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Jack Till #1
Silence
Una noche, cuando regresa a casa del trabajo, Wendy Harper es brutalmente atacada con un bate de béisbol. El agresor huye al verse descubierto, pero Wendy sabe que volverá a por ella y que la próxima vez no se permitirá más errores. Por eso recurre a Jack Till, un ex agente del Departamento de Policía de Los Ángeles que la ayuda cortar cualquier lazo con su pasado para iniciar otra vida bajo una nueva identidad.
Seis años más tarde, Till sigue sintiéndose orgulloso de su labor en aquel caso. Pero Eric Fuller, el antiguo socio de Wendy, acaba de ser acusado de su asesinato. Y el detective sólo podrá demostrar su inocencia si saca a la luz lo que él mismo se encargó de esconder. Till se lanza a investigar el paradero de Wendy, pero no es el único. Porque para el matrimonio formado por Sylvie y Paul Turner, dos asesinos a sueldo amantes del tango, la caza no ha hecho más que comenzar.
Con "Silencio", Thomas Perry vuelve a dar la razón a Stephen King y a todos quienes lo consideran uno de los grandes escritores vivos de novelas de suspense. Personajes llenos de fuerza y matices, persecuciones cargadas de tensión y un ritmo que no dará respiro al lector hacen de Silencio una lectura imprescindible para los amantes del mejor thriller.
Seis años más tarde, Till sigue sintiéndose orgulloso de su labor en aquel caso. Pero Eric Fuller, el antiguo socio de Wendy, acaba de ser acusado de su asesinato. Y el detective sólo podrá demostrar su inocencia si saca a la luz lo que él mismo se encargó de esconder. Till se lanza a investigar el paradero de Wendy, pero no es el único. Porque para el matrimonio formado por Sylvie y Paul Turner, dos asesinos a sueldo amantes del tango, la caza no ha hecho más que comenzar.
Con "Silencio", Thomas Perry vuelve a dar la razón a Stephen King y a todos quienes lo consideran uno de los grandes escritores vivos de novelas de suspense. Personajes llenos de fuerza y matices, persecuciones cargadas de tensión y un ritmo que no dará respiro al lector hacen de Silencio una lectura imprescindible para los amantes del mejor thriller.
439 pages, Hardcover
Published July 2, 2007
477 people are currently reading
922 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Perry
94 books1,716 followersThomas Perry was the author of 25 novels. He was born in Tonawanda, New York in 1947. He received a B.A. from Cornell University in 1969 and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Rochester in 1974. He had worked as a park maintenance man, factory laborer, commercial fisherman, university administrator and teacher, and as a writer and producer of prime time network television shows.
Thomas Perry lived in Southern California.
Thomas Perry lived in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 262 reviews
June 22, 2025
So yet another one for my 2025 Cleaning Out the Closet challenge. I am determined to get through a bunch of the books that have been sitting on my to-read list for wwwaaayyy too long. I’ve even set a loose goal of approximately 30% of the books I read this year to be books that have been on my to-read list for more than two years. Sounds pretty lofty, but it’s good to have goals to work towards.
This is the second book of his that I have picked up this year. Unfortunately, I DNFed the first one; I just couldn’t get into the story (boring) and didn’t like the MC, Jane. I’ve read three other books of his that I really liked, so as far as I’m concerned, he’s still a good writer and storyteller and this one confirms that even more.
The book summary introduces the two different storylines of Jack, retired LA homicide cop turned PI, looking for Wendy, who he helped disappear and the assassin couple, Paul and Sylvie, who were hired to find and kill Wendy. After being attacked and nearly killed six years ago, Wendy ran and disappeared (with Jack’s help), leaving her partner, Eric with her share of the home and business. Wendy and Eric, who had known each other since they were kids and had literally spent their lives together, were best friends who owned a successful restaurant. Wendy had info on a man that was dating a friend of hers and when that friend suspiciously disappeared, the man came after Wendy before she could tell the police about him.
Fast forward six years, and the man who tried to have Wendy killed has hired Paul and Sylvie to find Wendy and kill her, for good this time. They plant evidence of the attack from six years ago in Eric’s backyard and then make certain it’s found and frame him for Wendy’s murder. Eric’s attorney hires Jack to find Wendy and let her know what has happened and that Eric needs her help. Six years ago, Jack taught Wendy everything he knows about how to disappear and is now finding out how well he taught her and how good she has become at hiding. None of this is a spoiler since it’s revealed in the first few chapters of the story.
The story flips back and forth between Jack trying to find Wendy and Paul and Sylvie tracking Jack, hoping that he would lead them to Wendy. Jack’s storyline is pretty much a straightforward police/PI procedural story. As a retired copy, Jack’s PI business relies heavily on the skills, abilities and contacts list, that he developed in the decades as a cop. The Paul and Sylvie storyline is heavy on the domestic drama. Outwardly, they appear as a committed and loving married couple, however, all is not what it seems in Paul and Sylvie’s marriage. Their marital issues begin to bleed into their professional lives and its actually kind of entertaining, at least for me. Paul and Sylvie are unlikeable MC’s, and I enjoyed seeing them and their marriage come apart at the seams and have a negative impact on the job they were hired to do.
The character development for the MC’s was well done, especially for Paul and Sylvie. The pacing was kind of slow in the first half but definitely kicked up in the second half. The storyline was interesting enough to hang in there and stick with it until the end. The writing was good, especially in the second half. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.5 that I’m not really feeling compelled to round up to a 4star review. Not my favorite Thomas Perry book, but I have few more on my list that I hope will be more exciting.
This is the second book of his that I have picked up this year. Unfortunately, I DNFed the first one; I just couldn’t get into the story (boring) and didn’t like the MC, Jane. I’ve read three other books of his that I really liked, so as far as I’m concerned, he’s still a good writer and storyteller and this one confirms that even more.
The book summary introduces the two different storylines of Jack, retired LA homicide cop turned PI, looking for Wendy, who he helped disappear and the assassin couple, Paul and Sylvie, who were hired to find and kill Wendy. After being attacked and nearly killed six years ago, Wendy ran and disappeared (with Jack’s help), leaving her partner, Eric with her share of the home and business. Wendy and Eric, who had known each other since they were kids and had literally spent their lives together, were best friends who owned a successful restaurant. Wendy had info on a man that was dating a friend of hers and when that friend suspiciously disappeared, the man came after Wendy before she could tell the police about him.
Fast forward six years, and the man who tried to have Wendy killed has hired Paul and Sylvie to find Wendy and kill her, for good this time. They plant evidence of the attack from six years ago in Eric’s backyard and then make certain it’s found and frame him for Wendy’s murder. Eric’s attorney hires Jack to find Wendy and let her know what has happened and that Eric needs her help. Six years ago, Jack taught Wendy everything he knows about how to disappear and is now finding out how well he taught her and how good she has become at hiding. None of this is a spoiler since it’s revealed in the first few chapters of the story.
The story flips back and forth between Jack trying to find Wendy and Paul and Sylvie tracking Jack, hoping that he would lead them to Wendy. Jack’s storyline is pretty much a straightforward police/PI procedural story. As a retired copy, Jack’s PI business relies heavily on the skills, abilities and contacts list, that he developed in the decades as a cop. The Paul and Sylvie storyline is heavy on the domestic drama. Outwardly, they appear as a committed and loving married couple, however, all is not what it seems in Paul and Sylvie’s marriage. Their marital issues begin to bleed into their professional lives and its actually kind of entertaining, at least for me. Paul and Sylvie are unlikeable MC’s, and I enjoyed seeing them and their marriage come apart at the seams and have a negative impact on the job they were hired to do.
The character development for the MC’s was well done, especially for Paul and Sylvie. The pacing was kind of slow in the first half but definitely kicked up in the second half. The storyline was interesting enough to hang in there and stick with it until the end. The writing was good, especially in the second half. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.5 that I’m not really feeling compelled to round up to a 4star review. Not my favorite Thomas Perry book, but I have few more on my list that I hope will be more exciting.
June 17, 2016
Wendy Harper got brutally attacked by a masked assailant six years ago right on her porch and that caused her to flee Los Angeles and assume a new identity and a new life - all with the help of private dick Jack Till. Now Till is desperately trying to find her and bring her back to LA so she can get her ex-boyfriend (who has been framed for her 'murder') exonerated. Whoever tried killing Wendy has sent a team of assassins, the tango dancing couple Paul and Sylvie Turner, after them. Decent enough plot for a Thomas Perry page turner. Alas it fails to get any more plausible or any more exciting after the initial setup.
Everybody in this book, with the notable exception of our hero Jack Till, is a sociopath or a myopic narcissist. Even the woman for whom we are supposed to feel sympathy for, Wendy Harper. We are supposed to believe she jumps into bed with Till (literally!) hours after abandoning her new husband and kids? I get that thrillers need to have a romantic angle of some sort but this is just ridiculous. The assassins are sociopaths because....well, they are assassins. The big baddie is your typical rich executive with a shady past. All ho-hum, run-of-the mill nonsense.
If I didn't know Perry and his ability to write witty, taut thrillers this book would turn me away from him. Thankfully he has written and writes better books.
Everybody in this book, with the notable exception of our hero Jack Till, is a sociopath or a myopic narcissist. Even the woman for whom we are supposed to feel sympathy for, Wendy Harper. We are supposed to believe she jumps into bed with Till (literally!) hours after abandoning her new husband and kids? I get that thrillers need to have a romantic angle of some sort but this is just ridiculous. The assassins are sociopaths because....well, they are assassins. The big baddie is your typical rich executive with a shady past. All ho-hum, run-of-the mill nonsense.
If I didn't know Perry and his ability to write witty, taut thrillers this book would turn me away from him. Thankfully he has written and writes better books.
Read
October 29, 2017DNF 30%
I have been reading this since July.. July guys!
And by reading I mean it's been sitting on my desk collecting dust for months and months; I put it down and never picked it back up. I can't even remember what it was about, although it is now October so who can really blame me right?... I might come back to this one day but for now, im moving onto bigger, better books- life's too short to dwell.
I have been reading this since July.. July guys!
And by reading I mean it's been sitting on my desk collecting dust for months and months; I put it down and never picked it back up. I can't even remember what it was about, although it is now October so who can really blame me right?... I might come back to this one day but for now, im moving onto bigger, better books- life's too short to dwell.
January 20, 2020
A little "LA Noir" from Thomas Perry...a retired LAPD homicide detective turned P.I., helping a female restaurateur disappear, after she is savagely beaten...Six years later, her lover/restaurant partner is charged with her murder...Jack Till feels morally obligated to find her, to prevent a conviction...Complicating matters, two professional hitters are also on the trail...The race is on...Interesting characters on all sides, but a little derivative of Perry's Jane Whitefield series...Still the characters, even the villains make this a decent, fun read!!!
December 11, 2020
Of the Perry books I've read thus far, one thing emerges for me-- inconsistency. Thomas Perry seems to be able to write some really excellent stories, but for me, at least, manages to write others that fall short. It's not a drastic difference, just enough of one to be frustrating.
In Silence, we have a really good cat & mouse hunt, filled with close calls and some interesting possibilities. Jack Till, a retired L.A. Homicide detective, now a P.I., has helped Wendy Harper, a desperate woman whose life is in jeopardy, to leave behind a successful career in L. A. and establish a new identity elsewhere. He taught her well, and for six years, she's been successfully hidden. The mysterious character who wishes her dead seems intent on getting her back into the open long enough to have her killed. Till takes it upon himself to find her and help her return to L.A. to exonerate her former business partner, who'd been framed for her presumed murder. Complex? Sort of. Good hook to create a tension-filled plot, complete with killers tracking and chasing Till and Harper. Even the killers, Paul and Sylvie Turner, are interesting, in a creepy, psychologically unstable kind of way.
But instead of a tightly packed story, Perry stuffs about 100 extra pages into the tale, for no really good reason. Distracting at best, and interrupting the flow of the chase at worst, this flaw holds the book back. Perhaps it's me. I had a similar reaction to Perry's first "Butcher's Boy" book. He has the ability to write some compellingly tense, page-turning material. But then we veer off to read about ancillary characters, descriptions of expensive homes, or other distractions. It felt as though for every person the Turners murder, two instances of momentum are killed as well.
The story ends well, if somewhat predictably. There is a distinctly abrupt feeling to the finish, as though several other loose ends were kind of swept under the proverbial rug. Perhaps Perry tired of writing and wanted to be done. Pity, as it pulls this otherwise interesting and engaging story down from 4 stars to 3.5, rounded up 'cause it'll still keep you entertained and wondering just who will kill whom in the final analysis. Fans will be pleased, but newbies to Perry might wish to begin with "The Old Man," my favorite of his thus far.
In Silence, we have a really good cat & mouse hunt, filled with close calls and some interesting possibilities. Jack Till, a retired L.A. Homicide detective, now a P.I., has helped Wendy Harper, a desperate woman whose life is in jeopardy, to leave behind a successful career in L. A. and establish a new identity elsewhere. He taught her well, and for six years, she's been successfully hidden. The mysterious character who wishes her dead seems intent on getting her back into the open long enough to have her killed. Till takes it upon himself to find her and help her return to L.A. to exonerate her former business partner, who'd been framed for her presumed murder. Complex? Sort of. Good hook to create a tension-filled plot, complete with killers tracking and chasing Till and Harper. Even the killers, Paul and Sylvie Turner, are interesting, in a creepy, psychologically unstable kind of way.
But instead of a tightly packed story, Perry stuffs about 100 extra pages into the tale, for no really good reason. Distracting at best, and interrupting the flow of the chase at worst, this flaw holds the book back. Perhaps it's me. I had a similar reaction to Perry's first "Butcher's Boy" book. He has the ability to write some compellingly tense, page-turning material. But then we veer off to read about ancillary characters, descriptions of expensive homes, or other distractions. It felt as though for every person the Turners murder, two instances of momentum are killed as well.
The story ends well, if somewhat predictably. There is a distinctly abrupt feeling to the finish, as though several other loose ends were kind of swept under the proverbial rug. Perhaps Perry tired of writing and wanted to be done. Pity, as it pulls this otherwise interesting and engaging story down from 4 stars to 3.5, rounded up 'cause it'll still keep you entertained and wondering just who will kill whom in the final analysis. Fans will be pleased, but newbies to Perry might wish to begin with "The Old Man," my favorite of his thus far.
August 28, 2015
This was a 4 star mystery thriller in almost every way. The characters were excellent & Michael Kramer's reading fit the story & enhanced it, as usual. Their back stories & motivations were perfect & blended together into a logical chase that culminates perfectly, even wonderfully. For all the logic, I wasn't quite sure where it was going & the revelations along the way kept me wondering. Jack Till is a great MC.
I took away a star due to the overuse of silencers. They were silent, Hollywood types - had to be - & he even put them on a revolver. Yuck. He also has 2 identical guns that can be disassembled & reassembled plus use different scopes without any need to sight them in. Double yuck!!!
I took away a star due to the overuse of silencers. They were silent, Hollywood types - had to be - & he even put them on a revolver. Yuck. He also has 2 identical guns that can be disassembled & reassembled plus use different scopes without any need to sight them in. Double yuck!!!
June 13, 2017
This could have been a great book, however as with every single mystery novel I've read written by an older man, this falls into the same bullshit trope of the younger woman 'falling in love' with the older, middle aged guy. I'm sick of this gross male fantasy being played out in literature, it really needs to stop. This book could have flourished, but unfortunately that unnecessary "plot device" totally ruined it for me.
Read
September 4, 2019Quitting about 25% of the way in. The details of the porn and stripping, etc make me want to go take a shower, brush my teeth and gargle. Not a fun read.
November 25, 2020
Thomas Perry is a sure thing for thrillers. I am at the point where too much suspense bothers me, so I am afraid I peeked at the end to make sure things turned out all right for all the characters.
Jack Till, retired cop turned private detective, needs to find former client Wendy Harper, to keep a man from being tried for her murder. Once he has found her he needs to protect her from tango dancing contract killers Sylvia and Paul Turner. Turn and dip, Till and Harper dance away from close encounters with the Turners, trying to get from northern California to Los Angeles to document Harper's existence. It's said that long married couples experience increasing irritation with each other, and so it is with the Turners. Her jealousy and insecurity irritate Paul, and Paul's controlling nature irritates Sylvia. True professionals, they put aside their differences when in a killing situation. The reader follows as Till and Harper tentatively reach out toward each other while dodging bullets, and the Turners pursue them while warily loving each other.
Jack Till, retired cop turned private detective, needs to find former client Wendy Harper, to keep a man from being tried for her murder. Once he has found her he needs to protect her from tango dancing contract killers Sylvia and Paul Turner. Turn and dip, Till and Harper dance away from close encounters with the Turners, trying to get from northern California to Los Angeles to document Harper's existence. It's said that long married couples experience increasing irritation with each other, and so it is with the Turners. Her jealousy and insecurity irritate Paul, and Paul's controlling nature irritates Sylvia. True professionals, they put aside their differences when in a killing situation. The reader follows as Till and Harper tentatively reach out toward each other while dodging bullets, and the Turners pursue them while warily loving each other.
October 17, 2016
If you love Perry's Jane Whitefield novels, you will like Silence. While Silence is not on a par with any of the exceptional Whitefield novels, it is a very good read in its own right. Recommended.
January 26, 2008
A taut, well-written thriller, typical of the genre.
The story involves a former homicide detective who helped a witness "disappear" six years earlier, vowing that under no circumstances would he ever attempt to find her. But such a circumstance does arise, and it is not only the detective who tries to find her, but a professional team of husband-and-wife hired assassins. And so the race is on. The protagonist has the distinct advantage of having helped the witness "disappear" in the first place, but he trained her well in the art of deception, and the assassins are extremely well-trained as well, and know that he will lead them to their prey. Worth the read just for the relationship between the married professional assassins.
The one sentence in this book really struck home with me, most probably because of my own profession: "She knew that he had been a homicide detective, and she knew that he had spent a whole career getting people to tell him things that they didn't want to." There you have the role of a detective, whether private or law enforcement, reduced to its essence.
I have long been a Thomas Perry fan, and have read all of his books. I am particularly enamored of the Jane Whitefield series, of which this book is not a part.
Jane Whitefield is a fascinating character, an expert in helping troubled people "disappear." A complete identity change requires not only the proper documentation and change in appearance, but rigorous training to eliminate any and all "tells," including tone of voice, mannerisms and body language. The protagonist herself, a Native American, remains predominantly shrouded in mystery.
Disappearing, with all of its familial, cultural, and societal implications, is a recurrent theme in Perry's books, one I must confess I find almost endlessly fascinating and -- dare I say it? -- appealing.
The story involves a former homicide detective who helped a witness "disappear" six years earlier, vowing that under no circumstances would he ever attempt to find her. But such a circumstance does arise, and it is not only the detective who tries to find her, but a professional team of husband-and-wife hired assassins. And so the race is on. The protagonist has the distinct advantage of having helped the witness "disappear" in the first place, but he trained her well in the art of deception, and the assassins are extremely well-trained as well, and know that he will lead them to their prey. Worth the read just for the relationship between the married professional assassins.
The one sentence in this book really struck home with me, most probably because of my own profession: "She knew that he had been a homicide detective, and she knew that he had spent a whole career getting people to tell him things that they didn't want to." There you have the role of a detective, whether private or law enforcement, reduced to its essence.
I have long been a Thomas Perry fan, and have read all of his books. I am particularly enamored of the Jane Whitefield series, of which this book is not a part.
Jane Whitefield is a fascinating character, an expert in helping troubled people "disappear." A complete identity change requires not only the proper documentation and change in appearance, but rigorous training to eliminate any and all "tells," including tone of voice, mannerisms and body language. The protagonist herself, a Native American, remains predominantly shrouded in mystery.
Disappearing, with all of its familial, cultural, and societal implications, is a recurrent theme in Perry's books, one I must confess I find almost endlessly fascinating and -- dare I say it? -- appealing.
March 17, 2014
Another amazing thriller from Thomas Perry, "Silence " is an incredible tale of suspense and action. Protagonist Jack Till a former cop turned PI has to find the victim of a horrible attack from six years prior. The wrong man has been charged with the murder of a woman who went missing six years ago. Jack Till knows she's hidden and not dead. One twist here is the original attacker of this woman wants her dead regardless. Once Till has tracked down his witness to free the wrong man for her murder he's got to bring her in. It's then we meet the hit man team of Paul and Sylvie. The novel races at top speed throughout and it's action is relentless. It was difficult to put down because there were so few places to cut off and pick up later. The characters are very life like with incredible dialog too. Having read several of Mr Perry's books I knew this one was going to be excellent. I'd highly recommend "Silence " as a fantastic thriller so don't miss it! Most definitely 5 stars out of 5!! Now having met Mr Perry at the recent Tucson Festival of Books I'm going to be sure to read of of his novels past and present I might have missed!! "Silence" it's golden believe me!
March 20, 2020
Silence by Thomas Perry.Wendy Harper is beaten and left for dead but lucky for her its interupted while recovering she decides with the help of private dick Jack Till to flee. Jack helps her giving her advice on what to do and what not to do, that is until her ex boyfriend Eric is charged with her murder. Jack begins his search for her but is followed by ruthless hired killers and married couple Sylvie and Paul Turner, thus begins the story. Fast paced action with some hilarious moments those Turners are a riot, some obvious plot holes but filled in as you got into it, anyway really fun escapism crime fiction bs with a high giggle factor and a jaunty road trip thrown in for good measure. The Turners deserve their own book they are a crack up, amen.
October 18, 2017
What a cracking read this was! Jack Till helped Wendy Harper disappear 6 years ago & now he needs to find her...& this could so easily have been the whole story, Jack tracking down Wendy & trying to get her to safety but instead we also get the story of Paul & Sylvie Turner - the two assassins who are also hunting Wendy. In fact I enjoyed the background of how they became assassins & their side of the story more than that of Jack & Wendy's!
The two stories running alongside results in a gripping, fast-paced thriller that for me was above average. I'll be on the lookout for more by this author & to see if Jack...& in indeed the Turners....feature in any other books.
The two stories running alongside results in a gripping, fast-paced thriller that for me was above average. I'll be on the lookout for more by this author & to see if Jack...& in indeed the Turners....feature in any other books.
October 29, 2023
Jack Till #1 =
Mr. Perry has developed a dynamic, round character in Jack Till. Jack's logical and analytic thinking, his bold actions, his personal tragedy and winsome love for his special needs daughter, create a compelling character. This character is charismatic and the reader is absorbed by his charm as he leads the suspenseful plot along.
A well crafted thriller!
Mr. Perry has developed a dynamic, round character in Jack Till. Jack's logical and analytic thinking, his bold actions, his personal tragedy and winsome love for his special needs daughter, create a compelling character. This character is charismatic and the reader is absorbed by his charm as he leads the suspenseful plot along.
A well crafted thriller!
August 4, 2024
"There were just some people who were too mean and crazy to f*ck around with."
I would say that almost every character in this cat and mouse crime thriller is too mean and too crazy for sure, with the exception of retired LA cop Jack Till's sweet daughter Holly. As far as I'm concerned Thomas Perry is always good with a story, and this one was no different. An entertaining page turner if you enjoy this kind of book, I'm sure I'll catch up with Jack Till again some day.
I would say that almost every character in this cat and mouse crime thriller is too mean and too crazy for sure, with the exception of retired LA cop Jack Till's sweet daughter Holly. As far as I'm concerned Thomas Perry is always good with a story, and this one was no different. An entertaining page turner if you enjoy this kind of book, I'm sure I'll catch up with Jack Till again some day.
June 12, 2008
In the latest LA Weekly Literary Supplement, Thomas Perry wrote an essay In a Jam: How Suspense Keeps the Novel on Edge.
Here's the first part:
Suspense isn’t a pleasant sensation. We go to great lengths to manage our lives in ways that will keep us from having to go through periods of uncertainty — particularly when it’s prolonged, and when the stakes are high. But in reading fiction, especially a novel, we crave this sensation of increasing tension, and the higher the stakes, the better. We love the experience of sitting somewhere in perfect safety with a book while some character serves as our surrogate in facing a world full of danger. What we’re enjoying is growing excitement, followed by a tantalizingly delayed cathartic ending. It’s a quality of all good fiction, and it’s why the reader keeps turning the pages.
Great suspense writing doesn’t have to include a guy with a gun. When the males in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice are off to London trying to track down 16-year-old Lydia Bennet, who has eloped with the evil Wickham, the Bennet women are reduced to waiting at home for reports to arrive by mail. By now, they’re aware that what Wickham intends for Lydia doesn’t include a wedding. If she’s not rescued quickly, she’ll be lost to the family forever, undoubtedly to suffer degradation, abandonment and a lonely death. Austen’s description of powerless waiting and worry, interrupted only by news of leads followed to dead ends, could serve as a model of suspense writing — properly proportioned, plausible and urgent. When we learn that Lydia has been found, we want to cheer.
Read the rest of Perry's essay here:
http://www.laweekly.com/art+books/wls...
Here's the first part:
Suspense isn’t a pleasant sensation. We go to great lengths to manage our lives in ways that will keep us from having to go through periods of uncertainty — particularly when it’s prolonged, and when the stakes are high. But in reading fiction, especially a novel, we crave this sensation of increasing tension, and the higher the stakes, the better. We love the experience of sitting somewhere in perfect safety with a book while some character serves as our surrogate in facing a world full of danger. What we’re enjoying is growing excitement, followed by a tantalizingly delayed cathartic ending. It’s a quality of all good fiction, and it’s why the reader keeps turning the pages.
Great suspense writing doesn’t have to include a guy with a gun. When the males in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice are off to London trying to track down 16-year-old Lydia Bennet, who has eloped with the evil Wickham, the Bennet women are reduced to waiting at home for reports to arrive by mail. By now, they’re aware that what Wickham intends for Lydia doesn’t include a wedding. If she’s not rescued quickly, she’ll be lost to the family forever, undoubtedly to suffer degradation, abandonment and a lonely death. Austen’s description of powerless waiting and worry, interrupted only by news of leads followed to dead ends, could serve as a model of suspense writing — properly proportioned, plausible and urgent. When we learn that Lydia has been found, we want to cheer.
Read the rest of Perry's essay here:
http://www.laweekly.com/art+books/wls...
October 2, 2007
- SILENCE (Private Invest-Jack Till-US-Cont) – DNF
Perry, Thomas – Standalone
Harcourt, Inc., 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780151012893
First Sentence: The small neon light outside that said BANQUE was turned off.
*** Ex-cop turned PI Jack Till helped Wendy Harper disappear after having been beat nearly to death. Her former lover and business partner has been arrested for her murder. The only way to prove him innocent is to prove Wendy is still alive. He’s not the only one looking for her. Paul and Sylvie Turner are also looking for Wendy, but they want to make fiction a reality by killing her once and for all.
*** Perry’s Jane Whitfield books are among my favorites. This was not. Why?: because I didn’t care about any of the characters. Jack started out interesting; a divorced father who had raised his Downs’ syndrome daughter. Unfortunately, that was the only real back story we received on him. Wendy was interesting except we had absolutely no definite idea from whom she was running. Paul and Sylvie were not interesting to me. I live in a city with way too many murders; the last thing I want is a book which makes the killers sympathetic. By page 119, I realized I just didn’t care about the story, was skimming pages and decided to stop.
Perry, Thomas – Standalone
Harcourt, Inc., 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780151012893
First Sentence: The small neon light outside that said BANQUE was turned off.
*** Ex-cop turned PI Jack Till helped Wendy Harper disappear after having been beat nearly to death. Her former lover and business partner has been arrested for her murder. The only way to prove him innocent is to prove Wendy is still alive. He’s not the only one looking for her. Paul and Sylvie Turner are also looking for Wendy, but they want to make fiction a reality by killing her once and for all.
*** Perry’s Jane Whitfield books are among my favorites. This was not. Why?: because I didn’t care about any of the characters. Jack started out interesting; a divorced father who had raised his Downs’ syndrome daughter. Unfortunately, that was the only real back story we received on him. Wendy was interesting except we had absolutely no definite idea from whom she was running. Paul and Sylvie were not interesting to me. I live in a city with way too many murders; the last thing I want is a book which makes the killers sympathetic. By page 119, I realized I just didn’t care about the story, was skimming pages and decided to stop.
January 20, 2010
Well-known for his series of books featuring Jane Whitfield, the Edgar Award-winning Perry has, in recent years, turned his talents to writing intelligent novels, centering on people in trouble. Six years ago, private investigator, Jack Till, an ex-LAPD detective, helped restaurateur Wendy Harper escape from assassins. He taught her how to disappear into another life. Now, he needs to find her. Many believe she is dead, killed by her ex-boyfriend, Eric Turner. But Paul and Sylvie Turner, the assassins hired to kill Wendy, know better. Now, Jack has to find Wendy, convince her to come in from the cold to save Eric and keep her alive long enough to make it back to Los Angeles. Perry excels at procedural details and maintains a breakneck pace while developing the relationship between Wendy and Jack, who has led a rather monastic life, caring for his 21-year old daughter with Down syndrome, Holly. The ending arrives a little abruptly but the chase is worth the read
January 30, 2025
Silence starts off slowly, almost hesitantly, for the course of 3 whole pages. Kinda like a monster roller coaster, breaking inertia as it prepares to deliver a screaming, breathless, terror-filled ride. And then it delivers, with a vengeance. Twists and turns and gravity-defying loops until you're not sure which way is up but you KNOW you're glad that safety bar is in place and will hold you...
I had to read the last two pages twice to savor the full effect of the nuances of Silence.
I borrowed this book from my local public library, and I've reserved a copy of the next Jack Till novel, The Boyfriend. My heart rate should be back to normal by the time I pick it up.
I had to read the last two pages twice to savor the full effect of the nuances of Silence.
I borrowed this book from my local public library, and I've reserved a copy of the next Jack Till novel, The Boyfriend. My heart rate should be back to normal by the time I pick it up.
April 13, 2013
I loved this book! The plot was terrific and believable. The clues were arrived at in a very logical way and the characters were very real. It was one of those books that you have a hard time not thinking about when you're not reading it. I wanted to sit down and read until I finished-that's always my highest compliment. The first thing I did when finishing this one was try to reserve the second Til book at the library. It wasn't available, so I ordered it-also a very high recommendation. This one was great!
September 11, 2021
Even though it didn't live up to the standards I have come to expect from a Thomas Perry novel it was still enjoyable.
Jack Till is a fortyish ex LA detective who is now working as a PI. He's approached by a young woman who's been badly beaten and afraid for her life. She doesn't explain why but wants him to help her disappear.
Jack instructs her in everything she will need to do to get a new identity and stay off the radar. He dropped her off at the airport and hadn't seen her since. 6 years later he needs to find her
Jack Till is a fortyish ex LA detective who is now working as a PI. He's approached by a young woman who's been badly beaten and afraid for her life. She doesn't explain why but wants him to help her disappear.
Jack instructs her in everything she will need to do to get a new identity and stay off the radar. He dropped her off at the airport and hadn't seen her since. 6 years later he needs to find her
December 31, 2008
If you have seen any other part of my books that I have read, you will know I am a Thomas Perry fan. I am not always the most articulate when it comes to describing a book or it's plot. That's why I am at goodreads, so that I can get better. But if you like thrillers and a fast paced story, he is a wonderful author. Give him a try.
February 6, 2013
Much better 2nd half than first. 7 of 10 stars.
January 31, 2018
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Jack Till is a retired LAPD homicide detective turned P.I. Six years ago, he helped a woman named Wendy Harper vanish from the face of the Earth. She'd been horribly beaten and was afraid that next time she wouldn't survive, and neither would her loved ones. But now, for reasons unknown, someone has framed her former business partner/fiancé for her murder. It's clearly a trap set for her, but the only way to prove his innocence is to prove that she's still alive.
Even though Till knows the tricks he taught her to disappear, he doesn't know how she applied his lessons or where she might have gone. It takes some ingenuity, tenacity and luck, but he eventually does. It then takes a lot more of the same to get her back to LA to demonstrate that she habeas her own corpus.
Meanwhile, Paul and Sylvie Turner, ballroom dancing aficionados and professional killers, perpetrated the frame and are on Till's trail as he looks for Wendy (or whatever her name is now). They flirt, bicker and kill their way across California and beyond in their efforts kill Wendy.
The narration jumps between the perspectives of Till, Paul and Sylvie for most of the book -- with a little bit of Wendy's and, eventually, the man who hired the Turners. Perry makes some interesting choices about whose perspective we see some events through, giving us Till when you'd expect a Turner (and vice versa). Not only do we see the current action from their perspectives, we get a pretty detailed backstory for Till, the Turners and their boss -- interestingly, almost everything we learn about Wendy, we learn from her disclosures to TIll, so we only see her from his point of view.
I really got into the story, and found the Turners pretty interesting -- ditto for Till. The focus was on the Turners enough that if you told me that Perry'd written a sequel about them, I'd believe it (he did write one about Till). I never managed to get as invested in the backstory (or the current-story) about the man who hired the Turners. There's some good twists, some smart reveals, and just good action moments.
I found the dialogue stiff, awkward and occasionally painful -- the interior monologues of the various POV characters could also grate my nerves. I'm honestly not certain if that's Perry's issue or Kramer's. Thankfully, the story was strong enough that I could put up with the problems I had.
Kramer's got a huge list of credits, and is clearly beloved by many. But man . . . I found him tolerable at best, and frequently annoying. There's a lot of problems that I had with the book that I'm attributing to his narration -- I may be wrong about that, but I think if I'd been reading the book, I'd have overlooked and/or not had many of the problems that I did.
A strong story, with enough tense moments to satisfy any thriller reader, Silence is something to try, but probably only in text-form.
---
Jack Till is a retired LAPD homicide detective turned P.I. Six years ago, he helped a woman named Wendy Harper vanish from the face of the Earth. She'd been horribly beaten and was afraid that next time she wouldn't survive, and neither would her loved ones. But now, for reasons unknown, someone has framed her former business partner/fiancé for her murder. It's clearly a trap set for her, but the only way to prove his innocence is to prove that she's still alive.
Even though Till knows the tricks he taught her to disappear, he doesn't know how she applied his lessons or where she might have gone. It takes some ingenuity, tenacity and luck, but he eventually does. It then takes a lot more of the same to get her back to LA to demonstrate that she habeas her own corpus.
Meanwhile, Paul and Sylvie Turner, ballroom dancing aficionados and professional killers, perpetrated the frame and are on Till's trail as he looks for Wendy (or whatever her name is now). They flirt, bicker and kill their way across California and beyond in their efforts kill Wendy.
The narration jumps between the perspectives of Till, Paul and Sylvie for most of the book -- with a little bit of Wendy's and, eventually, the man who hired the Turners. Perry makes some interesting choices about whose perspective we see some events through, giving us Till when you'd expect a Turner (and vice versa). Not only do we see the current action from their perspectives, we get a pretty detailed backstory for Till, the Turners and their boss -- interestingly, almost everything we learn about Wendy, we learn from her disclosures to TIll, so we only see her from his point of view.
I really got into the story, and found the Turners pretty interesting -- ditto for Till. The focus was on the Turners enough that if you told me that Perry'd written a sequel about them, I'd believe it (he did write one about Till). I never managed to get as invested in the backstory (or the current-story) about the man who hired the Turners. There's some good twists, some smart reveals, and just good action moments.
I found the dialogue stiff, awkward and occasionally painful -- the interior monologues of the various POV characters could also grate my nerves. I'm honestly not certain if that's Perry's issue or Kramer's. Thankfully, the story was strong enough that I could put up with the problems I had.
Kramer's got a huge list of credits, and is clearly beloved by many. But man . . . I found him tolerable at best, and frequently annoying. There's a lot of problems that I had with the book that I'm attributing to his narration -- I may be wrong about that, but I think if I'd been reading the book, I'd have overlooked and/or not had many of the problems that I did.
A strong story, with enough tense moments to satisfy any thriller reader, Silence is something to try, but probably only in text-form.
March 10, 2022
Another good crime novel by Thomas Perry. This was my 1st in the Jack Till series and I'm sure I'll read more. Every Perry book I've read so far (at least 7) has been similar enough that I want to space them out to keep them fresh. All good, but lots of similarity.
Jack Till, retired homicide detective not PI helps a woman (Wendy Harper) disappear. She witnessed something sinister and the friend involved went missing. When she is brutally attacked shortly thereafter she presumes her friend was murdered and she will be next. Jack teaches her well and she stays hidden (even he doesn't know where) for 6 years. When her restaurant partner is charged with her murder, Jack can't let an innocent man go to prison but can't convince the DA that Wendy's alive.
Jack searches for Wendy, but so are hired killers who still want to kill her to eliminate her as a witness. It's set up well and the story and action move along at a good pace. Till is a good character and the villains are interesting as well. Others have said that Wendy wasn't believable in the some of the life choices she made, but they clicked for me. She really had no choice and did what she needed to to protect people important to her.
I like the way Perry does the narrative in his books keeping the reader up on what the main character is thinking. But in this book there were a couple of significant weknesses, one that was hard to swallow, and one which made the mystery too easy to figure out, so I rated this a 4 instead of a 5.
Jack Till, retired homicide detective not PI helps a woman (Wendy Harper) disappear. She witnessed something sinister and the friend involved went missing. When she is brutally attacked shortly thereafter she presumes her friend was murdered and she will be next. Jack teaches her well and she stays hidden (even he doesn't know where) for 6 years. When her restaurant partner is charged with her murder, Jack can't let an innocent man go to prison but can't convince the DA that Wendy's alive.
Jack searches for Wendy, but so are hired killers who still want to kill her to eliminate her as a witness. It's set up well and the story and action move along at a good pace. Till is a good character and the villains are interesting as well. Others have said that Wendy wasn't believable in the some of the life choices she made, but they clicked for me. She really had no choice and did what she needed to to protect people important to her.
I like the way Perry does the narrative in his books keeping the reader up on what the main character is thinking. But in this book there were a couple of significant weknesses, one that was hard to swallow, and one which made the mystery too easy to figure out, so I rated this a 4 instead of a 5.
December 30, 2022
Six years ago, Wendy Harper was attacked and badly beaten. She would have been killed but the assailant was interrupted when two cars drove up onto the scene. Wendy knew that her life was still in danger. She had been asking too many questions about a friend of hers who had disappeared and a very powerful man felt threatened by her investigation. Wendy turned to Jack Till for help. She needed a new identity and she needed to disappear. Till helped her walk away from her life in Los Angeles and start over somewhere else. But now he needed to find her. In an effort to lure her back to town, her enemy had hired someone to plant Wendy's bloody blouse and the bat that she was beaten with on the property of her former boyfriend. A truly evil husband and wife team of assassins has been retained to kill Wendy. Till has no idea where she started her new life or what she is calling herself these days. But he is not about to let an innocent man go to prison for murder. So Till is back on the case. Thomas Perry is a master of suspense. This story will keep you on the edge of your seat. Well done!
July 13, 2023
audio: Michael Kramer narrator
Started this a while ago and for some reason I did not finish. (saw on my 'currently reading' list.
Not super great but the book flowed smoothly. This even had a small portion in my SF Bay area.
The author skillfully introduces a Downs Syndrome adult daughter which was "right on" from my experience. I'll continue with the series because I like the writing style.
Started this a while ago and for some reason I did not finish. (saw on my 'currently reading' list.
Not super great but the book flowed smoothly. This even had a small portion in my SF Bay area.
The author skillfully introduces a Downs Syndrome adult daughter which was "right on" from my experience. I'll continue with the series because I like the writing style.
February 4, 2021
(3). I was looking for something entertaining in an e book to read on my vacation and came across this older Thomas Perry book. It did not disappoint. Jack Till is a terrific character, and this convoluted story has twists and turns galore. We have a wonderfully evil husband and wife team to deal with that give Jack (and everyone else) all they can handle. Plenty of action, very readable, and a perfectly reasonable length make this a fun endeavor. Good stuff.
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