The Butcher's Boy [Paperback]

thomas perry (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Scribner's (1982)
• ASIN: B000YGJGK0
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)

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.