Scavenger [Hardcover]

Tom Savage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 3, 2000

"Marvelously effective . . . a truly surprising twist. A stylish suspense novel."-The Washington Post Book World (on Valentine)

Tom Savage, the acclaimed author of Valentine, leads us on a dark journey into madness. In Scavenger, mystery writer Mark Stevenson has just published a bestselling novel based on a decade-old series of unsolved murders. The serial killer-known as "the Family Man"-murdered entire families, always on national holidays. Out of the blue, Mark is contacted by a stranger, calling himself "Scavenger," who claims to know the truth behind his fiction. Scavenger proposes that Mark play a game with him-a nationwide hunt in which Mark will revisit the original crime scenes, ultimately leading to unmasking the Family Man's true identity. Mark must find out, but he gradually realizes that the evil scavenger hunt is more complicated and deadly than he could ever have anticipated. It becomes a race against time to complete the game before more people are killed-including himself. Scavenger is Tom Savage's most shocking novel to date.

"As good and surprising as anything I have read in years. Do not peek at the last page!"-Nelson DeMille (on Precipice)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Savage enters the realm of the serial killer with this blood-soaked tale, whose creepy killer goes by the name the Family Man. He's acquired this epithet because he wipes out entire familiesApets includedAthen poses the bodies in scenes of domestic contentment, such as sitting around the fireplace or in front of the Christmas tree. Now, more than a decade after the last of these unsolved murders, mystery writer Mark Stevenson has just published a bestselling novel based on the horrific crimes. Taped to the door of his Greenwich Village apartment, Stevenson discovers a computer diskette that contains a message from a person calling himself Scavenger, who hints that he knows the truth behind the Family Man case. Scavenger says he will tell all, as long as Stevenson is willing to play a game of scavenger hunt. The writer agrees, following a series of clues that lead him to each of the crime scenesANew Orleans, Los Angeles, rural Illinois and two in New York. Along the way, he runs across more dead bodies and escapes the deadly clutches of someone who's following his every move. Why would Stevenson agree to play such a macabre and dangerous game? Unbeknownst to almost everyone, he's the lone survivor of one of the families that was slaughtered, and he wants revenge. He finally gets the chance in the inevitable showdown in an abandoned farmhouse outside New York City. Savage (Valentine; Inheritance) keeps his story briskly paced, yet several scenes strain believability and much of the dialogue and descriptions are overly dramatic. The homestretch of the novel is laden with guessable revelations and a disappointingly thin explanation for what's behind the Family Man's monstrous behavior. (Jan.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This intricate thriller begins with another. Mark Stevenson's new novel is a thinly disguised recounting of the exploits of "The Family Man," an elusive serial killer who killed entire families (including housekeepers and pets) across the countryAand then stopped suddenly without being apprehended. The novel attracts the attention of the mysterious "Scavenger," who challenges Mark to a scavenger hunt. If Mark follows the clues and successfully finds all of the prizes, he will eventually be led to the Family Man's identity. How could any writer resist? What follows is an irresistible and deadly contest with a truly surprising and twisted ending. Savage's fourth thriller (after The Inheritance) is a real winner; you'll be tempted to cheat and read the ending half way through. Fans of James Patterson will be delighted. Recommended.ARebecca House Stankowski, Purdue Univ. Calumet Lib., Hammond, IN
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 275 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (January 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525945385
• ISBN-13: 978-0525945383
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,664,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, February 1, 2000

By 

Ellen Bales "starwriter" (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scavenger (Hardcover)

With the release of "Scavenger" Tom Savage has become one of my very favorite authors. His other three were also excellent, but this one was by far the best yet! I thought I was very smart and had the ending all figured out, but Mr. Savage put me in my place with one of the greatest twists ever invented. I can't wait for the next book. Hurry up, Mr. Savage!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Man Of Many Parts, April 22, 2002

By 

Bruce Rux (Aurora, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scavenger (Paperback)

Hitchcock would have loved Tom Savage. He has a talent for creating a heightened dramatic realism that manages to stay just credible enough to allow suspension of disbelief, and his plots are exceedingly intricate and well thought out.

Newly celebrated author Mark Stevenson writes a popular mystery based on the real-life exploits of a never-apprehended serial killer called The Family Man, and becomes the target of someone calling himself "Scavenger." Scavenger involves Stevenson in a deadly clue-hunting game of cat-and-mouse, with the prize being the revelation of The Family Man's true identity. Along the way, a few new victims are tallied...

Jaded mystery and suspense buffs may find themselves a jump or two ahead of this one, but it doesn't matter. Savage's usual talent for creating characters who are not what they seem is at its best, here. He is skillful at misdirection, and always manages to provide a few surprises even to those who figure out some of the major plot twists before the end.

Most importantly, Savage delivers. He promises much, and actually delivers more. The reader is taken on the same merry rollercoaster ride as Mark Stevenson throughout the book, with not a few clammy, white-knuckle moments, and a great deal of tension. It can only whet the reader's appetite to know in advance that there are echoes of Seven and Strangers On A Train in this book, because anyone thinking they can figure out what's going on by being in possession of that knowledge will be duly and truly surprised when they discover Savage's variations on the themes.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tom Savage - mystery writers best kept secret, January 20, 2000

By 

Dunn Neugebauer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scavenger (Hardcover)

He's done it again! I'm surprised Tom Savage isn't more of a household name. Scavenger, like his previous works, was easy to read, contained an excellent twist at the end, and keeps you on your toes the whole way through. Tom Savage, keep writing!