Primary Target: A Quarry Novel [Hardcover]

Max Allan Collins (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The fifth "Quarry" novel (the first in hardcover and the first in 10 years) is fast and snappy. Ex-assassin narrator Quarry is offered a million dollars to kill a presidential candidate. Cozily retired, and with a pregnant young wife, Quarry refuses, becoming a "loose end" to dangerous men who kill his wife. He fakes his own death and heads for the Midwest headquarters of the candidate, a repulsive figure who has a conspiracy theory about Jews, bankers, the Mafia and the British Royal Family. After a great deal of bloody action, Quarry becomes the candidate's security boss. Readers will soon realize who the true "primary target" isthe twist at the end is no surprisebut they'll enjoy the lickety-split plotting and not mind Quarry's vulgar style. Collins's background in comics (Dick Tracy) is evident in the nonstop action, as is the sure hand one expects from the Shamus-winning author of the Mallory and the Nolan (Spree) series.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 190 pages
• Publisher: Countryman Pr; 1 edition (October 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881500984
• ISBN-13: 978-0881500981
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Max Allan Collins is a New York Times bestselling author of original mysteries, a Shamus award winner and an experienced author of movie adaptions and tie-in novels. His graphic novel ROAD TO PERDITION was made into a major motion picture by Tom Hank's production company, Playtone.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Has our hitman hero met his match when he takes on the U.S. political process?, May 1, 2007

By 

Joseph P. Menta, Jr. (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Primary Target (Bogie's Mystery) (Paperback)

If you enjoyed "The Last Quarry", the current (at this writing) thriller featuring Max Allan Collins' hitman protagonist, you can't go wrong with seeking out this earlier entry in the series. "Primary Target" features everything you expect from Collins: clean, no-nonsense writing, clever plot twists, wry asides (this time about politics), a little sex, and bang-up action. You can find a copy pretty easily through Amazon's network of used-book sellers, and it's worth the effort. Besides, you really have to love a book that honestly asks which is worse, honorable hitmen or crooked politicians.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific hit-man novel, July 18, 2006

By 

Craig Clarke "Living After Midnight: Hard and... (New England) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Primary Target (Bogie's Mystery) (Paperback)

Primary Target, first published in 1986, was Max Allan Collins' last Quarry novel until 2006's aptly named The Last Quarry. In this previous entry, Quarry is offered one million dollars to assassinate up-and-coming third-party presidential candidate Preston Freed. When he turns it down -- he is retired, after all -- there are major consequences and Quarry is forced to get back into the business he knows best: killing. Only this time, it's personal.

What results is a wonderfully intricate story where every character is connected to at least one other. Collins stretches out the suspense beautifully and only reveals the connections one by one, as Quarry discovers them himself. Collins' style is engaging as always and Quarry is a fascinating choice for a protagonist, given that he is only ever looking out for himself (although he does show a surprisingly tender side). Primary Target is exceptionally well-crafted, with every piece fitting firmly into place. It also has a perfect ending and is just the right length, coming in at just under 200 pages.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent little thriller, April 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Primary Target: A Quarry Novel (Hardcover)

A fine entry in an excellent series. And unlike many other series, events in one novel have ramifications in those that follow. Definitely worth buying.