Do You Dream?
The Stolen Ones is the 7th installment of Richard Montanari's novels featuring Philadelphia Detectives Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne. These detectives have been are brought in on a case after a wealthy businessman was found murdered in Priory Park. Before long, a series of murders and a mute two-year old girl bring them up against a man named Luther. Luther is the one person left behind after the closing of the Delaware Valley State Hospital.
First off let me start by saying that I am so happy to finally become acquainted with this author. The Stolen Ones is the definition of what I look for in crime fiction. The pace is fast, characters are interesting, and the thrills come often. At times it felt I was reading a horror novel mixed with crime fiction, topped off with psychological suspense. And thankfully, those independant genres fuse well.
Montanari does well to provide a 7th novel that doesn't read like there's something missing. There isn't a whole chunk of history in the two starring detectives lives that is eluded to and breezed over making the reader feel confused. Both Balzano and Byrne are well developed, interesting, and complementing of each other.
As the novel shifts between the past and present, we are introduced to a man named Luther and the people who crossed his path... for better or worse. His preferred travel method makes for some sleepless nights in the hopes of nothing being in my closet. Seriously. This novel had the perfect amount of suspense and sheer creepiness that I tried to steal a moment whenever I could to get back to the story.
Ultimately, The Stolen Ones by Richard Montanari is a great way to spend the day reading. It fuses many genres seamlessly and introduces the world of dreams to the unsuspecting. This is one nightmare I would never want to live through. I look forward to reading more by this author. ****
Copy provided by Mulholland Books via a Goodreads Giveaway
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