Ex-NYPD detective Dante Bartoli is caught in the struggle of a lifetime. Choosing to become a Manhattan moving man after his dead wife Tessa’s unsolved murder, he discovers frozen human remains left by the psychotic Hackman. The ruthless deviant makes good use of Dante’s unfortunate discovery by gaslighting the former cop into completing his lifelong vendetta against the moving company's boss, Nick. Under intense pressure from the mayor, the PC and the media, Lt. Hernandez convinces Dante to help flush out the elusive villain. Hackman, on a fast track to destroy Nick then escape capture, begins stalking Dante and the police backup sting op while in his dead mother’s disguise. Detective partners Lola Lambert and Abraham McMurray join the stalled ongoing investigation. The long-smoldering sparks between Dante and Lola turn incendiary. Anonymous letters about Tessa’s murder add more strain to Dante’s already fragile emotional state. Fighting off false leads and dead ends, Dante inches closer to nailing the elusive Hackman thanks to a combination of Lola’s tech smarts, clues from his go-to cyber snoop, Houdini, and revelations the art loving ex-cop divines from a famous painting, The vicious slayings of an undercover cop and a Lola lookalike spark a frantic and frenzied city chase during a stormy, area-wide blackout. An epic battle between Dante and Hackman ends in hand to hand combat atop one of New York’s most distinctive landmarks — St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Assessment:
Plot/Idea: Venturini fully engages readers in this accelerated, twisty story. The plot hinges on red herrings and snappy procedural prose, though a handful of relationships never fully evolve. The novel ends with a promise to bring back main character Detective Dante Bartoli in the next installment.
Prose: Despite the novel's considerable length, Venturini manages to keep it brisk and appealing through skillful storytelling. However, there are several grammatical issues that distract from the central mystery's flair.
Originality: Venturini's New York setting is vibrantly reconstructed here, and the character of Hackman expertly portrayed, adding a chilling, sinister level to the mystery.
Character/Execution: Former police officer Bartoli is an intriguing character—cultured, flawed, and eminently believable. He gains solace and calm through the arts, all while running from a career that won't let him go. Secondary characters are memorable as well, notably Italian chef Mom Manzini, a larger-than-life maternal influence on Bartoli.
Date Submitted: May 27, 2024