Today is a review on a book called Play Dead By Richard Montanari, i read this a few months ago and wanted to share my review on this.
Synopsis: Philadelphia homicide detectives Kevin Bryne and Jessica Balzano's first assignment from the Cold case files is the brutal murder of a young runaway. The lifeless body of Caitlin O'Riodran was found carefully posed in a glass display case in the desolate Philadelphia Badlands but, as Bryne and Balzano rapidly discover, she was just the first pawn in the killer's twisted game.A mysterious phone call leads them on a scavenger hunt for another victim who has been dismembered, her body parts left in three boxes in the basement of a deserted house. More clues lead to other victims and, as the body count rises, Bryne and Balzano come to realise that the homicidal mastermind plans to complete the seven depreaved tricks in his dark and dangerous magic act.
With Balzano increasingle obsessed by a case that haunts her, and Bryne struggling with a loss of his own, the stakes are mounting. But this is one game they can't afford to lose.(2008)
I hadn't tried this author before and wasn't familiar with his work, but it is safe to say i will be reading more of his books, as I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and couldn't put it down. My copy has 398 pages and i will say the chapters are very small. I usually read one or two chapters a night but i was able to read three or four. The font was medium size not tiny but not too big either.
I liked how the beginning started from the killers point of view making you wonder who "she" is. The book is based around a place/house called Faerwood and it sounds grand and elegant but you come to realise what happens at Faerwood is all the grand or elegant.You get to know all the characters, even the killer and you feel for each and everyone of them. You get to understand why the characters personalities and why they are the way they are.I liked how this books ending was enjoyable and not fast paced like some books it was steady and that is what kept me hooked as i wanted to know how it was going to end. . I would recommend to friends and family.
You can purchase this book from Amazon, Waterstones and Ebay.
I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 as i would of preferred it to be a bit longer as i really enjoyed it and didn't want it to end.
Keep Reading!
Laura.
*Picture of cover was taken from www.richardmontanari.com
