Amazon.com: The Lure: Felice Picano: Books

Book Description

Publication Date: 1979

373 pages

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perspective, January 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lure (Hardcover)

I read this book in 1980 when it was featured as the Monthly Selection of the Literary Guild book club. I have since re-read the book 2 times. The setting is definitely dated. However, I believe it is a very important work because of the fact that two different book clubs featured the novel as "Selection of the Month". In 1979-1980 a book that featured the gay community, no matter what point-of-reference was unheard of. For readers that never experienced that era, the subject may seem ridiculous. However, this novel did much for the isolated in rural areas of the country that read a "mainstream" novel on a subject such as The Lure's. This novel's importance goes far beyond the subject, setting and characters included in its pages.

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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Picano's best book, January 15, 2002

By

DonMac "butchm" (Lynn, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)

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This review is from: The Lure (Hardcover)

Thrilling, funny, sexy and imaginative. I've re-read this one numerous times; it holds a permanent place in my library. A great story representative of its era. Sadly so much of Picano's other work is full of pretense. This is, I think, his only book where all of his characters are just that - and likable as well. A fun ride!

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling thriller set in New York's gay community, July 30, 2007

By

Benjamin (UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Lure: A Novel (Paperback)

Noel Cummings, university professor, young and more handsome than perhaps he realises, and physically fit, has recently lost his wife Monica, but is now doing well in his new lecturing post in New York. Then while cycle on an elevated highway he witnesses an horrific murder. When he tries to report it he is first accused of the crime himself; but then later finds himself enlisted by the police in helping track down the real culprit, the mysterious Mr X. This involves going undercover in the gay community under the code name The Lure.
Noel is soon totally immersed in his assignment and gay life; but in order not to blow his cover how far will he need to go prove that he is gay? How far can he trust his police boss? How will he cope when he finds himself strangely attracted to his supposed target Mr X with his reputation for sadistic M/M preferences, and equally attracted to Mr X's beautiful and aloof female lover and model?
Noel's world is turned upside down as he is drawn deeper and deeper into a word of gay sex and drugs, as he comes to learn things about himself he never knew. The deeper he gets the less sure he is of who he can trust, and the less sure he is of who is in control.
This all makes for a thrilling suspenseful adventure, fast paced and so well written. A fascinating mystery and game of psychology that grips the reader throughout, and which is made all the more compelling with its cast of appealing characters and ruthless villains. Highly recommended.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
I read this before in the late 80`s it was great then and is even better the second time around. I only wish the ending was a little different. Picano`s best by far.... Read more

Published 11 months ago

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read!
I gotta say, I loved that book. It didn't take me much time to finish it as it's usually the case. This book is still good after all those years. Read more

Published on February 7, 2007 by avid amazon customer

1.0 out of 5 stars Uh...are you kidding me?
What's with all the high praise?
The difference between a classic and a piece of...something that's not a classic...is its seeming timelessness. Read more

Published on May 30, 2002 by Reader

1.0 out of 5 stars I can't believe how much I disliked this book
Wow. I just finished reading this book, which I purchased on the basis of all the positive reviews. I can honestly say that I WANTED to like this book. Read more

Published on April 17, 2002 by L. Zupot

5.0 out of 5 stars A Thriller for the Ages
There's nothing wrong with this book. Nothing at all. Everything Picano put into print in this fine piece of fiction is absolutely mesmerizing. Read more

Published on April 8, 2002 by Get What We Give

5.0 out of 5 stars The Lure
Hi from Russia! It's three years since I've first read this book and I still consider it's the best or one of the best books I've EVER read. Read more

Published on June 29, 2001 by Helga

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Lure" lures you.
From the beginning, to the end, this book is a non-stop page turner. Main character Noel Cummings odessey into the Gay NYC life began with a scream in the night, and ended with... Read more

Published on April 5, 2000 by Douglas Cox

4.0 out of 5 stars A Truimph To Gay Writing
Take the mystery skills of Stephen King and Dean R Koontz, add the Character Sketches of Armistead Maupin of 'Tales of the City' and you have Felice Picano's 'The Lure'. Read more

Published on August 9, 1997

5.0 out of 5 stars Pager-Turner
Whether you're gay or straight, this book will appeal to you. It is a page-turner's page-turner. One of the most suspenseful stories I've ever read. Read more

Published on March 18, 1997

5.0 out of 5 stars One hell of a suspense ride through gay New York!!
The Lure stands up as one of the best "page-turners" I've ever read. It is set at a time in New York that was loved, feared, and now, perhaps missed. Read more

Published on February 10, 1997

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
Noel Cummings swerved his ten-speed bicycle to a stop at the railing and listened. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
reopening party

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Window Wall, Little Larry, Buddy Vega, Priscilla Vega, Randy Nerone, New York, West Street, Fire Island, Mirella Trent, Noel Cummings, Bar Sinister, Christopher Street, Larry Vitale, Geoff Malchuck, Sixth Avenue, Wilbur Boyle, Cal Goldberg, Hudson River, Paul Warshaw, Silver Cloud, Federal House of Detention, Fifty-seventh Street, San Francisco, Tea Dance, Bob Seltzer

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