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Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Richard Montanari's THE SKIN GODS.
Anita from Hampton, GA
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
No.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
David Baldacci, James Patterson, Edna Buchanan, Greg Iles, Faye Kellerman, Kathy Reichs and many more.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
It is one of the best suspense/thrillers I have ever read. I had a real hard time putting it down. I love how he kept me guessing who the killer was. I thought I had it figured out more than once, but I was wrong. I highly recommend this book and can't wait for future books. I am also going to go back and read the ones I have missed out on.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Most definitely.
Sharon from Greensboro, NC
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
No, but I will definitely read other books by him.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
James Patterson, Greg Iles, David Baldacci, Iris Johansen, William Bernhardt, Stuart Woods, Harlan Coben, Lisa Scottoline, John Lescroart, Tim Green, Ridley Pearson, Brad Meltzer, Michael Connelly, Edna Buchanan, Perri O'Shaughnessy, John Sandford, Robert B. Parker, Tami Hoag, Stephen Frey, J.A. Jance, Linda Fairstein, D. W. Buffa and many others.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
It kept my interest throughout the book. A great read! I have already recommended this book to several of my friends.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, and I look forward to reading his earlier works.
Cindy from Thornton, CO
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
No, I haven't.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I like Stephen White, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, Dean Koontz and Jeffery Deaver.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
I hadn't read THE ROSARY GIRLS, but I got the idea that this story would have been much more enjoyable if I had read the other book first. I felt cheated on some of the background as to how Detective Kevin Byrne had become so embittered about his job and about his life. I wanted to know more about the psychic flashes that he evidently experienced to a much greater degree in the previous book. I also wanted to know more about the relationship he had developed with Jessica Balzano in THE ROSARY GIRLS.
That said, this book was very exciting and really kept me guessing. I thought I had the killer figured out, but then was surprised a couple of times by the twists and turns in this story. Richard Montanari is a good storyteller and I particularly liked the relationships between his characters and their family members. I loved reading about Jessica and her daughter and Jessica and her father because it felt like I was finding out about a real family.
Some parts of the story were pretty violent, but that just made it feel more real to me. I felt like that was how a crime of that type would happen.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, I hope to find out more about Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano. If Richard Montanari writes a sequel, I'll read it.
Thank you for this opportunity to preview this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Ed from Havertown, PA
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
I read a previous book by Richard Montanari, THE ROSARY GIRLS.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Other suspense/thriller authors I read are Lisa Scottoline, David Baldacci and Michael Connelly.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
THE SKIN GODS is an excellent story, a real "white knuckle" thriller that I just couldn't put down. Jessica and Kevin are excellent characters; one feels like you know them. I will read the next book that Richard writes. I was born and raised in Philadelphia so I know all the places Richard writes about.
Linda from Grand Forks, ND
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
Thanks for the ARC of THE SKIN GODS by Montanari. Much appreciated.
I have read a previous book by Montanari: THE ROSARY GIRLS. Not as good as this one, though.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Other authors I read in the suspense category are Preston and Child, Greg Iles, John Connolly, Jeff Lindsay and Ruth Rendell.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
THE SKIN GODS is an excellent read. Although it is a serial killer novel, it does not rely on gore to keep it afloat. The suspense and mystery are there aplenty as the killer recreates cinema classics in his murders, but the relationships and lives of Detectives Balzano and Byrne come across in an intriguing and realistic manner that also hooks the reader. The characters seem to become as integral as the solving of the murders. His best.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, I would read another book by him and look forward to it.
Sandra from West Farmington, OH
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
No, this was my first.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Thomas Harris and John Sandford.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
I thought it was a great read! It kept my attention and kept me guessing until the very end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
I can't wait for his next book! In the meantime, I've got his other books on hold at my local library and can't wait to get started on them.
Thank you for the opportunity of being able to receive and read this book.
Neil from Camarillo, CA
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, I have read all of Montanari's books.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I also read John Katzenbach, Thomas Perry, Dennis Lehane, Jeffery Deaver.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
This book was more exciting than quail hunting with the vice president.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, I look forward to future books by Dick. Thank you for a very enjoyable read.
Linda from Harrisburg, PA
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, THE ROSARY GIRLS.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Thomas Cook, Harlan Coben, John Katzenbach and Stephen White.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
Very chilling --- could not put it down and a surprise at every corner! Would recommend this book to thriller readers.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
In a heartbeat. Thank you for this advance copy. I have really enjoyed reading this book.
Valerie from Rockford, IL
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
I have not previously read a book by Richard Montanari.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I have not read any other suspense/thriller authors.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
I really enjoyed the book.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
I would probably read another book by Richard Montanari. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read THE SKIN GODS.
Rosalie from Columbus, OH
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
I have previously read THE VIOLET HOUR and THE ROSARY GIRLS.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I enjoy Harlan Coben, Tami Hoag, Kevin O'Brien and Dean Koontz.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
THE SKIN GODS was a very good book. I especially liked the way the author brought some of the best movies (Psycho, Fatal Attraction, Scarface and Witness) into the story. He did not have to describe the murders totally, just refer to those movies. It was a little slow reading at first, but I am so happy that I stayed with it. I was sure twice in the story I had the killer figured out only to be wrong both times.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
I would definitely read other books by Mr. Montanari.
Mike from Imperial, PA
These responses are actually from my father Rich, who is a voracious reader.
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
No.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Cornwell, Woolrich and Martini.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
I enjoyed it a lot, but the ending was wrapped up pretty quickly and briefly.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Yes.
Thanks very much for the opportunity to read this book. My dad loves to read and does enjoy the mystery genre. ---Mike
Amanda from Jordan, NY
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, I read THE ROSARY GIRLS.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Tess Gerritsen, Patricia Cornwell and Harlan Coben.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
This book was not quite as exciting as THE ROSARY GIRLS. The plot concept was very unique, but I don't think the characters were as interesting as his first book.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Yes. I liked his previous two well enough to read others.
Brie from Coquitlam, British Columbia
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
No.
What other suspense/thrillers do you read?
I get a lot of books from the library and often if I find one I like, I get a few by the author. Right now I am into Tami Hoag's books.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
I really liked it. Great twists and turns. I liked that it had two main characters. I don't watch a lot of movies, so some of those references were lost on me. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Easy to read. Kept me entertained and that's why I read.
Would you read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, I will be looking for his name at the library.
George from San Diego, CA
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
No, I have not previously read a book by Richard Montanari.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Among the thriller authors I have read recently are Dean Koontz, Jeffery Deaver, Thomas Harris, James Patterson, Thomas Perry, Alan Russell, Patrick Ruell, John Grisham, Tim Green, Kevin O'Brien, James Neal Harvey, P.T. Deuterman, Whitley Strieber, Robert Cormier and Mary Higgins Clark.
THE SKIN GODS is a chillingly suspenseful, fast-paced thriller with a fiendishly demented killer that keeps you guessing from start to finish. A sizzling plot, nuanced characters and brisk, no-nonsense prose keep you anxious and surprised.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Yes, I would read a future book by Richard Montanari.
Madeleine from Woodbridge, VA
Have you previously read a book by Richard Montanari?
No, I hadn't and I was pleasantly surprised.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I don't really pay attention necessarily to genre so not sure whether these are categorized correctly or not: Le Carre, Silva, Iles, Connolly (John), to name a few.
What did you think of THE SKIN GODS?
I thought THE SKIN GODS was a very good book. I think what I liked best were the layers: the mystery within the mystery. Whenever I thought I got it, I hadn't.
It felt real. You always hear of "the professionals" pooh-poohing the "CSI" one hour fix and this book gave you a better insight into the dead ends, disappointments and frustrations that have to be dealt with to solve a case.
I also like the author's use of different perspectives: we saw things from the detectives' points of view and also the villain's.
My criticism? There were a few extraneous characters. Not sure what the FBI contributed and not sure if it was just that they didn't and that was the point. Can't say much more than perhaps it was a diversion.
All in all a good read and would recommend this book to anyone.
Would you ever read a future book by Richard Montanari?
Actually, now that I know of him, I will go back and read THE ROSARY GIRLS and then look forward to his next book.
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