The Butcher's Boy [Mass Market Paperback]

Thomas Perry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1983

The heist went down while the people prayed. An angel walked with sagging shoulders - he was Parker's inside man, dressed in wings and robes and destined to be a problem. An hour later, Parker, Liss, and Mackey were out in the shimmering heat of a stadium parking lot with four duffel bags full of cash. Then the double cross began. Now the half-million-dollar robbery of a Christian crusade is drawing a crowd of cops, crooks, and the evangelist's own unrelenting security man, a tough ex-Marine who trusts nobody and nothing. What began at a gathering of the faithful has moved into the realm of night. Here every move has a countermove, every man is on his own, and every lie leads to the deadliest moments of truth.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A stunning debut ... a brilliantly plotted thriller.' The Washington Post A shrewdly planned and executed thriller.' The New York Times Book Review Thomas Perry has hit the mark.' Houston Chronicle 'Totally enthralling.' The New Yorker --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

“A stunning debut . . . a brilliantly plotted thriller.” —The Washington Post

“A shrewdly planned and executed thriller.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Thomas Perry has hit the mark.” —Houston Chronicle

“Totally enthralling.” —The New Yorker --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: ACE Charter (July 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044108950X
• ISBN-13: 978-0441089505
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #508,703 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book is a Killer-Thriller, June 21, 2003

By 

montralatrice "montralatrice" (CORPUS CHRISTI, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Butcher's Boy (Paperback)

Thomas Perry's first novel is a Killer-Thriller! I had read "Sleeping Dogs"(the sequal) before I read "The Butchers Boy". Both books are great. I am glad they re-printed "The Butchers Boy" because it explains a lot I missed when reading
"Sleeping Dogs". However, each book can stand alone without the other. The "Butchers Boy" is about a hitman that is double crossed by the mob after he completed some contract(killing) work for them. It also tells the story of the Department of Justice Field Agent that is trying to tie all the killings together. It is a race to the end to find the missing link that will tie the knot to this killer-thriller. Also don't miss the few chapters that introduces us to the much loved "jane whitefield series" the lady that can make you disappear. I hope Perry brings that series back-it was one of his best. "Butchers Boy is a good read!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Unusual Thriller, March 29, 2002

By 

D. Wolf "wolfd" (Fairfax, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Butcher's Boy (Paperback)

Butcher's Boy grabs you from the start and keeps you going. The thing that makes this book so compelling is that you end up rooting for the "bad" guy.

The protagonist of this book is a ruthless professional killer who has earned the nickname that is the book's title. Nonetheless, you end up hoping he'll get away from the even more awful people who hire him, and the police (remember they're supposed to be the "good" guys).

Perry's descriptions of settings and characters in this, and all of his books, are excellent. This one is embellished by a tight plot and a point of view that is different from other novels.

I wish I hadn't given my copy away as the book is now hard to find. Perhaps a publisher will re-issue it; or it'll be made into a movie (hopefully a good one) that will bring it back on the shelves.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A violent anti-hero from a brilliant writer, April 28, 1998

By 

Beth Powanda (Santa Cruz, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Butcher's Boy (Hardcover)

Thomas Perry introduces the unpredictable Butcher's Boy in this book and continues the story years later in the novel Sleeping Dogs. Both books are great. This one won an Edgar award. Read everything you can by Perry. He's the best thriller writer going. Unlike some more popular writers in this genre, he can actually write.