cover image Dante's Wood: A Mark Angelotti Novel

Dante's Wood: A Mark Angelotti Novel

Lynne Raimondo. Prometheus/Seventh Street, $15.95 trade paper (350p) ISBN 978-1-61614-718-1

Near the start of Raimondo's engaging debut, Chicago psychiatrist Mark Angelotti receives a visit from the parents of 18-year-old Charlie Dickerson, who has the mental age of a grade schooler and has been crying in the middle of the night at his care facility, the New Horizons Center. Charlie's well-heeled parents fear that Charlie has been abused at New Horizons. The psychiatrist, who's still reeling from a diagnosis of a degenerative eye disease, doubts abuse, but he soon faces a bigger problem after Charlie confesses to the murder of the center's art teacher, Shannon Sparrow. Accused of malpractice and fearing the effect of imprisonment on Charlie, Angelotti begins to look into the backgrounds of Shannon and her co-workers. Angelotti's smart-aleck tendencies and unswerving dedication to his vulnerable client%E2%80%94as well as an exciting climax%E2%80%94keep the reader turning the pages. Agent, Sharlene Martin, Martin Literary Management. (Jan.)