Think of a number : a novel /
by Verdon, John.
| Item type | Location | Collection | Call Number | Status | Date Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circulating | The Plains | Adult Fiction | AF Verdon (Browse Shelf) | Checked out | 09/07/2010 |
| Circulating | Athens | Adult Fiction | AF Verdon (Browse Shelf) | Checked out | 08/31/2010 |
| Circulating | Nelsonville | Adult Fiction | AF Verdon (Browse Shelf) | Checked out | 09/08/2010 |
From Product Description:
Arriving in the mail over a period of weeks are taunting letters that end with a simple declaration, “Think of any number…picture it…now see how well I know your secrets.” Amazingly, those who comply find that the letter writer has predicted their random choice exactly. For Dave Gurney, just retired as the NYPD’s top homicide investigator and forging a new life with his wife, Madeleine, in upstate New York, the letters are oddities that begin as a diverting puzzle but quickly ignite a massive serial murder investigation.
What police are confronted with is a completely baffling killer, one who is fond of rhymes filled with threats and warnings, whose attention to detail is unprecedented, and who has an uncanny knack for disappearing into thin air. Even more disturbing, the scale of his ambition seems to widen as events unfold.
Brought in as an investigative consultant, Dave Gurney soon accomplishes deductive breakthroughs that leave local police in awe. Yet, even as he matches wits with his seemingly clairvoyant opponent, Gurney’s tragedy-marred past rises up to haunt him, his marriage approaches a dangerous precipice, and finally, a dark, cold fear builds that he’s met an adversary who can’t be stopped.
In the end, fighting to keep his bearings amid a whirlwind of menace and destruction, Gurney sees the truth of what he’s become – what we all become when guilty memories fester – and how his wife Madeleine’s clear-eyed advice may be the only answer that makes sense.
A work that defies easy labels -- at once a propulsive masterpiece of suspense and an absorbing immersion in the lives of characters so real we seem to hear their heartbeats – Think of a Number is a novel you’ll not soon forget.
From Amazon.com Review:
David Baldacci was born in Virginia, in 1960, where he currently resides. He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Virginia Commonwealth University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. Mr. Baldacci practiced law for nine years in Washington, D.C., as both a trial and corporate attorney. He has published seventeen novels. Read his review of Think of a Number below:
John Verdon has done something remarkable in his debut thriller, Think of a Number. He has successfully juggled every storytelling ball, character, atmosphere, prose, pace and plot, with the skill and assuredness of a veteran novelist at the top of his game. The writing is haunting and quotable, the twists expertly placed and infinitely plausible, the conjured locations vivid and memorable, the characters full of depth and promise. You can read the book as a game of cat and mouse, a ride of chilling suspense, or a literary repast, since it provides all in abundance. In the novel the set-up provides an intriguing dilemma. A man gets a letter that scares him to death by challenging him to think of a number. That catalyst soon speeds the reader and Verdon’s hero, Dave Gurney, a legendary and now retired NYPD detective, headlong into a mystery of the first order. I’m pretty adept at figuring out these types of stories and while I hit on a few twists before Verdon probably wanted me to, the major ones were stunning surprises. I read the last two-hundred pages in one sitting. I did this for two compelling reasons. First, to find out what the hell was going on. And second, just to enjoy the wonderful writing. Some novelists promise plot and pace and deliver it with lightweight characters and silly dialogue. Others get the characters spot-on but the story is mediocre and predictable. Verdon nails it all in his first novel. The villain is appealingly terrifying, smart and cunning while operating mostly in absentia, and that is incredibly difficult to accomplish. The answer behind the “think of a number” plot, most certainly a disaster in lesser hands, proves clever, winning and eminently believable. Verdon’s protagonist Dave Gurney is one for the ages, and readers everywhere will surely clamor to see this man again. Think of a Number gets full marks from me. And I think it will from you, too. Enjoy.
Recently retired after a prestigious career with the NYPD, homicide detective Dave Gurney is pulled back into service when an old college friend receives threatening letters from a murderous sender who has an uncanny ability to read a person's thoughts.
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fantastic thriller
This book was a bit slow going at the beginning but well worth it. Verdon does a wonderful job of developing his characters, especially the protagonist Gurney who is more in tune with his life of "retirement" than his wife. As details of Gurney's history are revealed, the detective investigates a brutal slaying and travels great distances--both geographically and within his mind--to try and capture the killer... highly recommended.
Psychological Thriller Worth a Read
When I read the first chapter, I thought the book was going to be boring. I was so wrong. I was hooked after reading the first letter. <br /> <br />Others have summarized the book, so I won't repeat that. I found the characters well developed and was intrigued by the parallels in personalities and/or histories of some of them. Although at least one reviewer thought Dave Gurney was too introspective, I enjoyed following his thought processes. <br /> <br />I correctly guessed who the "perp" was early in the book, but I soon dismissed my idea and incorrectly guessed a couple of others may have done it. <br /> <br />I have often found errors in books in recent years that should have been caught by proofreaders or editors, but I didn't see any in this book. I read the Kindle edition. <br /> <br />This book is worth a read. I had trouble putting it down. <br /> <br />
WoW great work for a first time author
What a great read, it grabbed my attention from page one and carried it through to the very end. A great job for a first time author and I look forward to his next work. I woke early in the morning, 2:30 am trying to figure out the whodudit, I ended up getting up and finishing the book. Great twists ansd turns and suprises!
AGreat Mind-Bending Mystery
John Verdon's debut novel, Think Of A Number, is a delightful surprise for mystery readers. This catch-me-if-you-can plot makes readers guess until the very last pages. Forget about figuring out who-done-it. You'll wind up stumped. Verdon's main character, Dave Gurney, is a retired NYPD homicide detective leaving a police career spattered with successful, media-intensive successes in his wake. Gurney's illustrious career resulted in the capture of one serial killer after another, each monster falling prey to Gurney's analytical mind <br /> <br />Turning in his badge, Gurney plans on starting a new chapter in his life. Similar to the author, Gurney and his spouse move upstate New York: an idyllic rural setting, a new beginning, presumably free of crime and violence. However, Gurney finds it hard to let go of his past, ancient issues still haunting him. A call for help from an old acquaintance sends Gurney--almost with a sigh of relief--down a path that challenges Gurney at every turn. A serial killer emerges to toy with each new target, asking ... Think Of A Number ... before killing again. <br /> <br />Readers will find this novel hard to put down. Verdon manages to wrap each chapter with tension-filled twists, each scene offering a deepening story that delves into the detective's life as deeply as the killer cuts into his victims. This author's grasp of language and story promises many more great stories to come.
Amazing...
This is the 44th book I have read this year and clearly one of the best. Finally, an intelligent thriller. Sherlock Holmes would be proud. Eagerly awaiting Mr. Verdon's next work!
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