The first book in the Dave Gurney series, Think of a Number is a heart-pounding game of cat and mouse that grows relentlessly darker and more frightening as its pace accelerates Threatening letters arrive in the mail over a period of weeks, ending with a simple declaration: “Think of any number . . . picture it . . . now see how well I know your secrets.” Those who comply find that the letter writer has predicted their random choice exactly. But when oddities that begin as a diverting puzzle quickly ignite into a massive serial murder investigation, police are confronted with a 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. Brought in as an investigative consultant, Dave Gurney, a recently retired NYPD homicide investigator, 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 he wonders if he’s met an adversary who can’t be stopped. 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.
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"The jury's still out. I've started his next book, but the relationship between Gurney and his wife, as they start their retirement years, is dark and depressing against a bucolic background. Now reading the next book, I'm struck of how this author's writing style is remind me of P.D. James, so this may be what the difference is from what I normally read. The mystery in Think of a Number is good, and I loved how it was resolved. Aces for that, and Dave Gurney (and his wife) are likeable characters. Well worth the read. Still, more of an English rather than American flavor to the novel, although it is written in the US (NY Catskills) and by an American I believe."
— Diane (4 out of 5 stars)
“Remarkable…Verdon’s hero Dave Gurney is one for the ages.”
— David Baldacci“Addictive and thoroughly engrossing…In Think of a Number, Verdon plays deliciously on our deepest, most primal fears, portraying a killer who seems to see right into people’s minds.”
— Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author of Vanished“Spectacular and mind-bending, Think of a Number is the best thriller I’ve read in a long, long time. John Verdon’s writing is so polished, so nuanced, it makes me envious that I didn’t write this terrific novel.”
— Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of Ice Cold“With its edge-of-the-chair suspense, memorable characters that jump off the pages, and elegant and deft writing, John Verdon’s Think of a Number is a stunning debut.”
— Faye Kellerman, New York Times bestselling author of Stone Kiss“This book doesn’t just entertain—it engages you and draws you immediately into the lives of the characters, who are as real as real can be.”
— Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author of The Lion’s Game“Consistently intelligent, fast-paced, filled with clever twists and psychological insight, and characters that come alive on every page, it entertains from the opening set-piece, right through the tension-filled ending.”
— John Katzenbach, New York Times bestselling author of The Traveller“The characters live and breathe, the plot is diabolically clever and airtight, and the prose is sublime. Absolutely not to be missed!”
— John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of The Suspect“Think of a Number is a subtle and intelligent thriller of the first order. With his gripping premise, well-drawn characters, and relentless escalation of suspense, John Verdon has penned an exciting debut. Don’t miss it.”
— Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Die for You“A dark, disturbing, and completely compelling debut.”
— Spencer Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of Dog on It!“[Think of a Number] a puzzle mystery and a police procedural and a cautionary tale about loss and love—the book literally has something for everyone, with a conclusion so eerily perfect it could have been scripted by Hitchcock himself. This is a thriller that will rewrite the rules of the genre.”
— Will Lavender, New York Times bestselling author of Obedience“Verdon’s premise is clever and his police work convincing, which right there might be enough; but the real joy of this book is its characters. Each one, no matter how minor, is unique and beautifully observed.”
— S. J. Rozan, Edgar Award–winning author of The Shanghai Moon“Think of a Number is written with pace, style and intelligence.”
— Reginald Hill, winner of the Crime Writer’s Association Dagger Award for Lifetime Achievement“[An] inventive and entertaining first thriller.”
— Washington Post“Mostly what makes this work is the intricate fabric that debut novelist Verdon weaves, as complications twist into what seems to be an impossible knot.”
— Chicago Sun-Times“Verdon is a master at controlling pace, illustrating the story of a rich but complicated marriage, pondering what it means to be sucked back into your life’s work even if it might kill you, and demanding that the reader use his or her brain to figure out what comes next.”
— Salon“Verdon’s deftly written, erudite debut is an exquisitely plotted novel of suspense.”
— Oregonian“Savor the sense of loss that haunts this strong debut.”
— Houston Chronicle“Good writing and good storytelling often aren’t the same thing. Verdon combines them masterfully…Here’s hoping Verdon has what it takes to churn out more books like this.”
— Newark Star Ledger“An incredible crime novel.”
— Herald-Dispatch (West Virginia)“Will hook just about any reader…An astoundingly addictive work filled with real life characters that jump off the page into a daring and skillful plot, this book will leave you stumped and hungry for more.”
— New York Journal of Books“The numbers game gets a murderous spin in Verdon’s deft, literate debut.”
— Publishers Weekly“An outstanding debut.”
— Booklist (starred review)" Good first novel. Suspenseful and tricky mystery. Not crazy about the personal stuff in the book, Get a bit tired of angsty personal crap...I wonder why a retired cop can't just have normal problems...but the story was great - mystery hard to figure out until the end. looking forward to reading the next. "
— Selena, 2/19/2014" I really liked this book. Even though the premise was a bit implausible, Verdon carried it off with great success. It was well-written and never went over the top for shocks or suspense. The main character was well-developed and the subplot with his marital issues and family tragedy gave the story some depth you don't always see in these stories, or seen handled as well. Can't give it 5 stars as the identity of the killer was no shock and could have been hidden better. However, it still was an excellent read and I will definitely catch the next one in the series. "
— Gatorman, 2/17/2014" I thought this was good--had a good plot. It bogged down at times for me, with Gurney's reflection on his son that died, and on other thoughts that didn't seem to have much to do with the story. His writing was very descriptive, though, which I enjoyed. The descriptions of the scenery really helped put me there. "
— Darin, 1/27/2014" There were interesting turns of plot in this book, and it was intelligent in a sense. Verdon kept in interesting with his variety of place, scene, and dynamics. Perhaps it just wasn't original enough. Or he didn't develop the characters enough. I'm not sure but it just didn't really grab me enough. Kind of flat. "
— Roxanne, 1/17/2014" Loved this book. I can't wait to read more of his books!! "
— Susan, 1/13/2014" Breathtaking, with deep suspense and totally unexpected end. "
— Konstantina, 1/11/2014" Very thought provoking - really enjoyed trying to put the jagged puzzle pieces together as more seemingly unrelated murders occur. Quite a good read for a first time author. Interesting at the end to find out 'who done it' ! "
— Brenda, 1/9/2014" Excellent debut thriller set in Upstate New York with a devilish and mischievous protagonist and a fascinating (retired) detective on his tail. I look forward to more from Verdon. "
— Jim, 12/14/2013" this book is a dark mystery. for a first book i think its pretty good. the chacters and the plot are good. i recomend the book as i enjoyed. "
— Peter, 12/8/2013" If you love crimes and mystery you would love this book i love the suspense that it has and how at the end of every chapter you just become chock!! "
— Nicole, 11/29/2013" Excellent! Well written.. You can't help but try to figure out 'how it's done'... and when the author reveals it, he does so in such a way that you enjoy it -- whether you'd figured it out or not. "
— Laurie, 9/18/2013" Great read. It took a little longer than usual for me to get hooked. The snails pace of the first three chapters was really kind of dull and almost hard to follow. Once someone dies, the rest of the book gets much better. Keeps you guessing. "
— Thomas, 11/27/2012" Excellent mystery, very well written. Interesting puzzles, and a well drawn character as the lead investigator. One of the best I've read recently. "
— Tom, 8/23/2012" Really good book and I look forward to reading the next one. The way the detective Gurney's mind works is amazing. The twists and turns and how everything related to each other and then came together at the end was very intersting. Kept you wanting to read. "
— Laura, 3/22/2012" The book did start out as unique but I wasn't disappointed like Mom was since she warned me of the turn of events that disappointed her. I really enjoyed the whole book. "
— Trisha, 9/13/2011" Unusually good book in this category. That it's a first novel by this author is even more remarkable. "
— Ben, 8/13/2011" Great puzzle, excellent character development for detective and his wife. "
— Alice, 6/24/2011" A real page turner. It is a good read. "
— Jane, 6/11/2011" Really enjoyed this book, it made you think, trying to work out the clues. the atmosphere was great and made you feel part of the story. The relation between husband and wife added a nice feel , as things don't always go as they should. "
— Scott, 5/23/2011" It took me a lot longer to get into the story than I thought it would. However sticking with it was worth the wait. I did enjoy the twist and figuring out how the killer set up the crime scene and did the little tricks with the numbers. Fun little thriller. "
— Carrie, 5/13/2011" Wow. A fantastic debut Murder/Mystery from this talented accomplished writer. The best book that I have read in this genre. John Verdon goes to the top of my must read list and hopefully he will have another book on the shelves soon. "
— Carol, 5/11/2011" I thought it was a fairly decent police procedural. However, I did find myself fussing at the audiobook as I was driving around. I guess I had a better memory than Dave did :) "
— Autumn, 5/10/2011" really good, intriguing plot. different. page-turner. "
— Leslie, 5/9/2011" Too complicated for a light and easy read, all those numbers and codes, I read several of the first chapters I then skimmed the rest of the book, not the greatest book I have ever read. "
— Neil, 4/20/2011" A real page turner. It is a good read. "
— Jane, 4/16/2011" Literally could not put this book down. Would have read it in one sitting, but I had to sleep for a few hours. Excellent debut! "
— Tess, 4/12/2011" Suspense, thriller ... a serial killer taunting the police with<br/>puzzling clues. A "catch me if you can" game. "
— Kate, 4/6/2011" I won this in the giveaway section but it got lost in the post so I ordered it from the library. It's overwritten - especially at the start and I guessed the twists but it's OK. The hero and setting are more interesting than usual. "
— Margaret, 4/5/2011" Well written mystery thriller maybe just a tad slow at grabbing me in the beginning but soon I couldn't put it down. Husband liked it also. It was fun trying to guess who 'done' it. "
— Maryann, 4/4/2011" Started really slow and story was slow to build, but once the "hook" was set, it became much more interesting. As I progressed along, I found it harder and harder to put down. In the end, I was VERY satisfied. It is a "good read." "
— doug, 3/31/2011John Verdon is the author of the Dave Gurney series of thrillers, international bestsellers published in more than two dozen languages. Before becoming a crime fiction writer, he had two previous careers as an advertising creative director and a custom furniture maker.
George Newbern is an Earphones Award–winning narrator and a television and film actor best known for his roles as Brian MacKenzie in Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride Part II, as well as Danny in Friends. As a voice actor, he is notable for his role as Superman on the Cartoon Newtork series Static Shock, Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited. He has guest starred on many television series, including Scandal, The Mentalist, Private Practice, CSI: Miami, and Numb3rs. He holds a BA in theater arts from Northwestern University.