Nice: A Novel [Hardcover]

Jen Sacks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1998

Sexy, funny, and dark--this is the story of a nice girl who discovers that murder is the only way out of a dead-end relationship. But one man knows exactly what she's up to because he's exactly like Grace. He's a killer himself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The antiheroine of Sacks's amusing debut is a 30-year-old New York magazine editor named Grace. She's a grown-up girl who can't say no?to any man who asks her out, or who asks to sleep with her. And because she is so nice, she'd rather kill a man than hurt his feelings by indicating that she doesn't want to see him anymore. Complicating Grace's life is Sam, a Russian hit man with 25 years of experience in the killing field. Sam becomes aware of Grace when he's testing out new eavesdropping equipment; thereafter, his voice alternates with hers. Hooked, he continues to listen in on her life but doesn't meet her until she actually stands up to a man?who refuses to take no for an answer. After disposing of the body, Sam and Grace begin dating, leaving the reader to wonder if (a) a hired killer and an inspired killer can find true love, and (b) if one will end up murdering the other before the curtain falls. Those who don't mind a rather obvious satirical message with their dark humor will recognize Sacks's talent in getting readers to root for Grace as she learns how to be herself and say what she wants. Editor, Jennifer Enderlin; agent, Aaron Priest.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

Praise for NICE:

"Jen Sacks is a refreshing new talent. NICE is fast-paced, funny, and very sexy-BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY meets PRIZZI'S HONOR. Grace and Sam are truly the couple for the nineties. NICE is a black comedy with heart and a real page-turner as well." --Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author of CRITICAL JUDGMENT

"Fresh, darkly comic, and completely engaging." --Janet Evanovich, bestselling author of FOUR TO SCORE

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (August 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312193068
• ISBN-13: 978-0312193065
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,691,401 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Quirky, with fun elements, June 7, 2000

By 

Joseph Haschka (Glendale, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nice: An Edgar Award Nominee (Paperback)

Enter Grace, a thirty-ish young woman who hasn't the self-assurance to say "no". Thus, when faced with the escalating sexual demands of male friends, she doesn't know how to ratchet down the intensity. Rather than hurt their feelings with rejection, she kills them. Nothing personal, you understand, she only wants to be decent about it.

Enter Sam, a former KGB crack assassin. Now that the Cold war is over, he lives in the U.S. working as a contract killer. He encounters Grace while randomly testing a wireless eavesdropping system, and something in her demeanor prompts him to begin following her around. He becomes witness to her killings, and is fascinated by her modus operandi and what he speculates to be her motives and state of mind. He is smitten.

The book's 55 chapters - they're short - alternate back and forth between the Grace and Sam viewpoints. As the two eventually meet and establish a relationship, each acts as a therapist for the other. Grace acquires self-assurance and fortitude. Sam becomes a more compassionate hit man.

This novel by Jen Sacks is quirky enough to be worth buying. Some readers may also perceive in it nuggets of insight regarding the dating/mating ritual between the sexes. The ending is neither profound nor unexpected. It's, well ...NICE.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fascinating read that you won't be able to put down, January 12, 2008

By 

Margaux Paschke - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nice: An Edgar Award Nominee (Paperback)

This is truly a love story with a twist. I can't say enough good things about this novel. I will, however, provide a warning: this story is not for the warm and fuzzy romance reader. This author is refreshing and I keep looking to see if she has written anything else; although, it would be hard to top this extremely original plot. The main character, Grace, ends up killing her beaus and her latest has a dark side of his own. The back blurb touts this as a "Bridget Jones gone homocidal." Not even close, this one is much better. One could never be sure what the ending would entail. I couldn't put this book down. This author writes with wit and verve. One of the best finds I've made yet. The novel was an Edgar Award Nominee. I predict this novel will be turned into an independent movie one day.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not so "Nice", January 3, 2003

By 

L. Adversario (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Nice: A Novel (Hardcover)

When I read the premise of "Nice" I knew I had to read it -- a girl who is too nice to dump her boyfriends so she kills them instead. It sounded wicked and funny but instead it was just...dull.