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Jack McCoul Caper #1
A Boatload
A clever con man trying to go legit and a cast of eccentric characters team up to catch a killer in this fast, surprising, and witty mystery series debut.
“Loaded with one liners. Keeps the plot turning.” — Kirkus Reviews
When San Francisco con artist Jack McCoul gets married, he vows to give up his life of crime for good. But then his new brother-in-law pulls a heist that lands Jack in the middle of a deadly fight over hot computer chips. As bodies stack up, he must pull off the grift of a lifetime to solve a murder and escape a one-way ticket to death row.
What readers are saying:
★★★★★ The characters are delicious. The local color spot-on.
★★★★★ Gritty, surprising, and funny as hell.
★★★★★ Fun, stylish, edge-of-your-seat.
★★★★★ A roller coaster ride full of surprises.
★★★★★ 100% fun.
★★★★★ Brilliantly authentic.
★★★★★ Successful in every way and at every level.
“Loaded with one liners. Keeps the plot turning.” — Kirkus Reviews
When San Francisco con artist Jack McCoul gets married, he vows to give up his life of crime for good. But then his new brother-in-law pulls a heist that lands Jack in the middle of a deadly fight over hot computer chips. As bodies stack up, he must pull off the grift of a lifetime to solve a murder and escape a one-way ticket to death row.
What readers are saying:
★★★★★ The characters are delicious. The local color spot-on.
★★★★★ Gritty, surprising, and funny as hell.
★★★★★ Fun, stylish, edge-of-your-seat.
★★★★★ A roller coaster ride full of surprises.
★★★★★ 100% fun.
★★★★★ Brilliantly authentic.
★★★★★ Successful in every way and at every level.
214 pages, Paperback
First published February 19, 2014
454 people are currently reading
410 people want to read
About the author
Dwight Holing
51 books91 followersDwight Holing is the award-winning author of over twenty books, including two popular mystery series: the acclaimed Nick Drake Novels and the witty Jack McCoul Capers. The 8th book in his Nick Drake series, The Broken Blood, won a Silver Falchion. His short story Gallopers was awarded the Arts & Letters Prize for Fiction.
His genre-spanning work includes standalone novels, short story collections, and books on natural history, conservation, wildlife, and outdoor travel. He lives beside a coastal river in California with his wife and two dogs who’d rather swim than walk.
Learn: Dwight Holing
Follow: Dwight Holing
Instagram: @dwight_holing
His genre-spanning work includes standalone novels, short story collections, and books on natural history, conservation, wildlife, and outdoor travel. He lives beside a coastal river in California with his wife and two dogs who’d rather swim than walk.
Learn: Dwight Holing
Follow: Dwight Holing
Instagram: @dwight_holing
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 1, 2018
A ship from China is holding a container full of stolen microchips and heading into a local San Francisco port. Local ex-conman, now turned private investigator, Jack McCoul gets mixed up in trying to find the location of the container holding these chips, before they arrive, when his brother in law winds up involved with the wrong people. Jack’s wife, a yoga instructor, wants him to help her brother and keep him from getting hurt.
Jack had promised his wife, shortly after they got married, that he would go straight, so no more con artist jobs or getting on the wrong side of the law. Unfortunately, the man his wife was going steady wife before Jack met her, is a policeman who is still insisting she will come back to him. All it needs is for Jack to break the law or be suspected of doing so and he will be arrested. He is practically stalking Jack, waiting for him to trip up.
The slight problem of the stolen chips, a murder and his brother in law being taken, all make this case a difficult one to succeed in and come away without being charged for murder. Jack will have to pull off the most complicated con job he has ever done, to ensure his wife and brother in law are safe and he isn’t left dead or in prison for the rest of his life.
Crime gangs, Chinese Triads, a very wealthy businessman that wants everything, Jack, his brother in law and other con artists are all around, trying to get their hands on these chips. Who will succeed is anyone’s guess. You have ups and downs involving Jack and his wife. Jack has to go back to some parts of his old life whilst trying to stay true to the promise he made to his wife.
An interesting story, based on a simple container of stolen microchips from China, getting into the wrong hands. The main characters are believable and Jack will no doubt have more stories to tell – whether about his pasts or future shenanigans. You have a police officer with a strict black and white view of crime, who is also infatuated with his ex-girlfriend, now Jack’s wife. A good tale of a con of a con. It has to be the best for it to succeed.
I enjoyed this book and have signed up to read another by this author. I received a copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Jack had promised his wife, shortly after they got married, that he would go straight, so no more con artist jobs or getting on the wrong side of the law. Unfortunately, the man his wife was going steady wife before Jack met her, is a policeman who is still insisting she will come back to him. All it needs is for Jack to break the law or be suspected of doing so and he will be arrested. He is practically stalking Jack, waiting for him to trip up.
The slight problem of the stolen chips, a murder and his brother in law being taken, all make this case a difficult one to succeed in and come away without being charged for murder. Jack will have to pull off the most complicated con job he has ever done, to ensure his wife and brother in law are safe and he isn’t left dead or in prison for the rest of his life.
Crime gangs, Chinese Triads, a very wealthy businessman that wants everything, Jack, his brother in law and other con artists are all around, trying to get their hands on these chips. Who will succeed is anyone’s guess. You have ups and downs involving Jack and his wife. Jack has to go back to some parts of his old life whilst trying to stay true to the promise he made to his wife.
An interesting story, based on a simple container of stolen microchips from China, getting into the wrong hands. The main characters are believable and Jack will no doubt have more stories to tell – whether about his pasts or future shenanigans. You have a police officer with a strict black and white view of crime, who is also infatuated with his ex-girlfriend, now Jack’s wife. A good tale of a con of a con. It has to be the best for it to succeed.
I enjoyed this book and have signed up to read another by this author. I received a copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
September 11, 2025
A Boatload (The Jack McCoul Mysteries Book 1)
This was not my cup of tea. I have never been interested in con artists. This was supposed to be funny; but it was not. The first person narrator – Jack McCoul – is not as cool as he thinks he is. His wife is more interesting as is his friend Hark.
There is considerable west-coast, or SF, or conman slang which passed me by:
"A pair of Locs hid Hark's eyes, the top of the black frames level to the bandana he pulled low on his forehead..." p. 1 Locs? Sunglasses? Dreadlocks?
"Jack dodged a techie riding a Razor..." p. 38 Razor? Apparenly an electric scooter. Who knew?
“'You getting the best of them out at the ’Stick means you became one too. They don’t know what you know...'” p. 38 Stick? Now "out in the sticks" I know.
"Jack opened the Prius’s door and got in. He pressed the ignition. The hybrid was so quiet the turning over of the engine didn’t make a sound." p. 94
As a fan of the Prius I approve his choice of automobile, but if the electric motor is running it doesn't make a sound, but the electric motor does not "turn over". The gasoline engine does make some noise.
"'Brad’s one of those guys who waits for his life to start and then realizes at the end he’s already lived it.'" 6 highlights. p 128
Brad is Jack brother-in-law and a full blown loser. But Jack's wife Katy loves him – for reasons unknown. She does not seem to be stupid, otherwise.
"His sense of fair play wasn’t the only reason. It also had to do with an old truism Henri LeConte taught him: you can’t cheat an honest man." 5 highlights. p. 128
Unfortunately not true. LeConte was Jack's conman mentor.
"'I would be dishonest if I said I did not miss the life,' Henri said, his eyes downcast as he scratched the dog’s ears. 'I followed my own advice and got out when I could not play 100 percent anymore. It is a lot better off than old athletes who hang on too long... Y
ou try to tell yourself you still have it, you could still do it, but then you remember the easiest person to con is yourself.'” 8 highlights. p. 144
"'You got to trust me.'
'For how long?'
'Not long. Be patient.'
'Patients are in hospitals,' Jimmie said. 'If I don’t get my chips, you won’t need one.'" 4 highlights. p. 198
Jimmie is only one of the hard-asses that threaten Jack, frequently.
"Mark Twain said the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." 6 highlights. p. 216
This was the funniest thing in the book.
This was not my cup of tea. I have never been interested in con artists. This was supposed to be funny; but it was not. The first person narrator – Jack McCoul – is not as cool as he thinks he is. His wife is more interesting as is his friend Hark.
There is considerable west-coast, or SF, or conman slang which passed me by:
"A pair of Locs hid Hark's eyes, the top of the black frames level to the bandana he pulled low on his forehead..." p. 1 Locs? Sunglasses? Dreadlocks?
"Jack dodged a techie riding a Razor..." p. 38 Razor? Apparenly an electric scooter. Who knew?
“'You getting the best of them out at the ’Stick means you became one too. They don’t know what you know...'” p. 38 Stick? Now "out in the sticks" I know.
"Jack opened the Prius’s door and got in. He pressed the ignition. The hybrid was so quiet the turning over of the engine didn’t make a sound." p. 94
As a fan of the Prius I approve his choice of automobile, but if the electric motor is running it doesn't make a sound, but the electric motor does not "turn over". The gasoline engine does make some noise.
"'Brad’s one of those guys who waits for his life to start and then realizes at the end he’s already lived it.'" 6 highlights. p 128
Brad is Jack brother-in-law and a full blown loser. But Jack's wife Katy loves him – for reasons unknown. She does not seem to be stupid, otherwise.
"His sense of fair play wasn’t the only reason. It also had to do with an old truism Henri LeConte taught him: you can’t cheat an honest man." 5 highlights. p. 128
Unfortunately not true. LeConte was Jack's conman mentor.
"'I would be dishonest if I said I did not miss the life,' Henri said, his eyes downcast as he scratched the dog’s ears. 'I followed my own advice and got out when I could not play 100 percent anymore. It is a lot better off than old athletes who hang on too long... Y
ou try to tell yourself you still have it, you could still do it, but then you remember the easiest person to con is yourself.'” 8 highlights. p. 144
"'You got to trust me.'
'For how long?'
'Not long. Be patient.'
'Patients are in hospitals,' Jimmie said. 'If I don’t get my chips, you won’t need one.'" 4 highlights. p. 198
Jimmie is only one of the hard-asses that threaten Jack, frequently.
"Mark Twain said the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." 6 highlights. p. 216
This was the funniest thing in the book.
June 18, 2017
If you like Robert Parker or Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiassan, you will absolutely love Dwight Holing's first Jack McCoul mystery; "A Boatload." Jack and Hark are both fantastic characters. The dialogue is snappy and sharp and funny as hell. The writing is very visual and tactile. It pulled me into the story immediately. Every character is interesting and well-defined and the mystery is sufficiently twisty all the way to the end. San Francisco comes off as a fully fleshed out character as well and so does the modern day tech industry. It's gritty and hilarious and surprising, but always believable, with an underlying emotional core that really made me care about the characters. I can't wait to read book two.
May 12, 2018
A light caper in San Francisco has Jack McCoul, a almost x-grifter and now venture capitalist caught in a scheme by a big time millionaire to smuggle in stolen computer chips. When Jack's wife pushes him to help her brother who has cried for help when he gets in trouble with his gambling debts and thinks he is has found a way to cash in on the smuggled chips he find himself up against the millionaire a Chinese Triad family who claim the chips were stolen from them and a local cop, and old school friend who is carrying a grudge because he thinks Jack stole his girl. Lots of back and forth as Jack and a buddy try to help BIL and locate the chips keeps his light tale moving. Not a ad read as light fare goes.
August 12, 2019
This story is about a reformed com man who is always a step ahead of everyone else. He makes all the right moves and it is interesting, however the author spends to many words showing you he knows what he is writing about! Sometimes you get lot in the details and lose sight of the plot. Still it is a good story!
January 3, 2020
Gave it one star more than it deserved because I love stories about con artists. And Jack McCoul is just that. He's given up the grift because of a promise he made his wife. But, he still gets involved in a caper.
What I don't like is characters that are weak and whiny. If you read this, Jack's brother in law fits that description perfectly.
Quick read.
What I don't like is characters that are weak and whiny. If you read this, Jack's brother in law fits that description perfectly.
Quick read.
August 23, 2020
This story just was tedious and repetitive of certain phrases, rather pointless. It might have been the location and topic. I much preferred his three books featuring the game warden. This grifter in San Francisco just didn't appeal to me. There are two more in this series, but I may not read them
November 25, 2020
A good afternoon read
I enjoyed this book. The only critique I have was how did Jack become responsible for acquiring the chips? The beginning scenario was kind of vague as was the immensity of the hustle and the size of the chip shipment. All could have used a little more explaining and clarity.
I enjoyed this book. The only critique I have was how did Jack become responsible for acquiring the chips? The beginning scenario was kind of vague as was the immensity of the hustle and the size of the chip shipment. All could have used a little more explaining and clarity.
February 9, 2021
Wow what a great start to a adventure/mystery series!
Jack is a con man, checked that a con man going legit, for his wife Katie. Katie’s brother isn’t too sharp and gets involved in a criminal enterprise and drags Jack into it as well. That’s is when the the crosses and double crosses and backstabbing starts.
The story takes place in San Francisco and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
Jack is a con man, checked that a con man going legit, for his wife Katie. Katie’s brother isn’t too sharp and gets involved in a criminal enterprise and drags Jack into it as well. That’s is when the the crosses and double crosses and backstabbing starts.
The story takes place in San Francisco and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
February 22, 2025
I picked up this book after plowing through the author's Nick Drake series. It's enjoyable enough but not exactly to my tastes. There's certainly a lot going on and Jack seems to find a lot of trouble. I like his buddy Hark's character quite a bit.
August 25, 2017
A good read. And fun. Some good relationships and dialogue between the principles.
September 27, 2017
A fun caper. I will definitely read more.
September 30, 2017
Good
Good book. Looking forward to others in the series. Since I'm from San Francisco it was fun too read. Enjoy.
Good book. Looking forward to others in the series. Since I'm from San Francisco it was fun too read. Enjoy.
January 29, 2018
Story wise, I would probably give this a four. The writing tripped me up but but not enough to make me stop reading. It’s a PI story without a PI.
August 1, 2018
Great Read!
Exciting & intriguing. Twists and turns. Charismatic characters. This is an excellent first in series book! I will be reading the rest shortly...
Exciting & intriguing. Twists and turns. Charismatic characters. This is an excellent first in series book! I will be reading the rest shortly...
December 11, 2019
Really fun read
This book is very different from his previous Nick Drake books but very clever. Makes me look forward to the next McCoul adventure.
This book is very different from his previous Nick Drake books but very clever. Makes me look forward to the next McCoul adventure.
April 22, 2020
Light and easy fun read!
April 9, 2016
A really well-written, stylish crime caper set in today's San Francisco -- a treat to read.
Jack McCoul is a con man who's promised to go legit to please his wife, a New-Age yoga teacher whom he adores. But his idiot brother-in-law tried to pull a fast one on some Asian gangsters, and now Jack has to return to his slick con-game ways to save said idiot.
Even with back-up provided by his tough Mexican-American Army veteran friend Hark, Jack has to deal with violent thugs, venture capitalists, computer geeks, a grudge-holding police detective, the rich WASP crook whose boatload of illegal cargo is at the center of it all, and, even worse, the Catholic priests who have known Jack since his school days and are still tut-tutting over his failure to follow the rules.
Jack McCoul is a con man who's promised to go legit to please his wife, a New-Age yoga teacher whom he adores. But his idiot brother-in-law tried to pull a fast one on some Asian gangsters, and now Jack has to return to his slick con-game ways to save said idiot.
Even with back-up provided by his tough Mexican-American Army veteran friend Hark, Jack has to deal with violent thugs, venture capitalists, computer geeks, a grudge-holding police detective, the rich WASP crook whose boatload of illegal cargo is at the center of it all, and, even worse, the Catholic priests who have known Jack since his school days and are still tut-tutting over his failure to follow the rules.
July 24, 2014
There are very few books that will grab you from the very beginning, and keep you hooked throughout the duration of the book. This book falls into that category. Mr. Holing wrote a very good, fast-paced, page-turner, that you're going to hate to put down!! His scenic descriptions were so vivid, that I felt as if I were there in California - not only by the water, but in other places as well. I don't give 5-star ratings very often, but this book was so well-written, and so intense, I couldn't see rating it any lower. It was a win on Goodreads, but had no bearing on my review.
July 14, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review - Being a 4th Generation San Franciscan, I love books with its locale. I especially enjoyed this book - not only because it's a really good story and hero - but the street names and locations are CORRECT - I even understand there was probably a good reason for a minor name change of Yacht Club that didn't detract from the book's story at all. Thanks to author, publisher and Amazon for gifting this book - I look forward to reading more from Dwight Holing!
August 26, 2014
This is a supersonic read read about a San Francisco uber hipster dude who just cannot stay away from the criminal elements. Who does have the Chinese chips? Kudos to the yoga instructor wife. Good guys, gangs and coppers. This one takes off at warp nine and keeps you breathless on a wild ride. I want more from this writer. My thanks to the author and Goodreads for a complimentary copy of this book.
May 26, 2016
Funny, fast and great
First book of Dwight Holing I have read. It won't be the last. Good story line and easy read. I really like the characters. A lot of action. Can't wait to start another.
First book of Dwight Holing I have read. It won't be the last. Good story line and easy read. I really like the characters. A lot of action. Can't wait to start another.
April 12, 2016
Fast moving plot & game cast. It's all game - 3-card monte style with lives at stake. Some cussing (mf) otherwise a totally enjoyable romp with a sideline of romance TTS-enabled.
August 24, 2016
Jack gets schooled.
Jack thinks he can get something for nothing. But this time, the scam backfired, he scammed the wrong guy. Now what?
Jack thinks he can get something for nothing. But this time, the scam backfired, he scammed the wrong guy. Now what?
Read
July 22, 2017This was a wonderful read, quick and intense. After having read the other two books in the series (now four), I decided to go back to the beginning to see where it all started. It was interesting to see where Jack, Hark, and the others got their start, but what impressed me most, was how the author, Dwight Holing, developed the series. I've always been impressed with his witty and quirky storytelling that reminds me a lot of Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett. Holing is a brilliant storyteller, whose love for San Francisco is only second to his love for bringing these stories to light.
Read
January 8, 2018A really enthralling thriller that I couldn't put down. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting. A heady mix of Chinese gangsters, dodgy business men, ex convicts and conmen by the score coupled with complex family and friends relationships and a container full of stolen goods. Fast paced, it kept my attention from start to finish with a couple of unexpected twists to add to the story. I would recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews