Bone Parade

This serial killer entry from Mark Nykanen is one I picked up in the book exchange at our last resort stay in Lake Wanaka. Hadn't heard of this person although he is apparently a much-awarded television and documentary investigative journalist. There were also good reviews from reputable sources like Booklist, Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, so I persisted even after my initial disenchantment. But the only worthwhile part of the book was the detailed discussion of modern sculpture and the processes involved, particularly in bronze casting. The story is told from alternating points of view. One is a world-renowned sculptor, Ashley Stassler, who captures in astounding detail whole families that seem to be struggling in terrible agony. Not surprising since in fact he is the one causing the agony by kidnapping, imprisoning and then suffocating them in casting material which he uses as the molds for his sculptures. I found his description of the delight he takes in the process overwrought and fairly quickly quite tedious. The alternating chapters are offered by sculptor and university art teacher, Lauren Reed, who sends her prize sculpture student off to do an internship with Stassler and then decides to investigate when the student, Kerry, goes missing. Can't recommend this one and I have to kind of wonder about the mind that came up with such detailed musings on people's suffering.