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For mystery readers who yearn for clever plot, real characters, tense suspense, and, best of all, literate writing, here comes Sarah Lovett.
--Tony Hillerman, author of The First Eagle and A Thief of Time

Bunker Hill, location of some of the action in Dantes' Inferno.

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Review from BookLoons

Reviews:

In Dantes' Inferno (Simon & Schuster, $24), Sarah Lovett delivers a meticulously written tale of the search for a bomber intent on destroying the city of Los Angeles. When an explosion rips through the J. Paul Getty Museum, a vocal urban dissident and suspected bomber named John Dantes is convicted of the murderous act. Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Sylvia Strange is brought in to evaluate the killer -- at least, that is what she's told -- just as new disclosures indicate that Dantes may not be the culprit after all. If she hopes to identify the villain, or villains, before more people are killed, Strange must explore the gray area of the human psyche where the present and past intersect. She must also operate in a shady world of murky motives on both sides of the investigation. Strange is aided in her search by the enigmatic Edmond Sweetheart, an anti-terrorist genius whose self-control and intelligence mask deeply repressed emotional wounds. Lovett employs a whole cast of characters to track down the bomber, sketching detectives, FBI agents, forensic experts and victims with a skilled hand. She also burrows deep into the bomber's mind, exploring the many forces that might create a man capable of such mass violence. Along the way, she displays a flair for capturing the essence of a city: Her descriptions of Los Angeles are inspired. Lovett weaves all these elements together, linking them with quotes from Dante Alighieri's Inferno as well as other writings, some real and some penned by her fictional characters. The result is a detailed exploration of the worst that could happen in our modern world. In short, it's scary as hell. The forensic details are rich and numerous. If you enjoy exploring the criminal mind, you'll love this book's intelligent approach. However, in some ways, Dantes' Inferno is almost too perfect. Its execution is close to flawless, though the pacing is slowed by extraneous details. But its greatest weakness is a lack of emotion. From the names of the characters down to their personal demons and the carefully placed cliffhanger scenes, this novel reads like a textbook bestseller. You may be left feeling as if you more than got your money's worth but also wishing the book had delivered a few unconventional character or plot choices. Sometimes -- even when they fall flat -- literary risks can humanize a book, making its impact more personal and lasting.
--Washington Post

Warning: Don t start this book if you ve got plans for the next day or so. I guarantee you ll cancel them to stay home and keep reading. DANTES INFERNO has everything readers crave: a full-throttle plot, top-notch psychological suspense and as always with author Lovett gorgeous prose. And, to top it off, the book features one of my all-time favorite characters, Dr. Sylvia Strange. Welcome back, doctor. Good to see you again!
--Jeffery Deaver, author of The Blue Nowhere and Speaking Tongues

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