Killing Time

· Diversion Books
eBook
291
Pages
Eligible
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About this eBook

Thomas Berger breaks all the rules in this detective story that’s less who-done-it, and more why-done-it.

“An original and powerful tale of a saintly murderer.”—Arthur Koestler

"Detweiler is one of the most complex characters in modern fiction...the eeriest thing about him is that he is wholly believable, which is to say, of course, that Thomas Berger is a magnificent novelist."—National Review

Meet Joseph Detweiler—a polite, sincere, and thoughtful murderer.

He believes in living in the moment, it’s just that every moment comes at a price.

So when he murders Billie Bayson, her mother, and a boarder in their home on Christmas Eve, he really means no harm. He’s also not the first suspect.

As the police delve into the sordid private lives of the Bayson family in the aftermath of this horrific event, seeking the real killer, Detweiler befriends Tierney, a detective assigned to the case. But as details of the case unravel, so does the chilling truth about Detweiler. He has not just committed the murder at hand. He believes he’s performed a kindness to Billie and to himself. In his mind has freed her from life, and himself from the flow of time.

Can Detective Tierney live with knowing the killer was right under his nose?

About the author

Thomas Berger (1924–2014) was the bestselling author of novels, short stories, and plays, including the Old West classic Little Big Man (1964) and the Pulitzer Prize–nominated novel The Feud (1983). Berger was born in Cincinnati and served with a medical unit in World War II, an experience that provided the inspiration for his first novel, Crazy in Berlin (1958). Berger found widespread success with his third novel, Little Big Man, and maintained a steady output of critically acclaimed work since then. Several of his novels have been adapted into film, including a celebrated version of Little Big Man. His short fiction has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, Esquire, and Playboy. Berger lived in New York.

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