danchrist's review against another edition
4.0
Good read and another page turned with Waring and the Butcher's Boy in this second of a three book series. The tension builds throughout, and we get a far better feel for what's driving both main characters.
Looking forward to the final chapter.
Looking forward to the final chapter.
mojoshivers's review against another edition
4.0
When Toby recommended this series to me, she introduced it as a classic to the hitman genre. Starting with The Butcher's Boy and continuing in Sleeping Dogs, you can tell this is from another era of writing. The pacing's slower, the characters more prone to being revealed slowly, and the story themselves meander more than more recent novels. But you know what? It works.
I've been a fan of the genre for some time now. I like it when they put the paid assassin in the driver's seat instead of being relegated to the antagonist. Butcher's Boy and Sleeping Dogs follow this convention to a T. What I liked most is that these aren't the stories about someone getting paid to go rogue. At their hearts, these stories about a disgruntled employee showing his dissatisfaction with his employers and former employers.
The only difference is that when an accountant gets disgruntled, he embezzles money. When a hockey player gets fed up with his coaches and the front office, he goes on strike. When a trained assassin gets pissed off with those who hire him, he goes on a nationwide rampage.
But the thing is, it isn't like a spree killing and it isn't like all of its stemming from anger. A lot of the death and destruction he sows is to cause confusion in the ranks as much as it is to get revenge. Like he even says, all he knows when somebody strikes at him, is to sting the hand and get the hell out of there. With every step it's as much planning, as it is making split decisions, all in an effort to wreak as much havoc in order to effect his escape.
That's why the books make for interesting reads. It's interesting to see how clever The Butcher's Boy is in executing his enemies. But just as interesting is seeing how all his actions are interpreted by everyone involved--the Mafia, the FBI, the other people in his life. It's like watching a wild animal let loose among the zoo-goers; you're watching him as much as you're watching everyone react to him.
Sleeping Dogs makes an excellent sequel to The Butcher's Boy. You learn a little bit more of his past (and his possible future), and you get more of the tense plotting and devious action scenes that made the original so compelling.
I've been a fan of the genre for some time now. I like it when they put the paid assassin in the driver's seat instead of being relegated to the antagonist. Butcher's Boy and Sleeping Dogs follow this convention to a T. What I liked most is that these aren't the stories about someone getting paid to go rogue. At their hearts, these stories about a disgruntled employee showing his dissatisfaction with his employers and former employers.
The only difference is that when an accountant gets disgruntled, he embezzles money. When a hockey player gets fed up with his coaches and the front office, he goes on strike. When a trained assassin gets pissed off with those who hire him, he goes on a nationwide rampage.
But the thing is, it isn't like a spree killing and it isn't like all of its stemming from anger. A lot of the death and destruction he sows is to cause confusion in the ranks as much as it is to get revenge. Like he even says, all he knows when somebody strikes at him, is to sting the hand and get the hell out of there. With every step it's as much planning, as it is making split decisions, all in an effort to wreak as much havoc in order to effect his escape.
That's why the books make for interesting reads. It's interesting to see how clever The Butcher's Boy is in executing his enemies. But just as interesting is seeing how all his actions are interpreted by everyone involved--the Mafia, the FBI, the other people in his life. It's like watching a wild animal let loose among the zoo-goers; you're watching him as much as you're watching everyone react to him.
Sleeping Dogs makes an excellent sequel to The Butcher's Boy. You learn a little bit more of his past (and his possible future), and you get more of the tense plotting and devious action scenes that made the original so compelling.
caroparr's review against another edition
3.0
We meet our hitman from the first book in England, where he's been retired for years. But at a horse race he spots someone from his old life who tries to take him out. Convinced this is a deliberate hit after ten years of peace and quiet, he flies to New York to wipe out the guys who are after him. The plotting gets a little complicated towards the end, but it's still a great read. 3.5
usbsticky's review against another edition
3.0
I started with #4 in this series which I liked a lot. Then I read #1, which was only s0-so. Next was this one. I almost dnf'd this at the beginning because of the poor start.
Spoilers all the way:
I almost dnf'd it because of 1) the forced hilarity/jocularity at the beginning of the book, it was cringeworthy. 2) How did that low level mafia guy recognize a killer who is supposed to hide his face so well, after 10 years so easily? I mean, people do look alike and people change a lot in 10 years but most of all, the killer is supposed to hide his face well and many people don't even know his name.
After that, I didn't like the changing POV, it changed from his POV to Elizabeth Waring's POV and some of that was boring and didn't really add to the book. I thought it made the book lose focus and didn't add to it. I just fast read through some of the Waring POV and didn't lose much.
So overall 3 stars, I'm on the 3rd book now. I do like the author's writing style, it's easy to read and follow (with the exception of the above caveats).
Spoilers all the way:
I almost dnf'd it because of 1) the forced hilarity/jocularity at the beginning of the book, it was cringeworthy. 2) How did that low level mafia guy recognize a killer who is supposed to hide his face so well, after 10 years so easily? I mean, people do look alike and people change a lot in 10 years but most of all, the killer is supposed to hide his face well and many people don't even know his name.
After that, I didn't like the changing POV, it changed from his POV to Elizabeth Waring's POV and some of that was boring and didn't really add to the book. I thought it made the book lose focus and didn't add to it. I just fast read through some of the Waring POV and didn't lose much.
So overall 3 stars, I'm on the 3rd book now. I do like the author's writing style, it's easy to read and follow (with the exception of the above caveats).
kibett's review against another edition
5.0
Well paced suspense, just when you begin to second guess the direction the character is going you get jerked in a new direction.
ecari's review against another edition
4.0
I'm addicted to Perry. His stories get catch me and keep me - quite literally page-turners with me almost skimming paragraphs because I want to get to the next curve in the story, but not wanting to miss a word. If you like suspense, pick up any of these books. This one is the sequel to The Butcher's Boy (also great) and I challenge readers to decide if they are cheering for the FBI or the assassin or both!
lava77's review against another edition
5.0
A sequel even better than Butcher's Boy, which was excellent. Assassins rock.
cjazzlee's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this better than the previous book in the "series" if that's what this can be called. Sleeping Dogs takes place 10 years after The Butcher's Boy, but the stories are closely linked through the main characters' flashbacks, anecdotal remembrances of their colleagues and enemies from the earlier book, and a believable "fill in the time" lives they've led until this novel's story takes place.
I think what I like so much about this book is the thinking process of the main character (I keep calling him that because he changes identities a few times in this book) who is an assassin, with a killer's instincts and skills, but who is also very human and slightly vulnerable, in a Dexter-ish sort of way.
I think what I like so much about this book is the thinking process of the main character (I keep calling him that because he changes identities a few times in this book) who is an assassin, with a killer's instincts and skills, but who is also very human and slightly vulnerable, in a Dexter-ish sort of way.
janetval's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
cjeanne99's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Butcher’s Boy has been living a quiet life in England - until someone comes to find him. This starts a bloody quest across the United States to find the people who found him - take them out - and take out anyone else who might be looking for him.
While I liked the first installment of the Butcher’s Boy - this time around the murders felt more capricious. His persona is so careful, fine tuned in the art of militia - that I had shades of Jason Bourne. The Butcher’s Boy is taking out bad guys within organized crime, Jason Bourne is going after bad guys within the United States government.
I was glad that he let Elizabeth Waring live. Not sure I will pick up the next installment.
While I liked the first installment of the Butcher’s Boy - this time around the murders felt more capricious. His persona is so careful, fine tuned in the art of militia - that I had shades of Jason Bourne. The Butcher’s Boy is taking out bad guys within organized crime, Jason Bourne is going after bad guys within the United States government.
I was glad that he let Elizabeth Waring live. Not sure I will pick up the next installment.