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Rating: 
Summary: So-so book, so-so mystery
Review: I logged on to see if anything is listed as forthcoming from this tremendous writer. I first picked up one of his books at my library, noticing the word "squirrel" on the cover - and I was hooked. While I immediately learned he offered nothing on squirrels, his human characters are portrayed with warmth, humor and intelligence. Searching for more by Kilmer after going through his mysteries, I read A Place in Normandy. Now I want he and his family to continue on with their personal lives so warmly and humorously shared, but I do hope he leaves some time for writing! Carol Frost Vercollone, author of Helping the Stork
Rating: 
Summary: Waiting for Kilmer's next book!
Review: I logged on to see if anything is listed as forthcoming from this tremendous writer. I first picked up one of his books at my library, noticing the word "squirrel" on the cover - and I was hooked. While I immediately learned he offered nothing on squirrels, his human characters are portrayed with warmth, humor and intelligence. Searching for more by Kilmer after going through his mysteries, I read A Place in Normandy. Now I want he and his family to continue on with their personal lives so warmly and humorously shared, but I do hope he leaves some time for writing! Carol Frost Vercollone, author of Helping the Stork
Rating:
Summary: A terrific mystery by an author on his way to the top
Review: The Boston police ask noted art expert Fred Taylor to identify andauthenticate a painting found at a gruesome murder scene. The headlessvictim was crucified with the painting of Christ replacing the corpse's missing head. Fred determines that the painting that allegedly cries in blood, is a fake. At about the same time, Fred's employer Clayton Reed has the opportunity to purchase a collection consisting of the Old Masters from two different dealers. However, neither dealer will allow Clayton or Fred to see the paintings. However, one of the dealers is soon murdered. Fred manages to obtain photocopies of the set and quickly confirms that they are all forgeries. The similarities between the Christ "miracle" painting and the Old Masters's set lead Fred to conclude that they all come from the same collection and that the two killings are connected. However, as Fred gets closer to identifying the headless corpse and the killer, he better watch his step or he will become the next death statistic. O SACRED HEAD is an excellent contemporary who-done-it due to the fabulous characters. Fred is a genuine connoisseur who stays planted on the ground due to his charming girl friend and her precocious children. The mystery is complex and is brilliantly intertwined with an art world that showcases beauty while concealing its ugly and seedy side. With this masterpiece and its predecessors, Nicholas Kilmer has successfully opened up a unique sub-genre that will thrill more than just art fans. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: So-so book, so-so mystery
Review: The number of stars given to this book so far baffles me (and was the reason I gave it a shot). Although there are interesting aspects, particularly if you have lived or do live in Boston, I found the book to be more an outline than a well-developed plot with well-developed characters. The book is like one of those "connect the dot" pictures and the narrative jumps from dot to narrative dot, but there's often not much in between. We always know, however, where the protagonist is in physical space, and the description of the environment is well-drawn. Also, individual vignettes and character sketches are occasionally engrossing and amusing. One primary subplot, that involving Clayton and the merciless art dealer he invites to stay with him during a prolonged snow storm, is left dangling with no resolution. The ending, also, is completely unsatisfactory -- the murderer isn't even introduced until he is caught. What kind of mystery is this? Bottom line assessement is that Kilmer has potentional, but he is a lazy writer. I've just started on of Iain Pears now and am finding him much more capable.
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