Adam, Paul 1958-

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Adam, Paul 1958-

PERSONAL:

Born 1958, in Sheffield, England; married; children. Education: Studied law at Nottingham University.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Nottingham, England.

CAREER:

Writer. Has worked as a journalist and as a writer for television.

WRITINGS:

MYSTERIES

An Exceptional Corpse, Crime Club (London, England), 1993.

Toxin, HarperCollins (London, England), 1994.

A Nasty Dose of Death, Crime Club (London, England), 1994.

Unholy Trinity, Little, Brown (London, England), 1999, Arcade (New York, NY), 2000.

Shadow Chasers, Little, Brown (London, England), 2000.

Genesis II, Little, Brown (London, England), 2001.

Flash Point, Time Warner (London, England), 2003.

Sleeper, Time Warner (London, England), 2004, published in the United States as The Rainaldi Quartet, Thomas Dunne Books (New York, NY), 2006.

Enemy Within, Time Warner (London, England), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS:

Paul Adam is a writer who established himself in journalism and television writing before launching a successful career as a mystery writer. His first title published in the United States was Unholy Trinity, a mystery about the murder of a controversial priest, one who has openly criticized corruption within the Vatican. The trail of clues leads back to the final days of World War II. Reviewing Unholy Trinity for Booklist, Mary Carroll noted that the implications against the Vatican were controversial, but called it a "lively, fast-paced thriller." A Publishers Weekly reviewer also recommended the book, writing: "Unraveling a fascinating tapestry of pious deceit, Adams explores carnal frailty, broken vows and religious genocide."

Sleeper, published in the United States as The Rainaldi Quartet, concerns the death of Tomaso Rainaldi, a violin maker and music teacher in Italy. The dead man disappeared after playing some music with his friends Father Arrighi, the parish priest; Antonio Guastafeste, a detective; and Gianni Castiglione, another violin maker. After his murder, Rainaldi's friends discover that he was obsessed with finding a legendary Stradivarius violin called the "Messiah's Sister." They are determined to continue his search for the instrument and also to locate his killer. According to David Pitt in Booklist, the mystery utilizes "masterpieces and mayhem in nicely balanced proportions." The book provides insight into European history and "an engrossing look at a subculture of the classical music world," stated a writer for Kirkus Reviews, who also noted: "The leisurely, rococo storytelling perfectly suits the subtle pleasures of the tale." The "fascinating historical and musical detail" were also appreciated by the reviewer for Publishers Weekly. The Rainaldi Quartet was recommended by Tina Jordan in Entertainment Weekly; she noted that while the story's end was somewhat predictable, the book was nevertheless "haunting and beautiful."

Adam's novel Enemy Within is a "fast-paced and eminently believable tale" about a shadowy government conspiracy, according to Michael Carlson in a review for Crime Time. The story concerns Tom Whitehead, a university lecturer who leads a quiet life until he is framed and arrested for possession of child pornography. Tom must clear his name, and his struggle to do so is "cleanly written," in Carlson's opinion, "with distinct characters and a plot that hangs together right through to the end."