Bologna, Italy is suffering from one of the hottest Bank Holidays ever seen. Unfortunately, this is bad news for the three people trapped in a high-rise elevator in a downtown apartment building. Readers learn early in the book that Aldo Ferro, a successful businessman and bar owner, is not who he appears to be. Actually a sadistic serial killer, he is returning to his private apartment in the building when he gets stuck in the elevator with Claudia, a young waitress returning home from work, and Tomas, a teenager who is planning to run away to Amsterdam with his girlfriend. What will happen to the three of them when the elevator gets stuck halfway up and there is no cell phone reception and the emergency alarms don’t work?
This psychological suspense novel is a perfect summer read for those who like suspense, characters with hidden secrets, and a shocking twist at the end. As the temperature rises in the elevator, and Ferro’s madness can’t be contained any more, readers are in for a fast-paced ride that never slows down. Morozzi switches characters often so readers can understand how all three characters are dealing with the stress of being trapped and there is plenty of tension to keep readers guessing what will happen in the end. While TCPL doesn’t own the movie version, there was a horror movie made in 2007 that closely (but not completely) follows the book and is available on Netflix. Readers looking for a quick, suspenseful summer read should find it in
Blackout. – Reviewed by Sarah
