- Paperback: 240 pages
- Publisher: Pan Books (5 Feb 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330371576
- ISBN-13: 978-0330371575
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 11 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,583,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Grace is such a nice woman that she wouldn't turn down a date if asked. She's so nice that rather than hurt a chap's feelings by dumping him, she'd spare his distress by killing him. When Sam discovers this bizarre behaviour, he thinks he's met the woman of his dreams - he's a professional hit man! This darkly comic story, narrated by each character in turn, never fails to entertain. The question is - can murderers like Sam and Grace both survive the relationship? Sacks is a fresh voice with an original tale to tell. (Kirkus UK)
How does a nice girl find love in Manhattan? Grace tries by murdering all the undesirable men she comes across in this, Sacks's first novel - an offbeat comedy on the complications of modern dating rites. Grace is a "nice" girl - and therein lies her problem. She just can't bear to hurt men's feelings (say, at that crucial moment when they reach for some sexual intimacy), so instead of letting them down gently she finds it far easier to smother them with a pillow or push them into the Hudson. Feeling justified and completely remorseless, Grace meanwhile continues her busy life as a journalist for a political magazine. But unbeknownst to her, Sam has been watching her all along (the story is told in alternating narratives, Grace's and Sam's). A Russian assassin now in private practice since the end of the Cold War, Sam first spots Grace while randomly testing some new eavesdropping equipment in a bar she frequents. Strangely intrigued, he follows her and her unlucky date home, witnessing her subsequent disposal of the body; and when he watches number two hit the river, he knows he has found his soulmate. Date number three exhibits a violent streak, leading Grace to another (though more justifiable) murder. Sam gallantly gets rid of the body for her, his way of introduction, and the two begin an edgy romance, despite Sam's fear that Grace may be turning into a serial killer and her secret worry that she'll have to him if he becomes too fond of her. Added to the complicated relationship is Sam's new-found respect for life - paid hits lack the excitement they once aroused. Will this couple end up killing each other? Will they find consummate happiness? Sacks's slim story otters few real surprises, though it manages to pull its own weight with droll humor and surprisingly sympathetic characters. An entertaining (if narrow-in-scope) take on women who just can't say no. (Kirkus Reviews)
How does a nice girl find love in Manhattan? Grace tries by murdering all the undesirable men she comes across in this, Sacks's first novel - an offbeat comedy on the complications of modern dating rites. Grace is a "nice" girl - and therein lies her problem. She just can't bear to hurt men's feelings (say, at that crucial moment when they reach for some sexual intimacy), so instead of letting them down gently she finds it far easier to smother them with a pillow or push them into the Hudson. Feeling justified and completely remorseless, Grace meanwhile continues her busy life as a journalist for a political magazine. But unbeknownst to her, Sam has been watching her all along (the story is told in alternating narratives, Grace's and Sam's). A Russian assassin now in private practice since the end of the Cold War, Sam first spots Grace while randomly testing some new eavesdropping equipment in a bar she frequents. Strangely intrigued, he follows her and her unlucky date home, witnessing her subsequent disposal of the body; and when he watches number two hit the river, he knows he has found his soulmate. Date number three exhibits a violent streak, leading Grace to another (though more justifiable) murder. Sam gallantly gets rid of the body for her, his way of introduction, and the two begin an edgy romance, despite Sam's fear that Grace may be turning into a serial killer and her secret worry that she'll have to him if he becomes too fond of her. Added to the complicated relationship is Sam's new-found respect for life - paid hits lack the excitement they once aroused. Will this couple end up killing each other? Will they find consummate happiness? Sacks's slim story otters few real surprises, though it manages to pull its own weight with droll humor and surprisingly sympathetic characters. An entertaining (if narrow-in-scope) take on women who just can't say no. (Kirkus Reviews)
Product Description
Grace is a nice girl. She can't stand the thought of hurting anyone's feelings. The problem is she usually wants out of her relationships first. So rather than break up with her boyfriend, she murders them. But one man is just like Grace. What happens when two murderers fall in love?
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quirky, with fun elements,
By
This review is from: Nice (Paperback)
Enter Grace, a thirty-ish young woman who hasn't the self-assurance to say "no". Thus, when faced with the escalating sexual demands of male friends, she doesn't know how to ratchet down the intensity. Rather than hurt their feelings with rejection, she kills them. Nothing personal, you understand, she only wants to be decent about it.Enter Sam, a former KGB crack assassin. Now that the Cold war is over, he lives in the U.S. working as a contract killer. He encounters Grace while randomly testing a wireless eavesdropping system, and something in her demeanor prompts him to begin following her around. He becomes witness to her killings, and is fascinated by her modus operandi and what he speculates to be her motives and state of mind. He is smitten. The book's 55 chapters - they're short - alternate back and forth between the Grace and Sam viewpoints. As the two eventually meet and establish a relationship, each acts as a therapist for the other. Grace acquires self-assurance and fortitude. Sam becomes a more compassionate hit man. This novel by Jen Sacks is quirky enough to be worth buying. Some readers may also perceive in it nuggets of insight regarding the dating/mating ritual between the sexes. The ending is neither profound nor unexpected. It's, well ...NICE.
4.0 out of 5 stars
brillant!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Nice (Paperback)
It's been a well known fact that it's always the quiet ones that you should watch out for and this book almost proves it. I think most people will recognise parts of Grace in themselves, polite, well brought up, completely incapable of committing to anything more demanding then a pot plant etc. One of the great unsolved mysteries of our time is how do I dump someone gracefully without hurting their feelings or give them a license to stalk me because I accidentally gave them hope for the future? Grace accidentally hits on an almost foolproof but quite messy way of dealing with the problem. Unfortunately like a lot of things in life someone inevitably finds out and that's when the fun starts, Grace finds herself dating a professional assassin who is more then a little concerned about her odd habit.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brillant,
By A Customer
This review is from: Nice (Paperback)
This book is brillant, I have recommended it to all my friends and they totally agree with me. All I can honestly say is that Grace hits on a rather unorthodox method of ending her relationships that might not be to everyones taste but it doesn't mean the reader can't thoroughly enjoy it.
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