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Barely a Crime: A Novel
In this gripping thriller, two men from the Northern Irish underworld are recruited by an enigmatic stranger for a shadowy operation. Promising to make them very rich without involving them in theft or murder, the job seems too good to be true; in fact, it seems to be barely a crime.
When Crawl and Kieran discover the identity of the man who has hired them for the break-in of the century, they realize they might be involving themselves in a high-stakes technological breakthrough. And they devise a scheme for demanding a bigger payout. As the law of unintended consequences kicks in, so do life-and-death consequences, not only for themselves, not only for many others, but for the whole world.
When Crawl and Kieran discover the identity of the man who has hired them for the break-in of the century, they realize they might be involving themselves in a high-stakes technological breakthrough. And they devise a scheme for demanding a bigger payout. As the law of unintended consequences kicks in, so do life-and-death consequences, not only for themselves, not only for many others, but for the whole world.
222 pages, Paperback
Published April 15, 2016
3 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Robert Ovies
5 books8 followersThe third child of Joe and Alice Ovies, Robert attended Shrine of the Little Flower Grade School and High School. He graduated from the University of Detroit.
He worked for over 30 years in advertising at Campbell Ewald. In 1970, he and his wife, Kathy, served as missionaries at St. Catherine's parish in Window Rock, Arizona, the Navajo Nation capital. They later worked at Shrine parish as founders of the Love of God Community where they housed and cared for people who were battered and displaced.
They formed many ministries including both the Hungry for God and the Couple Prayer series which is still active in parishes throughout the world.
Bob Ovies was ordained deacon in 1986 where he served in parishes in Southeast Michigan. He was the Director of Detroit's Archdiocesan Offices for Family Life, Young Adult and Youth Ministries.
He worked for over 30 years in advertising at Campbell Ewald. In 1970, he and his wife, Kathy, served as missionaries at St. Catherine's parish in Window Rock, Arizona, the Navajo Nation capital. They later worked at Shrine parish as founders of the Love of God Community where they housed and cared for people who were battered and displaced.
They formed many ministries including both the Hungry for God and the Couple Prayer series which is still active in parishes throughout the world.
Bob Ovies was ordained deacon in 1986 where he served in parishes in Southeast Michigan. He was the Director of Detroit's Archdiocesan Offices for Family Life, Young Adult and Youth Ministries.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 5, 2016
I was introduced to Robert Ovies writing a few years ago with the release of his first novel, The Rising. His writing captivated me: he probed and explored something that was so far-fetched that you'd roll your eyes if I summarized it here, and yet...it was real. It was possible.
When I saw that he had a new novel out this spring, I leapt at the chance to read it. No shock: it was a different book, but had the same exploration of questions that form the core of our Christianity, the same seeking feeling.
Barely a Crime sucks you in with characters you start to love, right before you realize that OH MY WORD NO YOU DIDN’T. (Yes, in all caps: it’s that kind of book.) They're people who are deep and wide, just as frustrating and unpredictable as real-life people.
As I was storming through the book, I spent half my time trying to figure things out, feeling like there was no chance I would, and the other half shaking my head as I put it down to make dinner, do laundry, work...you know, all the things that keep you from the pleasant task of reading. :)
I couldn't help but ask myself: what kind of author THINKS of these things?
But, you know, I spent a great deal of my younger years imbibing Stephen King and the like. I shouldn't be shocked. This isn't horror...or, it's not horror like that.
I interviewed Ovies after the release of his last novel, and he told me that he started it with a question. As I was reading Barely a Crime, I found myself trying to figure out what question he was exploring.
And I think I figured it out: what if … Oh wait, I don’t want to spoil it. Because…well. The question he tries to answer and explore is one that you wouldn’t believe if I told you.
It's a book worth reading and sharing, whether you're on the beach or in your armchair (or standing by the kitchen sink just trying to get one...more...paragraph...in...).
When I saw that he had a new novel out this spring, I leapt at the chance to read it. No shock: it was a different book, but had the same exploration of questions that form the core of our Christianity, the same seeking feeling.
Barely a Crime sucks you in with characters you start to love, right before you realize that OH MY WORD NO YOU DIDN’T. (Yes, in all caps: it’s that kind of book.) They're people who are deep and wide, just as frustrating and unpredictable as real-life people.
As I was storming through the book, I spent half my time trying to figure things out, feeling like there was no chance I would, and the other half shaking my head as I put it down to make dinner, do laundry, work...you know, all the things that keep you from the pleasant task of reading. :)
I couldn't help but ask myself: what kind of author THINKS of these things?
But, you know, I spent a great deal of my younger years imbibing Stephen King and the like. I shouldn't be shocked. This isn't horror...or, it's not horror like that.
I interviewed Ovies after the release of his last novel, and he told me that he started it with a question. As I was reading Barely a Crime, I found myself trying to figure out what question he was exploring.
And I think I figured it out: what if … Oh wait, I don’t want to spoil it. Because…well. The question he tries to answer and explore is one that you wouldn’t believe if I told you.
It's a book worth reading and sharing, whether you're on the beach or in your armchair (or standing by the kitchen sink just trying to get one...more...paragraph...in...).
February 19, 2020
Rollicking tale.
March 5, 2023
This books drags on and on. Not only did none of the characters actually redeem themselves in the end, but we're left with a completely implausible ending. Honestly, it felt almost sacrilegious to read this book. I finished it feeling dirty, like I had sinned by reading such garbage. And the author is a Catholic deacon....so pathetic. If you take your faith seriously, don't read this. It's trash.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews