Book Talk: Thomas Perry, ‘The Boyfriend’

Thomas Perry has been a best-selling author since his debut novel, “The Butcher’s Boy” was published in 1983 and won the Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for the “Best First Novel.” He has been a laborer, maintenance man, commercial fisherman, and weapons mechanic. And, he has a doctorate degree in English Literature from University of Rochester. 

Most of his books are stand-alone novels. However, he also authored the critically acclaimed Jane Whitefield series, beginning with “Vanishing Act” about a woman of Native American heritage who assists people who need to run away and disappear.

“The Boyfriend” (2013, 298 pages in softcover format) is one of his works that features Jack Till, retired cop who is a private investigator. He is also a single father who has a daughter with Down Syndrome, now a young woman who works in a flower shop. Although he is devoted to her, his cases usually take him to various parts of the country, but he phones her every day for a little father/daughter time together. He’s the kind of guy who is thoughtful and compassionate, so you can’t help but like him. Yet, he doesn’t hesitate to skirt the rulebook and pull the trigger when necessary.