Beat The Reaper
Making a hit man turned medical intern a sympathetic figure would be a tall order for most authors, but first-time novelist Bazell makes it look easy in this breezy and darkly comic suspense novel. The Locanos, a mob family, take in 14-year-old Pietro Brwna (pronounced Browna) after a couple of thugs gun down the grandparents who raised him in their New Jersey home. Bent on revenge, Pietro pursues the killers and executes them a year later. Impressed by Pietros performance, David Locano recruits Pietro as a hit man. After more traumas, Pietro tries to make a break from his past by entering the witness protection program. Now known as Peter Brown, he eventually lands a position as a doctor at a decrepit Manhattan hospital, where by chance a former Mafia associate turns up as a patient and threatens to rat him out. The hero's wry narrative voice, coupled with Bazells artful use of flashbacks to sustain tension and fill in Pietro's past, are a winning combination. - Publisher's Weekly
Comments
Bearclaw does kempo like me.
I read this book after seeing it was recomended on the site and have to say that it is truely a entertaining read. I would definately recoment this book to anyone who enjoys reading Palahniuk.
i saw it on some list of the best books of the year the other day.
Time mag?
I am so in love with this book.
Such a good book! Super quick read, and I can't wait for the movie. Leo DiCaprio seems to be a great fit. Hope it won't be a let down.
I decided to get this book after seeing it on this site and it has quickly become one of my favorites. There's a part at the end that had me cringing while I read through it. Palahniuk fans will not be disappointed.
I'm half way through it at the moment and really digging it. A similar writing style to Palahniuk in that he includes a lot of factual tidbits and synical humorous observations. Looking forward to a second book from Bazell, he has a great fast paced, minimal style of writing.