Toros and Torsos

By: Craig McDonald

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Edgar Award finalist Craig McDonald blends art, murder, and a touch of noir in this thriller set in 1935.

Hector Lassiter is a gutsy crime writer who believes in the "write what you live and live what you write" mantra. Then Hector learns of another artist who follows this method - ­a serial killer who takes inspiration from art, leaving his victims in bloody vignettes of surrealist paintings. When a woman Hector knows becomes the latest work of art, he vows to stop the sadistic artist.

©2008 Craig McDonald (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"As a popular author, Lassiter interacts with such notables as Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles, whom the author skillfully animates. Other celebrities of the day make cameo appearances. Solidly grounded in such actual events as the Key West hurricane of 1935, the Spanish Civil War and Cuba's last days before Castro, McDonald's imaginative tale takes an enjoyably different approach to art and murder." (Publishers Weekly)
"This time Hec is palling with Hemingway in Key West and preparing for what proves to be the devastating 1935 hurricane. A young woman there is disemboweled, and her torso is stuffed with machine parts. Hec immediately connects the murder to surrealist art and journeys to the battlefront of the Spanish civil war, Hollywood, and Cuba in search of the artistic murderer. Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth, Salvador Dalí, and John Dos Passos all turn up in juicy cameos, and the details on the hurricane, the Spanish war, and surrealism are the product of careful research." (Booklist)

A Wonderful Read!

Mixing history and historical characters is such a great idea! Leaving the 21st century for a few hours is like being on vacation in Key West! I just wish all your books were on audio and read by Tom Stechschulte (one of the greatest narrators). What a treasure it would be to add all your Hector Lassiter books to my audio collection!