Shutter Man is another one of Richard Montanari's explosive, compulsive reads featuring the duo Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne. Although this novel shows the two doing their own thing, a series of gruesome murders brings them together in the hopes of capturing a killer like none other.
As usual, Montanari begins Shutter Man with a crime that dares readers to look away unimpressed by the sheer evil that is in store with every turn of the page. I'm not sure where to begin with this review except to point out that it was nice getting to know Byrne as a youth. As the story unfolds and the layers of the past are peeled away, we learn how the present is shaped. We also learn about a small Maryland town called Devil's Pocket.
Yes, Devil's Pocket is as bad as it sounds and has birthed a living nightmare. As the clues are gathered, it's impossible for readers to simply walk away from this novel. I had to know what the victims had in common and the killer's logic in deciding their fate.
I feel that Shutter Man used a lot more close calls and hair-raising situations than the others in this series. These moments weren't ill placed or used as a gimmick. Every moment in this novel is fluid and pure great storytelling. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Montanari is one of my favorite crime novelists to date. I dare you to read his novel and tell me I'm wrong.
So, in conclusion, Shutter Man is a must read for fans that follow the Byrne and Balzano series. I'm sure this review may seem biased to most but really, Richard Montanari is a great author. Shutter Man had it's grips on me from page one and did not let go until the final word. Period! ****
Copy provided by Mulholland Books via Netgalley
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