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Max O'Brien Mystery #2
The Roma Plot: A Max O'Brien Mystery
Max O’Brien is in a race against time … and someone else’s past is catching up with him.
Max O’Brien may be a professional con man, but that doesn’t mean you can’t count on him in a bind. So when he hears that his old friend Kevin Dandurand is a wanted man over a seemingly racially motivated killing spree, he heads to Bucharest to try to make sense of what looks like an impossible situation.
The buried truths he uncovers reach back to the Second World War, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, and an entanglement between a Roma man and a German woman whose echoes pursue O’Brien and Dandurand into the present day. But if they can’t escape the long shadows of the past, the two will find their present cut all too short.
Max O’Brien may be a professional con man, but that doesn’t mean you can’t count on him in a bind. So when he hears that his old friend Kevin Dandurand is a wanted man over a seemingly racially motivated killing spree, he heads to Bucharest to try to make sense of what looks like an impossible situation.
The buried truths he uncovers reach back to the Second World War, the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, and an entanglement between a Roma man and a German woman whose echoes pursue O’Brien and Dandurand into the present day. But if they can’t escape the long shadows of the past, the two will find their present cut all too short.
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2007
4 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
About the author
Mario Bolduc
12 books17 followersMario Bolduc has been working in film and television for nearly two decades. The Kashmir Trap, his first novel featuring Max O’Brien, was published in French in 2004. Mario lives in Montreal, Quebec.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 22, 2017
Special thanks go to Mario Bolduc, Dundurn Publishing, and Netgalley got the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
This is book two in a new mystery series that stars a “professional swindler”, Max O’Brien.
this plot jumps in time so much i don’t know where I am. I’m so confused.
Majority has rated 4 stars rave reviews and I’m sitting here scratching my head wondering “what year is it now? What persona does my main character have? And whose point of view is it this time?” How is this happening? Am I just reading too quickly? I don’t think so. There is something inherently wrong with the organization of the chapters.
By the time I’ve finally gotten straightened out I’m 75% through the book. This is also when I️ think Bolduc finally determined how to tie up loose end. Until this point I️ felt like I️ was reading two or three different narratives. I️ never felt that climactic buildup; it seemed like the author didn’t quite know what he was doing until he wrote it.
I️ did appreciate the masterly use of Roma historical record. I️ was not aware of the persecution this ethnic group went through. So tragic
In summary, I️ was not impressed with this book at all, except for the use of historical fact. The author’s technique left something to be desired.
This is book two in a new mystery series that stars a “professional swindler”, Max O’Brien.
this plot jumps in time so much i don’t know where I am. I’m so confused.
Majority has rated 4 stars rave reviews and I’m sitting here scratching my head wondering “what year is it now? What persona does my main character have? And whose point of view is it this time?” How is this happening? Am I just reading too quickly? I don’t think so. There is something inherently wrong with the organization of the chapters.
By the time I’ve finally gotten straightened out I’m 75% through the book. This is also when I️ think Bolduc finally determined how to tie up loose end. Until this point I️ felt like I️ was reading two or three different narratives. I️ never felt that climactic buildup; it seemed like the author didn’t quite know what he was doing until he wrote it.
I️ did appreciate the masterly use of Roma historical record. I️ was not aware of the persecution this ethnic group went through. So tragic
In summary, I️ was not impressed with this book at all, except for the use of historical fact. The author’s technique left something to be desired.
October 10, 2017
I am a bit of a sucker when it comes to books about WWII, and was instantly intrigued by the premise of The Roma Plot. I admit I know very little about the fate of the Roma, except that, like other ethnic minorities, they had been ruthlessly persecuted during Hitler’s regimen in the name of clearing the country of everyone but the championed “Aryan” race. Bolduc’s knowledge of the issue is astonishing, and he has obviously done a lot of research into the subject matter, which he clearly feels passionate about. It was interesting to learn more about Roma culture and their ongoing struggles to be accepted as a people, and their fate during WWII – Emil’s life was simply heartbreaking! Needless to say that I found the chapters about Emil and his life the most interesting and captivating, and I admit that the modern day part of the book took a bit of a backward step for me.
In The Roma Plot, Bolduc delivers a multi-layered, very intricate plot with a true historical background and some famous historical characters interspersed with fictional ones. I must admit that whilst I found the history fascinating, the book was at times a bit too political for me, and I found it difficult to keep track of the multiple characters who come and go between the chapters. Some characters even changed their names and identities throughout the story, which presented an even tougher challenge. This was not a book you could easily put down and pick up again. I often found myself flicking back and forth in confusion: “And who is this again?”
The story plays our over several different time frames, with one thread set during WWII and the other starting in the present time. But as Max is reminiscing about the origins of his friendship with Kevin, his story also contains elements from the past few years, skipping back and forth over events that have brought him to his current predicament. Whilst Emil’s chapters are clearly labelled as being in the past, I found myself struggling a few times to work out the timings in the “present”.
I found Max to be an intriguing and interesting character, who makes for a refreshingly different protagonist. Being a con-man he certainly stands out from your average detective, and got himself into some unusual situations. I initially found it a bit hard to get into his head, which may have something to do with the book being the second in a series. Since Emil makes his first appearance here, I had no trouble identifying with his character and feeling his pain as his life unfolded in a series of tragedies and struggles.
In summary, The Roma Plot was a bit of a mixed bag for me. On one hand I loved the historical content and appreciated the rich background information the author provided. On the other hand I felt that I may not be the right audience for this book, as I found it a bit too political and involved at times. I am sure it will appeal to readers who love spy fiction and books set against the backdrop of political events, and who can fully appreciate the intricate, multi-layered plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
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In The Roma Plot, Bolduc delivers a multi-layered, very intricate plot with a true historical background and some famous historical characters interspersed with fictional ones. I must admit that whilst I found the history fascinating, the book was at times a bit too political for me, and I found it difficult to keep track of the multiple characters who come and go between the chapters. Some characters even changed their names and identities throughout the story, which presented an even tougher challenge. This was not a book you could easily put down and pick up again. I often found myself flicking back and forth in confusion: “And who is this again?”
The story plays our over several different time frames, with one thread set during WWII and the other starting in the present time. But as Max is reminiscing about the origins of his friendship with Kevin, his story also contains elements from the past few years, skipping back and forth over events that have brought him to his current predicament. Whilst Emil’s chapters are clearly labelled as being in the past, I found myself struggling a few times to work out the timings in the “present”.
I found Max to be an intriguing and interesting character, who makes for a refreshingly different protagonist. Being a con-man he certainly stands out from your average detective, and got himself into some unusual situations. I initially found it a bit hard to get into his head, which may have something to do with the book being the second in a series. Since Emil makes his first appearance here, I had no trouble identifying with his character and feeling his pain as his life unfolded in a series of tragedies and struggles.
In summary, The Roma Plot was a bit of a mixed bag for me. On one hand I loved the historical content and appreciated the rich background information the author provided. On the other hand I felt that I may not be the right audience for this book, as I found it a bit too political and involved at times. I am sure it will appeal to readers who love spy fiction and books set against the backdrop of political events, and who can fully appreciate the intricate, multi-layered plot.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free electronic copy of this novel and for giving me the opportunity to provide an honest review.
*blog* *facebook* *instagram*
November 2, 2017
The Roma Plot is an incredibly rich murder mystery, con-artist story, history lesson, and travelogue. Set in places as diverse as Montreal, Bucharest, and Winnipeg, it is a story of family secrets that date back to the Second World War, a secret romance in a concentration camp, and a friendship with the Communist Dictator of Romania forged on the basis of a promise of an autonomous region for the Roma, the people who came from India a millennium ago and wandered across the face of Europe without a home, also known as the Gypsies. They, too, were rounded up and murdered by the Nazis and experimented on by the evil doctor. It is a fascinating story once all these diverse threads are brought together even though the different narratives seemed to have little to do with each other at first and it took a while for me to fully warm up to this one. Thanks to Dundurn Books for a copy for review.
November 26, 2017
This book swings between the dark days of WWII and the present as it presents the story of several Roma families. It captures the evil of the Nazis and the even greater evil of Stalin for the Roma of Romania. It has all the spies, traitors and criminals you could ever want to know, and it includes a number of the good (but not perfect) guys. If you want a book that will excite, educate and entertain you, this is it. It has all the elements I look for in a book.
September 23, 2017
This is a fascinating book, I enjoyed it immensely.
Thank you Netgalley and Dundurn Press for the eARC.
We start off in the Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp, where Emil Rosca, a young Roma man, gets rescued by Christina Muller, the wife of one of German men running the camp. He is about to be operated on as part of the human research Dr. Mengele and his team of doctors perpetrated on the prisoners. He and Christina fall in love and have an affair until the end of the war.
Fast forward to today: Max O'Brian, a professional conman, gets word that his good friend Kevin Dundurand is accused of killing a group of Roma in Bucharest and he jumps on a plane to see what he can do to help his friend. Romania doesn't get much press and it was interesting reading about the city, full of tourists and skateboarding kids in Bucharest, not how I imagined it at all. Soon Max is on the run from the police too, accused of murdering a Roma woman. It's obvious he and Kevin are being set up, but by who?
This is a thriller and a good adventure, but so much more. The 1,000 year history of the Roma was an eye opener, the sad facts about their plight painful, very enlightening, and had me asking why I hadn't heard about it before and why do they seem to be so hated and oppressed?
The strands of Auschwitz and the present answer a lot of questions, as the past catches up with the now.
This was a wonderful read and highly recommended.
Thank you Netgalley and Dundurn Press for the eARC.
We start off in the Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp, where Emil Rosca, a young Roma man, gets rescued by Christina Muller, the wife of one of German men running the camp. He is about to be operated on as part of the human research Dr. Mengele and his team of doctors perpetrated on the prisoners. He and Christina fall in love and have an affair until the end of the war.
Fast forward to today: Max O'Brian, a professional conman, gets word that his good friend Kevin Dundurand is accused of killing a group of Roma in Bucharest and he jumps on a plane to see what he can do to help his friend. Romania doesn't get much press and it was interesting reading about the city, full of tourists and skateboarding kids in Bucharest, not how I imagined it at all. Soon Max is on the run from the police too, accused of murdering a Roma woman. It's obvious he and Kevin are being set up, but by who?
This is a thriller and a good adventure, but so much more. The 1,000 year history of the Roma was an eye opener, the sad facts about their plight painful, very enlightening, and had me asking why I hadn't heard about it before and why do they seem to be so hated and oppressed?
The strands of Auschwitz and the present answer a lot of questions, as the past catches up with the now.
This was a wonderful read and highly recommended.
November 22, 2017
This book is an outstanding thriller/crime story with fascinating historical and modern-day settings and a convoluted, but brilliantly conceived, plot that had me enthralled from the start to the last page. It is such a shame that half of the characters are fictional – I really wanted Emil, Max and Christine to be real living people. Their stories and characters were just so well developed and vivid, they cried out to be alive in fact – not just fiction. The world would have been a much better place if other characters – Mengele, Stalin, Ceaușescu etc – had remained fictional.
“The Roma Plot” covers a nearly sixty-year sweep of some of the most appalling European history. The persecution of the Roma people neither began, nor ended with the genocidal policies of Hitler. The story here begins in Auschwitz-Birkenau with the young Roma man, Emil and his accordion – then flips to modern day Bucharest, New York in the 90s, Canada, and back again. You know that the Emil and Max strains of the story must meet up at some point, but why or how takes the whole absorbing book to discover. In between you learn a lot about the Roma people, their culture, lifestyles and the incredible hardships that they have suffered, and still suffer today. I knew the general details about their persecution under the Nazis, and had heard rumours of the continued legalised harassment of groups of Roma around Europe, but this book offered up many tantalising aspects of Roma history, that I knew nothing about. Now, I really want to know more.
The Roma history is quite central to the plot of this book. The thriller/crime part of the story seems to be about con artist, Max, going to Romania to rescue his one genuine friend, Kevin, who has disappeared, after being accused of the murder of at least 23 Roma men, women and children. The murder has the hall-marks of a race-hate crime, but Max cannot believe that Kevin is a murderer, nor is he aware of any reason that Kevin would have for being in Romania or consorting with (or killing?) Roma.
While I immediately warmed to Max – a flawed but lovable character, despite his past criminal activities – I found Kevin to be an irresponsible failure, always ready to blame others for his tribulations, and to rely overly on Max to bail him out. My impression of Kevin did change, somewhat, as the tale progressed, and more about his family history came to light.
There are twists and turns in plot and characters all over the place. Apart from Max – who is a professional chameleon con-man, but essentially as shown – no-one in the modern story is quite what or who they seem. This is certainly not a book where the reader has everything sussed by the second chapter – or even approaching the end. There is always one surprise yet to come.
It doesn’t just have a great story-line – it is also superbly written and translated. The atmosphere is palpable: “A magnificent day, intolerable, death wallowing in its power” and “The night was thick with silence. A feeling of isolation, of extreme solitude, as if he were all alone after the end of the world”.
I can highly recommend this book – to those who love thrillers, crime novels, history books, politics, culture, good writing… it ticks so many boxes. Read and enjoy.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
“The Roma Plot” covers a nearly sixty-year sweep of some of the most appalling European history. The persecution of the Roma people neither began, nor ended with the genocidal policies of Hitler. The story here begins in Auschwitz-Birkenau with the young Roma man, Emil and his accordion – then flips to modern day Bucharest, New York in the 90s, Canada, and back again. You know that the Emil and Max strains of the story must meet up at some point, but why or how takes the whole absorbing book to discover. In between you learn a lot about the Roma people, their culture, lifestyles and the incredible hardships that they have suffered, and still suffer today. I knew the general details about their persecution under the Nazis, and had heard rumours of the continued legalised harassment of groups of Roma around Europe, but this book offered up many tantalising aspects of Roma history, that I knew nothing about. Now, I really want to know more.
The Roma history is quite central to the plot of this book. The thriller/crime part of the story seems to be about con artist, Max, going to Romania to rescue his one genuine friend, Kevin, who has disappeared, after being accused of the murder of at least 23 Roma men, women and children. The murder has the hall-marks of a race-hate crime, but Max cannot believe that Kevin is a murderer, nor is he aware of any reason that Kevin would have for being in Romania or consorting with (or killing?) Roma.
While I immediately warmed to Max – a flawed but lovable character, despite his past criminal activities – I found Kevin to be an irresponsible failure, always ready to blame others for his tribulations, and to rely overly on Max to bail him out. My impression of Kevin did change, somewhat, as the tale progressed, and more about his family history came to light.
There are twists and turns in plot and characters all over the place. Apart from Max – who is a professional chameleon con-man, but essentially as shown – no-one in the modern story is quite what or who they seem. This is certainly not a book where the reader has everything sussed by the second chapter – or even approaching the end. There is always one surprise yet to come.
It doesn’t just have a great story-line – it is also superbly written and translated. The atmosphere is palpable: “A magnificent day, intolerable, death wallowing in its power” and “The night was thick with silence. A feeling of isolation, of extreme solitude, as if he were all alone after the end of the world”.
I can highly recommend this book – to those who love thrillers, crime novels, history books, politics, culture, good writing… it ticks so many boxes. Read and enjoy.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
October 7, 2017
I would like to thank NetGalley and Dundurn Press for providing a copy of this novel for review. Max O'Brien is a con man who is wanted by the police.n living in New York under the name Robert Cheskin, he first meets Kevin Dandurand on a street corner as Kevin sells Christmas trees to make ends meet. Max does not form attachments because of his profession, but Kevin and his family become an exception. When he is notified that Kevin has been implicated in the deaths of 23 Roma in Bucharest, max is determined to learn the truth.
In Bucharest Max is joined by Toms Boerescu, his guide and translator. Despite his advanced age and ill health, he introduces Max to the plight of the Roma. This is explored in more detail as Mario Bolduc introduces Emil Rosca. Emil's story begins in Auschwitz, where he survives with the help of a German officer's wife. From Auschwitz to a Russian work camp and finally returned to Romania as the leader of a Roma family, he works to improve the lives of the Roma despite the persecution and discrimination that they face.
Bolduc has given readers a story full of unexpected twists that at times will keep you on the edge of your seat and at other times will tug at your emotions. It is a story of love, loss and rediscovery. While Max O'Brien may shun relationships, he can not help being moved by what he discovers and you will definitely look forward to his return in future stories.
In Bucharest Max is joined by Toms Boerescu, his guide and translator. Despite his advanced age and ill health, he introduces Max to the plight of the Roma. This is explored in more detail as Mario Bolduc introduces Emil Rosca. Emil's story begins in Auschwitz, where he survives with the help of a German officer's wife. From Auschwitz to a Russian work camp and finally returned to Romania as the leader of a Roma family, he works to improve the lives of the Roma despite the persecution and discrimination that they face.
Bolduc has given readers a story full of unexpected twists that at times will keep you on the edge of your seat and at other times will tug at your emotions. It is a story of love, loss and rediscovery. While Max O'Brien may shun relationships, he can not help being moved by what he discovers and you will definitely look forward to his return in future stories.
May 3, 2023
Involved and convoluted plot is made that much harder to follow because of awkward phrasing and some just strange, clumsy writing.
That was something I said to myself several times while reading, then I discovered it was originally written in French.
So we can blame the translator for that awkwardness.
This story revolves around a people not well known or, to be blunt, well liked in most of the Western world: as we usually know them, Gypsies.
But author Bolduc is sympathetic to their plot and seems to be quite well aware of their culture and their history.
Roma, to use a more polite name for them, were, like the Jews, targets and victims of the Nazis. Much of this story is set in the concentration camps of the Nazis then of the communists, Soviet and Romanian.
Though most of the central characters are fictional, there are many real-life names and too many horrible, vicious, barbaric scenes from history.
This is not a comfortable book to read, and I don't like books or stories about crooks, but author Bolduc has constructed a plot that switches back and forth from history to modern days and finally brings it all together.
It does require paying close attention to be able to follow.
Ultimately, I was not satisfied, but I am grateful to Bolduc for alerting me to more knowledge and information of the not-too-distant past.
That was something I said to myself several times while reading, then I discovered it was originally written in French.
So we can blame the translator for that awkwardness.
This story revolves around a people not well known or, to be blunt, well liked in most of the Western world: as we usually know them, Gypsies.
But author Bolduc is sympathetic to their plot and seems to be quite well aware of their culture and their history.
Roma, to use a more polite name for them, were, like the Jews, targets and victims of the Nazis. Much of this story is set in the concentration camps of the Nazis then of the communists, Soviet and Romanian.
Though most of the central characters are fictional, there are many real-life names and too many horrible, vicious, barbaric scenes from history.
This is not a comfortable book to read, and I don't like books or stories about crooks, but author Bolduc has constructed a plot that switches back and forth from history to modern days and finally brings it all together.
It does require paying close attention to be able to follow.
Ultimately, I was not satisfied, but I am grateful to Bolduc for alerting me to more knowledge and information of the not-too-distant past.
November 8, 2017
Really interesting mystery/thriller/historical fiction that addresses a little known issue- the fate of the Roma not only during the Holocaust but today. Max is a con man, yes, but that's sort of irrelevant to this tale, which switches back and forth between WWII and the present and between Romania and Canada. He goes to Romania to find the truth about one of his friends, who has been accused of mass murder. That in and of itself would make an interesting tale but Bolduc has gone further to explore some of the political issues for the Roma, as well as their history. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC of this well researched and written (and translated) novel.
April 5, 2020
I'm not sure what to make of the book. It's my first Max O'Brien book.
There are 3 story lines, which made it a little difficult to follow in the beginning but Bolduc did a good job tying them together and the twists of the story surprised me.
Would I have finished it if I wasn't in "shelter-in-place," I'm not sure but I am glad I did read it.
There are 3 story lines, which made it a little difficult to follow in the beginning but Bolduc did a good job tying them together and the twists of the story surprised me.
Would I have finished it if I wasn't in "shelter-in-place," I'm not sure but I am glad I did read it.
May 4, 2021
I learned a lot about eastern European history and mostly enjoyed the plot. Max O'Brien is an interesting character. I will probably read more of these books.
September 18, 2018
A Max O’Brien mystery set in present-day Romania and the concentration camps of WWII
Max is a professional swindler, robbing wealthy, ambitious (and often corrupt) individuals in Canada and abroad, much like a modern-day Robin Hood. He may be a con man but Max is a true friend. When he hears that his friend Kevin Dandurand is wanted by the police for a seemingly racially motivated killing spree he flies to Bucharest to help in any way he can. He uncovers buried information about a young Roma, Emil Rosca, who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp to become a leader of his community during the time of Ceaucescu and who had a passionate affair with the wife of a Nazi. But what do Emil and Kevin have in common?
The book looks at the fate of the Roma people and their quest for a territory they could call their own after centuries of wandering around the world. The author shows that the Romani culture is rich and varied and he weaves expressions and customs of the various Romani groups into the story. It is evident that a lot of research was done, not only about the Romani but about the conditions in the concentration camps and Romania during the time of the dictator Ceaucescu. A book well worth reading.
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Max is a professional swindler, robbing wealthy, ambitious (and often corrupt) individuals in Canada and abroad, much like a modern-day Robin Hood. He may be a con man but Max is a true friend. When he hears that his friend Kevin Dandurand is wanted by the police for a seemingly racially motivated killing spree he flies to Bucharest to help in any way he can. He uncovers buried information about a young Roma, Emil Rosca, who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp to become a leader of his community during the time of Ceaucescu and who had a passionate affair with the wife of a Nazi. But what do Emil and Kevin have in common?
The book looks at the fate of the Roma people and their quest for a territory they could call their own after centuries of wandering around the world. The author shows that the Romani culture is rich and varied and he weaves expressions and customs of the various Romani groups into the story. It is evident that a lot of research was done, not only about the Romani but about the conditions in the concentration camps and Romania during the time of the dictator Ceaucescu. A book well worth reading.
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
May 27, 2015
Bien aimé ce roman
March 26, 2019
This is everything that a psychological thriller/mystery should be! The plot moved fast and kept me wanting more. I am definitely going to read more from this author!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews