“From page 90 on, the plot of Headhunters is so convoluted (and unbelievable) that the publisher ought to give merit badges to readers who were able to follow it. . . .
“Though the theme of selling one’s soul is an ancient one, this page-turner is a contemporary look into the moral and psychological implications of one’s cherished desires being manifested
“Electrifying and compelling from start to finish, The Vault is an absorbing and skilful exploration of evil told with the distinctive and par excellence voice of author Rendell at
“Ah, Paris. . . . drawn here with deftness and delicacy, from the open-air markets to the multiple bars and cafes—appears to cast a spell . . . Dramatic fiction is all about bad decisions.
“Among the conventions the author has dissolved include a clear timeline, narrative flow, a single version of events, and revelation of character through action. Some of Ms.
“In other hands, the fate of a beautiful and world-famous woman leaving it all behind, including her sons, could have been no better than chick lit with a twist.
Nestled in the hills of northern New Mexico is Agua Bendita—a sleepy village where the laws of physics snooze in the afternoon sun and memories are the only road signs.
The publisher is billing Madison Smartt Bell’s latest novel as a “taut, terrifying tale,” and one that “will appeal to readers of James Ellroy and Cormac McCarthy.” That brought two problems to bea
