The Rosary Girls

This is my first foray into Richard Montanari; no idea if he’s published before this or not, though it’s a first-in-a-series novel, introducing Detective Byrne and his rookie partner Jessica. In this, their first dual case, someone is murdering and mutilating young Catholic schoolgirls. A brutal crime with a religious/blasphemous edge isn’t exactly a new idea in the genre, and I wasn’t expecting much, but I was surprised and pleased to find a solid, clever story behind door number one, and a dénouement that didn’t disappoint.

So, Montanari, it turns out, writes with the sort of heart that Ed McBain brought to crime fiction, which goes a long way to absolving him of any minor writing sins; sometimes telling rather than showing, show more and a tendency to focus on description like a creative-writing student on his first assignment (okay, I may be overstating a little, but there’s a lot of lingering on the landscape of Philadelphia and the weather that could have been pared back, to perhaps even greater effect). His characters (grizzled older cop, young female rookie) should be stereotypes, but he’s brought such fresh vigour to their direction that you forget that’s been done before. His crime scenarios are disturbing enough, without overstretching for effect, and the plot has got legs that just won’t quit (it’ll walk you all around the block before getting you home).

I was a little put off by Byrne’s slightly psychic ability – partly because I was worried about Deus ex machina syndrome taking over the ending and, paradoxically, because it was so played down straight away and then took a long, long seat on the back burner, that I got the impression that that author didn’t know whether to poo or get off the pot with it. In the end, it was nicely balanced with deductive reasoning, helping the partners but not solving the case.

I liked The Rosary Girls enough to read the next one, and some things about it I liked a lot. This has stayed with me (is a sentimental sap): ***Spoiler Warning*** Just as Byrne realises he’s about to take a bullet, he arranges his hand into the deaf sign for ‘I love you’ – he has a deaf daughter, and this was just adorable. Of course, he didn’t do this on any of the other occasions that he almost died, but this (better late than never) was the point at which I was convinced of Byrne’s separation from the grey, impersonal crowd of stereotypical ‘gritty’ fictional detectives. show less

There’s nothing quite like a good crime novel that features gruesome murders by a fiendish psychopath, flawed homicide detectives, tricky plot twists and tight writing, and it’s great when you find one that delivers on all levels.

The Rosary Girls kept me guessing to the very last – every time I thought I had it all figured out, another clue was revealed, yet it all seemed to come to a natural conclusion – it couldn’t possibly have ended any other way.

If this effort is indicative of Montanari’s style, then I will most certainly be reading more of this work and, no doubt, will become a great fan!

I never read this author before, so I tried this since it was about a serial killer and that's my go-to genre of choice. The story was really good, the mystery intense. I thought I knew who the killer was for sure, and I was wrong. Will read more from this author.

Wow, what a fantastic read! I took a chance on the book, and boy, am I glad I did. This is a fantastic read that will hold the reader till the very last page, and make them run out and get the second book in the series. I know I did.

The book is set in Philly. It seems there's a serial killer out there, but doesn't kill just anyone. Oh no, that would be far to simple. This killer preys on Catholic School girls. When he kills them, he positions them in a certain way. Alls, I'll say is that he does something special with their hands. That plays an important part in what he does. He also does something else, but I'll leave that for you to find out. Now, this killer has a twisted agenda. Not any Catholic School girl will do. They have to show more meet his "special needs". What are those needs? Well, you'll have to read it to find out.

If you like books that has great characters, then this is a must read for you. Jessica Belazano, is partnered up with Long time dect. Kevin Byrine. Bryne has his own issues that he must over come to catch this killer. It seems that his life is falling apart around him and this case could drag him down to the depths in which he can't come out of. Belazano has her own issues to deal with. This book has so many fantastic characters, far to many to name. All of the characters are important, and seem life like which helps the plot to move along at a fantastic pace. I also liked the killers motive. Again, if you want to find out, then you need to read it.

The author has a fantastic writing style. The dailouge is quick, and very realistic. The reader isn't bogged down my useless details that really don't do anything for the plot. Montanari is a wonderful writer. What is in The Rosary Girls is needed, and nothing is put in, just to make it a big book. He has the ability to keep the reader hooked on every page. Also, I can promise you that you'll be so hooked, you'll lose sleep over reading thing. You just have to know what happens next. I kept on telling myself, "Just one more chapter, just one more chapter....." You will be hooked.

If you start this series, I can promise you that you won't be sorry. I know I wasn't, and I can't wait to start the next one. show less

In Philadelphia, just before Easter, young Catholic school girls are being found dead, their bodies mutilated and with rosaries clasped in their bolted together hands. Veteran detective Kevin Byrne and his rookie partner Jessica Balzano set out to find the murderer and stop the brutal killing spree.

As I don’t like the crime genre, I am heavily biased against any detective novels I read. Sometimes they are so well-written with such an excellently executed plot that I actually enjoy them. Sadly, The Rosary Girls was not one of those books.

The first thing that struck me about The Rosary Girls was its triteness; the descriptions, the characters, even the dialogue read like a cliché. The second was the pacing; the plot unfolds gradually show more throughout, but then concludes in a rushed and unsatisfying manner.

I also, probably very unfairly, felt there was a complete disregard for the reader. As stated above I’m prejudiced against the crime genre, however I strongly believe that a “perfect” detective story presents all elements necessary to solving it throughout, but is so cleverly written that one still can’t figure out whodunit until the killer is revealed. The Rosary Girls does not follow that “formula” and was, at least for me, a pointless read. show less

Title: The Rosary Girls
Author: Richard Montanari
Genre: Fiction-suspense
# of pages: 390
Start date: 6/28
End date: 7/5
Borrowed/bought: borrowed from the library :)
My rating of the book, F- [worst] to A [best]: B+

Description of the book: A teenage parochial school girl, artfully posed in death with her arms chained around a graffiti-scarred pillar, clutching a rosary and a picture of a religious painting by Robert Blake. The next three murder victims are found in similar situations, each one suggesting the next in a string of calculated killings whose themes are foretold in the sorrowful mysteries. It takes Philadelphia detective Jessie Balzano back to her own adolescence and a priest who understands what the grisly slayings are about, but show more by the time she realizes who's next on the murderer's list and why Along with her new partner Kevin Byrne, with disturbing tendency to read killers' minds, Jessie makes a strong debut in Montanari's new mystery horror thriller!
Review: Great book! I loved the main characters and the suspense! There were a few cheesy bits where I thought the author was trying a little too hard-- he toned it down in the second book. show less

I really enjoyed this book, loved the twist and turns, and it was a book that I couldnt put down.