Valentine [Paperback]

Tom Savage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 2001

Suspense novelist Jillian Talbot finds her idyllic and fashionable life in Greenwich Village shattered by the pervasive attentions of a stalker, who grows more deadly as Valentine's Day approaches. 20,000 first printing. $20,000 ad/promo.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Though laden with gimmicks (murders that take place on St. Valentine's Day; a killer who slays by means of the ancient elements of fire, earth, wind and water), Savage's second thriller is a pleasurably crafty yarn, albeit not quite the puzzle box that his debut, Precipice, was. Bestselling mystery author Jillian Talbot is on top of the world: she has money, fame, a terrific lover, a baby on the way and a great best friend. Then she starts getting mysterious-and soon nasty-messages from an unknown "Valentine." Eventually, Jillian learns that she's being stalked by ex-college classmate Victor Dimorta, whose expulsion from Hartley College, prompted by a cruel Valentine's Day prank, sent him back to his abusive parents, whom he then killed. Now Victor is on parole from a mental hospital. After listening devices are found in Jillian's apartment, and after she finds out that the three women who pulled the prank-Victor mistakenly considers her a fourth-have each died or disappeared on the three preceding Valentine Days, she flees to a writers' retreat far out on Long Island. The subsequent bloody climax is a bit unlikely, but Savage tells his story smoothly-and the trail of red herrings he scatters as he does so is truly awesome. (Feb.) ~ FYI: When not writing, Savage works at Manhattan's Murder Ink, the world's oldest mystery book store.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

From the author of the "very suspenseful" Precipice (LJ 11/15/93): the story of a best-selling novelist who has it all, including the attentions of a stalker who calls himself Valentine.
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: 448 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (January 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451409787
• ISBN-13: 978-0451409782
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,659 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars UN-BEARABLE SUSPENSE!, January 6, 2001

By 

Nick G - See all my reviews

This review is from: Valentine (Paperback)

When four girlfriends play a horrible practical joke on a young man on Valentine's Day, they don't realize the pain and murder that will be afflicted upon them in years to come

The victim of the joke goes crazy...killing his family. While serving his prison term, with his hatred of the girls building up every day, he plans his revenge.

A new face, and a new name will give the opportunity to enact his revenge, thus begins the tormenting game of VALENTINE!

"Valentine" is EXCELLENT; the kind of thriller that will have you UP ALL NIGHT reading, and then telling all your friends about it the next day.

I read this book many years ago and decided to read it again(since it is being made into a movie), and it is still as suspenseful as the first time I read it.

Tom Savage has written several books, all of them really good, but none as good as this one! Every chapter contains a cliffhanger, and the ENDING...what a shocking ending.

A MUST read!!!

Nick Gonnella

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SIMPLY RIVETING!, January 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Valentine (Paperback)

I definitely could not put this book down. It truly contained all the elements of a first-rate thriller! And the surprise ending -- WOW! Unlike many so-called psychological thrillers out there on the book market today, this one had an ending that was completely satisifying and commensurate with the level and build-up of suspense preceding it. Unfortunately it seems that many novels in the thriller genre today are admmitedly suspenseful, but invariably lead to a disappointing conclusion. This one does not disappoint! It is well worth the time to read it, and I assure you it won't take long to read because of the intense level of suspense. It will keep you up way into the wee hours ... but make sure you keep ALL the lights on!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tom Savage--Valentine: A Novel, May 22, 2004

By 

The Tweeder "tweeder16" (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Valentine (Paperback)

"Valentine" is a suprisingly stylish, well-written thriller that far surpasses any of Savage's other work. While "Precipice" and "Scavenger" were good novels of supense and terror, this 1997 masterpiece is one of the most enjoyable, riveting of its kind made in the late 1990s.

Jillian Talbot is a mystery novelist who has finally cashed in on her hard work and has become a true success. She has an excellent boyfriend and best friend and she feels as if life could get no better. When she returns home from work one night, she discovers a Valentine's Day card in her home, only to realize that it is an eerie threat towards her survival. As the threats become more venomous, sincere, and close to home, Jillian must run not only from a killer, but the soul of a man she crushed with a college prank.

Savage's antagonist, Victor Dimorta, is a first-rate evil killer, using his excessive charm and wit to bed women who are close to Jillian, only to kill them using the earth's essential elements (such as fire, wind, and water). As Dimorta gets closer and closer to Jillian, the novel unravels at a thunderous, hair-raising pace that magic-carpets to a wonderfully demonic finish. Beautifully sculptured story with just enough humor and wit, but overall a hauntingly exceptional read that will go down as a truly under-rated work of suspense.