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A sharing of some of the wonderful things people have said about my mystery/suspense novel "Night Crimes."
Writing is a lonely profession. Most of the creative process is enternal, something that is difficult to share with others. At least that is how it is for me. Therefore, when the work is complete, I look forward to sharing it with others.
However, this sharing often evokes the fear of rejection. I know that I am a good writer. I also know that despite this not every one will love my work and that this is not a reflection on the work or the author.This however, does not stop the sharp bite of dissapointment I feel everytime my work is rejected or someone dislikes it.
In contrast, I am always delighted when someone loves my work. My latest novel Night Crimes, published in 2001 by AmErica House/Publish America, has been a source of constant delight because of all the praise it received.
When I am happy, I like to share my joy. So I have put together a sample of all the wonderful reviews that made me happy. They are listed below. There are many more great reviews of Night Crimes, some that I am still discovering, but they can't all fit below.
Beverly
Iowa / USA (6/4/2002)
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Judith Woolcock Colombo’s second novel “Night Crimes” is a masterpiece of suspense. Bizarre dual-personalities and psychotic stalkers add depth to a plot that drips with tension. Colombo’s talented use of action and dialogue to move the story toward its conclusion draws the reader into the midst of the drama and keeps you engrossed to the surprising end. Readers will sometimes find it difficult to separate the good guys from the bad in this well written novel. Colombo’s writing style, her rich characterizations and her ability to create suspense will most surly propel her into fame. Beverly J Scott author of Righteous Revenge |
NIGHT CRIMES -- Judith Woolcock Colombo 
Jani Brooks
April issue of Romance Reviews Today (4/25/2002)
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New York City, the present
Lara Bello leads a normal, happy life as an artist, teacher, mother, and loving wife. Her husband, Tony, is a New York City policeman, and they have three sons. Everything is fine until Lara and her eldest son, David, realize that someone is following them. He isn't obvious, but the man in the blue baseball cap always seems to be nearby. Having a husband who is a cop doesn't help, either, since she knows nothing can be done until the guy actually does something. A missing paintbrush and a scary chase through the streets aren't enough to investigate -- yet.
On the dark, nighttime streets of the city, the Angel of Death moves silently, completing his duty. It is up to the Angel to bring a gentle, peaceful death to those who crave it. Tony, in charge of a bicycle patrol, seems to be the one who has been chosen by the Angel to find the smiling corpses. Obvious clues are left behind, but nothing to pinpoint, or even hint at, the killer.
Everything comes to a head when Lara receives a box, delivered by a man in a blue hat, that contains her missing paintbrush -- now covered in blood. Since there is no doubt that someone has been in their house, Tony sends his wife and sons to their upstate vacation home and apparent safety, then begins to send out feelers about the stalker. But the stalker, and his boss, are no longer in the city; they're near Lara and the boys. A terrifying ordeal transpires, in which Lara is chased through woods by the man in the blue hat and shot, but before the second, fatal bullet can be fired, she is saved by another stranger. Who is this new man and why is he so familiar to Lara?
With a complex, multi-dimensional plot that grabbed my attention from the first page, NIGHT CRIMES is incredibly suspenseful! The reader is allowed in the minds of several of the villains, privy to mental discussions that are both shocking and pathetic at times. Lara and Tony have an incredibly strong marriage that is tested to its limits by the danger that surrounds them. Harsh street language, some perverted inner thoughts by the villains, and several downright heart-grabbing scenes make this a gritty, well-written story. Don't let your guard down, though; there are some surprises also!
If you're looking for a dynamite crime drama that dares you to put it down, NIGHT CRIMES is the book for you. It's brilliant! |
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Night Crimes
David,Midwest Book Review
Oregon, WI (4/25/2002)
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When it's hard to tell the difference between the psychotic killers and the cops, and when one psycho stalks another, you know you have a plot to leave even the best detective befuddled. But in Night Crimes, you are the best detective there is. Judith Woolcock Colombo has crafted a thriller that somehow leads us to discover the mysteries slowly until we realize that we know (and have known) whodunit-even though we didn't know at the time that we knew.
Set in New York City, and including a chase in upstate New York, Lara finds herself stalked by a psychotic killer. Or are there more? The Jamaican-born artist and her husband, Italian-American Tony Bello, have to sort out the mess before Lara gets killed. The mystery grows increasingly difficult to unravel as people close to the family one by one get involved in the story.
The reader also gets a long, hard look into the mind of the psychotic killer (killers?). One of them talks extensively to the reader. "I have never intended to harm anyone. I am not cruel. I befriend the hopeless and get to know them before I make my offer. Even after I have put them to rest, I still see to their well-being".
The characters are semi-autobiographical, living in a similar brownstone house to the author, with the same ethnic backgrounds and some of the same occupations. As many authors do, Woolcock Colombo built a story on the environment she knows well...and on a great pile of imagination.
Night Crimes plays the suspense card over and over to the maximum. Woolcock Colombo is masterful at weaving several tales together and letting the reader savor the taste of discovery right to the very end. I give this novel ten out of ten. |
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"Night Crimes
Stacey
Georgia (1/24/2002)
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He is Death's emissary. A man in mortal form, offering his services to the lost. He wanders the night, watching and listening to those that have no hope and express the longing to embrace death. If he can help these wretched souls to escape their pain and misery then he will. He is Death's Angel. Lara Bello is being followed. Her husband Tony, sergeant of the N.Y. bicycle squad for the police department, thinks her imagination is on overtime. When the man in the blue baseball cap turns up on their family farm and hunts Lara down, like a deer, Tony realizes that his wife and family are in real danger. But the real terror begins when a stranger saves Lara and takes over the stalking himself. I'm a real creature of habit. If anything, NIGHT CRIMES will scare the habit right out of you! The creeps will charge right up your back when you realize how easy it is for some psycho to notice your daily routines. Ms. Colombo has penned an extremely intense and exceptional book. If you are a fan of James Patterson, you will absolutely love NIGHT CRIMES. I highly recommend it! |
"Night Crimes" 
Tonya Ramagos
Tampa, FL (1/6/2002)
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TITLE: Night Crimes AUTHOR: Judith Woolcock Colombo PUBLISHER: AmErica House Publishing ISBN# 1-58851-174-X RATING: **** 4 Stars If you're looking for a good mystery loaded with action and riveting suspense, you just found it. NIGHT CRIMES by Judith Woolcock Colombo offers a mind-boggling tale of two mysteries in one. There's a killer lurking the streets of the night. A man who feels he has a gift to give to the homeless people of New York—the gift of death. But he only gives his gift to those who ask for it. To the police this creature of the night becomes known as The Death Angel. What's more of a mystery then who The Death Angel's identity is why is he leaving his victims for Sergeant Tony Bello to find? At the same time, Sergeant Bello's wife Lara has her own mystery developing. Lara, artist from Brooklyn and teacher, is being stalked by a man in a blue baseball cap. Problem is, no one believes her. Not even her husband. At first, Lara decides it's just her imagination working overtime—that is until he begins following her oldest son David and leaving warning notes for the both of them to find. Worse, the stalker seems to know every move she and her son are going to make before they even make it! Judith Woolcock Colombo has composed a murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. The characters that make up NIGHT CRIMES are well developed. We learn their habits, their fears, their dreams, as well as their traits. Mrs. Colombo has done her homework into the worlds of police and artists as well, weaving each into the story to create an aura of spine chilling suspense. Reviewed by Tonya Ramagos A.K.A. Calley Moore http://www.geocities.com/tomrbooks |
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Night Crimes
Joanne Holbrook
(10/19/2001)
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For a fast-paced, compelling, truly terrifying story of murder and obsession, I highly recommend NIGHT CRIMES. Just be sure to leave an extra light on while you read this! |
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A Real Jewel!
Kim Jacobsen, Scribe & Quill
(10/19/2001)
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Night Crimes is a must read. A real keeper. I haven't read anything this good in a long time. Judith Woolcock Colombo brings her characters to life - the good, the bad and the ugly. My heart was pounding and my pulse racing as I tried to read faster. I flipped pages hurriedly trying to find the answers, and pick out the bad guys, along with Lara and her family. Even as the story wound down my anticipation still hovered at above average levels. This is such an excellent story. Don't miss out, it's a real jewel. |
I hope you have read this in the spirit in which it was intended, not to promote my book so much as to share the wonderful gifts people have given me by these fine reviews.
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Mega congratulations !
Elizabeth