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Play Dead
 
 

Play Dead (Hardcover)

by Richard Montanari (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
RRP: £12.99
Price: £9.09 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Play Dead + Blood Brother
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  • This item: Play Dead by Richard Montanari

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    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd; UK edition of BADLANDS edition (14 Aug 2008)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0434016020
  • ISBN-13: 978-0434016020
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.2 x 3.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 137,669 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

Product Description
In each soul, a secret ...Philadelphia homicide detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano's first assignment from the Cold Case files is the brutal murder of a young runaway. The lifeless body of Caitlin O'Riordan was found carefully posed in a glass display case in the desolate Philadelphia Badlands but, as Byrne and Balzano rapidly discover, she was just the first pawn in the killer's twisted game...A mysterious phone call leads them on a scavenger hunt for a second victim. This time a young girl has been dismembered, her body parts left in three boxes in the basement of a deserted house. More clues lead to other victims and, as the body count rises, it becomes clear that there is a serial killer on the loose, hell-bent on completing the 'performance' of a lifetime.As more runaways vanish, Byrne and Balzano come to realize that the homicidal mastermind plans to complete seven depraved tricks in his dark and dangerous magic act. With Balzano increasingly obsessed by a case that haunts her, and Byrne struggling with a loss of his own, the stakes are mounting. But this is one game they can't afford to lose...

From the Inside Flap
In each soul, a secret...

Philadelphia homicide detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano’s first assignment from the Cold Case files is the brutal murder of a young runaway. The lifeless body of Caitlin O’Riordan was found carefully posed in a glass display case in the desolate Philadelphia Badlands but, as Byrne and Balzano rapidly discover, she was just the first pawn in the killer’s twisted game…

A mysterious phone call leads them on a scavenger hunt for a second victim. This time a young girl has been dismembered, her body parts left in three boxes in the basement of a deserted house. More clues lead to other victims and, as the body count rises, it becomes clear that there is a serial killer on the loose, hell-bent on completing the ‘performance’ of a lifetime.

As more runaways vanish, Byrne and Balzano come to realize that the homicidal mastermind plans to complete seven depraved tricks in his dark and dangerous magic act. With Balzano increasingly obsessed by a case that haunts her, and Byrne struggling with a loss of his own, the stakes are mounting. But this is one game they can’t afford to lose…

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Play Dead
76% buy the item featured on this page:
Play Dead 4.4 out of 5 stars (11)
£9.09
Blood Brother
10% buy
Blood Brother 3.9 out of 5 stars (69)
£3.16
The Rosary Girls
6% buy
The Rosary Girls 3.9 out of 5 stars (17)
£5.49
The Skin Gods
5% buy
The Skin Gods 4.2 out of 5 stars (11)
£5.49

 

Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Play Dead - Richard Montanari, 1 Oct 2008
By S. Lloyd (Norfolk, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)      
Detectives Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano are called to a scene where a dead girl is found in a glass display case. Then a phone call is received which appears at first to help them in their investigations but in fact sends them on a hunt and is the beginning of a deadly killer's psychological warped game.
This is a story that takes you into the mind of a twisted killer. There is realistic characterisaion - the relationship between the 2 detectives is so natural - there isn't a word wasted and the dialogue is sharp.
The plot has an energy that never flags and contains unforeseeable twists. There is also a strong sense of place in that the setting is so well described that you feel you are in and know Philadelphia.
Montanari is going from strength to strength - he must be one of the best crime/thriller writers about at the moment.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Better than the rest, 1 Sep 2008
By A. Verrinder - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I've read all the books in this Byrne/Balzano series so far. Although I found them all good enough to keep reading there were aspects in all of them before this one that were cliched and repetitive and prevented the excellent characterisation and atmospheric locations fully delivering for the reader. But Mr Montanari worked it out, this latest book is a truly great read, I highly recommend it
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A very imaginative read.., 9 Sep 2008
By K. Barton "Grape Soda" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Richard has proven once again, he is a master at making your mind go wild with images of what he's writing. Magic, Mayhem and Mischief!, brilliant.

If you have not read Richards other novels, do so!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely enthralling!
I have a big problem with Richard Montanari books - they come to an end!

Came across him by accident - my partner needed something to read on a flight and opted for... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Alison Petrie

3.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant idea, but something just didn't pay off.
This had all the makings of a truely great story. Wicked main character, brilliant idea, should have been an awesome story, but it was just lacking something and I don't know... Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. Jones

3.0 out of 5 stars Passable thriller - nothing more, nothing less
This novel has garnered some very positive reviews but I found it difficult to see what all the fuss was about. Read more
Published 1 month ago by unlikely_heroine

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead brilliant!
Loved it. All his books have been great to date, however, this is by far the creepiest. Few unexpected twists and sick characters. Could not put this one down.
Published 2 months ago by NickAbbott

4.0 out of 5 stars Kept me up all night
I've read Montanani's other books but loved this one. Kept me up long after my bed time and totally gripped.Looking forward to the next one. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Delta

4.0 out of 5 stars Back On Top Form
Play Dead is the fourth installment from Richard Montanari's highly enjoyable philadelphia set series featuring homocide detectives Richard Byrne and Jessica Balzano. Read more
Published 7 months ago by molko

4.0 out of 5 stars Sleepless night guraranteed
Having picked Richard up way back in 2005 with his first novel Rosary Girls he's been a bit of a guilty pleasure and an author that I really do make time for. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Gareth Wilson

5.0 out of 5 stars Puts Montanari in the premier league
This is an author who is getting better and better. Following on from The Rosary Girls, Skin Gods and Broken Angels, Play Dead again features Philadelphia homicide detectives... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Phil Robertshaw

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What is the best character crossover from novel to movie?? 0 2 months ago
Play Dead is same book as Badlands 0 June 2008
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