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Nighthawks
When art, money and power collide...
A Mafia boss addicted to beautiful art. A Catholic priest who knows too much. A modern-day Jay Gatsby.
And a woman on the run.
Disgraced London detective Stephen Connor is given an ultimatum: take a transfer to Rome or kiss his career goodbye.
With his love life in tatters and his confidence at an all-time low, can Stephen find the world's most valuable painting before it disappears forever?
Awarded a 2021 Book Readers Appreciation Group (B.R.A.G.)Medallion
- GenresSuspense
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 13, 2021
4 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 9, 2021
This is an intriguing international crime thriller with Scotland Yard detective Stephen Connor as the main character. This is the second book in the series but it works well as a standalone as the authors give all relevant background information as necessary - I know that because I haven't read the first book yet!
Much to the annoyance of his fiancée, Stephen is sent to work with the police in Rome, investigating illicit art dealing. Can he help recover valuable art works before they disappear from view? Get ready to meet the officers he'll be working with as well as folks raiding archeological digs, organised crime, international criminals, murder, mystery, threats and danger in this fast paced, action packed crime thriller. It has great characters, complete with their very human flaws. There are a variety of relationships explored, international police and agencies to work with, plenty of clues to uncover for the truth to be revealed to enable the leaders of this operation to be brought to justice! It is an enthralling read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers.
Thank you for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
Much to the annoyance of his fiancée, Stephen is sent to work with the police in Rome, investigating illicit art dealing. Can he help recover valuable art works before they disappear from view? Get ready to meet the officers he'll be working with as well as folks raiding archeological digs, organised crime, international criminals, murder, mystery, threats and danger in this fast paced, action packed crime thriller. It has great characters, complete with their very human flaws. There are a variety of relationships explored, international police and agencies to work with, plenty of clues to uncover for the truth to be revealed to enable the leaders of this operation to be brought to justice! It is an enthralling read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers.
Thank you for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.
April 17, 2021
Art theft, international conspiracies, the Mafia...
I love novels that take me to new places away from the boring same-old. In that sense this book did not disappoint. Much of the action takes place in Italy. Having visited the main tourist cities I was able to see the story unfolding in my mind's eye. I cannot vouch for how accurate the politics, society and culture etc depicted in the novel were, but it felt authentic.
Reading this made me want to actually Google the artworks mentioned!
It is not a page turner but plods on in true police procedural fashion until the climax at the end where all the loose ends tie up in a neat package.
I love novels that take me to new places away from the boring same-old. In that sense this book did not disappoint. Much of the action takes place in Italy. Having visited the main tourist cities I was able to see the story unfolding in my mind's eye. I cannot vouch for how accurate the politics, society and culture etc depicted in the novel were, but it felt authentic.
Reading this made me want to actually Google the artworks mentioned!
It is not a page turner but plods on in true police procedural fashion until the climax at the end where all the loose ends tie up in a neat package.
September 26, 2021
I received an ARC of this book via netgalley In exchange for an honest review. I have read the first book in this series and found it confusing with many disparate elements. This one is better in that the main emphasis is a series of art crimes. However it does suffer from too many complications in my view. Nobody is whom they seem whether in the Vatican, the police or the gangs they all seem to be hiding something and this just became too much for me in the end. I found it very difficult to keep track of the whole although there were elements that i enjoyed.
May 8, 2021
This isn't my usual genre, but I did enjoy the Dan Brown books and I saw a lot of similarity in this. It's not just the storyline, though, it's the quality of Lambert Nagle's writing; the use of dialogue to keep the reader's interest and the way the action crosses countries and continents that makes this book as gripping as Mr Brown's stories. Recommended.
June 16, 2021
We are proud to announce that NIGHTHAWKS (Stephen Connor,#2) by Lambert Nagle has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.
May 21, 2021
Stephen Connor is a cop, a man who feels himself to be often misunderstood, and yet does his best to do the right thing, as he is, at the end of the day, including mistakes and all the messiness around them, “an honorable man, in a difficult job”.
In this, the second book in the Stephen Connor thriller series, our hero’s job is even more difficult - on “voluntary” secondment to Italy to work with local cop Elisabetta di Mascio and her “Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage” team to crack a ring of hoodlums looting ancient art treasures, Stephen is struggling with the language, and with the culture, and very quickly finds himself embedded in a multi-layered criminal plot that is deeper and more complex than initially apparent.
The pace of this book is so quick, so snappy, that before you know it, Stephen and Elisabetta are engaged in a crime puzzle that spans international borders including Geneva, Naples, Rome and even Boston, drawing in a medley of characters including a mysterious priest, terrifying mobsters, bent cops, thugs and hired enforcers, as well as a medley of Neapolitan street urchins, pick pockets and gangsters.
The locales are cinematic and atmospheric - from his amateurish undercover forays into auction houses in Geneva, to his attempts to evade the quick and desperate street gangs in Naples, Stephen appears almost (but not quite) completely in over his head, and that, in fact, is the core of his charm as a character. No tough guy hero here, Stephen is every-man, embodied as a cop, a little bit awkward, yet hugely relatable as someone who we see will get messed around but (we hope) will figure it all out and land squarely (shakily?) back on his own two feet.
Along the way, I also enjoyed learning a little bit about art history, welcoming the chance to think a little bit about the themes the author raises. Just imagine living in a land so rooted in ancient history that just digging deep enough, and in the right place, could unearth invaluable treasures, centuries old.
- Is it fair for these artistic artifacts of our past to be stored away, out of sight and not enjoyed by the public? Who should “own” them?
- Can the beauty of art be transformative? Can art, in fact, make us better human beings?
Interesting questions.
Readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers in exotic locales will love this book, and I’m looking forward to reading more in the series. (I did not read the first in the series before this one, and did not find it at all to be a problem.)
A big thank you to the author for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts presented are my own.
In this, the second book in the Stephen Connor thriller series, our hero’s job is even more difficult - on “voluntary” secondment to Italy to work with local cop Elisabetta di Mascio and her “Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage” team to crack a ring of hoodlums looting ancient art treasures, Stephen is struggling with the language, and with the culture, and very quickly finds himself embedded in a multi-layered criminal plot that is deeper and more complex than initially apparent.
The pace of this book is so quick, so snappy, that before you know it, Stephen and Elisabetta are engaged in a crime puzzle that spans international borders including Geneva, Naples, Rome and even Boston, drawing in a medley of characters including a mysterious priest, terrifying mobsters, bent cops, thugs and hired enforcers, as well as a medley of Neapolitan street urchins, pick pockets and gangsters.
The locales are cinematic and atmospheric - from his amateurish undercover forays into auction houses in Geneva, to his attempts to evade the quick and desperate street gangs in Naples, Stephen appears almost (but not quite) completely in over his head, and that, in fact, is the core of his charm as a character. No tough guy hero here, Stephen is every-man, embodied as a cop, a little bit awkward, yet hugely relatable as someone who we see will get messed around but (we hope) will figure it all out and land squarely (shakily?) back on his own two feet.
Along the way, I also enjoyed learning a little bit about art history, welcoming the chance to think a little bit about the themes the author raises. Just imagine living in a land so rooted in ancient history that just digging deep enough, and in the right place, could unearth invaluable treasures, centuries old.
- Is it fair for these artistic artifacts of our past to be stored away, out of sight and not enjoyed by the public? Who should “own” them?
- Can the beauty of art be transformative? Can art, in fact, make us better human beings?
Interesting questions.
Readers who enjoy fast-paced thrillers in exotic locales will love this book, and I’m looking forward to reading more in the series. (I did not read the first in the series before this one, and did not find it at all to be a problem.)
A big thank you to the author for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts presented are my own.
March 9, 2021
Whoever said crime doesn’t pay can’t have been doing it right.
If you like an action-packed read with lots of location changes, this is the mystery book for you! Lambert Nagle is the penname for Alison Ripley Cubitt and her husband Sean Cubitt, who co-write international thrillers, mystery and crime. Inspired by a trip to Rome where they were victims of two scams, “Nighthawks,” book two of the Detective Stephen Connor series, is a conspiracy thriller that examines what happens when art, money and power collide.
A Mafia boss addicted to beautiful art. A catholic priest who knows too much. A modern-day Jay Gatsby. And a woman on the run.
Detective Stephen Connor is in a bit of a bind. He’s been reassigned to Rome for three months. It doesn’t sound like too much of a hardship, does it? Except, his wedding date falls in the middle of those three months. A wedding planned and paid for and expected to take place in London. Not willing to risk his job, he breaks the news to his fiancée and, dejected, jets off to the eternal city. If only he wasn’t so low on the totem pole.
He’s been assigned to an art looting case and has to find the world’s most valuable painting before it disappears forever. What he discovers, in the process, is that the real villains in ‘to order’ art looting are the middlemen and those at the top. The ones who do the stealing are at the bottom of the theft ring and receive so little in comparison to the organizers and acquirers. Downtrodden and dejected at the beginning of the story, he discovers that he’s exactly where he needs to be, doing what he loves to do and that against all odds, he’s survived.
Sure to have your heart pounding, this book will satisfy your thirst for travel at a time when it’s restricted. An eclectic collection of characters who come to life under the duos pen, quirky Detective Connor will irritate you and you’ll want to scream advice to him. I believe this works to his advantage as a character and creates tension and reader involvement. The answers to his problems may come easy to the reader, but the disgraced detective holds the power. I imagined him as Peter Falk, the ‘one more thing’ detective from the L.A. crime drama, Columbo. The locations and the character development are the stars of this mystery and it’s obvious that the duo poured their heart and soul into this story. This novel has strong potential for screen adaptation. Considering it’s their forte, I won’t be surprised.
Thank you to Lambert Nagle, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publishes March 15, 2021.
If you like an action-packed read with lots of location changes, this is the mystery book for you! Lambert Nagle is the penname for Alison Ripley Cubitt and her husband Sean Cubitt, who co-write international thrillers, mystery and crime. Inspired by a trip to Rome where they were victims of two scams, “Nighthawks,” book two of the Detective Stephen Connor series, is a conspiracy thriller that examines what happens when art, money and power collide.
A Mafia boss addicted to beautiful art. A catholic priest who knows too much. A modern-day Jay Gatsby. And a woman on the run.
Detective Stephen Connor is in a bit of a bind. He’s been reassigned to Rome for three months. It doesn’t sound like too much of a hardship, does it? Except, his wedding date falls in the middle of those three months. A wedding planned and paid for and expected to take place in London. Not willing to risk his job, he breaks the news to his fiancée and, dejected, jets off to the eternal city. If only he wasn’t so low on the totem pole.
He’s been assigned to an art looting case and has to find the world’s most valuable painting before it disappears forever. What he discovers, in the process, is that the real villains in ‘to order’ art looting are the middlemen and those at the top. The ones who do the stealing are at the bottom of the theft ring and receive so little in comparison to the organizers and acquirers. Downtrodden and dejected at the beginning of the story, he discovers that he’s exactly where he needs to be, doing what he loves to do and that against all odds, he’s survived.
Sure to have your heart pounding, this book will satisfy your thirst for travel at a time when it’s restricted. An eclectic collection of characters who come to life under the duos pen, quirky Detective Connor will irritate you and you’ll want to scream advice to him. I believe this works to his advantage as a character and creates tension and reader involvement. The answers to his problems may come easy to the reader, but the disgraced detective holds the power. I imagined him as Peter Falk, the ‘one more thing’ detective from the L.A. crime drama, Columbo. The locations and the character development are the stars of this mystery and it’s obvious that the duo poured their heart and soul into this story. This novel has strong potential for screen adaptation. Considering it’s their forte, I won’t be surprised.
Thank you to Lambert Nagle, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Publishes March 15, 2021.
May 24, 2021
I received a copy from Voracious Readers Only and am voluntarily leaving a review. Thank you to the author for letting me check this out.
If I were to sum up Nighthawks in one word it would be "busy." There's a lot going on, a lot of different plot threads,some of which are barely connected. It wasn't confusing so much as it was... tiring?
So, before I go any further, this is the second book in a series. While it can, more or less, be read on its own, I think reading the first installment would be beneficial. There is an overarching plot involving a missing environmentalist. It takes up a fair bit of space, here, and not having read the first book, it felt out of place, unnecessary and uninteresting. But I feel like the opposite would be true had I read the first book and actually felt some investment in that part of the story. (The part with Tariq made me uncomfortable- disabled hacker pining for a girl who sees him as a dear friend, resentful of their mutual friend, the protagonist, for failing her. There was something in the way it was written, I don't know. The representation felt off.)
What else is going on? Art crime, the mafia, dirty cops, a priest with good intentions but very little sense, and a plotline I could have done without about the protagonist and his thoroughly unlikable fiancee.
I didn't hate it. It wasn't what I anticipated, but it was a well written story and I can't be too hard on it. It was more action-packed than mysterious. I could picture it as a film. The characters, apart from Tariq, were solidly developed. Some, like Ginny, might not have a lot of depth, were still completely believable. Mollie, the mobster's daughter, stole the show for me. Her show-and-tell presentation (and what came after) was just perfect. I appreciate that in the end, the big break in one of the cases didn't come from all the work the protagonists put in, but from a long-suffering elementary school teacher who finally got a chance to use her MFA. Hilarious, but also, as someone with an MA not working in their field, it hits close to home, haha.
It was a solid thriller.
If I were to sum up Nighthawks in one word it would be "busy." There's a lot going on, a lot of different plot threads,some of which are barely connected. It wasn't confusing so much as it was... tiring?
So, before I go any further, this is the second book in a series. While it can, more or less, be read on its own, I think reading the first installment would be beneficial. There is an overarching plot involving a missing environmentalist. It takes up a fair bit of space, here, and not having read the first book, it felt out of place, unnecessary and uninteresting. But I feel like the opposite would be true had I read the first book and actually felt some investment in that part of the story. (The part with Tariq made me uncomfortable- disabled hacker pining for a girl who sees him as a dear friend, resentful of their mutual friend, the protagonist, for failing her. There was something in the way it was written, I don't know. The representation felt off.)
What else is going on? Art crime, the mafia, dirty cops, a priest with good intentions but very little sense, and a plotline I could have done without about the protagonist and his thoroughly unlikable fiancee.
I didn't hate it. It wasn't what I anticipated, but it was a well written story and I can't be too hard on it. It was more action-packed than mysterious. I could picture it as a film. The characters, apart from Tariq, were solidly developed. Some, like Ginny, might not have a lot of depth, were still completely believable. Mollie, the mobster's daughter, stole the show for me. Her show-and-tell presentation (and what came after) was just perfect. I appreciate that in the end, the big break in one of the cases didn't come from all the work the protagonists put in, but from a long-suffering elementary school teacher who finally got a chance to use her MFA. Hilarious, but also, as someone with an MA not working in their field, it hits close to home, haha.
It was a solid thriller.
March 9, 2021
About the Book:
Stephen Connor has gotten in trouble from his last case and his boss in London highly suggests he takes an assignment to work in Rome for a few months helping the carabinieri find stolen art and antiquities.
This assignment leads him to travel to several countries and face off against the rich, the mafia and the corrupt in a quest to find the truth. From the auction houses of Geneva to the sketchy part of Naples, Stephen Connor must watch his back to solve this case of stolen paintings and artifacts.
My Thoughts:
This is a very fast moving, rapid dialogue, and full of details thriller!
Be on high action alert during this read or you will miss out! There is so much action in fact that our protagonist, Stephen Connor, gets purposely clipped by a Range Rover while in Geneva at an art auction and the whole scene took less than 20 lines to play out.
I really liked Stephen’s carabinieri art unit partner in Rome, Elizabetta Di Mascio. She is no nonsense, has a great back story and is super knowledgeable about the world of art.
There are a multitude of characters that interconnect so it would have been helpful for me to have had a cast of characters at the beginning. I just used the old fashioned method and wrote them all down that way I could stay focused on the plot.
There is a fascinating array of cities in this book from London to Geneva, Boston, Rome, Naples and even a bit of Australia and Indonesia!
If you like action books by authors like Daniel Silva and Steve Berry (PS. I do), then this will be a book you won’t want to miss!
Thanks @rachelsrandomresouces
for the chance to read this one! #nighthawks #lambertnagle #rachelsrandomresouces
Stephen Connor has gotten in trouble from his last case and his boss in London highly suggests he takes an assignment to work in Rome for a few months helping the carabinieri find stolen art and antiquities.
This assignment leads him to travel to several countries and face off against the rich, the mafia and the corrupt in a quest to find the truth. From the auction houses of Geneva to the sketchy part of Naples, Stephen Connor must watch his back to solve this case of stolen paintings and artifacts.
My Thoughts:
This is a very fast moving, rapid dialogue, and full of details thriller!
Be on high action alert during this read or you will miss out! There is so much action in fact that our protagonist, Stephen Connor, gets purposely clipped by a Range Rover while in Geneva at an art auction and the whole scene took less than 20 lines to play out.
I really liked Stephen’s carabinieri art unit partner in Rome, Elizabetta Di Mascio. She is no nonsense, has a great back story and is super knowledgeable about the world of art.
There are a multitude of characters that interconnect so it would have been helpful for me to have had a cast of characters at the beginning. I just used the old fashioned method and wrote them all down that way I could stay focused on the plot.
There is a fascinating array of cities in this book from London to Geneva, Boston, Rome, Naples and even a bit of Australia and Indonesia!
If you like action books by authors like Daniel Silva and Steve Berry (PS. I do), then this will be a book you won’t want to miss!
Thanks @rachelsrandomresouces
for the chance to read this one! #nighthawks #lambertnagle #rachelsrandomresouces
March 12, 2021
Not especially adept at his job, DS Stephen Connor dreads the meeting with his boss. He fears he’s about to be made redundant, but at least hopes he gets a good deal out it.
After he learns he’s being sent to Rome to assist with a case involving stolen art and antiquities, he’s sorry he didn’t get the redundancy deal.
While a slow starter for me, the story soon picks as Stephen and his Rome partner, Elisabetta di Mascio have more clues than time.
Though most of the setting is in Italy, this is an international story of suspense with players from all over the world.
I didn’t read book one and am not familiar with Stephen Connor’s backstory, but here, he began as the weakest link for me, afraid to speak up or assert himself. His latest assignment in Rome will mean his upcoming, mostly paid for wedding will have to be canceled. Ginny, his fiancée will be boiling mad, and her father will hate him more than he already does. If that’s possible.
But going to Rome is the best thing to happen to Stephen. As he pieces together clues to find stolen art, he transforms from a bumbling Clouseau to one of Scotland Yard’s shining stars and becomes my favorite character! It’s not nearly as easy as it sounds, however, as he and di Mascio have to contend with her budget-conscious boss, the rich and arrogant, the mob, and a mole in their investigation.
Oh, and they’re trying to stay alive.
A good read that entertains and educates, and for me proves you never know what you’re capable of until you’re thrown from the frying pan into the fire.
Enjoy!
After he learns he’s being sent to Rome to assist with a case involving stolen art and antiquities, he’s sorry he didn’t get the redundancy deal.
While a slow starter for me, the story soon picks as Stephen and his Rome partner, Elisabetta di Mascio have more clues than time.
Though most of the setting is in Italy, this is an international story of suspense with players from all over the world.
I didn’t read book one and am not familiar with Stephen Connor’s backstory, but here, he began as the weakest link for me, afraid to speak up or assert himself. His latest assignment in Rome will mean his upcoming, mostly paid for wedding will have to be canceled. Ginny, his fiancée will be boiling mad, and her father will hate him more than he already does. If that’s possible.
But going to Rome is the best thing to happen to Stephen. As he pieces together clues to find stolen art, he transforms from a bumbling Clouseau to one of Scotland Yard’s shining stars and becomes my favorite character! It’s not nearly as easy as it sounds, however, as he and di Mascio have to contend with her budget-conscious boss, the rich and arrogant, the mob, and a mole in their investigation.
Oh, and they’re trying to stay alive.
A good read that entertains and educates, and for me proves you never know what you’re capable of until you’re thrown from the frying pan into the fire.
Enjoy!
March 8, 2021
4 Stars from me
This book is bursting with intrigue and I found a huge amount of it to be genuinely fascinating.
I really loved the art history / forgery / black market sales side of it really interesting. Add to that a whiff of the mafia, a corrupt cop and failed romance it soon becomes a highly addictive thriller.
Stephen Connor was a good character to follow, although I couldn't help thinking that he could have easily resolved the romantic side of his problems just by having a few conversations. He seemed to let all sorts of things 'just happen' which was a little infuriating.
Nighthawks had a very nice, neat storyline with some lovely quirky touches - I particularly enjoyed the horse painting at show and tell.
Overall, a very enjoyable read with some wonderful imagery thrown in!
My thanks to the author and to Rachel's Random Resources for letting me be a part of this blog tour.
This book is bursting with intrigue and I found a huge amount of it to be genuinely fascinating.
I really loved the art history / forgery / black market sales side of it really interesting. Add to that a whiff of the mafia, a corrupt cop and failed romance it soon becomes a highly addictive thriller.
Stephen Connor was a good character to follow, although I couldn't help thinking that he could have easily resolved the romantic side of his problems just by having a few conversations. He seemed to let all sorts of things 'just happen' which was a little infuriating.
Nighthawks had a very nice, neat storyline with some lovely quirky touches - I particularly enjoyed the horse painting at show and tell.
Overall, a very enjoyable read with some wonderful imagery thrown in!
My thanks to the author and to Rachel's Random Resources for letting me be a part of this blog tour.
March 13, 2021
Nighthawks by Lambert Nagle 8s a fast-paced, well written thriller. I really enjoyed the writing. I feel like I connected to this book from page one and was intrigued all the way to the end.
This is action-packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I love books that are high action. It makes for an entertaining read.
There is a rather large cast of characters, which all interconnect. It took me a little bit to remember them all, but they were all necessary and well crafted.
I enjoyed Nighthawks, and think it is a good read. I recommend giving it a shot!
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
This is action-packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I love books that are high action. It makes for an entertaining read.
There is a rather large cast of characters, which all interconnect. It took me a little bit to remember them all, but they were all necessary and well crafted.
I enjoyed Nighthawks, and think it is a good read. I recommend giving it a shot!
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
May 25, 2021
Review through Voracious Readers Only
A very enjoyable adventure. A bit of mystery, shady crooks, bent cops, a fallen priest, the classy female detective and our main character being fobbed off to an agency in a different country solving a crime that he wanted nothing to do with. Add to that some classic stolen artworks and a feisty 6 year old and you have a great story ahead of you. Thanks for the great read!
A very enjoyable adventure. A bit of mystery, shady crooks, bent cops, a fallen priest, the classy female detective and our main character being fobbed off to an agency in a different country solving a crime that he wanted nothing to do with. Add to that some classic stolen artworks and a feisty 6 year old and you have a great story ahead of you. Thanks for the great read!
May 25, 2021
I received a complementary copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only.
As this was book 2 in the series, I chose to purchase book 1 to read first. This isn't necessary to follow the story in book 2 but it does help to flesh things out.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like the main character and he developed nicely in this book. It's easy to read and follow the plot. A good holiday read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
As this was book 2 in the series, I chose to purchase book 1 to read first. This isn't necessary to follow the story in book 2 but it does help to flesh things out.
I really enjoyed reading this book. I like the main character and he developed nicely in this book. It's easy to read and follow the plot. A good holiday read. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 14, 2021
loved this crime mystery story. I loved the interaction between the characters and all the twists and turns till the end when we found out who did the crime.
May 18, 2021
This is one rollercoaster of a ride through the art world. Well worth the read.
June 7, 2021
3.5 stars. Four if I hadn’t felt a bit confused about the connections, but overall an entertaining read and well written. A free copy was received in exchange for an honest opinion.
May 17, 2021
Art, mafia and law enforcement with lots of action. I don't give much thought to stolen art unless it is headline news. So I found this story very interesting. There were twists and turns as the story progresses. McCarthy is one I found most interesting. A crooked priest indebted to the mafia. The book was full of interesting characters with each one having their own twist to the whole story. I liked the book!
I read the book on NetGalley
I read the book on NetGalley
May 18, 2021
Really enjoyed this book. The plot was not truly special, but the slow development of the characters and their relationships was solid. I respect an author who convinces me to keep reading a character I dislike, but I love reading a story where you find something to like about nearly everyone. I also like the little surprises. Guiseppe became one of my favorite bad guys. Worth a read.
July 1, 2021
One of those books I didn’t want to put down. Fast paced and well-written.
February 18, 2023
I liked the premise of this book. It had intrigue and murder and romance. Also learned a little about art. Good read will find another book by the author.
March 21, 2021
This book has a very nice, neat storyline with some lovely quirky touches. This book is full of thriller and a very fast moving, as well as dialogue. It is fast paced and action packed crime thriller. It also has great characters to keep you reading on this book. Surely it grasped my heart pounding throughout the whole book, Definitely it will satisfy your thirst for thriller. It was a very enjoyable read and I highly recommend to those people who like crime thrillers.
March 27, 2023
I received a free copy from the author for a voluntary review.
I like art mysteries and thrillers. This was a very good one. I think it stands up well next to Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series and I hope there are more to come.
I like art mysteries and thrillers. This was a very good one. I think it stands up well next to Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series and I hope there are more to come.
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November 23, 2021Editorial Review Reviewed By Steve Leshin for Readers' Favorite
The theft of 12 paintings at the Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is one of the most daring crimes in modern history, still unsolved to this day. Wouldn't it make a good idea for a novel? Indeed it does in Lambert Nagle's Nighthawks. Stephen Connor is a London cop, who receives an ultimatum from his boss to take a transfer to Rome to work with the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage to stop an organized crime ring looting ancient art treasures. Connor did something wrong while on a case and he acts like a broken man while trying to fit in with his new team in Rome. This is the second book in the Stephen Connor thriller series and there is a lot to take in. He must deal with local cop Elisabetta di Mascio and her crew at the Carabinieri while struggling with the language and culture. While investigating the case, there appear many characters with connections to a Mafia boss from the United States who may have taken part in the Gardner Museum heist, and a down and out Irish priest named McCarthy, with a taste for art treasures, who connects with Stephen on a chance meeting. Stephen's past plays a role in his personal problems. His fiancée, Ginny, comes to Rome for a visit, wanting to end their relationship. This adds to Connor's angst.
Nighthawks skips along at a fast pace with action in Australia, Rome, Naples, London, and Boston. Stephen and Elisabetta try to piece together clues to the thefts of ancient art while trying to help each other. The reader is teased with a budding romance between the two. The pair deals with a group of characters including the aforementioned Irish priest, who may or may not be telling Stephen the truth, some unctuous and very credible villains, and some pretty brutal henchmen. There are some crooked cops, pickpockets, and gangsters to boot. Mixed in with chase scenes, muggings, and double-cross, our hero, Stephen Connor, seems to be one step behind with his confusion and doubt. However, he slowly gains his mojo back as the story unfolds and he and Elisabetta are set to be there when it counts. The reference to the Stewart Gardner Museum incident plays a large part toward the finale and the descriptions of historical settings and famous works of art give the story an added ambiance to go along with the plot.
The theft of 12 paintings at the Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston is one of the most daring crimes in modern history, still unsolved to this day. Wouldn't it make a good idea for a novel? Indeed it does in Lambert Nagle's Nighthawks. Stephen Connor is a London cop, who receives an ultimatum from his boss to take a transfer to Rome to work with the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage to stop an organized crime ring looting ancient art treasures. Connor did something wrong while on a case and he acts like a broken man while trying to fit in with his new team in Rome. This is the second book in the Stephen Connor thriller series and there is a lot to take in. He must deal with local cop Elisabetta di Mascio and her crew at the Carabinieri while struggling with the language and culture. While investigating the case, there appear many characters with connections to a Mafia boss from the United States who may have taken part in the Gardner Museum heist, and a down and out Irish priest named McCarthy, with a taste for art treasures, who connects with Stephen on a chance meeting. Stephen's past plays a role in his personal problems. His fiancée, Ginny, comes to Rome for a visit, wanting to end their relationship. This adds to Connor's angst.
Nighthawks skips along at a fast pace with action in Australia, Rome, Naples, London, and Boston. Stephen and Elisabetta try to piece together clues to the thefts of ancient art while trying to help each other. The reader is teased with a budding romance between the two. The pair deals with a group of characters including the aforementioned Irish priest, who may or may not be telling Stephen the truth, some unctuous and very credible villains, and some pretty brutal henchmen. There are some crooked cops, pickpockets, and gangsters to boot. Mixed in with chase scenes, muggings, and double-cross, our hero, Stephen Connor, seems to be one step behind with his confusion and doubt. However, he slowly gains his mojo back as the story unfolds and he and Elisabetta are set to be there when it counts. The reference to the Stewart Gardner Museum incident plays a large part toward the finale and the descriptions of historical settings and famous works of art give the story an added ambiance to go along with the plot.
November 16, 2025
Book 2, it might help to read book 1 particularly as it explains the events that led to Detective Stephen being described as a disgraced detective. Nonetheless, the mission is a standalone case.
Detective Stephen is due to get married to his fiancée, Ginny. However, his hasty departure for a work mission to earn redemption adds a strain to their relationship. There, he meets Elisabetta and they investigate art looting, travelling across international borders predominantly in Southern Europe. The book follows the professional relationship between Stephen and Elisabetta as well as the romantic relationship between Stephen and Ginny, all while a complex organised crime is taking place.
There are different character perspectives; therefore, there is a lot of back and forth between countries, including the USA, Australia, and Indonesia. The characters are often nameless and the narrative is slow so this is not a casual read.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to VRO and author.
Detective Stephen is due to get married to his fiancée, Ginny. However, his hasty departure for a work mission to earn redemption adds a strain to their relationship. There, he meets Elisabetta and they investigate art looting, travelling across international borders predominantly in Southern Europe. The book follows the professional relationship between Stephen and Elisabetta as well as the romantic relationship between Stephen and Ginny, all while a complex organised crime is taking place.
There are different character perspectives; therefore, there is a lot of back and forth between countries, including the USA, Australia, and Indonesia. The characters are often nameless and the narrative is slow so this is not a casual read.
I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to VRO and author.
April 30, 2021
An international crime novel set in Rome, Naples and Boston. A London policemen is on secondment to the Italian art crimes unit to investigate stolen art with Mafia and Vatican connections. The plot moved along at a good pace, the outcome was predictable and overall an interesting read. I particularly enjoyed the Italian settings and the theory on the fate of artworks stolen in the real-world robbery of the Boston museum.
One minor story line of a missing woman in Australia/Indonesia seemed out of place and relates to a previous book that I haven’t read. A bit distracting and underdeveloped in this book, so this part may make more sense if you read the first book in the series before this. The main story stands alone well if you just follow the art crime.
Thanks to #netgalley for an early release version for this review.
One minor story line of a missing woman in Australia/Indonesia seemed out of place and relates to a previous book that I haven’t read. A bit distracting and underdeveloped in this book, so this part may make more sense if you read the first book in the series before this. The main story stands alone well if you just follow the art crime.
Thanks to #netgalley for an early release version for this review.
March 9, 2023
This book has a reviting plot and idea- art theft, antiquities, conspiracy theories, mafia entanglement, Catholic priest involvement and an eclectic blend of European, American and Australian settings and characters. Nighthawks is a reference to the art diggers hired in looting stolen paintings and artwork. The novel really has all the ingredients of an engrossing tale that could undoubtedly maintain the reader's interest and capture his or her imagination. However, some of the action scenes in the story especially during the climax need heavy polishing. I believe the writer needs to include finer details in describing the physical battles between the protagonists and the antagonists to make it more credible to the reader. Besides bringing more excitement to the narration, it strengthens and builds character development. I received a copy of the book thru VRO.
July 9, 2023
This thriller about stolen artworks, set in Italy, certainly moves along at pace. Not to the extent that it may leave the reader exhausted, but certainly I found myself occasionally confused! The Roman setting, combined with an Australian and British detective, the latter seconded to the Carabinieri, has overtones of the Da Vinci Code, this time with genuine artworks. Along the way it drags in the Vatican and the Mafia, corruption, gambling addiction and the odd shady character with a syringe. It’s written almost in the style of a screenplay, and perhaps that was the intention. The climax would certainly please fans of cinematic action thrillers. There’s a back story that presumably follows on from the first book in the series, which I haven’t read, but it worked fine for me.
November 28, 2021
Umm… Okay… The plot for this book seemed promising, but the authors didn’t deliver.
The writing was messy, I couldn’t tell whose POV I was reading most of the time, they tried to hastily give all the characters some ending, and there was a random wedding scene near the end and I have no idea who the heck got married…
It took me forever to finish this books because I wasn’t hooked to the story.
Art theft, mafia, cops going rogue, IT HAD POTENTIAL!
But it just sucked :/
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The writing was messy, I couldn’t tell whose POV I was reading most of the time, they tried to hastily give all the characters some ending, and there was a random wedding scene near the end and I have no idea who the heck got married…
It took me forever to finish this books because I wasn’t hooked to the story.
Art theft, mafia, cops going rogue, IT HAD POTENTIAL!
But it just sucked :/
*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
April 4, 2021
A mystery thriller featuring art, murder, the mafia, and a disgraced catholic priest.
Detective Stephen Conner is forced to follow an art theft to Rome. He begins to unravel a huge theft ring and ends up coming face to face with more than he bargained for.
This book reminded me very much of Dan Brown/Robert Langdon. It was a great adventure and a real page turner!
*I was provided an arc by Netfalley and the publisher for my honest feedback.
Detective Stephen Conner is forced to follow an art theft to Rome. He begins to unravel a huge theft ring and ends up coming face to face with more than he bargained for.
This book reminded me very much of Dan Brown/Robert Langdon. It was a great adventure and a real page turner!
*I was provided an arc by Netfalley and the publisher for my honest feedback.
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