Twist

Frank Quinn #8

by John Lutz

Kill. . .Or Be KilledFrank Quinn is a decorated ex-cop. A former homicide detective specializing in tracking serial killers. Now his niece, Carlie Hobbs, needs help. Someone is stalking her, and the NYPD can't stop him. A blonde, blue-eyed beauty, Carlie fits the victim type of the killer who's been terrorizing women--leaving them bound, gagged, and tortured with surgical precision. To win against the most personal adversary of his career, Quinn will have to set the perfect trap. All he needs is the perfect bait. . .

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, Suspense, Crime

467 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 2013

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

John Lutz has captivated suspense enthusiasts for over four decades. He has been one of the premier voices in contemporary hard-boiled fiction. His work includes political suspense, private eye novels, urban suspense, humor, occult, crime caper, police procedural, espionage, historical, futuristic, amateur detective, thriller; virtually every mystery sub-genre. John Lutz published his first short story in 1966 in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and has been publishing regularly ever since. He is the author of more than fifty novels and 250 short stories and articles.

His novels and short fiction have been translated into virtually every language and adapted for almost every medium. He is a past president of both Mystery Writers of America and Private Eye Writers of America. Among his awards are the MWA Edgar, the PWA Shamus, The Trophee 813 Award for best mystery short story collection translated into the French language, the PWA Life Achievement Award, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Golden Derringer Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is the author of two private eye series, the Nudger series, set in his home town of St. Louis, and the Carver series, set in Florida, as well as many non-series suspense novels. His SWF SEEKS SAME was made into the hit movie SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and his novel THE EX was made into the HBO original movie of the same title, for which he co-authored the screenplay.

Lutz and his wife, Barbara, split their time between St. Louis and Sarasota, Florida.

Reviews

[Paul Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compelling (if less than unique) hunt for a gruesome serial killer

Frank Quinn, a former homicide detective, specialized in tracking serial killers. In a plot more than slightly reminiscent of Tess Gerritsen’s better known and more exciting effort, THE SURGEON, Quinn has been asked by the NYPD to assist in tracking down the ruthless killer who seems to have a penchant for stalking blond, blue-eyed beauties and then dispatching them in an orgy of precise, methodical slashing and gore. With the cooperation of his niece, who is convinced that she is being stalked and has fallen under the killer’s microscope, Quinn develops a do-or-die and spectacularly dangerous plan of offering her up as bait to the killer. A fellow cop and a female journalist, hungry for sensational scoops and exclusive coverage of the manhunt, are also on delicious offer on the menu.

TWIST is a fine thriller and it will certainly hold your interest to the end but, for me, its gripping star rating was held back moderately by virtue of its being over long and the plot elements becoming somewhat repetitive. I mean, really … how many victims does a serial killer have to have before his MO and signature is well understood? I would say that the answer to that is certainly smaller than the number of deaths that Lutz chose to showcase!

Recommended with the stated reservation.

Paul Weiss

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twist was great and exciting all the way through. I liked how, Lutz, stayed focussed on the story without going into a lot of background, the characters just naturally developed while you got to know them. This is not a who done it, you are aware of who the killer is and are, at times, listening to his inner thoughts. The killings are gruesome and are explicitly described, so readers beware. As aberrant as the killer was I found myself somewhat sympathetic towards him while at the same time extremely disgusted.

I was happy that the characters personalities were not to over the top as some detective books tend to be. The narrative was done very well and I will be looking for another one in this series. Recommended but not for the squeamish.

[Stephenee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner by John Lutz!! I love, love, love his books! Every one he writes has you at the edge of your seat wondering....and then I begin to wonder what type of person can come up with this stuff....but please don't stop! I loved Twist and am already looking forward to your new book for 2014!! This book was another Q&A book about Quinn and his associates, and it also leaves you wondering at the end about Sal, Jody and the rest....I highly recommend this book, but remember if you have a weak stomach Lutz may not be the author for you!!!

[Jeannie Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usually detectives have to play a cat and mouse game in order to catch a killer. The research done on serial killers suggest that they target one particular type of victim, and this serial killer is no different. Dred Gant has his eyes on Carlie Hobbs, a blue-eyed beauty, who is the niece of Frank Quinn, a decorated ex-police officer. "Twist" is a novel that has a lot of twists and turns with blood that has been shed, as a result of violence. That's what cops deal with: violence and brutality.
Can Frank Quinn help catch this killer by setting a trap? He knows how to sniff out demented individuals, but can he figure out what is the perfect trap for this sadistic killer?
John Lutz is an author who excels in brilliance by wrapping you around his finger and making you have to turn page after page to see what is going to happen next in his thrillers.

Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author)

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first john Lutz book that i have read and i can honestly say that i will be reading the rest of the Frank Quinn books.I loved Frank and his team,it was really refreshing to read a book where the team actually got on with each other and where the lead detective did not spend most of the book arguing with his bosses and being over-ruled every time he tried to make a suggestion about the case.
The one thing that did disappoint me was that the identity of the killer was given away far too early for me,i prefer to find out who the killer is in the last few chapters,i felt that there could have been a few more suspects and twists before the killer was revealed but apart from that i thought it was a really good book.

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start out by saying that I really, really enjoy John Lutz's books. I had a real problem with this one, however, because I said to myself, "are women in NY this stupid?" There's a horrific serial killer going around killing women with names beginning with A-B-C-D-E, etc., yet, the killer easily gets the next in line with the right first name initial to go back to their apartment with him. I don't know any single thirty-somethings but do people hook up so easily - right out of a coffee shop, for example --these days? This wasn't all that unusual back in the 70s but with AIDS and all types of other STDs, is this really that common or did the author just get lazy in this one?

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A generous three stars. An ok read but a few niggles that irritated. We have a Carlie but very early on we have a chapter with a Connie. I was a good way in before I realised I had confused one for the other.
A scene with the killer drinking at home, watching tv and a barman gets a mention.
Quinn & co getting access to crime scenes.
The killer taunted to come to Liberty Island which he duly does but isn't spotted by anyone.
Taunted to visit his childhood home which he does without the trap having been set.

Not what I would expect from Mr Lutz.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, John Lutz wrote a broke that had me reading for hours. He's one of my favourite authors. I don't want to tell you anything about it, except that this is a killer who seems to be killing his mother over and over again. It kept me entertained to the last page. Read it!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fa of Lutz since his "Night" series--but all his books are good and getting better as he goes. You can't say that for most authors!

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

!st class as always Mr Lutz.

[Trish R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why was this called the Frank Quinn series? Everyone was in this a lot more than him. But there was some great characters: Pearl, Jody, Carlie, Fedderman, Sal, Harold and, of course, our killer. They were all in the story more than Quinn, which was kind of a bummer.

Our killer was killing according to the alphabet and went from G back to C, for Carlie. AND the way he killed the women was absolutely gross. AND I didn't even understand it. Either I missed something or the author never told the reader what the whip and the Statute of Liberty had to do with the killing.

Also, the ending was really a let down, so rushed. It could have had a better ending but since the book was from 2013 it's a little late for that. LOL..

There was only off screen sex and no real swearing to speak of.

As for the narration: Even 8 years ago Scott Brick was wonderful.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Signed, sealed and dead......

A former homicide detective specializing in tracking serial killers, Frank Quinn is a highly decorated ex-cop. And now his niece, Carlie Hobbs, needs help. Someone is stalking her, and the NYPD can't stop him. A blonde, blue-eyed beauty, Carlie fits the victim profile of the killer who's been terrorizing women - leaving them bound, gagged and tortured with surgical precision.

To win against the most personal adversary of his career Quinn will have to set the perfect trap..... all he needs now is the perfect bait.

[bandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thriller!

Great story, characters and of course Quinn's Team! I love this writer because serial killers are my fave genre. I prefer several killiings as opposed to one for a whole book, just seems moore interesting and fast paced. I like to be scared and informed. And Mr Lutz never disappoints. This book made me chuckle, angry, scared, sad what a ride!! Buy the book(s)! You won't regret it.

[Plum-crazy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took me two weeks to read, & that's a long (very long!) time for me. About all I can say about this is that it was okay. There certainly wasn't anything wrong with the storyline & the characters were reasonably credible but I guess it just wasn't gripping enough for me...otherwise I wouldn't have kept putting it down would I?

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy a good Quinn novel. This ran a bit slow in places so won’t rank up there as one of my favorites. As usual, the last twenty pages were high suspense, big action and wrapped up nicely. Except...will Sal make it through his stabbing?? Can’t wait to see who the next killer is in the series as they’re always twisted and violent.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first John Lutz book. It started off well and I thought 'cool'. But for some reason the further I got, the less interested I became. Not sure why, probably it went on for a touch longer than it should have. An ok read and I will be back for some more

[Jane Rain · Rating 2 out of 5]

To, že je v knize sériový vrah, ještě neznamená, že kniha musí vypadat, jako by autor kopíroval a jen měnil jména :D. Do půlky mě bavila, od půlky už nějak nebylo co odhalovat a konec byl velké zklamání.

[Ronny · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at page 50. I have really liked John Lutz in the past. I don’t understand - did he just put his name on this one?

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gdyby nie to, że przeczytałam poprzednie części ocena byłaby czterogwiazdkowa. Niestety ordynarne "kopiuj, wklej", to wszystko już było.

[Mr Jonathan C Mortimer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

My favourite in the series. Really enjoyed this story and the motive of the killer seemed to make real sense. Will be very sad when the Quinn series ends.

[Mandy Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall good mystery but super gory and disturbing

[Susan Krutzler]

Not for me. Just couldn’t get into it.

[Julie Szuster · Rating 2 out of 5]

i would say it was the weakest of Lutz's books about Quinn. What is more, the ost naive one. There wasnt any 'twist' or whatsoever, everything was rather predictable.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Twist", byJohn Lutz is a crime thriller. It is yet another entry into the crowded field of serial killer novels. However, Mr. Lutz is such an experienced author of thrillers of such best sellers as " Single White Female" ( made into a good movie , btw) that he can craft a book that keeps even the jaded reader turning the pages.

The novel begins in Kansas, where a kidnapping, literally a unborn baby kidnapping, by an evil woman begins the horrible history of Dred Gant, who becomes a killer and mutilator of women who meet his special qualifications.
Most of the action occurs in NYC where Gant begins his odyssey of death. Kill he does, and he does it horribly and quite graphically. So--- Warning note here and now-- if you are bothered by graphic blood and gore, "Twist" is not the book for you.
Helping the NYPD in its pursuit of the " Lady Liberty Killer" so-called because of his calling card left behind on the bodies, is ex-cop PI Frank Quinn and his staff of investigators. Quinn's involvement with the case comes about because it seems that he is has experienced in serial- killer crime sprees. ( Me, I doubt that could happen in real life, but hey, it is not my novel and it works here. Quinn is evidently a continuing character of Mr. Lutz.)
Anyway, Mr. Lutz develops the plot very well ratcheting up tension to the thundering climax. He paints a really good portrait of the psychology/ motivation of the killer, and, while private detective Quinn certainly won't remind you of Sam Spade or Phillip Marlowe for charisma,he has a stolid doggedness needed in an investigator. Lutz does a good job with minor characters, e.g., witnesses, giving each a bit of personality and quirkiness. He could have left out the annoying chapters featuring the mother of one of the investigators who keeps phoning her daughter to encourage her to move to safer New Jersey where there was this a prosperous Doctor looking for a nice girl to marry.These interludes seemed out of sync and served only to slow the usual fast pace of the story.

Twist is a pretty good thriller, and an enjoyable read for fans, but bear in mind the warning that the murders are violently, graphic and gory. Give it three and a half stars.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a huge fan of the Frank Quinn series by John Lutz. I don’t think I have read one that I didn’t like, this being no exception. Lutz’s way of creating the most disturbing serial killer makes me not want to be in this man’s head…ever.

Quinn has a knack for finding creative ways to sniff out the most demented soul. Because of this the NYPD calls upon him and his agency Q&A frequently to assist them in open cases. This time the hunt is for the elusive Dred Gant. Twist takes us into the mind of this man hell bent on terrorizing woman (mommy issues at its finest) and Quinn’s niece, Carlie, is a dead ringer for this killer’s type. Now they must set the perfect trap for “The Liberty Lady Killer.” After one failed attempt they know that the next trap has to be executed flawlessly or else.

As with all of Lutz’s books, character development is continually happening and he even throws a few monkey wrenches into the series leaving the reader wondering and waiting for the next book. For all thrill seekers and especially for those that love to dive into the mind of a serial killer, Twist is the book for you.

(Book provided by publisher for an honest review)

[Sam Whitehouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first John Lutz book that i have read, and i'm glad i decided to pick this one up off the shelf. There is plenty here for thriller readers to enjoy, not least a relentless pace. But whilst this book is breathlessly entertaining and the pages fly by, there isn't all that much substance to the story or characters. We spend more time with the serial killer than the detectives and it results in making most of the cast two dimensional and largely uninteresting. It's never clear who is the protagonist. As for the story, there isn't much of one. Its basically a hunt for a serial killer. The title couldn't be more wrong: there is not enough twists and turns and the plot doesn't really offer up any real sense of the unpredictable. For those looking for a puzzle wrapped in a mystery you may need to look elsewhere as there is little intrigue here.
Overall, its an entertaining, if hollow read. The plot speeds along, but without interesting characters and any real mystery, it can't tip the three star mark.
Recommended if you're not looking for something that requires a lot of deciphering.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting, suspenseful, hard to put down thriller! The Lady Liberty Killer is killing females in New York City. He targets females and wins them over. Then he drugs them, cuts their stomachs open, and removes organs. Detective Frank Quinn works with his team to lure the killer out, but by putting his loved ones at risk. Can they catch the killer?

This book was an exciting and suspenseful read. I love the author gives you the background of how the killer grew up and why he is the way he is. I really like Carlie. She is a very strong woman and she is willing to risk her safety to catch the killer. I love how the book is in short chapters and how each one leaves you hungry for the next. I really enjoyed this book and I would be interested in reading more by this author!

I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Bev Walkling · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, this book contains graphic depictions of violence so I don't recommend reading it before bedtime or if you are feeling squeamish. The author certainly drew me into the story very quickly but I found the timeline a little confusing as it moved from several different times in the past to "present day" and I would have liked to know what the present date actually was. This is not the first book in the series and I haven't read any other books by John Lutz but I felt it stood quite well on its own and I would read more in the series.

This is the story of a serial killer and the private detectives (and friends/family) working with the police to find him and stop him. It had many very tense moments and given the background of the killer (who he is becomes clear quite early on) I had to feel a little sorry for him even though he desperately needed to be stopped.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast paced book with lots of action. All in all a quick read. However for it being almost a 500 page book I was disappointed by the lack of depth in the characters and the shallow analysis of the murderer. Some questions I just didn't feel were answered In their entirety.

The story did seem to be gory at times which aided in portraying the murderer as a vicious killer. However by the 4th or 5th killing I felt it was almost redundant and a waste of pages to continually describe the acts that were repeated in each murder. I understand the need to build an M.O. but I felt the pages could have been put to better use.

With that being said I was intrigued by several of the characters and I may be interested to read more from this series in the future.

[Barbara Mahoney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book by John Lutz that I have read. "Twist" is a thriller about a serial killer murdering young women. The murders were graphic and scary to read about! Despite it's large size (500 pages) it was relatively quick read.

I am giving it 3 stars instead of 4 since I thought it was unnecessarily long. The author repeated facts at times and the story line included several very similar murders. I would have preferred more time developing some of the characters.

It's a good beach read if you like thrillers! It did keep me turning the pages!