Customer Reviews

Anatomy of Fear: A Novel of Visual Suspense

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Jonathan Santlofer has hit upon an interesting concept, combining visuals and narrative to create novels that are not quite graphic works yet are more than text supplemented with illustrations. He actually incorporates his artwork into the storyline, which works very well in ANATOMY OF FEAR.

Santlofer's fourth novel introduces Nate Rodriguez --- former New York City street cop, current police sketch artist, and son of a deceased NYPD narcotics officer killed in the line of duty. Rodriguez has an uncanny ability to produce amazingly lifelike drawings of unknown subjects, combining his innate talent with a gentle but firm witness-questioning technique. Terri Russo, an NYPD homicide detective, brings Rodriguez into an investigation involving a series of brutal homicides in which the killer leaves a drawing of the murder at the scene of the crime. Rodriguez is a natural for the case, as he is able to intuit elements from the drawings that a non-artist might miss. He must slowly come to grips with the fact that he possesses a sixth sense enabling him to see beyond that which is on the printed page.

Santlofer avoids the easy temptation of turning Rodriguez into Houdini; his visions, if you will, are imperfect, imprecise and only lead him in a certain direction rather than provide him with complete answers. Rodriguez is also assisted by his grandmother, a Santerian practitioner who almost functions as a deus ex machina as Rodriguez closes in on the killer.

Santlofer brings a number of interesting elements to the table here, including Rodriguez's mixed-race heritage (Jewish and Puerto Rican), the simmering attraction between Rodriguez and Russo, and the description of Santerian rituals, including one in which Rodriguez is a reluctant participant. While Santlofer's plotting isn't perfect, his illustrations, which intermittently pepper the text, make up for any deficiencies, as they flow with the narrative rather than interrupt it. Santlofer is a highly respected artist in his own right, and the concept behind the book, as executed here, raises this work beyond the level of an interesting novelty.

The conclusion of ANATOMY OF FEAR leaves the door open for a sequel, which undoubtedly would expose more people to Santlofer's art, both written and graphic.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Anatomy of Fear is the first book in a series starring Nathan Rodriguez, a police sketch artist with the NYPD. It's a very different book because it not only details the life and work of a sketch artist, but also has scores and score of drawings by 'Nate' which form an essential part of the plot.

Although the author still has some work to do in character development (he is way ahead of his earlier The Death Artist with this series), the combination of the drawings, the compelling story line, and the numerous side topics covered make this a really distinctive work which I am recommending to all of my crime fiction fan friends.

I want to call out three things that I really like about this book. First of all, the work of a psychologist named Paul Ekman plays heavily throughout. Ekman developed the practice of studying facial musculature movement to ascertain what is really going on in people's minds. It's fascinating work. The author is a big fan of it and understands it well. He gives us enough detail for it to be important without bowling us over.

Secondly, the character of Nate's grandmother is very well developed and she is very interesting. She has the roll that a strong bass player has in a small jazz group; set the pace and keep things moving!

Finally, I love the feel for Puerto Rican culture in NYC portrayed here, especially the detail on Santeria, a religion from the Caribbean. Not since Ernesto Quinonez's wonderful debut novel, Bodega Dreams, has the Puerto Rican culture of New York been so well detailed.

If you're new to Santlofer, the author, start with this series. I'm pushing myself through The Death Artist right now, and it is nowhere near as good as the first two books of the Rodriguez series. I'm looking forward to number three!

When I become aware of an author of a mystery series that I have not read, I like to begin at the beginning (if I can) and read the first book in the series. Now I plan to read every book this author publishes!

I agree with the other reviews. It was hard to put it down...I read the book quickly in two days. Enjoyed the characters of the book.

The author uses his own background in art to put a unique spin on the serial killer genre - and it's a masterpiece. Police sketch artist Nate Rodriguez has a gift for accurately drawing the faces of perpetrators from eye witness descriptions. Then he gets involved in a case that at first appears to be nothing more than random murders - except that the killer leaves behind drawings of the victim in the death pose. The drawings were rendered before the murders were committed. The book is littered with reproductions of both Nate's drawings, and those of the killer. Nate and NYPD detective Terri Russo join forces to stop the killer. Nate also receives assistance from his Puerto Rican grandmother and her belief in Santera. The black magic aspect was a little far-fetched at first, but the story is written so well that the reader ends up buying into it anyway. Nate and Terri develop more than just a working relationship, and the story ends with the next book's murder case already under way. Can't wait to read that one too.

Jonathan Santlofer has been quoted as saying that creative energy is creative energy. It doesn't matter how you use it." He uses his to the max as he combines his artistic ability with his writing skills to create fascinating and very compelling novels that are enhanced by pictures throughout.

Subtitled "A Novel of Visual Suspense," the author/artist introduces a new protagonist in his fourth book - Nate Rodriguez, a forensic sketch artist for the New York Police Department. However, Nate's not the only one with an artistic bent.

Terri Russo, who now leads an "NYPD Homicide Resource Division out of Midtown North" after being shot in the right shoulder by "a creep who just couldn't help himself" is called to a dark Brooklyn street where a drawing is pinned to a dead man. He's not the only one to be found dead in this manner. Whoever the perpetrator is likes to leave pencil sketches of his victims, but why?

It doesn't take Terri long to realize that she probably has a psychotic serial killer on the loose, and not clue one to go on. Nate is called in to try to get some sense of the murderer by studying his drawings. It seems that he's not just any forensic sketch artist but one who appears to have the amazing ability to create a perfect likeness with perhaps just one small detail from a witness, and he's possessed with a remarkable intuition. Some say Nate is psychic. All of these skills and more are needed to track this clever maniac.

As time passes it becomes a game of one-upmanship between the killer and Nate until finally Terri looks at a drawing and asks, "My God, what is he planning, world War III?" Suddenly it is not just one more potential victim but hundreds. The deadly game of cat and mouse continues until the last page with readers wondering who is the cat and who is the mouse.

Author Santlofer (The Killing Art, Color Blind, and The Death Artist) has crafted a chilling contemporary thriller that captures mind and eye. Graphically compelling, Anatomy Of Fear is a welcome addition to the mystery genre.

- Gail Cooke

NYPD sketch artist Nate Rodriguez is considered by the department as one of the best at capturing the essence of a suspect. Some say he has psychic skills that enable him to enter the mind of a victim or witness that facilitates his drawing beyond what is often poorly described. Nate has always seen the world in pictures rather than in words.

A killer claiming to do God's cleansing leaves drawings at the scenes of the crime. NYPD Homicide Detective Terri Russo asks for Nate to join her on the investigation because the pictures eerily remind her of the police artist's skills. Upon seeing the graphic evidence of gruesome murders, Nate recognizes a kindred sprit though it is the other side of the coin. Nate turns to his Santera grandmother for guidance even as the adversary ups the murder count and the clues begin to point to a police artist with the grim sketches left behind reminiscent of Nate's work.

The sketches alongside the text make this an astonishingly unique police procedural tale that grips readers from the first picture to the last. The story line is action-packed as the investigation comes across via the vivid pictures as much as by the text; which in turns means incredible twists and red herrings as the mind's eye can be fooled. Though the egotistical know it all FBI agents targeting Nate for Attica seems unnecessary as having Terri doubt should be enough personal pressure, readers will receive immense pleasure from Jonathan Santlofer's delightful serial killer thriller.

Harriet Klausner