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Decker
DECKER CARRIES AROUND A BEEF WITH HIS BOSS, A CHIP ON HIS SHOULDER, HORRORS FROM THE KOREAN WAR, AND THE NEED FOR PAYBACK Ex-marine and ex-con Tom Decker, paint clerk at Decker’s Hardware, keeps his secret life from everyone except O’Neil, his ex-con pal and owner of the local bar. In his spare time, Decker robs banks, with the goal of building up enough cash to buy the hardware store from his despised boss whose family cheated his father out of it during the depression. Things are moving along nicely until he hooks up with the ex-wife of a NY City mob boss. It’s not long until Decker is in way over his head. "All the other writers of crime fiction who can write this well are dead.” — Robert Sabbag, best selling author of Snow A Brief Career in the Cocaine Trade. “ Very Cinematic.” — Linda Biagi, Biagi Rights Management.
238 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 1, 2018
Tom Decker is a Korean War vet and an ex-con. Now back from the war, he mixes paint for customers in a small New York town in a hardware store that once belonged to his father. But his father went broke during the Depression and was forced to sell the store at a huge loss to a wealthy man named Smith before hanging himself in the basement of the family home. The hardware store is still named Decker's, but instead of owning the business, Tom is forced to work for the sniveling son of the man who swindled his father out of it.
Understandably, Tom has a huge chip on his shoulder. Since his father lost the business, Tom has served time in prison and distinguished himself as a Marine in the Korean War. Now, when he's not mixing paint, in his spare time he's robbing banks in an effort to accumulate enough money to buy the store back.
When a beautiful, sexy woman, walks into the store one day in need of a gallon of paint, Tom mixes it up. He also falls head over heels for the customer. She's immediately attracted to him as well; the fireworks begin, and only after the fact does Decker discover the the woman is the ex-wife of a New York City gangster who's currently in jail. Ex-wife or not, Decker is soon in hot water on that score.
Decker's partner in most of his robberies is a bar owner named O'Neil, and when one of their heists goes wrong, Decker finds himself in even deeper trouble with both the cops and the mob anxious to get their hands on him. In consequence, he's going to have to be particularly resourceful and especially lucky if he even hopes to stay alive, let alone fulfill his dreams.
This is an especially good debut novel from Kevin Roberts who is himself an ex-Marine. The setting in the early 1950s is very well-rendered; the characters are interesting and believable; there's plenty of action, and the plot moves swiftly along. I really enjoyed spending time in Decker's world and in his company, and I'm looking forward to the second book in the series.
Understandably, Tom has a huge chip on his shoulder. Since his father lost the business, Tom has served time in prison and distinguished himself as a Marine in the Korean War. Now, when he's not mixing paint, in his spare time he's robbing banks in an effort to accumulate enough money to buy the store back.
When a beautiful, sexy woman, walks into the store one day in need of a gallon of paint, Tom mixes it up. He also falls head over heels for the customer. She's immediately attracted to him as well; the fireworks begin, and only after the fact does Decker discover the the woman is the ex-wife of a New York City gangster who's currently in jail. Ex-wife or not, Decker is soon in hot water on that score.
Decker's partner in most of his robberies is a bar owner named O'Neil, and when one of their heists goes wrong, Decker finds himself in even deeper trouble with both the cops and the mob anxious to get their hands on him. In consequence, he's going to have to be particularly resourceful and especially lucky if he even hopes to stay alive, let alone fulfill his dreams.
This is an especially good debut novel from Kevin Roberts who is himself an ex-Marine. The setting in the early 1950s is very well-rendered; the characters are interesting and believable; there's plenty of action, and the plot moves swiftly along. I really enjoyed spending time in Decker's world and in his company, and I'm looking forward to the second book in the series.
March 8, 2018
Decker is an ex-marine, having seen action in Korea and an ex-con but he's currently working in the paint department of Decker's Hardware store. Unfortunately the store doesn't belong to him, as his old man had to sell it during the depression and it's now owned by spoiled rich kid Frank Smith. Decker has a secret life as a stick up man and his dream is to save up enough of his ill gotten gains to buy back his pop's store. He carries out heists on his own and also with local bar owner O'Neill, the only person who knows his secret. When Irene steps into Decker's life he is hooked but it turns out her ex is a Mafia Don, currently serving time in Attica, who still likes to keep a tight reign on her life and Decker soon finds himself out of his depth and in the grip of the mob.
It's difficult to believe that this is Kevin Roberts debut as it's such an assured and rounded novel. It's set in the late '50's and Robert's has captured the spirit of the times brilliantly. Not only in the writing, which is suitably 'pulpy' but he also has the dialogue, music, art, food, clothes and sports of the time down to a tee. ( Not that I was around then to know !!) I also loved that wherever Decker goes he takes in the decor and lets us know the type of paint used including the shade and the finish ! There is also a fine cast of characters who all have their part to play in the story from the various mobsters, bar regulars, the hardware store staff and customers, including the unforgettable Connelly brothers.
A fine debut indeed and will be keeping an eye out for more of Kevin Robert's work in the future.
It's difficult to believe that this is Kevin Roberts debut as it's such an assured and rounded novel. It's set in the late '50's and Robert's has captured the spirit of the times brilliantly. Not only in the writing, which is suitably 'pulpy' but he also has the dialogue, music, art, food, clothes and sports of the time down to a tee. ( Not that I was around then to know !!) I also loved that wherever Decker goes he takes in the decor and lets us know the type of paint used including the shade and the finish ! There is also a fine cast of characters who all have their part to play in the story from the various mobsters, bar regulars, the hardware store staff and customers, including the unforgettable Connelly brothers.
A fine debut indeed and will be keeping an eye out for more of Kevin Robert's work in the future.
September 11, 2018
Decker is an ex-Marine now working as a paint mixer at the local hardware store, Decker's, which was formerly owned by his father. The novel opens with him meeting attractive Irene and striking up a relationship. Turns out Irene is the ex-wife of a local high ranking mobster who doesn't take kindly to her having suitors. When Decker isn't working at Decker's he's out pulling robberies in an attempt to raise the money need to but back the store. Enzo, Irene's ex, becomes aware of Decker's other livelihood and uses this in order for Decker to continue to see Irene.
This one is classic noir and scenes from a Parker novel combined. It's a memorable ride populated with great characters and writing that hums along at pace with plenty of wit. It's a book that's written to a high standard that never complicates things. Well worth a read.
This one is classic noir and scenes from a Parker novel combined. It's a memorable ride populated with great characters and writing that hums along at pace with plenty of wit. It's a book that's written to a high standard that never complicates things. Well worth a read.
August 20, 2018
Dontcha just love a story in which you root for a thief... with a heart of gold? That's kind of what we have here in Decker, a wonderful novel about a Korean war vet ex-marine and ex-con called Tom Decker, who is working as paint clerk at Decker's Hardware. Yes, the store previously owned by his dad, who hung himself after having been cheated out of the store during the depression. Decker wants to amass enough savings to buy back the store from the current owner, a spoiled good-for-nothing who inherited the place from his father (the one who cheated Decker's dad). No love lost here.
Decker lives a dual life-- paint clerk in public, bank robber in private, but only until he has enough to buy back his family's store. The only person who knows about this is Mitch O'Neil, an ex-con who serves as Decker's partner and mentor in crime. A likeable fellow is O'Neil, runs a local drinking establishment frequented by some colorful regulars, including two large and gruff Irish brothers who are painters and know Decker from the store.
Things seem to be going well for Decker, inasmuch as his heists and those planned by O'Neil all seem well planned, non-violent (no one gets killed), and cleverly executed. But things become complicated by a big score that goes slightly awry, along with Decker's personal involvement with a beautiful and sexy (but self-serving) ex-wife of a jailed mob-boss. As a result, Decker and O'Neil are blackmailed into a bank-job planned and run by the mob, in order to clear their "debt" to the latter. It's complicated, but that's why you should read the book. To add insult to injury, Decker loses the sexy divorcee girlfriend to his scummy, rich boss no less.
Not to fear, Decker is the object of a co-worker's affection, a wonderful character named Dottie G., for whom the reader instinctively roots. You just can't help wanting these two to get together and for Decker to quit his nefarious ways and settle down with Dottie. After all, the setting for the novel is 1950's post Korean war, and the dialogue and sense of place are done beautifully.
This is a terrific novel, with an engaging protagonist, a cast of wonderful, believable characters, and enough action to keep you turning pages without pause. I really hope this author has more in the pipeline, as I'd like to read more of this type of storytelling. It's well worth your time.
Decker lives a dual life-- paint clerk in public, bank robber in private, but only until he has enough to buy back his family's store. The only person who knows about this is Mitch O'Neil, an ex-con who serves as Decker's partner and mentor in crime. A likeable fellow is O'Neil, runs a local drinking establishment frequented by some colorful regulars, including two large and gruff Irish brothers who are painters and know Decker from the store.
Things seem to be going well for Decker, inasmuch as his heists and those planned by O'Neil all seem well planned, non-violent (no one gets killed), and cleverly executed. But things become complicated by a big score that goes slightly awry, along with Decker's personal involvement with a beautiful and sexy (but self-serving) ex-wife of a jailed mob-boss. As a result, Decker and O'Neil are blackmailed into a bank-job planned and run by the mob, in order to clear their "debt" to the latter. It's complicated, but that's why you should read the book. To add insult to injury, Decker loses the sexy divorcee girlfriend to his scummy, rich boss no less.
Not to fear, Decker is the object of a co-worker's affection, a wonderful character named Dottie G., for whom the reader instinctively roots. You just can't help wanting these two to get together and for Decker to quit his nefarious ways and settle down with Dottie. After all, the setting for the novel is 1950's post Korean war, and the dialogue and sense of place are done beautifully.
This is a terrific novel, with an engaging protagonist, a cast of wonderful, believable characters, and enough action to keep you turning pages without pause. I really hope this author has more in the pipeline, as I'd like to read more of this type of storytelling. It's well worth your time.
April 22, 2020
Fun, gritty, exciting. I am not usually a fiction reader but this one kept me turning the pages long after my bedtime! Kevin Roberts has a way of writing the way I imagine people in the 50s used to talk. Not one unnecessary word in this book. Decker has a unique voice, and I rooted for him from the very first page.
December 29, 2016
A real page turner. Engaging from beginning to end.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews