The Sculptor

Gregory Funaro's The Sculptor is an engrossing thriller with unusual events and suspenseful twists. Although this is Funaro's first novel, it reads like a book produced by a long-time experienced writer. Funaro pays careful attention to details, he gives his readers artful descriptions, he portrays his characters so that we like his heroes and are interested in his villain. He advances his tale in a reasonable manner showing how the FBI discovers the criminal. He keeps the Sculptor's secret, the reason for his bizarre behavior, until the appropriate time to reveal it, but he drops hints in a tantalizing way. He introduces us to the history and personality and sexual inclinations of the famous Michelangelo and explains why his statues are out of proportion. And, with all of this, he constructed a perfectly engaging thriller. Readers, drawn into the adventure, will find themselves asking themselves questions. Why did the Sculptor commit his unusual crimes and why did he perform them the way he did? Why was he fascinated with the college professor, Dr. Hildebrant? Why was he so strangely kind to his father? Why did his mother mistreat him? Why did the Sculptor use a prostitute when he sculpted Mary the mother of Jesus? Why did he use body parts of two other people for Mary, making a figure with three parts? What mistake did the Sculptor, a genius, make? I look forward to Funaro's future books. He will undoubtedly become a best-selling author.

This is Mr Funaro's first book but I'm sure it won't be his last. I was absolutely glued to the pages except for the times when I went to my computer to look at some of Michaelangelo's art in order to relate to things that were happening in the story. 'The Sculptor' in the title is a man obsessed with Michaelangelo's statues and with Cathy Hildebrandt, a college professor who wrote a book about the real artist's work and possible motivations. The man's obsession prompts him to murder people who resemble the ones in the statues, and then to use their bodies to build replicas, to coat the replicas with paint mixed with marble dust, and then put them into 'appropriate' settings to be found. When the FBI connects Dr Hildebrandt with the case (due to a dedication left by the killer), the story becomes a gripping quest to figure out which art will be 'duplicated' next and where it will be left. I'm not much of an art expert so I was also intrigued by many of the things I never knew about Michaelangelo's sculptures, and I went eagerly to Internet sites to look at them myself. This mix of fictional thriller and information about actual art was seamlessly accomplished and I can't wait to read future books from this author.

I originally bought the book because of the reference to my hometown (Cranston,R.I.), but the minute I started reading it pulled me into a non-stop adventure. This is one of those books that you can't put down. The excitement of the chase and the suspense of what's next keeps you on edge. If your a fan of murder and suspense this is a must read.

I am always looking for a new thriller that will satisfy my need for a suspenseful story with atypical characters. This one had that and more. Buy this book. It is smart and modern. The villain is terrifying, not your typical psycho. A great first novel from Mr. Funaro. Very cinematic. The ending is edge of your seat madness! Acid terror at its best. This book simply must become a movie. Can't wait for his next book!