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Thieves
Esmeralda works for a housecleaning service during the day and as a restaurant hostess at night. Just out of high school, she is the sole support for her mother and two young siblings.
She has drive and ambition. What she doesn’t have is money.
She knows of a home in the upscale town of Mendham, NJ, that will be empty for more than a month. The rich people who live there go away the same time every year to spend time at their vacation home. Having cleaned the house, she also knows it contains a fair amount of cash and valuables.
One night sitting with Ray, one of her co-workers, she casually mentions a “what if” scenario; Ray tells Skooley, a white trash drifter who recently moved to New Jersey from south Florida, and a plan is hatched.
It isn’t long before Esmeralda finds herself trapped by both circumstance and greed, forced to try and defend herself against one of her partners in crime, who she quickly discovers is far more dangerous than she ever thought possible.
Praise for
“A chilling portrait of a psychopath on a murderous rampage. One hell of a debut for Steve Russo.” —James Hayman, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Bridge
“Kudos to Steven Max Russo. I read Thieves in one sitting—it’s propulsive, absorbing, and all too plausible. I warn you, these thieves will steal an entire day or two from you—and you’ll love every minute of it.” —Jonathan Stone, author of Moving Day , The Teller , and Days of Night
“Gripping and powerful, Thieves is a dynamite read. Definitely a book you won’t be able to put down.” —Andrew Grant, author of False Witness
“With Thieves , Steven Max Russo works the rich tradition of American heist fiction like a pro.” —Wallace Stroby, author of the Crissa Stone series
“A stunning debut novel. Steve Russo hits it out of the park with an ingenious, diabolical plot, a unique voice, and complex characters that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.” —Charles Salzberg, author of Second Story Man and the Shamus Award-nominated Henry Swann mysteries
“Steve Russo has written a gripping suspense thriller. He grabs you in the opening scene and doesn’t let go till the heart-pounding climax.” —Peter Leonard, national bestselling author
She has drive and ambition. What she doesn’t have is money.
She knows of a home in the upscale town of Mendham, NJ, that will be empty for more than a month. The rich people who live there go away the same time every year to spend time at their vacation home. Having cleaned the house, she also knows it contains a fair amount of cash and valuables.
One night sitting with Ray, one of her co-workers, she casually mentions a “what if” scenario; Ray tells Skooley, a white trash drifter who recently moved to New Jersey from south Florida, and a plan is hatched.
It isn’t long before Esmeralda finds herself trapped by both circumstance and greed, forced to try and defend herself against one of her partners in crime, who she quickly discovers is far more dangerous than she ever thought possible.
Praise for
“A chilling portrait of a psychopath on a murderous rampage. One hell of a debut for Steve Russo.” —James Hayman, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl on the Bridge
“Kudos to Steven Max Russo. I read Thieves in one sitting—it’s propulsive, absorbing, and all too plausible. I warn you, these thieves will steal an entire day or two from you—and you’ll love every minute of it.” —Jonathan Stone, author of Moving Day , The Teller , and Days of Night
“Gripping and powerful, Thieves is a dynamite read. Definitely a book you won’t be able to put down.” —Andrew Grant, author of False Witness
“With Thieves , Steven Max Russo works the rich tradition of American heist fiction like a pro.” —Wallace Stroby, author of the Crissa Stone series
“A stunning debut novel. Steve Russo hits it out of the park with an ingenious, diabolical plot, a unique voice, and complex characters that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.” —Charles Salzberg, author of Second Story Man and the Shamus Award-nominated Henry Swann mysteries
“Steve Russo has written a gripping suspense thriller. He grabs you in the opening scene and doesn’t let go till the heart-pounding climax.” —Peter Leonard, national bestselling author
280 pages, Paperback
Published August 28, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 27, 2018
This very good debut novel is set in New Jersey and features three main protagonists, only one of whom is even a bit sympathetic. But all three are very compelling, and once you enter their world you are hooked through to the end.
Principal among the three is a young Hispanic woman named Esmeralda. She's responsible for supporting her mother and two young siblings. Her ambition is to save enough money to go to school, become a cosmetologist, and open her own upscale salon. But the truth is that, even working day and night virtually every day of the week, there's no way she'll ever be able to afford her dream.
During the day, Esmeralda works for a house cleaning service and at nights she's a hostess in a restaurant. She strikes up a friendship with a young man named Ray who also works at the restaurant and on a break one night, she mentions to Ray that one of the houses she cleans in a very upscale community is empty for a month while the wealthy owners are away at another of their homes. Having spent a great deal of time in the house, Esmeralda knows that there's a lot of loose cash, jewelry, and other such things just lying around waiting for someone to help themselves.
Ray, in turn, mentions this to a very shady character named Skooley who is just up from Florida and who is washing dishes at the restaurant. Although neither Esmeralda nor Ray are aware of it, Skooley is on the run from some Very Bad People that he has screwed over in the Sunshine State. Skooley and Ray decided to rob the house and they bring Esmeralda into the scheme to provide them the intelligence they need about the house. She is reluctant, but she sees this as the one real chance she may ever have to actually end up living her dream.
Well, the best laid plans and all of that...
Once the scheme is in motion, all sorts of complications will occur and the three would-be burglars will all be challenged in a variety of ways. It would be unfair to say any more about the plot, but it is a captivating tale that keeps you turning the pages, waiting to see how it's all going to turn out. It's a very good read and Steve Russo has a bright future ahead of him.
Principal among the three is a young Hispanic woman named Esmeralda. She's responsible for supporting her mother and two young siblings. Her ambition is to save enough money to go to school, become a cosmetologist, and open her own upscale salon. But the truth is that, even working day and night virtually every day of the week, there's no way she'll ever be able to afford her dream.
During the day, Esmeralda works for a house cleaning service and at nights she's a hostess in a restaurant. She strikes up a friendship with a young man named Ray who also works at the restaurant and on a break one night, she mentions to Ray that one of the houses she cleans in a very upscale community is empty for a month while the wealthy owners are away at another of their homes. Having spent a great deal of time in the house, Esmeralda knows that there's a lot of loose cash, jewelry, and other such things just lying around waiting for someone to help themselves.
Ray, in turn, mentions this to a very shady character named Skooley who is just up from Florida and who is washing dishes at the restaurant. Although neither Esmeralda nor Ray are aware of it, Skooley is on the run from some Very Bad People that he has screwed over in the Sunshine State. Skooley and Ray decided to rob the house and they bring Esmeralda into the scheme to provide them the intelligence they need about the house. She is reluctant, but she sees this as the one real chance she may ever have to actually end up living her dream.
Well, the best laid plans and all of that...
Once the scheme is in motion, all sorts of complications will occur and the three would-be burglars will all be challenged in a variety of ways. It would be unfair to say any more about the plot, but it is a captivating tale that keeps you turning the pages, waiting to see how it's all going to turn out. It's a very good read and Steve Russo has a bright future ahead of him.
December 3, 2020
First of all I want to thank Book Sirens and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the blurb about this book and was really looking forward to reading it. It started off really well. The opening chapter, with severed fingers in a pickle jar, was great. Wondered what was going to happening next The reality was a lot of chat and not that much action, until almost the end. The bad guys were conspicuous by their absence. It was almost a cameo appearance by them.
The main characters, Stooley and Esmerelda. Memorable names! Personally I felt that the names were over used in the conversations. Don’t usually find people talk like that especially if there are only two of you in a room. Then there is another character who I am not really sure why she was there much beyond the initial scene.
I appreciate that this was a debut novel and it had a good premise, but personally I found it very wordy, could of cut the word count down by at least a quarter. Too much detail eg. “She used her car key to open the car door”, instead of “she opened the car”. There were lots of examples of this and it’s a bugbear of mine. Also large parts didn’t really make sense, as for the ending that was hard to believe.
I have rated this as 2 star, I would of liked to give it 3 stars, but as there were several points where I could of DNF’d. I think 2 stars.
I loved the blurb about this book and was really looking forward to reading it. It started off really well. The opening chapter, with severed fingers in a pickle jar, was great. Wondered what was going to happening next The reality was a lot of chat and not that much action, until almost the end. The bad guys were conspicuous by their absence. It was almost a cameo appearance by them.
The main characters, Stooley and Esmerelda. Memorable names! Personally I felt that the names were over used in the conversations. Don’t usually find people talk like that especially if there are only two of you in a room. Then there is another character who I am not really sure why she was there much beyond the initial scene.
I appreciate that this was a debut novel and it had a good premise, but personally I found it very wordy, could of cut the word count down by at least a quarter. Too much detail eg. “She used her car key to open the car door”, instead of “she opened the car”. There were lots of examples of this and it’s a bugbear of mine. Also large parts didn’t really make sense, as for the ending that was hard to believe.
I have rated this as 2 star, I would of liked to give it 3 stars, but as there were several points where I could of DNF’d. I think 2 stars.
November 14, 2018
Thieves, Steven Max Russo's debut thriller, was a novel that I wholeheartedly enjoyed. There is non-stop action, fast pacing, a suspense-filled plot that is unpredictable and full of twists most of which completely blindsided me. Each of the characters are well-drawn and intriguing, so much so that I got behind them and could relate to them from the first introduction. Russo's descriptive prose is vivid and you feel you are part of the story rather than someone being based on the outside. You really feel sorry for Esmeralda and can relate to her struggles.
I read this in one glorious sitting as I needed to know the resolution and by the time I retired to bed, it was 5AM. I hope this is the first of many books the author gets published as he is a serious talent and a master craftsman when it comes to putting together an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. I genuinely had chills and goosebumps at certain parts throughout this compulsively readable novel. I know this will stay with me for a long time to come. At its core, this is heavily based around a warning that people simply cannot be trusted and the effects and aftermath of betrayal. Highly Recommended.
Many thanks to Down & Out Books for an ARC
I read this in one glorious sitting as I needed to know the resolution and by the time I retired to bed, it was 5AM. I hope this is the first of many books the author gets published as he is a serious talent and a master craftsman when it comes to putting together an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. I genuinely had chills and goosebumps at certain parts throughout this compulsively readable novel. I know this will stay with me for a long time to come. At its core, this is heavily based around a warning that people simply cannot be trusted and the effects and aftermath of betrayal. Highly Recommended.
Many thanks to Down & Out Books for an ARC
January 16, 2019
There is so much that I wanted to like about this book. The beginning is strong with the fingers in a pickle jar and OUCH... where is this going to go from here?? And then we pretty much see nothing of this again until about the 80% mark or so. Where were the bad guys this entire time? Still, I'm extremely intrigued.
Stooley, Esmerelda and Ray… well, one thing I can tell you is that I'll never forget their names. They were used SO much throughout the book and unfortunately, this happened a lot in conversation and people just don't speak this way. I found myself getting very irritated every time this happened and I think it took away from my enjoyment quite a bit. Personal preference maybe? While the synopsis gives us a world with Esmerelda, she felt a secondary character next to Stooley - it's Stooley's mind we are in most of the time and she's right, he's a RAT!
These characters, they talk.. and they talk a LOT. If names hadn't been used it would've been a bit hard to distinguish between the characters and their speaking styles. Then there's one particular character - I'm confused as to why she's even a plot line. It only added to Stooley's character, yes, but otherwise it seemed misplaced for the read.
There were also parts that didn't quite make sense - HOW are they getting away with this and that and then the ending part where... well, I can't tell you or I'd spoil it but whattttt…… I found it a bit hard to believe.
Now, before you think I'm ripping this apart, that's not my intention. I enjoyed the smarminess of the characters and once I started reading it as more of a "parody" (for lack of better term), it became fun to see which side was going to come out on top and how.
What I do know is that I won't be eating chili for a while now and I certainly will be giving my cleaner the side eye. (Good thing I'm not rich.) This is a debut novel and I do like where Russo was heading to with the storyline. I think with more to come it'll become more seamless and have more continuity.
Thanks so much to the author for this copy.
Stooley, Esmerelda and Ray… well, one thing I can tell you is that I'll never forget their names. They were used SO much throughout the book and unfortunately, this happened a lot in conversation and people just don't speak this way. I found myself getting very irritated every time this happened and I think it took away from my enjoyment quite a bit. Personal preference maybe? While the synopsis gives us a world with Esmerelda, she felt a secondary character next to Stooley - it's Stooley's mind we are in most of the time and she's right, he's a RAT!
These characters, they talk.. and they talk a LOT. If names hadn't been used it would've been a bit hard to distinguish between the characters and their speaking styles. Then there's one particular character - I'm confused as to why she's even a plot line. It only added to Stooley's character, yes, but otherwise it seemed misplaced for the read.
There were also parts that didn't quite make sense - HOW are they getting away with this and that and then the ending part where... well, I can't tell you or I'd spoil it but whattttt…… I found it a bit hard to believe.
Now, before you think I'm ripping this apart, that's not my intention. I enjoyed the smarminess of the characters and once I started reading it as more of a "parody" (for lack of better term), it became fun to see which side was going to come out on top and how.
What I do know is that I won't be eating chili for a while now and I certainly will be giving my cleaner the side eye. (Good thing I'm not rich.) This is a debut novel and I do like where Russo was heading to with the storyline. I think with more to come it'll become more seamless and have more continuity.
Thanks so much to the author for this copy.
January 19, 2025
Didn't enjoy this as much as the previous novel I reviewed I can understand the twists and turns the author is trying to explain but preferred the layout of previous novel
November 28, 2018
Thank you to the author and the Publisher Down & Out Books for gifting me an e-copy of this book to read. All views and opinions are my own.
.....
First of I love the cover of the book. So creepy, and fits so very well with the story. I love it!
This book is addicting from the very beginning. At the beginning of the book we read about a man who has been captured and is being tortured for information. Once his captors are convinced they have received all of the information they can get from this man, he is killed.
The story continues with two men - Skooley and Ray - who work together to commit a crime - they hatch a plan to break into a home they suspect will have a lot of money and various valuables. Only, greed and suspicion comes into play, pitting one man against the other.
Unable to trust one another to work together and claim their share together in the robbery, they turn on one another. This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, as you turn the pages to unravel the story.
This book is full of a lot of action, suspense, and bone-chilling revelations. I enjoyed reading this book, and it was very fast-paced and chilling!
Thank you for reading my review, and I hope you enjoy this book!
.....
First of I love the cover of the book. So creepy, and fits so very well with the story. I love it!
This book is addicting from the very beginning. At the beginning of the book we read about a man who has been captured and is being tortured for information. Once his captors are convinced they have received all of the information they can get from this man, he is killed.
The story continues with two men - Skooley and Ray - who work together to commit a crime - they hatch a plan to break into a home they suspect will have a lot of money and various valuables. Only, greed and suspicion comes into play, pitting one man against the other.
Unable to trust one another to work together and claim their share together in the robbery, they turn on one another. This book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, as you turn the pages to unravel the story.
This book is full of a lot of action, suspense, and bone-chilling revelations. I enjoyed reading this book, and it was very fast-paced and chilling!
Thank you for reading my review, and I hope you enjoy this book!
March 3, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview THIEVES by Steven Max Russo. WOW - this was really good! I must say this book was one that I could not put down.
Without giving anything away, the plot starts with the killing of a young man - "they" want information on someone and this young man has given them all he knows. And vividly, the writer tells you that this young man will not see the light of day.
Flash to another young man and his friend who have a plan to rob a house. The owners are gone on vacation and they have heard from a young girl who cleans the house that there is alot of money, jewelry and valuable to be taken. All she wants is a piece of the action when they are done.
The duo quickly realize they do not trust each other and that's where the story really gets interesting.
This is fast moving and unpredictable. Great characters, vivid descriptions and scary as hell. Great read - recommend - 5 stars.
Without giving anything away, the plot starts with the killing of a young man - "they" want information on someone and this young man has given them all he knows. And vividly, the writer tells you that this young man will not see the light of day.
Flash to another young man and his friend who have a plan to rob a house. The owners are gone on vacation and they have heard from a young girl who cleans the house that there is alot of money, jewelry and valuable to be taken. All she wants is a piece of the action when they are done.
The duo quickly realize they do not trust each other and that's where the story really gets interesting.
This is fast moving and unpredictable. Great characters, vivid descriptions and scary as hell. Great read - recommend - 5 stars.
September 21, 2018
Thieves by author Steven Max Russo is a great book! Solid flow about a psychopath on a murderous agenda. The fast-paced and chills are real in this novel and you feel it on every page! It’s a book you won’t want to stop reading and it will have you checking the locks on all doors, a lot! Trust issues and gripping, I thoroughly enjoyed Thieves!
July 29, 2019
Thieves by Steven Max Russo provided an entertaining and suspenseful look into burglary.
The story started out on a high note with an intense prologue. It piqued my curiosity, and I was eager to know how it tied in with the rest of the story. It had me on edge from that moment until the end.
Thieves aptly reflected the effects of greed and envy. The characters in the story stole for these same reasons.
The story took me on a ride which was fast-paced, suspenseful and twisty. It featured characters that were both likeable and detestable. We have Esmeralda, who cleans homes for a living and works part time at a restaurant, Raymundo, who works with Esmeralda at the restaurant and Skooley a very scary dude.
Esmeralda told Ray about a house she cleans regularly, which would be perfect to burglarize as the occupants (the Russell’s) were away on vacation. Ray recruits Skooley because of his experience as a burglar. Rarely do incidents like these go as plan as Ray and Esmerelda would learn as they soon found themselves in a life and death situation. Skooley left mayhem and destruction wherever he went. You sure do not want to cross his path. He believes he is smarter than everyone he encounters. He has no respect for his partners/accomplices and will kill all who he believes is in his way.
I enjoyed the story, as there was never a dull moment. This is a story that can be read in one sitting, providing you have nothing pressing happening in your life. There were a few graphic scenes, which are not for the faint of heart. I enjoyed the author’s detailed explanation in relation to the burglary of the Russell’s home. The story went into overdrive after the thieves were through with stealing whatever valuables they could find. There were three separate threads, which were intricately woven together to make the story whole. The author did a great job with the threads, and I enjoyed how he made them all come together, though I had hoped for a little more details regarding Skooley’s outcome. Readers are privy to the outcome of the characters who crossed paths with Skooley.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Suspenseful and exciting with interesting characters. Readers of suspense, mystery and thrillers would enjoy this novel. Thanks to Book Sirens for the opportunity to read and review Thieves.
The story started out on a high note with an intense prologue. It piqued my curiosity, and I was eager to know how it tied in with the rest of the story. It had me on edge from that moment until the end.
Thieves aptly reflected the effects of greed and envy. The characters in the story stole for these same reasons.
The story took me on a ride which was fast-paced, suspenseful and twisty. It featured characters that were both likeable and detestable. We have Esmeralda, who cleans homes for a living and works part time at a restaurant, Raymundo, who works with Esmeralda at the restaurant and Skooley a very scary dude.
Esmeralda told Ray about a house she cleans regularly, which would be perfect to burglarize as the occupants (the Russell’s) were away on vacation. Ray recruits Skooley because of his experience as a burglar. Rarely do incidents like these go as plan as Ray and Esmerelda would learn as they soon found themselves in a life and death situation. Skooley left mayhem and destruction wherever he went. You sure do not want to cross his path. He believes he is smarter than everyone he encounters. He has no respect for his partners/accomplices and will kill all who he believes is in his way.
I enjoyed the story, as there was never a dull moment. This is a story that can be read in one sitting, providing you have nothing pressing happening in your life. There were a few graphic scenes, which are not for the faint of heart. I enjoyed the author’s detailed explanation in relation to the burglary of the Russell’s home. The story went into overdrive after the thieves were through with stealing whatever valuables they could find. There were three separate threads, which were intricately woven together to make the story whole. The author did a great job with the threads, and I enjoyed how he made them all come together, though I had hoped for a little more details regarding Skooley’s outcome. Readers are privy to the outcome of the characters who crossed paths with Skooley.
Conclusion/Recommendation
Suspenseful and exciting with interesting characters. Readers of suspense, mystery and thrillers would enjoy this novel. Thanks to Book Sirens for the opportunity to read and review Thieves.
September 15, 2019
Steven Max Russo’s Thieves is quite possibly one of the most unique novels I have read this year. So many crazy things happen in this novel from torture to regrets to fights and a battle for the upper hand.
This is a tale of a falling out among thieves; Ray, Skooley and Esmerelda. They are all interesting and captivating characters but in a much different way than I am used to. None of them are likeable, they aren’t nice people (they are thieves), but they are so well rounded, they feel real. The fact that I wasn’t particularly fond of any of them, nor was I really routing for their success, actually made this novel more intriguing.
It’s a pretty violent novel, but it does have some humor mixed in. It’s what I would expect from a novel full of thievery. Guns, poor decisions, beer, secrets and recklessness. I was really sucked into this one and had trouble putting it down. I’m a fan.
I definitely recommend checking out Thieves. You will find yourself gasping at some of the scenes and then laughing at the next. A really unique novel.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
This is a tale of a falling out among thieves; Ray, Skooley and Esmerelda. They are all interesting and captivating characters but in a much different way than I am used to. None of them are likeable, they aren’t nice people (they are thieves), but they are so well rounded, they feel real. The fact that I wasn’t particularly fond of any of them, nor was I really routing for their success, actually made this novel more intriguing.
It’s a pretty violent novel, but it does have some humor mixed in. It’s what I would expect from a novel full of thievery. Guns, poor decisions, beer, secrets and recklessness. I was really sucked into this one and had trouble putting it down. I’m a fan.
I definitely recommend checking out Thieves. You will find yourself gasping at some of the scenes and then laughing at the next. A really unique novel.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
May 20, 2019
was skeptical of the subject matter: a home-invasion gone wrong. I've seen a few bad movies and read some short stories with this premise that just fell flat mostly. In this case, I was very pleasantly surprised by Russo's story. It shot write (right) off the page from the moment the story opens. I needed two pages before I was fully committed just because at first I was not sure what was happening, but once the smoke cleared and I understood what was going on, the narrative held tight like cinching a plastic bag over a criminal's head. The story weaved and bobbed beautifully, taking us on both a captivating interior journey of a psychopath's thought process and the people around him who are trying to deal with his extremely unpredictable behavior that in the end always has one goal: to cause mayhem and get what he wants by any means necessary. No real caring existed in Skooley's mind, but you are curious where his manic psychosis will take you next and for that reason, it's a roller-coaster ride with many unexpected turns. Highly recommended for those who like crime novels and don't mind some graphic violence.
November 27, 2019
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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Last month, I posted my thoughts on Steven Max Russo's second novel, The Dead Don't Sleep , and now I get to focus on his first book.
Skooley (I kid you not), is a small-time criminal with aspirations of greater things (and, let's be honest, delusions of at least a bit more grandeur than he actually possess). He runs afoul of actual bad guys in Florida and makes himself scarce, hiding out in New Jersey for awhile. He gets a job in a restaurant and meets Ray. Ray isn't as an accomplished thief as Skooley, but he'd like to be. And he knows where to start: their fellow co-worker Esmeralda had an idea.
You see, she's got aspirations and dreams of her own. Hers are on the legal side, it's nice to say. She's a housekeeper, a restaurant hostess at night, and does some grunt work at a hair salon when she's not working as either of those. She's trying to save money for beauty school while taking care of her mother and younger siblings. She's making progress, but it's slow and she could really use a little boost.
Esmerelda tells Ray about the owners of a house that she cleans who take off for a month or so every year at this time. They're the kind of people who leave cash and expensive things around with no one to check on them. Ray tells Skooley.
So Ray and Skooley break and enter, with the idea of spending a couple of days carefully and thoroughly pillaging this house. Almost immediately, things don't go according to plan and the three conspirators are mired in distrust, frustration, and assorted moments of larceny.
There's a subplot involving a real estate agent named Loretta. She blows off a little steam one night after work by having a little too much to drink. Somewhere between being one and three sheets to the wind, she runs into Skooley on a break from his plundering. In case there was any doubt at this point for the reader, what happens next definitely qualifies Skooley as a villain. Other than that, it wasn't until the very end of the book that I saw anything redeeming about this storyline. Once I did, it all made sense. But man, I spent a long time wondering just what Russo was trying to accomplish with it.
I wouldn't call this fast-paced, it's more of a slow-build. More than that, it's steady and always tantalizing about what's coming next. Steady enough that you won't want to put it down.
This is really an Elmore Leonard-esque plot and batch of characters, but it has none of Leonard's style. Which is not a complaint—I'm trying to describe, not challenge—if he'd tried, I'd spend a few paragraphs describing the ways that someone who isn't Elmore Leonard shouldn't try to ape his style. Instead, you get the same types of characters in tight situations, which is good enough.
There are really two conclusions to this novel—and both are a lot more satisfying than anything I thought the novel might be leading to. And the last line is a killer, make no mistake.
All in all, a solid Crime novel featuring lowlifes, misguided people, and a few hardcore bad guys. It's also enough evidence for myself that I'm going to grab the next Russo novel in a heartbeat. I dug this one, I think you will, too.
---
Last month, I posted my thoughts on Steven Max Russo's second novel, The Dead Don't Sleep , and now I get to focus on his first book.
Skooley (I kid you not), is a small-time criminal with aspirations of greater things (and, let's be honest, delusions of at least a bit more grandeur than he actually possess). He runs afoul of actual bad guys in Florida and makes himself scarce, hiding out in New Jersey for awhile. He gets a job in a restaurant and meets Ray. Ray isn't as an accomplished thief as Skooley, but he'd like to be. And he knows where to start: their fellow co-worker Esmeralda had an idea.
You see, she's got aspirations and dreams of her own. Hers are on the legal side, it's nice to say. She's a housekeeper, a restaurant hostess at night, and does some grunt work at a hair salon when she's not working as either of those. She's trying to save money for beauty school while taking care of her mother and younger siblings. She's making progress, but it's slow and she could really use a little boost.
Esmerelda tells Ray about the owners of a house that she cleans who take off for a month or so every year at this time. They're the kind of people who leave cash and expensive things around with no one to check on them. Ray tells Skooley.
So Ray and Skooley break and enter, with the idea of spending a couple of days carefully and thoroughly pillaging this house. Almost immediately, things don't go according to plan and the three conspirators are mired in distrust, frustration, and assorted moments of larceny.
There's a subplot involving a real estate agent named Loretta. She blows off a little steam one night after work by having a little too much to drink. Somewhere between being one and three sheets to the wind, she runs into Skooley on a break from his plundering. In case there was any doubt at this point for the reader, what happens next definitely qualifies Skooley as a villain. Other than that, it wasn't until the very end of the book that I saw anything redeeming about this storyline. Once I did, it all made sense. But man, I spent a long time wondering just what Russo was trying to accomplish with it.
I wouldn't call this fast-paced, it's more of a slow-build. More than that, it's steady and always tantalizing about what's coming next. Steady enough that you won't want to put it down.
This is really an Elmore Leonard-esque plot and batch of characters, but it has none of Leonard's style. Which is not a complaint—I'm trying to describe, not challenge—if he'd tried, I'd spend a few paragraphs describing the ways that someone who isn't Elmore Leonard shouldn't try to ape his style. Instead, you get the same types of characters in tight situations, which is good enough.
There are really two conclusions to this novel—and both are a lot more satisfying than anything I thought the novel might be leading to. And the last line is a killer, make no mistake.
All in all, a solid Crime novel featuring lowlifes, misguided people, and a few hardcore bad guys. It's also enough evidence for myself that I'm going to grab the next Russo novel in a heartbeat. I dug this one, I think you will, too.
May 29, 2019
Short Take: A fun heist book that will make you think.
(*Note: I received a free copy of this book for review.)
I don’t know about you guys, but I am all too familiar with the feeling of disappointment that comes from checking my bank account. I keep thinking, one of these days, one of my affluent fans (surely I have at least one?) will anonymously deposit a few million in there, but so far, no such luck. Although my moral compass doesn’t always point due north I have so far not resorted to stealing (post-it notes & pens from previous office jobs don’t count, right?).
I can’t say the same for the cast of Thieves, however. Tired of working three jobs, Esmerelda mentions to her friend Raymundo that one of the houses she cleans for a wealthy family is going to be empty for a month, and that it probably holds lots of cash and valuables.
Because Raymundo is not an experienced criminal, he decides to invite Skooley, a drifter with a history of many, many felonies who works with him. Raymundo and Esmerelda don’t realize that Skooley plays by his own rules, and he’s not keen on sharing. He also has some pretty desperate reasons of his own for wanting to take as much as he can and disappear.
What follows is a tense, claustrophobic caper, in which I found myself yelling at the characters (Ok, shouting at my nook like a crazy person but I don’t think anyone heard) “ESMERELDA FOR CRYING OUT LOUD DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!! DANGIT LORETTA PUT DOWN THE DRINK AND CALL THE COPS!” and so on.
But beyond the nail-biting action and tense confrontations, Thieves is really a study in situational morality. We all can be pushed to the point of doing things we would never have considered the day before, and Esmerelda is a perfect example. Still a teenager, working herself to death to help support her mother and younger siblings, all she wants is a better life, and in her mind, well, the homeowners have so much, they would probably barely notice a few things missing.
Mr. Russo does a masterful job of showing us how Esmerelda starts down the path of first saying “What if?” to a friend, and then, as Skooley takes things further than either Esmerelda or Raymundo could’ve imagined, she finds herself faced with a whole lot of bad choices.
There aren’t a whole lot of twists here, the story is fairly straightforward. I personally would’ve liked a few curveballs, and that’s probably my biggest complaint. From the first few chapters, I had a pretty good idea how it would end, and I wasn’t too far off.
Also, while the characters and pacing were mostly excellent, the author has a strange habit of over-explaining driving directions. Like, instead of saying “Skooley drove north for ten minutes until he found a Kohls”, he describes the full route: “He drove the Range Rover across Mendham and headed back the way he had ridden on the bikes with Ray to Old 24, then onto Tempe Wick Road, which crossed over to Harding. Once there, he knew his way to Route 287 and headed north to Route 10. He got on Route 10 West and found a Kohl’s department store just up the road.”
That’s just one example, there are many throughout the book. Those passages serve no real purpose, don’t mean anything to anyone who doesn’t live in the area in real life, and slow everything down.
Overall though, a fun little thriller for a rainy day.
The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and some spicy chili, hold the extras.)
(*Note: I received a free copy of this book for review.)
I don’t know about you guys, but I am all too familiar with the feeling of disappointment that comes from checking my bank account. I keep thinking, one of these days, one of my affluent fans (surely I have at least one?) will anonymously deposit a few million in there, but so far, no such luck. Although my moral compass doesn’t always point due north I have so far not resorted to stealing (post-it notes & pens from previous office jobs don’t count, right?).
I can’t say the same for the cast of Thieves, however. Tired of working three jobs, Esmerelda mentions to her friend Raymundo that one of the houses she cleans for a wealthy family is going to be empty for a month, and that it probably holds lots of cash and valuables.
Because Raymundo is not an experienced criminal, he decides to invite Skooley, a drifter with a history of many, many felonies who works with him. Raymundo and Esmerelda don’t realize that Skooley plays by his own rules, and he’s not keen on sharing. He also has some pretty desperate reasons of his own for wanting to take as much as he can and disappear.
What follows is a tense, claustrophobic caper, in which I found myself yelling at the characters (Ok, shouting at my nook like a crazy person but I don’t think anyone heard) “ESMERELDA FOR CRYING OUT LOUD DON’T LISTEN TO HIM!! DANGIT LORETTA PUT DOWN THE DRINK AND CALL THE COPS!” and so on.
But beyond the nail-biting action and tense confrontations, Thieves is really a study in situational morality. We all can be pushed to the point of doing things we would never have considered the day before, and Esmerelda is a perfect example. Still a teenager, working herself to death to help support her mother and younger siblings, all she wants is a better life, and in her mind, well, the homeowners have so much, they would probably barely notice a few things missing.
Mr. Russo does a masterful job of showing us how Esmerelda starts down the path of first saying “What if?” to a friend, and then, as Skooley takes things further than either Esmerelda or Raymundo could’ve imagined, she finds herself faced with a whole lot of bad choices.
There aren’t a whole lot of twists here, the story is fairly straightforward. I personally would’ve liked a few curveballs, and that’s probably my biggest complaint. From the first few chapters, I had a pretty good idea how it would end, and I wasn’t too far off.
Also, while the characters and pacing were mostly excellent, the author has a strange habit of over-explaining driving directions. Like, instead of saying “Skooley drove north for ten minutes until he found a Kohls”, he describes the full route: “He drove the Range Rover across Mendham and headed back the way he had ridden on the bikes with Ray to Old 24, then onto Tempe Wick Road, which crossed over to Harding. Once there, he knew his way to Route 287 and headed north to Route 10. He got on Route 10 West and found a Kohl’s department store just up the road.”
That’s just one example, there are many throughout the book. Those passages serve no real purpose, don’t mean anything to anyone who doesn’t live in the area in real life, and slow everything down.
Overall though, a fun little thriller for a rainy day.
The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and some spicy chili, hold the extras.)
July 23, 2019
I'll be brutally honest; I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish this book. The first half of it dragged so badly I had to make myself keep reading. And then there was the fact that the only even semi-likable character in the entire book was Loretta, and she wound up being a total victim. Everybody else in the book is a total sleaze and in my opinion, Esmeralda is the worst of the lot. I don't want to include spoilers by saying too much, so I'll leave it at that and let you form your own opinion once you have read the book.
And I have never seen a book that started where the synopsis ends; the author uses it (the synopsis) as if it were the first 1-2 chapters of the book; so weird. I actually had to double-check to be sure that my copy wasn't missing the first couple of chapters; it was that jarring.
So, with all of those negatives, why the 4-star review? The last third of the book is really good!!! If Mr. Russo had started his book off showing the reader the interactions between Esmeralda and Ray and then between Ray and Skooley instead of using the synopsis to "tell it", had cut out some of the extraneous "fluff" at the beginning, and tightened up the search of the house instead of dragging out every little step in excruciating detail, it would have been a 5-star review, hands down. As it is I would really like to give it 3 stars but because of the last few chapters, I don't think that would be fair. I will most likely try out another of Mr. Russo's books if I come across one.
I received a free advance review copy from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion.
And I have never seen a book that started where the synopsis ends; the author uses it (the synopsis) as if it were the first 1-2 chapters of the book; so weird. I actually had to double-check to be sure that my copy wasn't missing the first couple of chapters; it was that jarring.
So, with all of those negatives, why the 4-star review? The last third of the book is really good!!! If Mr. Russo had started his book off showing the reader the interactions between Esmeralda and Ray and then between Ray and Skooley instead of using the synopsis to "tell it", had cut out some of the extraneous "fluff" at the beginning, and tightened up the search of the house instead of dragging out every little step in excruciating detail, it would have been a 5-star review, hands down. As it is I would really like to give it 3 stars but because of the last few chapters, I don't think that would be fair. I will most likely try out another of Mr. Russo's books if I come across one.
I received a free advance review copy from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion.
May 3, 2019
"Thieves" brings together a cast of originally disparate, disconnected characters, whose stories intertwine into a violently gripping conclusion.
It starts off with violence, before backpedaling and slowly developing the story of a house break-in that develops higher and higher stakes. The author uses multiple points of view, bringing in characters whose connection to the main story at first seems tenuous, but who later turn out to be crucial for the denouement.
The intercutting of the points of view builds the tension to an almost unbearable point--the book starts off slowly, almost lazily, and then becomes increasingly suspenseful as it approaches the conclusion.
A lot of the tension comes from the character of Skooley, the protagonist/villain, who becomes ever more unstable and dangerous as the action progresses. Skooley is a chilling character who will make most people's skin crawl, so readers beware: this is not a cozy mystery. It's a nerve-racking suspense story that will leave you unable to tear your eyes away from the page, even if you might want to. Recommended for fans of dark and gritty thrillers and suspense stories in the vein of Elmore Leonard.
My thanks to the author for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
It starts off with violence, before backpedaling and slowly developing the story of a house break-in that develops higher and higher stakes. The author uses multiple points of view, bringing in characters whose connection to the main story at first seems tenuous, but who later turn out to be crucial for the denouement.
The intercutting of the points of view builds the tension to an almost unbearable point--the book starts off slowly, almost lazily, and then becomes increasingly suspenseful as it approaches the conclusion.
A lot of the tension comes from the character of Skooley, the protagonist/villain, who becomes ever more unstable and dangerous as the action progresses. Skooley is a chilling character who will make most people's skin crawl, so readers beware: this is not a cozy mystery. It's a nerve-racking suspense story that will leave you unable to tear your eyes away from the page, even if you might want to. Recommended for fans of dark and gritty thrillers and suspense stories in the vein of Elmore Leonard.
My thanks to the author for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
May 17, 2019
Thieves turned out to be a bit different than what I was expecting. The beginning gives us a rapid-fire intro of the characters, some of which we see more of than others. This part was something I would've liked to have seen done a little more organically throughout the book rather than throwing the characters at us all at once. Nevertheless, there's something compelling about the writing that kept me turning the pages to see how everyone would connect. And connect they did - eventually. There is one character who I'm still a bit confused about. Other than giving some insight into Skooley, which we really don't need given the circumstances and things that have already happened before this character crosses paths with him. There is a lot of dialogue in this one, which I felt created some lag time in the story. Some parts are necessary for flow, but there were several conversations that didn't really propel the story forward. At the same time, the story also has some gripping scenes that hold the reader's attention and make you wonder just how much these thieves can get away with. In the end, this one was just an okay read for me , but the author does show promise, and I'll be interested to see what he does next.
July 22, 2020
Thieves by Steve Russo
This may have been a morality play. It seems like it may want you to question what would you do if you were scrambling to survive and an opportunity came up to dramatically improve your life without causing major damage to someone else. Stir into that recipe a sociopath on the run from a cartel.
Russo portrayed a truly despicable character in Skooley. Skooley was a sociopath. Weak impulse control, sly, prone to bursts of rage and occasionally able to feign sociability. His fate could ignite little or no remorse.
The inferences that Russo made to the Russel’s background were more than adequate to explain the cash caching impulses that were demonstrated.
Esmeralda demonstrates a flexible morality that may accompany abject working poverty. Haves struggle to understand have nots and vice versa.
Lorretta exhibits the emotional devastation that can result in a close encounter with a perverse predator.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
This may have been a morality play. It seems like it may want you to question what would you do if you were scrambling to survive and an opportunity came up to dramatically improve your life without causing major damage to someone else. Stir into that recipe a sociopath on the run from a cartel.
Russo portrayed a truly despicable character in Skooley. Skooley was a sociopath. Weak impulse control, sly, prone to bursts of rage and occasionally able to feign sociability. His fate could ignite little or no remorse.
The inferences that Russo made to the Russel’s background were more than adequate to explain the cash caching impulses that were demonstrated.
Esmeralda demonstrates a flexible morality that may accompany abject working poverty. Haves struggle to understand have nots and vice versa.
Lorretta exhibits the emotional devastation that can result in a close encounter with a perverse predator.
I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
June 25, 2020
I read Thieves, at the request of the author, Steven Russo, in exchange for an honest review. This was his debut novel. It is a great story, but it gets off to a slow start; then the action begins. There is some violence, but after the prologue, it’s not constant.
Esmerelda, a young Columbian woman, works several jobs including cleaning houses in an upscale neighborhood in New Jersey. When she casually mentions to her friend, Ray, that the owners of one of her houses will be away for a month, the problems begin. Ray mentions it to his friend, “Skooley”, and they decide to rob the place.
Things go south quickly when Ray is a bit too bossy for Skooley’s taste. Skooley is already on the run from a drug cartel in Florida, and will stop at nothing to escape being tracked.
While this was a good story, there was far too much description for my taste. I really don’t like giving a not-so-good review, but in this case, I must.
What made The Grumpy Book Reviewer grumpy?
These are things a good publisher or editor should have caught:
• Far too much description;
• A few missing words;
• Incorrect word usage;
• Incorrect verb usage;
• Confusing “further” with “farther”;
• A few missing commas;
• Mistaking an artist’s “palette” knife for a “pallet” knife.
Esmerelda, a young Columbian woman, works several jobs including cleaning houses in an upscale neighborhood in New Jersey. When she casually mentions to her friend, Ray, that the owners of one of her houses will be away for a month, the problems begin. Ray mentions it to his friend, “Skooley”, and they decide to rob the place.
Things go south quickly when Ray is a bit too bossy for Skooley’s taste. Skooley is already on the run from a drug cartel in Florida, and will stop at nothing to escape being tracked.
While this was a good story, there was far too much description for my taste. I really don’t like giving a not-so-good review, but in this case, I must.
What made The Grumpy Book Reviewer grumpy?
These are things a good publisher or editor should have caught:
• Far too much description;
• A few missing words;
• Incorrect word usage;
• Incorrect verb usage;
• Confusing “further” with “farther”;
• A few missing commas;
• Mistaking an artist’s “palette” knife for a “pallet” knife.
July 20, 2020
Thank you BookSirens for the free ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really struggled with this book. I found it way too descriptive and wordy. I think this book could have said what it needed to in three quarters of the length of the book.
Skooley was an intriguing character and was well thought out and he came to life for me in this book - hence the two stars.
The book's blurb is what attracted me to reading this book, and it really did start of well. However, the dialogue was irritating in the overuse of the character's names.
I was expecting a roller-coaster, fast-paced book ... but this book unfortunately didn't even get off the ground. So all in all a disappointing read for me.
For a debut, I think this was a really good attempt, and I hope that future books by this author are a lot less wordy and fast-paced.
I really struggled with this book. I found it way too descriptive and wordy. I think this book could have said what it needed to in three quarters of the length of the book.
Skooley was an intriguing character and was well thought out and he came to life for me in this book - hence the two stars.
The book's blurb is what attracted me to reading this book, and it really did start of well. However, the dialogue was irritating in the overuse of the character's names.
I was expecting a roller-coaster, fast-paced book ... but this book unfortunately didn't even get off the ground. So all in all a disappointing read for me.
For a debut, I think this was a really good attempt, and I hope that future books by this author are a lot less wordy and fast-paced.
March 28, 2024
I lucked out with three books from my Source: BookSirens for a new to me author. His stories are intense, major mental problems going on here, and interesting and intriguing. Hard to put down, these train wrecks kept me immersed in the pages until the last page of the last book.
Thieves - I could not stop reading this book. I like the ending but was sad that one character's mindset went the wrong direction in the end. After everything, I expected that person to rise above the expected norm. 5*
The Dead Don't Sleep - Definitely Good vs. Evil, revenge, plenty of twists, and I love the ending. You never know who has your back. 5*
The Debt Collector - I like several of the characters, the ending and the twist at the end. Bit of humor and entertaining. 5*
Thieves - I could not stop reading this book. I like the ending but was sad that one character's mindset went the wrong direction in the end. After everything, I expected that person to rise above the expected norm. 5*
The Dead Don't Sleep - Definitely Good vs. Evil, revenge, plenty of twists, and I love the ending. You never know who has your back. 5*
The Debt Collector - I like several of the characters, the ending and the twist at the end. Bit of humor and entertaining. 5*
April 24, 2020
No Honour Among These Thieves
The characters, especially the evil protagonist who is a narcissistic psychopath, have been portrayed very well. I sincerely wished that all the main characters in the story would have a downfall. None of them was likeable. Even Esmeralda or Loretta.
This was a very enjoyable read. A little too dark for me but very well written with good depth and portrayal. I was not sure I would enjoy it when I started but it has been a surprisingly good and different experience. I had a good experience. Recommended.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters, especially the evil protagonist who is a narcissistic psychopath, have been portrayed very well. I sincerely wished that all the main characters in the story would have a downfall. None of them was likeable. Even Esmeralda or Loretta.
This was a very enjoyable read. A little too dark for me but very well written with good depth and portrayal. I was not sure I would enjoy it when I started but it has been a surprisingly good and different experience. I had a good experience. Recommended.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 21, 2019
I thought that some of the characters were devious in their own ways. The beginning was well written and it was a great start to the story. As the story developed, I became more interested and I was impressed with everything about within the book. Everything wasn't how I expected it to be, but it was quite a surprise for me. This was quite an enjoyable read.
Overall, I thought this was a very good read and would love to read it again and again.
Overall, I thought this was a very good read and would love to read it again and again.
December 11, 2018
Sometimes it’s better to not share everything you know. Esmeralda finds out in a serious way that loose lips do a lot more than sink ships. Seemingly innocent conversation turns deadly. Russo has created a tense plot in this thriller which, hopefully, leads to many more stories from the talented author. I received an advanced digital copy through #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 17, 2019
When you find a book of THIS quality, you don't just shrug and move on. Nope. You read everything the author has ever written.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 7, 2019
I enjoyed it. A thriller that keeps you guessing with twists you won't see coming. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mystery thrillers. I received this book as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
December 15, 2018
A nice bit of noir, featuring a cleaning lady and a twisted psycho.
June 11, 2019
Not my usually reading but did like this one.
July 25, 2019
Set in Mendham
May 19, 2020
The book was a little drawn out but I finished it because I had to see how it ended. It made me wonder where it was headed and how it turned out so I had to finish it.
February 8, 2020
As a Mexican American, I couldn't even get through the first page of the book with its use of the slur "beaner" multiple times and then also the quote "he was pretty smart for a Mexican." It completely turned me off of the entire book as it was absolutely offensive given the current cultural climate of 2020 and racism in America. Not going to finish this book and won't be reading any future ones.
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