The Mark (Henry Parker Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jason Pinter (Author)

Book Description

Series: Henry Parker Novels | Publication Date: June 26, 2007

Right as I'm about to die, I realize all the myths are fake. There's no white light at the end of a tunnel. My life isn't flashing before my eyes.

All I can think about is how much I want to live.

I moved to New York City a month ago to become the best journalist the world had ever seen. To find the greatest stories never told. And now here I am—Henry Parker, twenty-four years old and weary beyond rational thought, a bullet one trigger pull from ending my life.

I can't run. Running is all Amanda and I have done for the past seventy-two hours. And I'm tired. Tired of knowing the truth and not being able to tell it.

Five minutes ago I thought I had the story all figured out.

I knew that both of these men—one an FBI agent, the other an assassin—wanted me dead, but for very different reasons.

If I die tonight—more people will die tomorrow.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Debut novelist Pinter turns in a stellar performance, taking to the suspense-thriller field with great confidence and greater promise. Disappointed to find that his new job with the prestigious New York Gazette is all pap pieces and obits, 24-year-old freshman journalist Henry Parker jumps at the chance to work with the paper's top reporter on a where-are-they-now look at the scum of New York. Arriving at the apartment of ex-con Luis Guzman with some follow-up questions, Henry finds a scene right out of Goodfellas: a big guy pistol-whipping a terrified Guzman and his wife. Before Henry knows what's happening, the victims turn the table, the assailant is killed, and Henry is left holding the smoking gun. From there, the cub reporter goes on the run—his only ally an unsuspecting NYU coed—while trying figure out how he became wanted by the NYPD, the FBI and the mob. Though some of his situations can strain credibility, Pinter's a wizard at punching out page-turning action, and the voice of his headstrong protagonist is sure to win readers over; his wild ride should thrill any suspense junky. (July)
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Review

"...a heartfelt exploration of honor, ambition, and courage." -- Jeff Abbott

"A fast-paced, addictively suspenseful thriller...from the nail-biting first page to the explosive ending." -Allison Brennan -- Allison Brennan, author

"A gripping page-turner you won't be able to stop reading." -- James Patterson

"A hard-boiled thriller that cuts to the heart." -James Rollins -- James Rollins, author

"A page turner from the get go--I loved it" -- Heather Graham

"A remarkable debut." -- Steve Berry

"An excellent debut." -- Lee Child

"From the opening sentence to the exhilarating conclusion, Pinter's debut thriller gets the reader's heart racing." -- Library Journal (Starred Review)

A first-rate debut from an author who dares to take the traditional thriller in bold new directions." --Tess Gerritsen -- Tess Gerritsen, author

It's 'Front Page' meets 'The Sopranos,' with more than a little Scorsese thrown in." --Jeffery Deaver -- Jeffery Deaver, author

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Mira (June 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778324893
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324898
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #947,850 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jason Pinter is the bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Henry Parker series: THE FURY, THE STOLEN, THE GUILTY and THE MARK, which was optioned to be a major motion picture. He has been nominated for several awards, including the Thriller award, the Strand Critics award, the Shamus award, the Barry award, the CrimeSpree award and the RT Booklovers Reviewers Choice award. His books have been published in over a dozen countries in numerous languages and sold hundreds of thousands of copies around the world. At just twenty six years old, Jason was given a three book contract with MIRA Books, which was then extended to seven before his twenty-eighth birthday.

Prior to becoming a full time writer, Jason worked as a book editor for five years at three major publishing houses. Jason's weblog, "The Man in Black," (http://jasonpinter.blogspot.com) was named one of the top mystery blogs by Library Journal and one of the top writing and publishing blogs by Associated Content. He is a member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, and is a founding member of the author collective 'Killer Year.' KILLER YEAR: A Criminal Anthology, edited by Lee Child, was published by St. Martin's Press and MIRA Books in the UK and Australia. Jason lives in New York City with his wife Susan and their dog Wilson. He is currently at work on his next Henry Parker novel.

Visit me at www.jasonpinter.com or email me at [e-mail]. On Twitter? Follow me at www.jasonpinter.com/twitter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Straight Forward No-Nonsense Thriller, July 4, 2007

By 

RUDY "RW" (Oregon) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Mark (Henry Parker Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

With the popularity of The DaVinci Code, and other thrillers like it, I feel too many authors are trying to make their works too complex and too intelligent. Jason Pinter, whom I have never heard of and I am sure you may not have either, has burst onto the scene with an extremely readable straight forward thriller in the Hitchcockian theme of the wrong man at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I read this book in 3 days, felt it was somewhat plausible, but most of all felt it was time well spent. The main characters are fairly well drawn out, but this is really a plot driven story more than anything. If you want a fairly quick read and something perfect for the plane or the beach that can simply take you away from every day life and not make you think too hard...this is it.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good start to the series, June 16, 2008

By 

Aaron Harris (Fort Lauderdale) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Mark (Henry Parker Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I actually picked this book up after reading Pinter's second novel, THE GUILTY. While the plot isn't the most original ever created--guy accused of murder, teams up with a headstrong, sexy female counterpart to clear his name and find the truth--it's handled much better than most in the genre, mainly because Henry Parker is an engaging protagonist, and the voice of the character is different (in a good way) than most in crime fiction. This book adds a bit of backstory to the Parker and Amanda Davies characters, so after the grabbing opening chapter there's a short lull, but once the plot is set it motion it's an awfully hard book to put down. It's not perfect--there are some improbabilities (name me a thriller that doesn't have a few)--but it's a very strong first novel. Pinter's second book actually has a more original storyline, but this book works in many ways as a good opening chapter to a longer story. Paired up with THE GUILTY, these are strong initial entries in what should be a terrific series.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad...not great....but not bad, September 4, 2007

By 

J. Brandt (texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mark (Henry Parker Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

Okay, I'm still unsure of my rating so I'll give it three stars as a "happy medium." At times I enjoyed Pinter's first book. The main character, Henry Parker, is hired by a New York newspaper. The next thing you know he's interviewing a guy at an apartment as part of an assignment. Within a minute or so after he leaves the interview, all hell breaks loose and Henry Parker is on the run for his very life.

I liked the fast pace of the book as well as the dialogue and plot, but I have to admit I had a hard time believing that the main character could handle himself so well under such unbelievable circumstances. Everyone wants to kill him, but he somehow outsmarts/outwits or just plain gets lucky too many times in the book. Still, it's a good read (not great) and I think the author may be one to watch for years to come.