky. The demographic of Southwest Florida is readers. Collier County is a desirable place to live and has such an engaging population and snowbirds. I get emails from northern readers, who say that the books give them ‘a dose of sunshine,” says Petrosini.
Petrosini’s final book of the thriller series, “The Golden Sellout,” was released on Dec. 13 and is available on Amazon for $16.99.
Reviews of the book state, “The pages turned quickly, and before I knew it, I was finished. That is the most disappointing thing: I am finished with the book; I didn’t want to stop reading” and “I can never put these books down once I start reading them. Dan is such a great author.”
Petrosini’s series has thousands of raving reviews, something he teased with, “Many people told me that this is the best book I have written yet. If I can say so myself, I agree. I am now hoping I can break even on it!”