A CRIME THRILLER REMINISCENT OF THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS AND THE DEPARTEDWhen the bizarre death of a mob foot soldier sparks an escalating war between Boston’s Irish and Italian mafia, Detective Ray Hanley’s relentless search for the truth uncovers evidence of a serial killer obsessed with the art of human suffering. As the body count rises, Detective Hanley must navigate a minefield of crime … rises, Detective Hanley must navigate a minefield of crime families, dirty politicians, and crooked cops, while matching wits with a deranged serial killer. But temptation, betrayal, and death threaten to derail the investigation… and justice doesn’t come without a price.
A 2019 American Fiction Awards Winner for Horror: General
From the author of COLONY OF THE LOST, a 2016 Silver Falchion Award Finalist for best horror
For fans of Thomas Harris, Michael Connelly, and Dennis Lehane
“Boston gets gory in this enjoyable, horror-tinged crime tale.” –Kirkus Reviews
“An edge-of-your seat detective thriller that crackles with gore and wit before delivering a stunning knockout blow. Fans of The Silence of the Lambs should flock to Derik Cavignano’s new series debut.” —BestThrillers.com
“A highly suspenseful and delightfully twisted thriller with one of the creepiest villains in recent memory ” –Jeff Strand, four-time Bram Stoker Award nominee and author of MY PRETTIES
“The Art of Dying blends drama and horror for a disturbing and gripping thriller.” —Foreword Clarion Reviews
“Cavignano artfully misdirects the plot with family dramas and subtle clues, while keeping the cat-and-mouse conflict between Hanley and his quarry on track–all while the terror of the story’s victims ratchets up the tension between chapters.” –BlueInk Review
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This is one intense, twisted, addictive, complex, insane, jaw-dropping novel! Not only is this a very well-written book with wonderfully-interesting characters, but the suspense builds at just the right pace as the story unfolds.
#TheArtOfDying #NetGalley
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Dark Corners Press in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.
To say that this book is thrilling is an understatement. The Art of Dying by Derik Cavignano is a novel of murders that are taking place in Boston. One the mob’s foot soldiers died in a bizarre manner which escalates the war between the Irish and Italian mafia. A couple more men are murdered and a few people are missing. Are these instances related? That is what Detective Ray Hanley has to find out.
With a deranged killer out there, one of the bodies has his limbs cut off and spider legs in place of the limbs, the other one fished out of the water had his genital in place of his nose. Now that is one bizarre killer.
The reader reads about the killer, The Artist, a man who was upset with the people he kills or abducts because of a slight done to him in the past. Ray and his fellow cops have a hard task of finding who and why of the investigation. The FBI is involved with one of the witnesses and of course, there is tension. But what is The Artists identity?
Ray has a brother Jacob who shows up occasionally in the story especially when Ray has succumbed to temptation and he needs his brother. The other characters are portrayed as they should be, the mafia dudes are tough and violent.
Ray is a gentler kind of cop as opposed to his partner Billy who is close to retirement and can be a real jerk. Ray has a wife and children while Billy is a single man with a slanted view of the world, but their interaction is a good one and they work well together.
Beware that this book is a gory horror story. I enjoyed reading this book, I hope to read the next one in the series. If you love a good scary police procedural type of book, this one is definitely for you. I read it in two sittings.
First off I have to say that I had to force myself to hang in there and stick with the story. After wading through almost endless details of the boring personal lives of Det. Rays coworkers and the endless chatter, the author finally gets down to business and tells the gruesome story of “The Artist”, and what he does to his victims. His macabre art he displays. This isn’t a tale for the squeemish. You can see first hand what some homicide cops and detectives have to contend with. Then you can see how they are really heroes for ridding the sane world from the insane. I gave it 5 stars even though the beginning was boring. But once you get past that it will put you on the edge of your seat.
Good book, especially for us Bostonians who remember some of the past history of the area that the book is more than likely based on.
I usually enjoy a good thriller but could not get past the first 30 pages– the first murder scene was just too gruesome.
I really enjoyed this book. The Artist was one of the most twisted baddies I’ve read about in a long time.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Not only did Ray have to deal with a mob war he also had a serial killer to catch. Two crime bosses , high-ranking political forces, and a serial killer who is bat crap crazy or is it an artist? Buy this book it is full of twists and surprises!
A story filled with tension, suspense and death. When police detectives work to solve terrible crimes in their city they don’t always go by the book. Some bad language and graphic sex.
This was a very good book and as always I rated it when I read it.
excellent book
Good thriller a dark psychological thriller.
Much too gross
Too many gory details for me but great if you like this genre
Good book