- Hardcover: 313 pages
- Publisher: Constable; First Edition edition (11 Oct 1982)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0094648107
- ISBN-13: 978-0094648104
- Product Dimensions: 20.8 x 14.5 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,818,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
A stunning debut . . . a brilliantly plotted thriller.' The Washington Post
A shrewdly planned and executed thriller.' The New York Times Book Review
Thomas Perry has hit the mark.' Houston Chronicle
Totally enthralling.' The New Yorker --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
A shrewdly planned and executed thriller.' The New York Times Book Review
Thomas Perry has hit the mark.' Houston Chronicle
Totally enthralling.' The New Yorker --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
A stunning debut ... a brilliantly plotted thriller.' The Washington Post A shrewdly planned and executed thriller.' The New York Times Book Review Thomas Perry has hit the mark.' Houston Chronicle 'Totally enthralling.' The New Yorker
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Thomas Perry has never reached the popularity of many "revenge" writers (including Shakespeare), but his "Butcher's Boy" (and its successor, "Sleeping Dogs"), is a true classic, the Bard nothwithstanding. What happens if you're a very good hired killer and the Mob doesn't pay you out after your flawlessly executed last job? You let the devil loose between the pigeons. Yes the guy is amoral - thou shall not kill and all that - but he has a brutal code of honour, and you can't help cheering for him. I wonder if Carol O'Connell, with her Mallory novels, didn't pinch at least a little of Perry's flavour! Oh, and don't forget his Jane Whitefield novels either.
Format:Audio CD
read this after reading silence by the same author, completely different to silence but just as enjoyable, makes a refreshing change to read an author where his books are not all on a similar theme
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
49 reviews
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Terrific Unusual Thriller
29 Mar 2002
Format:Paperback
Butcher's Boy grabs you from the start and keeps you going. The thing that makes this book so compelling is that you end up rooting for the "bad" guy.
The protagonist of this book is a ruthless professional killer who has earned the nickname that is the book's title. Nonetheless, you end up hoping he'll get away from the even more awful people who hire him, and the police (remember they're supposed to be the "good" guys).
Perry's descriptions of settings and characters in this, and all of his books, are excellent. This one is embellished by a tight plot and a point of view that is different from other novels.
I wish I hadn't given my copy away as the book is now hard to find. Perhaps a publisher will re-issue it; or it'll be made into a movie (hopefully a good one) that will bring it back on the shelves.
47 of 52 people found the following review helpful
The book is a Killer-Thriller
22 Jun 2003
Format:Paperback
Thomas Perry's first novel is a Killer-Thriller! I had read "Sleeping Dogs"(the sequal) before I read "The Butchers Boy". Both books are great. I am glad they re-printed "The Butchers Boy" because it explains a lot I missed when reading
"Sleeping Dogs". However, each book can stand alone without the other. The "Butchers Boy" is about a hitman that is double crossed by the mob after he completed some contract(killing) work for them. It also tells the story of the Department of Justice Field Agent that is trying to tie all the killings together. It is a race to the end to find the missing link that will tie the knot to this killer-thriller. Also don't miss the few chapters that introduces us to the much loved "jane whitefield series" the lady that can make you disappear. I hope Perry brings that series back-it was one of his best. "Butchers Boy is a good read!
"Sleeping Dogs". However, each book can stand alone without the other. The "Butchers Boy" is about a hitman that is double crossed by the mob after he completed some contract(killing) work for them. It also tells the story of the Department of Justice Field Agent that is trying to tie all the killings together. It is a race to the end to find the missing link that will tie the knot to this killer-thriller. Also don't miss the few chapters that introduces us to the much loved "jane whitefield series" the lady that can make you disappear. I hope Perry brings that series back-it was one of his best. "Butchers Boy is a good read!
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
A violent anti-hero from a brilliant writer
29 April 1998
Format:Hardcover
Thomas Perry introduces the unpredictable Butcher's Boy in this book and continues the story years later in the novel Sleeping Dogs. Both books are great. This one won an Edgar award. Read everything you can by Perry. He's the best thriller writer going. Unlike some more popular writers in this genre, he can actually write.
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