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Little Criminals
Justin and Angela Kennedy have money, love, children and a limitless future. Jo-Jo Mackendrick is a pillar of Dublin gangland society; a man determined that nothing will endanger his hard-earned supremacy. Into their lives come Frankie Crowe, an ambitious criminal tired of risking his life for small change. Kidnap could be the first step on his climb to a better life, and he knows just the kind of dangerous men to make it happen...
Paperback
First published May 5, 2005
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About the author
Gene Kerrigan
17 books40 followersGene Kerrigan is an Irish journalist and novelist who grew up in Cabra in Dublin. His works include political commentary on Ireland since the 1970s in such publications as Magill magazine and the Sunday Independent newspaper. He has also written about Ireland for International Socialism magazine. He was chosen as World Journalist of the Year in 1985 and 1990, and has written books, including fiction and non-fiction. His book The Rage won the 2012 Gold Dagger for the best crime novel of the year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 7, 2013
This was just a fabulous read -- if you like crime-fiction, it's 5++ stars
March 3, 2019
Little Criminals is a cracking read and a lesson in how write all tell and no show, using tight, sparse, expressive prose. There isn’t a single sentence that doesn’t propel the story forward. Rather than following one person, Kerrigan shifts the point of view, telling different elements of the story from the perspective of a handful of characters, principally the main criminal Frankie Crowe, his reluctant sidekick, Martin Paxton, kidnap victim Angela Kennedy, and copper John Grace. The characterisation is excellent, with each character's back story, neatly and efficiently set out, with a series of wonderful scenes and realistic dialogue. The plot is tight and gripping. There is no real mystery element to the story, nor unlikely coincidences or melodrama, instead it simply charts how the Crowe’s attempt at making the big time unfolds, which in and of itself is highly compelling. The whole book is wonderfully evocative of Dublin before the crash, colliding together the worlds of criminal gangs and the corporate elite. Overall, an excellent tale, very well told. Highly recommended.
February 10, 2013
Really could not stop reading this book, I lost sleep over it and finished in 24 hours. The picture of modern day Ireland is chilling, the mind set of the small-time criminals is convincing, the author's characters come alive. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
October 3, 2025
Le daría dos estrellas y media para no suspenderlo porque refleja bien la Irlanda criminal de la época, pero, si tengo que elegir entre dos y tres estrellas, no hay otra que elegir dos. Casi todos los personajes se quedan a medio camino en su construcción y a veces siento que se pierde en contar trasfondos que no aportan ni nada relevante, ni ritmo.
May 24, 2020
Esta no me ha parecido "una novela negra más". Todo comienza de una manera más bien trillada, los personajes se presentan, tienen su pequeño background y la trama en sí avanza de forma "normal". Con interés, eso sí, pero nada que se salga excesivamente.
Pero lo cierto es que una vez sobrepasada la primera mitad del libro CRECE, los personajes se definen, las historias secundarias se vuelven más interesantes, la violencia -es un libro violento y con escenas muy crudas- aparece de forma desgarradora. Un libro que te mantiene expectante y tenso y que te hace preguntarte por el sentido de lo que ocurre y el destino de sus personajes.
Recomendable, otro gran acierto de Sajalín.
Pero lo cierto es que una vez sobrepasada la primera mitad del libro CRECE, los personajes se definen, las historias secundarias se vuelven más interesantes, la violencia -es un libro violento y con escenas muy crudas- aparece de forma desgarradora. Un libro que te mantiene expectante y tenso y que te hace preguntarte por el sentido de lo que ocurre y el destino de sus personajes.
Recomendable, otro gran acierto de Sajalín.
August 17, 2022
Novela negra con trasfondo social donde unos criminales de poca monta deciden dar un golpe que, desde el principio, les viene grande: el secuestro del que creen un acaudalado banquero de Dublín. Ágil, seca, angustiosa. Otro acierto de Sajalín editores.
October 16, 2021
Viiest pisisulist koosnev punt haub plaani, kuidas inimrööviga kiiresti rikkaks saada. Kamba ninamees on jõhker Frankie, kes on neist kõige ambitsoonikam kurikael ning ei pea valeks oma eesmärkide saavutamiseks ka vägivalda kasutada. Inimröövi ohvriks langeb ärinõustaja Justini abikaasa Angela, kelle eest nõutakse esialgu üks ja hiljem juba kaks miljonit naela lunaraha. Kurikaelad pole aga kõige osavamad pahalased ja paljud asjad veavad viltu.
Raamatus on veidi kirjeldatud ka politseiuurijate vaatevinklit, ent põhirõhk on siiski inimröövlite tegevustel.
Paraku ei tekkinud mul ühegi tegelase vastu mitte mingeid emotsioone, tegelaskujud kippusid omavahel sassi minema ja kogu teose stiil polnud mulle meelepärane. Kahtlustan, et kohati mängisid rolli ka kirjavead ja konarlik tõlge.
Raamatus on veidi kirjeldatud ka politseiuurijate vaatevinklit, ent põhirõhk on siiski inimröövlite tegevustel.
Paraku ei tekkinud mul ühegi tegelase vastu mitte mingeid emotsioone, tegelaskujud kippusid omavahel sassi minema ja kogu teose stiil polnud mulle meelepärane. Kahtlustan, et kohati mängisid rolli ka kirjavead ja konarlik tõlge.
January 3, 2009
Little Criminal Minds, August 16, 2008
"Once in a while you come across a book that delivers a blow to the guts, and very occasionally a kick to the arse as well. Gene Kerrigan's LITTLE CRIMINALS is such a book." WR Burnett
Harte's Cross, a small town outside of Dublin, is the home to a small time hoodlum, Frankie Crowe. Frankie has always wanted the easy way, it seems. He left home after his family reported him to the local Garda, Ireland's National Police Service. Ever since he has been on the lam or loosely involved in someone else's capers. Now, he has decided that he wants to commit a large enough crime to set him up for life. He sets his sights on kidnapping a prosperous lawyer, Justin Kennedy. Frankie has old friends who join his 'crew' and the plans are set. Frankie, who has a short fuse, settles differences with Jo Jo, a criminal mentor, when JOJO disagrees with Frankie's plans. This sets in motion a plan and plot that interests the garda. As all plans go awry when not well thought out, Frankie discovers that the better plan is to kidnap Kennedy's wife Angela. One thing leads to another and one of the most exciting and well written crime novels moves ahead.
Gene Kerrigan gives close attention to his characters. They are brought to life with exacting detail and we get to know them. To like them, is another matter, but we care. Besides his crew, we learn about Frankie's ex-wife and child, some of the towns people and, most of all the police. The upper echelons and the lower ranks. Caught in the middle is John Grace, an honest detective. "He had mastered the methodical routine of detective work and was sure of his abilities as a supervisor of those beneath him on the ladder. Those talents got him to a respectable level, at which he lingered." Because Grace knows Frankie, he is brought into assist the police in an in-depth analysis of Frankie and his crew.
The rest of the book plays out the story of the kidnap from the viewpoint of all the gang members and those affected by the crime. It is a mesmerizing glimpse into modern day Ireland, where the Church has little say and the young 'want what they want' as quickly as possible, paying little attention to the customs of yore. Past tragedies and dreams collide, and we have a glimpse into the world of the criminals and those lives that they shatter.
Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 08-16-08
"Once in a while you come across a book that delivers a blow to the guts, and very occasionally a kick to the arse as well. Gene Kerrigan's LITTLE CRIMINALS is such a book." WR Burnett
Harte's Cross, a small town outside of Dublin, is the home to a small time hoodlum, Frankie Crowe. Frankie has always wanted the easy way, it seems. He left home after his family reported him to the local Garda, Ireland's National Police Service. Ever since he has been on the lam or loosely involved in someone else's capers. Now, he has decided that he wants to commit a large enough crime to set him up for life. He sets his sights on kidnapping a prosperous lawyer, Justin Kennedy. Frankie has old friends who join his 'crew' and the plans are set. Frankie, who has a short fuse, settles differences with Jo Jo, a criminal mentor, when JOJO disagrees with Frankie's plans. This sets in motion a plan and plot that interests the garda. As all plans go awry when not well thought out, Frankie discovers that the better plan is to kidnap Kennedy's wife Angela. One thing leads to another and one of the most exciting and well written crime novels moves ahead.
Gene Kerrigan gives close attention to his characters. They are brought to life with exacting detail and we get to know them. To like them, is another matter, but we care. Besides his crew, we learn about Frankie's ex-wife and child, some of the towns people and, most of all the police. The upper echelons and the lower ranks. Caught in the middle is John Grace, an honest detective. "He had mastered the methodical routine of detective work and was sure of his abilities as a supervisor of those beneath him on the ladder. Those talents got him to a respectable level, at which he lingered." Because Grace knows Frankie, he is brought into assist the police in an in-depth analysis of Frankie and his crew.
The rest of the book plays out the story of the kidnap from the viewpoint of all the gang members and those affected by the crime. It is a mesmerizing glimpse into modern day Ireland, where the Church has little say and the young 'want what they want' as quickly as possible, paying little attention to the customs of yore. Past tragedies and dreams collide, and we have a glimpse into the world of the criminals and those lives that they shatter.
Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 08-16-08
May 24, 2010
RATING: 2.75
Frankie Crowe is a small-time hood planning a big-time score. He's served some time for some minor infractions (and lost his family as a result)—now he's ready to take things to the next level, to do a job that has a big pay-off and forget about the penny ante stuff he did in the past. He's done some research and determined that the crime that will provide the maximum return for the least amount of effort is to kidnap a wealthy individual and demand a ransom. He figures that a successful banker would make a perfect target; it is likely that they would have the contacts who could gather up large sums of money very quickly.
Frankie forms a gang of his past associates with useful skills, and the game is on. There's only one problem which is discovered when they go to make the snatch—the intended victim, Justin Kennedy, is not a banker at all but rather deals in the financial industry. Although wealthy, he doesn't have ready access to lots of cash. So the plan changes; Frankie feels that by kidnapping Justin's wife, Angela, instead, they're more likely to ensure that the ransom will be paid.
In spite of everything, the best-laid plans tend to go awry and that's definitely what happens here. Small mistakes lead to big consequences. It doesn't take long before the police have identified most of the players in the scheme. They're soon doing a lot of damage control, and things get out of hand, with death and chaos the rule of the day.
I found a surprising lack of dramatic tension in the book. It took a very long time for the whole set-up of the crime; there wasn't really much action once the kidnapping occurred. There was only one character in the whole book who was interesting to me (one of the criminal gang); I didn't really care about anyone else and didn't find any of them to be fully developed. The idea for the resolution of the book was a good one; however, just as in the opening, it took far too long for Kerrigan to set up the premise and included a whole lengthy narrative thread of dubious value.
I very much enjoyed Kerrigan's second book, THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR, but can't say the same for LITTLE CRIMINALS. About the only thing that they have in common is that they are both set in Ireland.
Frankie Crowe is a small-time hood planning a big-time score. He's served some time for some minor infractions (and lost his family as a result)—now he's ready to take things to the next level, to do a job that has a big pay-off and forget about the penny ante stuff he did in the past. He's done some research and determined that the crime that will provide the maximum return for the least amount of effort is to kidnap a wealthy individual and demand a ransom. He figures that a successful banker would make a perfect target; it is likely that they would have the contacts who could gather up large sums of money very quickly.
Frankie forms a gang of his past associates with useful skills, and the game is on. There's only one problem which is discovered when they go to make the snatch—the intended victim, Justin Kennedy, is not a banker at all but rather deals in the financial industry. Although wealthy, he doesn't have ready access to lots of cash. So the plan changes; Frankie feels that by kidnapping Justin's wife, Angela, instead, they're more likely to ensure that the ransom will be paid.
In spite of everything, the best-laid plans tend to go awry and that's definitely what happens here. Small mistakes lead to big consequences. It doesn't take long before the police have identified most of the players in the scheme. They're soon doing a lot of damage control, and things get out of hand, with death and chaos the rule of the day.
I found a surprising lack of dramatic tension in the book. It took a very long time for the whole set-up of the crime; there wasn't really much action once the kidnapping occurred. There was only one character in the whole book who was interesting to me (one of the criminal gang); I didn't really care about anyone else and didn't find any of them to be fully developed. The idea for the resolution of the book was a good one; however, just as in the opening, it took far too long for Kerrigan to set up the premise and included a whole lengthy narrative thread of dubious value.
I very much enjoyed Kerrigan's second book, THE MIDNIGHT CHOIR, but can't say the same for LITTLE CRIMINALS. About the only thing that they have in common is that they are both set in Ireland.
December 28, 2014
Frankie Crowe is a 'little criminal', a guy who wants to do things quickly, has a trigger temper and a great amount of rage inside of him. He's been in jail and, up till the present time during Ireland's economic boom, he's been involved in mostly petty stuff. He decides that he wants a bigger piece of the pie and puts together a plan, a team, and goes for it.
To start off, he wants the okay of his mentor, Jo-Jo, the old world Godfather. Jo-jo thinks that Frankie's plan is bogus and tells him that it's not in his league. Frankie freaks out and murders Jo-Jo, his bodyguard, and his mother in a terrible bloodbath.
Frankie postpones his plans for about a week but then he decides to go through with kidnaping who he thinks is the head of a bank. In Frankie's mind, the head of a bank has easy access to money. What Frankie finds out in the course of the kidnapping, is that Kennedy is not the head of the bank. He is a consultant who puts primarily land deals together and one of the deals he was involved in two years ago was with a bank. Frankie takes Angela, Kennedy's wife, hostage, and asks for a million dollars. He and his crew take Angela to a warehouse where they intend to wait just a couple of days until Kennedy delivers the money.
Meanwhile, other things transpire, well outside of anything that is within Frankie's imagination.
The book is solidly written and plotted out. However, what keeps it from being a five star for me is that my interest wavered from time to time and I didn't care enough about Frankie and his gang. Frankie is well-characterized but his thugs are more caricatures. I like Kerrigan's writing and have read several of his other books. This is not his best.
To start off, he wants the okay of his mentor, Jo-Jo, the old world Godfather. Jo-jo thinks that Frankie's plan is bogus and tells him that it's not in his league. Frankie freaks out and murders Jo-Jo, his bodyguard, and his mother in a terrible bloodbath.
Frankie postpones his plans for about a week but then he decides to go through with kidnaping who he thinks is the head of a bank. In Frankie's mind, the head of a bank has easy access to money. What Frankie finds out in the course of the kidnapping, is that Kennedy is not the head of the bank. He is a consultant who puts primarily land deals together and one of the deals he was involved in two years ago was with a bank. Frankie takes Angela, Kennedy's wife, hostage, and asks for a million dollars. He and his crew take Angela to a warehouse where they intend to wait just a couple of days until Kennedy delivers the money.
Meanwhile, other things transpire, well outside of anything that is within Frankie's imagination.
The book is solidly written and plotted out. However, what keeps it from being a five star for me is that my interest wavered from time to time and I didn't care enough about Frankie and his gang. Frankie is well-characterized but his thugs are more caricatures. I like Kerrigan's writing and have read several of his other books. This is not his best.
May 7, 2014
As a McKeon, I might be prejudiced towards these fine writers of crime fiction from Ireland. Kerrigan is not only a gifted writer, but he's able to construct a plot so compelling, complex and satisfying, that it is nearly impossible to put the book down. From page one we're drawn into the imperfect lives and worlds of the criminals and their victims, vacillating between whom we should be pulling for. I'm glad I have just begun to read Kerrigan's books and that there are many more ahead of me.
April 11, 2020
Los sajalines no defraudan. Conocí a Gene Kerrigan con el Coro de medianoche y este libro, q es anterior, es muy bueno. Narra la historia de un delincuente y sus aspiraciones a convertirse en gangster. La muerte de Jo-Jo es un giro inesperado así como lo que ocurre al final, que me parece de lo mejor del libro.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2016
Wow, another lovely violent page turner from Gene Kerrigan. I'm looking forward to the Rage. Little Criminals is great to read in the ebook format so you can look up the Irish gangster slang as you're reading.
April 13, 2019
Kerrigan, like Alan Parks and Denise Mina, is among the best of the Irish/Scots?British noirs!
September 1, 2020
Couldn't finished written in strange way
February 13, 2021
"Pisisulid" on iiri kirjanik Gene Kerrigani raamat. Ta on kirjutanud palju aimekirjandust, aga ka krimkat, mida siis see raamat siin esindab. Stiililiselt on see raamat (ning väidetavalt kogu Kerrigani looming) natuke teistsugune nagu "tavaline" krimka, millesugustest letid lookas on, kuna "igaüks on kirjanik".
Et kõik ausalt ära rääkida, nagu oli, pean ma alustama sellest lõkkeõhtust, kus meil oli külas kirjanik. St ei, see oli üks teine raamat... aga "Pisisulidega" oli see lugu, et alguses venis see mu jaoks nagu ma ei tea, mis asi. Kusagil kaheksakümnendal leheküljel otsustasin, et kui nüüd varsti huvitavaks ei lähe, siis sirvin veerand tunniga kiirelt lõpuni, et saada aru, mis sellest kõigest siis sai, ja sinna see raamat must jääb. Aga - siis käis varsti "klõps" ning kogu see värk loksus paika, raamat sai minu silmis elu sisse ning masinavärk läks käima!
Tõesti, alguses (ning tegelikult lõpupoole ka mõnikümmend lehekülge - aga selleks ajaks olin juba end ette valmistanud) oli sellest kõigest sarnane mulje nagu Dicki "Mees kõrgel lossis" raamatuga. Autor lendab tegelaste kohal ringi ning kasutab "kaamera lahti, kaamera kinni" võtet. Pildike siit, kaader sealt - aga milleks, miks? Mis selle taga on? Mida Sa, hea autor, selle kõigega ütelda tahad? Kui Dickiga jäigi minu jaoks see kõik nõrgaks, lodevaks ja tüütuks, siis Kerrigan ühel hetkel tõmbab juuksekarvad patsi kokku ning mulle hakkas see kõik kohe meeldima. Väga.
Raamat räägib siis jah pisisulidest. Sisust ei tahagi rääkida, sellest on tagakaanel ja mujal juttu, kui on soovi siis tutvutagu. On kurjategijad, on garda'd ehk siis iiri politseinikud. On tavalised inimesed ning kõik nende vahel on Lugu, mida autor meile pajatab. Ei ole selle olemus midagi uut ja põrutavat seega - las ta olla. Selline hea, mõnus, korralik sisu siis.
Mis teeb raamatu mu silmis teistest krimkadest erinevaks, on autori viis tegelasi voolida. Kõik need tegelinskid on sellised päris tüübid, pole viskimaiad 'meerika eravõmmid ega põhjamaised ülitumedad politseinikud. Ühel ja teiselpoole rindejoont on tavalised inimesed, ühed on lihtsalt otsustanud valida kõvera tee ning mis seal salata, eks on nende kujunemisloos ka tibake põhjust, kas siis keskkonnas või pereringis. Või mõlemis. Aga igaljuhul on nad sinu naabrid, sinu töökaaslased. Sama on ka politseinikega, kes taaskord teevad oma tööd, kõnnivad enda valitud elurada mööda.
Mingi hetk ongi päris küüniline - või siis realistlik, oleneb, kust otsast seda elevanti katsuda - arutelu, et politseinikud teavad kõik väga hästi, et ega nad midagi paremaks ei tee. Et kui saad kütusevargad enda kontsa alla surutud, siis hakatakse seksi vahendama. Kui narkootikume mingil määral konfiskeerid, siis hakatakse katust pakkuma. Et mingisugune kuritegevuse foon on ja jääb, õigusemõistjad ei muuda päeva lõpuks suurt midagi, peale teatud taseme hoidmise.
Või tavakodanikud, taas üllatavalt pragmaatilised. Pika-ajaline abielu, mees ikka vahel vaatab ringi ja on kõrvalsuhteid. Ta armastav abikaasa teab seda, lepib ja on isegi õnnelik, sest mees kodus olles armastab ja hoiab teda, mängib lastega ja on peres kogu aeg kohal. Sest kokkuvõttes on ju kasud sees ning see kõik on üks osa paketist.
Tehniliselt jäi mulle silma hämmastavalt palju (kirja)vigu. Mingi hetk hakkasin neid isegi järjest kirja panema, aga ühel hetkel loobusin, kui juba viis tükki kirjas oli ja raamat polnud veel poole pealgi (kokku tuli midagi viieteist kanti vast). Raamatul on ka täiesti toimetaja olemas, lisaks mitmed vead olid sellised, mille suvaline speller kinni püüab. Et noh, ma ei saa sellest aru... lugemist ei seganud aga natuke kriipis küll.
Kokkuvõttes mõnus raamat, hea lugeda. Kui keegi veel minuga sarnaselt raamatu alguses on kõhkleval seisukohal siis - andke natuke autorile aega, varsti ta tõmbab kogu värgi kenasti keskpõrandale kokku.
Et kõik ausalt ära rääkida, nagu oli, pean ma alustama sellest lõkkeõhtust, kus meil oli külas kirjanik. St ei, see oli üks teine raamat... aga "Pisisulidega" oli see lugu, et alguses venis see mu jaoks nagu ma ei tea, mis asi. Kusagil kaheksakümnendal leheküljel otsustasin, et kui nüüd varsti huvitavaks ei lähe, siis sirvin veerand tunniga kiirelt lõpuni, et saada aru, mis sellest kõigest siis sai, ja sinna see raamat must jääb. Aga - siis käis varsti "klõps" ning kogu see värk loksus paika, raamat sai minu silmis elu sisse ning masinavärk läks käima!
Tõesti, alguses (ning tegelikult lõpupoole ka mõnikümmend lehekülge - aga selleks ajaks olin juba end ette valmistanud) oli sellest kõigest sarnane mulje nagu Dicki "Mees kõrgel lossis" raamatuga. Autor lendab tegelaste kohal ringi ning kasutab "kaamera lahti, kaamera kinni" võtet. Pildike siit, kaader sealt - aga milleks, miks? Mis selle taga on? Mida Sa, hea autor, selle kõigega ütelda tahad? Kui Dickiga jäigi minu jaoks see kõik nõrgaks, lodevaks ja tüütuks, siis Kerrigan ühel hetkel tõmbab juuksekarvad patsi kokku ning mulle hakkas see kõik kohe meeldima. Väga.
Raamat räägib siis jah pisisulidest. Sisust ei tahagi rääkida, sellest on tagakaanel ja mujal juttu, kui on soovi siis tutvutagu. On kurjategijad, on garda'd ehk siis iiri politseinikud. On tavalised inimesed ning kõik nende vahel on Lugu, mida autor meile pajatab. Ei ole selle olemus midagi uut ja põrutavat seega - las ta olla. Selline hea, mõnus, korralik sisu siis.
Mis teeb raamatu mu silmis teistest krimkadest erinevaks, on autori viis tegelasi voolida. Kõik need tegelinskid on sellised päris tüübid, pole viskimaiad 'meerika eravõmmid ega põhjamaised ülitumedad politseinikud. Ühel ja teiselpoole rindejoont on tavalised inimesed, ühed on lihtsalt otsustanud valida kõvera tee ning mis seal salata, eks on nende kujunemisloos ka tibake põhjust, kas siis keskkonnas või pereringis. Või mõlemis. Aga igaljuhul on nad sinu naabrid, sinu töökaaslased. Sama on ka politseinikega, kes taaskord teevad oma tööd, kõnnivad enda valitud elurada mööda.
Mingi hetk ongi päris küüniline - või siis realistlik, oleneb, kust otsast seda elevanti katsuda - arutelu, et politseinikud teavad kõik väga hästi, et ega nad midagi paremaks ei tee. Et kui saad kütusevargad enda kontsa alla surutud, siis hakatakse seksi vahendama. Kui narkootikume mingil määral konfiskeerid, siis hakatakse katust pakkuma. Et mingisugune kuritegevuse foon on ja jääb, õigusemõistjad ei muuda päeva lõpuks suurt midagi, peale teatud taseme hoidmise.
Või tavakodanikud, taas üllatavalt pragmaatilised. Pika-ajaline abielu, mees ikka vahel vaatab ringi ja on kõrvalsuhteid. Ta armastav abikaasa teab seda, lepib ja on isegi õnnelik, sest mees kodus olles armastab ja hoiab teda, mängib lastega ja on peres kogu aeg kohal. Sest kokkuvõttes on ju kasud sees ning see kõik on üks osa paketist.
Tehniliselt jäi mulle silma hämmastavalt palju (kirja)vigu. Mingi hetk hakkasin neid isegi järjest kirja panema, aga ühel hetkel loobusin, kui juba viis tükki kirjas oli ja raamat polnud veel poole pealgi (kokku tuli midagi viieteist kanti vast). Raamatul on ka täiesti toimetaja olemas, lisaks mitmed vead olid sellised, mille suvaline speller kinni püüab. Et noh, ma ei saa sellest aru... lugemist ei seganud aga natuke kriipis küll.
Kokkuvõttes mõnus raamat, hea lugeda. Kui keegi veel minuga sarnaselt raamatu alguses on kõhkleval seisukohal siis - andke natuke autorile aega, varsti ta tõmbab kogu värgi kenasti keskpõrandale kokku.
January 2, 2019
Last year I picked up Kerrigan's "The Midnight Choir" and loved it -- so I was pleased to see his earlier crime novel finally become available here in the U.S. The Irish journalist's style is very reminiscent of Bill James' Harpur & Iles series -- straight police and thieves procedurals written to show both sides of a crime. The story here revolves around Frankie Crowe, a second-tier Dublin hoodlum with delusions of the big time. He's put a crew together to kidnap a wealthy banker and hold him for the kind of ransom that will allow Frankie and his fellow "little criminals" to never have to pull another job again.
Like Bill James' "Take," the story delves deep into the details of how Frankie assembles his team, plans and executes the job, as well as the psychology of Frankie and his associates. It's this attention to motivation and background that gives the book real depth and substance. Alas, Frankie's careful planning proves to be somewhat fallible, as his target turns out to not quite who Frankie believes him to be, leading to a hasty change of plans. The police don't make their entrance until quite late in the story, after the kidnapping has occurred. DI Grace knows all the small-time faces, and is brought in to help the high profile task force that's been assembled to respond to the crime. The final portion of the book is immensely satisfying, as both sides of the law blunder their way to a final confrontation.
Like the best American crime writers (Elmore Leonard, George Pelecanos, etc.), Kerrigan's got the chops when it comes to realistic dialogue. And like many journalists who turn their hand to fiction, he's able to organically weave plenty of local color and detail into his story, bringing to the new Dublin to life. Beyond the satisfaction of a well-told crime story, the plot acts as a commentary on the impact of the booming Irish economy on expectations. Those of all backgrounds feel entitled to a slice of the megamoney being invested in Ireland -- whether by hook or by crook. This new worldview is further highlighted by a slightly awkward framing device which opens and closes the book. As the book opens we meet an elderly man (who represents old world honor) who is determined to rid the world of Frankie, and then at the end of the book we learn why. This book and "The Midnight Choir", mark Kerrigan as a writer whose books I will eagerly anticipate.
Like Bill James' "Take," the story delves deep into the details of how Frankie assembles his team, plans and executes the job, as well as the psychology of Frankie and his associates. It's this attention to motivation and background that gives the book real depth and substance. Alas, Frankie's careful planning proves to be somewhat fallible, as his target turns out to not quite who Frankie believes him to be, leading to a hasty change of plans. The police don't make their entrance until quite late in the story, after the kidnapping has occurred. DI Grace knows all the small-time faces, and is brought in to help the high profile task force that's been assembled to respond to the crime. The final portion of the book is immensely satisfying, as both sides of the law blunder their way to a final confrontation.
Like the best American crime writers (Elmore Leonard, George Pelecanos, etc.), Kerrigan's got the chops when it comes to realistic dialogue. And like many journalists who turn their hand to fiction, he's able to organically weave plenty of local color and detail into his story, bringing to the new Dublin to life. Beyond the satisfaction of a well-told crime story, the plot acts as a commentary on the impact of the booming Irish economy on expectations. Those of all backgrounds feel entitled to a slice of the megamoney being invested in Ireland -- whether by hook or by crook. This new worldview is further highlighted by a slightly awkward framing device which opens and closes the book. As the book opens we meet an elderly man (who represents old world honor) who is determined to rid the world of Frankie, and then at the end of the book we learn why. This book and "The Midnight Choir", mark Kerrigan as a writer whose books I will eagerly anticipate.
March 30, 2023
Gene Kerrigan knows how to write. Little Criminals is noir at its best. The emotionless style makes the story all the more gripping and more believable. Kerrigan’s words are more impressive than my words about his words, so here are a couple examples:
When people didn’t get the things they wanted or needed, some of them became beaten and sour, others just took what they could, where they could. All of them, whether they lived in ghettos or mansions, had their own vision of the life they were entitled to. And the urge to acquire whatever the vision demanded—money, sex, status, or just a rush of whatever drug best pampered a [messed*]-up mind. And if getting what they wanted meant breaking a law or breaking a head, so be it.
To survive in an evil world, everyone has to do what they must. For a brute, that’s all there is. No wider view, no remorse, no hope for spiritual redemption. Just the slaking of brutish appetites.
There are very few murders and almost no gore - but enough coarse language to require at least a half-dozen decent marker pens for a 13-year-old to write all of them* on the walls of the average men’s room. If you can tolerate that, Little Criminals is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
*my guess is that he’d be bored with the project before he finished the book. To be “dirty,” words have to be relatively rare. The dirt rubs off a word that everybody uses about everything on every occasion, and it becomes merely annoying.
When people didn’t get the things they wanted or needed, some of them became beaten and sour, others just took what they could, where they could. All of them, whether they lived in ghettos or mansions, had their own vision of the life they were entitled to. And the urge to acquire whatever the vision demanded—money, sex, status, or just a rush of whatever drug best pampered a [messed*]-up mind. And if getting what they wanted meant breaking a law or breaking a head, so be it.
To survive in an evil world, everyone has to do what they must. For a brute, that’s all there is. No wider view, no remorse, no hope for spiritual redemption. Just the slaking of brutish appetites.
There are very few murders and almost no gore - but enough coarse language to require at least a half-dozen decent marker pens for a 13-year-old to write all of them* on the walls of the average men’s room. If you can tolerate that, Little Criminals is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
*my guess is that he’d be bored with the project before he finished the book. To be “dirty,” words have to be relatively rare. The dirt rubs off a word that everybody uses about everything on every occasion, and it becomes merely annoying.
January 12, 2025
You may think that the first 70 pages of this book was a tavel guide to bars and restaurants around Ireland, a tedious guide at that. What was strange is that while it was an easy book to put down you had a nagging feeling that you wanted to know what was going to happen next. It wouldn't let you rest, no matter what time of day or night. Far to many F words and worse but this book told a story and told it well. Reading it was worthwhile.
August 9, 2022
Una lectura divertida, escrita para entretener, pero también con potencia y capacidad para dar sorpresas. Un escritor al que creo que volveré a visitar a través de la Editorial Sajalin quienes, por otro lado, vaya trabajo excelente que realizan, ya no sólo por los escritores a los que publican, sino también por la calidad de sus traducciones y edición.
March 27, 2023
Creative, original and unique. A real joy to read this excellent prose and North Irish lingo.
The "character" driven story was a nice change, take a well used plotline and make it feel fresh by using a clever writing style.
As always I am not interested in telling anything about the plot, let alone repeating the back cover blurb in the form of a book report.
The "character" driven story was a nice change, take a well used plotline and make it feel fresh by using a clever writing style.
As always I am not interested in telling anything about the plot, let alone repeating the back cover blurb in the form of a book report.
March 14, 2022
A good book. The chapter about Sean Willie on its own was great. The book shows the viciousness that has crept into modern Irish life. It totally ignores the criminality around drugs and the hopelessness that makes so attractive to so many.
September 20, 2021
Brutal! 👌🏽
February 17, 2022
Started a little slow for me. Had trouble keeping track of the characters. But once it started it was great. Really enjoyed it.
July 21, 2024
Nothing short of a total thrill.
December 31, 2024
Tremendous book. Kerrigan writes the best crime novels out there
July 19, 2025
A noir for the ages. Brilliant. Edge of your chair relentless.
May 15, 2011
fter reading a Europa Editions book translated from French (see my previous recent blog The Most Beautiful Book….) I decided to read a book translated from Irish, Little Criminals. Actually, I suppose it didn’t need much translation. I had a good sense of what most of the slang meant, some of the names were unimaginable, and there was only one undecipherable and unimportant Celtic word in the entire book.
Is is fiction, cops and robbers genre, about little criminals, their dirty little crimes, and dirty little amoral minds. There is some grit, brutality, and murder, as goes with the theme. Even Agatha Christie kills someone in her fiction.
The Ireland setting and story is believable and thought provoking. I believed that people like these actually do exist. Amoral indeed. THAT is the chilling thought.
I kind of knew how it would all turn out, if the author had any morality of his own, but there were many plot turns and twists, though not confusing, to hold my interest until the very end. This was a fast and easy read that I absorbed quickly. Every time I set it down I wanted to get back soon and see what happened next.
I would give it a B+. Well written, good plot, only ever so slightly on the longish side.
(P.S. I borrowed this book from the Highlands Ranch branch of the DougCo libraries. Libraries are great! They will NEVER go out of style and I think we have some of the best in the country here in Douglas County. I have no desire to own or pay for every book in the world and it’s a real privilege to be able to BORROW, for FREE, from the library.)
Is is fiction, cops and robbers genre, about little criminals, their dirty little crimes, and dirty little amoral minds. There is some grit, brutality, and murder, as goes with the theme. Even Agatha Christie kills someone in her fiction.
The Ireland setting and story is believable and thought provoking. I believed that people like these actually do exist. Amoral indeed. THAT is the chilling thought.
I kind of knew how it would all turn out, if the author had any morality of his own, but there were many plot turns and twists, though not confusing, to hold my interest until the very end. This was a fast and easy read that I absorbed quickly. Every time I set it down I wanted to get back soon and see what happened next.
I would give it a B+. Well written, good plot, only ever so slightly on the longish side.
(P.S. I borrowed this book from the Highlands Ranch branch of the DougCo libraries. Libraries are great! They will NEVER go out of style and I think we have some of the best in the country here in Douglas County. I have no desire to own or pay for every book in the world and it’s a real privilege to be able to BORROW, for FREE, from the library.)
February 3, 2013
Frankie Crowe is neither a good person nor a particularly good criminal. He assembles a crew of fellow criminals to at first rob local pubs, and when that becomes not profitable enough for the danger he puts himself in, he dreams up a scheme that will result in the greatest profit for the least about of criminal work. Apparently kidnapping is his preferred mix of ease and profit. Of course this plan goes wrong (Frankie Crowe is not the sharpest tool in the shed), and then things actually get interesting.
I was not a fan of the first half of the novel, mostly because I did not like the main character. Having him deal with planning a crime was painful to watch because of his general lack of skill at even his criminal career. He's also not above violent outbursts from which quite a few people suffer.
The last hundred or so pages of this crime novel are what make it so good. The kidnapping plot resolves itself in a very suspenseful way, and a highly likable character finally decides to stand up to Frankie Crowe and his criminal network. I read these last hundred pages in one night because of the excellent mixture of suspense and characterization.
There are two more novels in this linked trilogy: Midnight Choir and The Rage .
I was not a fan of the first half of the novel, mostly because I did not like the main character. Having him deal with planning a crime was painful to watch because of his general lack of skill at even his criminal career. He's also not above violent outbursts from which quite a few people suffer.
The last hundred or so pages of this crime novel are what make it so good. The kidnapping plot resolves itself in a very suspenseful way, and a highly likable character finally decides to stand up to Frankie Crowe and his criminal network. I read these last hundred pages in one night because of the excellent mixture of suspense and characterization.
There are two more novels in this linked trilogy: Midnight Choir and The Rage .
August 10, 2013
This book was not something that I would typically pick up, but it was for a book club. The book deals with small time criminals that are trying to make a name for themselves by doing a kidnapping. They manage to make some rather large mistakes, and things start to go downhill fast. The writing was beautiful. Even though the characters were involved in things that I find unsavory, the way the writer wrote the story kept me engaged throughout the book. There were a few issues with closure at the end of the book (which I am a person who likes closure), but other than that it was well structured. Little Criminals is a book that really makes you think inside a criminal's mind; whether that is a place you want to go I leave up to you.
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