The Boyfriend

By: Thomas Perry

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

Jack Till, who has retired from the LAPD after a respected career as a homicide detective, now works as a private investigator, comfortable chasing down routine cases while visiting his 24-year-old daughter, Holly, who has Down Syndrome. But when the parents of a recently murdered young girl, about Holly's age, ask for his help when the police come up empty, Till reluctantly takes the case.

It was discovered after her death that the victim had been working as a high-class prostitute, and the police are content to assume she was killed by a client, common in such a dangerous line of work. Yet as Till digs deeper, he realizes that the victim is just one of several young female escorts killed in different cities in the exact same way - all had strawberry blonde hair, and all were shot with a 9mm handgun in the sanctity of their apartments.

Till must find his way around the tawdry and secretive online escort business, and decode ads placed by young women who all use false names, sometimes advertise using other women's pictures, and move from city to city every few months. Yet when Till is finally able to catch up with the killer, he finds that the man he's after is far more dangerous and volatile than he ever could have imagined. As the body count rises, Till must risk his life to find this seductive and ruthless killer whose murderous spree masks a far deadlier agenda.

©2013 Thomas Perry (P)2013 Tantor

Oddly interesting, but poorly narrated

I am still finding what I like in Perry's books--I tend to not like the Butcher's Boy series, unlike most listeners, in favor of a more human and personable murderer. It does bother me a bit that all females appear to be characterized as brainless and trivial to the plots. However, this is a good story, but the Till protagonist is so poorly narrated that it almost ruins it for me. He is made to sound like he has perpetual laryngitis, or like Batman trying to disguise his voice. He also makes the female characterizations whiny and over the top. But, it has encouraged me; and, although not at delightful as the Ripley books, Perry's murderers are oddly interesting.

Excellent book

Some minor errors in detail but captivating with some twists and turns. End was a bit anti climatic.

diappointed

VERY disappointed in the ending. OK build up to a very flat conclusion. It will be a great while before I give this author a second chance.

Good suspense. Very viable storyline.

Well done detective novel. Would definitely be interested in more from this author. Flows well and you will want to hear the finish.

Take An Idea. Do it, then rethink it… Interesting

The Boyfriend is derivative of Thomas Perry.

I ask artists this question, "How much of a final work is created in the process as opposed to whatever concept you brought to the project at the start". Their average answer, "A whole bunch. The inmates take over the asylum early on."

Ever played the game, "Imagine how history would have changed if…. (fill in the tiny change… like someone jostled John Wilkes Booth shooting hand). Imagine the options… the paths… And that's what happens to an artist during process… Forking pathways are discovered and one is chosen over the other.

And yet… What if the author-artist could go back to that pathway to make the other choice? The Boyfriend exists in a universe that's parallel to other Perry stories. In it he takes one of his most complex bad-guy's essence and bends his presence to a totally different world.

Perry is such a talented story teller, and Roberstson Dean a gripping audio artist, that even though you think you've been this way before… you'll notice that both the scenery and destination become way, way different.

Perry's one of the best.

Not bad

It is an interesting story but I was not a fan of the narrator. It would be interesting to listen to the book with someone who would put more energy on the narrative.

Good detective story

What made the experience of listening to The Boyfriend the most enjoyable?

Till was so likeable

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes it kept surprising the listener

Which character – as performed by Robertson Dean – was your favorite?

Till

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes it kept you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what was going to happen next

Suspenseful plus

Thomas Perry has done it again! Very believable and loved the characters. Recommending to my friends.

Perry is fun

Another murder mystery but with Perry's ironic tone - not quite as good as the Butcher's Boy - but I enjoyed most of it (needed an edit or tightening towards the end). Robertson Dean does a good job

What an odd, yet somehow enjoyable, tale

So, we have a tale here, that begins in a very startling manner. From there it all moves pretty quickly and there's very little to no formula. Somehow though, it flows, and it all feels fairly realistic.

As mentioned, the tale is fairly enjoyable. You alternate between tagging along behind the private eye who is trailing a killer and the killer himself. We get treated to various scenes and encounters which, on their own, are fairly enjoyable. Both the killer and the detective are somewhat interested creatures with their own tales.

Some problems though: we never REALLY get to know the main characters (even though we're treated to backstory) and everything (including the ending) moves just a tad too fast to really have any significance. Many events happen, very little of them actually matter -- and just when you think it's going to get good, it's over. Just like that.

The reader did a great job, no complaints there.