Strip

A Novel

By: Thomas Perry

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 11 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

An aging but formidable strip-club owner, Claudiu "Manco" Kapak, has been robbed by a masked gunman as he placed his cash receipts in a bank's night-deposit box. Enraged, he sends his half-dozen security men out to find a suspect who is spending lots of cash and is new enough to Los Angeles not to know he was robbing a gangster.

Their search leads them to Joe Carver, an innocent but hardly defenseless newcomer who evades capture and sets out to make Kapak wish he'd chosen someone else.

Meanwhile, the real culprit, Jefferson Davis Falkins, and his new girlfriend, Carrie, seem to believe they've found a whole new profession: robbing Manco Kapak. Lieutenant Nick Slosser, the police detective in charge of the puzzling and increasingly violent case, has his own troubles, including worries about how he's going to afford to send the oldest child of each of his two bigamous marriages to college without making their mothers suspicious.

As this odd series of difficulties explodes into a triple killing, Carver finds himself in the middle of a brewing gang war over Kapak's little empire, while Falkins and Carrie journey into territory more strange and violent than either had imagined.

©2010 Thomas Perry (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

“Perry's exquisite timing and finesse provide near perfect endings to the multiple story lines and make this escapist reading at its best.” ( Publishers Weekly)

Marvelous romp thru colorful LA gangsterland.

Mr. Perry can write. You know from the first chapter that this is true. The clash between two Hummers and a large construction crane is just perfect. The clash between Joe Carver and Manka Kapak is also just perfect. Michael Kramer is also a great narrator. This book has everything going for it. Perry sends the plot through hoops and fast turns. The gangsters are terrific. Joe Carver is a hero with full dimensions. Richard Spence, Kapak's right-hand-man, is also a clever creation, cool and smart, smarter than his boss but clever enough to hide that and take orders from Kapak. Even the cops are complicated. Lt. Schlosser's life becomes so unusual that you will never ever be able to predict where it goes. The plot keeps accelerating. This is not a page-turner in the usual Clancy mode. You will be drawn into the lives of these people, even though many of them are people who many of us might think of as low-lifes. Even the so-called minor characters like Jefferson Davis and Melisande Carr are sharply drawn and wildly interesting. You will feel Manka Kapak's life closing in on him, and yet you will not be able to predict any aspect of the end of the book, which throws you through several surprises. I heartily recommend this book. I can't imagine a listener to this genre being disappointed by it. It provides a dozen hours of great entertainment. I look forward to more of the work of both Mr. Perry and Mr. Kramer.

Love Thomas Perry's books

I love Thomas Perry's books. You get very immersed in the characters. The narrator is very good - just what works for Perry's books.

Worth a credit.

I thought the book started off a bit "iffy", but soon found it good. I had a lot going on while trying to listen to this book, so I may not have given it enough credit. Will definitely check out more books by this author.

great Perry

I have listened to every Thomas Perry book and this is just as great--
It was so worth the credit. good story and good characters

Good book, one of those can't wait to listen more

What did you love best about Strip?

The story was good, the characters were interesting, the drama and twists held my attention and kept the story exciting. I look forward to another Perry novel as I was nearing the end.

What other book might you compare Strip to and why?

I cannot think of any at this moment but will consider Thomas Perry among my usual authors.

What does Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He is a great narrator, I will listen to more books he narrates. He gave just enough voice clues throughout without trying to change his voice too much.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole book was good, I suppose some of the twists were moving moments but the chuckles from the action were most memorable.

Any additional comments?

They should research how locals pronounce street names. Sepulveda Boulevard was mispronounced and at one point it was called street versus boulevard. This did not take from the story, but when a story takes place in an existing city versus some imagined place, why not make it as good as you can.

Terrific plot, fun and twisty

Great plot, interesting & well drawn characters. I thought the writing was well above the average action/thriller fare.

Great Find

What a fun listen!! Quirky characters all around! Any one of them could have become the main character in a series but put them all together, add some black humor, and let Thomas Perry's imagination take the lead and its magic!
Michael Kramer's performance adds so much! All his voices are right on target and his deadpan delivery gives an electric jolt to the story's humor and violence.
Of course it helps if your sense of humor slightly sick

First rate--more twists and turns than a maze

It took me a long time to warm up to Perry, as I didn't like the one Butcher's Boy book I read, for lack of personality, humor or cleverness. This book, however, has it all. Twists of fate turn into convoluted disasters born of mistaken impressions and identities. Although read in somewhat of a monotone, the narrator was perfect--understated irony. And, these unwitting villains/victims have personality and perseverance. It is a thoroughly enjoyable romp worthy of O'Henry. I'm now a Perry fan!

Not From Around Here?

This would have been a Very Good book IF the editors had taken the time to tell the narrator how to pronounce California / LA street names. It's Ce-Pul-Ved- A, nor Cepel-Veeda. Just one of many gaffs. Too bad as the story was mostly believable/probable but the mispronunciations were just too vast and cut into the enjoyment of the book. I'll try another but this one was a poor showing.

Wow!

I love mysteries, this is my first Thomas perry listen, I enjoyed it tremendously. Story great, lots of twists and turns which I like, great performance. If you like mysteries you will probably like this book.