Customer Reviews

Tenth House

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Tenth House is a great thriller! The opening sequence will grab your undivided attention and will not let go until the final confontation with the forces of evil. What takes some authors 600 pages to accomplish, Phillip Tomasso III is able to achieve in 274. The pacing is great...there is never a dull moment. And there is also a healthy dose of humor...a formula which may seem familiar to Dean Koontz fans. Although similar to Koontz in some ways, Tomasso's style and technique are unique. Once you finish this book, you can join me in eagerly anticipating the next Nicholas Tartaglia mystery by Phillip Tomasso III.

Ever wonder what the end result would be if a Robert Crais novel had a head-on collision with an episode of the Twilight Zone? Well, you can stop wondering, because Phillip Tomasso has written it, and written it well. Cynical, quick-witted, private eye Nicholas Tartaglia takes on a case that completely reshapes his life when the spirit of a murdered young woman hires him- not to solve her murder, but to stop another from happening. During the investigation, Tartaglia faces a dangerous religious cult as well as his own past, a tumultuous present, and a frighteningly uncertain future. Phillip Tomasso has cut a slice of hard-boiled detective noir and served it up with a generous dollop of supernatural topping. The characters are sincere, likeable, and most of all, believable. The descriptiveness and interaction between the players sets a gritty, 'real' stage that can be seen and even felt by the mind's eye. It isn't long before you find yourself considering the wisecracking PI at the center of this work to be like an old and trusted friend. Wonderful characterization, 'real' dialogue, romance, action, and suspense make Tenth House a superb read! Mr. Tomasso has scored a direct hit on my personal bookshelf and I anxiously await his next work.

From the first intriguing chapter of Tenth House I was hooked. I found myself drawn through the story. The fresh, crisp narrative maintained the excitement from start to finish.

I have lived in Greece, Spencerport and Brockport and thoroughly enjoyed the local connection. Knowing the area, it added so much more reality to the story. In fact, the descriptions were so good, I could visualize places I haven't seen for a number of years.

There was just enough light-heartedness to ease the tension of the more gruesome aspects of the cult activities, especially in the charming, down-to-earth Nick Tartaglia.

All of the characters, except perhaps Darla :-), had such a realness about them that I felt that I knew them or had seen them around! I read a LOT of books and there aren't many authors who can put the kind of life in the characters and set the scenes so clearly that you feel that you're there. That feeling of being there along side Nick was achieved in Tenth House.

Ah, but the ending -- who would have thought?

Would I recommend Tenth House? Absolutely! If you like mysteries, suspense, and a bit of the supernatural, you have got to love this book. I do -- I've already read it twice!

Tenth House is a fast paced and well written novel. Philip Tomasso is a mystery author who is rapidly developing into a leader in the field. His first novel, Mind Play, was good and his second novel is even better. The prologue is vivid and not for the faint hearted. It is intended to be shocking, and it succeeds. It shows a dark side of human nature, which is, unfortunately, believable.

The hero, Nicholas Tartaglia, a private investigator, is a realistic character. He has the faults, anxieties, and personality traits that we see in ourselves and in other individuals in everyday life. He develops as a person during the course of the novel, and in addition, solves the mystery that the author has constructed for us.

Tomasso drags several red herrings across our path during the course of the novel. All of the possible suspects are believable, yet at the end of the novel the actual perpetrator is a surprise. The ending, however, is not so much of a surprise that the reader can not say that he should have seen it coming. Well done.

I really liked this book. I thought it was exciting and couldn't put it down once I started it. The detective, Nicholas Tartaglia, made me think of Mike Hammer. The other characters in the story seemed real too. The author made them come alive. I was surprised by the ending because I thought someone else was the murderer and never suspected the person it turned out to be.

I even got the book signed by the author. He seems like a real nice person.

Maybe Lynn's disappointment with the way Brockport was protrayed detracted so much from the novel that she completely glossed over the rest of the book. Or maybe occult mysteries aren't her thing. Either way, I think her critique is off base.

Rather than "simple", I think Tomasso writes in a straightforward style. His diction is lean and fast. And the plot barrels along at breakneck speeds. It's a hard book to put down.

I think his character's are fully realized and honest. From Nick, to Karis, to Father Paul, and of course "Scar". They each have all those little quirks that "real" people have. His dialogue is quick and too the point, and most importantly, within character.

Will this thriller make you think? Maybe not. Will it entertain you, scare you, touch you, and create vivid pictures in your mind? Absolutely.

Tomasso's Tenth House was a great read. I must warn any potential readers to make sure they have a few hours to sit back and read because you will not want to put it down. The story, set in western New York, really made you feel like you were a part of it. The towns seemed familiar as did the characters. Unlike many other mystery novels I've read, Tenth House was exciting from start to finish. In my list of books to suggest to others..Tomasso's Tenth House is at the top!

This was the fourth Phillip Tomasso III book I've read and probably my favorite, even though I give all of his books at least 4 stars. I love Tomasso's writing style and his use of short chapters (2 - 10 pages) motivates you to keep reading. Tenth House has an intriguing storyline that doesn't disappoint or slow down once it gets going. The main character Nicholas Tartaglia is both savvy and hilarious with his snide comments. I can't remember the last time I laughed out so loud while reading a suspense novel. Probably one of the top ten thrillers I've ever read because of its combination of excitement, suspense, humor, and horror. Hopefully, a third Tartaglia novel is in the not so distant future.

Sincerely,
Nicholas Tartaglia Fan

What a heart pounding experience. From the very beginning Phillip Tomasso III has you glued. With his intense detail and drastic turn of events, this novel is awesome. From the first "scene" to the very last Phillip has your mind racing trying to figure out what will happen next and who the next victim will be. I highly recommend this to everyone. I am anxiously awaiting the next Nicholas Tartaglia thriller.

I think Phillip Tomasso III will be on the best seller list someday! His novel, Tenth House, is an intriguing, fast-paced mystery with likeable characters. He combines murder, mystery, love and a little bit of the supernatural for a story that is too good to put down! I just had to find out what happened! It was interesting and suspenseful right up to the end!