What do you think?
Rate this book
Pursuit
Thirteen bodies are discovered inside a small Louisville restaurant just after closing time. The ferocity and apparent randomness of the crime prompt the police to call in criminology professor Daniel Millikan-they want a profile of the murderer. Millikan determines that the crime was committed not by a psychopath but by a professional killer of consummate skill and total lack of feeling: “I think that the one who did it is one of the special cases. He’s somebody we can’t afford to have walking down a street where our families walk.” When Millikan learns that the investigation has come to a complete standstill, he commits himself to an unorthodox decision. The only hope of stopping this killer and ending the bloodshed is to employ Roy Prescott, an expert in the narrow specialty of hunting down murderers through methods the police can’t-and wouldn’t-use.
And so begins a stunning novel by Thomas Perry, “one of the most thoroughly satisfying writers around” (Lawrence Block), a death match fought from one end of the country to the other by two enemies who both understand that only one of them will be alive at the end.
From the Hardcover edition.
And so begins a stunning novel by Thomas Perry, “one of the most thoroughly satisfying writers around” (Lawrence Block), a death match fought from one end of the country to the other by two enemies who both understand that only one of them will be alive at the end.
From the Hardcover edition.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 18, 2001
347 people are currently reading
761 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Perry
93 books1,704 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
February 6, 2013
This is one of the best chase stories I’ve had the pleasure to come across. Well worth the read or cd. 10 of 10 stars for this thriller!
March 28, 2012
Everyone has their own flavors for novels, so I understand why some rate this novel with one star. But in fairness, when I look over the bookshelves of the reviewer, invariably they haven't read much of the genre they are reviewing. I don't see any Parker, Connelly, Sanford, Lee, or Baldacci. Just to name a few. In short, they aren't qualified to rate a novel with one star unless they can back it up with a list of novels at least slightly superior.
It drives me ape-shit bonkers to see reviews like this. I wouldn't read One for the Money, an author I have yet to read and then declare the novel crap. Not without at least reading several more novels in that genre and at least a handful more from that author as well.
I was lucky to chat up an old-timer at the library when I went to pickup my latest treasures. He recommended Thomas Perry. As I am ever on the lookout for untapped authors (unread by me), I count myself lucky to have latched unto a copy of Pursuit.
Don't let the terrible low star reviews dissuade you from giving Perry a chance. I am glad I did.
It drives me ape-shit bonkers to see reviews like this. I wouldn't read One for the Money, an author I have yet to read and then declare the novel crap. Not without at least reading several more novels in that genre and at least a handful more from that author as well.
I was lucky to chat up an old-timer at the library when I went to pickup my latest treasures. He recommended Thomas Perry. As I am ever on the lookout for untapped authors (unread by me), I count myself lucky to have latched unto a copy of Pursuit.
Don't let the terrible low star reviews dissuade you from giving Perry a chance. I am glad I did.
August 14, 2021
The Pursuit is filled with bad people doing both good and bad things. There are bad people out there who think nothing of doing bad things for money, (lots of money) but there are also people who do "bad" things to stop those same bad people. Who will tip the balance to his own side? What is the price of catching a "bad" guy? Does the the end justify the means no matter who is willing to pay?
This is one of Perry's "legacy" books -- translation OLD -- so some of the "technology is dated (phones, travel,etc.) but the story is solid and the tension is real. The characters are determined and professional. The skate at the edge of evil and dangerous. It is a compelling book
This is one of Perry's "legacy" books -- translation OLD -- so some of the "technology is dated (phones, travel,etc.) but the story is solid and the tension is real. The characters are determined and professional. The skate at the edge of evil and dangerous. It is a compelling book
August 22, 2015
Another excellent thriller by Perry, although the ending wasn't as good as it could have been. Instead of ending properly, Perry dragged it on longer than I would have liked. I didn't buy the reason for it, either. Still, it was a great ride. The way he followed the 2 killers was very good. The impeccable, if warped, logic of one hit man was especially chilling.
As usual, it was very well read with very real & memorable characters. Even the supporting characters were full blown & vibrant. The plot was great. If you haven't read anything by him, I highly suggest you start.
As usual, it was very well read with very real & memorable characters. Even the supporting characters were full blown & vibrant. The plot was great. If you haven't read anything by him, I highly suggest you start.
October 9, 2009
Overal: I found this book to read like a roller coaster. There were some excellent high points. But, the low points dragged on and on and on. At the highs, the author had you captivated about the plot; the characters. But, then he'd take off into endless chapters and chapters of background information. It did nothing to enhance the plot and/or characters. All it did for me was slow down the storyline and force me to put the book down because I was losing interest.
April 14, 2022
This action packed book follows the hunt for a hitman. This assassin goes off the rails by seeking attention. He starts murdering people in a cat and mouse game, no longer just for pay.
February 10, 2011
Pursuit was a great suspense novel. It's basically a story of two professional hit men going toe to toe. Both are great at what they do and it's fascinating to see how they go about trying to outsmart the other one.
The story starts out with a shooting in a restaurant. A former cop/homicide expert is in town for a talk and the local cops give him a call just to get his take on the crime. He walks through the scene and determines that it's not some random crime but instead a professional that was hired to take out one particular person - the killer only trying to make it look like some whack job. Then this expert gets a call from one of the victim's relatives and he decides to give the man the phone number of a professional hit man to do his own investigating - because he knows the cops are never going to be able to catch up with the guy and this is one man that is young and will only keep getting better and killing more people.
So now you have one hit man hired to take out the other hit man. It's a good book and it's unique because both men are so evenly matched that you never know which one is going to be the "winner."
I'm looking forward to reading more of Thomas Perry's books, one of which I found today on Barnes and Noble's website for under $2.00 - SCORE!
The story starts out with a shooting in a restaurant. A former cop/homicide expert is in town for a talk and the local cops give him a call just to get his take on the crime. He walks through the scene and determines that it's not some random crime but instead a professional that was hired to take out one particular person - the killer only trying to make it look like some whack job. Then this expert gets a call from one of the victim's relatives and he decides to give the man the phone number of a professional hit man to do his own investigating - because he knows the cops are never going to be able to catch up with the guy and this is one man that is young and will only keep getting better and killing more people.
So now you have one hit man hired to take out the other hit man. It's a good book and it's unique because both men are so evenly matched that you never know which one is going to be the "winner."
I'm looking forward to reading more of Thomas Perry's books, one of which I found today on Barnes and Noble's website for under $2.00 - SCORE!
June 13, 2018
Another Thomas Perry classic, "Pursuit", is the story of a hired gun out to stop and kill a syndicate hit man. Roy Prescott is a hired gun out to get justice for a wealthy Louisville magnet who's son was one of thirteen bodies left in a late night massacre inside a dingy coffee shop/ diner. James Varvey not yet 30 is a heartless cold blooded hit man. Varney works through the midwest taking out targets with precision and never leaving any clues for the police to track. However the Louisville coffee shop job unbeknownst to Varney had unleashed the equally cunning and cold Prescott onto his tail. Filled with unique characters, "Persuit", was a bit of a slow read. However I was in no hurry to breeze through this one. It was one of those books to take time reading and savoring a really good story. At times it seemed bodies were dropping on every page. The cat and mouse game between Varney and Prescott was intense and riveting. At just over 350 pages this gets four stars out of a possible five stars. I was somewhat surprised at the shocking conclusion. Does Thomas Perry write nothing but top notch thrillers ? I've read close to twenty Perry thrillers and they are all must reads. This one is a do not miss for any reason. Prescott vs. Varney a heavyweight match to be sure.
September 11, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel by Thomas Perry whom I have recently rediscovered after a long hiatus. It pits killer John Varney against pursuer Roy Prescott. Exceptionally well written. We kind of know how it will end but Varney has more lives than a cat and many tricks up his sleeve. Varney and Prescott are both guns for hire but Prescott is on the side of good in tracking down a murderer even if he too leaves a few bodies in his wake. Recommended but not for goody-two-shoes types.
December 26, 2022
I really like some Thomas Perry novels much better than others, so I’m always curious which it will be for me when I pick one up. What I like about Mr. Perry is that his stories usually grab me from the beginning, he creates an imaginative scenario that engages me right away and makes me want to see where the plot goes. Sometimes what happens later in the book goes off the rails for me, but more often it turns out to be a satisfying read. This book falls into the latter category, starting out with an intense multiple murder, several believable characters and lots of intriguing insights about assassins/contract killers, definitely a positive reading experience for me.
March 28, 2021
Thomas Perry has talent, especially when he uses it to create memorably scary killers. Folks that are not just psychopaths, but that really consider themselves professional and train and train to attain optimal performance at killing people.
Such is the case in Pursuit, where a young man who grew up in an unhealthy environment became a frighteningly proficient killer for hire. Daniel Millikan, a former cop turned expert profiler who consults with various police departments dissects a crime scene and knows that what transpired is more than meets the eye. The cops won't catch this killer-- that's for sure. When one of the victim's wealthy father reaches out to hire Millikan, for a generous fee, to catch this man and bring him to justice, Millikan demurs. But, in what might be a lapse in judgment, he offers a name to the bereaved parent; a name that one shouldn't give out easily-- that of Roy Prescott, an equally frightening man who, for a fee, can do for this parent what he wants done.
With this, Perry begins a perfect set-up for a one on one confrontation between two apex predators. And for the most part, that is exactly what the book delivers. Unfortunately, there are a few missteps along the way. For some reason, Perry slows the pace and diminishes the tension with various "side-streets" down which he takes the reader, usually exploring each killer's personal experiences with a woman when not engaged in their contest. Each find a beautiful woman with whom to spend time. Each of these women seem either too good to be true, or hiding some devastating flaw that the reader knows will lead to the demise of whatever budding relationship they are forming.
Where Pursuit shines, however, is when Prescott and his quarry tangle. Here, the tension sizzles, the clever and more experienced Prescott setting trap after trap and being surprised by the almost preternatural abilities of the killer to escape. In the end, the reader knows how things must turn out, but Perry crafts the story so well that even then, tension is sky high and page turning can't happen fast enough.
This is 4 stars only because of the aforementioned diversions from the main plot. They are acceptable, one might argue they even further the plot, but that's a stretch in my opinion. The book just would have been shorter and more of a straight-up thriller without them and, perhaps no better for it. Hard to say. But easy to proclaim is that fans of Thomas Perry should read this one. It's a great way to spend a few evenings escaping life's really scary stuff-- like killer viruses.
Such is the case in Pursuit, where a young man who grew up in an unhealthy environment became a frighteningly proficient killer for hire. Daniel Millikan, a former cop turned expert profiler who consults with various police departments dissects a crime scene and knows that what transpired is more than meets the eye. The cops won't catch this killer-- that's for sure. When one of the victim's wealthy father reaches out to hire Millikan, for a generous fee, to catch this man and bring him to justice, Millikan demurs. But, in what might be a lapse in judgment, he offers a name to the bereaved parent; a name that one shouldn't give out easily-- that of Roy Prescott, an equally frightening man who, for a fee, can do for this parent what he wants done.
With this, Perry begins a perfect set-up for a one on one confrontation between two apex predators. And for the most part, that is exactly what the book delivers. Unfortunately, there are a few missteps along the way. For some reason, Perry slows the pace and diminishes the tension with various "side-streets" down which he takes the reader, usually exploring each killer's personal experiences with a woman when not engaged in their contest. Each find a beautiful woman with whom to spend time. Each of these women seem either too good to be true, or hiding some devastating flaw that the reader knows will lead to the demise of whatever budding relationship they are forming.
Where Pursuit shines, however, is when Prescott and his quarry tangle. Here, the tension sizzles, the clever and more experienced Prescott setting trap after trap and being surprised by the almost preternatural abilities of the killer to escape. In the end, the reader knows how things must turn out, but Perry crafts the story so well that even then, tension is sky high and page turning can't happen fast enough.
This is 4 stars only because of the aforementioned diversions from the main plot. They are acceptable, one might argue they even further the plot, but that's a stretch in my opinion. The book just would have been shorter and more of a straight-up thriller without them and, perhaps no better for it. Hard to say. But easy to proclaim is that fans of Thomas Perry should read this one. It's a great way to spend a few evenings escaping life's really scary stuff-- like killer viruses.
July 23, 2010
While I like Thomas Perry, this is one of his weaker efforts - at least from my female point of view. Like the title suggests, the hero pursues the hitman, completely unhinging the previously perfect killer. That in itself was unbelievable, as was the fact that they end of across the river from eachother for months. The book is about 100 pages too long, with insignifcant scenes and an almost never ending pursuit. If you want macho, this if for you. If not, pass.
February 27, 2025
3.5 stars
I started this book about six weeks ago. The first few chapters were great!
(Then my wife and I both got the flu. I've been busy catching up at work. I haven't had much time to read.)
Like I said, this book started off great.
Thirteen bodies are found in a Louisville restaurant. When the police can find no suspect or motive, the family of one of the victims seeks the services of the enigmatic and solitary specialist Roy Prescott.
Thomas Perry follows both the hunter *and* the prey. I don't remember a lot of twists and turns, but I liked following both characters. He's a good writer.
Truth be told, taking so long to read this probably hurts my view of this book. I normally would have finished it in a few days. These characters didn't hold my interest for six weeks.
It's probably a 4-star book for most people.
I started this book about six weeks ago. The first few chapters were great!
(Then my wife and I both got the flu. I've been busy catching up at work. I haven't had much time to read.)
Like I said, this book started off great.
Thirteen bodies are found in a Louisville restaurant. When the police can find no suspect or motive, the family of one of the victims seeks the services of the enigmatic and solitary specialist Roy Prescott.
Thomas Perry follows both the hunter *and* the prey. I don't remember a lot of twists and turns, but I liked following both characters. He's a good writer.
Truth be told, taking so long to read this probably hurts my view of this book. I normally would have finished it in a few days. These characters didn't hold my interest for six weeks.
It's probably a 4-star book for most people.
March 8, 2025
Exciting book about a professional killer who is a psychopath and the shadowy but ultimately sympathetic figure who is hired to kill him. (I believe firmly in total depravity but after reading this I’m reminded of how grateful I am for common grace and the restraint placed on humanity by the Lord.) Lots of amazing (and gut-wrenching) twists and turns.
April 18, 2023
I didn't like this as much as other Perry books I have read. It was a cat and mouse chase, well-written, but just got too detailed for my taste. I did like the plot, would have liked it shortened a bit.
August 30, 2023
Gritty thriller pitting two assassins from the different sides of the law against each other in a cat and mouse game. Starts off great, slows down in the middle and comes to a quick conclusion. But always feels like Perry. Would have loved for Perry to have used this character again.
August 31, 2016
This is a page-turning thriller, especially if you love reading about a battle of strategies and wits of the 'good' guy versus the 'bad' guy...especially when both of them are street-smart and cunning.
Our bad guy here is Varney, and he's a doozy. He's completely without emotion; he talks often about mimicking other people's expressions to blend in. He also considers himself a killer at the top of his game - he can plot and carry out any murder, or series of murders, without leaving evidence, and, of course, without getting caught by any 'idiotic' detective. He's enjoyed many years of being a well-paid, successful hitman.
Our good guy is Prescott, a crafty 'specialist' who has made a career out of studying criminals and their patterns, and finding them especially when they are working extremely hard at being unfindable. He works alone, and has some unorthodox ways of tracking people by taking the smallest clues and figuring out the next step.
Both main characters are very well-written, and the details of their plotting and planning are pretty incredible. Once I started this book I found it extremely hard to put down! The author shares much of each person's thoughts and motivations, so you really feel like you're the proverbial fly on the wall...but better. It's also interesting that we see how long tracking a killer can take: in this book, it's literally months of Prescott patiently plotting and stalking Varney. More realistic when we've all gotten used to a crime being solved in just a few days, or maybe a couple of weeks, as in most plots.
The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star review is that, since it does take months for Prescott to find Varney, he initially uses a stripper for his cover story and information, and eventually he forms an attachment to her....not quite love, but more than a friendly acquaintance. While it was a nice touch to show more of Prescott's humanity, it took away some of the thrill of the cat-and-mouse chasing. Varney also finds a female interest, but, in keeping with his personality, it's a much less complex relationship.
My favorite part of the book was the locked-in-the-office trap....I won't spoil it!!
Our bad guy here is Varney, and he's a doozy. He's completely without emotion; he talks often about mimicking other people's expressions to blend in. He also considers himself a killer at the top of his game - he can plot and carry out any murder, or series of murders, without leaving evidence, and, of course, without getting caught by any 'idiotic' detective. He's enjoyed many years of being a well-paid, successful hitman.
Our good guy is Prescott, a crafty 'specialist' who has made a career out of studying criminals and their patterns, and finding them especially when they are working extremely hard at being unfindable. He works alone, and has some unorthodox ways of tracking people by taking the smallest clues and figuring out the next step.
Both main characters are very well-written, and the details of their plotting and planning are pretty incredible. Once I started this book I found it extremely hard to put down! The author shares much of each person's thoughts and motivations, so you really feel like you're the proverbial fly on the wall...but better. It's also interesting that we see how long tracking a killer can take: in this book, it's literally months of Prescott patiently plotting and stalking Varney. More realistic when we've all gotten used to a crime being solved in just a few days, or maybe a couple of weeks, as in most plots.
The only thing that kept this from being a 5-star review is that, since it does take months for Prescott to find Varney, he initially uses a stripper for his cover story and information, and eventually he forms an attachment to her....not quite love, but more than a friendly acquaintance. While it was a nice touch to show more of Prescott's humanity, it took away some of the thrill of the cat-and-mouse chasing. Varney also finds a female interest, but, in keeping with his personality, it's a much less complex relationship.
My favorite part of the book was the locked-in-the-office trap....I won't spoil it!!
September 3, 2021
Well, I'm kind of astounded,
I have already read at least 6 of his earlier books and even a couple of more modern ones than this one, and what I like so much about them is how realistic everything is...
dialogue , real people, detectives , police , and private eyes actually *gasp* working together without being rude to each other ..
in other words not that amped up bologna Hollywood friction
So here I am amazed
Did Thomas Perry himself get kidnapped? Cuz so far I'm not even halfway through the first chapter and this is not Thomas Perry, this is lame
Here's a sample of the lame dialogue that I've never seen in any other of his books
The detective and the police are standing in a restaurant where a bunch of people got shot looking over the dead bodies and here's the dialogue...
>>
"He wants you to think that tonight he got a big headache and heard Jesus tell him he wanted new angels. But that isn’t who he is. He came for one of these people. Just one. My guess would be this guy over here with his brain blown out of the back of his skull. He shot him first.”
Cowan’s face compressed in a wince, his eyes squinting at the floor.
“I’m not sure what to do with that.”
“What I’d suggest is that you look as hard as you can for the shooter from now until dawn. You won’t find him, but you might learn something you’d like to know about him. Then find out who would have paid to have one of these people killed, and get that person into a very small room. Offer him a deal that he can’t pass up.”
This is total Hollywood schlock
this is not what real people talk like
this is not what Thomas Perry wrote
I'm also surprised how multiple reviews here on Goodreads have four and five stars saying
yes here's another wonderful Thomas Perry cliffhanger yay isn't it great .... what?
I have already read at least 6 of his earlier books and even a couple of more modern ones than this one, and what I like so much about them is how realistic everything is...
dialogue , real people, detectives , police , and private eyes actually *gasp* working together without being rude to each other ..
in other words not that amped up bologna Hollywood friction
So here I am amazed
Did Thomas Perry himself get kidnapped? Cuz so far I'm not even halfway through the first chapter and this is not Thomas Perry, this is lame
Here's a sample of the lame dialogue that I've never seen in any other of his books
The detective and the police are standing in a restaurant where a bunch of people got shot looking over the dead bodies and here's the dialogue...
>>
"He wants you to think that tonight he got a big headache and heard Jesus tell him he wanted new angels. But that isn’t who he is. He came for one of these people. Just one. My guess would be this guy over here with his brain blown out of the back of his skull. He shot him first.”
Cowan’s face compressed in a wince, his eyes squinting at the floor.
“I’m not sure what to do with that.”
“What I’d suggest is that you look as hard as you can for the shooter from now until dawn. You won’t find him, but you might learn something you’d like to know about him. Then find out who would have paid to have one of these people killed, and get that person into a very small room. Offer him a deal that he can’t pass up.”
This is total Hollywood schlock
this is not what real people talk like
this is not what Thomas Perry wrote
I'm also surprised how multiple reviews here on Goodreads have four and five stars saying
yes here's another wonderful Thomas Perry cliffhanger yay isn't it great .... what?
December 21, 2017
Detail-oriented suspense. Seems like an oxymoron, but Perry rocks it. Here, he pits two devilishly clever men who are in a battle to the death of wits. One is a killer for hire, the other is a man who pursues killers who might not be able to be brought to justice in conventional ways. For those who love forensics, quick thinking, and McGyver situations, this book hits all the right buttons.
July 19, 2020
Perry writes so clearly that his prose almost disappears, which made reading this book a breeze. It also helped that the plot is so interesting. Two men who specialize in hunting other human beings fall into a duel to the death. They track each other from one end of the country to the other and plot cleverly to trap and wipe out the other. One of the killers is "good," in that he works in support of the justice system--although his murderous methods are anathema to law enforcement. The other is pure evil, barely able to form attachments and ready to forgo them when they seem to threaten him. One of the pleasures of reading Perry's books, on full display here, is the details he provides about how to maneuver in a dangerous world. How does Perry know these things?
July 30, 2021
Thomas Perry is a master of murder, a writer of complex, intriguing, and thoroughly entertaining mysteries. I first learned about Perry from his Metzger's Dog (1983) and his Butcher's Boy series (1982, 1983, 2011, 2020). Each was better than the last and this book, Pursuit (2001), is right up there.
In addition to great plots and a talent at story-telling, Perry is great at defining his characters. Whether good or bad, he paints them with affection and with great attention to their origins, their psyches, their neuroses and, yes, their psychoses: you know them and you understand them even when they are the dregs of society.
Pursuit is the story of a mutual manhunt between a murderer and a private investigator. It starts with a gruesome opener—family and friends are gathered at a restaurant to celebrate the host's sale of his business when a gunman walks in through the kitchen, knifes the chef and breaks the neck of an unlucky waiter, then enters the dining area and shoots all the guests, including two young girls. He calmly walks out leaving thirteen bodies behind, scot-free and proud of a job well done. Thirteen is not a lucky number!
The killer, James Varney, is a narcissistic psychopath in his late twenties who has loved to kill ever since as a teenager he dispatched his Aunt Antonia, the old bitch who was his foster-mother. Varney enjoys the power that comes with his job and works hard to stay at the top of his game.
The police arrive at the restaurant along with a detective who knows that a famous criminologist named Daniel Millikin is in town to give a lecture. He calls the professor and asks him to come and assess the scene. When Millikin arrives he asks what the detective thinks happened. The response is, "Someone just went berserk." No, says Millikin, this was cold-blooded murder masked as frenzy—when they discover who was the first person killed they will have it half-solved.
Millikin's initial estimate is that the first person shot was a man named Robert Cushner Jr. who was the businessman who sold his company. He is there with his mistress, Donna Halsey. When the killer arrived Cushner had thrown himself over Halsey to protect her; the killer had shot through his body to kill Halsey. So the target was either Cushner or Halsey. In either case, Cushner's wife, Wendy, is a primary suspect.
Millikan visits Cushner's father, Robert Sr., to interview him. The father is very pissed off at his son's death and during the interview he espressses a dim view of the police prospects of finding the killer. Then he asks Millikan for the name of someone who can track down the killer. Millikin knows just the right person: a former cop named Roy Prescott who now works as a private detective on high-risk cases.
Prescott accepts the job and starts with a clever ruse to bring Varney out. Millikin has many requests to appear on TV talk shows. He's always rejected them but now, at Prescott's urging, he arranges an interview on a local station hoping that the killer will see the show and try to contact him afterward. The contact information given on the show is actually Prescott's: if the killer calls Millikin he will actually contact Prescott. Prescott's plan is to insult the killer's talents and get him to come after Prescott. Then Prescott thinks he has a good shot at getting Varney.
Prescott's idea works perfectly. Varney contacts him by phone and Prescott pushes all of the buttons to get Varney out to kill him. He irritates Varney so much that Varney tells him that after he kills some cops just to show that he is both serious and capable, Prescott is the next victim. Now we're cooking with gas!
What follows is a truly creative tale of intrigue. As the two circle each other, Varney finds that he has finally encountered an enemy with tracking and hunting skills on his own level. My favorite capture-and-escape scene is when Varney gets into an office that Peavey has rented while on the job. Once inside he plans to set a bomb that will explode when Peavey arrives the next morning.
Varney plants the bomb, then he finds that Prescott had anticipated him—Varney is trapped inside the office with no escape—the windows and doors are embedded in reinforced steel, the windows had unbreakable glass and the doors were securely locked from the outside. His only way out is to set off the bomb while he is trapped inside the room, hoping to blow his way out without blowing himself up.
He succeeds, but Varney has learned a life lesson: do not screw with Roy Prescott. But, of course, Varney doesn't really get the message—now he's even more committed to killing Prescott. As the competition becomes fierce, Varney's self-confidence flags. He had been on the top of his profession. Now
In a Perry book the fun is in the story and it's ending is almost irrelevant. We know that Prescott will kill Varney, but we don't know how—and that's the meat of the ending. With Perry's books, it's not the destination that matters, it's the trip.
In addition to great plots and a talent at story-telling, Perry is great at defining his characters. Whether good or bad, he paints them with affection and with great attention to their origins, their psyches, their neuroses and, yes, their psychoses: you know them and you understand them even when they are the dregs of society.
Pursuit is the story of a mutual manhunt between a murderer and a private investigator. It starts with a gruesome opener—family and friends are gathered at a restaurant to celebrate the host's sale of his business when a gunman walks in through the kitchen, knifes the chef and breaks the neck of an unlucky waiter, then enters the dining area and shoots all the guests, including two young girls. He calmly walks out leaving thirteen bodies behind, scot-free and proud of a job well done. Thirteen is not a lucky number!
The killer, James Varney, is a narcissistic psychopath in his late twenties who has loved to kill ever since as a teenager he dispatched his Aunt Antonia, the old bitch who was his foster-mother. Varney enjoys the power that comes with his job and works hard to stay at the top of his game.
The police arrive at the restaurant along with a detective who knows that a famous criminologist named Daniel Millikin is in town to give a lecture. He calls the professor and asks him to come and assess the scene. When Millikin arrives he asks what the detective thinks happened. The response is, "Someone just went berserk." No, says Millikin, this was cold-blooded murder masked as frenzy—when they discover who was the first person killed they will have it half-solved.
Millikin's initial estimate is that the first person shot was a man named Robert Cushner Jr. who was the businessman who sold his company. He is there with his mistress, Donna Halsey. When the killer arrived Cushner had thrown himself over Halsey to protect her; the killer had shot through his body to kill Halsey. So the target was either Cushner or Halsey. In either case, Cushner's wife, Wendy, is a primary suspect.
Millikan visits Cushner's father, Robert Sr., to interview him. The father is very pissed off at his son's death and during the interview he espressses a dim view of the police prospects of finding the killer. Then he asks Millikan for the name of someone who can track down the killer. Millikin knows just the right person: a former cop named Roy Prescott who now works as a private detective on high-risk cases.
Prescott accepts the job and starts with a clever ruse to bring Varney out. Millikin has many requests to appear on TV talk shows. He's always rejected them but now, at Prescott's urging, he arranges an interview on a local station hoping that the killer will see the show and try to contact him afterward. The contact information given on the show is actually Prescott's: if the killer calls Millikin he will actually contact Prescott. Prescott's plan is to insult the killer's talents and get him to come after Prescott. Then Prescott thinks he has a good shot at getting Varney.
Prescott's idea works perfectly. Varney contacts him by phone and Prescott pushes all of the buttons to get Varney out to kill him. He irritates Varney so much that Varney tells him that after he kills some cops just to show that he is both serious and capable, Prescott is the next victim. Now we're cooking with gas!
What follows is a truly creative tale of intrigue. As the two circle each other, Varney finds that he has finally encountered an enemy with tracking and hunting skills on his own level. My favorite capture-and-escape scene is when Varney gets into an office that Peavey has rented while on the job. Once inside he plans to set a bomb that will explode when Peavey arrives the next morning.
Varney plants the bomb, then he finds that Prescott had anticipated him—Varney is trapped inside the office with no escape—the windows and doors are embedded in reinforced steel, the windows had unbreakable glass and the doors were securely locked from the outside. His only way out is to set off the bomb while he is trapped inside the room, hoping to blow his way out without blowing himself up.
He succeeds, but Varney has learned a life lesson: do not screw with Roy Prescott. But, of course, Varney doesn't really get the message—now he's even more committed to killing Prescott. As the competition becomes fierce, Varney's self-confidence flags. He had been on the top of his profession. Now
He felt as though he had come upon a mangy, growling dog in the sidewalk, and on impulse—not even a decision—given it a half-hearted kick to get it out of his way and teach it a lesson. It had clamped its jaws on his ankle and held on. After that, everything had turned painful and hard.But his mood lifts when he gets a new job to kill a man in Minnesota. He drives there with his new moll, Mae, a cheerfully dim prostitute and stripdancer. We suspect that she will become the fly in Varney's ointment when the deed is done, but she seems eager to be a part of his life. Mae is a good-hearted whore who has picked exactly the wrong man.
In a Perry book the fun is in the story and it's ending is almost irrelevant. We know that Prescott will kill Varney, but we don't know how—and that's the meat of the ending. With Perry's books, it's not the destination that matters, it's the trip.
January 8, 2023
Prescott has to be the dumbest hunter. He could have gotten the killer fewer than a hundred pages in had he not parked his brand new Cadillac right outside the killer's motel room; this clue allowed the killer to slip away. What seasoned investigator would use an attention getting car in his work?
Then, he spends months setting up an elaborate ruse, only to have the killer give him the slip yet again. Why didn't he just hide in the bedroom to ambush the killer?
If I ever needed someone found, I would never consider hiring Roy Prescott.
At times, the actions of the characters made little sense to me. Add to that long explanations and lengthy introspections made for a tedious read.
Then, he spends months setting up an elaborate ruse, only to have the killer give him the slip yet again. Why didn't he just hide in the bedroom to ambush the killer?
If I ever needed someone found, I would never consider hiring Roy Prescott.
At times, the actions of the characters made little sense to me. Add to that long explanations and lengthy introspections made for a tedious read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2015
Fast paced and wonderful. Never read any of this series before. Will be checking for more!
October 27, 2019
This was a very good story, it didn't end at all like I expected, but had a couple more twists and turns.
May 9, 2024
"Pursuit" is classic Thomas Perry (which for me isn't necessarily a good thing): a taut story line, lots of action, entire sections that drag, mediocre writing, uneven dialogue quality, and characters who are supposed to be brilliant/world-class/best of the best quality making stupid mistakes and decisions. As a thriller, it makes the cut if you can suspend disbelief and not think about it too much, but I find that tough to do.
Pursuit begins with an investigation into the mass murder of 13 people in a restaurant. A forensic specialist, professor (and ex-cop) Millikan, is called in to view the scene and makes some crucial observations, one of which is who the real intended victim was in the massacre. The main vic's father gets in touch with Millikan and authorizes him to engage a man, Prescott, who specializes in extra-judicial justice to track down the killer. The pursuit begins as Varney, the best-in-the biz killer-for-hire, is pursued cross country by the relentless Prescott.
Pursuit is a lot of action followed by lots of inaction, with more action, then inaction, and so on. The conclusion is a bit abrupt, but that was one of the most likely scenarios to play out so I'll give the author a pass on that. But what annoyed me the most was the dumb decisions made by the pursuer and the pursued. To avoid spoiling it for anyone who hasn't yet read the book I'll limit it to one example: if someone was paying a couple hundred thousand bucks for a man to be killed, don't you think the hired killer, the best of the best, would at least find out what the intended victim looks like and do a little research about him prior to attempting an assassination?
Again, just don't think about it too much and you'll have yourself a decent thriller to enjoy, albeit with a few slow parts.
Pursuit begins with an investigation into the mass murder of 13 people in a restaurant. A forensic specialist, professor (and ex-cop) Millikan, is called in to view the scene and makes some crucial observations, one of which is who the real intended victim was in the massacre. The main vic's father gets in touch with Millikan and authorizes him to engage a man, Prescott, who specializes in extra-judicial justice to track down the killer. The pursuit begins as Varney, the best-in-the biz killer-for-hire, is pursued cross country by the relentless Prescott.
Pursuit is a lot of action followed by lots of inaction, with more action, then inaction, and so on. The conclusion is a bit abrupt, but that was one of the most likely scenarios to play out so I'll give the author a pass on that. But what annoyed me the most was the dumb decisions made by the pursuer and the pursued. To avoid spoiling it for anyone who hasn't yet read the book I'll limit it to one example: if someone was paying a couple hundred thousand bucks for a man to be killed, don't you think the hired killer, the best of the best, would at least find out what the intended victim looks like and do a little research about him prior to attempting an assassination?
Again, just don't think about it too much and you'll have yourself a decent thriller to enjoy, albeit with a few slow parts.
December 4, 2020
Now that I've started reading Perry's stand alone novels, I'm surprised how much I like them. I've begun reading them chronologically and am beginning to see some continuity in his writing as read them in that manor. It helps me know why I appreciated his Jane Whitefield series books for their detail. My last two reads, Death Benefits and Pursuit show a lot of similarity with those early books in that series. Also, the short of whimsical nature to his early novels best shown in Metzger's Dog, Big Fish and Island are certainly their in Butcher's Boy and Sleeping Dogs, the first two in what's now called the "Butcher's Boy series." These are classics in the genre and I would recommend Perry to anyone who loves the mystery/crime/thriller books. He is the best at the craft.
In this one a cop turned an ex-cop/forensic investigator professor examines a crime scene with eleven victims and understands that the assassin responsible was so good and so dangerous that he was a potential threat to continue his reign of terror for many years. He calls and an ex-cop/professional assassin hunter who visits the scene and agrees to track down and catch or kill the assassin. Thus begins a cat and mouse chase that goes across the US. Its a marvelous book with many surprises.
In this one a cop turned an ex-cop/forensic investigator professor examines a crime scene with eleven victims and understands that the assassin responsible was so good and so dangerous that he was a potential threat to continue his reign of terror for many years. He calls and an ex-cop/professional assassin hunter who visits the scene and agrees to track down and catch or kill the assassin. Thus begins a cat and mouse chase that goes across the US. Its a marvelous book with many surprises.
February 20, 2017
After enjoying Perry's Jane Whitefield series, I looked for older Thomas Perry offerings and was pleasantly surprised by Pursuit. Police discover a puzzling restaurant murder scene, one in which all restaurant patrons and employees were killed. Renowned forensics expert Daniel Milliken is in town for a speech, so they invite him to view and comment on the murder scene. He can't get it out of his mind; it's too neat, too professional to have been a one time occurrence. Months later, when one of the victims' father calls and asks Millikan to find the killer, he connects the father with Roy Prescott, a former homicide detective. Prescott is known for his patience, sometimes unorthodox methods and unrelenting focus, all of which comes to play in his pursuit of the killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed this chase story especially because the characters always act true to their personalities. Prescott studies his quarry, sometimes close up, sometimes exploring tangential leads. The killer, Varney, also acts in accordance with his I-am-the-center-of-the-universe view. The resulting dance to the death is the stuff of good thrillers.
I thoroughly enjoyed this chase story especially because the characters always act true to their personalities. Prescott studies his quarry, sometimes close up, sometimes exploring tangential leads. The killer, Varney, also acts in accordance with his I-am-the-center-of-the-universe view. The resulting dance to the death is the stuff of good thrillers.
March 20, 2024
I read a lot of Thomas Perry, this book is basically typical Perry but I did not find it to be as enjoyable as some of his best.
As is often the case in his books, it boils down to a dual character study of a good guy and a bad guy (often good/bad girl instead). I just didn't find the characters to be as interesting or believable as I would like.
Also, as is often the case, the finale is set up via something that can only be called an extremely unlikely turn of events - setting a trap for one person in 300 million and having the right dude blunder in
Let me nitpick, not so much Perry but his editor:
1) There is effectively no such thing as a tire iron - the last cars that carried tire irons were probably built in the 40's. You mean lug wrench.
2) Parole and probation are two different things. When your character was released after serving most of a sentence, he would have had a parole officer, not a probation officer.
3) Yes, it is pretty easy to get a credit report on someone, the barrier to entry is low. No, credit reports will not tell you which hotel a person checked into with their credit card earlier in the week.
As is often the case in his books, it boils down to a dual character study of a good guy and a bad guy (often good/bad girl instead). I just didn't find the characters to be as interesting or believable as I would like.
Also, as is often the case, the finale is set up via something that can only be called an extremely unlikely turn of events - setting a trap for one person in 300 million and having the right dude blunder in
Let me nitpick, not so much Perry but his editor:
1) There is effectively no such thing as a tire iron - the last cars that carried tire irons were probably built in the 40's. You mean lug wrench.
2) Parole and probation are two different things. When your character was released after serving most of a sentence, he would have had a parole officer, not a probation officer.
3) Yes, it is pretty easy to get a credit report on someone, the barrier to entry is low. No, credit reports will not tell you which hotel a person checked into with their credit card earlier in the week.
September 20, 2025
I have to stop myself from concentrating on the parts of a book that I liked and the parts did not . This book is 24 years old. Thomas Perry has written much better books and, frankly, much worse.
This book is, in places, a great "chase" book. There is an assassin (bad guy) and an antihero (the chaser) and then a good guy that unleashed the fury of the hunt. While in pursuit, the assassin and the antihero meet on more than one occasion. These were the moments that the book excels. In between these moments, the book lags.
Too much going into each characters background. Too much meaningless interaction between characters. In part of the book we return to the good guy which adds absolutely nothing to the book.
There was not enough dialogue for my tastes. Stream of thought is hard to read.
This book is, in places, a great "chase" book. There is an assassin (bad guy) and an antihero (the chaser) and then a good guy that unleashed the fury of the hunt. While in pursuit, the assassin and the antihero meet on more than one occasion. These were the moments that the book excels. In between these moments, the book lags.
Too much going into each characters background. Too much meaningless interaction between characters. In part of the book we return to the good guy which adds absolutely nothing to the book.
There was not enough dialogue for my tastes. Stream of thought is hard to read.
April 22, 2018
Great story!
Well, how to begin............I chose this title because I like the author's past work & I was looking for something safe and reliable. As much as I enjoy reading, there's almost nothing more irritating than buying crap, or buying something I've already read, both of which I've recently done. So, I found a favorite author and looked for something I was pretty sure I hadn't previously read. Great plan it turns out! Over the years, a pattern for me has been to go back and harvest the previous works of authors whose work impressed me. Then to buy their future books as they were published in the future. Mr Perry being one such author. Solid story, well told, & very little excess stuffing. Hence the 5 stars! I recommend it, to all crime fiction/thriller fans!
Well, how to begin............I chose this title because I like the author's past work & I was looking for something safe and reliable. As much as I enjoy reading, there's almost nothing more irritating than buying crap, or buying something I've already read, both of which I've recently done. So, I found a favorite author and looked for something I was pretty sure I hadn't previously read. Great plan it turns out! Over the years, a pattern for me has been to go back and harvest the previous works of authors whose work impressed me. Then to buy their future books as they were published in the future. Mr Perry being one such author. Solid story, well told, & very little excess stuffing. Hence the 5 stars! I recommend it, to all crime fiction/thriller fans!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews