The Butcher's Boy
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Thomas Perry is probably best known for his Jane Whitefield series, but he's written a lot of other good books. My second-favorite of his is THE BUTCHER'S BOY, his first novel.
The story is told from alternating POVs, that of the Butcher's Boy (we never learn his name) and that of DOJ analyst Elizabeth Waring. Waring is determined to prove herself and solve two murders that at first only she realized were connected. The Butcher's Boy is totally amoral although not sadistic. Murdering someone is just another job, but he takes it personally when one of the Mafia bosses tries to have him taken out. There's no real gory scenes but there is a high body count by the end.
Perry managed to make the Butcher's Boy sympathetic enough for me to root both for him and for Waring, the DOJ analyst trying to catch him. I liked the tension that results because Waring and the FBI are always two or three steps behind the carnage, frantically trying to figure out what's going on. The Butcher's Boy's memories of Eddie, who taught him to be a hit man, are sort of amusing and chilling at the same time. It's a good fast-moving story and deserved its 1983 Edgar Award win for Best First Mystery Novel.
The story is told from alternating POVs, that of the Butcher's Boy (we never learn his name) and that of DOJ analyst Elizabeth Waring. Waring is determined to prove herself and solve two murders that at first only she realized were connected. The Butcher's Boy is totally amoral although not sadistic. Murdering someone is just another job, but he takes it personally when one of the Mafia bosses tries to have him taken out. There's no real gory scenes but there is a high body count by the end.
Perry managed to make the Butcher's Boy sympathetic enough for me to root both for him and for Waring, the DOJ analyst trying to catch him. I liked the tension that results because Waring and the FBI are always two or three steps behind the carnage, frantically trying to figure out what's going on. The Butcher's Boy's memories of Eddie, who taught him to be a hit man, are sort of amusing and chilling at the same time. It's a good fast-moving story and deserved its 1983 Edgar Award win for Best First Mystery Novel.
