Book Review: The Deal Master

Reviewed By: Carol - SLC - RAM

The Deal Master     Amazon US TPB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada TPB Amazon Canada HC
Gerard F. Bianco
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Hard Boiled   Horror   Psychological Suspense   Thriller
iUniverse, 2006, 247 pages, $16.95/hardcover

This is definitely not my typical cup of tea when choosing a mystery. The horror begins on the first page and continues all the way through to the end. I had a really hard time shaking off the dread that this story made me feel, but I suppose that *that* is the mark of a well-written horror novel. Ugh.

The story pits New York Homicide Detective William Gillette against a modern-day Pied Piper who is leaving a trail of murdered women in his wake. A task force is set up in hopes of apprehending the serial killer, but their job becomes even more complicated when the detectives’ personal lives get in the way. The story line becomes a bit cliche at this point since Detective Gillette has plenty of human failings without adding this particular chink to his armor.

This meandering tale of horror sucks the reader in completely at the beginning and leaves one feeling a bit bereft of hope by the end. Certainly more depressing than my usual mystery read but all in all a well-written horror novel whose story would undoubtedly make an excellent horror flick.

Carol - SLC - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carol - SLC - RAM