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Mirage Man
An ex-mob fixer with a price on his head must return to his New York City stomping ground to find out who wants him dead and cancel the contract before someone else cancels him.
A vigilante justice crime thriller.
Connor Harding was the go-to man when it came to solving problems for the underworld’s most dangerous criminals. He’s smart, relentless, and a master of a trade that few people know exists. He’s also retired and living a quiet life in Boston.
But someone wants him dead.
What begins as a failed hit in Connor’s kitchen spirals into a high-stakes chase that takes him back to his New York City stomping grounds. There, he becomes entangled in a criminal power struggle, mob turf war, and a federal investigation that put his former boss in prison. Connor must rely on his unique skills to navigate a seedy criminal underworld, determine who to trust, and solve a deadly plot of revenge and betrayal.
Can Connor find those responsible for the attempt on his life and cancel the contract before someone else cancels him?
Mirage Man is the fifth novel from award-winning author Trace Conger and the second novel in the Connor Harding thriller series.
A vigilante justice crime thriller.
Connor Harding was the go-to man when it came to solving problems for the underworld’s most dangerous criminals. He’s smart, relentless, and a master of a trade that few people know exists. He’s also retired and living a quiet life in Boston.
But someone wants him dead.
What begins as a failed hit in Connor’s kitchen spirals into a high-stakes chase that takes him back to his New York City stomping grounds. There, he becomes entangled in a criminal power struggle, mob turf war, and a federal investigation that put his former boss in prison. Connor must rely on his unique skills to navigate a seedy criminal underworld, determine who to trust, and solve a deadly plot of revenge and betrayal.
Can Connor find those responsible for the attempt on his life and cancel the contract before someone else cancels him?
Mirage Man is the fifth novel from award-winning author Trace Conger and the second novel in the Connor Harding thriller series.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 5, 2021
15 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Trace Conger
24 books61 followersTrace Conger is an award-winning author in the crime, thriller, and suspense genres. He writes the Connor Harding (Thriller) series and the Mr. Finn (PI) series.
His Connor Harding series follows freelance “Mirage Man” Connor Harding as he solves problems for the world’s most dangerous criminals. The Mr. Finn series follows private investigator Finn Harding as he straddles the fine line between right and wrong.
Conger won a Shamus Award for his debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER. His suspense novella, THE WHITE BOY, won the Fresh Ink Award for Best Novella of 2020.
He is known for his tight writing style, dark themes, and subtle humor. Trace lives in Cincinnati with his wonderfully supportive family.
Visit him online at www.traceconger.com.
Sign up for his newsletter to receive free fiction and exclusive updates at www.traceconger.com/freebies.
His Connor Harding series follows freelance “Mirage Man” Connor Harding as he solves problems for the world’s most dangerous criminals. The Mr. Finn series follows private investigator Finn Harding as he straddles the fine line between right and wrong.
Conger won a Shamus Award for his debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER. His suspense novella, THE WHITE BOY, won the Fresh Ink Award for Best Novella of 2020.
He is known for his tight writing style, dark themes, and subtle humor. Trace lives in Cincinnati with his wonderfully supportive family.
Visit him online at www.traceconger.com.
Sign up for his newsletter to receive free fiction and exclusive updates at www.traceconger.com/freebies.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 9, 2021
Didn't enjoy this effort as much as I enjoyed Conger's Mr. Finn thrillers.
Connor is Mr. Finn's brother. He's a former fixer for a New York mob family. He's also trying to figure out why that same mob organization is trying to have him killed. He thought he was retired and out of the game.
Several twists and turns keep the story going. Without them it would just be another run of the mill thriller with a high body count.
Connor is Mr. Finn's brother. He's a former fixer for a New York mob family. He's also trying to figure out why that same mob organization is trying to have him killed. He thought he was retired and out of the game.
Several twists and turns keep the story going. Without them it would just be another run of the mill thriller with a high body count.
May 21, 2021
Connor Harding works as a fixer of sorts, solving problems for the underworld's most dangerous criminals. He's been gone from this life for several years but he's always aware that his past could catch up with him.
And it has .....
A triggerman has arrived at Connor's home ready to kill. Killing the man in self defense, Connor knows that someone is after him... and they won't stop now.
Returning to his old stomping grounds in New York City, he plans to finding those responsible for putting a bounty on his head.
If you like a fast-paced page-turning non-stop action, you'll enjoy this crime thriller. Bodies keep falling ... criminal elements are always at war .... plus a federal investigation that put his former boss in prison. Who put the target on his back? The suspects are many .... who all seem to have a reason to put Connor out of the picture.
Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this Crime Thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 12, 2021
Mirage Man by Trace Conger
Connor Harding Thriller #1
Intense, fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride from beginning to end. Connor is not your typical fiction hero, but he is definitely a man you would rather have as your friend than as your enemy!
What I liked:
* The setting: Boston and New York
* Connor: ex-military, intelligent, lethal, son, brother, ex-fixer for a mob boss, retired, has found a niche job working with Mr. Fish, suddenly has a hit out on him and wants to know why.
* The writing, plot, and pace of the story
* Watching how the story unfolds and where Connor will head next
* That Connor was not Superman
* Zoe: a good person for Connor to have on speed-dial, smart, good businesswoman, intriguing, would like to see more of her in the future.
* The problems that Connor had to solve and how he went about finding solutions
* Thinking about what it would be like to live within the adrenaline and money fueled violent world of mafias
* That there is more to learn about Connor’s backstory
* The action scenes – seemed realistic and believable
* That Connor seems to see the world in shades of gray – not black and white – when it comes to what needs to be done and the justification for the actions required
* Knowing that there will be another book starring Connor in the future
* All of it except…
What I didn’t like:
* Exactly what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how easy it was for some of the characters to do the reprehensible things they did.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
Connor Harding Thriller #1
Intense, fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride from beginning to end. Connor is not your typical fiction hero, but he is definitely a man you would rather have as your friend than as your enemy!
What I liked:
* The setting: Boston and New York
* Connor: ex-military, intelligent, lethal, son, brother, ex-fixer for a mob boss, retired, has found a niche job working with Mr. Fish, suddenly has a hit out on him and wants to know why.
* The writing, plot, and pace of the story
* Watching how the story unfolds and where Connor will head next
* That Connor was not Superman
* Zoe: a good person for Connor to have on speed-dial, smart, good businesswoman, intriguing, would like to see more of her in the future.
* The problems that Connor had to solve and how he went about finding solutions
* Thinking about what it would be like to live within the adrenaline and money fueled violent world of mafias
* That there is more to learn about Connor’s backstory
* The action scenes – seemed realistic and believable
* That Connor seems to see the world in shades of gray – not black and white – when it comes to what needs to be done and the justification for the actions required
* Knowing that there will be another book starring Connor in the future
* All of it except…
What I didn’t like:
* Exactly what I was meant not to like
* Thinking about how easy it was for some of the characters to do the reprehensible things they did.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
February 9, 2021
A Good Bad Guy
Connor is trying to find out who put a hit order on him after he killed the assassin. Connor worked as a problem solver for the New York mob, until he decided to get out. Retired for three years, his reappearance in New York sets a house cleaning in motion. Good action read. ENJOY!
Connor is trying to find out who put a hit order on him after he killed the assassin. Connor worked as a problem solver for the New York mob, until he decided to get out. Retired for three years, his reappearance in New York sets a house cleaning in motion. Good action read. ENJOY!
February 5, 2021
Superior Noir
Taut, satisfying, gangster thriller with well -drawn anti-hero and all too believable supporting characters. Darkly complex plot with intelligent, no-frills action and dialogue.
Taut, satisfying, gangster thriller with well -drawn anti-hero and all too believable supporting characters. Darkly complex plot with intelligent, no-frills action and dialogue.
August 13, 2022
Conner was formerly an as needed fixer for the mob in NYC. He asks to be retired, which is rarely granted but in this case is. He moves to Boston near his Dad. An attempt on his life in Boston sends him back to NY to find out why his employer reneged on the deal.
He gets involved in a mob turf war as his former boss is in federal prison awaiting trial due to a "mole" in the organization and needs to find and neutralize those wanting to kill him so he can return to his quiet life in Boston.
He gets involved in a mob turf war as his former boss is in federal prison awaiting trial due to a "mole" in the organization and needs to find and neutralize those wanting to kill him so he can return to his quiet life in Boston.
May 2, 2025
Not for me, but probably not this book’s fault. Also so much mansplaining. “You think mobs are like this, but this is what really happens.” 😤 pretend I know, dude. Also very very violent, probably an R rated movie if adapted to screen.
Character keeps making questionable decisions, too, with a fair bit of character armor despite some serious injuries that would probably take out the average person.
Anyway not reading the rest of this series.
Character keeps making questionable decisions, too, with a fair bit of character armor despite some serious injuries that would probably take out the average person.
Anyway not reading the rest of this series.
January 21, 2021
My new favorite!
I love the premise of this book, the fast pace, the surprise turns, and the idea that another one is on the way! If you like books with suspense, twists and unstoppable forward motion, this one is for you!
I love the premise of this book, the fast pace, the surprise turns, and the idea that another one is on the way! If you like books with suspense, twists and unstoppable forward motion, this one is for you!
September 14, 2021
The book was great. An easy read not very long. Had enough twists and turns that it kept my interest without being routine. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
January 18, 2022
I enjoyed the suspense and the action and the way he worked out all the issues.
August 11, 2024
This book was a little slow in the middle but picked up towards the end and didn’t stop! I still enjoyed the hell out of the book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews