The Butcher's Boy

This reissue of Thomas Perry’s instant classic debut is long overdue. This pacy thriller about a top hit man whose troubles with his employers make too much noise and attract the attention of the authorities, in particular Elizabeth Waring of the Justice Department, is a must for your shelves. I’ll let the oh-so-humble Mr Perry have the last word:

‘I have to admit that I have some fears about the impending re-release of The Butcher’s Boy. I had just learned to enjoy the fact that there were two kinds of people interested in the book. One group had read it 20 years ago, lost track of their copies, and convinced themselves that it was much better than any novel could be; the second group had never been able to find a copy, and had to believe whatever I said about it.’