A Dangerous Man: A Novel: Hank Thompson Trilogy, Book 3
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Product Description
“Among the new voices in twenty-first-century crime fiction, Charlie Huston . . . is where it’s at.”
–The Washington Post
“Huston writes dialogue so combustible it could fuel a bus and characters crazy enough to take it on the road.”
–The New York Times Book Review
Reluctant hitman Henry Thompson has fallen on hard times. His grip on life is disintegrating, his pistol hand shaking, his body pinned to his living room couch by painkillers–and his boss, Russian mobster David Dolokhov, isn’t happy about any of it. So Henry is surprised when he’s handed a new assignment: keep tabs on a minor league baseball star named Miguel Arenas.
Henry has no pity for the slugger and the wicked gambling problem that got him in trouble, but he can’t help liking the guy. After all, Henry used to be just like him: a natural-born ball player with a bright future. But hell, that was long ago. Before Henry did some guy a favor and ended up running for his life. Before his girlfriend and buddies got gunned down by someone on his tail. Before he agreed to buy his parents’ safety with a life of violence.
And when Miguel gets drafted by the Mets and is sent to the Brooklyn Cyclones, Henry must head back to New York, back to the place where all his problems began–and where Henry might find a real reason to keep living, a reason that may just cost him his life.
“Huston reminds me of all my favorite writers–Pete Dexter, Robert Stone, Crumley. If there is such a thing as compassionate noir, Charlie has found it. He’s a true marvel.”
–Ken Bruen, author of The Guards
“Charlie Huston is the real deal.”
–Peter Straub
–The Washington Post
“Huston writes dialogue so combustible it could fuel a bus and characters crazy enough to take it on the road.”
–The New York Times Book Review
Reluctant hitman Henry Thompson has fallen on hard times. His grip on life is disintegrating, his pistol hand shaking, his body pinned to his living room couch by painkillers–and his boss, Russian mobster David Dolokhov, isn’t happy about any of it. So Henry is surprised when he’s handed a new assignment: keep tabs on a minor league baseball star named Miguel Arenas.
Henry has no pity for the slugger and the wicked gambling problem that got him in trouble, but he can’t help liking the guy. After all, Henry used to be just like him: a natural-born ball player with a bright future. But hell, that was long ago. Before Henry did some guy a favor and ended up running for his life. Before his girlfriend and buddies got gunned down by someone on his tail. Before he agreed to buy his parents’ safety with a life of violence.
And when Miguel gets drafted by the Mets and is sent to the Brooklyn Cyclones, Henry must head back to New York, back to the place where all his problems began–and where Henry might find a real reason to keep living, a reason that may just cost him his life.
“Huston reminds me of all my favorite writers–Pete Dexter, Robert Stone, Crumley. If there is such a thing as compassionate noir, Charlie has found it. He’s a true marvel.”
–Ken Bruen, author of The Guards
“Charlie Huston is the real deal.”
–Peter Straub
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Firstly, Have you read 'Caught Stealing' and 'Six Bad things'? If not, go away now. A Dangerous Man is the final installment in a tautly plotted trilogy and you must not cheat yourself of the outstanding experience waiting for you when you start at 1 and go through them in order.
Huston is an undervalued mastermind and this book continues the adventures of Hank Thompson in brutal, realistic and unpredictable fashion. Rarely have I wanted to burn through a book faster and at the same time, cursed myself as I speeded up my arival at the final page. I didn't want the story to end.
Through the horrific experiences of the previous stories, Hank has now become the dangerous man of the title. Caught between obligation to his new life and love for his old, wracked by guilt and desperate for redemption, he lurches towards the confrontation with the man behind his original downfall. And, most impressively, Huston keeps his own courage as a writer, giving Hank the ending he has wrought upon himself and not the ending we think he deserves.
Brilliant.
Huston is an undervalued mastermind and this book continues the adventures of Hank Thompson in brutal, realistic and unpredictable fashion. Rarely have I wanted to burn through a book faster and at the same time, cursed myself as I speeded up my arival at the final page. I didn't want the story to end.
Through the horrific experiences of the previous stories, Hank has now become the dangerous man of the title. Caught between obligation to his new life and love for his old, wracked by guilt and desperate for redemption, he lurches towards the confrontation with the man behind his original downfall. And, most impressively, Huston keeps his own courage as a writer, giving Hank the ending he has wrought upon himself and not the ending we think he deserves.
Brilliant.
Format:Paperback
I read Charlie Huston's vampire series first and loved it so thought I would try his earlier work, which can be a risk with an author as early stuff tends not to live up to more established works in my opinion but in this case I couldnt be more wrong.
My only criticism is that I didnt want the series to end! I found myself cheering Hank on even after all the bad things he has done, you dont want anything bad to actually happen to him and are secretly hoping for a happy ending. I was actually gutted at the end.
If you havent read the other books in the series, you have to as you need the back story to get the full effect of this one but you wont be disappointed.
If you only pick one author, make it Charlie Huston. He makes is so real you think you actually know Hank. It would make a great movie.
My only criticism is that I didnt want the series to end! I found myself cheering Hank on even after all the bad things he has done, you dont want anything bad to actually happen to him and are secretly hoping for a happy ending. I was actually gutted at the end.
If you havent read the other books in the series, you have to as you need the back story to get the full effect of this one but you wont be disappointed.
If you only pick one author, make it Charlie Huston. He makes is so real you think you actually know Hank. It would make a great movie.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
48 reviews
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
"Everyone Who's Helped You is Dead, Yo!"
24 Sep 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a huge Charlie Huston fan, and anxiously awaited this finale to the Henry Thompson trilogy. And I wasn't disappointed: Huston is back in all his quirky quotation mark-free dialogue and non-linear storyline glory.
A lot has happened to Henry since "Six Bad Things" - and not much of it good. To keep his parents alive, he's been impressed into service by Russian mobster "David" as a hit man, running under the tutelage of Branko, the stone cold killing pro who is both Henry's mentor and watchdog. In order to protect his identity, Henry's been given some amateur cosmetic surgery, the butchery to his face leaving him in constant pain and effectively addicted to painkillers. Moving from one Las Vegas dive to the next, from one contract kill to another. Until David assigns him to keep a watchful eye over Miguel "Mike" Arenas, number one pick in the Major League baseball draft. See, young Mike is also a gambling addict, and has turned over most of his multi-million dollar signing bonus to the bookie David runs.
If "Caught Stealing" and "Six Bad Things" were dark, "A Dangerous Man" is downright stygian. If you remember Nicholas Cage in "Leaving Las Vegas", this makes that morose drama seem uplifting - a virtual "Rocky" by comparison. Henry, the flawed but mostly lovable victim of mistaken identity in the first two outings, is less likable this time around. Drugged out, depressed, overweight, and scared, he stumbles through the pages with little energy and less hope. But that is the power of Huston's writing - bleak, gritty, and ultimately as addicting as Henry's Xanax and Dexedrine cocktails. Dark, yeah, but poignant and unsettling - a fitting and unforgettable close to a blockbuster trilogy from today's most talented new author of noir.
A lot has happened to Henry since "Six Bad Things" - and not much of it good. To keep his parents alive, he's been impressed into service by Russian mobster "David" as a hit man, running under the tutelage of Branko, the stone cold killing pro who is both Henry's mentor and watchdog. In order to protect his identity, Henry's been given some amateur cosmetic surgery, the butchery to his face leaving him in constant pain and effectively addicted to painkillers. Moving from one Las Vegas dive to the next, from one contract kill to another. Until David assigns him to keep a watchful eye over Miguel "Mike" Arenas, number one pick in the Major League baseball draft. See, young Mike is also a gambling addict, and has turned over most of his multi-million dollar signing bonus to the bookie David runs.
If "Caught Stealing" and "Six Bad Things" were dark, "A Dangerous Man" is downright stygian. If you remember Nicholas Cage in "Leaving Las Vegas", this makes that morose drama seem uplifting - a virtual "Rocky" by comparison. Henry, the flawed but mostly lovable victim of mistaken identity in the first two outings, is less likable this time around. Drugged out, depressed, overweight, and scared, he stumbles through the pages with little energy and less hope. But that is the power of Huston's writing - bleak, gritty, and ultimately as addicting as Henry's Xanax and Dexedrine cocktails. Dark, yeah, but poignant and unsettling - a fitting and unforgettable close to a blockbuster trilogy from today's most talented new author of noir.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
A fitting ending to the series!
23 Sep 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'll have to agree with the other reviewer as well. This is an excellent end to the series. So boys and girls, don't start here. Go back to book one first. Now, if you've read the other two, then this one won't disappoint at all. It picks up right from the end of book two and goes full speed ahead.
There's something about Charlie Huston's writing style that is unique as well. You get both the dialog but also a sense of what the character is thinking from a narrative view as well. And it is not hard to follow as you might think.
I'm a fan. Read and enjoy
There's something about Charlie Huston's writing style that is unique as well. You get both the dialog but also a sense of what the character is thinking from a narrative view as well. And it is not hard to follow as you might think.
I'm a fan. Read and enjoy
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Talk about an anti-hero!
27 Dec 2006
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Henry Thompson was a really nice guy.
The operative word is 'was' because what he has descended to over the course of 'Caught Stealing', 'Six Bad Things', and 'A Dangerous Man' is anything but the life he thought he was going to have. He has a new face, an addiction to several new drugs, and a wide array of people who want to kill him, slowly. Oh yes, and there is the matter of the missing $4,000,000.
Not a good life.
But what a great end to a tremendous series. Huston is a master of non-linear plot lines, crackling dialogue, and constant surprises. The return to New York is welcome, as it was always his best locale. The subplot with the baseball player gives Huston a chance to share his love of the game and the young men who play for our enjoyment.
Although the ending was not what I expected, upon reflection I don't see how he could have ended the series any other way and maintained plausibility. It's a fitting end that ties up virtually every plot line opened up in all three books.
If you're new to Huston, please follow the advice of all the reviewers and read the books in the order they were written. Taking them out of order will really spoil the earlier books for you.
And like a couple of the other reviewers, I also recommend strongly the Joe Pitt books. 'Almost Dead' is a tour de force. You'll never think about vampires the same way again.
The operative word is 'was' because what he has descended to over the course of 'Caught Stealing', 'Six Bad Things', and 'A Dangerous Man' is anything but the life he thought he was going to have. He has a new face, an addiction to several new drugs, and a wide array of people who want to kill him, slowly. Oh yes, and there is the matter of the missing $4,000,000.
Not a good life.
But what a great end to a tremendous series. Huston is a master of non-linear plot lines, crackling dialogue, and constant surprises. The return to New York is welcome, as it was always his best locale. The subplot with the baseball player gives Huston a chance to share his love of the game and the young men who play for our enjoyment.
Although the ending was not what I expected, upon reflection I don't see how he could have ended the series any other way and maintained plausibility. It's a fitting end that ties up virtually every plot line opened up in all three books.
If you're new to Huston, please follow the advice of all the reviewers and read the books in the order they were written. Taking them out of order will really spoil the earlier books for you.
And like a couple of the other reviewers, I also recommend strongly the Joe Pitt books. 'Almost Dead' is a tour de force. You'll never think about vampires the same way again.
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