Atmosphere

This novel hits the ground running, opening with short-timer Detective Frank Ballaro's accidental discovery of a horribly mutilated young man who sprints past the shocked detective and directly into the path of a speeding taxicab. As the young man lay dying, he clutches a bizarre object in his torn hands and whispers his last word into Detective Ballaro's ear: "Atmosphere". And the game is afoot. Detective Ballaro finds himself investigating a string of grisly deaths suddenly plaguing his town, New York City. What he uncovers is far more dangerous to mankind than a bloodthirsty serial killer, although the killings are as brutal as anything he could imagine. Mr. Laimo has constructed an intense, visceral rollercoaster ride of terror and show more violence that doesn't let up until the last page. An absolutely stunning first novel from a writer from whom I have come to expect, and have received, great horror fiction. Nominated for a Bram Stoker Award! show less

Atmosphere reads like the first novel that it is. There are some good ideas obviously influenced by Lovecraft, but I was distracted by Laimo's style. Once again, the underground environment of New York City is used for horror effect but it lacks the impact I've seen in other stories. Lots of telling, not so much showing.

I found this book to be fairly dry and difficult to get through. The plot was thin and the story was not tied together very well. Overall, disappointing at best.