Richard Montanari Books In Order

Publication Order of Jack Paris Books

Publication Order of Jessica Balzano & Kevin Byrne Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Author Richard Montanari was born in Cleveland, Ohio to a traditional Italian-American family. Montanari got through school, without doing much to thrill anyone, but after would travel Europe, seeing quite a bit of the country. He lived in London and sold clothing in Chelsea and foreign language encyclopedias that he had to go door-to-door to sell. He sold more a little more ties than books and would come back to America and join the construction firm that his family owned.

Montanari smashed his thumbs many many times working in construction. He decided that the construction business was not for him, but thought that writing might. He would work freelance and would see some of his articles published in some big papers. During this time he also wrote what would become “Deviant Way”, his first novel, and would get signed. He enjoys ravioli, and from a young age learned that it has a taste that is much much better than that baby formula. He also likes beer and skittles.

He wrote his first novel that was released as “Deviant Way”, a novel that introduces John Paris and it got him a two novel deal from Simon & Schuster. Montanari would publish a sequel some time later.

Besides writing about John Paris, he also writes a police procedural set in the Philadelphia Police Department and some stand alone novels that are both thrillers. His work has been published in more than twenty languages and has made Top Ten Sunday Times bestseller lists.

“The Rosary Girls” is the first book in the “Philadelphia” series that was released in 2005. Kevin Byrne, a veteran cop in Philadelphia, is falling apart. His marriage is going down the toilet, his ex-partner is in a hospital fighting for their life, and he breaks every rule there is and takes all kinds of risks. He is given the daughter of a famous Philly cop’s daughter named Jessica Balzano as his newest partner. She is a rookie and does not want his help. But they will find that they need each other because they have been given a big case. Someone is going around and killing young and devout women; he puts their hands in prayer and commits a foul act on their otherwise perfect bodies. The two cops lead the chase for the killer, who takes them both by the hand on a planned route. Suspects come and go, with no results to speak of. Byrne tries to stay ahead of his sins and Balzano tries to solve the case as Easter is quickly approaching. Everything will soon be revealed as far as what he has planned, and he has one last victim planned that will hurt most.

Fans of the novel liked all of the twists found within the novel and the way it depicts the realities of a city like Philadelphia. Some find him to be quite the writer, both with his command with English and his ability to write scenes and plot and develop different characters. Some feel that Montanari knows what readers like from the mystery thriller genre and delivers all of it to them. Fans like that even though the characters are a little stock, it feels like Montanari is able to bring a fresh approach to things and make you forget how stock that is.

Some did not like the way that the novel is just a standard read for the genre it comes from, and does not offer anything new to readers. There were some who did not like that this novel was a little superficial and lacked certain things that most page turners usually contain and it disappointed them. Some find that the author talks about the scenery just a little too much and it seems like he is a creative writing student and he tells rather than shows too much.

“The Skin Gods” is the second book in the “Philadelphia” series that was released in 2006. In a hot summer in Philadelphia, Kevin Byrne returns to duty after taking a bullet while arresting a murderer. He is haunted by the victims in that case and that things are not finished there. He is proven right when he and his partner, Jessica, are called to another case. Someone called The Actor (by the homicide unit) is going to great lengths to recreate some very violent and brutal and famous death scenes. One of the murders is caught on film and has been edited into a rented VHS copy of the original “Psycho”. Instead of Janet Leigh getting killed, it is a real woman who is actually getting killed. More classic films are getting turned into awful snuff films and being replaced onto store shelves. The key to solving this crime could hide within the supporting cast that includes a big time director, a ruthless executive assistant, and a convicted mass murderer. And of course someone who is getting great at gruesome violence.

Fans of the novel liked the plot of the novel and how much there was unknown to figure out. There were some who could not tell who had done it and it was a shock to find out who in fact did do the crime. The partners in the novel were interesting, on their own and the way they are able to work together as a team. Some find that this is a series to be followed. This novel hooks readers and keeps them wondering what will happen next. Some find that the novel starts slow, but builds and has a great finish to it.

His debut novel won Online Mystery Award for Best First Mystery in 1995.

5 Responses to “Richard Montanari”

1. Nick blagowidow: 9 months ago

   Please Mr montanari continue the Bolzano series
   You are too good a writer to stop..
   You have too many fans who are desperate for more
   Maybe even start a new series.

   Reply
2. Dee: 2 years ago

   What happened to Richard Montanari. Recently found his books and read them all. So sad there is nothing new in the last few years. Missing the Byrne/Balzano series,

   Reply
3. Marianne: 2 years ago

   I’m literally new to his books after finding ‘The Rosary Girls’ in a charity shop. So I then ordered the rest of the series, and now I’m gutted as there are no more (sad face)

   Reply
4. sandy: 3 years ago

   I’m with you Joan, I miss his books, too good of an author to dissapear

   Reply
5. JOAN HONEYMAN: 3 years ago

   What happened to him? No more books

   Reply