O'Neil, Vincent H.

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O'Neil, Vincent H.

PERSONAL:

Born in MA. Education: United States Military Academy at West Point, B.S.; Tufts University, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, M.F.A.

ADDRESSES:

E-mail—exile.florida@gmail.com.

CAREER:

Writer. Previously worked as a private consultant for a software development firm, and managed risk for a northeastern bank. Military service: U.S. Army, officer.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Malice Domestic/St. Martin's Press Best First Traditional Mystery, 2005, for Murder in Exile.

WRITINGS:

MYSTERIES

Murder in Exile, Thomas Dunne Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Reduced Circumstances, St. Martin's Press (New York, NY), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

In his first novel, Murder in Exile, Vincent H. O'Neil introduces the character of Frank Cole, a down-and-out software designer who is working for insurance companies doing background and fact checks after his own company folded and sent him into bankruptcy. Living in the small town of Exile in the Florida Panhandle, Cole checks on a hit-and-run death for an insurance company and discovers a case of mistaken identity and corporate corruption. Edward Gonzalez is killed in a hit-and-run shortly after taking out life insurance. When Cole discovers that a prominent businessman is the real target, he realizes that his own life is in danger. Harriet Klausner, writing on her book review Web site, called the protagonist "a fascinating mix as he tries to expedite himself from the murder case, but has no way of communicating his efforts to the culprit, who sees him as a threat." Likewise, a Kirkus Reviews contributor referred to Cole as "an appealing hero." "With his breezy, lowkey narrative style, Cole makes an engaging sleuth," wrote a Publishers Weekly contributor. Jo Ann Vicarel, writing in the Library Journal, noted that the author "has a flair for storytelling." In her review in the New York Times Book Review, Marilyn Stasio called the author "a polished storyteller with a breezy style."