Death Benefits: A Novel of Suspense

Some perfectly reasonable people seem to prefer The Butcher's Boy or Vanishing Act to this, but Death Benefits is my favorite Perry. The three main charactors are as strong and charming as any in fiction, and if the plot gets a little wild in places, it's still quite a ride. I read for fun, and this is more fun than any other thriller I can think of.

I've been a fan of Thomas Perry's work since his first book, Butcher's Boy. Perry is one of the rare writers who never inflicts himself on his material, but rather allows the characters to evolve and speak for themselves. His writing is spare, never cluttered, and his characters are always fully realized and highly distinctive. Death Benefits is a fine example of a writer at peak form. Aside from a truly intriguing plot line that extrapolates on the possibilities of misusing life insurance that have not (at least to my knowledge) previously been explored, we have a central character who, at the age of twenty-four, grows up within the pages of this book--ably and entertainingly pulled along by the fascinating Stillman and the clever Serena. What I particularly liked about the character of Stillman, aside from his ingenuity, is his humor and wisdom. There's a lot of truth about life, and about the process of personal growth in these pages. Much as I enjoyed it, though, I found the "bad guys" to be rather an implausible creation. That said, this is a thoughtful and entertaining book, and the last hundred pages of Death Benefits make for a breathless ride. Highly recommended.

I have been waiting for Thomas Perry's book and to my surprise found it in a local bookstore. I was disappointed that it was not a Jane Whitehead novel, but he more than made up for that by crafting a tight plot about likeable people that you're really sympathetic to,even though--well, anyway, it's a great thriller, and I sat up to finish reading it until 3:00 AM. I strongly recommend it! [email protected]

In Pasadena, California, insurance agent Ellen Snyder approves the payment of the twelve million-dollar death benefit to an impostor. Not long afterward, Ellen vanishes somewhere between the nearby airport and apparently LA. The impostor has also disappeared. A stunned McClaren Life and Casualty hires private investigator Max Stillman to investigate the fraud.After making inquiries in both the Pasadena and the San Fransicso based home office, Max successfully recruits John Walker, an analyst working for his client, to assist him on the case. Max believes John can help him because he amorously knew Ellen when they were trainees. John agrees to help because he believes the woman he still loves is innocent of any wrongdoing. With opposite motives, John and Max begin a trek around the country in an effort to locate the money and the two culprits behind the felony.If anyone had doubts that no one does suspense thrillers better than Thomas Perry does, just read the exciting, action-packed and character driven DEATH BENEFITS. Only a great writer with the talent of Mr. Thomas can turn insurance companies and related fraud seem glamorous and exhilarating, but that is what the author accomplishes in this fabulous tale. Max and John make a powerful team even as their individual traits make them seem like real people. The who-done-it is cleverly designed from the start, when Ellen flees into the night, and never eases up as the audience has another mystery from one of the genre greats.Harriet Klausner

Max Stillman is a security consultant called into the San Francisco office of McClaren Life and Casualty, his job is to investigate the disappearance of one of their employees, a young woman named Ellen.As Max begins his questioning of the employees, he comes to the discovery of John Walker, the young claims analyst who once had an affair with the missing co-worker.Shocked that he has been chosen to accompany Max, John, tries to understand why he is in this mess, and as the pieces fall into place, he finds out that Ellen disappeared quickly after paying a large insurance claim to an imposter.As the two men work together, one looking to clear Ellen's name and the other looking to convict her, they will uncover an evil conspiracy neither is prepared for."Death Benefits" is a first-rate, fast paced thriller, that can NOT be put down. From page one the reader is hurled into a maze of unexpected danger, double-crosses, mysterious characters and un-bearable suspense.Thomas Perry author of several very good thrillers, none of which compare to this, has written a breakout novel that thriller readers should dive into."Death Benefits" deserves a spot on all the bestseller list's!Nick Gonnella