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Unbreakables #1
Unbreakables
Chris, Ben and Leon are qualified, willing and ambitious, yet unable to find work in their fields. Leon is tired of waiting tables, Ben can't take sitting at home with nothing to do anymore and Chris has had enough of his tedious, make-do, job. Just as they're about to give up all hope Ben arrives with a plan.
With all the skills and knowledge that typical criminals are without, Ben, Chris and Leon are more than qualified to be professional thieves. The score? Three large and rare diamonds that have been confiscated from smugglers, now belonging to no one. It’s a victimless crime.
Being inexperienced means that the three men run into many problems and more than just their skills are tested with each one discovering his own weaknesses. Technical, moral and emotional issues obstruct their plan, but will it stop them in their tracks entirely?
When options run thin, creativity kicks in.
With all the skills and knowledge that typical criminals are without, Ben, Chris and Leon are more than qualified to be professional thieves. The score? Three large and rare diamonds that have been confiscated from smugglers, now belonging to no one. It’s a victimless crime.
Being inexperienced means that the three men run into many problems and more than just their skills are tested with each one discovering his own weaknesses. Technical, moral and emotional issues obstruct their plan, but will it stop them in their tracks entirely?
When options run thin, creativity kicks in.
316 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2012
13 people want to read
About the author
Joe Pringle
6 books15 followersJoe Pringle is a writer of fiction novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 24, 2012
Unbreakables was a very exciting and action packed read that I could hardly put down! The book is about 3 guys who are undervalued and underemployed. Together they decided to get away from their normal lives where they struggle to make ends meat. They plan on doing this by robbing a high-end jewelry store where diamonds are being kept for safekeeping by the police – a victimless crime.
This book could easily be made into a movie and join the ranks of the Italian Job and The Town. Although not with so many twists and turns, the novel rather gives you an insight on these 3 guys and who they really are. All 3 guys are relate-able to in some way and each of them reminsd me of one of my friends. You have the brainy IT guy, the smooth ladies man and the guy that keeps a level head and tries to do right by everyone.
Joe Pringle has a way of creating a setting where you feel that you are right there. It is very vivid and well described. You don’t feel for a second lost in the surroundings or left out of the plan. I also enjoyed the South African setting. It is always refreshing to read about a town or place that you have actually been to, and where the country/town isn’t represented in an unfair or biased light.
So if you like rooting for the underdog, or even the bad guy and you like an action novel that doesn’t jump the shark (like lots of action movies, lets be honest) then this is the book for you.
This book could easily be made into a movie and join the ranks of the Italian Job and The Town. Although not with so many twists and turns, the novel rather gives you an insight on these 3 guys and who they really are. All 3 guys are relate-able to in some way and each of them reminsd me of one of my friends. You have the brainy IT guy, the smooth ladies man and the guy that keeps a level head and tries to do right by everyone.
Joe Pringle has a way of creating a setting where you feel that you are right there. It is very vivid and well described. You don’t feel for a second lost in the surroundings or left out of the plan. I also enjoyed the South African setting. It is always refreshing to read about a town or place that you have actually been to, and where the country/town isn’t represented in an unfair or biased light.
So if you like rooting for the underdog, or even the bad guy and you like an action novel that doesn’t jump the shark (like lots of action movies, lets be honest) then this is the book for you.
December 19, 2012
If you are, were, (or know) a young adult who is feeling unfulfilled and gets bundled into a crazy scheme with a couple of friends, then you'll relate to this competently-told tale. Chris, Leon and Ben have qualified, but haven't yet found adult employment that's right for them. (They also seem unaware of the adage that if you can't do what you love, then love what you do.) The scheme is to steal some diamonds which have been confiscated, a crime which they consider victimless.
I enjoyed reading this fresh contemporary tale about 3 young well-educated urban males in Cape Town. The written expression shows creativity, while staying very simple and direct. No "purple prose" here. Also no "travel brochure" South Africa: just a lot of what could be going on in a lot of places.
I liked the way the story began, and how it ended, and I liked making the acquaintance of the three guys, and a likeable girlfriend. Insights are to be gleaned about the way people think, but it's scattered around naturally and through conversation. No boring self-indulgent navel-gazing.
The story flows and it's light and pleasant. I received this as a Goodreads giveaway and consider it a real gift - a gift I will pass on to entertain, amuse and distract a friend who's recently left school, is bored and hasn't found his way yet.One of this book's strengths is that there are a lot of potential readers out there who are just like the three male protagonists: qualified, but not where they want to be yet.
I enjoyed reading this fresh contemporary tale about 3 young well-educated urban males in Cape Town. The written expression shows creativity, while staying very simple and direct. No "purple prose" here. Also no "travel brochure" South Africa: just a lot of what could be going on in a lot of places.
I liked the way the story began, and how it ended, and I liked making the acquaintance of the three guys, and a likeable girlfriend. Insights are to be gleaned about the way people think, but it's scattered around naturally and through conversation. No boring self-indulgent navel-gazing.
The story flows and it's light and pleasant. I received this as a Goodreads giveaway and consider it a real gift - a gift I will pass on to entertain, amuse and distract a friend who's recently left school, is bored and hasn't found his way yet.One of this book's strengths is that there are a lot of potential readers out there who are just like the three male protagonists: qualified, but not where they want to be yet.
September 11, 2012
Unbreakables is sort of a South African crime and adventure novel which involves a bunch of friends that are overly qualified yet un - employed. The three friends Chris, Ben and Leon met in varsity while studying different trades. Together they passed just to be released into the job market and not be able to find any form of stimulating employment.
After years of interviews and failed attempts to earn a decent wage within their fields, the still remaining friends, decide to use their talents on something that might just change the course of their lives forever
- Burglary.
At first the three-o, seem to think that their advantageous backgrounds would mean that they are more than qualified to do the relevant job than normal smugglers. Inexperience however creates a heap of problems which ends up testing their readiness and ultimately holds their friendship in balance.
Technical, moral and emotional issues obstruct the retrieval of obtaining the main goal which involves retrieving three rare diamonds which have been confiscated from smugglers. The journey which was seen as a victimless crime sets a critical path where options run thin and creativity has to kick in.
What I liked about the novel:
What I liked about the story was the fact that it played off in familiar surroundings. I liked the conflict that was created by the different characters moral backgrounds. I enjoyed the way they tried to plan the story out and loved the adventure factor.
What I wasn’t fond of:
What I didn’t like was the fact that the story started off in action but then went back into the past tense reflecting on how the characters build towards that tense moment. While I understand that this was the main point that would lead into grabbing the reader, my impatience made me want to skip the detail and background and just focus on the main event.
Moral:
All – in – all, I would say that it was craftily set out, masterly manoeuvred and written with much thought.
I would give it a three out of five leaning towards a four.
After years of interviews and failed attempts to earn a decent wage within their fields, the still remaining friends, decide to use their talents on something that might just change the course of their lives forever
- Burglary.
At first the three-o, seem to think that their advantageous backgrounds would mean that they are more than qualified to do the relevant job than normal smugglers. Inexperience however creates a heap of problems which ends up testing their readiness and ultimately holds their friendship in balance.
Technical, moral and emotional issues obstruct the retrieval of obtaining the main goal which involves retrieving three rare diamonds which have been confiscated from smugglers. The journey which was seen as a victimless crime sets a critical path where options run thin and creativity has to kick in.
What I liked about the novel:
What I liked about the story was the fact that it played off in familiar surroundings. I liked the conflict that was created by the different characters moral backgrounds. I enjoyed the way they tried to plan the story out and loved the adventure factor.
What I wasn’t fond of:
What I didn’t like was the fact that the story started off in action but then went back into the past tense reflecting on how the characters build towards that tense moment. While I understand that this was the main point that would lead into grabbing the reader, my impatience made me want to skip the detail and background and just focus on the main event.
Moral:
All – in – all, I would say that it was craftily set out, masterly manoeuvred and written with much thought.
I would give it a three out of five leaning towards a four.
July 27, 2015
I wouldn't normally pick up a book like Unbreakables. The whole crime/adventure genre doesn't appeal to me very much. That said, after reading the blurb I was definitely interested in reading this book to see if it could change my mind about the genre.
Unbreakables was a really good book. I was much more interested in it than I thought I would be. The writing and characters definitely kept me interested in the beginning. By the middle of the book, I was totally hooked into the plot.
I enjoyed the solid writing. The author is great at attention to detail and actually fleshing out his story. His characters are believable and his story seems very real.
The story did seem a little slow to get to the point in the beginning of the book. However, this was not enough to make the book unbearable. It was more of a minor annoyance than anything.
If you're looking for a solid crime/adventure book or, if you're like me and just want something different, I definitely recommend this book.
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
Unbreakables was a really good book. I was much more interested in it than I thought I would be. The writing and characters definitely kept me interested in the beginning. By the middle of the book, I was totally hooked into the plot.
I enjoyed the solid writing. The author is great at attention to detail and actually fleshing out his story. His characters are believable and his story seems very real.
The story did seem a little slow to get to the point in the beginning of the book. However, this was not enough to make the book unbearable. It was more of a minor annoyance than anything.
If you're looking for a solid crime/adventure book or, if you're like me and just want something different, I definitely recommend this book.
* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
November 20, 2013
NOTE: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE THROUGH GOODREAD'S FIRST READS IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW.
It took me a while to get into the story, but as soon as it got a little faster paced, I was hooked! The author places great emphasis on creating real characters and it is just so easy to relate to them. I totally loved having it set in South Africa and I found the ending quite a surprise!
Overall, I think that the book starts off a little too slowly, but more than makes up for it in end. I found the writing style in the book quite descriptive and enjoyed the way the story eventually unfolds. Definitely a goodread :)
It took me a while to get into the story, but as soon as it got a little faster paced, I was hooked! The author places great emphasis on creating real characters and it is just so easy to relate to them. I totally loved having it set in South Africa and I found the ending quite a surprise!
Overall, I think that the book starts off a little too slowly, but more than makes up for it in end. I found the writing style in the book quite descriptive and enjoyed the way the story eventually unfolds. Definitely a goodread :)
March 1, 2013
NOTE: I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE THROUGH GOODREADS FIRST READS IN EXCHANGE FOR A HONEST REVIEW.
This book was great to read. The only problem I had was it was a bit slow to start off but once the story was rolling it was a great read. The ending surprised me and wasn't what I expected which the author should be praised for in delivering such a terrific ending
This book was great to read. The only problem I had was it was a bit slow to start off but once the story was rolling it was a great read. The ending surprised me and wasn't what I expected which the author should be praised for in delivering such a terrific ending
February 14, 2014
This book started with what you thought was the ending and then worked its way through to how they got there. It was really interesting but the twist at the end made it perfect. It was totally unexpected and I loved it.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for the opportunity to not only read this book to have my own personal copy.
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways for the opportunity to not only read this book to have my own personal copy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews