Mr X [Paperback]

Nick Gaitano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 1995

Second tense and shocking police thriller in outstanding new sequence.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his first cop thriller, Special Victims, Gaitano killed off his hero, making a sequel unlikely. But here rookie Jake Phillips, an important player in that book, returns to lead another look at Chicago's seamier side. Jake's partner, top homicide cop Alex Mondello (Mondo), becomes the major suspect in the murder of a much-hated fellow cop who was shot to death while acting as bodyguard for a small-time lawyer, also murdered, who ran a telephone sex business. Readers meet Mr. X, a sadist whose vicious conversation can drive even hardened sex-line ladies into whimpering despair, and who had it out for the lawyer. A connection between Mr. X and Mondo is established as Gaitano spins out a series of odd but believable coincidences that draw much of the cast into the same web. Gaitano continues to deliver the unexpected so that readers can't be sure that any characters, even the principals, will survive; he limns particularly well the fragile relationship between Jake and his debutante wife. The violent conclusion leaves the door open for a return visit by some members of this cast in Gaitano's promised third novel.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Realistic Chicago locales and characters, dirty politics, and police corruption lend credence to Gaitano's chilling suspense. The unknown Mr. X poses a taunting and self-assured threat to his victims: his appearances as a phone-sex freak and his behind-the-scenes manipulations of paid informants create chills and heighten tension. Detectives Jake Phillips and Alex Mondello (Special Victims, LJ 1/94) struggle hard to unmask him, especially after Alex, on the outs with his wife, is blamed for the murder of a sleazy cop. A wonderfully constructed police procedural, complete with excitement, violence, and nerve-wracking narrative interruptions. A fine choice.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: Headline Feature (August 17, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747247501
• ISBN-13: 978-0747247500
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,306,047 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great cop story, January 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mr. X (Hardcover)

Gaitano's skills as a writer are a level or two above most mystery authors. Great hard-boiled, fast-paced cop story. This author knows and writes about Chicago better than any other mystery/thriller writer.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dont waste your time, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mr. X (Hardcover)

Having just finished this book id say-dont bother.Pulp fiction at its dreary worst,definetly for those who enjoy gratuitous mindless trash.Characters so stereotyped or simply detestable,the whole thing leaves you cold.I read this as a 'rest' between books of quality but why do i bother with modern populist bilge.Try Umberto Eco if you want modern quality or even Patricia Cornwell:ill stick to my Dickens,Nabakov,Dostoevsky,Joyce thanks all the same-and to think that a awriter like this might make a living producing 'writing' like this.Wow.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Dont waste your time, December 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Mr. X (Hardcover)

Having just finished this book id say-dont bother.Pulp fiction at its dreary worst,definetly for those who enjoy gratuitous mindless trash.Characters so stereotyped or simply detestable,the whole thing leaves you cold.I read this as a 'rest' between books of quality but why do i bother with modern populist bilge.Try Umberto Eco if you want modern quality or even Patricia Cornwell:ill stick to my Dickens,Nabakov,Dostoevsky,Joyce thanks all the same-and to think that a awriter like this might make a living producing 'writing' like this.Wow.