Hunting Down Amanda

by Andrew Klavan

The coast of Maine, a clear summer's day, a 747 plunges into the sea, the witness a small child...On a cold, lonely night in New York, Lonnie Blake, a widower and desolate jazz musician, takes comfort in the arms of Carol, a beautiful woman who has flung herself into his doorway to escape an unknown assailant. For that one night, Carol has given everything Blake has sex, companionship and, above all, compassion. In the morning she is gone, leaving no clues, just emptiness and longing. Blake cannot forget her for Carol has got under his skin and stirred his soul. He also knows she is deeply troubled, and makes it his business to find out why. The answer is not so simple, for it is not Carol who is in danger but her three year old daughter, Amanda, an ordinary, sweet-faced, dimpled child. Amanda has a gift, an extraordinary ability that Carol is desperate to hide. But others are not so discerning, and will stop at nothing until they get what they want, whatever the consequences...Fast, furious, tightly plotted and brilliantly drawn, this is a superb thriller, up with the very best, from the author of the award winning TRUE CRIME.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Adult Fiction

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Reference for now:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_K...

Reviews

[Diane (IF U'RE PRIVATE, PLEASE SKIP ME!!!) Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read! lots of non-stop action,plot twists & turns,suspenseful and great characters along with incredible writing...recommend (paperback!)

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Andrew Klavan mystery. I love this author!

[Gerard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zooms like a bullet! Action stuff, what movies are made off.

[Nick Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent thriller. Was up until 2:30ish last night finishing it. That was stupid.

As a work of literature I don’t think it goes deep enough to deserve a 4, but within the thriller genre I think it holds up really well so it gets a 4.

Builds tension really well and brings multiple character threads together in really interesting ways. Satisfying conclusion and I think there is enough here that Klavan wrestles with through his characters that is engaging and challenging (on a surface level). Not his best, but definitely not his worse. It’s better than The Uncanny.

[Emanuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo è il secondo libro di Klavan che leggo e mi ha definitivamente conquistata.
Nel primo, Non dire una parola, avevo già pensato che fosse così coinvolgente da sembrare di vederne le scene, e infatti poco dopo ne hanno tratto un film. Ecco qui direi che l’impressione è ancora più giustificata al punto da pensare di star proprio guardando un film e secondo me non ci sarebbe nemmeno bisogno di una sceneggiatura perché sarebbe già perfetto per la trasposizione.
Mi ha anzi ricordato proprio un film che amo e che ho visto un milione di volte tanto da conoscerlo a memoria, Man on fire, con uno dei miei attori preferiti.
Amanda è una bambina che ha un misterioso potere che all’inizio però non conosciamo e che scopriremo solo verso metà libro, insieme al protagonista, e che è ricercata dai sicari di una casa farmaceutica per i suoi loschi interessi. Lottie, musicista mulatto che ha perso la moglie in una situazione tragica, si trova suo malgrado coinvolto inizialmente dalla madre, Carol Dodson, e poi decide di aiutarle a fuggire.
A momenti durante tutta la prima metà del libro, avrei voluto dare due sberle al protagonista, che sembra un po’ inebetito come se non avesse mai visto una donna prima, nonostante sappiamo bene che non sia così. Poi nella seconda parte cambia radicalmente e si rivela con una personalità totalmente diversa, al punto da fare il tifo per lui. Ad Amanda non ci si può non affezionare nonostante sia presente solo in poche scene.
La cosa che mi è piaciuta di meno però è la fine che tocca a diversi dei protagonisti buoni a cui ci si appassiona, le cui azioni però servono a un fine ultimo superiore.
Nonostante alcune spiegazioni scientifiche suonino come un po’ surreali, questo non influisce minimamente sullo svolgimento delle vicende.
Non nego di aver versato qualche lacrima sul finale.

[Jeff Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellently plotted from start to finish. Rich characters.

Interestingly there are some points of plot contact between this novel and Koontz "Sole Survivor" both released the same year. Quite different novels but very similar elements, but interesting to compare the two.

[Concetta Kellough · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like chase scenes, you will love this book. I don’t care for them, so this wasn’t a good match for me. I also don’t care for sex scenes.

[Min Kimber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I'm not quite sure about this book to be honest. It has some truly cringe-worthy moments in the form of many clichés, but paradoxically, it has a few pockets of absolute brilliance as well.
The story follows a couple of "down and outs" who, by no real fault of their own, have fallen on tough times. One is running from something, the other has no place left to run. They are an odd couple, but their paths seem destined to cross.
Brutally, at times, the author describes the mentality of your average killer for hire as the pair race against time to find each other, and Amanda, and stay one step ahead of the hit men who are right behind them at every turn.
It was tough going at times. Assassins are not nice people. But then, just as you least expect it, the author comes out with some truly sweet, thoughtful passages, snippets of humanity, some bordering on the poetic.
But I still don't know if I liked it.
I do know that I don't like assassins - they are hideous people and I hope I never meet one! Their arrogance and self-importance makes me angry and I spent a great deal of the book wanting to scream at it.
I read at a rapid pace and was thoroughly sucked into the quickening pace at the end, wondering how this could ever end happily.
But did I like it?
Well yes, I guess I did.
But I didn't like the clichés or the brutality.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is a weird but generally entertaining little thriller. Klavan’s writing moves at a fast pace, and it often feels like this story it would translate well to a film adaptation. His style makes for quick but compelling reading. The plot is far-fetched, but I had a hard time putting it down: A passenger plane is brought down, apparently by terrorists. The target is a smuggler, but he somehow manages to escape the fiery crash unharmed. Amanda, the young girl at the heart of the story, is the reason, and she then becomes the primary target. Amanda is closely guarded by her mother Carol, a street savvy prostitute who goes to great lengths to shield her from the pursuit of a relentless group of professional assassins. Enter Lonnie Blake, a jazz musician looking for a night of solace after the recent death of his wife. Lonnie falls for Carol and stumbles headlong into a life-or-death struggle. The origin of Amanda’s powers may have some readers rolling their eyes in disbelief, but I found it inventive and different then your run-of-the-mill crime thriller. To say anything more would spoil it, but if you've never read any of Klavan's novels this is a good place to start.

[Manugw · Rating 2 out of 5]

A WRONG PICK

I bought this book after being captivated by the superb blockbuster thriller True Crime by the same author which frankly I can list among the best books I have ever read but this time unfortunately what I found was something totally different.
The plot dull from beginning to end has not surprises and steps into the grotesque, it is possible to find some outbreaks of suspense but they vanish rapidly and in general the events are not believable and contrived. Coming to the rescue and to highlight some good features, I can mention the nature of the mystery surrounding the little tender girl Amanda, which arises curiosity all the time and some convincing character developments like those of Lonnie Blake, the former street gang member turned club saxophone player, and old Roth, the chain smoker jewish college professor. On the other hand the powerful villain Winter looks poor, extravagant and bizarre.

To be honest if you are looking for a good mystery and thriller to enjoy, definitely this is not the book.

[James Willey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast pace story telling but but it stretches believability too much. Also the ending was unsatisfying, very abrupt with a lot left to be resolved.

[Stephen Gallup · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Andrew Klavan's novels. My favorites seem to be rather serious attempts to depict the threat evil poses to each of us, with pointed references to some of its favorite contemporary avenues (this being an example). Other titles are mostly thrillers, and I think Hunting Down Amanda may be one. Still, despite similarities to pulp fiction, it holds up well and meshed with my frame of mind. I read it in about two days.

Lonnie is a sax player who has mostly lost his touch for making jazz and who is generally checked out as a result of his wife's murder. Carol is a woman who lives on the edges of society--she always has, but now it's necessary to do so because exceedingly evil and powerful men are looking for her. Actually, they're looking for her five-year-old daughter Amanda. Turns out they'll have to go through Lonnie as well as Carol, and a couple other good souls, before getting her.

The first interface with the bad guys is through some clownishly incompetent henchmen, who set a comic tone reminiscent of Grisham's The Client. Their defeat let me know that good would probably triumph in this story, which eased some of the tension. I appreciated that. It helped me enjoy the reading more.

There are cliched, stock scenes aplenty, but I didn't mind. It was the right book for me at this point.

[Casey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Literally one of the worst books I've ever picked up. The title should have tipped me off, as the little girl (Amanda) and her mother were BARELY in the book at all, and a bunch of loser dudes spent the whole book searching for them, even if we weren't entirely certain why. Ugh, the descriptions of women made my stomach turn, from the overuse of the word "whore" to the way Klavan described their bodies, especially the term a "long mouth." What on earth would a "long mouth" look like? So hyper-masculine, with men killing men, just to find a woman and her child. This one has NOT aged well, and I can't imagine this being published today.

[Rachel Jerdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Intense Read!

I don't recall how or why I selected this book, but it was a good choice. A five year old child was used in an experiment that caused her to be able to heal others by touching them. Everyone else had died who was in this experiment. This corporate pharmacy wants to kidnap this child from her single mother, sell her to the highest bidder and have her killed so they can keep their secret. The cat and mouse game is what takes place. Well written!

[Dean Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big idea, captivating premise, evil characters, compelling hero. A genuine nice mix from the fast-paced storyteller, Andrew Klavin.

I have one quibble with the narrative and that is how late we are introduced to Amanda, or at least how late we are shown why she is important to the story. Weaving her in sooner would have added flavor to the plot and given the author more opportunities to use her "gift" in the drama, IMO.

Good summer read.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept guessing

Lots of action from beginning to end but the reader is kept in the dark as to why. It’s not until the story begins to wind down before the plot is revealed. There’s more sociopathic killers on the prowl than any of the other side characters—too many of those are prey. These folks end up dead being Good Samaritans. As a film, this saga would provide plenty of gory explosions and a grand finale saving a miracle child.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book jumps around in the beginning chapters of the book - about the first 150 pages, but stick with and all will become clear. It starts with a horrific airliner disintegrating over the small town of Hunnicut, Massachusetts.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have liked nearly all of Kalvan's books and this one was no exception. It's a great read. Fast and furious and interesting. Lonnie Blake is a down and out musician who meets a prostitute and nothing is what it seems. It's a page turner for sure.

[Kal K · Rating 2 out of 5]

A story about a little girl with powers who is naive and wants to use them to help others despite this harming her.
The story is full of cliches, especially the dialouge and ending. It has its tense and interesting moments, but these are few.

[Steven Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a heart pounding book about an international corporation, that included a team of assassins, hired to hunt down a little girl with healing powers. Her mother, a jazz musician, a widow and a college professor strive to get her to safety.

[alex shear’ree · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book was good for something to read passively that you don’t have to think too much about. i think i discovered that i don’t necessarily like action filled books. not enough emotion for me, but it was entertaining for what it was. somehow it all felt predictable but also entirely improbable

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost 4 stars. The first part of the book was confusing…seemingly too many story lines. Of course, they eventually came together. Built good suspense. The plot was a little too hard to believe though.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done! Lots of action, good plot line, a bit of pathos and a great ending make this a great book for fans of action.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my thing.

[Scott Marks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible writing, clunky and childish. Plus the writer is a misogynist, anti-feminist and it comes across quite strongly in how he writes about women.
Red flags guys, avoid this novelists books.

[SC · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's really a page-turner 👍👍👍👍

[Philip Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a good thriller: very dark and fast-paced. Far too explicit in some parts, in a way that I didn't think added to or enhanced the plot at all.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1999. Keeps the suspense going until the very end.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspenseful

[Una · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was the best book I've read in a while,

What a story, what ride!

Truly loved this one :)


ES Rutherford