The Mask (Stevens novel)

The Mask
AuthorTaylor Stevens
SeriesVanessa Michael Munroe
PublisherCrown Publishing Group
Publication date
June 30, 2015
AwardsBarry Award for Best Thriller (2016)
ISBN9780385348966
Preceded byThe Catch 

The Mask is a 2015 thriller novel by Taylor Stevens, the fifth and final book in her Vanessa Michael Munroe series. It won the 2016 Barry Award for Best Thriller.

Plot

Reception

Publishers Weekly called The Mask "underwhelming" and "slow-grinding," indicating that "The fight scenes, though well choreographed, seem at times like an afterthought, thrown in when the plot frequently stalls."[1] Further, they found the setting to be "under utilized" as though the book "could be set anywhere."[1] However, they cited Munroe as a highlight of the novel, noting that "her propensity for rage remains a believable part of this series as she mixes her intelligence with her extreme martial arts skills."[1]

Kirkus Reviews agreed that "Stevens takes longer to develop the action than usual," though they conceded that "any Munroe is better than none at all."[2]

Booklist and Library Journal also reviewed the novel.[3][4]

Awards and honors

The Mask won the 2016 Barry Award for Best Thriller.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Mask: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel by Taylor Stevens". Publishers Weekly. 2015-04-20. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  2. ^ "The Mask". Kirkus Reviews. 2015-03-28. Archived from the original on 2015-12-04. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  3. ^ "The Mask". Booklist. 2015-05-01. Archived from the original on 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  4. ^ Moritz, Susan (2015-06-15). "The Mask: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel". Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  5. ^ "Taylor Stevens". Stop, You're Killing Me!. Archived from the original on 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-08-27.