Justin, Charles & Company Publishers, 2003, 24.95, 300 pp.
ISBN: 1932112138
Over six years ago when Romilia Chacon was away at college, the serial killer "the Whisperer," murdered her older sister, Catalina. Romilia eventually joined the Nashville Police Department and currently works in homicide. Still she continues her hunt for the Whisperer, who has changed his moniker to Minos.
Currently Romilia recovers from a nasty throat slash that happened on a different case. To pass time while she heals, Romilia explores the Internet seeking information on Minos. Additionally, Guatemalan drug lord Rafael “Tekun Uman” Murillo feels he owes a debt to Romilia for saving his life when she received the gash though he knows that it was a fortunate (for him) bi-product. He steals secret FBI records on the Whisperer and sends them to her. As she gets closer to fulfilling her obsession, the Feds take a closer look at the Central American Mayan connection between her a Salvadoran and Tekun.
MINOS is a strong police procedural that looks closely at how the darker side of human nature can take control of one's consideration of others. Romilia is a great character especially as she seems nearer to catching her prey, she loses her balance somewhat neglecting her daughter and ignoring acceptable police practices. Her “assistant” Tekun is fascinating in a sleazy way. Marcos M. Villatoro provides a strong tale starring a wonderful protagonist that will send readers seeking other works by the author especially starring Romilia (see HOME KILLINGS).
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar
"Six years prior to the novel's main action, Romilia Chacon's older sister was murdered brutally by a serial killer, inspiring Romilia to enter the law enforcement profession. Now, just days after Romilia suffered from a knifing to the jugular (see Home Killings), the killer strikes again. As she recuperates, Romilia searches the Internet for anything that can lead her closer to bringing the killer to justice. Meanwhile, at his home in Guatemala, drug lord Rafael Murillo illegally downloads files from the FBI database pertaining to this killer as a means of thanking Romilia for saving his life with her injury. He is also attracted to her and would do anything, save changing his business plans to support her.
In her quest to find her sister's killer, Romilia will stop at nothing; she uses excessive force against a hostile witness and is suspended from duty. But, when she offers information about Murillo to the FBI agents in charge, she is reinstated with the power to work with the feds to catch the killer, who is murdering people with little delay. The rest of the novel provides a police procedural account of the chase through the United States, the search for clues and information (many literary references), and the ultimate showdown.
The novel is told in three sections: Romilia's 1st person narrative, Murillo's 3rd person tale, and the killer's 3rd person account of why/how he commits murder. Villatoro gives readers an insight into the criminal mind as well as insight into the mind of a law enforcement official with an insatiable thirst for justice.
"
Samantha S., Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of Minos
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases - 20% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 25% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 15%
Tone of story
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- present (2000-2010)
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 70%
- 80%
Misc. Murder Plotlets
- killer purposefully leaves puzzle clues
- Big focus on forensic evidence
- Killer purposely leaves clues
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
The crook is....
- criminals killing each other
Any non-mystery subplot?
- feelings towards family/friends
- drugs
Crime Thriller
Yes
Mostly a criminal POV story
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Female
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
- a significant amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
- Hispanic
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- killer
Eccentric:
Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- insanity
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Southeast
- Deep South
- California
Style
Person
- mostly 1st
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- very gorey references to deaths/dead bodies and torture
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
Sex
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references
A lot of techno jargon?
Yes
Unusual forms of death
- hanging
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
