Tenth House

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful twist on an old genre!
Review: Ever wonder what the end result would be if a Robert Crais novel had a head-on collision with an episode of the Twilight Zone? Well, you can stop wondering, because Phillip Tomasso has written it, and written it well. Cynical, quick-witted, private eye Nicholas Tartaglia takes on a case that completely reshapes his life when the spirit of a murdered young woman hires him- not to solve her murder, but to stop another from happening. During the investigation, Tartaglia faces a dangerous religious cult as well as his own past, a tumultuous present, and a frighteningly uncertain future. Phillip Tomasso has cut a slice of hard-boiled detective noir and served it up with a generous dollop of supernatural topping. The characters are sincere, likeable, and most of all, believable. The descriptiveness and interaction between the players sets a gritty, 'real' stage that can be seen and even felt by the mind's eye. It isn't long before you find yourself considering the wisecracking PI at the center of this work to be like an old and trusted friend. Wonderful characterization, 'real' dialogue, romance, action, and suspense make Tenth House a superb read! Mr. Tomasso has scored a direct hit on my personal bookshelf and I anxiously await his next work.

Rating:
Summary: Surprise!
Review: Tenth House is a fast paced and well written novel. Philip Tomasso is a mystery author who is rapidly developing into a leader in the field. His first novel, Mind Play, was good and his second novel is even better. The prologue is vivid and not for the faint hearted. It is intended to be shocking, and it succeeds. It shows a dark side of human nature, which is, unfortunately, believable.

The hero, Nicholas Tartaglia, a private investigator, is a realistic character. He has the faults, anxieties, and personality traits that we see in ourselves and in other individuals in everyday life. He develops as a person during the course of the novel, and in addition, solves the mystery that the author has constructed for us.

Tomasso drags several red herrings across our path during the course of the novel. All of the possible suspects are believable, yet at the end of the novel the actual perpetrator is a surprise. The ending, however, is not so much of a surprise that the reader can not say that he should have seen it coming. Well done.

Rating:
Summary: A great thriller that is well worth your time and money
Review: Tenth House is a great thriller! The opening sequence will grab your undivided attention and will not let go until the final confontation with the forces of evil. What takes some authors 600 pages to accomplish, Phillip Tomasso III is able to achieve in 274. The pacing is great...there is never a dull moment. And there is also a healthy dose of humor...a formula which may seem familiar to Dean Koontz fans. Although similar to Koontz in some ways, Tomasso's style and technique are unique. Once you finish this book, you can join me in eagerly anticipating the next Nicholas Tartaglia mystery by Phillip Tomasso III.