‘Phantom Limb’ by Dennis Palumbo

Published by Poisoned Pen Press,
8 September, 2014.
ISBN: 978-1464202544

Psychologist Daniel Rinaldi’s newest patient has made a deal with him: he’s got just one hour to talk her out of committing suicide. Then she’s kidnapped

This fast-moving American thriller is narrated by  Rinaldi, and involves a good cast of classic noir characters: wise-cracking ex-actress Lisa Harland and her rich, older husband, Charles, who runs most of the city; ex-vet security guard Mike, and James, Charlie’s wastrel son; the enigmatic kidnapper Julian, and his tame thug, Griffin. On the side of the angels are spunky Agent Gloria Reese, good cop Polk and bad cop Bigler. Rinaldi is a genial hero, still carrying baggage from his past. The action is constant, with guns, explosions, hair-breadth escapes and a tense ending with a surprise perp.

The dialogue is snappy. This is the fourth Rinaldi novel, and although previous events are mentioned, there are no spoilers, and it reads well as a stand-alone.

A page-turning American thriller with a likeable psychologist hero.

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Reviewer: Marsali Taylor

Dennis Palumbo  formerly a Hollywood screenwriter is now a licensed psychotherapist, specializing in creative issues. Author of Writing From the Inside Out (John Wiley), his first novel was a sci-fi thriller, City Wars (Bantam Books), before he turned to crime. His mystery fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, The Strand, and elsewhere, and is collected in From Crime to Crime (Tallfellow Press). His acclaimed debut crime novel, Mirror Image, was the first in a series featuring psychologist and trauma expert Daniel Rinaldi. It was followed by Fever Dream and Night Terrors. All from Poisoned Pen Press, and all available in print, audio and e-book formats.
Dennis also blogs regularly for the Huffington Post and writes a column called "Hollywood on the Couch" for the Psychology Today website. For more info, visit

www.dennispalumbo.com.

Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.  Marsali also does a regular monthly column for the Mystery People e-zine.