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Breaking In
James Ibedson has a problem. He was born with a silver spoon. And while he dreams of becoming a respected artist, the critics see a spoiled dilettante.
After a tepid East Side debut, he concocts an outlandish scheme. He will break into the Whitney Museum. Risk his freedom, maybe even his life. Dare to challenge the masterpieces gathered there and hang a painting—his own—on the wall.
After a tepid East Side debut, he concocts an outlandish scheme. He will break into the Whitney Museum. Risk his freedom, maybe even his life. Dare to challenge the masterpieces gathered there and hang a painting—his own—on the wall.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 7, 2020
This fun, quirky literary novel is a delightful Thomas Crowne Affair-esque heist set in the NYC art scene. James has it all—or nothing, depending who you ask. He’s rich, and the critics won’t take his art seriously (although I was seriously digging some of the fun painting scenes—particularly the one where he went self-portrait on a wall that had me seeing Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica. Seriously. This is an awesome book for art nerds.) So what to do? How about an art heist for fun! The sharp, sarcastic writing is what makes this such a treat, as well as the character. James teams up with Cheryl/Shard, who may be more than meets the eye and Raymond, who knows how to pull off a good heist. Ah, the fun begins!
This story is at its heart, a complex character study, a story about self-discovery and the relationship between the characters in addition to anticipation of the heist itself. I won’t say too much without spoiling the delightful twists that come later in the novel, but Brian Marshall crafts deeply knotted multi-generational relationships, and once we get to the actual heist (which had me on the edge of my seat in an awesome Mission Impossible way!)… let’s just say there are still surprises left in store. Perfect for art lovers and literary fiction fans.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
This story is at its heart, a complex character study, a story about self-discovery and the relationship between the characters in addition to anticipation of the heist itself. I won’t say too much without spoiling the delightful twists that come later in the novel, but Brian Marshall crafts deeply knotted multi-generational relationships, and once we get to the actual heist (which had me on the edge of my seat in an awesome Mission Impossible way!)… let’s just say there are still surprises left in store. Perfect for art lovers and literary fiction fans.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
June 25, 2018
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
This book was a delight to read. The style is brisk and snappy, without the gratuitous sarcasm that often afflicts stories with a hard-boiled edge. Since the author chose to divulge the main premise in the very description, the onus was on him to keep the reader interested until a major plot twist is introduced three quarters into the book. He does this admirably by painting a convincing and sympathetic picture of flawed human beings in the cynical world of art as a business. The logistical details of carrying out the proposed plan are perhaps a bit drawn out, and at times defy credulity (e.g. geeks hacking into the FSB database to plant fake information about Putin that was taken seriously)--unless the author meant the heist itself to look a bit like a caricature. And while it speaks to the author's lyricism, a character's claim to be able to tell a woman's painting technique from a man's is also "a bit much." Yet these are, on the whole, minor setbacks in a masterfully-written story.
This book was a delight to read. The style is brisk and snappy, without the gratuitous sarcasm that often afflicts stories with a hard-boiled edge. Since the author chose to divulge the main premise in the very description, the onus was on him to keep the reader interested until a major plot twist is introduced three quarters into the book. He does this admirably by painting a convincing and sympathetic picture of flawed human beings in the cynical world of art as a business. The logistical details of carrying out the proposed plan are perhaps a bit drawn out, and at times defy credulity (e.g. geeks hacking into the FSB database to plant fake information about Putin that was taken seriously)--unless the author meant the heist itself to look a bit like a caricature. And while it speaks to the author's lyricism, a character's claim to be able to tell a woman's painting technique from a man's is also "a bit much." Yet these are, on the whole, minor setbacks in a masterfully-written story.
February 28, 2021
A mid-life heist
I love a good heist story; unfortunately, this isn't one. It is still a great story about a man's mid-life crisis. I feel had the blurb been more accurate about a literary fiction story (with my expectations properly calibrated) I would have given it five stars. Heist books have a flow: act one, assemble team; act two, recon and rehearse; act three, heist with complications. The recon was conveniently conducted before the book started by someone else and the rehearsal was a montage paragraph which accounted for eight weeks. This book is really about a rich guy being bored with his life and searching for something new. The rest of my review has spoilers.
The Good.
The narration has a conversational flow. So does the dialogue. It felt like the stream of consciousness of a friend.
James first meeting Lange at the Chinese restaurant made me think of the opening of Temple of Doom.
James' plan is to break a painting into a museum instead of stealing it.
Vincent's reaction when James came back had me intrigued, though I don't think the revelation was that rewarding.
James blackmailed Vincent with $3M relief for Sudan. He played his conscience like a fiddle.
James gets caught.
The Bad.
I prefer dialogue versus narration to move things along. This book is probably two thirds narration with a healthy dose of purple prose. I don't need to know how sunlight hits a room.
Many paragraphs use pronouns, like he, for James. I had to go back a few times to confirm the author was still talking about James and not a different character.
The heist planning is barely mentioned. Not until Fifteen shows up at 78% mark. The real heist is last 8% of a short book. This was a blatant bait and switch considering "heist" is in the title. This doesn't qualify as a heist story for me. It's a mid-life crisis book.
Fifteen is a super genius and hacker extraordinaire. This is a bad trope for comic books. It surpasses my willingness to suspend belief in this genre. How convenient the kid lived in the same city.
Cheryl and James are jerks, especially to each other.
The Technical.
There is some profanity.
I love a good heist story; unfortunately, this isn't one. It is still a great story about a man's mid-life crisis. I feel had the blurb been more accurate about a literary fiction story (with my expectations properly calibrated) I would have given it five stars. Heist books have a flow: act one, assemble team; act two, recon and rehearse; act three, heist with complications. The recon was conveniently conducted before the book started by someone else and the rehearsal was a montage paragraph which accounted for eight weeks. This book is really about a rich guy being bored with his life and searching for something new. The rest of my review has spoilers.
The Good.
The narration has a conversational flow. So does the dialogue. It felt like the stream of consciousness of a friend.
James first meeting Lange at the Chinese restaurant made me think of the opening of Temple of Doom.
James' plan is to break a painting into a museum instead of stealing it.
Vincent's reaction when James came back had me intrigued, though I don't think the revelation was that rewarding.
James blackmailed Vincent with $3M relief for Sudan. He played his conscience like a fiddle.
James gets caught.
The Bad.
I prefer dialogue versus narration to move things along. This book is probably two thirds narration with a healthy dose of purple prose. I don't need to know how sunlight hits a room.
Many paragraphs use pronouns, like he, for James. I had to go back a few times to confirm the author was still talking about James and not a different character.
The heist planning is barely mentioned. Not until Fifteen shows up at 78% mark. The real heist is last 8% of a short book. This was a blatant bait and switch considering "heist" is in the title. This doesn't qualify as a heist story for me. It's a mid-life crisis book.
Fifteen is a super genius and hacker extraordinaire. This is a bad trope for comic books. It surpasses my willingness to suspend belief in this genre. How convenient the kid lived in the same city.
Cheryl and James are jerks, especially to each other.
The Technical.
There is some profanity.
May 17, 2018
This is a fast-paced, intelligent caper novel set in the cutthroat New York art world. The premise is that a young painter hatches a unique but totally illegal plan to advance his career. What could go wrong? Almost everything... but unexpected things go right, too, and result is a fun, thought-provoking read, full of twists, turns, and graceful insights.
June 4, 2018
Mix a cynical Raymond-Chanderlesque narrator with an upsidedown version of an Ocean's Eleven-style caper, add a sharp send-up of the NYC art world--voila! Be cooler than your friends and read this book before the movie comes out.
March 23, 2019
Cynical and intriguing read.
James is quite a character I must say! Despite the fact that he had enough money from his rich dad and he just had his paintings exposed in a gallery, something was missing. He felt that his life lacked achievements, recognition. That made him decide to risk everything. He came in contact with people that know people in the underground and started working on his plan. He did have his moments where everything seemed a bit too much but he continued. His plan was an ingenious one. Planning to break into a museum and sneak in his painting it is something I never heard of. The things didn't go without a few surprises.
The description of the characters and places is well done. The thoughts of the MC are very detailed and slowed the pace a bit but made it fun and interesting. The twist at the end was somehow unexpected but it made the story much more intriguing. Did James manage? I let you discover on your own.
The author is a talented one and I surely recommend.
More book reviews on: https://www.nicojgenes.com/book-reviews
James is quite a character I must say! Despite the fact that he had enough money from his rich dad and he just had his paintings exposed in a gallery, something was missing. He felt that his life lacked achievements, recognition. That made him decide to risk everything. He came in contact with people that know people in the underground and started working on his plan. He did have his moments where everything seemed a bit too much but he continued. His plan was an ingenious one. Planning to break into a museum and sneak in his painting it is something I never heard of. The things didn't go without a few surprises.
The description of the characters and places is well done. The thoughts of the MC are very detailed and slowed the pace a bit but made it fun and interesting. The twist at the end was somehow unexpected but it made the story much more intriguing. Did James manage? I let you discover on your own.
The author is a talented one and I surely recommend.
More book reviews on: https://www.nicojgenes.com/book-reviews
August 8, 2022
James Ibedson is a 38-year-old Rich Kid with no accomplishments or ambitions, save to be a painter. Despite his earnest efforts, he believes that he's overlooked by the art world solely because of his privileged background. After yet another terrible review of his latest exhibition, an offhand conversation with his dealer gives him an idea: hire someone to break into a museum and hang one of his works there. His connections lead him to a man named Raymond who can help, but James soon finds out that this heist will cost him more than he expected, in more ways than one.
I have long had a soft spot for classic noir, and this book had me hooked right away: from the outlandish premise, to the vaguely Saul Bass-esque cover, to the wonderfully overwritten opening paragraphs describing the aftermath of an opening night. Breaking In is clearly a work of love, and that love is overflowing from every word: love for its subject matter (art itself and the world that surrounds it), love for its setting (New York City, both the glamorous and less glamorous side), and most of all, love for the genre.
There's a very specific style of prose associated with noir, the kind where you can tell the author was paid by the word count. Rambling, disjointed, occasionally bordering on pretentious─by all accounts it should be bad, but it isn't. The seemingly careless wording offers a direct insight into our protagonist's mind, and often reveals unexpectedly sharp insight into the characters, the story, or life itself. This kind of writing is harder to pull off than it seems, but Marshall nails it.
It almost feels like an afterthought to mention the characters at this point, but they really deserve their own round of praise. Marshall gives a strong first impression of each of them with a few striking, almost cartoonish details, then allows them to naturally develop into their own fully rounded versions over the course of the story.
Breaking In is, as far as I can tell, a love letter to noir, but it's not an imitation. It is its own creation, which adopts and reinterprets the classic style and tropes into something fresh and modern. Because of that, I can wholly recommend it for anyone, whether they're fans of the genre or not.
I have long had a soft spot for classic noir, and this book had me hooked right away: from the outlandish premise, to the vaguely Saul Bass-esque cover, to the wonderfully overwritten opening paragraphs describing the aftermath of an opening night. Breaking In is clearly a work of love, and that love is overflowing from every word: love for its subject matter (art itself and the world that surrounds it), love for its setting (New York City, both the glamorous and less glamorous side), and most of all, love for the genre.
There's a very specific style of prose associated with noir, the kind where you can tell the author was paid by the word count. Rambling, disjointed, occasionally bordering on pretentious─by all accounts it should be bad, but it isn't. The seemingly careless wording offers a direct insight into our protagonist's mind, and often reveals unexpectedly sharp insight into the characters, the story, or life itself. This kind of writing is harder to pull off than it seems, but Marshall nails it.
It almost feels like an afterthought to mention the characters at this point, but they really deserve their own round of praise. Marshall gives a strong first impression of each of them with a few striking, almost cartoonish details, then allows them to naturally develop into their own fully rounded versions over the course of the story.
Breaking In is, as far as I can tell, a love letter to noir, but it's not an imitation. It is its own creation, which adopts and reinterprets the classic style and tropes into something fresh and modern. Because of that, I can wholly recommend it for anyone, whether they're fans of the genre or not.
September 11, 2018
First of all, I have to commend the author on his writing. This book would give any professionally published novel a run for the money. Seriously, Marshall has talent.
The characters in this story made it interesting for sure. James is a wealthy quick-witted artist who desires recognition for his talent. When the experts repeatedly refuse to give him a chance, he becomes resentful and fears his wealth has negatively affected his ability to integrate into the art world. Refusing to give up, he formulates a risky plan to change his stars .
With the help of Harry Lange, a guy who is no stranger to the underworld art scene, Raymond, a character who isn't afraid of a little jail time and his ex girlfriend, "Shard," who has a profound effect on James, they embark on an unpredictable journey. The twist at the end in particular really took me off guard . Overall, this is a great read, filled with interesting characters, and unforgettable themes about the human condition.
Although I enjoyed this novel, the one criticism I have is It started a tad slow for my taste and devoted a little too much time to the MC's love for art and painting. Although this was an important piece of the story, I sometimes felt as if I'd been spoon fed the information. For this reason, I gave the book four stars instead of five. Overall, a great read.
The characters in this story made it interesting for sure. James is a wealthy quick-witted artist who desires recognition for his talent. When the experts repeatedly refuse to give him a chance, he becomes resentful and fears his wealth has negatively affected his ability to integrate into the art world. Refusing to give up, he formulates a risky plan to change his stars .
With the help of Harry Lange, a guy who is no stranger to the underworld art scene, Raymond, a character who isn't afraid of a little jail time and his ex girlfriend, "Shard," who has a profound effect on James, they embark on an unpredictable journey. The twist at the end in particular really took me off guard . Overall, this is a great read, filled with interesting characters, and unforgettable themes about the human condition.
Although I enjoyed this novel, the one criticism I have is It started a tad slow for my taste and devoted a little too much time to the MC's love for art and painting. Although this was an important piece of the story, I sometimes felt as if I'd been spoon fed the information. For this reason, I gave the book four stars instead of five. Overall, a great read.
November 16, 2022
Original and Compelling
James Ibedson, the only son of an extremely wealthy father, is a struggling artist. Struggling in the way wealthy children do, raised without a mother, he was given everything but time, love, and affection. He has a love of art and is a creative artist, but his work is derided by the critics, who can’t get beyond the advantages he has, and their hatred of his father.
This situation adds to his resentment of his father, and he develops a plan to get his work judged on merit. He arranges to meet someone who has worked for his father sourcing artworks. James knows Harold Lange works on the edge of legality and strays beyond when required. James’ father’s interest in the arts is a source of tension between father and son. The plan James has hatched is to get someone to break into a gallery and hang one of his own pieces alongside recognised great art. By doing so, he hopes his work will be judged on merit, not on who his father is.
This is one of a number of Brian Marshall’s books that I have read and I have enjoyed them all. This is beautifully crafted, the characters are interesting, and the theme is original and compelling. Well-paced, I found the tale of a rich kid discovering his self-worth, a compelling read. Highly recommended, only let down by an uninspiring cover.
James Ibedson, the only son of an extremely wealthy father, is a struggling artist. Struggling in the way wealthy children do, raised without a mother, he was given everything but time, love, and affection. He has a love of art and is a creative artist, but his work is derided by the critics, who can’t get beyond the advantages he has, and their hatred of his father.
This situation adds to his resentment of his father, and he develops a plan to get his work judged on merit. He arranges to meet someone who has worked for his father sourcing artworks. James knows Harold Lange works on the edge of legality and strays beyond when required. James’ father’s interest in the arts is a source of tension between father and son. The plan James has hatched is to get someone to break into a gallery and hang one of his own pieces alongside recognised great art. By doing so, he hopes his work will be judged on merit, not on who his father is.
This is one of a number of Brian Marshall’s books that I have read and I have enjoyed them all. This is beautifully crafted, the characters are interesting, and the theme is original and compelling. Well-paced, I found the tale of a rich kid discovering his self-worth, a compelling read. Highly recommended, only let down by an uninspiring cover.
May 31, 2021
What a journey
I started reading this book twice before, interrupted, then FINALLY read it straight through in 2 readings. All I can say is the journey was worth the wait. The story very well told��masterfully written. The main character stumbling through life trying to find the point of it all until he hooks up with his lifeline—but doesn’t really know it yet. I loved the ending. May have to read it again.
I started reading this book twice before, interrupted, then FINALLY read it straight through in 2 readings. All I can say is the journey was worth the wait. The story very well told��masterfully written. The main character stumbling through life trying to find the point of it all until he hooks up with his lifeline—but doesn’t really know it yet. I loved the ending. May have to read it again.
September 27, 2022
The story has a curious premise; breaking into a museum to place something inside, not take something away. James, an artist, feels he can't get a break and decides to take a chance at doing something crazy. It took me a while to get used to the author's writing style. But once I did, I enjoyed his picture of James, seeing things through his eyes. It was wholly entertaining. I was back and forth on this one. Will he succeed? Will he be caught? The ending was a nice twist.
October 24, 2024
One thing you can always bank on, is that Marshall writes characters very well. This is the third book of his that I read. More impressive is that this book struck a memory of Art School for me, though, I haven't picked up a brush in four years. I might have to reconsider. It was well written with a satisfying conclusion in the end. My only complaint was that I had to stop reading it, because of work, though the temptation of calling out was an idea.
June 3, 2018
Brian Marshall has a way with words - they jump off the page - you feel like you are in the book! It is a hilarious story with many insights into the art world (and people) in New York City. The characters are quirky and memorable and the ending is great. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
Julie Cortese
Julie Cortese
June 28, 2018
What an excellent story and very different book than "Fleet". The characters are well drawn and the story takes you through some twists even though you're told up front what's going to happen. I enjoyed it immensely and I recommend it.
March 15, 2024
I don’t know what to say . The writing is captivating . The story is .. unusual . At times realistic at times cliche . Just like any real story I assume . Not just another book . Just another life .
June 30, 2018
James Ibedson is an aspiring New York City artist whose middling-quality work can't catch a break. The critics ruthlessly hammer his latest gallery showing. The adult son of a wealthy art collector, he's filthy rich and resentful that the Art Establishment can't see beyond his money to the talent he actually has.
He is convinced that if his paintings received the attention they deserved he could hold his own against his contemporaries, artists the critics seem to fawn over simply because they have some dramatic family history. But how to get the needed notoriety? All his efforts to make a splash seem fruitless until, waking up one morning, it hits him. "For the first time in days, in weeks, in years, James Ibedson has a vision. He knows what he's going to do."
What turns out to be a tangled tale is told with aplomb by Ridge-area novelist Brian T. Marshall. "Breaking In" is subtitled "A Smart, Quirky Heist Novel Set In The New York City Art Scene." It makes James' audacious scheme almost seem plausible.
The novel at its heart is about character, what it means to run risks not in theory but in the thick of things, when one's wealth no longer substitutes for the abandonment one feels. James' "mother had died when he was nine. He had no sister, no aunts. Just a couple of older cousins living in Ohio, or Iowa, one of those states with the vowels, who were nothing but a once-a-year photo, names on a Christmas card." As for James' father, Simon, the relationship is decidedly chilly. Marshall masterfully probes the inner workings of James' psyche.
For James' plot to succeed, he needs the help of others. Like Harry Lange, whose work in the art world is not always on the books; a guy named Raymond, no stranger to prison; and Ray's ex-girlfriend Cheryl, or "Shard," whose own talent fundamentally changes James' life.
"Breaking In" is a funny, wise, and poignant portrait of an artist looking for acclaim who "discovers his soul instead."
He is convinced that if his paintings received the attention they deserved he could hold his own against his contemporaries, artists the critics seem to fawn over simply because they have some dramatic family history. But how to get the needed notoriety? All his efforts to make a splash seem fruitless until, waking up one morning, it hits him. "For the first time in days, in weeks, in years, James Ibedson has a vision. He knows what he's going to do."
What turns out to be a tangled tale is told with aplomb by Ridge-area novelist Brian T. Marshall. "Breaking In" is subtitled "A Smart, Quirky Heist Novel Set In The New York City Art Scene." It makes James' audacious scheme almost seem plausible.
The novel at its heart is about character, what it means to run risks not in theory but in the thick of things, when one's wealth no longer substitutes for the abandonment one feels. James' "mother had died when he was nine. He had no sister, no aunts. Just a couple of older cousins living in Ohio, or Iowa, one of those states with the vowels, who were nothing but a once-a-year photo, names on a Christmas card." As for James' father, Simon, the relationship is decidedly chilly. Marshall masterfully probes the inner workings of James' psyche.
For James' plot to succeed, he needs the help of others. Like Harry Lange, whose work in the art world is not always on the books; a guy named Raymond, no stranger to prison; and Ray's ex-girlfriend Cheryl, or "Shard," whose own talent fundamentally changes James' life.
"Breaking In" is a funny, wise, and poignant portrait of an artist looking for acclaim who "discovers his soul instead."
July 7, 2018
Quirky, unexpected, and artsy are three words I'd use to sum up this novel. This was a fun read with plenty of literary elements to keep the narrative interesting, and subplots galore to keep the entire read intriguing. Each of the characters really stands out, and I loved the inventive descriptions and lines that sometimes made me unexpectedly laugh out loud. The only reason I gave this four, not five stars, is that it lacked some urgency. I felt maybe the stakes could have been higher or clearer to make this harder to put down. But this author certainly knows how to entertain, and, along with that, maybe gives us a chance to all do a little introspection. I highly recommend it, especially if you like art, New York, museums, art heists, or just good reads in general!
August 18, 2021
Having loved Brian Marshall's previous novel, Fleet, I was caught off guard to find myself annoyed and unengaged with the characters and plot during the early chapters of Breaking In. So why did I keep reading? Because Marshall's capturing of atmosphere and mood, especially through descriptions of light, is fantastic. I needed to know what might happen in these spaces he'd created, even if I currently was exasperated by the inhabitants and their doings. Also, it was pretty witty. And why did I end up giving it 5 stars? Because of the sheer rush of reading pleasure (warning: oncoming metaphors) when the plane stopped lumbering down the runway and finally lifted off; when all the gears suddenly meshed. Because I like . Because
. Highly recommended.
. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews