In the four years since breaking off her engagement, Maggie Kincaid has fled from city to city, seeking to escape her ex-fiancé Michael’s relentless pursuit. Abandoned by a criminal justice system that cannot seem to protect her despite multiple restraining orders, she is ready to give up. But it isn’t that easy. Maggie’s dead grandmother keeps haunting her dreams, warning her in cryptic phrases of the future. Or is it the past?
Determined to end her ordeal one way or another, Maggie confronts Michael, and he disappears, seeming to have tired of the chase. Instead, the hunter has decided to make himself the hunted, in a way that no one could have imagined. Knowing both the depths of his psychosis, and the repeated failures of law enforcement to help her in the past, Maggie decides she has no choice but to go after him alone.
In a chase that takes her from New York to Washington, D.C. and into the deepest corners of her mind, Maggie Kincaid is about to learn that you can be stalked by things far worse than a love gone bad.
Praise for The Snow Globe
“ A bleak but gripping tale with an impressive protagonist .” - Kirkus Reviews
“ A simply riveting read from cover to cover, The Snow Globe demonstrates author Tony Faggioli's genuine gift for narrative driven storytelling of the first order. ” - Midwest Book Review
Tony Faggioli was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of Southern California and is a happily married father of two kids, two dogs and a pretty awesome goldfish.
The story is one that keeps you wondering what the heck is going on. Sometimes I wondered if she was imagining it all until it became real. When Michael shows up in the flesh the story turns from running scared to avenger. It is well written and the tension is palpable. With the dreams interspersed with reality I did get a little confused. But I think this is a gripping thriller.
The Snow Globe by Tony Faggioli is a suspenseful thriller from beginning to end. WARNING: This story contains rape, child sexual abuse, stalking, etc… Maggie Kincaid is on the run. She goes from city to city trying to escape her ex-fiance, Michael. She broke up their engagement and he has been stalking her ever since. She tried to get help from the police, but the justice system failed her. So she is very careful with every move during the day out in public and even in her own home. However, Michael proves to be one step ahead, he kidnaps her sister Julie. Maggie must then chase the man who has been stalking her for years.
Maggie is such a courageous character. She endures so much throughout her life to be hurt again and again. She does everything in her power to keep herself safe, but the moment her sister is taken, she will walk through fire for her. She is truly commendable. It is truly heartbreaking because this is a story many women and men can relate to. The justice system fails them, their families fail them, everyone who is supposed to be there for them fails them.
There is also a bit of mysticism as well. She gets dream visits from her grandmother who died years before. These dreams are almost like premonitions that help keep her out of danger. I actually like that aspect of the story. It isn’t believable but there are many people who deal with trauma in their own way. There are a few scenes that weren’t really necessary, but overall the story flows pretty smoothly from beginning to end. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for a review.
4.5 stars. I generally don't care for this kind of book, but it had me hooked in spite of myself. And not just because I am personally acquainted with the author. CW: the book itself features: stalking, assault, child sexual abuse, kidnapping, rape, animal torture, violence.
Like Maggie Kincaid, the plucky heroine, there are times you might feel overwhelmed and want to give up, but you CAN'T. She's pushed to physical and emotional extremes, as well as being tricked in ways *I* didn't see coming, but I found the ending VERY satisfying.
I truly enjoyed the author's unique style of writing: the story moved along, flawlessly, and held my attention. I particularly liked Maggie's strong connection with her deceased grandmother, who helped her accept her past, overcome her fears, and build a new life. A powerful message.
Spoiler here.............The supernatural advice from a dead grandmother was a little too much for me. I didn't want to spend any more time in this story.
This book is a full throttle thrill ride from the get go! The characters are very well written, multi-dimensional and easy to find yourself loving or hating (appropriately). When Maggie finds her inner warrior and lets her come out to play, I was fist pumping and yelling, "Yeah! Let's get him, girl!" On the other hand, I wanted to come through the pages and beat the snot out of the evil genius that was Michael. The plot twists were unexpected and VERY well done.
This story also had some really emotional moments, especially as the events of Maggie's young life unfolded. And, when the meaning of the book title was revealed, my heart just broke.
Faggioli has intricately woven a really smart psychological thriller with a story of love and the many ways it can go wrong. And, in this process, has definitely found a new fan in me!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.
This is an odd book. For the first 85% I was rolling my eyes at it.
The writing is generally good, but the protagonist and her back story turn it into something of VicFic thriller. there's mysticism. there's child abuse. There's neuroses aplenty. all of this makes the plotting rather over full.
On the other hand, the climax is well written and pretty satisfying.
I could have done without the mystic weld-ons, and probably the child abuse sub-plot. From my POV if these had been excised it would have been a taught thriller.
On the other hand the world is full of fans of VicFic, so take your pick of my world view or the author's.
One final note: some of the emotional inner turmoil was a bit 'off' for me. I don't know if the author is outside their territory or if she just writes like a man. (In which case I REALLY stand by my excision recommendation.) No idea. Over to other more astute readers for their analysis.
Maggie Kincaid is in hiding, thanks to her ex-fiance who will not let her go. She travels from place to place in search of some peace. While dealing with this horrendous situation she is also dealing with something from her past that she tries to forget.
It's a riveting thriller that deals with stalking and abuse, with a bit of the paranormal mixed in.
When Maggie Kincaid started having strange dreams, she broke her engagement with Michael, a man she thought she loved, but discovered that she didn’t really know. Obsessed with her, he begins a relentless pursuit that causes her to flee from city to city in a vain effort to escape him. When Michael turns his attention to her sister, Julie, Maggie decides that it’s time to stop running. Law enforcement, despite a number of restraining orders, has not been able to help her, and the dreams featuring her deceased grandmother, and her effort to get a message to Maggie, get worse. After Michael kidnaps Julie and tells Maggie that if she doesn’t return to him Julie will die, she takes matters into her own hands, becoming the pursuer instead of the victim, following him from New York City to Washington, DC, in the hopes that she can finally bring her nightmare to an end.
The Snow Globe by Tony Faggioli is a riveting thriller that deals with the issue of stalking, the limitations of the legal system to curb this life-shattering crime, and how one person, with determination and persistence, can take control of her own life.
Overlaying the human aspects of the story is a bit of paranormal activity that is only partially explained—but, this is not a deal killer. Characters bring to mind real-life people, despite the paranormal aspect, and are easy, if a bit uncomfortable, to relate to.
I received a free copy of this book. I give it four stars.
Tony Faggioli has the wonderful gift of storytelling. He doesn't shy away from telling the hard truths. I read his Millionth Trilogy first and fell in love with his writing.
The Snow Globe is a well told story about the consequences of falling in love with the wrong person. Michael was a handsome man who at six foot four was impossible to ignore. In the beginning it was exciting for Maggie to have someone who was so obviously attracted to her. She thought their love was the kind that would last a lifetime. Then things began to change. There were little things that weren't quite right. The real trouble began when Maggie called off their wedding.
There were times I was totally unprepared for the next revelation in the story of Michael and Maggie. The suspense was expertly crafted and the ending was satisfying. I highly recommend this five star book.
The Snow Globe is a must read for those who enjoy a book where the suspense builds slowly until you reach the point where there is so much happening (or could happen) you just can't put it down. Definitely NOT a 'before bed' story unless of course you are heading into the weekend.
Maggie is being stalked by her ex-fiance and is constantly changing her address and jobs in the hope of evading him. After he commits a really despicable act, Maggie decides to run no more. She has the gun her father gave her and she intends to use it.
Should you choose to buy The Snow Globe, it will be money well spent.
I was lucky to receive a free copy of The Snow Globe as an introduction to this author and I am so pleased I did. This is the first book by Tony Faggioli that I have read and I enjoyed his writing so much I have just embarked on another.
This book affected me in many ways. Just about everything that happened to Maggie Kincaid, the protagonist, has happened to me in reality. It was nice to read the dark parts and the spiraling of thoughts because those are things not talked about. This book also touched on a subject that's hard to explain. When your abuser dies, there is this insane amount of relief and joy that's felt. You're glad for their death and any suffering they may go through prior to their deaths, even though that short amount of physical suffering they may feel is nothing compared to the years of emotional and mental trauma you endure. The death is gratifying and full of freedom and relief. An emotional read for me to be sure.
I bought this book because of all the 5 star reviews here and on Amazon but it’s honestly one of the most boring books I’ve ever read. I’m about halfway through and the only reason I keep reading is because it’s the only book I have right now. It’s so far fetched and ridiculous not to mention all the typos. I hate starting a book and not finishing but I really don’t understand all the 5 stars...those people must have never read a decent book before so they don’t realize how stupid this one is. My advice, don’t waste your time or money on this one
The book starting off as a bit of a slow burner,but then the author was very cleverly doing,gradually building the tension and excitement until you are hooked,then going along with a surprise at almost every turn! By the end you are rooting for Maggie, who must be feeling the whole world is against her. Will she prevail? You will just have to find out for yourself, but this story is well worth the effort.
This is not your run-of-the-mill stalker story, it is so much more! There is a stalker, then there are the hidden childhood memories, there are the dreams with sci-fi and fantasy elements and the entire book is populated by crazies of the highest order. Tony Faggioli has created a superbly entertaining story that would make a blockbuster movie. The Snow Globe is a thrilling and powerful experience.
... it just bogs down very early on, and doesn't pick up until the last 100 pages or so. The author thanked his editor for helping him "flesh out" his short story into a full-length book. Well, in my humble opinion, the story needs to go on a diet! It's got way too much fluff, and in a very obvious way!! That, and all the misspelled words and poor sentence structure ... it's only my dislike of not finishing what I start that forced me read it to completion.
Wow! I have so many emotions swirling around in my head! Mr. Faggioli has done it yet again! I could not put this book down...the twist and turns, the ups and downs, I was enveloped in the troubled story of the main character, Maggie, from the very start! I love when a story can make you laugh, cry and everything intertwines, yet can wrap up beautifully by the end of the book! Mr. Faggioli is an amazing storyteller and I’ve been a fan since The Fasano Trilogy series! Great read!!
What a great book that grabs your attention and keeps you page turning from then on. Maggie and all she had to deal with her stalker ex-boyfriend will keep you on the edge of your seat. A well written thriller with lots of suspense and action. I received an arc and voluntarily chose to review it.
This suspenseful tale features a complex protagonist, a woman in jeopardy from the very start. Maggie Kincaid starts out a victim, but as we follow her on her journey she discovers her own strengths and courage—my favorite kind of story. Lots of action and suspense, a very creepy antagonist, and a highly satisfying conclusion.
This book is a roller coaster ride of emotions, anticipation and surprises! It is a page turner of the first order. It is also shockingly chaotic for purposes of the development of the narrative and helps grab the reader by the throat to immersive them into the main character’s world. If you are squeamish about abuse of any kind this book is not for you.
To be honest I had a hard time reading this book or at least to start with. We all have memories some good some bad. But memories to stop you in your tracks and loose time that is a different story especially when you have a psycho after you. Maggie was such a strong character even though she did not know it. I would recommend this book.
I have read each of Tony Faggioli’s books. Their are all fun reading and stand independently. The Snow Globe is a shocker though. It will keep you up late at night. This story is a twist on battered woman syndrome. Maggie’s sister Julie is stolen and used as bait. Highly recommended.
I really liked this book. As I was reading, there was a lot of going back in time that I didn't understand. I was trying to figure out why it was there but it meshed in so perfectly. I loved the ending!!
Sometimes the memories of horrible experiences from years ago can be even more traumatizing than the present day reality of a physical stalker. Both are interwoven in a thriller. This one will keep you up at night.
O. K. I know thus story had some ugly underlying current to it , but it had it all. Traumatic experience, an edge of intrigue, the power of the mind plus the battle of love and hate. Made for an enjoyable escape on a rainy day.
An absolute thrill ride ! Grabs you by the throat and never lets go
Wow what an amazing read! Couldn't put it down. Amazing characters rounded and well written with wild plot twists and turns and a great ending! Highly recommend!
This book was a great find! Right off the bat, this book offered page turning suspense, with some not so typical additions to the usual thriller. I'm looking forward to reading more!
I really read this quite fast. It was well written. You really captured what it felt like for someone who has gone through this. And many people have. I felt like the author had really touched on how their minds think sadly when they become so obsessed.
Very interesting about how a stalker can ruin your life.A good story that goes back and forth in a victim life. With unexpected twists.Drag on in some places but over a good book
I am not sure how the author knows what it is like to be a woman stalked and abused by an ex-lover. Yet, as a woman, each line in this book is relatable and horrifying. I actually gasped audibly at times.