The Second Life of Nick Mason

Nick Mason #1

by Steve Hamilton

Nick Mason has already spent five years inside a maximum security prison when an offer comes that will grant his release twenty years early. He accepts—but the deal comes with a terrible price.

Now, back on the streets, Nick Mason has a new house, a new car, money to burn, and a beautiful roommate. He’s returned to society, but he's still a prisoner. Whenever his cell phone rings, day or night, Nick must answer it and follow whatever order he is given. It’s the deal he made with Darius Cole, a criminal mastermind serving a double-life term who runs an empire from his prison cell.

Forced to commit increasingly more dangerous crimes, hunted by the relentless detective who put him behind bars, and desperate to go straight and rebuild his life with his daughter and ex-wife, Nick will ultimately have to risk everything—his family, his sanity, and even his life—to finally break free.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2016

About the author

Two-time Edgar Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of the Nick Mason series, The Lock Artist, and the Alex McKnight series. AN HONORABLE ASSASSIN (Mason #3) coming August 27, 2024!

Reviews

[Jennifer Masterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a 5 Star Audio!!! The narration is phenomenal! Ray Porter can do different voices like no other!!! Then why did I give this 4 Stars? Well, because at times it felt a little cliche.

Nick Mason, a man from Chicago, had a wife and a 4 year old daughter until one day he is involved in a large crime. This crime would have set him up financially for life, giving him 125k! It goes wrong, very wrong and he is sent to prison for 25 years.

The novel begins right after Nick Mason has served 5 years of this 25 year sentence. His case is overturned and he is let out of prison early, but with this early release comes a price. He has lost his family and they were everything to him. Now, he is owned by a crime boss named Darius Cole, who operates his dirty business from the inside of a "glass" prison cell. Nick Mason may have been let out of prison early, but he sure isn't free! On the outside he will do very bad and dark things to keep himself and his family safe.

This is fast paced, fun and plays out like a movie! I cannot do this book justice so please check out my friend Larry Hoffer's review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and my friend
Shelby's review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This book is the first in a new series by author Steve Hamilton. I will be looking forward to the next book in this series!

Recommended for thriller/suspense fans!

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Mason is serving a twenty year term. He started his criminal career as a car thief. He then worked his way up to robbing some drug dealers and a variety of other crimes he deemed okay. He has to make a better life for him and his wife Gina and young daughter. He is approached for the 'big job' that could make him set and Gina has laid the rules down that he has to go straight. Even though his gut tells him that there is something off about the job he goes ahead with it anyways. And ends up behind bars.


He is in Terre Haute, a federal prison with some of the most notorious criminals in the country. Then he gets summoned to meet another inmate. Darius Cole.

Darius takes an interest in Nick. He thinks that Nick has 'potential.'
"There are three kinds of people in prison," he said. "People who want to get out, people who never want to get out, and people who know they are never going to get out. You can't count the days. You keep quiet, keep to yourself. Don't go with anybody, don't owe anybody. You're all you got in there. The only thing you can count on is yourself."

Darius gets Nick's conviction over-turned. The kicker is...now he works for Darius.
He gets out of prison. Completely cleared. A new job as a 'assistant-manager' at a fancy resturant, a gorgeous new apartment and a cell phone that he MUST answer.
"This isn't freedom. This is mobility. Don't get those two things confused."

It doesn't take long for that cell phone to start ringing.

Nick's character is not perfect. He is not even a really good guy. But I cheered for him. What can I say? I love a good anti-hero.


This is the first of a series and for a first book this one is pretty decent. There are some cookie-cutter characters but I'm interested in picking up the next book.

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.



Check out my buddy Brenda's review for this one also.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton is a 2016 G.P. Putnam’s Sons publication.


I’m always curious when an author steps away from his bread and butter series and starts a new one or writes a stand alone. I know Steve Hamilton from his Alex McKnight series, which is very enjoyable, so I felt confident the author would meet those standards no matter how far off the beaten path this story was by comparison.

Nick Mason receives a ‘get out of jail free’ card, but it comes with a hefty price. Five years ago, Nick was sentenced to a twenty-five year prison sentence. He soon finds he has been singled out by a long timer, Darius Cole, who runs a thriving business outside the prison walls, in Chicago. Darius needs someone on the outside to do his bidding and feels Nick is the best man for the job.

Suddenly, Nick finds his conviction overturned and his freedom restored. Not only that, he’s been provided with a plush Lincoln Park apartment, a nice car, and a big fat wad of cash which is replenished on a monthly basis. The catch? He must do whatever he is told, when he’s told to do it. When his phone rings, he must obey and perform the task assigned to him, no questions asked…

I don’t know why I was under the impression this was a stand alone novel, but it would appear it is the first book in a series.

Nick is one of those anti-hero types, a man who tries to live a clean and straight life, but keeps getting sucked back into the criminal element, each time worse than the last. This time, despite the loathing he has for what he is being forced to do, he has no choice but to make the best of a bad situation.

I think Nick makes an interesting character study, and is a person you feel bad for and even like, but who also commits horrible crimes, with only a modicum of remorse. The scenes with his daughter are especially poignant, but his attempts to lead a regular life are futile, even though he continues to delude himself into thinking he can still pull it off.

The Chicago setting is perfect for this stylish crime novel that employees a slight noir atmosphere, and is packed with nefarious characters from both sides of the law. There is plenty of action, violence, emotional conflict, and even a little romance, to cap things off, although this part felt slightly forced.

It’s too soon to tell how well the series will develop from here on out, and I will confess, I’m on the fence about this one. I liked it, but I wonder if this lead in is strong enough to build upon, but at the same time, I feel the series has a vast amount of promise. It will all hinge on that all important second book. As it stands right now, based on the momentum of this book, it could go either way.

Overall, this is a pretty big departure from the Alex McKnight series and fans of this author may be a bit surprised by it, but if approached with an open mind, I think you’ll find this is a pretty interesting crime drama, and I do recommend giving it a try.

3.5 stars

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

There's a scene in a classic Seinfeld episode where the George character finds success in doing the exact opposite of anything that makes sense in any situation, including introducing himself to a pretty lady..

"Hi, I'm George, I'm unemployed and I live with my parents"

She of course is enamored...

"I'm Victoria," (interested) "Hi!"

Halfway through this book there's a scene reminiscent of this, only unlike the TV episode that's supposed to be funny, unfortunately in this book I guess we're supposed to think it's, uh..hot? Or macho..or..something? Sorry, George, it was the exact opposite:

"Hi, you don't know me, I'm a criminal, I just spent five years in prison, and we just met, but whaddya say?"

"Show me what five years feels like."

*Boink*

Check please. As in check OUT, because that's when I did.

I can't buy this Nick Mason character nor his supposedly perilous predicament as a good-guy in a bad situation, not one bit. I don't buy this "relationship" that takes all of six pages to develop, completely disappears after he, uh, Costanzas her, and then magically reappears again at the end of the book as if it's all this guy has ever dreamed of. WHAT?!

And I just can't stand the idea (and I've said this many times about many books) that murdering people is just fine and dandy as long as they're "bad people" you're murdering.

And we KNOW Nick Mason is a good guy, right? After all, he has a daughter! (How do you make a thug criminal a good guy? Give him a daughter to protect, with built in justification for brutal violence included at no extra charge!)

I find the idea of basing a whole Nick Mason series (after all this is "#1", right?) along the fine line between our "hero" being a ruthless murdering thug and yet "a really good guy at heart" just ridiculous and the opposite of anything that makes sense.

I really liked Steve Hamilton's The Lock Artist, so I feel bad saying this, but other than a bunch of Goose Island beers, Chicago geographical references, and "hitting" things, there's just nothing here. I won't be reading Nick Mason #2, because #1 was just that. One.

One Star.(UCBC rating 1.75)
(But a great episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6c17... )

[Larry H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five years ago, Nick Mason went to prison, expecting to serve a 25-year sentence. He tries to live day by day and stay out of trouble, and dreams of what his life used to be like with his ex-wife and his young daughter.

One day he is summoned by Darius Cole, a fellow inmate whose power within and outside the prison has never ceased despite the double-life sentence he is serving. He calls the shots and lives a fairly pampered existence, and he takes a liking to Nick because of his ability to keep to himself and stay even-tempered. It isn't long before Cole offers to make the rest of Nick's sentence disappear—for a price.

How could he refuse the chance to get out of prison while his daughter is still young, to be able to do what he pleases when he pleases, without having to watch his back? Nick is given a home in a posh Chicago neighborhood, fancy clothes, a classic sports car, and money to burn. But as you'd imagine, this freedom doesn't mean he's truly free—he is given a cell phone by one of Cole's associates, and whenever it rings, day or night, he must do whatever he's told to.

As Nick waits for his orders, he tries to visit his ex-wife and daughter, as well as one of the friends he protected the night things went wrong for them. But Nick's unexpected release doesn't sit well with everyone, including another one of his cohorts from the fateful night five years before, and the dogged police detective who arrested him and doesn't understand how he was able to regain his freedom. Nick would like to pursue a new relationship, but doesn't know if it's wise to involve someone else in his situation.

And when the orders come, it forces Nick to do things he'd never imagined, and it's not long before he realizes he's being used as a pawn in a battle where there are no good guys. He must decide whether to continue to follow the orders he is being given, or follow his conscience and put his life, his freedom, and those who loves in jeopardy. It's a no-win situation, and the stakes are getting progressively higher.

I don't know why Steve Hamilton isn't more famous. I think he's one of the best crime writers out there right now. His series with flawed Michigan private investigator Alex McKnight are absolutely fantastic, and the few stand-alone books he's written have been pretty tremendous as well. The Second Life of Nick Mason deserves to stand alongside his other books—Hamilton once again delivers crackling action, taut plot development, and some strong and memorable characters.

I believe I read that this book has been optioned for a film adaptation, and that doesn't surprise me. It reads like a movie, and I don't mean that in a disparaging way. If you've never read one of Hamilton's books before, and you're a crime fan, you can't go wrong with this one, the incredible The Lock Artist , or any one of his Alex McKnight books. Hopefully you'll see what the world hasn't quite seen yet—Steve Hamilton is a writer to be reckoned with.

First to Read and G.P. Putnam's Sons provided me an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

See all of my reviews at http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blo....

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a big fan of Steve Hamilton's novels, and especially his Alex McKnight series, I looked forward to this book. However, there was turmoil in Hamilton's professional life that greatly delayed this book's publication. And now it's finally available.

Nick Mason grew up in the poorer part of Chicago. He and his friends were petty criminals. Upon his marriage, Nick promises his wife he is out of that life. He works, he and his wife have a child, and life seems good. Then he and his friends are presented an opportunity for one last job, and he goes along with his friends. Things go bad, and Nick is eventually sentenced to 25 years to life because the heist resulted in the death of a DEA agent. Nick has lost everything, and it's hard to have sympathy for him.

Desperate, Nick signs a pact with the devil and is put into an impossible situation. He may be out of prison, but he's not a free man. He's a conflicted man who does despicable things for what he believes are good reasons. At times I could root for him, but then I'd get angry with him. As the title indicates, Nick wants a new second life. While I'm eager to see if he makes it, I have reservations.

This book is the beginning of a new series. It doesn't end with a cliffhanger, but there is more to come!

[Char · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

[Roxane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Clearly the first in a series I will continue to read. Well written but overall the story was really rushed and not given space to breathe. Nick Mason and Quintero are interesting as reluctant allies. Sandoval is too cliched as the righteous cop. The women need more time and space to be actual people with inner lives. Worth a look.

[Linda Strong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick Mason has served 5 years of a 25 - to - Life term in prison. Although he wasn't holding the gun, he was with the man who was when a Federal Agent was shot and killed.

Darius Cole is a dangerous man .. serving 2 life terms at the same prison. Cole is one of the most powerful men in ..and out ... of prison. He's running his empire from behind the walls. He has politicians, cops, businessmen, drug cartels all under this thumb. And Darius wants something from Nick.

Darius makes a deal with Nick ... he gets a mansion, a Mustang, and $10000 each and every month. They will tell him where his ex-wife and daughter are. All he has to do is answer the phone when it rings .. day or not ... and do exactly what he is told. A call might come in tonight or tomorrow or maybe in 6 months. But his phone will never be busy, never be unavailable ..at a very high cost.

Wanting out of prison to start a relative new life and wanting to see his family, he agrees.

And then the phone rings .........

This book takes us through Nick's younger years when he and his friends robbed drug dealers, stole cars, and then moved into the big time. The author paints a very dismal picture of how someone who is intelligent can make some really unintelligent choices .. and pays the price.

Now he's learning that although not in prison, he is still not a free man. He must do whatever Darius Cole or his representative demands ... or his family may pay the penalty.

This is a well-written crime thriller. The characters are believable. There is a bit of predictability that the reader is asked to overlook, but not enough to ruin a good read. I have read the Alex Knight series (or some of them) and found them more to my taste.

Many thanks to the author / Penguin Group Putnam / NetGalley who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t write about this book without first saying that I’m a huge fan of Steve Hamilton. His new books are always an automatic read for me. I’ve been reading the Alex McKnight series for years and I simply love him those books. When I found out that Hamilton had a new book coming, and once I got over the soul-crushing news that it would not be an Alex book, I was really looking forward to it. The wait was long.

I’m giving The Second Life of Nick Mason a rating of 3.5 stars but rounding up to 4 because a) I was a math major and 3.5 always rounds up to 4, b) I understand that this is the first in a series and “set up” books can be a little slow, and c) I’m just straight up playing favorites. Yes, I’m a crooked reviewer.

I like the character of Nick Mason. He’s a fairly intense guy and if he was a teeny bit too tough and smart and good-to-be-true right out of the gate, well, I can forgive this because I’m enjoying his story. Looking forward to the next in this series and also waiting (im)patiently for another Alex story.

Nick, our first time was good but you have some big shoes to fill…

Sincerely,
An Alex Fangirl
Liz

[Teju A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Mason is just going to have to understand his life is really not his own anymore. After getting out of prison after only serving 5 years out of a 25 year sentence; he's learning that when you dine with the devil, not so nice things happen. A debt has to be repaid

Great characters and awesome story telling.
How far and what will he be willing to sacrifice to make his life his own again!

Solid 5 stars!!!!!

[Bonnie Brody · Rating 1 out of 5]

No matter how hard I tried to suspend belief, I just could not wrap my head around the premise of this book.

Nick Mason is a career criminal who, for some impetuous reason, decides to give up a life of crime and settle down with a wife, buy a home and have a child. His wife gives him an ultimatum - crime or her. He chooses her BUT an offer too good to refuse comes along and Nick finds himself in Terre Haute Prison for 20 to life.

Moving forward 5 years, the power behind the thrown at Terre Haute, the criminal Darius Cole, has the power to set Nick Free. Freedom always comes with a price and the cost of Nick's freedom is that he must answer a cell phone whenever it rings, any time of day or night, and commit whatever crime he is asked to do. As time goes by, he is asked to do more and more heinous crimes.

He is put up in a luxurious condo in Chicago and there is even a locked room which houses a beautiful woman who lives with him. The question arises as to who is watching whom. There are cameras all over the apartment and Nick is being viewed 24/7. He drives custom cars like an exact replica of the Mustang that Steve McQueen drove in Bullitt.

After about fifty pages I got bored and felt I was being had. Everything about the narrative rang false and postured. I was surprised that the jacket had blurbs from Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Harlan Coben, and Don Winslow all touting this book. Maybe they read something different than I did.

To say this was a disappointment would be accurate. To say this took place in an alternate universe would be accurate as well. No matter how many conspiracies exist, no matter how much power some people have, there are limits to what is believable. This book goes so overboard that the game isn't even played in the ball park.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won the second book in this series in a goodreads drawing, and it was good enough that when I saw a copy of the first book in the series, I picked it up.

A guy in prison is sprung to be the hitman/errand boy of a crime lord who runs Chicago from jail. The guy's life is a mess, with an ex-wife, a daughter he's barely ever seen, and a host of temptations in his old neighborhood. His new, upscale neighborhood has its own temptations.

Between killings, he tries to straighten everything out. Pretty good stuff. Shows Chicago to be as gang and crime ridden as its reputation.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nick Mason is released from prison after serving only five years of his 25 year sentence for felony murder of a federal agent. His release was arranged by Darius Cole, another prisoner who is still running his own crime operation in Chicago from his jail cell, with the aid of a bunch of crooked cops. Mason exchanges one form of imprisonment for another when he is forced to work for Cole.

This was a fast-paced and exciting thriller with various mobsters and both good and bad cops pitted against each other. There was a pretty high body count. I liked Mason and I look forward to the next book in which I assume he will try to extricate himself from Cole's control. I do hope he loses the new girlfriend though. Any woman who puts up with a man who shows up with new mysterious bruises every time she sees him is really too stupid to interest me.

I received a free copy of the e-book from the publisher, however I wound up borrowing and listening to the audiobook from the library.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 3 out of 5]

nick mason is a likeable crook who is released early from federal prison. he is released early after making a deal with a fellow inmate who controls his crime empire from prison. once released, all mason has to do is answer the phone & do whatever is asked in return for his freedom. this was a great start for a new series character and the first book i've read by this author. looking forward to reading his other books.

[Brandon · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a botched robbery, Nick Mason is stuck doing twenty-five to life. After only serving five years, he’s approached by the prison’s most powerful inmate with an opportunity - if said inmate can get Nick out, he’d serve the remainder of his term as his hired hand on the outside. With the allure to see his daughter strong enough to make the decision for him, Nick soon comes to regret his choice when he finds out what his true purpose is.

From a structural standpoint, there’s nothing really wrong with this story. Motivations make sense, characters do as they’re expected and it finishes with a somewhat satisfying conclusion. My only problem is that this feels like crime fiction stock footage. I found nothing particularly interesting about Nick Mason as he seemed like too much of a trope for me to invest in him.

Career criminal given second chance? Check.
His wife remarried in his absence leaving him with an estranged daughter? Check.
Regrets decision that led to his freedom with a desire to right the wrong thus reconnecting with his family? Check.

There might be something there that the author could eventually develop as I’ve heard this is destined to become a series, but Mason came across as pretty par for the course this time around. The Second Life of Nick Mason reads like a script to a forgotten Liam Neeson action movie. If you like that, you’re going to be satisfied. If you’re looking for plot complexity and a more diverse lead character, you’re going to be left wanting more.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from First-to-Read in exchange for an honest review, as well as receiving a hard-copy ARC in a Goodreads giveaway.

Pretty good first book in a new series starring anti-hero assassin Nick Mason. There’s nothing deep about this book, its characters or its plot. It’s a straight-forward noir-like storyline with crooked cops, an imprisoned bad guy behind the scenes pulling the strings, and innocent people caught in the cross-fire. The back story is interesting, too, laid out especially well, interspersed with the main storyline.

There were some points in which the characters, mostly the cops, made incredible leaps of logic that didn’t really make sense. But remember, as I wrote earlier, there’s nothing deep about this book.

Overall, this is a great summer-time read, perfect for the beach or the pool. It’s quick, it’s exciting, and I’m looking forward to the next book.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite a rather dark theme, and the main character being less than a hero, the story caught my attention and kept it.

[Noel Penaflor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the story's setup can, at times, feel more than familiar, Steve Hamilton's main character Mason constantly keeps the reader on his/her toes. That, more than anything else is reason to give this a read even if you've read more than your share of the (anti) police procedural.

If there's as second novel of the second life of Nick Mason, Hamilton assures you would do well not to miss it

[Olivermagnus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nick Mason has been in prison for five years. After becoming friends with Darius Cole, a powerful Chicago drug lord, Mason’s second life begins when his conviction is overturned. Very quickly he realizes he may be out of prison but his life is now under the control of Cole. In exchange for his early release from prison, he now must carry a phone at all times, and do exactly what’s asked of him without question. Mason is smart enough to know what he’s signing up for and realizes this is probably the only chance he will get to see his daughter once more.

As the book progresses Mason does some terrible things, which is quite a surprise because most readers would expect him to push back against what he's being asked to do. He does to a certain extent but he was never a totally “good” guy from the beginning. In may cases he's not a sympathetic character which makes him more realistic and interesting. I found the book very engaging and will definitely read the next book of the series, Exit Strategy.

[Anmiryam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, the premise is ridiculous, the characters are ridiculous (the deep down good felon, the drug lord clearly written for Samuel L. Jackson to portray, the bad cops, the earnest cop still wedded to morals and redeeming his disgraced partner, the adorable kid the protagonist wants to be able to see, etc.), the whole thing is a reeks of hollywood tripe, yet we listened to the whole book while on various long drives over the last several weeks. The women especially need to be more than victims, puritanical harridans, or convenient fuckbuddies that fall in love with the hero over nothing more than the affinity he has with a rescue dog. Perhaps the most ridiculous book I've read in ages, but I'll come back for volume two just to see if Hamilton can keep up the over-the-top employment of noir infused absurdity.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a decent premise but it all feels like it needs some fleshing out, both the plot and the characters...perhaps especially the characters. The female characters seem to barely exist as little more than the faintest of outlines and I frankly have no idea why two of them (out of three) are even in the story. Nick Mason, the anti-hero, is okay but I feel like his own lifetime of bad decisions has landed him in his current situation and so he sort of deserves the mess he's in. As for pacing, things started out well but felt more rushed towards the end and overall the story had a superficial feeling. I think this may be the start of a series but I it works as a standalone and I may leave it at that.

[Christina McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable 'guy' book with mobsters and good and bad cops, lots of shooting and car chases, etc. The story is well done and fast-paced with a great hook - a criminal who gets out of maximum security prison early if he agrees to work for a particular criminal mastermind. He's obviously made a deal with the devil and that deal comes with a terrible price. An exciting read.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looks like the beginning of an excellent new crime fiction series by Steve Hamilton. He has such a clear and fluid way of writing, and I like his new main character, Nick Mason. I am looking forward to more.

[Aaron Cance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once and again, a mystery/thriller is released that’s just so damn good that it reminds me that I don’t pay enough attention to the genre. I like to jump back, forth, and around between contemporary literary fiction, very well written essays and criticism, classic fiction (the best term we have for it), and very well written science fiction and fantasy. And its all too easy, awash sometimes, as we find ourselves in the listless waters of formula fiction, to forget that there are still some real masterpieces of crime fiction being produced. I’m talking about novels that would make Dashiell Hammett or Raymond Chandler proud.

As an avid reader, and someone who’s worked in the industry for quite a while, you’d think that I’d learn my lesson at some point, but I just keep gravitating away from the mystery/thriller genre until some new, fresh work catches hold of me, and just won’t let go. It happened when I discovered the early Easy Rawlins books of Walter Mosley in the nineties, Thomas Maltman’s Little Wolves, Eva Maria Staal’s (although hers is a pseudonym) Try the Morgue, Pierre LeMaitre’s Camille Verhoeven trilogy, or Don Winslow’s work. These are just a few, and I’m sure there are many other remarkable writers that I’ve just missed altogether, on account of my inability to devote myself to the genre. Then, there’s Steve Hamilton’s new book!

Only five years into a twenty-five year prison sentence, extraordinarily intelligent, yet down-on-his-luck, thief Nick Mason (who’s name alone, on account of its clipped, hyper-masculine sound is a real character builder) is recruited by a Chicago crime kingpin to work as his “samurai” in the outside world while he, still calling all the shots, serves out a couple consecutive life sentences. It clearly sounds like a devil’s bargain, but Mason, desperate to see his daughter again on the outside agrees. The deal is simple. He’s nestled into a posh, Lincoln Park townhouse, given a hopped up American muscle car, and a new cell-phone. When the phone rings, he always answers, listens carefully, and does exactly as he’s told without question. Like Daniel Craig in the latest James Bond installments, Nick Mason is a “blunt instrument.”

But, even as Nick is still adjusting to his new lifestyle and the strange new arrangement that he’s made, he begins to craft an exit strategy. He has, after all, started watching his daughter play soccer from behind the bleachers, has bought a dog that he really likes, and has met someone new that he thinks he just might be able to start over with. But Nick has a handler on the outside who’s watching his every move, and getting out isn’t going to be easy.

With a number of books under his belt, Steve Hamilton is certainly no newcomer, and The Second Life of Nick Mason is such a good book that I’m somewhat ashamed not to have found this talented writer’s work earlier. With a hard, spare prose that would do any crime writer of the fifties proud, he cinches up the suspense a little tighter in each successive chapter until the reader is almost gasping for breath, struggling, with Mason, to work all the angles and think through, and beyond, every new hair-raising situation he’s put into. But Hamilton has totally raised his game with his latest book. He’s done much more than simply provide another explosive, high-caliber crime novel. He’s created a hard, yet sympathetic character of surprising depth who I can’t wait to read more about.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is much better than I expected it to be. Nick was a properly fleshed out protagonist, complete with desires and fears and smart decisions followed by stupid decisions. I had a great time rooting for him, and I love that he was so easily relatable. As a man given a new chance at life outside of prison, he seems to emulate it perfectly--the desire to pick up where he left off, to re-experience all the things he took for granted before he was put away. The way we flashed back and forth between present day and the past (specifically, how he ended up in prison and then subsequently released) was done well and every part of the plot was engrossing enough to keep me motivated. I particularly enjoyed seeing his evolution after each job; how his priorities and attitude toward it change a little at a time.

I particularly enjoyed the ending with Jimmy McManus. It seemed very fitting to me and I love a good tale of retribution. Quinteros was an interesting character too, I'm curious to see what role he'll play with Nick Mason in later novels. I predict grudging respect on both sides. Mason himself is really the star, though. Which is obvious, sure, but sometimes the main character isn't the most fascinating person in the pages. I didn't feel like that here, which was nice considering these kinds of books tend to have very forgettable main characters.

Nick's job was gnarly. It seemed simple enough: just pick up the cellphone whenever it rings, day or night, and carry out the job. Obviously this wasn't anywhere near the truth; it ended up being the hardest thing Nick would ever have to do. He was forced to face trials he never would have before. And the best part was that it didn't run like a shoot-em-up action film, with no exposition or world building. It was precisely the opposite of that and I appreciated that the author took the time to flesh out all the characters, not just Nick. There was a surprising amount of detail considering how quick and easy of a read this is.

Honestly, I kind of wish it was a standalone novel. While I would love to see the rest of Nick's story I sort of think the way it ended was poetically perfect. His struggle is never over, it's an uphill battle, and he will never see the end. But at least his new prison has cool new cars, maybe women, and a change of scenery, right?

[Jill H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am usually a reader of British mysteries but my cousin loaned me this book which is based in Chicago and said he thought I might like it. I did.

It begins with Nick Mason walking out of prison where he was serving a 25 years to life sentence. His record is cleared and he is free........or is he? He has exchanged his life on the inside for a life that is totally controlled by the man he met in prison who is responsible for his freedom. What that entails and how Mason tries to make a life for himself while waiting for a telephone call that will send him on his "assignment" is a fascinating but brutal tale. A quick and enthralling read about a man who is trapped by his freedom. Recommended for the lover of hard hitting crime stories..

[Suzze Tiernan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Steve Hamilton. I thoroughly enjoyed the character of Nick Mason and wonder if he will continue in another book. So glad Steve stood up to his non-supportive publisher, and that he was picked up by another one so quickly. If you have not read Steve Hamilton before, please make him a top priority.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good stuff, though some of it's a stretch. I'll look for the next one.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been meaning to read this for a year. I started it, loved it, and next thing I knew I was more than half through. Entertaining and compelling. Looking forward to the second.