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THE MEN DOWNSTAIRS
by Adam Gittlin
Diversity Inc., March 2004
240 pages
$23.95
ISBN: 1932557008


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

The people of New York City are living in fear of the newest serial killer, El Diablo. He started out his killing spree by murdering a prostitute every once in a while but now bodies are found more often. The New York City Police Department knows that El Diablo is responsible for the murders but they can't stop him because they have no idea who he is.

Meanwhile, the murders are getting worldwide attention. In Italy a woman reads about the homicides and takes a special interest in the design the murderer carves into the skin of the dead prostitutes. The woman realizes who the killer, is but the last thing she wants to do is to return to the United States. As the murders continue, her conscience gets the better of her and she packs up and takes the next flight out of Italy and heads to New York City.

When she gets to New York she tries to convince the authorities that she knows who El Diablo is, but they have a hard time believing her until she describes exactly what the killer carves into his victim's face. She has seen it before and knows that it has to do with the husband and son she abandoned years ago in Florida.

THE MEN DOWNSTAIRS by Adam Gittlin shows two sides of New York City: The power-filled, high society, rich side where the murderer lives during the day and the seamy, grimy, gritty side where he finds his victims. Showing these two opposite parts of the city skilfully adds heightened tension and fear to the story.

Mr Gittlin fills his book with strange, unique, and rather chilling characters. He adds deep dimension to his El Diablo character by making him a very influential and wealthy person. You never really know who he is until the very end of the story, but the power he holds over the city is clear.

There's some graphic violence in the book because the murder scenes are described in detail, and there are more than a few of these scenes in the novel.

THE MEN DOWNSTAIRS is masterfully written and filled with twists and turns that makes certain that the readers are never really sure who El Diablo is, and Mr Gittlin ties everything together beautifully at the finish.

THE MEN DOWNSTAIRS is filled with action and suspense. If you like a good murder mystery, I recommend this book.

Reviewed by Sharon Katz, July 2004

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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