★ Reviews for Kenrick,

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Book reviews for "Kenrick,_Tony" sorted by average review score:

Two Lucky People

Published in Paperback by New American Library (1981)

Author: Tony Kenrick

Amazon base price: $2.50

Average review score:

One of the best reads of my life!

I found this book on a supermarket book rack in 1981, bought it out of curiosity, and ended up helpless with laughter. I have since read the book at least once every three months, and guess what? Every time, I end up helpless with laughter. Two incurably ill people, New Yorkers and living quite normal New York lives, decide they haven't done anything to help humanity, and have the chance to make a last contribution before they die by providing a poor neighborhood with a free concert hall. But a vicious gangster stands in the way: Remove him and the neighborhood gets the concert hall. Our two heroes decide to trap him with a long jail sentence, which will involve stealing something valuable from him and ransoming it back to him. What they steal is his remarkable household staff: valet, driver, cook and mistress. What they substitute for this sterling quartet is a bunch of misfits not to be believed! This is one of those books you cherish forever, a little book few people have heard of that just lifts you up when you're down and makes you laugh in spite of yourself. I'll never be without a copy -- and I've recommended it to everyone! Try it for yourself ... it's a hoot!

A Tremendously Funny Book!

As an author, Tony Kenrick seemed to split his time between writing interesting action/adventure books (such as "The 81st Site" and "Night Time Guy")and turning out humorous stories that would have you laughing out loud. "Two Lucky People" is firmly in the latter category.

When I first found this book (back in the days when it was new!), I read the cover description and immediately decided that it was not for me. The plot involves two people who are both dying of the same incurable disease, and are brought together by their doctors as a sort of two person support group. When a chance comes to right a wrong by taking on a local organized crime figure, they go for it on the sound reasoning that they have nothing to lose. Does this sound particularly funny? I broke down and bought it only because of my devotion to an earlier Kenrick comedy called "Stealing Lillian". That decision earned me many, many hours of fun and laughter.

Don't read this book in public if you're easily embarrassed. You'll find yourself consumed with helpless, hysterical laughter, with everyone in your immediate vicinity trying to decide whether to send for help. Kenrick has (had?) a knack for comedy that is unbeatable. Over a period of several years I bought at least six copies of this book. Everytime I lent it out I would end up needing a new one. I can't recommend it highly enough.

The 81st Site

Published in Hardcover by Penguin Audiobooks (1980)

Author: Tony, Kenrick

Amazon base price: $10.00
Used price: $0.95
Collectible price: $2.00

Average review score:

Very well written

Mr. Kenrick does an excellent job of enwrapping 2 seperate lives to meet in an exillerating climax. Nazi Germany had 80 V-2 missle sites destroyed in France after World War 2, but another site is found which then is used as an incredible weapon. The ability to create such an incredible novel is an amazing feat. This is a wonderful which you can not put dow

The Chicago Girl

Published in Hardcover by Putnam Pub Group (1976)

Author: Tony Kenrick

Amazon base price: $7.95
Used price: $1.36
Collectible price: $1.38

Average review score:

Fantastic!

What an entertaining read. It reads "quick" and is entertaining. I'm surprised there is only one of his books here. He's primarily an author more familiar to an European audience. His books have been made into movies (the movies don't do his books justice -- much like Stephen King novels don't translate well into movies). His other books are equally entertaining. He captures the humor in routine and absurd situtations by creating word pictures that you just can't help but laugh out loud about. Read any of his books and you'll be a fan. I'd compare him to Peter DeVries, less Ivy League and more Community College.

The Nightime Guy

Published in Paperback by Signet Books (01 March, 1980)

Author: Tony Kenrick

Amazon base price: $2.75
Used price: $1.35
Collectible price: $2.12

Average review score:

I hate cliches, but...

I absolutely love suspense and mystery novels and have probably read -- and re-read -- hundreds of books. In my entire life, this is the ONLY book I have ever read that I literally could not put down. Seriously. I can offer no higher praise than that.

Stealing Lillian

Published in Hardcover by David McKay Co (1975)

Author: Tony Kenrick

Amazon base price: $7.95
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $3.00

Average review score:

Comedy, Action, Suspense... Entertaining reading

How do a small-time con-artist, one of his victims, the FBI, and a little orphan girl end up as part of a team to combat terrorism? I won't tell you that now... but I will tell you that Tony Kenrick makes this bizarre plot work in a big way. There's comedy that makes you laugh out loud, and enough suspense to keep you gripping the arms of your chair. I highly recommend this book as well as some of Tony Kenrick's other fine novels like 'The Seven Day Soldiers' and 'The 81st Site'.

The Seven Day Soldiers: A Novel

Published in Hardcover by NTC/Contemporary Publishing (1976)

Author: Tony, Kenrick

Amazon base price: $27.00

Average review score:

A gunny classic

This is a top notch book, and a gripping thriller. The central dude, Barney Rivers hits on a scam to make a small amount of money. Enlisting help from his mates, it all seems to go very well- until the dude from whom the money was stolen comes looking for it, leaving him and his friends with seven days to prepare for the final confrontation.

Written in tight terse prose, and progressivly getting more exciting, the last few chapters are virtually unputdownable. The final fire fight is told in a gripping style, and is most enjoyable. You even get the odd flash of humour and snappy one liners.

If you like thrillers, or books about guns, this is the way to go.

Grade:A

A highly entertaining book

In one of those wonderful twists of fate, I found this book in a closet in my new apartment in 1983 (left behind by the previous tenants, I guess), read it, and loved it. There's comedy, action, interesting characters, and loads of suspense. The main characters in the story are suburban, white-collar types who are simply unsatisfied with their upper middle class existence and long to to make that one big financial score which would solve all their problems ("If I could just get $30,000 in one place, free and clear..."). They devise a scheme (or should I say, SCAM) which backfires badly and lands them in terrible physical danger. Their only hope for survival is to get some military type training to defend themselves, hence the name of the book. The suspense builds to an action-packed conclusion. Truly a page-turner and my favorite book of all time. (Not bad for a leftover from the previous tenants, huh?)

a must for all crime readers

i read this book back in the seventies and unfortunately lost it. To this day I have searched for and could not find it,if you see it buy it and guarantee yourself an action packed read.

Shanghai Surprise

Published in Paperback by Select Penguin (1986)

Author: Tony Kenrick

Amazon base price: $3.95
Used price: $0.13

Average review score:

READABLE BUT NOT UNFORGETTABLE

I always loved China, so I saw the movie and the only thing I really liked of it was the opening song.

I got the book with a magazine and I was very surprised when I read it: it was a real story, with even some historical background on China's '30s, and not taken from the movie.

The book is decently written and the plot not that stupid, even if several weak points exist.

Maybe 3 stars are a little too much, but after all it gave me some relaxing summer evenings, so it deserves them.

But if you really like China's warlord period in the '30s, you should read Robert Elegant instead, even if his style is slower then Kenrik's, but his insight on chinese history and culture far deeper.