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constantreader471's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars rounded up.
This is a story of a killer for hire with a conscience. Ralph Dennis writes lean prose that reminds me of Raymond Chandler and Elmore Leonard. I read this book in two days. John Kane was a CIA killer until a suicide bomber in Vietnam almost killed him. He lost most of his memory and the CIA erased what was left. They arrange through a lawyer for him to receive a sporting goods store in New York city. But then he sells the store and moves to Atlanta, Georgia.
He soon goes to work for Jackson Carter, ostensibly a CPA(Certified Public Accountant), but takes contracts for criminals who are free. But the CIA has kept tabs on Kane and decides to kill him to prevent embarrassment. In addition, the people he is hired to kill try to kill him.
One quote by Bull Racklin, CIA killer: "What is the Chinese philosopher's question? Am I a man dreaming that I am a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming that I am a man dreaming that I am a butterfly?"
I recommend this book to spy/thriller/mystery fans. It was an Amazon purchase.
This is a story of a killer for hire with a conscience. Ralph Dennis writes lean prose that reminds me of Raymond Chandler and Elmore Leonard. I read this book in two days. John Kane was a CIA killer until a suicide bomber in Vietnam almost killed him. He lost most of his memory and the CIA erased what was left. They arrange through a lawyer for him to receive a sporting goods store in New York city. But then he sells the store and moves to Atlanta, Georgia.
He soon goes to work for Jackson Carter, ostensibly a CPA(Certified Public Accountant), but takes contracts for criminals who are free. But the CIA has kept tabs on Kane and decides to kill him to prevent embarrassment. In addition, the people he is hired to kill try to kill him.
One quote by Bull Racklin, CIA killer: "What is the Chinese philosopher's question? Am I a man dreaming that I am a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming that I am a man dreaming that I am a butterfly?"
I recommend this book to spy/thriller/mystery fans. It was an Amazon purchase.
jeremyhornik's review against another edition
2.0
Promising, but never quite worked. Like inferior Parker.
kyleh's review against another edition
2.0
A thriller from another era.
This book is set in the 1970’s and it keeps that 70’s pulp vibe throughout the entire book. If you like pulp thrillers from that era this is a decent book for you. I will say it felt a little disjointed and almost slapped together.
The end of the book explains it all. This book was written by Ralph Dennis sometime between the 1970’s and his death in 1988. It was left in his estate as two unfinished pieces. The publisher took those two manuscripts and turned them into this book.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This book is set in the 1970’s and it keeps that 70’s pulp vibe throughout the entire book. If you like pulp thrillers from that era this is a decent book for you. I will say it felt a little disjointed and almost slapped together.
The end of the book explains it all. This book was written by Ralph Dennis sometime between the 1970’s and his death in 1988. It was left in his estate as two unfinished pieces. The publisher took those two manuscripts and turned them into this book.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
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