The Mask (Stevens novel)

The Mask

Author	Taylor Stevens
Series	Vanessa Michael Munroe
Publisher	Crown Publishing Group
Publication date	June 30, 2015
Awards	Barry Award for Best Thriller (2016)
ISBN	9780385348966
Preceded by	The 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.

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. "The Mask: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel by Taylor Stevens". Publishers Weekly . April 20, 2015. Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
2. "The Mask". Kirkus Reviews . March 28, 2015. Archived from the original on December 4, 2015. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
3. "The Mask" . Booklist . May 1, 2015. Archived from the original on September 23, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
4. Moritz, Susan (June 15, 2015). "The Mask: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel" . Library Journal . Archived from the original on August 27, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
5. "Taylor Stevens". Stop, You're Killing Me!. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.