Sleeping Dogs

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not Great
Review: I'd heard so many positive things about Thomas Perry, and especially of "Butcher's Boy", that I was really looking forward to reading Sleeping Dogs (the sequel to "Butcher's Boy"). Perhaps my expectations were too high, as I found it good, but not great, fiction. The main character -in fact the original butcher's boy - is a "retired" assassin for the mob. Living incognito in England, he is forced to end his self-imposed exile through a series of accidental events. From there, our hero takes a death tour of what feels like the entire US, stopping long enough in each city to kill the resident mafia boss and as many of the local thugs who happen to get in the way. "Shaeffer" (or Wolfe, or ...) is the original one-man army - a killing machine who Rambo would die for. This, we are led to believe, is merely a diversion: both the syndicate and the feds believe it is just another mob war (For afterall, how could one man create such massive carnage across so many states?) Under the cover of this pseudo-war, Shaeffer is able to flee from both the bad guys and the Justice Dept, and vanish back into his life of peace and tranquility in England. If this all seems a bit unbelievable, it is. But "Dogs" is an entertaining story nonetheless. There are some interesting characters, some imaginative "hits", and enough action to hold interest and keep the pages turning. But neither the depth of plot nor the development of the primary chactacters reach the level of a four or five star read. Don't get me wrong - this is a much better way to pass a few hours than any of a similar genre from the best-selling authors (Patterson, Meltzer, Grisham...). But in the final analysis, I guess I was expecting just a little more meat from the "Butcher's Boy".

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not Great
Review: I'd heard so many positive things about Thomas Perry, and especially of "Butcher's Boy", that I was really looking forward to reading Sleeping Dogs (the sequel to "Butcher's Boy"). Perhaps my expectations were too high, as I found it good, but not great, fiction. The main character -in fact the original butcher's boy - is a "retired" assassin for the mob. Living incognito in England, he is forced to end his self-imposed exile through a series of accidental events. From there, our hero takes a death tour of what feels like the entire US, stopping long enough in each city to kill the resident mafia boss and as many of the local thugs who happen to get in the way. "Shaeffer" (or Wolfe, or ...) is the original one-man army - a killing machine who Rambo would die for. This, we are led to believe, is merely a diversion: both the syndicate and the feds believe it is just another mob war (For afterall, how could one man create such massive carnage across so many states?) Under the cover of this pseudo-war, Shaeffer is able to flee from both the bad guys and the Justice Dept, and vanish back into his life of peace and tranquility in England. If this all seems a bit unbelievable, it is. But "Dogs" is an entertaining story nonetheless. There are some interesting characters, some imaginative "hits", and enough action to hold interest and keep the pages turning. But neither the depth of plot nor the development of the primary chactacters reach the level of a four or five star read. Don't get me wrong - this is a much better way to pass a few hours than any of a similar genre from the best-selling authors (Patterson, Meltzer, Grisham...). But in the final analysis, I guess I was expecting just a little more meat from the "Butcher's Boy".

Rating:
Summary: The absolute best mystery book ever...
Review: If I could only give one book more than 5 stars this would be it. This book is my all time favorite... The writting is fantastic, spellbinding even, I really couldn't put this book down. I highly recomend it (like you care what I say)...

Rating:
Summary: The funniest, edge-of-your-seat thriller you'll ever read!
Review: If I found myself on a desert island . . . with only "Sleeping Dogs" to read - I'd be perfectly happy! I love Perry's Jane Whitfied series - but "Sleeping Dogs" is my all-time favorite. It's a masterfully written mystery (taut, suspenseful, fast-paced) and at the same time a wickedly "laugh until your teeth ache" dark comedy.

Rating:
Summary: Read on with the BOY
Review: Perry has gotten even better since Butcher's Boy if possible. We get to follow our new found 'anti-hero' and see how he cleans up lose ends. Perry has a master's talent at molding his characters. Wonderful reading!

Rating:
Summary: Read on with the BOY
Review: Perry has gotten even better since Butcher's Boy if possible. We get to follow our new found 'anti-hero' and see how he cleans up lose ends. Perry has a master's talent at molding his characters. Wonderful reading!

Rating:
Summary: Flawless
Review: Sleeping Dogs, I admit, was the first book I read by Thomas Perry. I have since read and enjoyed, to varying degrees, all his other works. I always come back to Sleeping Dogs though. It is definitely my favorite book, and when ever I read it, it's as if I've come home again. I realize it's almost scary to have a person sympathize with the Butcher's Boy as much as I do, but I constantly admire, appreciate, and understand his ruthless and logical approach to solving problems. I also felt that the "villains" in the book were incredibly fun, and provided a good balance. it's difficult to pick favorites, but Fratelli, the one who is infuriated more and more while trying to escape the Butcher's Boy, and shake off the clingy paranoid bank manager, as well As Bala himself with his unbelievable losing streak against his Gin partner in prison are definite stand outs to me. Also Jack Hamp, I felt, was a wonderful addition as the flip side of the coin to the Butcher's Boy. And of course, I fell in love with the Honourable Meg as well. Overall, I just feel this book is exciting, amusing, ironic, and just thoroughly enjoyable. The only fault I can find is that Perry's Mafia structure doesn't quite jive with reality, but it really doesn't matter. I keep trying to figure out if certain people are from New York, or if they're Chicago, but in Perry's world it seems like Mafia is Mafia, with no real seperation. And that doesn't ultimately matter. To sum up, I feel this book is flawless, and will probably continue to read it once a month until my eyes go.

Rating:
Summary: Great suspense novel. You'll even like the villian.
Review: Slow to start if you didn't read The Butchers's Boy. But, builds speed as it moves along. Some good twists and turns. Very suspensful.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Action And Suspense
Review: The specialist (from "The Butcher's Boy") is back. He's been laying low in England for the past ten years, when he is rudely thrust back into his old life. What follows is all based on one wrong assumption he makes. I was reminded of the time in the movie theater when the man in front of me got so caught up in the movie, he actually shouted at the screen, "Hey! You've got it all wrong. Wake up!". I was about to shout that that at this book, but I didn't want to startle the dog sleeping at my feet. I found the main character appealing even though he is an assassin. He is, after all, taking out the bad guys. There is lots of action and it's fun to see how he gets out of one scrape after another. I like the way Thomas Perry writes. As with his Jane Whitefield stories (she is a specialist too. She helps people disappear) he is clever, witty, sometimes even humorous, and he doesn't waste my time with unnecessary dialogue or endless descriptions. The ending was spectacular. You really got me with this one Mr. Perry.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Action And Suspense
Review: The specialist (from "The Butcher's Boy") is back. He's been laying low in England for the past ten years, when he is rudely thrust back into his old life. What follows is all based on one wrong assumption he makes. I was reminded of the time in the movie theater when the man in front of me got so caught up in the movie, he actually shouted at the screen, "Hey! You've got it all wrong. Wake up!". I was about to shout that that at this book, but I didn't want to startle the dog sleeping at my feet. I found the main character appealing even though he is an assassin. He is, after all, taking out the bad guys. There is lots of action and it's fun to see how he gets out of one scrape after another. I like the way Thomas Perry writes. As with his Jane Whitefield stories (she is a specialist too. She helps people disappear) he is clever, witty, sometimes even humorous, and he doesn't waste my time with unnecessary dialogue or endless descriptions. The ending was spectacular. You really got me with this one Mr. Perry.