Love and Theft

by Stan Parish

A high-octane novel featuring a charismatic thief forced to pull off one last spectacular caper in order to save his family. For Fans of Ruth Ware and Robert Crais.

When Alex and Diane meet, there are instant, undeniable sparks. Both are single parents living in wealthy suburbia: independent, highly competent, and seemingly settled in their comfortable lives. She runs a successful catering business. He's a detail-oriented, rough-hewn thief who robs banks, casinos and jewelry stores. They're immediately drawn to each other, but neither realizes initially that their lives have overlapped once before, under dangerous circumstances.
Soon, their shared history and burgeoning relationship will threaten everything they love. One of Alex's biggest jobs goes wrong, and both of their children's lives are suddenly threatened. Alex is forced to pull off one last spectacular, international caper in order to save his family. And just when Alex believes he knows exactly who Diane is and what she's capable of, he learns he's not the only one with dark secrets--he's finally met his match.
This is a deeply suspenseful and entertaining thriller about the illusion of control, deceiving appearances, and the fundamental importance of family. It's about how far we'll go to escape our past, to get the things we want, and to protect the things--and the people--we love.

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

272 pages, Hardcover

First published July 21, 2020

About the author

"Stan Parish has the stuff. For real." -- #1 New York Times bestselling author Robert Crais

"The next great American crime novelist." -- New York Times bestselling author Christopher Reich

"Stan Parish delivers on every level." -- New York Times bestselling author Cristina Alger

"Parish is a thriller writer to watch." --Publishers Weekly

Stan Parish is the former editor-in-chief of The Future of Everything at The Wall Street Journal and the author of the novels LOVE AND THEFT and DOWN THE SHORE. His writing has appeared in in GQ, Esquire, Surface, The New York Times, and The New York Times Magazine, among other publications. He holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and lives in Los Angeles."

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stan Parish's edgy and vibrant heist thriller has a cinematic and colourful feel to it, with a compelling central protagonist in 41 year old Alex Cassidy, a professional thief who undertakes highly lucrative heists with his regular crew, hitting the likes of casinos and jewellery stores. So far he has been remarkably successful, little does he know it but his life is about take a far more seriously dangerous turn. The story opens with an audacious $22 million jewellery heist carried out by spectacularly skilful motorbike riders in Las Vegas. There is an incredibly tense moment when a young boy, mesmerised by the motorbikes, inadvertently ends up filming the heist on his mobile phone, and when an attempt is made to grab the phone by the gang, his terrified mother manages to get a hold of him, snatching him out of danger.

The resulting video goes viral across all the media, pored over and becoming a regular conversation point for millions across the country and internationally, garnering the kind of publicity and notoriety that Alex could do without. No-one is identifiable from the video and Las Vegas Head of Robbery Detective Ramirez and FBI agent Dave Harris are left frustrated with no leads whatsoever, although their hopes rise when an unrelated arrest offers the possibility of closing in on the perpetrators. At a Princeton New Jersey party, overseen by a doctor, Alex meets beautiful 46 year old Diane Alison, who runs her own small catering company, something serious ignites between the two, so important that Alex is determined to drop all his criminal activities for good, for love and family. However, it emerges that Alex and Diane have met previously years ago, an instrumental encounter that is to have repercussions in the present.

When Alex and Diane's children, Paola and Tom, are threatened, Alex is forced to carry out another impossible heist in Spain, only to discover there is more to Diane than he could ever have imagined. Parish writes an intense and suspenseful thriller, full of twists and turns, located in Las Vegas, New Jersey, Mexico and Spain. The narrative goes back and forth in time to Alex's childhood, his closely forged relationship with his buddy, Clay, and the shaping of his future career under the tutelage of his trusted friend and advisor, Maricel and her husband, Robert. A highly entertaining and intriguing read of crime, loss, friendship, family and betrayal, depicting just how far someone will go to protect their own and fight for love. Many thanks to Faber and Faber for an ARC.

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to get you out of your reading slump! It’s a quick read, fast-paced and full of action. A heist is what starts the novel and a heist is where it all comes together in the end. Everyone in my book club absolutely tore through it.

Alex Cassidy is like a lot of men coming into middle age. He’s divorced with an adult daughter, doing well at his job but feeling the burnout. He’s wondering if it’s time to move on to something else, maybe try to meet someone new and settle into a different sort of life. In walks Diane Alison, who’s in a similar place herself. The only difference between Alex and other men his age is that his job falls on the wrong side of the law. Namely, he’s a thief—and a damn good one at that.

Just coming off of a big job in Vegas, when Alex meets Diane the attraction is instant and undeniable. The two are swept away on a trip to Mexico, where the secrets they’ve been holding back threaten to upend everything. And though Alex wants to retire, he soon finds out that getting out of the game is far more complicated than getting into it.

Love and Theft is full of adrenaline and glamour. It’s basically a blockbuster action movie in book form. It’s a lot of fun, and the locations Parish describes in Mexico and Europe are lush and evocative. Perfect for people who cant travel right now (so...all of us), this novel will have you on the edge of your seat for the entire wild ride.


*Thanks to @jordys.book.club, @bostonbookfanatic & Doubleday Books for an advance copy!

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all typical buddy reads with my friend Chelsea, I finish the book as she cracks open the book! Too bad my friend, because Love and Theft was just too good to wait for you. This book is fast-paced and wild and just an incredible journey of self-exploration for many of the characters. This could be an incredible television show or limited series! This is not your typical heist novel.

Without sharing too much, the book starts off with a major heist in Las Vegas where the a group of organized criminals unexpectedly receive notoriety like never before. At the same time, the story focuses on a budding romance between two New Jersey suburbanites, Alex and Diane. As the two forge into a relationship, the two realize that they have a shared history of pain and controversy. As the relationship heats up, both Alex and Diane realize that their pasts can't be denied, but will their pasts come back to haunt them?

Love and Theft is hands down one of the most fun reads that I've read this year. I said what I said. It's wildly entertaining, thrilling, and kept me second guessing through the end. I absolutely loved all the primary and secondary characters in their own way. For real, there wasn't one character that I disliked—even the ones that I thought that I should've. I think the main reason why I loved this book was that each character was on their own journey of finding out who they are and why they want to "be better"—their journeys of self-exploration were definitely intriguing to watch. Also, there's subtle moments in the book where there's social commentary about societal issues, which was also very heartwarming to see. This is my first venture into Stan Parish's novels, but I will definitely stay tuned for his future works.

[Kristīne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neesmu tipiskais action-trilleru lasītājs, bet kaut kas grāmatas aprakstā aizķēra ar Holivudas līdzībām:

"A spectacular Vegas heist! A high-octane international romance! A charismatic thief forced to mastermind one final treacherous job to save family!"

Jā, grāmata ir tieši par to. Bet ne gluži tādā manierē kā solīts.

Šim bija jābūt kaut kam ar Dominiku Toreto, bet pēc izpildījuma vairāk atgādināja Ridlija Skota "The Councelor". Neesmu ātro un bez žēlastības fane, un lai gan ļoti cienu Ridliju, Councelors man galīgi negāja pie sirds. Šī grāmata iekrita kaut kur pa vidu. It kā Dominiks būtu palicis gudrāks, bet sapinies ar SAMCRO.

Bet šo visu pasakot, grāmata man tīri labi patika. Bija interesanti, bet līdz oktānam tur patālu. Par labā/ļaunā cīņu arī varēja padomāt. Autors noteikti nemāk latviski, bet es viņam iesaku vnk rakstīt scenārijus un neķēpāties ar izdevniecībām.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first half so much. But then a million characters got introduced and a very complicated second "heist"ensued and I was lost.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I went into this book expecting something a little different than what it actually was. The synopsis had me super intrigued, it’s advertised as kind of a heist-slash-romance, which is exactly what it is, however I expected it to be more of a thriller. For a book that I thought would be a high-octane thriller, it got quite a bit dull in the middle for me. The heist occurs in the prologue of the novel and by about 50 pages in, we already know all the characters involved in it so there’s not really any mystery left - the remainder of the book basically just follows the man who led the heist as he is determined to leave the criminal life behind while also falling in love.
I also have to add that I think this would have been a lot more entertaining as a movie. For me, all the action sounds like it would’ve been much more exciting to actually see onscreen than to read on paper. Maybe this type of book just isn’t for me.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please, please tell me someone has bought the movie rights for this.

I saw a bookstagrammer describe Love and Theft as “like if Don Winslow wrote To Catch a Thief.” Which sounded like the best thing ever. As long as that assessment was correct.

And it absolutely was.

This is a hugely fun, action-packed, and relatively light heist book, terrifically escapist but clever enough to keep the reader captivated. Think of it as a beach read with a brain.

While the story often moves at breakneck pace, affection for the characters is more of a slow burn that grows as the book progresses.

The comparisons to Don Winslow feel at least somewhat prescient. I would recommend this to someone who likes Winslow’s style and subject matter but can’t take all the torture and tragedy. Sort of Don Winslow lite, the PG-13 version or something.

The story hooks you from the jump, opening with a wild jewel heist and subsequent motorcycle chase in Las Vegas. Though the action comes in rolls and never again reaches the fever pitch of the opening chapter, there’s plenty of propulsive content, and Alex’s rumination on and strategy for his work are beyond fascinating.

I could have done without the largely pointless three day long, drug-fueled parties and some of the hokey gender stereotyping, but these are minor gripes for a book I enjoyed very much.

Love and Theft is the summer blockbuster of novels. Buckle up.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[RG · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good heist story. Overly short though. The second half though had way too many characters and the plot was a little confusing.

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stan Parish is a new-to-me author, but with the promise of a sharp and shrewd noir heist thriller, in a similar vein to Roger Hobbs’ Ghostman or Patrick Hoffman’s The White Van, I was very intrigued by the premise of Love and Theft, and boy, was I hooked from the start. Opening with the very slick heist of an upmarket jewellery store in Las Vegas, one of the perpetrators Alex who is considering turning his back on his chosen criminal profession, then finds himself unwillingly involved in an altogether different sort of heist, and one that can only lead to a whole heap of trouble, for himself and those closest to him…

Being a real admirer of the pared down, punchy and lean narrative form, I found the prologue and first few opening chapters, completely held me in their thrall, as we bear witness to the initial robbery in a Las Vegas that is painted with vivid and energetic detail. The level of tension that Parish injects into this first compressed section of the book is flawless, seamlessly grabbing the reader by the throat to see what the crime is and how it is carried out, and leading us to an overriding keenness to see what happens to the perpetrators in its wake. I actually re-read this section a couple of times, and the pace and smoothness of the writing, gradually ramping up the dramatic tension and holding the readers’ attention wholly was absolutely sublime. I noticed throughout the book that this strong grip on tension evident in the carefully manipulated pace of the narrative, ebbs and flows allowing for Parish to not only immerse his reader in high octane danger, but also to slow the book down to some scenes of such poignancy and emotion that leads us to take pause and really see behind the masks of the characters that they present to the world.

This is particularly evident in the character of Alex Cassidy, a man with a troubled past, indoctrinated into a criminal lifestyle from a young age, and having encountered a personal loss that haunts him still. He is a man on the cusp of change, and as he endeavours to turn away from his criminal roots, he meets Diane Alison, with whom he shares a historic connection, but also finds that his one last job is anything but, and, put under extreme emotional pressure, finds himself involved in a dangerous kidnapping plot. Alex is a mercurial man, exuding an air of total calmness whatever the situation, but in reality he is trapped in a maelstrom of self-questioning and doubt, belied by his outward exterior. As his relationship with Diane develops, we see him caught between this cool headed attitude, and an inner turmoil as to how far he wants this relationship to develop, and should he be bucking against the twist of fate, that has brought each of them into the other’s orbit.

Likewise, Diane, the other major protagonist. initially outside of Alex’s criminal cohort until the situation escalates enough for her to bravely ingratiate herself in it, grows from a position of relative emotional weakness, gradually becoming more emboldened as events progress, and seeking to release her son, and Alex’s daughter from the heat of the situation that develops. The way that Parish peels back the layers of both Alex and Diane, ably surrounded by a supporting cast of equally well-drawn characters, is another standout feature of the book, building a creeping unease in the reader as to how events will play out for them, and more importantly will they survive, and change the direction of their lives.

Parish’s choices of locations, Las Vegas, Mexico and Spain, and the way the action develops through each, adds another level of interest to what in a lesser writers’ hands could have been a quite linear set up if rooted in one place. There is a real verve and energy as to how he employs each backdrop as the story progresses, capturing the unique character of each, from the illusional quality of Las Vegas, to the colour and joie de vivre of Mexico, and finally tapping into the rich, ostentatious air of wealthy Marbella, for the book’s stunning and violent denouement. The author ensures that each locale is brought vividly into the readers’ consciousness, with an eye for not only the landscape of the place itself, but how the feel and energy of each imprints itself on those who exist within them.

I thought that Love and Theft was an exceptionally understated and clever book, with the seeming simplicity of the language, and both the alternating quickfire and then the more languorous use of dialogue and action, subtly determining the pace of the book as a whole. I loved the shifting locations, the high octane heist scenes, and the overwhelming sense of poignancy and redemption that lies tantalisingly beneath the main plot itself, evinced in the characters of Alex and Diane. A smooth, sassy and ultimately very satisfying ride indeed. Highly recommended.

[Tom Mooney · Rating 2 out of 5]

The difference between great crime fiction and crap crime fiction is often the depth of character. Love and Theft fails ultimately because the characters are nothing. They are thin, unbelievable sketches hanging off a decent plot. I was quite enjoying being swept along by the action in this up to the key moment - the scene where Alex, our protagonist, reveals his true self to Diane, the female lead. This scene was so poorly, so unrealistically portrayed that it just killed any interest I had. I couldn't care for these people because it became too obvious they don't exist.

[Krissy (books_and_biceps9155) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is literally bad ass. That is the best way to describe it. It has so much action and excitement it is nuts!!!! I really enjoyed the adventures that this lead me on. The writing is to the point and the characters are unique. Stan Parish really gives you enough detail to picture everything in your mind. This was a wild ride, and HAS to be made into a movie ASAP!!!!!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

You should absolutely be listening to the mission impossible soundtrack when you read Love and Theft. This was such a fun and fast-paced heist novel that felt better than watching any Ocean’s 27 movie.

We meet Alex, leader of an elite heist squad, and Diane, a successful caterer with a past of her own. These two meet on the heels of an insane jewelry robbery in Las Vegas that is blowing up on YouTube. As Alex and Diane escape to coupledom bliss in Mexico, things quickly go left and they find their backs against the wall with one more job.

The pack will keep your glued with many in our book club finishing this in one sitting. If it’s possible to be a bad ass through osmosis, this is the book to pick up!

Rating: 3.25/5

[Brian J · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exotic high-speed (and high-class) adventure/heist thriller, told in a searing, vivid, and cinematic style. The dialogue is first-rate, as is the way the narrative unfolds--just a brilliant setup and execution. Great stuff all around; suspenseful and entertaining. Stan Parish has a new fan.

[Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been six years since the publication of Stan Parish’s DOWN THE SHORE, a mixed-genre novel much beloved by everyone who read it. LOVE AND THEFT, his sophomore work, is here at last --- and if he has been lingering over it, his effort certainly shows. This is one of the best novels of the year thus far, worthy of your time, money and undivided attention.

As with DOWN THE SHORE, LOVE AND THEFT blurs genres to great effect. It is part caper novel, part police procedural, part love story (as opposed to romance), and very much a thriller. It begins with a daring --- make that insane --- jewel heist carried out inside a hotel/casino shopping mall in Las Vegas, then makes a two-week jump and a cross-country switcheroo to Princeton, New Jersey.

Alex Cassidy, the master thief who organized the heist, is attending a gathering in Princeton, where he meets a woman named Diane Alison. Diane is well known and has a very successful party-planning and catering business, while Alex, for obvious reasons, stays off the radar. There is an almost instant attraction between them, which is nearly derailed when they discover that their lives have briefly overlapped in the past. That does not prevent them from taking a holiday in Spain with Diane’s son in tow, just to see if they can explore the mutual though somewhat prickly feeling between them.

Alex is seriously considering quitting his life of crime and retiring on the considerable bank he has accumulated. What he does not know is that a member of his crew in the jewelry theft has turned Judas on him to local and federal authorities in Las Vegas. That problem is going to intersect when a local cartel forces Alex to pull off one last job: the kidnapping of a wealthy Chinese industrialist who is coming to Spain, a task that Alex, who meticulously plans everything, has no time to prepare for. Given that his past sins have come back to haunt him, he has no choice.

The conclusion comes in a series of chain reactions that affect almost everyone involved, and not in a good way. There are twists, turns and surprises galore, with the suspense amped up to 11, and possibly an issue or two is left unresolved at the end. There may be enough characters surviving at that point to be featured in a sequel. While a follow-up certainly would be welcomed, the story is simply terrific on its own.

LOVE AND THEFT will make you want to be a thief when you grow up. It’s that good. Parish’s third-person, present-tense narrative provides an immediacy to the goings-on that will leave readers unable to guess precisely what will happen next until almost the final paragraphs. The bumps and scrapes that Alex and Diane experience along the road of their relationship feel real and provide a nice counterpoint to the action. Hopefully we won’t have to wait another six years for Parish’s next book, though I am sure it will be worth it if we do. For now, we have LOVE AND THEFT to read again. And again.

Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

[Escape_in_a_Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary advance copy of this title from the publisher. All comments and opinions are my own.
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If Mr. Stealth-Kill-You-With-His-Pinky-007 and the romantic suspense genre were in a polyamorous relationship with fast paced thrillers, their precious baby would be LOVE AND THEFT. This is a plot that flies along making it a highly bingeable read. I have never before cheered so hard for a positive outcome for a group of criminals in fiction. I was invested in their success, their freedom, hoping all along for love and redemption. This is going to be one of books that is a highlight of my summer. I had so much fun immersing myself in this world and trying to riddle out the who’s and the why’s through to the end. I’m nominating myself as the official cheerleader of the Stan Parish fan club. Membership is free and basically entails spoiler filled discussions of this book.
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To my romance loving followers: This is the most fun romantic suspense I have read in ages.
To my thriller loving followers: This is the most fun I’ve had reading a thriller in ages.
To my mystery loving followers: Same. You get the picture here. Just go read the book.

[Lori Leaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever read, or in this case listened to, a book that felt like you were in the middle of an action movie? That’s exactly what Love and Theft felt like to me and I loved every minute of it!
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The book opens with a jewelry heist worthy of Mission Impossible or James Bond and takes us from Vegas to NJ to Tulum, Mexico and Europe. In the midst of all the action there is a love story of the central characters Alex and Diane. Alex, the leader of the heist, has a feeling he’s met Diane before but not sure where. We are swept up in their Romance and discover how they know each other while at the same time learning their children are in danger which prompts Alex to take on what he hopes is his last job.
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I could not put the earbuds down on this book! It was so entertaining, action packed and suspenseful. It kept me guessing at every turn and I loved the love story mixed in.
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And can we talk about the audiobook? The narration was spot on🙌 and it truly felt like I was listening to a movie.
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[Solvetica_Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love and Theft was a short read, but it didn’t completely deliver. The pacing dragged for most of the book, which made it feel slow even though it was brief. Things only really picked up towards the end, and while that part was more engaging, the overall story wasn’t very strong or memorable.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book. Lots of twists and turns, some romance, and travel.

[Oh dear · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first half of this book has too much love and not enough theft.

[Swan Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story; loved the characters and connections. Plot was twisty and the action was deadly and emotionally painful at times. I will have to check out more by this author.

[Courtney Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 I loved the storyline of this book. There was a lot of buildup/backstory, which I found to be necessary, however the ending felt very rushed and left me a bit confused at times.

[Kris the retired librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A master thief is ready to retire when he meets a woman he
could really love. But walking away from the world of crimes isn’t easy and he’s pulled back in when innocent lives are at stake. Interesting characters, lots of action, international locations. Great book!

[Natalie Raitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
Fun easy read, page turner. Great break from heavy reading.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you work inside a system, you're a tool of those in power."

Thank you to @bostonbookfanatic and @jordys.book.club for having me join the Mystery Book Club this month to read Love and Theft. I finished this in 12 hours and it was a whirlwind.

Alex is a quiet, mild-mannered single dad who is a casual robber on the side and just pulled off the biggest jewelry heist in Las Vegas. When he meets Diane, something about her is familiar and their attraction builds quickly. Mutual history causes road bumps for Alex and Diane, but Alex must pull off one last job of epic proportions before he can retire and live out the life he wants with Diane.

This book is a doozy. From the start I was like, this reads like an awesome movie I'd definitely watch. I love heist films: all the Ocean's movies, especially Ocean's 8, the Italian Job! Love and Theft felt like reading a movie, down to the short paragraphs and 3rd person narration (both of which were sometimes hard to digest). The book drew me in from the prologue as I tried to figure out what the heck was going on. I loved the twists - and the ending came out of nowhere for me which I really liked. I struggled a bit with believability - the book didn't feel super realistic but again, it reads like an action movie. Some characters felt a little two-dimensional (Paola and Tom especially), which then made it a struggle to connect when these characters are put in bad situations. BUT, I honestly couldn't stop reading; I had to keep going to see what was going to happen and if Alex and his team would pull it off.

There are definitely some pros and cons and the blurb is a bit misleading but I'd recommend that folx just go along for the ride. And what an awesome ride it is!

Thank you to Doubleday and Mystery Book Club for an advanced copy!

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this story does not resonate as much on the page as it would in the cinema. I started off with high hopes based on the reviews and the riveting opening Las Vegas heist sequence. In the wake of the jewel robbery, law enforcement officers struggle to find a solid lead. Meanwhile, the anxiety-ridden thief, Alex, tries to stay blended into society and avoid detection. The first quarter of the book does a nice job jumping between the two parallel storylines, giving it a cat-and-mouse feel. However, when the focus turns to Alex and Diane's growing relationship (and brings their oh-so-conveniently-the-same-age adult kids into the picture), the plot starts to drag and turn predictable. After Alex meets Diane, he decides to leave his life of crime behind him but finds that's easier said than done, so he gets extorted into a final job.

Unfortunately, the dialogue is very short on emotional descriptor words that help communicate tone such as "he sighed," or "she demanded," at the ends of phrases. I started skimming through the Mexico vacation section and finally gave up right before the final heist job starts to happen, because I couldn't bring myself to feel invested in the characters. Also, what is up with all the drugs in this book?! The storyline does not hinge on drug use and would read much the same without it, but the author seems overly obsessed with describing how the characters are constantly either needing, on, or coming off of a high/buzz. Using drugs (of a wide variety of types, I might add) is presented as a respectable, controlled, and normal activity. I don't think there is a single scene somebody is not reaching for cigarettes, alcohol, or any one of a mixed bag of drugs. I got tired of reading filler material, waiting for the main action to pick up again. A lot of people have enjoyed this book, but I just found it wasn't doing it for me. I like the idea of making it into a movie - I think that could be very successful,

[Diana Macovei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragoste și jaf este un thriller alert presărat cu complot, mașinațiuni și iubire. În centrul tuturor acestor acțiuni îi găsim ca și protagoniști pe Alex și Diane. Deși ambii sunt adulți realizați în plan financiar, pe plan familial sunt părinți singuri, unul negăsindu-și mulțumirea alături de perechea sa, celălalt fiind separat de către moarte de jumătatea sa. Dar în timp ce unul are o carieră legală, celălalt se ocupă de afaceri ilegale. Sunt întocmai ca un ying și yang, ca ziua cu noaptea. Unul strălucitor și șarmant, celălalt întunecat și atrăgător.

https://readingforsouls.wordpress.com...

[Shawn Conner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t get sucked in by jacket copy like “high-octane” or comparisons to Elmore Leonard. At best, some plot points could be described as Leonard Lite, but after a gripping, tight opening scene Love and Theft (the generic title should have been a tip-off) slides into ridiculous hokum. I kept reading hoping for a big reveal or interesting twist but instead of inventiveness the author keeps adding characters. Besides the opening scene, the most interesting thing about this tepid thriller is that everyone does a lot of ketamine. Which probably says more about the author.

[GW · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love and theft

Just couldn't finish the book. Too many characters to try and keep track of. A story line that bounces all over the place. Too much profanity. Just kind of a vulgar and unrealistic theme.

[Kim Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn’t take to this one at all. The plot did nothing for me, the characters weren’t likeable and although I know it was relevant, too much drugs. I finished it because a book has to be extremely bad for me not to, but I struggled to keep picking it up.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun romp. Written as more of a screenplay for a movie than a novel, this book is full of action. Listening to it on audio, it was a bit hard to keep track of what was going on at first since there is a lot happening but eventually it all comes together.
Alex and his high-end thieves have just pulled off a major job, robbing a jewelry store inside a Las Vegas casino. In addition to clearing out the cases, they also stole a very expensive, rare necklace that belonged to an Asian businessman. So Alex has a lot of money but no good way to spend it that won't look suspicious so he heads back to his quiet life on the East Coast where he meets and starts dating Diane. It is clear that they seem familiar to one another and Alex is cautious about not revealing too much of himself until he learns how they met before. As soon as he sees her son, he knows that she was his best friend, Clay's, girlfriend and that she had the baby instead of an abortion. Clay was killed 20 years ago while on a job for Marysol, the employer who originally got them into the business of crime. Alex and Clay were low level teenaged criminals when they tried to steal from Marysol while she was in Atlantic City. Instead, they rescued her from bigger thieves and she hired them to work for her. Flash forward 20 years and Marysol is retired, living in Mexico, Clay is dead and Alex is thinking of getting out of the business too. But apparently he has one more meeting to take. The head of the Mexican drug cartel wants Alex to steal something and bring it to him but the problem is that it isn't a thing that he wants but a person and it isn't stealing but kidnapping. Alex says no because that is not what he does and he asks for Marysol's help but instead of letting him off the hook, they kidnap his daughter and Diane's son to force Alex to do the job. They have to go to Spain to kidnap the same Asian businessman who they stole the necklace from in Vegas but, unbeknownst to them, their drive man has been flipped by the FBI and the police are also in Spain, setting a trap. On the day of the job, everything goes wrong, some of Alex's men are killed and the target escapes. Or that is what Alex thinks happened until he reaches the rendezvous point and finds that Diane captured the Asian. Alex goes to make the swap and finds that he has been double crossed and he is shot and left for dead. Flashforward two months and Diane, seeking revenge, meets with Marysol and says that she knows that she sold Alex out and that they will kill each of her children and grandchildren if she ever tries to harm her or the children again. She also reveals that Alex didn't die. Then she and Alex ride off into the Mexican sunset to go out to eat.