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Hangman: A Novel
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Hangman: A Novel
Unavailable
Hangman: A Novel
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Hangman: A Novel

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

New York Times bestselling author Stephan Talty's acclaimed fiction debut, Black Irish, won him comparisons to such thriller masters as Jo Nesbø, Karin Slaughter, and Tana French. Now, his chilling new novel brings back intrepid heroine Absalom Kearney, a driven police detective with a haunted past, trying to make a difference in a troubled town.
 
Hangman, Hangman, what do you see? Four little girls, as cute as can be. The eerie schoolyard chant still sends ripples of horror through North Buffalo. Not so long ago, serial killer Marcus Flynn preyed upon the community's teenaged daughters-until he was cornered and shot in the head. But Flynn lived, carrying to prison the nickname "Hangman," along with the secret of his last victim's fate. Homicide cop Abbie Kearney wasn't around during Hangman's reign of terror. She hadn't yet come home to wear her dad's old badge in the tough Irish American stronghold known as "the County." Abbie had never experienced firsthand the horror of Hangman. Until now.
 
Hangman, Hangman, where do they go? Down on the ground, where the daffodils grow. A corrections officer lies dead, a prison van stands empty . . . and somewhere out there, the monster who condemned innocents to death at the end of a rope watches and waits to strike again. Abbie leads a desperate manhunt through a city driven to its knees by fear, matching wits with a predator as brilliant as he is elusive. But as more victims are claimed, a rising tide of secrecy, paranoia, and politics forces her to realize that stepping beyond the law may be the only way to find justice. Because with each passing hour, the stakes grow higher-and Hangman's noose gets tighter.

Praise for Hangman
 
"An expertly judged dose of adrenaline."-Kirkus Reviews
 
"Stick with this one; it delivers."-Booklist
 
"Detective Abbie Kearney is back in this explosive thriller featuring not only a brutal serial killer, but also complex characters. . . . Plot twists will keep readers guessing right up until the grand finale."-RT Book Reviews
 
"[Stephan Talty has] a writerly knack for constructing compulsively readable narratives that can be consumed with considerable velocity and contentment. With flying colors, the fellow passes the 'what happens next' test."-The Buffalo News


From the Hardcover edition.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 13, 2014
ISBN9780804191463
Unavailable
Hangman: A Novel
Author

Stephan Talty

STEPHAN TALTY is the award-winning author of Agent Garbo, Empire of Blue Water, and other best-selling works of narrative nonfiction. His books have been made into two films, the Oscar-winning Captain Phillips and Only the Brave. He is also the author of two psychological thrillers, including the New York Times bestseller Black Irish, set in his hometown of Buffalo. He has written for the New York Times Magazine, GQ, and many other publications. Talty now lives outside New York City with his family.

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Reviews for Hangman

Rating: 3.890246829268293 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Second book in Absalom Kearney seriesOh, boy, this book kept me up late, and kept me reading on my day off when I should have been housecleaning, getting ready for a visit from my in-laws! This second-in-series book, set in Buffalo, was a good thriller. The escape of the dreaded "Hangman" killer during transfer between Auburn and Attica State prisons sets off a full-scale manhunt involving police from Buffalo to Syracuse. But he manages to slip through the dragnet and return to his old killing grounds in North Buffalo, where Absalom "Abby" Kearney, second-generation Buffalo homicide detective, is assigned as lead detective when he strikes again. His target vicitms: teenage girls from the wealthy North Buffalo neighborhood.This book was really suspenseful, and the end contained a stunning twist I didn't see coming.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "Hangman", Stephen Talty's second novel to feature Absalom Kearney, a young female (Abbie) cop. She is bright, honest and values her reputation for integrity. That's tough to hold on to in this book which is by turns dark, clever, emotional and very well written. I like Abbie. I look forward to seeing more of her.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    The first book was okay, but this second one was worse. There's very little character development, just people running from place to place, and the events felt like a considerable stretch. I just didn't enjoy it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the second in the series by new author Stephan Talty. I really enjoyed his first book, Black Irish, and was quick to request an advanced copy of this one as well. I'm very glad that I did because I believe that Hangman was even better than the first. The thrilling chase of escaped serial-killer, The Hangman, who kills daughters of Buffalo's rich families was fast paced and hard to put down and wraps up well without any big holes or leaps of faith. Homicide Detective Abbie Kearney is a smart, relatable main character that you can't help but root for. I can't wait for the next book in this series and suggest that thriller lovers jump on this bandwagon now.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This second book in the Absalom Kearney series, set in Buffalo, shows improvement over the first. I found Black Irish to be a good book, but this one kept me more interested and was a quicker read as a result. A convict, nicknamed Hangman, has escaped from a prison transport. While area law enforcement are setting up a dragnet, Abbie Kearney is tasked with investigating where he might go. The resulting cat and mouse game is a good one and the resolution is satisfying. If a third book is forthcoming, I'll be picking it up.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed Hangman even more than Black Irish by the same author. While the first book set the stage for the heroine and her turf, this book was free to deliver a suspenseful story. And that is exactly what happened. A man writing as a female cannot be easy but Stephen Talty does it well and avoids the pitfalls that some others have fallen into. I liked it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is the first book I have read by this author. I picked up this book because the summary sounded right up my alley. I was right but still, I was not prepared for how much I would really like this book. I took it with me to work. I would read it on my breaks and let me tell you that during my breaks the time flew. I had a hard time putting the book down. Abbie rocks. I love her bulldog attitude. She pulls and pokes people to their breaking point and yet she comes out on top. While she is getting people stirred up she finishes them off with her snarky comments. Plus, she really thought through a case with precision and in the end she did get her man. Now let me comment on the serial killer. He was scary and he does live up to the rhyme about him but I would say he is more psychological than he is gruesome. So again if I cannot get my gore then I will take the psychological aspect that does mess with your mind some. The twist that was thrown in was a nice touch. Now that I have a taste for what this author can do, I plan to go back and check out his prior novels.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very enjoyable, fast, gripping read. Good plot and interesting, realistic characters. I've already bought Black Irish and am looking forward to reading more about Abbie Kearney!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Hangman offers us a slightly different spin on the serial killer crime novel. The story is a bit psychological suspense and a lot crime/police procedural. We follow the Abbie in her investigation, which unfolds at a fairly fast pace.This book is very much about the setting. The story takes place in Buffalo, New York, which the author obviously knows well. We're given an intimate feel of the place and the people who live there. The investigation often leans heavily on specific areas and the class of people living there. When I started this book, I didn't realize it was the second in a series. I have not read the first book - Black Irish - and I have to assume my enjoyment of this story suffered because of that. My major complaint is complete lack of character development. Despite most of the story being written in Abbie's viewpoint, I didn't feel I knew her at all. Her motivations and misgivings were a mystery to me. The author made no effort at all here in helping us understand her character. As the story unfolded, I felt a few things were simply too convenient in the way they occurred. I won't say which, because I don't want to give any spoilers. These issues weren't major, but they were enough to make me pause and question the details. If you love plot-driven crime stories, you'll probably love this book. If, like me, you need a connection to the characters, this book doesn't work well as a stand-alone.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    For those of you who read (and liked) Black Irish, Talty's first book in the Abbie Kearney series, Hangman, the second in the series, won't disappoint. When the Hangman escapes the van transporting him from Auburn prison to Attica, the massive manhunt is on. Accused of abducting and killing four teenage girls, there is no cop in Buffalo, active or retired, who wants this man back on the street. They know, once free, the killing will start again...and it does.Abbie is the point person on the murder and she's got to use every resource available to make sure Hangman is captured, dead or alive.Hangman is fast paced and takes place over just a few days. Abbie is partnered with Detective Raymond. An odd pairing, a persona non grata Irish female detective and a young Black detective who transferred to homicide from Violent Crimes. However, they are a good team and I , personally, would like to see them paired up again. There are twists and turns, action and suspense. You get to follow Abbie's train of thought and frustration at not being able to think like this particular serial killer.I wish I knew the city of Buffalo so that I can picture where the action takes place, but that's a minor point. The major point is that Hangman (and Black Irish before it) are great mysteries.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When I found out that Black Irish took place in my hometown of Buffalo, NY, I had to read it. Lucky for me, I loved every minute of it! I was even more excited to hear that I had won a copy of Hangman in LibraryThing's Early Reviewers. This installment seemed a little rushed, but I enjoyed Abbie's race around the city's north end to find the killer. I was quite pleased with myself that I was able to use my knowledge of the city to figure out where the killer was hiding before Abbie did. I can't wait for more in this series!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A serial killer escapes when he's being transported to a different prison. He has murdered a number of teenage girls and is known as the Hangman.Abbie Kearney is a profiler on the Buffalo police department. She is the one the chief turns to when other officers fail to catch their suspects. He tells Abbie he wants her to be in charge of finding the killer.She works with a black detective with an excellent record of arrests but feels he has to keep proving himself due to his color.What kept me absorbed in the story was how Abbie tries to think like the killer and anticipate his moves. She discovers that he must have had an accomplice and we are kept in suspense in trying to determine who the accomplice might be.There is an excellent done surprise at the conclusion of the story that makes the story that much more entertaining and something the reader will remember.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I really enjoyed "Hangman" by Stephan Talty. The heroine, Absalom Kearney, a female Irish cop following in her famous father's footsteps is a real kick-ass character. Buffalo NY is Irish town, and Abbie has a lot to prove. This is her second adventure. The first being, "Black Irish." That being said you don't have to read the first one to enjoy this one.Abbie is hunting a recently escaped killer called "Hangman" who abducts and hangs young teenage girls.It's a gritty whodunit. I can't wait to be in involved in more of Abbie's cases.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After reading "Black Irish", I knew two things: I really liked the character of Absalom Kearney & Mr. Talty writes a mean thriller. So began my wait for book #2.
    In the first instalment, Abbie returned to her home town of Buffalo from Miami. She's a detective like her dad, a much admired cop & member of "the county", a largely Irish neighbourhood on the city's south side. It's a close knit community that protects its' own & regards outsiders with suspicion.
    Abbie got a bit of a pass because of her father but has been away a long time. She's also part of a new wave of cops, better educated & less inclined to bend the rules. Her first case took a terrible personal toll & now she just wants to settle in & make a home for herself.
    She bought an old victorian, drinks wine over the fence with neighbours Ron & Charles & is dating Mills, a fellow cop.
    As this book opens, Marcus Flynn (a serial killer known as the Hangman) is being transported from Auburn Correctional Facility to Attica. But the trip hits a snag & Abbie's yard work is interrupted when she'd paged: officer down, Flynn on the loose.
    The news shakes the city. Flynn is from Buffalo & used it as his hunting ground in 2007, abducting 4 girls. Three were found hanging from trees but the fourth, his cousin, was never recovered. The girls were brunette, teenaged & lived in the "north", the most affluent part of the city. Parents were frantic & cops went without sleep 'til he was found in a motel room with a bullet in his head. Since then, his recovery has been slow but steady in a solitary cell.
    Every cop is called in for the manhunt but Chief Albert Perelli has a particular job for Abbie. He gives her the old case file. If Flynn evades the searchers, Perelli's biggest fear is that he'll return to Buffalo & pick up where he left off. So Abbie starts to dig.
    Her interviews include Flynn's psychiatrist at Auburn, his ex-wife & Charlie McGonigal, a retired cop from the original case whose reputation is less than squeaky clean. She's barely begun when a girl is reported missing, a brunette teenager from the north. The clock starts ticking.
    This is an engrossing read with plenty of twists & turns to keep you guessing. And for Abbie, it will be a test on several levels. After the last case, her relationship with Perelli is one of mutual tolerance. She's got a new partner, Det. Billy Raymond, who is cocky & ambitious. And when another girl disappears, her frustration will make her tempted to accept help from McGonigal. If she does, Abbie knows he'll expect payback at some point & she has to decide what's more important...her integrity or a girl's life. And crossing that line may risk her relationship with Mills.
    The characters are well written & believable. Abbie is a compelling protagonist, smart, intuitive & likeable. You may not agree with some of her choices but you never doubt her intentions. Her strong work ethic & tenacity will come in handy as some of the people associated with the first investigation are holding tight to their secrets. The author uses subtle misdirection & red herrings that make you rethink what you thought you knew.
    It's taut but well paced & we feel the tension as time starts to run out for the latest victim. With the exception of a few passages detailing history of the area, the story flows with unembellished prose & lean dialogue.
    All in all, an entertaining & clever thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Hopefully, the introduction of a few new characters & unresolved situations are signs book #3 is in the works. Like McDermid's "Carol Jordan" & O'Connell's "Kathleen Mallory", Abbie is a compelling & complex character I'd like to read about again.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have read both books in this series, and agree with other reviewers that this installment is better than the first (although I did enjoy Black Irish). I thought the characters were believable, and the setting was well constructed. Plenty of suspense and a satisfying conclusion. Overall, a good read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Absalom Kearney, a detective for the Buffalo PD, is faced with one of the worst cases in the history of Buffalo. The Hangman, a sadistic serial killer preying on the young daughters of the North's rich families, has escaped from prison. As the body count increases can Abbie find and stop the Hangman before another girl is killed.The second book in the series is a winner. Filled with action, suspense and good old fashioned police work, Hangman will keep you interested and guessing and with twisted ending that will leave you surprised. I would have giving this book more stars except for being in the medical field I had issue with injuries sustained and the recovery of one of the characters. You don't need to read the first book in the series but it will make things clearer if you do.I was awarded this book through the ER program from LibraryThing.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Read from May 13 to 14, 2014Listened for Review (Random House Audio)Overall Rating: 4.00Story Rating: 4.00Character Rating: 4.00Audio Rating: 3.00 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: Hangman by Stephan Talty was just a pretty standard thriller until the twisty end made it just a bit brilliant!Story Thoughts: I love when a thriller really catches me off-guard in the final moments. It is like BAM! You think you have me figured out but you couldn't be further from the truth. Hangman did that to me in the final moments. The killer is diabolical in a psychological kind of way that is way more scary than the straight forward "cut em' up" kind of way. Abbie was the perfect detective for the case! She had the concentration, dogged pavement pounding persona, and ability to look past the surface. Overall this was just brilliantly done! I really liked the fact it was more "beat the pavement" kind of police work instead of "always going to get killed" kind. It made the ending that much more exciting.Character Thoughts: Abbie is a bulldog. Seriously tenacious in every way and has a sharp tongue to match. I often say in thrillers I don't need to like my detectives but I did like Abbie! She was just written really well. The rest of the characters were pretty darn good too. Each playing a role in how Abbie solved the case.Audio Thoughts: Narrated By David H. Lawrence XVII / Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins This is not a knock on David but this really should have been narrated by a woman. I just couldn't buy him as Abbie. She was the main character and it always felt a little off when things were done from her voice.Final Thoughts: This is my first book by Stephan but it won't be my last!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I loved Stephan Talty's first novel, Black Irish. I enjoyed but didn't love this second novel with Buffalo native homicide detective Abbie Kearney. The Buffalo setting, a city in decline, is an interesting setting for the novel; Talty obviously knows the city well, although if you missed his first novel, then you missed a lot of what Talty has to say about the city--and also about Abbie as well. Maybe I've read too much in the police procedural genre, but I'm beginning to weary of the serial killer meme. The "twist" at the end seemed forced. I have the sense from this book that Talty has already explored to the limit the nuances of his protagonist, Absalom Kearney. Maybe I'm wrong--I hope I'm wrong, because surely there will be more in this series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I read Hangman by Stephan Talty for Early Reviewers. It was one of those books that was difficult to put down and move to other tasks, very enjoyable. This is a second book in a series (Black Irish is the first), which I did not read beforehand. The story is fine stand alone. Talty does a wonderful job of using a main character who is female, Abbie Kearney. She is very likable, smart, and strong. Put Hangman on your summer “to read” list.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The gripping story of a convicted killer escaping imprisonment and the police detective determined to catch him before more young girls are murdered captivated me right from the start. The story keeps the reader guessing until the very end, when the plot finally comes together and the mystery is revealed. It had all of the right ingredients: a great plot, interesting characters, a fluid writing style, and many unpredictable turns along the way. But it fell ever-so-slightly short for me in the details, where some of the smaller threads of the plot didn’t tie up nicely at the very end as I like them to in this kind of book. But I enjoyed it nonetheless and would certainly try another book by this author.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A serial killer nicknamed the Hangman escapes while being transferred to Attica. Before his original capture, he had stalked and killed several teenaged girls in Buffalo’s wealthiest neighbourhoods. An intense manhunt is raised immediately but the hangman is still able to kill another girl. Police detective Abbie Hoffman is convinced that there is something else going so, when she is told to back off by her superiors, she elicits the aid of the Network, a shadowy group of ex-cops who are willing to work outside the law to bring justice when the legal system won’t.Hangman by author Stephan Talty is the second book in a series but it reads as a standalone. With plenty of twists and turns, it’s a fun, fast read and kept my interest throughout
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    ARC provided by NetGalley Abbie Kearney lives the tough Irish American stronghold known as “the County” and proudly wear her dad’s old badge as a homicide cop. Thankfully she never had to experience the horror of the serial killer known as the Hangman, Marcus Flynn, and he’s been safely locked up for a long time. Until now. Now a corrections officer lies dead on the ground, a prison van stands empty, and somewhere, out there...the Hangman hunts again. The city is being driven to its knees, paranoia and secrecy rise, and only Abbie can put a stop to it all...hopefully before the Hangman’s noose finds her. This is the first time that I’ve read one of Talty’s books, but the comparison to Karin Slaughter, and the vibe of the book description drew me in. And this will not be the last book that I read by Mr. Talty. I love the character of Abbie and her strength and bullheadness at staying the case and trying to solve what happens. Its nice to see another female character in the vein of Slaughter’s and Kathy Reichs, that doesn’t cower to the darkness, but stands up to it. Its a fast moving, well paced book and I look forward to seeing more of Talty’s works. 4 out of 5 stars.