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Thick as Thieves

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A meio da noite, quatro homens realizam um assalto que lhes rende meio milhão de dólares. Ao raiar do dia, porém, tudo se desmorona. Um deles está no hospital. Outro está na prisão. Outro perde a vida. E o último... desaparece. Vinte anos depois, Arden Maxwell, a filha do homem que desapareceu sem deixar rasto, está cansada de viver ensombrada pelo passado e pela memória de um pai que todos acreditam ter fugido cobardemente com o dinheiro. De regresso à terra da família ao fim de tanto tempo, ela está longe de saber, claro, que os cúmplices do pai estão de olho nela. Mas alguém não está a dizer tudo o que sabe sobre o dinheiro, o assassinato e a traição. A verdade tem sempre uma maneira de vir ao de cima, e há quem esteja disposto a matar para descobrir o que realmente aconteceu. Perigo, vingança, desejo e ganância. Pleno de tensão, o novo romance de Sandra Brown é impossível de pousar!

384 pages, ebook

First published August 25, 2020

5266 people are currently reading
40421 people want to read

About the author

Sandra Brown

343 books19.3k followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Sandra Brown is the author of more than sixty New York Times bestsellers, including STING (2016), FRICTION (2015), MEAN STREAK (2014), DEADLINE(2013), & LOW PRESSURE (2012), LETHAL (2011).

Brown began her writing career in 1981 and since then has published over seventy novels, bringing the number of copies of her books in print worldwide to upwards of eighty million. Her work has been translated into over thirty languages.

In 2009 Brown detoured from romantic suspense to write, Rainwater, a much acclaimed, powerfully moving historical fiction story about honor and sacrifice during the Great Depression.

Brown was given an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Texas Christian University. She was named Thriller Master for 2008, the top award given by the International Thriller Writer’s Association. Other awards and commendations include the 2007 Texas Medal of Arts Award for Literature and the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,956 reviews
Profile Image for Regina.
1,139 reviews4,487 followers
March 30, 2021
Apparently Sandra Brown has written over 70 best sellers, and I have now read exactly one. I think when authors are as prolific as she is, you become immune to seeing their books on shelves. Like you’re either a Brown reader or you're not, and if you’re not you don’t even pick up her latest release to consider it. Also, there’s always a fear that it’s part of a series or a larger overall fictional universe where you’ll be lost. So is the case with me and Sandra Brown.

Then why did I decide to read Thick as Thieves? Because I received a copy from the publisher. And you know what? I liked it! This standalone novel kept my attention from start to finish, and it had plenty of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I went into it blind and had no expectations, which I recommend you do as well. The synopsis on Goodreads is particularly spoilery and even includes misinformation about the plot. All you need to know is that chapters alternate between a heist-gone-wrong during the week leading up to Easter in 2020 and the small Texas town still dealing with the aftermath in present day.

I believe the subgenre for this type of thriller is “romantic suspense.” As I’ve said in other reviews, I prefer my romances to be closed door. I don’t really want to read about the ins and outs (sorry) of people knockin’ boots. There are a lot of boots knocked in Thick as Thieves, so I chose to skim those bits. I also found the ending to be satisfying but just a titch too tidy, and initially I had a little difficulty tracking all the characters. If those are my gripes though, I can’t complain. There’s zero chance I’ll ever get caught up with Sandra Brown’s back catalogue, but I’ll certainly pick up her future releases and consider them.

My thanks to the author and Grand Central Publishing for the gifted paperback to review.

Blog: www.confettibookshelf.com
IG: @confettibookshelf
Profile Image for Sheyla ✎.
2,023 reviews652 followers
September 12, 2020


Sandra Brown is a must-read for me. She is one of my favorite writers. I couldn’t pass on Thick as Thieves. I'm extremely thankful to Grand Central Publishing for my early copy.

In Thick as Thieves, a heist gone wrong, a murder, and a father’s disappearance twenty years ago are at the center of the story.

Arden Maxwell decides to move back to her family home when she realizes she is pregnant. Her home has been isolated and left unkept since her father disappeared that awful night twenty years ago. Arden might not realize it at the beginning but she is looking for answers. After tragedy strikes, she is determined to find out more about her father's disappearance and it seems like Ledge Burnet might have some or all of the answers.

Life has not treated Ledge Burnet fairly. He lost his parents at an early age and his uncle and his wife took him in. Soon after, his aunt died and it just became the two of them. Ledge was placed in juvie for smoking marijuana. An error he's not going to repeat until the night Arden's father disappears and he is being taken to jail after he's stopped by cops and drugs are found in his car. Ledge is certain he was framed two decades ago and he, as much as Arden, wants to know the truth.

As with the majority of the books by Sandra Brown I've read, this one is a page-turner. The suspense was killing me. Some things I guessed, some others took me by surprise.

Mrs. Brown can write great enemies. In this case, Rusty was an evil man with too much power and a hateful soul. It was so easy to hate him.

My sole complaint would be the ending. Everything resolved too neatly for me. Anyway, the end was not enough for me not to enjoy it.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Grand Central Pub in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Profile Image for Mo.
1,404 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2020
It's between a three and four for me.

I'll say it again and plenty of my friends on here have said it, the recent SB books are not a patch on her older books. I did enjoy this one and it kept me guessing but, honestly, it had none of the "edge of your seat" stuff that her books like Chill Factor or Mean Streak had. Those books, I could just not put down and they are ones that I did re-read and listened to on Audible. This one, not sure I will pick it up again. Maybe, years from now!


Maybe war had left L. Burnet taciturn and borderline rude. Or perhaps he was standoffish by nature.


Yes, her heroes can be surly and wary but I do like them.


"I apologize for yesterday. Sometimes I come across as rude when I don't mean to be."
She gave him a look, and he added, "Okay, and sometimes I mean to be."


And the "bad guy" is usually a motherfucker of a creep and this case was no exception ...

Ledge's description of him had been inflammatory, but regardless of that, she would have instantly mistrusted the man's toothy smile.



The monkey is cute ... the bad guy definitely was NOT.


Came down to money, as everything does.



I found the character development a bit rushed too ... granted there was an attraction but


"He knew every square foot of this lake, all the bayous."



"I'm stacking up lies like firewood, and I hate that like hell."



I just cannot give this a solid four or five stars, especially if I am comparing it to previous books which, in my opinion, were of a much higher standard. I wasn't a huge fan of her last offering either so maybe it is me and I am just becoming a bit lacklustre about her books. She will still be an auto buy for me so, fingers crossed, the next book will be a five star.
Profile Image for Corina.
873 reviews2,554 followers
August 6, 2024
I realized I LOVE reading romantic suspense novels in between all the other genres I read. And I was actually surprised by how much I was looking forward to it and in the end really enjoyed it. AND Sandra Brown is VERY good at it - so definitely a win-win for me :D


___________________________________

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.

Profile Image for Jonetta.
2,593 reviews1,325 followers
April 28, 2021
Twenty years ago, four people robbed Welch’s, a local family owned store that rivaled the big box outlets. It was a major haul and the next day, one of the robbers was dead and his supposed accomplice had disappeared. Joe Maxwell was a widow who was down on his luck, struggling with alcohol and barely managing to provide for his two daughters. He was never found and it was just assumed he’d run away with the money, abandoning his family. Lisa Maxwell, the oldest daughter who was in college, took her younger sister, Arden who was only 10-years old, and fled to Houston. Now Arden has returned to the town and their former home, determined to restore the house and maybe find answers to what really happened the night her father disappeared.

The story begins with the immediate aftermath of the robbery but doesn’t identify the individuals by name. In the present day, we get some clarity about who planned the heist and some of the participants but exactly what happened is what unfolds slowly throughout. I went into this blind, which I highly recommend, so I never knew where the story would lead. Even Arden’s history is a mystery and her decision to seek out and hire Ledge Burnet, a local contractor, to restore the house feels predestined. Their instant attraction to each other is clear from the onset and is also a slow burn, adding more tension to the mix.

What makes the mystery work, at least for me, is getting the points of view from a host of involved characters who I wasn’t sure were always reliable in their recounts. Sifting the details required some work and I got completely immersed in the who, what and how of it all as they were always pretty murky. And, it became clear early on that Arden’s return to town stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest. I listened to the story and the narrator delivered a sultry and fine piece of storytelling. He made the slowly developed narrative seem natural and worth the wait, making my reading experience a pleasurable one. While I never really connected with Arden and Ledge’s romance, the mystery hooked me from the beginning and never let go. And, the ending delivered the excitement, twists and surprises I hoped it would.

Posted on Blue Mood Café
Profile Image for Kay.
2,212 reviews1,201 followers
September 21, 2020
" Twenty years ago in the dead of night, four seemingly random individuals pulled the ultimate heist and almost walked away with half a million dollars. But by daybreak, their plan had been shot to hell. One of them was in the hospital. One was in jail. One was dead. And one got away with it."

Sounds really good right? It's like watching a movie trailer and thought, wow, I gotta watch it! Then once you watched it the trailer was the better than the movie. That's how I feel about this book. 😌
Profile Image for Katie B.
1,725 reviews3,171 followers
March 11, 2021
I'm glad I finally got around to reading a Sandra Brown book because she's been an author on my to read list for awhile now. Thick as Thieves was exactly what I was in the mood for, a solid romantic suspense novel. It's the type of book that is nice to sit back and unwind with after a long stressful day.

Twenty years ago, a store safe with a sizeable chunk of cash was emptied out in a heist. Four people were in on the crime and within hours one person was dead, one in jail, one in the hospital, and one person went missing. Joe Maxwell hasn't been seen or heard from since and he is suspected of murdering his accomplice for the money before splitting town. Two decades later, his daughter, Arden, moves back to her hometown of Caddo Lake, Texas and hopes she can finally get answers to her father's disappearance. Little does she know, the man she wants to hire to remodel her home, Ledge Burnett, was a rebellious teen at the time of the heist and... was one of the accomplices. In Ledge's defense he has been trying to follow the straight and narrow path and do good ever since the night of the crime.

I gotta say the mystery aspects were done well as I had a general sense of the direction the author was headed but she did have a few tricks up her sleeve. Wanting to know what happened to Joe was just one of the reasons the story held my interest. The other reason is I enjoyed the love/hate chemistry between the two lead characters. All in all, a fun book to read.

I received a free copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts expressed are my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Rainz ❤️rainnbooks❤️(on a break).
1,368 reviews88 followers
August 13, 2021
Finally, I have done it, listened completely to one audiobook. YAYY!!! I will consider it an achievement even it was me listening to a story that I have already read.

**********************************
Many thanks to Net Galley, Hodder & Stoughton, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.


A year back, there was this lovely feature in Goodreads that helped us to check the MOST READ AUTHORS as a list. No prizes guessing the top author in my list, none other than SANDRA BROWN. Ever since reading Prime Time, I have been an ardent fan of this prolific writer and from the time she had begun to write stories that provide a perfect mix of romance and intrigue in equal doses, I have never, ever been disappointed.


Thick As Thieves is Sandra Brown at her best and for long time fans, be assured this one has all the unique characteristics that mark her novels. Edgy suspense, grumpy and irascible heroes, toe-curling chemistry, and a mind-blowing twist at the end.


The hero Ledge Burnet is obviously, the surliest, the most obnoxious, and the rudest handsome devil that one might come across but with a heart of gold that the reader is left gushing, oohing and aahing 🥰🥰🥰. The heroine, Arden Maxwell may seem timid in comparison but she is no pushover by any means. The antagonist, Rusty Dyle is as creepy as it comes with his peculiar ways of exacting revenge and manipulating people and abusing the position of power.


A whole host of other lovable characters like Don, Lisa, Crystal, each of them playing a definite part in this story, Sandra Brown has once again proved why she is the supreme best in the genre of romantic suspense.


The story is centered in a small town in Texas where a crime of 20 years has been lying dormant, the undercurrents churning and simmering that a single event, that of the return of Arden causes the cauldron to boil over. What exactly happened one night in 2000 when 4 thieves stole half a million dollars and made a pact of life? The mystery that gets divulged in bits and pieces leaves the reader on tenterhooks until the action-filled final chapter.


The revealing surprise at the end had me thunderstruck, this in spite of the fact that I had been waiting and expecting some twist as it is one of the trademark characteristics of a Sandra Brown novel.


Highly recommended for fans of fast-paced sexy romantic suspense, read it one GO!


This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Profile Image for Paul Weiss.
1,466 reviews543 followers
April 1, 2023
Arden Maxwell is the daughter of the one that got away!

Twenty years ago, four unlikely conspirators got away clean on a daring heist! But you know the saying, “He who hesitates is lost”! And in this case, never a truer word was spoken. Before the sun came over the horizon on the morning after the robbery, one of them was in the hospital having been beaten to within an inch of his life, one was in jail, one was dead alligator bait in a mangrove swamp and the fourth, Arden Maxwell’s father, had apparently disappeared with the bag of loot, half a million large ones, never to be seen or heard from again.

Well, more accurately put, his coincidental disappearance led the community to believe that he was the fourth member of the robbery team and the murderer of the poor joker whose mangled corpse was dredged up out of the swamp. Arden Maxwell has returned to her hometown to find the answers to her questions. But Ledge Burnet, a solitary craftsman who had been forcibly enlisted and sent to Afghanistan years earlier as an alternative to some heavy duty jail time for misdeeds as a younger man and Rusty Dyle, the corrupt District Attorney who followed in the footsteps of his equally larcenous and infamous sheriff father, are not the least bit comfortable with the questions she’s asking and the stones she’s turning over.

The game is on and, of course, Sandra Brown being Sandra Brown, one can expect a pedal-to-the-metal thriller peppered every so often with some graphic cheeks-to-the sheets, hot and sweaty sexual interludes. A feminist reader might be a little miffed that the sex on occasion was less than 100% consensual and the foreplay more than a little macho and misogynistic but I managed to read over it and pretty much ignore the sexual encounters in favour of getting on with a thriller that was more than passably enjoyable.

Memorable literature? Most definitely not. Enjoyable brain candy for lovers of thrillers and romantic suspense novels? Yep … I’m definitely a Sandra Brown fan and THICK AS THIEVES is easy to recommend.

Paul Weiss
Profile Image for Lisazj1.
2,072 reviews193 followers
September 8, 2020
3.5 stars but I'll round up to 4 just for the last quarter of the book. I love Sandra Brown's writing but her last couple of books just haven't wowed me, though it honestly pains me to say it. 😕

The biggest thing missing for me, just like last time, is chemistry between her MCs. I fully admit it could just be me but I completely didn't feel that here. The characters were likable, mostly, but I just didn't love them. The one I felt the strongest about was the damn bad guy, and I absolutely loathed him. 😡

However, SB's writing remains as stellar as always, and I was pulled along with the plot regardless. I wanted to know where it was going. And the last part of the story, the plot, action and chemistry came crashing to the front, .

Not my favorite, but I'll still read whatever SB writes.
Profile Image for Brenda.
5,074 reviews3,012 followers
September 19, 2020
Arden Maxwell had returned to her childhood home in Caddo Lake, Texas after twenty years of being absent. Her father, Joe Maxwell had disappeared back then and although he’d been declared dead, no one had seen or heard of him since then. Arden’s sister Lisa was against her moving back home, living in the old, rundown house the two women had grown up in, but Arden took no notice of her sister. Twenty years ago there’d been a robbery, a murder and Joe had vanished. He was blamed for both events.

Arden was determined to get answers, to get some closure over the disappearance of her dad, but little did she know that her return would stir up old memories and put her in terrible danger. Two of the thieves were still around, and their antennae were vibrating. Watching Arden, keeping tabs on her, stalking her – none of it was off limits. The slick, silkiness of the threats, the constant looking over her shoulder – what would happen when the past connected with the present?

Thick as Thieves is another well written suspense novel from the pen of Sandra Brown. She knows how to ramp up the tension, to have the evil oozing off the page. There were plenty of twists but the major couple at the end I didn’t see coming. I thoroughly enjoyed Thick as Thieves and recommend it highly.

With thanks to Hodder & Stoughton UK via NetGalley for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tracey .
895 reviews57 followers
October 27, 2023
This is a well-written, entertaining, steamy, romantic suspense novel. It has a likable female protagonist, an engaging, former military male protagonist, a complex plot, murder, mystery, secrets, twists and turns and an unexpected conclusion. I listened to the audio version of this novel, and the narrator, Kyf Brewer, has a captivating voice and does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.
Profile Image for WhiskeyintheJar.
1,521 reviews694 followers
April 2, 2021
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

After leaving her home twenty years ago with her father missing and older sister now responsible for her care, Arden Maxwell is back in Penton. Pregnant and wanting to fix up her childhood home to start fresh, Arden suddenly loses the baby. With her sister Lisa hounding her to leave Penton and come live with her, two months later Arden is rising out of her grief and deciding that she needs answers to the night her father disappeared.
Ledge Burnet knows that Arden is in town and has been trying to keep an eye on her while keeping his distance. He's always been waiting for the truth of that night twenty years ago to come out but he doesn't want Arden to get caught in the crossfire.
The past with all its lies and history swirl in the Texas bayou.

“Talking about it is the surefire way to get caught.”

Thick as Thieves starts with a prologue from twenty years ago as four individuals meet after robbing a large family goods store. From there we jump to present time and interspersed with Arden and Ledge's point-of-view chapters, we get flashbacks to the robbery night from the individuals involved. The main robbery outline is revealed early and instead the finer details of the night are left to be colored in as you read. For the most part, the reader knows more than Arden, which I liked, and we're following along as she discovers what happened and who to trust.

“One of these days I'll probably have to kill him.”

The leader of the robbery group, Rusty Dyle, had a credible role as villain but while he had the power, sheriff's son and then District Attorney, he lacked a strong motive or a certain je nais sais qoui to his thoughts and actions; he fell a little flat as the bully for the sake of being a bully villain. Ledge as our cool, solid, but shadowed hero that almost had more chemistry with his hate relationship with Dusty than his lusty one with Arden. There's some underlining sizzle between the two but the romance thread felt forced with Ledge instantly lusting after Arden and Arden feeling strong caution but physical attraction seeping through. They lacked an emotional and relationship development closeness and we mostly just get in kisses and “I want you” forced in between the robbery and murder mystery and Arden searching for answers.

He lowered his head and focused on the one stair step between them. “Because I would be seeing you every day, but having to keep my hands off you.” He looked up at her from beneath his brows and spoke from the heart. “And I don't think I can do that.”

I thought the mystery, thriller aspect of this was paced well, it's gradual with answer reveals but the story pulls you in. As this read more as a mystery/thriller to me, I did like it but anyone reading this for a strong romance plot, I would say lower your expectations as Arden and Ledge's relationship depth isn't there. A big reveal was left to the very end that made me want to go back and read the story to see if there were clues I missed and while there was some surprise to it, I felt more irked deceived than enjoyed deceived because of how late it was left to be revealed. While I enjoyed the easy pace for the vast majority, I did think the ending left too much for the very end and made it feel piled on, especially for the character of Arden, who don't get to really see work through the reveals.

“I take to you, Ledge.” She hugged him tighter.

This had a strong beginning and middle with a gradual paced mystery that gives a lot of answers but saves big truths until the very end. The romance felt forced for the most part but the overall story will definitely capture your attention and have you contently wandering in the slow mysterious Texas bayou for hours.
Profile Image for ♥Rachel♥.
2,268 reviews923 followers
August 28, 2020
Arden is back in her small hometown after twenty years to find answers. A half million-dollar heist, a murder, and her father’s disappearance has left her with a lot of questions. Her reappearance doesn’t go unnoticed and unfortunately her return draws the attention of a nefarious person from the past. Does Arden know more about the theft and where the money went? Well, that speculation spells danger for Arden.

Ledge has had his own trouble in this little Texas town, but he’s paid his due taking military service in lieu of a jail term and come back home a hero. Mostly he keeps to himself, only staying in town to keep an eye out for his ailing uncle, but with Arden back the past comes back into full focus, and the trouble he’s managed to avoid comes roaring back up. Arden has no idea the hornet’s nest her presence stirs up, but Ledge knows, and he makes it his mission to keep her out of trouble’s sights.

I love Sandra Brown’s twisty mysteries! Her “heroes” are far from perfect, skirting the edge of right and wrong at times, but at the heart of things are good. Ledge is cast from that mold, and I couldn’t help but root for him! Oh, Ms. Brown writes the sexiest heroes! Ledge was raw masculinity, gruff, and not concerned with winning any popularity contest. Ledge and Arden are oil and water at first, yet the sparks of attraction fly between them making for a delicious push and pull until they finally succumb to irresistible forces!

I think it’s best to go in with any Sandra Brown with minimal knowledge and let her take you on a ride. Keeps you hooked, she’s the queen of the cliffhanger chapter, and a twisty surprise or two! She kept me on the edge of my seat, and I usually end reading her stories straight through because I just have to know how it all turns out! She’s on my list of auto-buys and I think any suspense/thriller/romance fan will gobble Thick as Thieves up like I did!

A copy was kindly provided by Grand Central Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jonathan K (Max Outlier).
796 reviews213 followers
April 8, 2021
Rating: 2.5 stars at best.
Having read best selling, highly rated crime and mystery authors, what differentiates them from less known authors is their ability to weave the unexpected into a story. Unfortunately Ms. Brown fails miserably in this area. At a quarter of the way through I saw the writing of the wall which for someone who prefers other genres, is telling. Characters are ordinary, predictable and do little to help. The fact that money heist stories have been told countless times with more appealing characters diminishes THIS reader's engagement further.. I trudged through it hoping for more but was severely disappointed. Authors like Greg Iles, David Baldacci, Dan Brown and countless others are far more enticing using plots and characters that draw us in. I'm sort of surprised this book has received 4 star ratings, though like all art, we're each drawn to something unique. On to better things.
Profile Image for Anne OK.
4,098 reviews553 followers
September 11, 2020
There’s not much in the world of books that makes me happier than the arrival of each new release from Sandra Brown. The suspense factor was really done well here, and her latest is a total win-win. After all these years, she still manages to surprise and thrill me as she brings her heroes and heroines to life on the pages of her books. I can only think of one other author's books I may have read over and over as many times as Brown's.

SB once again sends us to a small town in Texas for the setting of her latest sexy romantic thriller. After two decades, there’s still a missing person and a half-million dollar heist, an unsolved murder -- and the mayhem that follows proves it’s not over yet! Each gripping page is filled with danger, desire, greed and vengeance. Hang on tight because we’re just getting started, and there are lots of twists, turns and surprises ahead.

Without disturbing the pace, Brown easily moves readers back and forth in time with flashbacks from present to past when the heist happened two decades ago – never giving away too many clues before the full truth -- and nothing but the truth -- is finally revealed at the very end. All the while readers enjoy a fast-paced story with plenty of action scenes, lots of tension, and that ever desired romance building between our hero and heroine.

Like so many of Brown’s larger-than-life Texas heroes, I’m a sucker for each and every one. And Ledge Burnet doesn’t escape me either. An ex-Army Special Forces sniper with a dark past, he walks that fine-line between right and wrong. But beneath it all, he has a heart of gold and a body to make all the girls swoon. Ledge is broody, moody and oh so goody! (Yeah, pay no attention to me – it’s 3:00 A.M.!)

When it comes to heroines, this author doesn’t slack in that category either. They may be battered and beaten and carrying a heavy burden, but they are stand-outs with their dignity, drive and inward and outward beauty. And Brown always manages to make a perfect match. Arden Maxwell is just such a character. Her strength and determination was very appealing.

Together, Ledge and Arden are opposites who can’t fight the magnetic pull. At first sight, there’s immediate attraction and sexual tension. I admit they fought the good fight but lost the battle to irresistible forces. Did you believe it would go any other way?

And then there's the bad boss guy! And oh wow – does Brown ever give us a scumbag villain this go-round. He's a dirty and totally crooked District Attorney. Bad, bad Rusty Dye, the baddest man in the whole damned town. The plot thickens because there’s bad blood between Ledge Burnet and Rusty Dye.

Even when you think this author has finished with you, don’t count on it. Because here comes that trademark twist for which Ms. Brown is notoriously famous, and is always smoothly achieved in her wrap-ups. This final blow is staggering and completely blindsided me. Just when you think you know it all, you’ll discover you’ve got nothing – you don’t know jack!

Once again, Ms. Brown pulls off another perfectly drawn romantically and suspense-filled tale. With a blend of action and edge-of-your-seat suspense that’s well-balanced with just the right amount of romance to appease readers, it doesn’t get any better than Thick As Thieves.

After each and every book, I can still say that Sandra Brown never ever disappoints. Some may be higher on my list of favorites, but they all are winners. For years, she has been and still is one of my top favorite authors.

NOTE: In a recent interview, Ms. Brown assured readers that next year’s release won’t include the Covid-19 virus. But it will have a historical backdrop that takes place after World War I and, of course, includes the romance and suspense. And so we begin that long and torturous wait for the arrival of her next intriguing story.
Profile Image for CYIReadBooks (Claire).
845 reviews121 followers
March 17, 2021
Twenty years ago, four people conspired to pull off a daring heist. With insider information, the heist snagged half a million dollars, left one person in jail, left another person dead, left a third person in the hospital, and left the last person missing in action.

Arden Maxwell who has been away twenty years, decidedly returns to her hometown to raise her expectant child. Arden expected the rumor mongering among the townsfolk upon her return. After all, her father, Joe Maxwell was the infamous suspect gone missing in that daring and fateful heist twenty years earlier.

As Arden attempts to settle into her old home, she becomes hyper aware that she is being watched. Spurred on by her own curiosity into the disappearance of her father, Arden vigorously starts her own investigation. If she only knew doing so would jeopardize her life and the lives of others.

Told in multiple points of view, Thick as Thieves is an absorbing read filled with interesting and complex characters. Combined with an outstanding plot that contains enough twists and turns, Thick as Thieves is a thrilling novel of epic proportions. Five monumental stars.

I received a complimentary review copy from Grand Central Publishing. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Profile Image for ♥Sharon♥.
985 reviews139 followers
September 2, 2020


I will forever be a Sandra Brown fan. I will say her current stuff doesn't match up to her older books. Some of my favorites are Envy, The Alibi, Chill Factor, Lethal. I could go on and on. They kept me on the edge of my seat worrying and wondering how things would play out. Her new stuff just doesn't ring those bells with me.

BUT!!! I did enjoy this one. I'm not going to say much about it. It is a story that is best going in blind.

Thick as Thieves is told between the past and the present. It is easy to follow along so this didn't bother me at all.

Ledge Burnet was great! He was an ass at times but you couldn't help but fall for him. As per usual it takes a bit of time for things to heat up between him and Arden. It was worth the wait. The mere mention of hair over his pecs and "his yummy trail" that begged to be followed had me wanting for a more! lol

Loved Arden Marshall. She had his number right from the get go. She gave Ledge as good as she got. Life hadn't been easy for her and her sister and it was about to get worse before it got better.

There is a nut job at the heart of everything too. What a psycho. Some good secondary characters as well.

This one is definitely worth the read if you are a fan of SB. I found the beginning to be a little slow, in the middle things started to pick up and after the 75% point I loved every minute. Ohhhh there is a twist or two!!
Profile Image for Irene.
1,048 reviews123 followers
September 1, 2020


I'm wavering between 3 and 3,5 stars. I didn't feel the Sandra Brown excitement, intrigue and chemistry between the MC's as I did in her previous books. I had guessed the big reveal almost from the start - minus a small detail - and the vilain isn't as cunning as in Outfox for example.

I had reached 30% of the story and I felt that I was still in the prologue. IDK, maybe I wasn't in the mood for a SB book. But lately her stories fell a little short for me, I think she needs to up her game....
Profile Image for Anita.
2,646 reviews218 followers
September 9, 2020
I love Sandra Brown and "Thick as Thieves" does not disappoint. She can create a story like very few authors and you always get a twist for the ending. Her hero and heroine are at odds from their first meeting and trust is not something either of them feels for the other. Lust, yes - Trust, no. The plot draws you in from the first chapter and I couldn't put this book down.

In the middle of a dark, stormy night twenty years ago four people pulled off a remarkable heist and get away scot free. Then the double crosses begin. By dawn the haul, a half a million dollars, has vanished, leaving one in the hospital. one in jail, one dead and one - gone.

Seeking answers to the most traumatic event of her life, Arden Maxwell moves back to Caddo Lake, TX. She wants to know why. Why did her father abandon her and her older sister, Lisa? She thinks the answers lie in solving a twenty year old robbery. A mystery that someone wants solved and someone else wants left alone.

Ledge Burnet was the youngest of the robbers and the first to be betrayed. That turned out to be good for Ledge as he ended up as decorated war hero. When he returns to Caddo Lake, his mission is to care for his ailing uncle and watch every move of the man who betrayed him, the corrupt county district attorney, who may have also been the murderer from that night long ago. Ledge and Rusty are in a game of cat and mouse, bound together by a code of silence, but Arden upsets the balance and forces Ledge to confront both his past and his need to protect Arden.
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.4k reviews543 followers
August 31, 2020
This one was just ok for me. I liked Arden at times, but often it seemed like she had her head in the sand. Ledge was meh for me, I think he was supposed to come off as a redeemed bad boy, but to me he just came off as a bit sad. The rest of the characters...well for the most part all of them were awful for their actions in the past and present. By the time we got to the end and learned what really happened all I could think was what a waste of so many people and most of those that were in on the crime got what was coming to them.
Profile Image for Ari.
935 reviews216 followers
November 21, 2020
Intense and heartfelt. Sandra Brown never misses her mark, nor does she fail in writing characters that draw you deep into the story.
Profile Image for Gretchen.
1,019 reviews152 followers
September 7, 2020
This was a riveting and thrilling story that kept me guessing until the very end! It was so exciting to read with all the twists and turns, incredible characters, and intriguing mystery happening. I couldn't put it down. This story is the definition of a page-turner! I loved it!

This was a captivating read with a fantastic build and details, I was completely pulled in. I loved the back and forth storytelling between past and present and loved the different POVs and getting all the history. It had so much depth and I loved the emotion, drama, and tension woven in. It all flowed so well. I enjoyed all the characters and I loved the intricacies of their perspectives. There were so many great characters involved that added to the richness of the story. Not everything was as it seemed and there were several twists along the way that kept me on my toes, and I loved them all.

I loved the romance taking place between Arden and Ledge and how it evolved over the course of the story, it was really well executed. Ledge was so gruff and protective and Arden was full of determination. I loved the tension between them and their building attraction, I could feel the pull they had to one another. The thriller aspect mixed with the romance was flawlessly done. I couldn’t wait for these two to get together.

This was my first time reading Sandra Brown and I feel like I have been seriously missing out. This was an exceptional story which made for a totally addicting read. You have to read it and experience it for yourself. I highly recommend it.

Complimentary copy received for review.
Profile Image for MicheleReader.
1,116 reviews167 followers
December 27, 2020
The setting is Penton, Texas, a small town where everyone knows everyone’s business. When Arden Maxwell returns to town, the residents are all gossiping, wanting to know why she came back. That’s because everyone remembers the Maxwell family. Arden and her older sister left town twenty years ago after their father disappeared. He was one of a group of people involved in a robbery that left one person dead. The $500,000 stolen disappeared along with Joe Maxwell. No one was ever charged with the crime. Arden is seeking closure. Her sister Lisa tries to dissuade her from going back to Penton and Arden doesn’t realize that there are still people in town who were involved in the crime. As danger lurks, Arden meets Ledge Burnet and he tries to help protect her as she works to dig up secrets about the night her father disappeared.

The mysteries I read are generally dark, psychological thrillers. Sandra Brown’s Thick As Thieves is a bit lighter and has the added element of a romance with some steaminess added. If you’ve read Ms. Brown’s other books, you know what to expect. If not, it’s worth a look.

Rated 3.75.

Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Profile Image for Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads).
1,132 reviews
October 17, 2020
Twenty years ago a group of four pulled off a surprising small town heist. By morning, one was in the hospital, one was in jail, another dead, and the final gone along with the half a million dollars.

The missing man was presumed to have murdered his accomplice and taken off with the cash. Now his daughter, Arden Maxwell, is back in town and searching for a sense of closure and hopes of raising a family. She has no idea that two of the people involved in the heist are watching her closely and for very different reasons.

Ledge Burnet and Rusty Dyle never ran in the same circles growing up which makes their involvement in the heist seem unlikely. With the return of their missing accomplice’s daughter,
the army vet and district attorney are in a deadly game; one to protect Arden, the other will do anything to find the money.

This is my first Sandra Brown novel and it won’t be my last! The plot, characters, and hint of romance pulled me in and I didn't see that satisfying ending (with a twist, of course!) coming, which made for a compulsive read that would make a great film.

I recommend Thick as Thieves to readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, and a side of sexy time!

For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
Profile Image for Jannelies (living between hope and fear).
1,307 reviews194 followers
August 26, 2020
What I liked most about the book was the fact that the reader doesn't have to work out by himself what's happened to the four thieves. Well, not all of it anyway. Pretty soon it is obvious what happened to some of the characters, which makes it all the more interesting to read why and how it all happened.
It may be not very nice to say so, but I thought the bad guy to be the most interesting character in a way. Even from a young age, he knows how to make people do what he wants. He's a master in finding ways to get what he wants, and what he wants is power and money. I really got to hate him during the story.
Arden and Ledge (I still can't get my head around his silly name) are interesting in their own way, but very soon it becomes obvious that they are the ones that are going to solve the mystery so no surprise there.
I liked the twists at the end an all in all, found it a nice read.

Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
Profile Image for Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book).
1,805 reviews
March 23, 2022
A small dog is lying on a fluffy blanket with a softcover book to her left

📚 Hello Book Friends! I am never disappointed by Sandra Brown’s books. THICK AS THIEVES is no exception. This novel has it all: mystery, action, and love. It captured my attention right from the beginning and the ending was phenomenal. One of my fav books by this awesome author.

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Profile Image for BrandyD.
658 reviews84 followers
April 6, 2021
Wow, I didn’t see that coming! Nice twist at the end.
Profile Image for Melissa Borsey.
1,888 reviews38 followers
January 10, 2021
Classic Sandra Brown! A fast paced mystery that grabs your attention from the first page. I was turning the pages so fast, I finished this book in a day.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,956 reviews

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