The Art of Dying: A Ray Hanley Crime Thriller
Adult; Mystery/Thriller; (Market)
When the bizarre death of a mob foot soldier sparks an escalating war between Boston's Irish and Italian mafia, Detective Ray Hanley's relentless search for the truth uncovers evidence of a serial killer obsessed with the art of human suffering. As the body count rises, Detective Hanley must navigate a minefield of crime families, dirty politicians, and crooked cops, while matching wits with a deranged serial killer. But temptation, betrayal, and death threaten to derail the investigation... and justice doesn't come without a price.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 7.75 out of 10
Assessment:
Plot: The Art of Dying is fast-paced and well-plotted. Readers will enjoy uncovering new clues in the grisly, action-packed police investigation.
Prose/Style: Cavignano’s prose is clear and direct. The numerous male characters have distinct, authentic voices.
Originality: Readers will find all the elements of a police thriller in The Art of Dying. The serial murder case is interesting and feels original. Subplots involving feuding mobsters and mayoral corruption rely heavily on tropes.
Character/Execution: Protagonist Ray Hanley is a multifaceted character who experiences growth throughout the novel. More care could have been put into the development of the female characters, who feel underdeveloped and forgettable.
Date Submitted: July 09, 2020
Reviews
Cavignano’s twisty, gory crime thriller pits a dogged Boston police detective against a savage murderer. When the mutilated corpse of Danny the Mule, an Irish mob soldier, turns up in an abandoned quarry, Det. Ray Hanley takes the case. Danny disappeared a month earlier, and the nature of the mutilations (his penis was severed and grafted to his face) leads Hanley to doubt his colleagues’ view that the killing was related to a gang war between the city’s Italian and Irish organized crime factions. Cavignano ratchets up the tension by alternating between Hanley’s investigation, which points to some of Boston’s most powerful political leaders, and scenes depicting the killer, the self-described Artist, who gloats over other people he’s captured and tortured, and muses out loud about how he butchered them. Hanley must also deal with threats to his job and a crisis in his personal life. The satisfying final reveal is a testament to the author’s cleverness. Fans of Jeffrey Burton will be pleased. (Self-published)
