Minos: A Romilia Chacon Mystery

by Marcos M. Villatoro

Book Overview

Detective Romilia Chacon has to rely on her training and determination to save her in the showdown against a killer who is a self-styled Minos.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932112138
• ISBN13: 9781932112139
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Justin, Charles and Company
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Smart, tough and pretty

MINOS is a wild ride: pulse-pounding, gritty, and cerebral all at once. Romilia Chacon is the coolest homicide cop I've seen in a long while. She's brave, cute, a good mother, a dirty fighter, and will drink you under the table. I've never heard of Villatoro before, but I'm going to look for his other books.

MINOS is His Best Yet!

Marcos McPeek Villatoro is surely one of America's most dynamic young novelists. I've never been disappointed in one of his novels, but MINOS, Villatoro's latest Romilia Chacon mystery, is absolutely spellbinding from beginning to end. His ability to paint the right mood and develop compellingly vivid characters draws the reader into the story and doesn't allow him out until the mystery is solved. I especially liked this story's eerie setting and the challenges arrayed against the very likeable yet complex Romilia Chacon as she follows her instincts despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Villatoro, like the other masters of the mystery craft, has shown how genre fiction can also be compelling literature.

strong police procedural

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 in a twisted homage to Dante's mythical monster.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. The story line contains two strong subplots that tie together through the soul of the heroine is the center that holds the tale together. 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

Romilia and Villatoro Together Again Make magic

This book was incredible and if possible better than the first. Romilia comes back in full force and is as amazing as before. All the questions that linger from the first novel are answered in this second book and she comes full circle with her sister's killer, her job, Tekun, and her family. She moves forward in this book to another amazing chapter. This book is one that once you pick it up, you will not be able to put it down until you are done. The work that Marcos Villatoro put into this book is amazing; with all the information on the forensics, constellations and especially the character development. This is a must read for everyone, and especially mystery buffs everywhere. Go out and enter the world of Romilia Chacon.