Crosswise (Tommy Ruzzo) by S.W. Lauden

I love novellas, that's why I mostly publish the Noah Milano stories in that format. It gives you all the good stuff, without the fluff. This one's no exception.
Former NYPD cop Tommy Ruzzo moved to Florida where he works as a security guy for a retirement community. When dead bodies start to turn up there Ruzzo investigates and finds some hints the murders are connected to his life in New York. Crozzword puzzles in the local paper serve as clues and of course as the basis of the title.
Like a novella should be the story is fast-paced and a bit more pulp-oriented than Lauden's fantastic punkrock / PI novel Bad Citizen Corporation.
The story is enjoyable but lacks that little bit of extra originality of that book's premise. Ruzzo is however, a nice flawed character and the setting and characters would make an excellent Tarantino movie.