Andrew Vachss returns with a mesmerizing novel about a hard-core thief who's about to embark on a job that will alter his life forever.
Sugar is that rarest of commodities: an old-school professional thief, tough and loyal as a pit bull, packing 255 pounds of muscle. When he's picked out of a photo array in a vicious rape case, the cops find his apartment empty. A stakeout catches Sugar when he returns... carrying a loaded pistol. The sex-crime cops get nothing from their interrogation, but a streetwise detective figures out why Sugar offers no alibi: at the time of the rape, a holiday-weekend break-in job was being pulled at a jewelry store. The DA offers Sugar two options: give up his partners in the jewelry heist and walk, or plead to the rape he didn't commit - and he'll toss in the gun charge. For Sugar, that's not two options; he takes the weight.
When Sugar finishes his time, his money is waiting for him, held by Solly, the mastermind behind the jewelry heist. But Solly tells Sugar that one of the heist crew was actually sent by another planner - and that planner has just died. In Sugar's world, all loose threads must be cut. He suspects that there's more to this job than what Solly is telling him. But nothing he suspects or imagines can prepare him for what he finds.
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"Takes the criminal's point of view, very interesting to get a gllimpse into the mind of a criminal and their own rules of life. Seemed like a lot of the book was leading up to something, then it dawned on my that the story was the process of thought."
— Anita (4 out of 5 stars)
" I guess the mystery aspect wasn't bad, but the ex-con lingo and innuendos were too hard for me to keep up with. "
— Kriscrowe, 12/30/2013" Enjoyed it. Life from a thief's/convict's perspective. "
— Wayne, 12/17/2013" Good book. Crime and his criminal activity and loyalties through the eyes of the criminal involved. Somehow was a bit too plodding for my particular tastes and interests. "
— Elli, 12/8/2013" Excellent concept for a novel on several levels. Straightforward prose. Will read more from this author (yay! He's got 16 other books, although in a different style.) "
— Barbara, 11/17/2013" Outstanding piece of crime fiction. The best of Vachss is contained here. Beautiful, energetic writing and tight, terse storytelling. "
— Tony, 9/17/2013" Hadn't read Vachss in a while - same as I remembered. "
— Andrew, 8/13/2013" Gritty and full of dealing, an engaging enough read. "
— Lynn, 7/28/2013" Not as good as his other stand alone novels. "
— Sherryl, 3/1/2012" quick read, spent most of it confused. I like a good mystery but so much was left to interpretation .... didn't enjoy it. "
— Curvy, 11/26/2011" Not really like any other book I'd read in the past. Raw and gritty, but very interesting take on the life of a hard-core thief. The insights into jail-time were interesting. Liked the "planning" scenes, and the ending was good. "
— Tamlyn, 6/26/2011" I miss Burke, but this is still a hell of a story. "
— Stu, 6/19/2011" Good Read. Moves slow in the middle of the book but in the end it was an enjoyable read. One of the few stand alone Novels from a Author who wrote the Burke Series. "
— Brandon, 6/2/2011" A good hard boiled crime novel. "
— Dale, 5/1/2011" Kinetic. Beautifully written. A hell of a piece of crime fiction. "
— Patrick, 4/26/2011" Whose code does that stranger live by? "
— Jane, 4/18/2011" Outstanding piece of crime fiction. The best of Vachss is contained here. Beautiful, energetic writing and tight, terse storytelling. "
— Tony, 4/1/2011" Hadn't read Vachss in a while - same as I remembered. "
— Andrew, 3/20/2011" Kinetic. Beautifully written. A hell of a piece of crime fiction. "
— Patrick, 3/11/2011" Excellent concept for a novel on several levels. Straightforward prose. Will read more from this author (yay! He's got 16 other books, although in a different style.) "
— Barbara, 2/18/2011" I guess the mystery aspect wasn't bad, but the ex-con lingo and innuendos were too hard for me to keep up with. "
— Kriscrowe, 1/26/2011" Good Read. Moves slow in the middle of the book but in the end it was an enjoyable read. One of the few stand alone Novels from a Author who wrote the Burke Series. "
— Brandon, 1/1/2011" Not as good as his other stand alone novels. "
— Sherryl, 12/30/2010" Gritty and full of dealing, an engaging enough read. "
— Lynn, 12/30/2010" Whose code does that stranger live by? "
— Jane, 11/18/2010" I miss Burke, but this is still a hell of a story. "
— Stu, 11/10/2010" Like the book, just realized how much I am going to miss Burke from his other books. "
— Todd, 11/9/2010Andrew Vachss is a lawyer who represents children and youths exclusively. His many books include the Burke series and two collections of short stories, and his work has appeared in Parade, Antaeus, Esquire, Playboy, and the New York Times, among other publications. A native New Yorker, he divides his time between the city of his birth and the Pacific Northwest.
Buck Schirner’s professional career has primarily been on stage as a character actor. He is currently active in the theater scene in Philadelphia. Buck also appears in the independent film In the Woods.