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    The Informant: A Butcher's Boy Novel
    The Informant: A Butcher's Boy Novel
    The Informant: A Butcher's Boy Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Informant: A Butcher's Boy Novel

    Written by Thomas Perry

    Narrated by Michael Kramer

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Married and living in England under the name Michael Schaeffer, the assassin known as the Butcher's Boy is the target of a Mafia hit team sent to exact revenge for his deadly campaign against the Balacontano family years earlier. Schaeffer kills all three attackers, but he knows more will come and needs to find whoever sent them to end it once and for all.

    Soon Elizabeth Waring, now high up in the Organized Crime Division of the Justice Department, receives a surprise late-night visit from the Butcher's Boy. Knowing she keeps track of the Mafia, he asks her who the three men work for. Not knowing they have been murdered, she gives him a name: Frank Tosca, an aspirant to the Balacontano throne. In exchange, he tells her about a murder Tosca committed over twenty years ago. So begins a new assault on organized crime, and the uneasy alliance between the Butcher's Boy and Waring, who trade current information for old secrets.

    As the Butcher's Boy works his way ever closer to his quarry in an effort to protect his new way of life, Waring finds herself in a race against time, either to convince him to become a protected informant or to take him out of commission for good.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateMay 5, 2011
    ISBN9781400189557
    The Informant: A Butcher's Boy Novel
    Author

    Thomas Perry

    Thomas Perry is the New York Times bestselling author of nearly thirty novels, including the critically acclaimed Jane Whitefield series, The Old Man, and The Butcher's Boy, which won the Edgar Award. He lives in Southern California. Follow Thomas on Facebook at @ThomasPerryAuthor.

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    Reviews for The Informant

    4.5/5

    36 ratings10 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Perfect detective story and the third in the trilogy. Only Perry can make us side with a passionless killer
    • 5/5
      Thomas Perry respects his characters so much. They are never sappy or predictable or sentimental. They are strong and smart and sharp. In this story he brings back the Butcher's Boy from his earlier books and matches him up with Elizabeth Waring of the Justice Department. It's a brilliant match and a great story.
    • 4/5
      Advanced reader copy.

      The Butcher’s Boy, retired assassin, wants nothing more than to be left alone. Having found a woman he loves, in a country removed from his former territory, he has no other aspirations than to leave things be. I understand that. He’s getting older, slower, and has everything he needs; until an up-and-coming Mafia chief thinks that by killing the Butcher’s Boy he can claim more power.

      The adopted son of a hitman/butcher, the acolyte, now calling himself Schaeffer, embarks on a campaign to eliminate the mafia boss who has put out a major contract on him. It’s virtually the entire crime world against him for having set up and destroyed Belacontana, a major crime figure, mostly as a way to protect himself. Now everyone seeks to ingratiate himself with Frank Tosca, the new Belacontana wanna-be. Schaeffer needs to make searching for him too expensive. (Parker does something similar in The Outfit by Richard Stark, if less violently.)

      I have read several of the Butcher’s Boy series. This, while the latest, could stand alone, although I recommend reading them in order for a better historical sense of the characters, particularly that of Elizabeth Waring, the Justice Department investigator who is beginning to have the best sense of just who the Butcher’s Boy is. Some of the scenes might strain credibility, e.g., his running up the hill (he’s fifty) to get away from the lodge. Then again, there’s something to be said for staying in shape. (Personally, my idea of staying in shape is conforming to the contours of my reading chair.) Waring wants to get Schaeffer in a corner where his only protection will be to turn informant against those who formerly hired him.

      I’ve also read several of Perry’s Jane Whitefield series and the similarities are obvious: the lone, competent, anti-hero competing successfully against large odds. It’s an appealing scenario, especially with Perry’s love of the outdoors and use of natural resources in the denouement.

      I must admit to having become quite a fan of Thomas Perry and am reading my way through all his titles. Not Crime and Punishment, but very enjoyable. The order of the Butcher series is Butcher’s Boy, Sleeping Dogs, and The Informant. Read them all.
    • 5/5
      This book is another in Perry's series about the Butcher's Boy who is tutored by a professional hit an who takes this NINE YEAR OLD kid into his life and teaches him the art of being the best hit man that he can be. This novel is far into his life where he is out to kill a group of Mafia dons because they have put out a contract on him. Just another well written story in the Butcher's Boys life.
    • 5/5
      The Butcher Boy is back. This time he's after the Mafia boss who put a hit out on him. Elizabeth Waring of the Justice Department wants the Butcher Boy to turn informant, but he's bent on eliminating as many Mafia bosses as he can after they agreed to put a hit out on him. This book has enough action and tension to keep you turning the pages.
    • 5/5
      Very good book. Characters are interesting and personable. Great read for all who like mystery’s.
    • 4/5
      The last (maybe) of the Butcher's Boy series. A page turner, as they say. Still hard to believe that a hit man was the "hero" of a series. Morality aside, the suspense over his survival made this a very good read. Perhaps there will be another?
    • 5/5
      This is another great Thomas Perry book. It has all the signature Thomas Perry attributes of a Perry novel. He describes the killer's mindset before every action--how the person prepares, how he was trained by the Butcher, Metzler and his knowledge of the consequences of his actions. It reminded me of the Jane Whitfield novels in that the thinking, always thinking aspect of the main character is described in detail. I did not like the abrupt ending, but I realize that the Butcher's boy will be back again. I hope so. I've read every one of Thomas Perry's books and I must say I was not disappointed. Five stars.
    • 5/5
      There are several "recaps" of things that happened in earlier books, and perhaps more about the Butcher Boy's childhood than expected - both are well handled and don't feel repetitive. And it means you can enjoy this book without having read either of the other two. though, why you wouldn't want to read the other two is beyond me.Waring is a more fully fleshed character in this book - more distinctive and developed enough that you become just as concerned about what will happen to her as you are about what will happen to the Butcher's Boy. This was a very pleasant surprise because she seemed to be right on the edge of being a "real" character in the earlier books, and it was nice to see her have a place in this story other than as someone to hinder the Butcher's Boy.This is the best of the 3 in the series - the characters are all so engaging that it's hard to believe you're not really supposed to be rooting for the Butcher's Boy. If you like this book, you'll probably enjoy Lawrence Block's Keller series. And, maybe, even Lee Child's Jack Reacher books. The "justice" being delivered is similar in them all.
    • 4/5
      My second Thomas Perry book and another superb one. I have a few of his on my Kindle backlog to read now!Like the first book of his I read there's a prominent woman in the story - the goodie - who shares center stage with the baddie. She's a justice dept analyst, he's a (very good) assassin. Superbly paced story, intriguing story line, great detail (especially the many assassinations!), and an abrupt for good ending. Lots of nasties with Italian "family" names! Set mainly in the US.Highly recommended.