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The Professionals Audiobook
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(3.01) - 743 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Four friends, recent college graduates, caught in a terrible job market, joke about turning to kidnapping to survive. And then, suddenly, it's no joke. For two years, the strategy they devise-quick, efficient, low risk-works like a charm. Until they kidnap the wrong man.
Now two groups they've very much wanted to avoid are after them-the law, in the form of veteran state investigator Kirk Stevens and hotshot young FBI agent Carla Windermere, and an organized-crime outfit looking for payback. As they all crisscross the country in deadly pursuit and a series of increasingly explosive confrontations, each of them is ultimately forced to recognize the truth: The true professionals, cop or criminal, are those who are willing to sacrifice . . . everything.
A finger-burning page-turner, filled with twists, surprises, and memorably complex characters, The Professionals marks the arrival of a remarkable new writer.
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"This was a terrific debut novel by Owen Laukkanen. I was hooked from the beginning and found myself relating to both the good and bad characters. Of course, I was on the side of the good guys but sad for the poor choices the bad guys made that escalated out of control. I will look for future books by this talented author."
— Ginny (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A 2013 International Thriller Writers Award Nominee for Best First Novel
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One of the 2012 Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books: Thrillers
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Selected for the April 2012 Indie Next List
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A 2013 Anthony Award Nominee for Best First Novel
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A 2013 Barry Award Nominee for Best First Novel
The Professionals Listener Reviews
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" Nothing special, but a nice crime thriller. Exciting climax. Can see this making a good movie. "
— Kay, 2/4/2014 -
" Very fun read. Good for the beach. "
— Mark, 1/16/2014 -
" Why find a job!! These four college people decide to go into the kidnapping business. They do this for two years and then kidnap the wrong person . This is way the book really keeps your interest. First time author. A real good read. "
— Diana, 1/1/2014 -
" Wow. Great, great book. Reminded me of Chuck Hogan's Prince of Thieves in a lot of ways. Great characters, great tension, great story. "
— Jeff, 12/18/2013 -
" Fast-paced and well plotted, this is almost a classic. However, the writer tries a bit too hard to make us like the various characters, which is not all that possible in the brief time span of the novel. "
— Richard, 12/17/2013 -
" Like his protagonist, Arthur Pender, Mr. Laukkanen leads his readers through a series of increasingly dangerous and fortunate conflict but in the end finds himself backed into a corner of his own downfall, unable to provide a satisfying or plausible conclusion to a sometimes thrilling story. "
— Chris, 12/11/2013 -
" Original & excellent - can't wait for more from Owen Laukkanen. "
— Robin, 11/30/2013 -
" I wanted both sides to win. Loved this book and highly reccommend it "
— Doris, 9/12/2013 -
" Fun premise. Enjoyed the whole idea of just a quick way to make a few bucks Robin-Hood-style. What could possibly go wrong? "
— Marianne, 2/2/2013 -
" A nice start, but it fell apart in a very annoying way about midway through the story. Darn. "
— Pris, 12/2/2012 -
" Good characters and interesting read. "
— Jim, 11/6/2012 -
" Fabulous first novel! Highly recommended. Action-packed. Looking forward to Owen's next book. "
— Glennie, 9/17/2012 -
" Premise was great. Good read. "
— Sam's, 8/11/2012
About Owen Laukkanen
Owen Laukkanen’s 2012 debut, The Professionals, earned rave reviews from critics and readers alike. The story of four recent university graduates who turn to kidnapping in a failing job market was hailed by Mystery Scene Magazine as one of the year’s best debuts, while Kirkus Reviews named it one of the top 100 novels of the year. A graduate of the University of British Columbia’s creative writing program, Laukkanen spent three years in the world of professional poker reporting after answering a Craigslist ad before turning to fiction. He currently lives in Vancouver, where he’s hard at work on the third and fourth installments in the Stevens and Windermere series.
About Edoardo Ballerini
Edoardo Ballerini, an American actor, director, film producer, and multiaward–winning narrator. He has won several Audie Awards for best narration, including for 2019’s Best Male Narrator of the Year. He was named by Booklist as winner of their 2023 Voice of Choice Award, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019. He has narrated over two hundred audiobooks, from classics to modern masters, from bestsellers to the inspirational, from Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners to spine-tingling series, and much more. In television and film, he is best known for his roles in A Murder at the End of the World, The Sopranos, 24, I Shot Andy Warhol, Dinner Rush, and Romeo Must Die. He is also trained in theater and continues to do much work on stage.