Book review: ‘The Stolen Ones’

This is the latest from an American crime-fiction author who has achieved quite a good level of success internationally. “The Stolen Ones” is my introduction to the detective duo from Philadelphia — Kevin Byrne and Jessica Balzano.

Montanari debuted in 1995 with “The Deviant Way”, a dark exploration of people and their inner workings, especially when it comes to sensual awakening. That book was about serial killers, this, too, is about serial killers. A lot of crime fiction tends to revolve around serial killers, appearing to be an obsession or an extremely popular genre. It is either that or vampires. So, to be able to actually make a mark in this rather crowded scenario is tough. Montanari makes an effort and does rather well.

“The Stolen Ones” explores the field of lucid dreaming, wherein you are aware that you are dreaming. There are scientists who argue that it cannot be called dreaming but is, in fact, a state of partial wakefulness.

Nevertheless, it is an interesting science with references in ancient Greece on the subject. It is considered a state in which the dreamer can control the dream and participate.

Montanari takes this aspect and twists it into the psyche of a serial killer, who uses dreams as a medium to wreak havoc.

Interesting? Yes, indeed, especially because the pace of the writing is crisp and sharp, without the ridiculous soap-opera pauses that many authors employ.

The storyline travels from Estonia to an abandoned institution for the criminally insane in Philadelphia, giving you glimpses of how understanding of mental illness has evolved.

Are we doing any better than we were a few decades ago — it would be rather simplistic and academically unsound to evaluate that based on a work of fiction. Having said that, “The Stolen Ones” is a good read, and layered enough to raise a question or two.

The Stolen Ones

By Richard Montanari,

Mulholland Books, 320 pages, $26