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

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.

How to Find an Escort Girl - one easy lesson

I didn't like the reader's voice at all. It didn't sound as if it was his real voice.
The story premise was interesting. The most interesting part of the story, to me, was how Jack Till researched finding the killer. I never knew, or thought about, the seamy underbelly of the sex trade before. The author was sympathetic to paid escorts, I thought.
If you want an easy listen and a story that doesn't make you think, try this book

Thomas Perry doesn't disappoint

I was introduced to Perry through the "Butchers Boy" series which I loved and was not disappointed with "The Boyfriend ". Many similar elements to the "Butchers Boy" but in reverse (you'll see when you read it). Really enjoyed the procedural aspects of the detective work. A few loose plot points that lead to me only giving 4 stars but still a very enjoyable read.

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Good read. Good listen. Good plot. Good story. Good characters. Good narration. Good novel. Good hero.

So many twists and turns

This story has so many twists it feels lîke a roller coaster but it’s just as predictable but that doesn’t take away from the suspense you can feel at each turn. It’s a good read but not as unpre

Great Story. Great Author.

I enjoyed every minute of this book, and I'm really picky with stories. Great book.

Derivative of the Butcher's Boy: a mistake.

I guess Thomas Perry just could not sustain that amazing streak of winners forever. Joey Moreland is nowhere near as engaging as the Butcher's Boy. In fact, he is a robot. The "explanation" of how he became a serial killer of gorgeous prostitutes is Psych 101. Moreland's assignments and the process by which he receives them is way less interesting than what is available in prior books. The twist that Mr. Perry provides here is just not that creative. The fact that Joey is hired to kill a target, and meanwhile becomes "invisible" by living with a prostitute that he eventually kills also: big deal.
Jack Till is a man we know from prior books, as is his developmentally disabled daughter Holly. There is really nothing particularly new here, and it is disappointing. Robertson Dean is a very good narrator, who doesn't have that many voices in his repertoire but has enough skill in other areas to more than make up for it.
Unlike Metzger's Dog, there is absolutely 100% zero humor here, which also is a serious handicap. Mr. Perry has entertained us in so many ways that we have become seriously spoiled. The plot doesn't drive so much as plod. The cat and mouse chase is kinda old by now, and is a device that is so common and so widespread that many many writers use it. There is almost nothing new here. I can't recommend it, particularly because the earlier books I mentioned, plus the others, are so masterful that there is no sense settling for this book. Read the original Butcher's Boy, or any of the sequels, or Metzger's Dog, or indeed any of the stand-alone books and you will find one of the most talented writers in the country, if I do say so myself. If you want more great stuff, read Tim Hallinan or Martin Cruz Smith. Save your money on this one.

love Thomas Perry

this is another good one from Thomas Perry--
this is the second book about Jack Till.

A good, if uncomfortable story.

The tale has a few uncomfortable moments and is not always smooth in the telling. The narrator carries it well and the story redeems itself in many places. It is a decent mystery with solid action and worth a listen.

Mostly as strong as all Perry reads

What did you like best about this story?

Till's relationship with his daughter.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

What is up with the Clint Eastwood voice for Till? Unnecessary, annoying, distracting.

Any additional comments?

Perry continues to satisfy. I would have given this 3 stars as Perry leaned precariously close to made for tv movie far fetched scenarios... BUT: his continued intimate personal/truthful look at how people act moved it back into 4 star territory.
Let's face it, the things that happened in this book were best handled- and would have been handled, by the FBI. Still, I enjoyed it as usual and Till is a very cool character.