The Butcher's Boy

By: Thomas Perry

Narrated by: Michael Kramer

Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Edgar Award Winner, Best First Novel, 1983

Thomas Perry's Edgar Award-winning debut novel follows a professional hitman on the run from both the mafia and the government.

©2003 Thomas Perry (P)2008 Tantor

If you like Jack Reacher, you'll enjoy this

Perry does a great job creating a tension between a surprisingly sympathetic mob hit man and the Department of Justice lawyer who is chasing him. First in a series that I've pretty much finished.

Not your prototypical enjoyable listen. The reader sounds a bit like a 50's film noir detective (just the facts, ma'am) and the hit man guesses right just a bit too often, but it all ... just ... works.

If you like Reacher, I'm guessing you'll like the Butcher's Boy. Not 6'4", but the same kind of analytical thinking and get 'er done attitude. A total steal at the $4.95 sale price; definitely worth it at full retail.

Loved the story. The narrator was ok

I had a difficult time getting "into" the story at the beginning. The narrator's tone just did not get my attention. I thought he did a good job with the voices of the characters, but the narrative voice was bland to me.

Perfect Gangster Story

This is a classic. Thomas Perry excels at crime stories. This was his first.

Expected more

Perhaps Michael Connelly's introduction raised the bar a little too high, but I wasn't overly impressed by this work. However, I'm glad Perry didn't abandon the character because I have liked other stories in the series better. This moved along at a slow pace and it seemed that Perry was simply setting up the character for future "adventures." Have another one in my library and, with the bar now set lower, hope to enjoy it more.

Interesting

A good story, like an old movie so it was a little dated. Still a good listen, I will definetly listen to the next in the series.

1sr Class Suspense Novel

Incredibly good first novel by Thomas Perry. Published in 1982, it remains a highly topical and engrossing page-turner. Intricately plotted, with engaging characters, including a hit man. Well read by Michael Kramer, whose laconic style occasionally wears thin. Highly recommended.

Good book, interesting character

What did you like best about The Butcher's Boy? What did you like least?

The narrator leaves a lot to be desired. I am used to really good narrators like George Guidall, Scott Brick and Dick Hill. I like the character of the story but the narrator detracted from the story. I have already bought the second book in the series but after listening to the first book, if I hadn't already bought "The Informant" I would have bought the book and read it instead of listening to Kramer again.

Would you be willing to try another one of Michael Kramer’s performances?

No. I am sorry that I bought the first two books in this series at the same time. If I hadn't done that I would have opted to read the second book instead of listening to Kramer again.

Quick moving book

Where does The Butcher's Boy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Over all, I liked the book enough to get the second in the series. The plot jumps around in both time and between the groups of characters. This would not be a bad thing, but I sometimes had to replay sections to double check which female character is talking and to whom. The reader seems to have had too many characters for his range of voices. This may not be a problem with people with better hearing.

The plot of the book has a lot of action and seeing the world through a mafia hit man and the people tasked to try and catch him was captured very well by the author.

One of my favorite books...ever!

I loved every moment of this book. The characters, the story that never seemed to waste a moment. I could not stop listening to it. I actually lost sleep. The narration is the best I’ve ever heard. LOVED IT. EVERY WORD.

Poor Sound Levels

Great story. Great narration. Sound levels change requiring constant volume adjustments. Annoying to listen to.