Angelo Peluso, author of Saltwater Flies of the Northeast and Fly Fishing Long Island, April 6, 2008.

"I recently picked up a copy of Robert Banfelder's THE AUTHOR (a two-volume set). In Part One, I reached a point where the antagonist, Malcolm Columba, accosts a young Becky Dawson while ice skating. I had a knot in my stomach in anticipation of the outcome. What an excellent level of suspense in such a compact chapter. Very, very, well done! Great description and visualizations throughout! I had reviewed Banfelder's sequel to THE AUTHOR, entitled THE TEACHER, in a magazine for which I write. Banfelder is a very talented fiction writer who manages to weave his knowledge of the outdoors into his works. His novels are expertly crafted and positively compelling. Like THE TEACHER, THE AUTHOR will have you sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for what comes next. If you enjoy your reading on the scary side, then this is a book you should read on a dark and cold winter's night. If you like being frightened, you won't be disappointed. Both books are really great reads."

JMHUNTER, March 21, 2008

"Robert Banfelder does a masterful job of providing the reader with every detail regarding the unorthodox murders committed by the sinister Colomba. He also does an excellent job of conveying to the reader the loving relationships bewteen the victims and the family member whose actions led to their horrific demise. Banfelder is quite adept at capturing the impact of these tragic losses on the "eco-transgressors", as fully intended by the villain. Overall it was an excellent read, but I wonder if this story could have been shortened into one book, leaving enough loose ends to be covered in a third book. Hopefully, we haven't heard the last of Justin Barnes and whats left of Colomba's network."

Patti Ann Bengen: author of the romantic thrillers The Devil's Dance and New Beginnings. Visit Patti Ann Bengen.

"Author Robert Banfelder pulls out all the stops when he created the frightening, manipulating, serial-killing predator, Malcolm Columba, in his two-part suspense thriller, The Author. Forget about that line separating sanity and insanity because Columba knows no bounds, and bares no guilt, remorse or hesitation as he moves forward with a vengeance--the killer's success, in part, stemming from a global underground network. His premeditated actions are vicious and without conscience. You will become wary of your ability to trust; could it be a Columba at your back door? You will think twice before shutting off the lights at night.

"Banfelder is unrelenting in his ability to move you along, and into his pages. You are running fast, and just when you think it might be safe, Banfelder hits you with another curve. Not to be missed. The story is action-packed, the characters are driven, and the ferocity of the story will stay with you long after it ends.

"The question is not when this novel hits movie status, but who will play the part of Malcolm Columba?"

Donna Gestri, Author of For Jennie and Time Takes No Time, February 24, 2008.

"Philosopher Gottfried Leibniz wrote, "But it is the knowledge of necessary and eternal truths which distinguishes us from mere animals, and gives us reason and the sciences, raising us to knowledge of ourselves and God. It is this in us which we call the rational soul or mind." But what happens when a madman takes it upon himself to avenge the wrong being inflicted on the environment and sees his actions as a necessary and reasonable warning to all those who carelessly destroy our water and air with pollution? What happens when the line between himself and God blurs?

"Robert Banfelder has conjured up just such a sick mind in his pulse pounding thriller, The Author. Malcolm Columba is a notorious serial killer, meticulously plotting his revenge on the beloved family members of those responsible for (what he perceives as) unforgivable transgressions against the environment. The murders are shockingly gruesome and not for the faint of heart. Banfelder incorporates a wide array of teases to build up the suspense before each horrific murder. The Suffolk County police department eventually recognizes they must consider murders occurring in other parts of the country as part of the killer's grand scheme. Soon enough you begin to question everyone involved in the case as the length of Columba's stretch and influence becomes more and more evident. Eventually the reader learns that Columba is the author of an operation that places FBI agents in extremist groups around the world.

"Enter Justin Barnes, drug and gun runner intent on revenging the murder of his cousin by this fiend. It is a bit unnerving meeting this Justin as The Author is the prequel to The Teacher which introduced him to readers. His unsavory past makes for awkward reading, rather like learning the friend you have become so close to in recent years, spent time in jail before you knew them. Soon enough you realize that Justin is neither a bully nor a fool, and you cheer on his better instincts and ambitions. As an uncredited and undercover aide to the homicide division, his judgments, deductions, and actions bring the story to a satisfactory closure. A personal favorite in this book is Detective Kim Booker, the computer maven who can unravel a twisted skein of clues as quickly as her whimsically decorated fingernails can fly across the keyboard. She has a smartness that she wears as conspicuously as the appetite she is always looking to have someone else pay the tab for.

"Banfelder's descriptions are detailed, the novel well plotted, and his imagination without bounds. The book is well researched and has much to offer those interested in fishing and its gear, boats or environmental pollution. It gives the reader a peek into the world of police investigation and Mafia manipulation and control. Like the wonderful meal prepared at the Bella Sera restaurant, the thrills and chills just keep appearing, course after course after course."

Joel M. Steinberg, Esquire: "The Author is a powerful two-volume prequel that carefully and completely introduces Justin Barnes, the protagonist found in Banfelder’s award-winning novel The Teacher. It is one of the best psychological thrillers that I have ever read, right up there with authors such as Thomas Harris, Jeffery Deaver, and James Patterson. The unfolding of plot summary is masterful. If you want to get into the sick mind of a prolific serial killer, and at the same time slip into the skull of an unlikely sort who tracks him and eventually winds up becoming a covert operative for Suffolk County Homicide, which paves the way for the sequel, then read this work of art. In all candor, I wish that I had read The Author before reading The Teacher. How Justin Barnes makes the transition from an illiterate street-savvy hood into the ranks of law enforcement’s elite is positively remarkable. The story is so well constructed that it will have you more than wondering if this supposed work of fiction is not in some way based on fact.

"Additionally, as unique as this gripping novel is, it also delivers reality to your doorstep at a terrifying pace. Banfelder not only tells and shows us several shocking scenes surrounding his fittingly fleshed-out characters, but somehow manages to do this without it being done for the sake of sensationalism. There is, indeed, a method behind this madness, for this novel is novel in the way it is crafted. I say it is destined to become a classic.

"Now, on another note; the novel is ambitious—731 pages. I use the word ambitious rather than to say that it is long, because ‘long’ could be conceived of moving along too slowly. The Author is anything but that. I love the witty aphorism that an average person’s attention span is twenty minutes before it turns back to thoughts of sex. If the love of power is an aphrodisiac, the power plays present in this noteworthy novel will keep you spellbound."

The Suffolk Times, October 4, 2007, Regan Batuello. "Bloody, long, and really good. Banfelder is a student of the criminal mind, specifically the serial killer. He has a knack for being inside the victim's and the killer's head simultaneously. Extremely original and a good tale. You should go out of your way to read The Author."


NewBookReviews.org, June 2007, Mark Reid. "Robert Banfelder has turned up the suspense content in The Author, which speaks volumes for his newest work. Malcolm Columba is a mastermind turned serial killer who has placed his agents around the globe, both into terrorist groups and law enforcement agencies with equal success. It has long been thought that genius is next to madness, but could Columba's madness be a diabolical means to an end? The Author is filled with twists and unexpected turns that will keep readers on the edge of their seat until past where you think this one will end. But wait, this is just the beginning. Outstanding! Unspeakable crimes, a thrilling chase and a mesmerizing tangled plot. What more could you ask for? Banfelder has written another winner!"


John Waage "Hobbit" A Real Page Turner!, February 17, 2008. "If you're into Criminal Minds and the upcoming serial, Dexter, you are definitely going to enjoy The Author by Robert Banfelder. The book will make you aware of your surroundings in the same way Jaws gave you that uneasy feeling in the water. The source of your fear is the character Malcolm Columba who is a vicious genius with no conscience. He is equal to Hannibal Lecter in his diabolical evil and twice as vengeful as the eco-terrorist in this contemporary suspense horror.

Banfelder has created a bizarre world where law enforcement cannot be trusted, and a young drug-gun runner, Justin Barnes becomes the unlikely hero. This character is easy to hate, but the reader is unaware of the circumstances which bring Barnes to the climactic ending of the book. The Teacher, a previous novel written by Banfelder, shows how this character has grown. On a personal note, I enjoyed the Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien for the way an author can create people and history. Banfelder does a great job with both the story line and the Barnes persona.

Although this novel isn't for everyone, horror fans that enjoy Stephen King, and suspense fans that enjoy Scott Turow will find a lot to savor in this rabid chiller. Five stars for me."

THE TEACHER

The Fisherman, Long Island, Metro NY Edition, January 3, 2008; excerpted from Fireside Reading, by Angelo Peluso, author of Saltwater Flies of the Northeast and Fishing Long Island. "Bob is not only an accomplished angler but also a very talented fiction writer who manages to weave fishing tidbits into his compelling novels. The Teacher will have you sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for what comes next. If you enjoy your reading on the scary side, then this is a book you should read on a dark and cold winter's night. If you like being frightened, you won't be disappointed. This is a really great read."


Patti Ann Bengen, author of the romantic thrillers: The Devil's Dance and New Beginnings. Visit Patti Ann Bengen.
"Ah, the master of suspense thrillers returns with a fast-paced and terrifying story that will chill you to the bone, even on the hottest day of the year. The king of serial killer suspense, author Robert Banfelder, turns up the heat in his sequel to The Author. In The Teacher, an evil Clarence Emery creates deadly havoc on the eastern end of Long Island, and everywhere he goes. The big questions for Justin Barnes, covert operative for Suffolk County Homicide, are how does Emery manage to elude the police, and is the killer working alone? Another haunting quesion is can Justin stop him?

This story will bring you to your knees, and it will also give new meaning to dinner preparation . . . one you won't soon forget.

Banfelder brilliantly creates each unthinkable murder scene--unsparing in details--as the serial killings continue to grow in number, making for a terrifying end for the unsuspecting and unfortunate victims.

Time is running out. Barnes needs to catch up with this murdering monster and bring the killing spree to an end . . . but can Justin do it?"


Armchair Interviews, November 2006, Elysabeth Eldering. "Robert Banfelder does an excellent job of keeping the reader on the edge. If you like psychological thrillers or loved Silence of the Lambs, then The Teacher will prove to be a story that keeps you interested and reading until the very end."


Lighthouse Literary Reviews, September 2006, Ramona Davis. "From the first page, this book held me captive! The writing is superb, the characters are all appealing (even The Teacher), the dialogue is perfect, and the suspense well developed. Anyone can tell a story, but only a few can do it so compellingly."


NewBookReviews.org, September 2006, Mark Reid. "Robert Banfelder's newest psychological thriller,The Teacher, involves a diabolical and cunning serial killer. Clarence Emery is described as the most prolific serial killer in history and this fictional character lives up to that and more as The Teacher. Banfelder's ability to weave a complex plot with excellent characters, culminated into one of the best books I have read this year. His skillfully crafted story pulls the reader into an ever widening field of deception, death and destruction caused by Emery and his accomplices. Justin Barnes is a civilian working with the county homicide squad, in a position that is shrouded in secrecy. He carries a badge, but is anything but a cop. His task is to track down and stop Emery as quickly as possible. The energy between these two characters is astounding. This is one of the best books I have read this year! Robert Banfelder is a masterful storyteller who has written a fantastic and terrifying tale about evil and what it takes to stop it."


The News-Review, June 22, 2006 and Suffolk Times, June 29, 2006, Regan Batuello. "We are in unfamiliar territory with The Teacher, inside the brilliant and amoral mind of a serial killer. It is a place that Robert Banfelder has an understanding and appreciation for. He has spent a lot of hours there. The Teacher is a nail-biting, anxiety-producing romp with death."


John Skinner, Editor-in-Chief, Nor'est Saltwater, July 2006. "I just got back from a week in London. Normally, I bring a mess of fishing magazines and cull and read articles to pass all of the traveling time. The only thing I brought this time was The Teacher. Wow! It is a truly excellent read--the kind you sit there and go, "Ah, just one more chapter." Next thing I knew, I read another ten! Robert Banfelder should be very proud. Also, I love all of the local references. A job well done!"


Robert Dore, Professor Emeritus, Queensborough Community College, July 2006. The Teacher is a splendid tale, swiftly yet clearly flowing, and with a continuous mounting tension. I can scarcely think of any great madman, either in the form of a Shakespearean villain or in the mold of a Nazi monster that comes close to the antagonist."


Mary Ann Artrip, Golden Book award-winning author of Surrey Square, June 2006. "I just finished The Teacher and was educated and entertained all at the same time. I learned how little I know about food (and food preparation) wine and fly tying. But "larding" has to be at the top of the list. I'm sure to read The Author."

NO STRANGER THAN I

Dan's Papers, February 7, 1992, Jan Silver. No Stranger Than I. "Mr. Banfelder must have done a lot of research on schizophrenic killers, ventriloquism, voodoo, ancient Egyptian mummification, and Marine boot camp. The novel covers territory explored in Silence of the Lambs and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, but with its own twists and turns."


Towers News, May 1991, Dr. Geraldine Kammerman. "Beautifully written and precisely executed ...terrifying ...great humor and insight, exploring the realm of military, police, and both private and state-operated institutions ...extraordinary gift for the written word ...sentences actually sing; poetry in motion. ...No Stranger Than I is brilliant."


The Courier, February 14, 1991. Robert Banfelder Publishes First Novel, No Stranger Than I. "A marvelous novel ...deals with the unrelenting hurt and horror of a young American life ...fascinating ...endlessly pleasing ...awesome in power ...even humorous." As excerpted from the novel's back jacket by Wallace Markfield, author, and Robert D. Crozier, Ph.D., Hemingway scholar.


Autographed and custom personalized copies are available directly from the author. E-mail Robert Banfelder at contact@robertbanfelder.com