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Once a Crooked Man
A deliciously quirky crime novel from David McCallum, the beloved actor know for his portrayal of Illya Kuryakin on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard on NCIS.
Crime pays. And pays well.
Sal, Max and Enzo Bruschetti have proved this over a lifetime of nefarious activity that they have kept hidden from law enforcement. Nowhere in any file, on any computer is there a record of anything illegal from which they have profited. But Max has a problem. His body is getting old and his doctor has told him to take it easy. Max has decided that the time has come for the family to retire.
But when young actor Harry Murphy overhears the Bruschetti brothers planning changes to their organization, including the murder of a man in London who knows too much, the Bruschetti's plans begin to unravel.
After Harry makes the well-intentioned if egregious mistake of trying to warn the Bruchetti's intended victim he finds himself alone in a foreign country, on the wrong side of the law, with a suitcase full of cash and a dangerous man on his trail. And while his good looks, charm and cheerful persistence may prove assets in the turbulent events that follow, none of Harry's past roles have prepared him for what happens next.
A turns tense and funny, Once a Crooked Man is infused with the infectious charm that has made David McCallum one of television's longest running, most-beloved stars.
Crime pays. And pays well.
Sal, Max and Enzo Bruschetti have proved this over a lifetime of nefarious activity that they have kept hidden from law enforcement. Nowhere in any file, on any computer is there a record of anything illegal from which they have profited. But Max has a problem. His body is getting old and his doctor has told him to take it easy. Max has decided that the time has come for the family to retire.
But when young actor Harry Murphy overhears the Bruschetti brothers planning changes to their organization, including the murder of a man in London who knows too much, the Bruschetti's plans begin to unravel.
After Harry makes the well-intentioned if egregious mistake of trying to warn the Bruchetti's intended victim he finds himself alone in a foreign country, on the wrong side of the law, with a suitcase full of cash and a dangerous man on his trail. And while his good looks, charm and cheerful persistence may prove assets in the turbulent events that follow, none of Harry's past roles have prepared him for what happens next.
A turns tense and funny, Once a Crooked Man is infused with the infectious charm that has made David McCallum one of television's longest running, most-beloved stars.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2016
209 people are currently reading
1697 people want to read
About the author
David McCallum
42 books56 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author with this name.
David McCallum was a Scottish actor best known for playing Russian spy Illya Kuryakin in the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968) and medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard on NCIS (2003-2023).
In addition to his work as an audio-book narrator, McCallum's debut novel, Once a Crooked Man, was published in 2016.
David McCallum was a Scottish actor best known for playing Russian spy Illya Kuryakin in the television series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968) and medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard on NCIS (2003-2023).
In addition to his work as an audio-book narrator, McCallum's debut novel, Once a Crooked Man, was published in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
February 27, 2017
This is a book I wished I had never read. It sullies the warm feeling of nostalgia I have for David McCullum who played in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. all those years ago. This debut novel might have been better kept in his bottom drawer. I found it to be badly in need of an editor -- not just for some disconcerting typos I didn't expect in a high-profile novel such as this -- but also to cut out the frequent flabbiness of the writing and to point out where characters and storylines stretched credibility. McCullum is no great shakes as a wordsmith, he is a decent storyteller (albeit stuck in the 1970s), I liked the cover on the download site, the blurb hooked me, the opening was promising but it went downhill for me. Three stars. Just.
January 12, 2016
This started out as amusing (think L4yer Cake meets It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World), then jesus all these people are dumb, then McCallum made a choice with a female character that basically made me want to tear out my hair. Gross.
These things aside, there are also some odd turns of phrase that are more appropriate for a British actor of a certain age as opposed to an American in his 30s-40s. "Come off it?" for example. Nope. I love Ducky on NCIS, but this book needs a another few rewrites.
These things aside, there are also some odd turns of phrase that are more appropriate for a British actor of a certain age as opposed to an American in his 30s-40s. "Come off it?" for example. Nope. I love Ducky on NCIS, but this book needs a another few rewrites.
June 4, 2016
Warning: contains spoilers.
I was completely smitten by David McCallum in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., adored him in Sapphire and Steel, queued to get his autograph when he starred in The Lion In Winter, and like him a lot in NCIS. So as a total fan-girl, I was intrigued to see he had written "a deliciously quirky crime novel". I did wonder whether he had written it himself, but I fear he must have done. Our hero is an actor, Harry Murphy, who overhears the mobster Bruschetti brothers planning a hit and, for reasons I still find implausible, decides to use his earnings from a voice-over to fly from New York to London to warn the bloke who's going to be whacked. Being an actor allows him to quote Shakespeare at various points, but there's also a huge amount of exposition throughout, with people explaining things to one another that we already know. And when they're not doing that, they're thinking to themselves. Harry "smiled as he remembered that it all had happened because he had needed to take a leak!"
But what really prevents me finding this book at all entertaining is the female characters. To begin with, they're hookers or women picked up for sex who don't even merit names. Then they're women married to or working for the mobsters who are loyal and supportive but really just there for sex. But a third of the way through, we get feisty kick-ass DS Lizzie Carswell who returns to NYC with Harry, masquerading as his girlfriend. She allows herself to be captured by the mobsters to find out what's going on, although she's so feisty and kick-ass, she could have escaped many times over.
But then mobster Max rapes her in a bondage chamber. "For the first time in her life a man had forced her into submission and dominated her as no other had ever done, and she found the whole experience exhilarating. She had also discovered that she was not the woman she thought she was. All these years of schooling and training were gone in a flash. She had failed, both as a woman and as a police operative." And after he rapes her again, she is so devoted to him that she abandons her job, and by the end of the book is persuading him to invest his ill-gotten gains in a gym: "All the chicks would come by in their skimpies and you could check them out."
McCallum ends with a four-paragraph explanation of the poem "There Was A Crooked Man," largely drawing on Wikipedia. It is supposedly about the 17th century Scottish general Sir Alexander Leslie, who was one of the signatories of the National Covenant. Which is all very interesting, but I'm not sure what it has to do with the price of fish.
I was completely smitten by David McCallum in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., adored him in Sapphire and Steel, queued to get his autograph when he starred in The Lion In Winter, and like him a lot in NCIS. So as a total fan-girl, I was intrigued to see he had written "a deliciously quirky crime novel". I did wonder whether he had written it himself, but I fear he must have done. Our hero is an actor, Harry Murphy, who overhears the mobster Bruschetti brothers planning a hit and, for reasons I still find implausible, decides to use his earnings from a voice-over to fly from New York to London to warn the bloke who's going to be whacked. Being an actor allows him to quote Shakespeare at various points, but there's also a huge amount of exposition throughout, with people explaining things to one another that we already know. And when they're not doing that, they're thinking to themselves. Harry "smiled as he remembered that it all had happened because he had needed to take a leak!"
But what really prevents me finding this book at all entertaining is the female characters. To begin with, they're hookers or women picked up for sex who don't even merit names. Then they're women married to or working for the mobsters who are loyal and supportive but really just there for sex. But a third of the way through, we get feisty kick-ass DS Lizzie Carswell who returns to NYC with Harry, masquerading as his girlfriend. She allows herself to be captured by the mobsters to find out what's going on, although she's so feisty and kick-ass, she could have escaped many times over.
But then mobster Max rapes her in a bondage chamber. "For the first time in her life a man had forced her into submission and dominated her as no other had ever done, and she found the whole experience exhilarating. She had also discovered that she was not the woman she thought she was. All these years of schooling and training were gone in a flash. She had failed, both as a woman and as a police operative." And after he rapes her again, she is so devoted to him that she abandons her job, and by the end of the book is persuading him to invest his ill-gotten gains in a gym: "All the chicks would come by in their skimpies and you could check them out."
McCallum ends with a four-paragraph explanation of the poem "There Was A Crooked Man," largely drawing on Wikipedia. It is supposedly about the 17th century Scottish general Sir Alexander Leslie, who was one of the signatories of the National Covenant. Which is all very interesting, but I'm not sure what it has to do with the price of fish.
May 19, 2016
Great tongue-in cheek mystery written by an actor where the lead character is an actor whose skills keep him alive while bumbling from one mob encounter to another.
With NY mobsters named Bruschetti, and money laundering of Columbian drugs passing through London, our hero Harry Murphy finds himself smuggling millions in US currency back and forth across the Atlantic while being monitored by government agents.
One seemingly unrelated incident leads to a link involving another investigation and puts the entire illegal empire at risk of collapse.
Who says you are ever too old to tackle something new has to read this - David McCallum has proven his new skill as an author is very much alive and well and I am looking forward to more novels by David McCallum!
With NY mobsters named Bruschetti, and money laundering of Columbian drugs passing through London, our hero Harry Murphy finds himself smuggling millions in US currency back and forth across the Atlantic while being monitored by government agents.
One seemingly unrelated incident leads to a link involving another investigation and puts the entire illegal empire at risk of collapse.
Who says you are ever too old to tackle something new has to read this - David McCallum has proven his new skill as an author is very much alive and well and I am looking forward to more novels by David McCallum!
July 12, 2016
Slow, long, trite and boring.
January 26, 2016
An overheard conversation in New York City has struggling actor, Harry Murphy, flying to London to try and prevent a murder. Things turn very complicated, very fast. The mob, cops on both sides of the Atlantic, blackmailed financial adviser, the IRA, and more all combine into a perfect storm of danger.
David McCallum, accomplished actor and musician, adds another title to his CV, author, with this intricate tale that harks back to some of the best caper/crime novels of the past. Harry is a delightful character whose heart is pure gold. His acting background allows him to draw upon his many talents to stay alive. Lizzie Carswell was a most unusual character, very free-wheeling and cocky.
One of the biggest problems that I had was a scene between [SPOILER ALERT] Max and Lizzie. To put it succinctly, Max rapes her. McCallum has Lizzie reluctantly aroused by that act. Maybe that was McCallum prettying it up due to how the two characters wind up, but it is still rape. This scene brought the easy flow of the read to a screeching halt for me. It took some time to get back into it again which is why the rating dropped half a point. I do hope to see more from Harry and a comment on McCallum's Facebook page indicates he might be writing more about the adventures of Harry. 4.5 out of 5.
David McCallum, accomplished actor and musician, adds another title to his CV, author, with this intricate tale that harks back to some of the best caper/crime novels of the past. Harry is a delightful character whose heart is pure gold. His acting background allows him to draw upon his many talents to stay alive. Lizzie Carswell was a most unusual character, very free-wheeling and cocky.
One of the biggest problems that I had was a scene between [SPOILER ALERT] Max and Lizzie. To put it succinctly, Max rapes her. McCallum has Lizzie reluctantly aroused by that act. Maybe that was McCallum prettying it up due to how the two characters wind up, but it is still rape. This scene brought the easy flow of the read to a screeching halt for me. It took some time to get back into it again which is why the rating dropped half a point. I do hope to see more from Harry and a comment on McCallum's Facebook page indicates he might be writing more about the adventures of Harry. 4.5 out of 5.
February 7, 2016
I actually bought a signed copy of this book because it was by David McCallum who was always a favorite of mine as he starred in my favorite 60s show, "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.". I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was. It reminded me of the kind of books that Donald E Westlake and Elmore Leonard wrote or Alfred Hitchcock directed. Crime Fiction where the hero starts out as a "fish out of water" and is thrust into a world he previously knew nothing about. The dialogue is not as crisp as Elmore Leonard or Westlake but the story hooked me and about halfway through the pace picked up and began moving at a frantic rate and I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the story and would definitely read more books by David McCallum. Awesome first book.
September 28, 2017
I got the book because I have always enjoyed the roles McCallum has played on television, especially Ducky in the NCIS series. I wanted to see what kind of writer he would make.
The plot is really fun and different than you see in the current roster of suspense or thrillers. And it keeps adding twists along the way.
The book is an easy read with a very easy writing style. I read it in two days and enjoyed the experience. If you are looking for something a bit different, I would recommend this purely for pleasure.
The plot is really fun and different than you see in the current roster of suspense or thrillers. And it keeps adding twists along the way.
The book is an easy read with a very easy writing style. I read it in two days and enjoyed the experience. If you are looking for something a bit different, I would recommend this purely for pleasure.
February 26, 2016
Awful
Terrible police work. Plot holes. Character inconsistencies. Gratuitous rape scenes. Bizarre case of Stockholm Syndrome involving a character who was raped. Poor dialogue. Stereotypes. (Why was nearly everyone in New York of Italian descent?) Sexist treatment of female characters. Unrealistic depiction of international police cooperation.
Not good at all.
Terrible police work. Plot holes. Character inconsistencies. Gratuitous rape scenes. Bizarre case of Stockholm Syndrome involving a character who was raped. Poor dialogue. Stereotypes. (Why was nearly everyone in New York of Italian descent?) Sexist treatment of female characters. Unrealistic depiction of international police cooperation.
Not good at all.
April 11, 2019
I've been listening to this while walking the dogs over the last week. It's written and read by David McCallum- the actor who plays the Medical Examiner "Duckie" on NCIS. I'll spare you the blow by blow of this book on CD- but l will say it has an intriguing plot line, good characters, good description and a nice plot twist ending that will keep the listener involved from beginning to end.
Well worth your time and effort to listen to.
Well worth your time and effort to listen to.
February 11, 2017
The stories he tells on NCIS makes this book even more. I loved it.
February 22, 2018
Clearly, he is a talented man and handsome, as well! I've enjoyed his characters over the many years with Man from UNCLE, NCIS (current favorite), and others.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. Somewhat disappointed.
The crime family consists of Sal, Enzo and Max Bruschetti, along with their hit man of choice Rocco.
Max is aging and has health problems; his doctor encourages him to slow down and remove stress from his life. I think perhaps McCallum wrote Max out of his own experience. He is an aging man with a poor heart, still attractive to women and looking for a connection and a happy future. He is also ruthless, but loyal to his brothers. He tries to convince them to retire from their life of crime. Then enters Harry Murphy to muddy the water of their retirement.
I could only give the novel two stars because of the of the way the language was depicted. I encourage Mr. McCallum to continue writing, but to attempt to write his female characters with more depth and honesty. Not my favorite book, was somewhat disappointed.
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. Somewhat disappointed.
The crime family consists of Sal, Enzo and Max Bruschetti, along with their hit man of choice Rocco.
Max is aging and has health problems; his doctor encourages him to slow down and remove stress from his life. I think perhaps McCallum wrote Max out of his own experience. He is an aging man with a poor heart, still attractive to women and looking for a connection and a happy future. He is also ruthless, but loyal to his brothers. He tries to convince them to retire from their life of crime. Then enters Harry Murphy to muddy the water of their retirement.
I could only give the novel two stars because of the of the way the language was depicted. I encourage Mr. McCallum to continue writing, but to attempt to write his female characters with more depth and honesty. Not my favorite book, was somewhat disappointed.
February 19, 2016
What starts out as a simple act of help becomes a life-changing event for the protagonist in David McCallum’s ONCE A CROOKED MAN.
To enhance the story even more, it’s narrated by the author himself. McCallum brings his characters to life with great emotion and enthusiasm.
Sal, Max and Enzo Bruschetti have been running their disreputable business enterprises for years. When a health issue sends Max to the hospital, the doctor tells him it’s time to slow down and take life easier. He devises a plan to close some of their dealings and become legit businessmen. There are, however, a few people who will have to be done away with to make this work.
At the moment of the Bruschetti’s deadly discussion, actor Harry Murphy had to answer the call of nature in an alley next to the restaurant where they were meeting. It was just Harry’s luck to be under an open window and hear bits of the conversation.
Later reflecting on what he had heard, Harry decides to try and warn one of the intended victims of what is planned. Harry’s trip to London sets into motion a series of events that sends his life on a path he never imaged and him playing a role that could get him killed.
Mixing mobsters, law enforcement agencies, innocent bystanders and a bag of cash, McCallum has Harry playing out fantasy roles of gangster, spy and hero. Combining the crafty cunningness of a hired killer, the antics of a rogue female cop and the missteps of a want-to-be spy with humor and intrigue makes this a story packed with suspense and lots of surprises.
The story moves at a fast pace holding your attention with its many twists and turns. The characters are quirky, well-developed and easy to like. The setting switches between New York and London with ease.
As the story unfolds, the characters evolve and take on new dimensions giving more depth to the plot. It’s a fascinating story that will keep you guessing right up until the surprise ending.
ONCE A CROOKED MAN may have you rethinking doing a good deed … and then again. Can’t wait to see what Harry gets himself into next.
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.
To enhance the story even more, it’s narrated by the author himself. McCallum brings his characters to life with great emotion and enthusiasm.
Sal, Max and Enzo Bruschetti have been running their disreputable business enterprises for years. When a health issue sends Max to the hospital, the doctor tells him it’s time to slow down and take life easier. He devises a plan to close some of their dealings and become legit businessmen. There are, however, a few people who will have to be done away with to make this work.
At the moment of the Bruschetti’s deadly discussion, actor Harry Murphy had to answer the call of nature in an alley next to the restaurant where they were meeting. It was just Harry’s luck to be under an open window and hear bits of the conversation.
Later reflecting on what he had heard, Harry decides to try and warn one of the intended victims of what is planned. Harry’s trip to London sets into motion a series of events that sends his life on a path he never imaged and him playing a role that could get him killed.
Mixing mobsters, law enforcement agencies, innocent bystanders and a bag of cash, McCallum has Harry playing out fantasy roles of gangster, spy and hero. Combining the crafty cunningness of a hired killer, the antics of a rogue female cop and the missteps of a want-to-be spy with humor and intrigue makes this a story packed with suspense and lots of surprises.
The story moves at a fast pace holding your attention with its many twists and turns. The characters are quirky, well-developed and easy to like. The setting switches between New York and London with ease.
As the story unfolds, the characters evolve and take on new dimensions giving more depth to the plot. It’s a fascinating story that will keep you guessing right up until the surprise ending.
ONCE A CROOKED MAN may have you rethinking doing a good deed … and then again. Can’t wait to see what Harry gets himself into next.
FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.
April 8, 2017
Wow - an extraordinary maelstrom of subterfuge, sex and swearing.
I really enjoyed this book. With twists and turns galore: parts made me gasp in horror, others made me roar with laughter. Fast pace and intricate plot. Interesting and well-developed characters. Fantastic swearing!! (Even taught me a phrase or two - and I could swear for England, believe me)
Mr McCallum's first book is indeed a marvelous demonstration of his ability to create wonderful descriptive prose ingrained with subtle wit and humour, whilst maintaining an exciting pace and intricately woven plot of multiple characters.
I have one comment in respect of the plot and that is the ending between Lizzie and Max. While some have criticised it, I am not so quick to judge or dismiss it. The human psyche is a strange thing and it didn't surprise me that this was her choice. I think that to say this ending was unrealistic is naive to the vagaries of human nature, especially when one thinks of the popularity of books such as the Fifty Shades series or looks to real life where Stockholm Syndrome and Hybristophilia are well researched phemomena.
If I do have a quibble - and it is a very tiny one, it is that if someone in the UK tried to disguise themselves by wearing a bowler hat, they would be noticed by EVERYONE... I don't think city gents have worn bowlers for at least 40 years, so our lad would have stuck out like a sore thumb... but it matters not...
For me, the greatest thing about this book though, is the way it is written. It feels like Mr McCallum is reading it to you. His voice is clear through each phrase, paragraph and page - his intonation, his articulation, his humour all resonate in your head like a great raconteur relating his favourite story. This makes the book all the more enjoyable, as I could listen to David telling stories all day...
In that respect, I really hope that Mr McCallum is now writing his sequel, be it with Harry or some other hopeless sap ;) ... as I can't wait for his next installment.
I really enjoyed this book. With twists and turns galore: parts made me gasp in horror, others made me roar with laughter. Fast pace and intricate plot. Interesting and well-developed characters. Fantastic swearing!! (Even taught me a phrase or two - and I could swear for England, believe me)
Mr McCallum's first book is indeed a marvelous demonstration of his ability to create wonderful descriptive prose ingrained with subtle wit and humour, whilst maintaining an exciting pace and intricately woven plot of multiple characters.
I have one comment in respect of the plot and that is the ending between Lizzie and Max. While some have criticised it, I am not so quick to judge or dismiss it. The human psyche is a strange thing and it didn't surprise me that this was her choice. I think that to say this ending was unrealistic is naive to the vagaries of human nature, especially when one thinks of the popularity of books such as the Fifty Shades series or looks to real life where Stockholm Syndrome and Hybristophilia are well researched phemomena.
If I do have a quibble - and it is a very tiny one, it is that if someone in the UK tried to disguise themselves by wearing a bowler hat, they would be noticed by EVERYONE... I don't think city gents have worn bowlers for at least 40 years, so our lad would have stuck out like a sore thumb... but it matters not...
For me, the greatest thing about this book though, is the way it is written. It feels like Mr McCallum is reading it to you. His voice is clear through each phrase, paragraph and page - his intonation, his articulation, his humour all resonate in your head like a great raconteur relating his favourite story. This makes the book all the more enjoyable, as I could listen to David telling stories all day...
In that respect, I really hope that Mr McCallum is now writing his sequel, be it with Harry or some other hopeless sap ;) ... as I can't wait for his next installment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2016
50 Shades of Confusion. While I love Mr. McCallum, and have since his days playing Ilya Kuriakin, I would advise him not to quit his day job. This story is a combo of mistakes - too many characters who I care nothing about, a family of Mafia who are stereotypically nonentities, a plot that neither makes sense nor leads ANYWHERE, mismatched POV, and paragraphs and paragraphs of telling. Telling, telling, telling some more... Pacing problems. Back and forth flashbacks. Oy.
Harry is likeable. An actor caught up in something bigger than himself. Cool concept that could have been done so much better. As the writer is an actor himself, I'm not surprised that Harry is so good at EVERYTHING - apparently, playing a killer/bomber/spy/etc makes you able to act like one. It's okay. Harry is the only positive aspect of this book, so I'm willing to overlook it.
If this wasn't bad enough, we have a completely useless (to the plot) sex scene where the (spoiler alert) main female, taken hostage, tied up, trying to figure out how to get away from the casually violent and homicidal mafia don is strapped to a bondage table and raped. During this she figures out, wow, how about that? I'm actually totally turned on by angry, nasty, rapists who tie me up! Not since Luke and Laura have I been as disgusted by the notion that a woman falls for her rapist.
I made myself finish this book out of respect for Mr. McCallum. But... no. Nope. Not good.
Harry is likeable. An actor caught up in something bigger than himself. Cool concept that could have been done so much better. As the writer is an actor himself, I'm not surprised that Harry is so good at EVERYTHING - apparently, playing a killer/bomber/spy/etc makes you able to act like one. It's okay. Harry is the only positive aspect of this book, so I'm willing to overlook it.
If this wasn't bad enough, we have a completely useless (to the plot) sex scene where the (spoiler alert) main female, taken hostage, tied up, trying to figure out how to get away from the casually violent and homicidal mafia don is strapped to a bondage table and raped. During this she figures out, wow, how about that? I'm actually totally turned on by angry, nasty, rapists who tie me up! Not since Luke and Laura have I been as disgusted by the notion that a woman falls for her rapist.
I made myself finish this book out of respect for Mr. McCallum. But... no. Nope. Not good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2018
I give this a very hesitant two. It took me over two weeks to read, I just did not find it that engaging. Spelling errors are obviously down to the publisher; but the plot was a bit messy at parts as well. And I hate hate hate what happened to Lizzie and the way the book handled it. Also, Harry seemed a bit of a Gary Stu character and I did not grow to like him much.
I adore David as an actor and will continue to do so; he just doesn't speak to me as an author.
I adore David as an actor and will continue to do so; he just doesn't speak to me as an author.
February 25, 2016
In his first novel, Mr. McCallum star of Man from U.N.C.L.E tv show, The Great Escape and NCIS, gives the readers a solid thriller. A overhear conversation sends the hero, Harry Murphy, into a complex game that involves millions of dollars, murder, sex and retirement.
The plot is filled with twists and turns right up to the final pages.
The plot is filled with twists and turns right up to the final pages.
March 7, 2016
Well, I took another lark. I selected this yarn strictly because if was authored by David McCallum, a/k/a Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard of NCIS fame. I am in a serious minority my rating is not nearly as high as most. This is a semi-lighthearted crime story that I just could not accept as realistic. I was disappointed.
May 16, 2017
Very tongue-in-cheek, lots of fun, some things beyond belief but not annoying in a comedic book. Great job for Illya Kureakin
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2019
Oh dear. What do I say? I read this because I love David McCallum. I do not love thrillers. I do not love this kind of literature, which seems like the book equivalent of soap operas and reality shows. So, I was out of my element reading this. This will be a bitty, stream of consciousness review.
It's probably a good enough book in its genre. I am a book snob. I don't read this genre because I don't enjoy it, it doesn't grip me, there's nothing to make me want to stay the course. I listened to the audiobook, and it took me months to drag myself through, taking breaks frequently. It was a little odd because David McCallum, reading, sounded like my grandpa, but he was swearing, describing sex scenes, and all sorts of things I can't imagine my grandpa ever speaking about.
He's a reasonable writer in the genre, I think. He'd probably get published by a pulp publisher, without the famous name and with a lot of persistence. But the story was by turns dragging, grubby, unbelievable, annoying, and sordid. At one point I started to gain a little interest, but then it waned again. The story goes back and forth and bounces between characters like a squash ball. He tries to describe contemporary British things but doesn't really seem to know about a lot of things that have changed since the 50s.
There were too many characters. I didn't care about a lot of them. I didn't feel a resonance with any of them. A lot of them were cliched. None of them were likable. Many of them were unbelievable.
The rape scene: this has been talked about in the DMcC fandom circles. What do we make of that? A female character is kidnapped, then chained to a bed by her kidnapper, stripped, and raped. During the rape, realises she enjoys it. A little later she steps into the shower and her rapist steps in beside her, stops her getting out, massages her breasts, and takes her from behind against her will. She ends up in a committed long-term relationship with him. Make of that what you will.
If he wrote a sequel I'd probably read it, god help me. That's what fandom does to you. But I won't enjoy it.
It's probably a good enough book in its genre. I am a book snob. I don't read this genre because I don't enjoy it, it doesn't grip me, there's nothing to make me want to stay the course. I listened to the audiobook, and it took me months to drag myself through, taking breaks frequently. It was a little odd because David McCallum, reading, sounded like my grandpa, but he was swearing, describing sex scenes, and all sorts of things I can't imagine my grandpa ever speaking about.
He's a reasonable writer in the genre, I think. He'd probably get published by a pulp publisher, without the famous name and with a lot of persistence. But the story was by turns dragging, grubby, unbelievable, annoying, and sordid. At one point I started to gain a little interest, but then it waned again. The story goes back and forth and bounces between characters like a squash ball. He tries to describe contemporary British things but doesn't really seem to know about a lot of things that have changed since the 50s.
There were too many characters. I didn't care about a lot of them. I didn't feel a resonance with any of them. A lot of them were cliched. None of them were likable. Many of them were unbelievable.
The rape scene: this has been talked about in the DMcC fandom circles. What do we make of that? A female character is kidnapped, then chained to a bed by her kidnapper, stripped, and raped. During the rape, realises she enjoys it. A little later she steps into the shower and her rapist steps in beside her, stops her getting out, massages her breasts, and takes her from behind against her will. She ends up in a committed long-term relationship with him. Make of that what you will.
If he wrote a sequel I'd probably read it, god help me. That's what fandom does to you. But I won't enjoy it.
July 15, 2017
A Westlake type of crime novel. A mafia family wants out of the business, and start taking steps. An under employed actor overhears them and travels to London to stop the killing of one the family's contacts.
Of course, everything goes wrong and gets very complicated.
Not bad, but there's something about it that seems like it was written in the early 70s and slightly updated to make it work today.
Still, I really enjoyed it.
Of course, everything goes wrong and gets very complicated.
Not bad, but there's something about it that seems like it was written in the early 70s and slightly updated to make it work today.
Still, I really enjoyed it.
January 29, 2018
This was a quick read and I did enjoy it. If you like mysteries this one from a man I've had a crush on since I was a teen, is worth the read.
September 23, 2019
I loved this book, and even more because I listened to the audio as read by the author. Author narrations are my favorites, and who doesn't want Ducky to read them a bed time story??
April 22, 2016
★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
If you've read Hugh Laurie's The Gun Seller, Eoin Colfer's Daniel McEvoy books or Elmore Leonard's lighter works (like say, the Chili Palmer books) -- there's a pretty good chance that you'll enjoy this.
Max Bruschetti is a pretty successful organized crime figure, but circumstances have brought Max and his brothers, Enzo and Sal to the point where they've decided to retire, and live off the smart investments made of their ill-gotten gains. There's just a few details to clean up first. By "details" I, of course, mean employees who can testify against them; and by "clean up," I mean "kill."
Harry Murphy, a frequently employed actor and very occasional public unrinator, overhears the Bruschetti brothers making these plans. For reasons beyond my ken, he decides that instead of calling the police, he hops on a plane to London to warn one of the targets.
Things get strange, twisty, turny and out of control from there.
Along the way, Harry meets DS Elizabeth Carswell who accompanies him back to New York to track down the people who sent the killer to England. Lizzie is a great character -- I'd gladly read a series about her (at least her life leading up to the events of this book, I'm not so sure how interested I'd be in what comes after -- but maybe); tough, smart, damaged in the way the best police characters are.
The characters in this book are just great -- even people we meet for just a few pages. There are so many details to some of these characters that we just don't need, and other authors wouldn't bother including. But McCallum does, and I'm so glad he did.
There's one thing that I can't believe an editor let go -- there's a rape scene. I've read worse (i.e., more graphic, violent, horrific, detailed), but it was pretty unnerving -- and an oddly dark turn for this book. But what's worse is the way that the victim reacted -- not immediately, that seemed to line up with reality -- but longer-term, that was just wrong. It was tasteless, questionable in terms of characters, and (at least in the eyes of some) socially irresponsible. I really tarnished the whole book for me (and the more I think about it, the worse it gets -- so I'm moving on).
I wouldn't say that this was funny, but there was a comedic slant to it. Plenty of action, a dash of violence, and plenty of good ol' entertainment bag for your buck. McCallum's got actual writing chops and I hope has another novel up his sleeve -- it's not like Ducky has a lot to do on NCIS anyway, he's got time.
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
If you've read Hugh Laurie's The Gun Seller, Eoin Colfer's Daniel McEvoy books or Elmore Leonard's lighter works (like say, the Chili Palmer books) -- there's a pretty good chance that you'll enjoy this.
Max Bruschetti is a pretty successful organized crime figure, but circumstances have brought Max and his brothers, Enzo and Sal to the point where they've decided to retire, and live off the smart investments made of their ill-gotten gains. There's just a few details to clean up first. By "details" I, of course, mean employees who can testify against them; and by "clean up," I mean "kill."
Harry Murphy, a frequently employed actor and very occasional public unrinator, overhears the Bruschetti brothers making these plans. For reasons beyond my ken, he decides that instead of calling the police, he hops on a plane to London to warn one of the targets.
Things get strange, twisty, turny and out of control from there.
Along the way, Harry meets DS Elizabeth Carswell who accompanies him back to New York to track down the people who sent the killer to England. Lizzie is a great character -- I'd gladly read a series about her (at least her life leading up to the events of this book, I'm not so sure how interested I'd be in what comes after -- but maybe); tough, smart, damaged in the way the best police characters are.
The characters in this book are just great -- even people we meet for just a few pages. There are so many details to some of these characters that we just don't need, and other authors wouldn't bother including. But McCallum does, and I'm so glad he did.
There's one thing that I can't believe an editor let go -- there's a rape scene. I've read worse (i.e., more graphic, violent, horrific, detailed), but it was pretty unnerving -- and an oddly dark turn for this book. But what's worse is the way that the victim reacted -- not immediately, that seemed to line up with reality -- but longer-term, that was just wrong. It was tasteless, questionable in terms of characters, and (at least in the eyes of some) socially irresponsible. I really tarnished the whole book for me (and the more I think about it, the worse it gets -- so I'm moving on).
I wouldn't say that this was funny, but there was a comedic slant to it. Plenty of action, a dash of violence, and plenty of good ol' entertainment bag for your buck. McCallum's got actual writing chops and I hope has another novel up his sleeve -- it's not like Ducky has a lot to do on NCIS anyway, he's got time.
January 17, 2017
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 1.0 of 5
I'm typically not a big fan of actors/celebrities turning to fiction writing, but I've enjoyed David McCallum's acting work since his days on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and again more recently with N.C.I.S. and I was really hoping to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I didn't.
Harry Murphy is a talented actor who gets caught up with a group of aging mobsters who have planned one final hit before hoping to retire quietly. Harry tries to warn the intended victim, but this leads to even more danger and Harry will have to rely on his acting skills to get himself through the perilous situation.
It's an interesting idea, but McCallum shows that he doesn't have a background writing mystery/thrillers. The book is unnecessarily complicated, the characters don't really set themselves apart and the story is filled with non-essential moments. One of the most obvious non-essential moments would be the inclusion of a gratuitous sex scene. Actually...it's not just sex, but rape. And what's more ... the woman loves it. So much so that she completes falls in love with her rapist.
I like a little bit of sex in my fiction - it can be a nice way to spice things up, but I did not enjoy this. Maybe it's just me, but there was nothing sexy or erotic about this and it did not advance the plot. This made it feel like a throw-back to the dime novels of the 1950's.
The story just seemed to go on and on. I was bored early and it was a struggle to keep reading. The character of Harry was interesting but I was still never drawn to him and I never understood his motivation for anything he did.
I had really hoped I would enjoy this work, but it was sadly one of the worst things I've slogged through this year.
Looking for a good book? David McCallum's Once a Crooked Man isn't even close.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I'm typically not a big fan of actors/celebrities turning to fiction writing, but I've enjoyed David McCallum's acting work since his days on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and again more recently with N.C.I.S. and I was really hoping to enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I didn't.
Harry Murphy is a talented actor who gets caught up with a group of aging mobsters who have planned one final hit before hoping to retire quietly. Harry tries to warn the intended victim, but this leads to even more danger and Harry will have to rely on his acting skills to get himself through the perilous situation.
It's an interesting idea, but McCallum shows that he doesn't have a background writing mystery/thrillers. The book is unnecessarily complicated, the characters don't really set themselves apart and the story is filled with non-essential moments. One of the most obvious non-essential moments would be the inclusion of a gratuitous sex scene. Actually...it's not just sex, but rape. And what's more ... the woman loves it. So much so that she completes falls in love with her rapist.
I like a little bit of sex in my fiction - it can be a nice way to spice things up, but I did not enjoy this. Maybe it's just me, but there was nothing sexy or erotic about this and it did not advance the plot. This made it feel like a throw-back to the dime novels of the 1950's.
The story just seemed to go on and on. I was bored early and it was a struggle to keep reading. The character of Harry was interesting but I was still never drawn to him and I never understood his motivation for anything he did.
I had really hoped I would enjoy this work, but it was sadly one of the worst things I've slogged through this year.
Looking for a good book? David McCallum's Once a Crooked Man isn't even close.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2017
What would you do if you had information that someone was going to get killed? That is the situation Harry is in. Harry lived a normal life in New York, he went from acting job to acting job and wasn't doing so well. He over heard the Bruschetti`s plan to go clean involved killing a few people like Villier.
I like this book because it was the perfect blend of suspense/thriller. I also like how the characters had there own personality their own mannerisms. No one character was like the other. But, I didn't like the beginning it was very confusing to follow, but after that it follow a somewhat order of people. Let us say that such and such a person helped someone not get killed the next section would be from the killers or the person who hired the killers perspective.
Over all it was a very good book I would recommend for people who like suspense/thriller and young adults or adults
I like this book because it was the perfect blend of suspense/thriller. I also like how the characters had there own personality their own mannerisms. No one character was like the other. But, I didn't like the beginning it was very confusing to follow, but after that it follow a somewhat order of people. Let us say that such and such a person helped someone not get killed the next section would be from the killers or the person who hired the killers perspective.
Over all it was a very good book I would recommend for people who like suspense/thriller and young adults or adults
December 30, 2015
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC of this book.
I found the book an unexpected delight. It was more than I expected
from an actor turned author though maybe he learned all about the
plot of the book from his years as an actor. The book is well written
with a well crafted story. The twists and turns of the plot keep one
engaged for the entirety of the book. Certainly it could not happen
in real life but it is easy to suspend disbelief and totally enjoy the
read.
I found the book an unexpected delight. It was more than I expected
from an actor turned author though maybe he learned all about the
plot of the book from his years as an actor. The book is well written
with a well crafted story. The twists and turns of the plot keep one
engaged for the entirety of the book. Certainly it could not happen
in real life but it is easy to suspend disbelief and totally enjoy the
read.
April 28, 2016
I first saw this book on audible and thought that it would be great if it was read by the author, but then, for one reason or another I ended up reading it on my kindle app.... Have to admit that it was ok for a first novel, not wonderful, but all right. Would have been better if I had gotten the audio instead, because, after all it is David McCallum reading it. Will be interesting to see if he does a followup. <><
July 6, 2016
I had a tough time keeping the characters straight, and the book didn't hold my interest. I also had a really hard time believing the one character ended up in a relationship with her captor/rapist. Yeah right! It was rape, and it bothered me that it was written in such a way that she seemed to enjoy it. Ugh! I love the author's work as an actor on NCIS, but writing is not his strength.
February 8, 2016
I was delighted to receive an advance reader's copy from the GoodReads giveaway.
Engaging characters.
Convoluted but mostly plausible plot.
Satisfying outcome, with unexpected twists.
Way to go, Ducky!
Engaging characters.
Convoluted but mostly plausible plot.
Satisfying outcome, with unexpected twists.
Way to go, Ducky!
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