The Mystery Starts Here

If you read as many mysteries as I do – three or four a week, you’re probably getting a wee bit tired of serial killers. I know I am. Fortunately, “Merciless” by Richard Montanari has come up with a serial killer who is very unique and…well, a real fruit loop.

The book starts when a body is found (always a good way to start a mystery) posed on the edge of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. It’s winter, she only wearing a vintage dress and she’s covered with ice. How long has she been sitting there and why didn’t anyone notice her sooner? When the detectives arrive and start working the scene, they find something even more gruesome. The woman’s feet have been hacked off.

Another young woman is found dead, dressed in vintage clothing – but she’s still got her feet. The detectives are scratchng their heads trying to figure out a link between the murdered woman, when – yup another one shows up. During the course of the novel we hearthe voice of the killer and believe me, it’s chilling. Montanari writes in short, crisp chapters that keep the reader turning pages. It’s hard to put this one down.

The homicide cops, Jessica Balzano and Kevin Byrne are interesting and work well together slowly analyzing the clues until the very exciting climatic end. I really liked the one of the new cops in squad – an Amish man, Josh Botragner, who is constantly shaking hands with everyone and who likes to tell Amish jokes. Josh was a refreshing change to the usual homicide cop personas.

I do have two small nits to pick with this book. Jessica, a 30-something married woman with a five-year-old child is … a boxer! Oy, can’t we EVER just have a policewoman or homicide detective who’s just a woman! Why do they have to box, or do some other very rough masculine sport? I find this a LOT in books written by men and really, is it necessary? I think a woman can be feminine and still do the job. 

My other small nit is that we never really know WHY the serial killer is the way he is. I know, I know – most of them are born that way but…there were some very tantilizing hints along the way about the killer’s childhood that basically went no where.  Montanari has written other novels with the same homicide detectives and I’ll definitely try to find them. “Merciless” was one of those marvelous books one starts reading and simply cannot put down.

Okay, back to perusing my galleys. I have a romance novel coming out the beginning of August so have to get hustling. Watch for further notices here on “Call Sign: Love.” Yes, it’s a romance but…it features dupties, a pervert running through town, and huge fire in the East County, mystery and…a dog, of course!

Till nex time…

Tags: fast-paced, great mystery, unusual serial killer

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