Really enjoyed this novel - dark and twisted crime caper and one that I would recommend to those looking for a more 'Silence of the Lambs' type crime novel.

Serial killer who loves to watch people suffer, lots of drama. Two mobs fighting between themselves, lots of family drama. Cat and mouse and lots of terror.

This was an interesting book. It was an odd combination of organized crime bosses and a twisted serial killer. I really liked the originality of the serial killer, I haven’t really read a book in awhile where the killer was that twisted, I loved it it was gruesome and graphic. I felt there was a really in depth story with a lot of players but not too many that one couldn’t keep up. The character depth and development was well done. It didn’t take me long to finish this book and that’s a good measure for how much I enjoyed it.
I especially enjoy a book that has a totally shocking surprise at the end, this book had it I did not see who the killer was going to be from a mile away! Good read, would read another by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC for an honest review.

I loved this book. Very dramatic with fantstic imagination. Had to finish the book before I could go to bed. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

This story definitely delivered on the bad guys: psychologically disturbing torture and gore as well as the predicably violent mobster gangs. On the law enforcement side, it had the stereotypical hard-nosed lieutenant, politically-hamstrung police chief, inept FBI agents, and the aging chauvinistic partner. And of course, our brash, young hero Detective Ray Hanley who follows the case where it leads, regardless of the danger and in spite of department procedure or policy.

The story moved along, but I just didn't feel connected with the characters (and there were a lot!), especially Ray after what he did halfway through the book. I can see the author wanting to blur the lines of good/bad, but I had no character to really like and so was not emotionally invested in the outcome.

The horror was okay, but felt a little forced for shock value, and the killer's motives weren't very imaginative.

Overall, it was entertaining, but it wasn't a very compelling psychological thriller.

I received this book from Netgalley, and WOW, I was not disappointed! This is a truly awesome book! I can’t say that enough! Gruesome, horrific, comedic at times, encompassing and gripping! I can not recommend this book more highly! YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! That is my own opinion however. Truly though excellent book, I will be recommending to my friends and followers. I will also be looking forward to much more from this author hopefully!

I usually don't read books like this but it was actually pretty good. No Stephen King but still good. It was a little too dark for me and I love dark books but some of the story I just couldn't read. It's still worth a read though.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of Dying Derik Cavignano

Art is very much down to personal taste, but in the case of the murderer in this book its very personal.

Kidnapping people and turning them into art for his own pleasure, before displaying the finished article to the world.

The problem is, at first, nobody realises what is happening, and his first kill leads to a gang war between two old mobs on the streets of Boston.

After the first body is found Detective Ray Hanley is sent to investigate, from the start he is convinced that this is not a normal murder, but everybody else thinks it’s a mob hit.

As the investigation into the first murder gets underway the “Artist” is already working on his next victims.

As Ray looks at the mob angle he has his mind set more towards a sick individual. Unfortunately the gangs have brought into the war theory and have started attacking each other.

As Boston is faced with a bloody gang war, and a sick serial killer Hanley tries to pacify the mobs and find the real killer.

This is one of those books that is going to live with me for a long time. There will be comparisons with Silence of the Lambs, and rightly so, but this is a written in todays society. More is possible today, the killer can keep his victims alive for longer, can make them suffer more, and can reek havoc on society as his victims are soon displayed on news web sites in all the gore.

Somehow this makes this book a little bit more realistic, more plausible, more frightening.

This book won an award for Horror in the General Category of the American Fiction Awards and was a finalist in the Thriller, Crime Category. I think it fits nicely into both these categories.

So. If you like a good psychological thriller wrapped around a good police thriller you will love this book.

Pages: 293
Publishing Date UK: 20th September 2019

Dark and harrowing stories have to be told in the right way, and this one certainly ticks all the right boxes. Thrilling from the beginning to the end, and kept me gripped and hooked all the way through.

DNF'd. If you like ageism, sexism, clichéd tropes about women, and rape jokes, this book is for you. Hard pass

Where has Derik Cavignano's books been all my life. I absolutely love him. A little Dennis Lehane, a little Stephen King. What's not to like?

Set in Boston and Quincy, areas I lived in, made them even more special to me. The main character, Detective Ray Hanley, is someone I definitely need to see more of.

People keep missing. Turns out a very creative killer has kidnapped them for reasons only known to him. He gets a little inventive in his torturing of the victims in a somewhat artistic manner.

Lots of humor, too.There was one autopsy scene that produced tears of laughter.

Derik has a few other books out besides this one and I will be purchasing them all. Not to mention encouraging my library to purchase them, too. You don't want to miss this one. An easy 5 star.

Fantastic book. While this is a new author to me this book puts him in my to always read list of authors.

If you're a fan of cop procedurals or mob stories your gonna love this! Tons of action in here as well. Can't wait to read the next one,

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Art of Dying by Derik Cavignano is a twisted thriller from start to finish. This book follows detective Ray Hanley through the investigation of The Artist. The Artist uses humans as his art pieces and the graphic nature of the way Cavignano describes the acts of the Artist begged me to keep turning pages and find out what other horrors were coming. Cavignano does a great job melding back story with the current case to develop great characters so I didn’t feel like I was left with wanting more. I loved the pacing of this book and it kept me interested from the beginning to the last page.

Overall this was a great book and I look forward to reading more from Cavignano.

Dark Corners Press was so very kind to send me an advanced reading copy of this book via NetGalley. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.

An absolutely thrilling ride. I found myself flying through the pages. It was a well written plot with great depth in the characters. It has a graphic description of what the Artist did to his victims. I always love a book that surprises me at the end and this one did. I can't wait to read more from Cavignano.