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In this latest installment from noted storyteller and traveller F. R. Merrill, readers are drawn into the intricacies of a literary landscape overlaid with the simple elements of art, beauty, love, betrayal, murder, and revenge. At center stage is Dr. Ivan Harris, the man convicted of kidnapping Amanda Straton and killing her father. Incarcerated for thirteen years, an early release ignites his revenge. While Amanda pursues a new business venture in the Southeast, a suitor with his own vendetta against Harris quickly enters the picture. From NYC to coastal Florida, Washington D.C. and old world Italy, Merrill structures a well-paced narrative that keeps characters and readers on edge.
First time Merrill readers are easily brought up to speed with the events of earlier books pertaining to Harris' evils. Whether a hike on the Camino trail or a study of mosaics at the renowned Luciana Notturni School, these adventures are creatively incorporated as a temporary respite for Harris' victims. Intricate planning, manipulations, disguises, and severed tongues stored in a basement help unveil the sinister mind of this Hannibal Lechter-type character.
In fine contrast, Merrill has mastered the art of weaving beauty and the history of place into her writing. In the nation's capital, the author pays homage to her Native American heritage via characters, details, and a cultural stage performance. With an artist's eye, she brings characters and readers the experience of new surroundings, yet holds our awareness of impending danger. From the solemn Holocaust museum that evokes jarring memories, to the awe inspiring Galla Placida mausoleum with its domed star mosaic, these authentic settings bring this fictional tale to life.
The joy of reading an author's sequential work is often found in the connection to an enticing storyline and in catching up with memorable characters, whether good or bad. In Murder in Mosaic, Merrill artfully delivers on both levels.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review