Rating: 
Summary: A Genre Bender
Review: Another excellent novel from the Leisure horror line, but this one pushes at the boundaries of the horror genre and breathes new life into it. Michael Laimo combines elements of horror, science fiction and mystery in this unique and entertaining novel. And since it is the author's first novel, we can assume that his work is only going to get better.
Rating:
Summary: A stellar debut
Review: As a fan of the Leisure Books line, I always pick up the new ones each month. So I picked this up and wasn't sure what to expect. "Atmosphere" is one of the best new sci-fi books from the last few years and it was never boring. When Detective Frank Ballaro steps in a stream of blood, he investigates and finds a mutiliated man. From there, he finds another body and realizes something very horrible and strange is going on. The only clue to the abnormal is the sight of a strange black object and the whispered word "atmosphere" from the dying man. From there, its a race to find the killers and the two detectives realize that there is more than just murder. A strange cult of techno obsessed bald men in black begins to reek havoc in New York City. When Frank's daughter is kidnapped, the story begins. This is one of the best premises for an alien invasion story I've read in a long time. With the added mix of intrigue and the great plot, this one will keep you turning pages until the very end. This has conspiracy theories, murder and aliens which mix to become a satisfying read. Its exciting and extremely well-written. A definite A+ read. Take a chance on a new author and pick up "Atmosphere". You'll never think of bald men and techno music the same!
Rating:
Summary: A creepy, bone-chilling, read-with-the-lights-on story
Review: Atmosphere by Michael Laimo is a dark and horrific novel of a retiring police detective who is drawn into a mysterious morass of occult horror. A creepy, bone-chilling, read-with-the-lights-on story of hidden deceits and a bizarre device called "atmosphere" that keeps a person alive despite extreme mutilation, Atmosphere is a suspenseful and gripping saga from first page to the last.
Rating: 
Summary: Striking and potent debut novel
Review: Atmosphere is being marketed as Horror ,and while this is true to some aspects of the book ,it only tells part of the story.There are overtones of the police procedural ,while its ambience and edge evoke a distinctly film noir mood.Stir aliens and a government cover up into the mix and you have a literary stew with a mulitplicity of tasty ingredients .
Frank Ballaro ,the protagonist,is a New York City cop who encounters a dying teenage boy ,who is running naked from an alley when stuck and killed by a car ,He expires in Ballaro's arms whispering as his final word "atmosphere"
The case proves linked to the death and disappearance of several younh males ,all tied in with bald ,sunglasses wearing men and techno music.
It is not revealing too much to say there is an involvement with extra-terrestrials ,and the FBI are less than co-operative to the ongoing police investigation.
Written in a propulsive and energetic prose the novel manages to balance its multi genre influence superbly and only a somewhat rushed ending strikes an unconvincing note An author to keep an eye out for nonetheless and I would urge people wanting something a bit left field but acceesible to try this promising start.
Rating:
Summary: Hope to see more from this author. 5 STARS *****
Review: First off, in case I forget, be sure to check out Michael Laimo's website at www.laimo.com The site is as great as this book and has a lot of info for writers out there. Yes, this book is has a very cool noir feel to it. Definitely to be read at night I would say. The characters jump right off of the page and into your mind, dwelling there long after you've set your head on the pillow to sleep. I would tell anyone who is looking for a new monster in the horror genre, to defintely read Michael Laimo. It's not all gore, it's not all of the same crud that's been published over and over, it's as true to originality that you can get to in this day with the zillions of horror writers out there. Don't miss out on this one. And yes, as one of the other reviewers stated: I can't wait for Laimo's next offering. 5 STAR ESSENTIAL RATING FROM SCRAGGY'S TOMB OF HORROR, USA.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent First Novel
Review: Frank Ballaro is a cop who does his job with a passion that perhaps makes it more of a vocation than a profession. One his way home one rainy night he encounters a horrifying scene in which a naked man is run down by a taxi. The man has his hideous wounds and mutters "Atmosphere" before he dies. When other detectives arrive another barely alive victim is spotted but a mysterious 'man in black' drags the person away into the sewers before the police can apprehend him. Ballaro becomes absorbed in the case which appears more bizarre at every turn. However unknown to the detective his daughter is also concerned about the 'men in black' and when one of them pursues her, she literally flees for her life. ATMOSPHERE is Laimo's debut novel and the author certainly shows that he has a flair for good storytelling and scene setting. A few of the introductory chapters are particularly good and Laimo establishes an enthralling mystery. Every time the novel looks like it may become too much of a straightforward police procedural, the author injects a degree of otherworldly horror. The first two thirds of the novel is excellent but it does tend to fade slightly as it approaches a fairly typical action packed climax. Its easy to see Laimo's influences ; the cop Ballaro is a "good guy" out of the Dean Koontz mould and the otherworldly elements are very Barker-esque. This is no bad thing though. Laimo's debut is a commercial novel and it should entertain those who enjoy fast paced supernatural thrillers with a bit of thought behind them. ATMOSPHERE on the whole is a good read which should kick start a promising career for this author.
Rating: 
Summary: Missed the Mark
Review: I have read horror novels all my life -- at least one, if not two novels a week. I'm always looking out for new authors to breath fresh air into the genre. Tom Piccirilli, Richard Laymon, Bentley Little, and Simon Clark are just a few of the modern horror authors that almost never let you down. So I gave Michael Laimo a chance, especially after his Bram Stoker nomination, and read Atmosphere. First of all, I have to mention all the errors I found in the book (without giving anything away, of course). On page 25, the bald man is described as wearing boots. However,in his next scene, he is wearing sneakers on page 51. Also, in chapter 7, Jaimie is waiting 30 minutes for a F train in Manhattan at 5:12 pm for over a half hour during rush hour. WHAT?! I've lived in New York for over ten years and never waited even half that long during rush hour. But whatever. On page 256 -- and this really irked me -- Laimo writes about a wrestler from the WWF that was supposed to win in the eighth round. Eighth round??? This isn't boxing. There are no rounds in professional wrestling! Not only that, he writes about wrestling moves that don't even exist, calling one spot a "triple twist flip". A writer should always do his homework. After all, as the saying goes, write what you know. In conclusion, I found many scenes repetitive and characters discovering information way too easily. One coincidence after another occured, giving Laimo an easy way out of everything. Please... bribing a coroner, committing suicide from a second story window, and stuffing an 18 inch sphere into ones jacket pocket are just some of the ridiculousness we are meant to accept. And as for the other reviewers comments regarding the huge amounts of gore? I'm not sure what book people were reading... this had 4 or 5 scenes of gore, and only a paragraph or two at most. If you thought this was strong stuff, try reading Edward Lee's "The Chosen" or "City Infernal" or Richard Laymon's "In the Dark". And besides all that, in short, Atmosphere was very predictable and simply... not very atmospheric.
Rating:
Summary: Missed the Mark
Review: I have read horror novels all my life -- at least one, if not two novels a week. I'm always looking out for new authors to breath fresh air into the genre. Tom Piccirilli, Richard Laymon, Bentley Little, and Simon Clark are just a few of the modern horror authors that almost never let you down. So I gave Michael Laimo a chance, especially after his Bram Stoker nomination, and read Atmosphere. First of all, I have to mention all the errors I found in the book (without giving anything away, of course). On page 25, the bald man is described as wearing boots. However,in his next scene, he is wearing sneakers on page 51. Also, in chapter 7, Jaimie is waiting 30 minutes for a F train in Manhattan at 5:12 pm for over a half hour during rush hour. WHAT?! I've lived in New York for over ten years and never waited even half that long during rush hour. But whatever. On page 256 -- and this really irked me -- Laimo writes about a wrestler from the WWF that was supposed to win in the eighth round. Eighth round??? This isn't boxing. There are no rounds in professional wrestling! Not only that, he writes about wrestling moves that don't even exist, calling one spot a "triple twist flip". A writer should always do his homework. After all, as the saying goes, write what you know. In conclusion, I found many scenes repetitive and characters discovering information way too easily. One coincidence after another occured, giving Laimo an easy way out of everything. Please... bribing a coroner, committing suicide from a second story window, and stuffing an 18 inch sphere into ones jacket pocket are just some of the ridiculousness we are meant to accept. And as for the other reviewers comments regarding the huge amounts of gore? I'm not sure what book people were reading... this had 4 or 5 scenes of gore, and only a paragraph or two at most. If you thought this was strong stuff, try reading Edward Lee's "The Chosen" or "City Infernal" or Richard Laymon's "In the Dark". And besides all that, in short, Atmosphere was very predictable and simply... not very atmospheric.
Rating:
Summary: One Great Book
Review: I picked this up in the bookstore because I liked the cover. I was not disappointed with the contents either. Someone else here mentioned this book reading like a Dean Koontz book. They're right, it does. It reminds me of some of his earlier work. If Laimo's drive and talent takes him in the same direction as Koontz, we might very well see him on the bestseller lists in the years to come. I'm looking forward to his next book. If you like Police Procedurals with a touch of the supernatural, then get this book. It's great!!
Rating: 
Summary: A Great First Novel
Review: I use the term "first novel" loosely. For many writers, their first novel and first PUBLISHED novel are two different things. ATMOSPHERE is a great first novel. Whether it's the first novel-length work Michael Laimo has attempted is beyond me. If it was, I'm jealous. I've been familiar with Laimo's work from small press magazines and was anticipating this book a great deal. I wasn't dissappointed. If this is what Laimo has to offer readers in his first go-around, I dread (and eagerly await) what's going to come in the future. A horror-crime-sf novel worth checking out.
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