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Hank Thompson #3
A Dangerous Man
Reluctant hitman Henry Thompson has fallen on hard times. His grip on life is disintegrating, his pistol hand shaking, his body pinned to his living room couch by painkillers–and his boss, Russian mobster David Dolokhov, isn’t happy about any of it. So Henry is surprised when he’s handed a new assignment: keep tabs on a minor league baseball star named Miguel Arenas.
Henry has no pity for the slugger and the wicked gambling problem that got him in trouble, but he can’t help liking the guy. After all, Henry used to be just like him: a natural-born ball player with a bright future. But hell, that was long ago. Before Henry did some guy a favor and ended up running for his life. Before his girlfriend and buddies got gunned down by someone on his tail. Before he agreed to buy his parents’ safety with a life of violence.
And when Miguel gets drafted by the Mets and is sent to the Brooklyn Cyclones, Henry must head back to New York, back to the place where all his problems began–and where Henry might find a real reason to keep living, a reason that may just cost him his life.
“Huston reminds me of all my favorite writers–Pete Dexter, Robert Stone, Crumley. If there is such a thing as compassionate noir, Charlie has found it. He’s a true marvel.”
–Ken Bruen, author of The Guards
“Charlie Huston is the real deal.”
–Peter Straub
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Henry has no pity for the slugger and the wicked gambling problem that got him in trouble, but he can’t help liking the guy. After all, Henry used to be just like him: a natural-born ball player with a bright future. But hell, that was long ago. Before Henry did some guy a favor and ended up running for his life. Before his girlfriend and buddies got gunned down by someone on his tail. Before he agreed to buy his parents’ safety with a life of violence.
And when Miguel gets drafted by the Mets and is sent to the Brooklyn Cyclones, Henry must head back to New York, back to the place where all his problems began–and where Henry might find a real reason to keep living, a reason that may just cost him his life.
“Huston reminds me of all my favorite writers–Pete Dexter, Robert Stone, Crumley. If there is such a thing as compassionate noir, Charlie has found it. He’s a true marvel.”
–Ken Bruen, author of The Guards
“Charlie Huston is the real deal.”
–Peter Straub
From the Trade Paperback edition.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 19, 2006
100 people are currently reading
1374 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Huston
102 books1,294 followersCharlie Huston is an American novelist, screenwriter, and comic book writer known for his genre-blending storytelling and character-driven narratives. His twelve novels span crime, horror, and science fiction, and have been published by Ballantine, Del Rey, Mulholland, and Orion, with translations in nine languages. He is the creator of the Henry Thompson trilogy, beginning with Caught Stealing, which was announced in 2024 as a forthcoming film adaptation directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Austin Butler. Huston’s stand-alone novels include The Shotgun Rule, The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death, Sleepless, and Skinner. He also authored the vampire noir series Joe Pitt Casebooks while living in Manhattan and later California. Huston has written pilots for FX, FOX, Sony, and Tomorrow Studios, served as a writer and producer on FOX’s Gotham, and developed original projects such as Arcadia. In comics, he rebooted Moon Knight for Marvel, contributed to Ultimates Annual, and penned the Wolverine: The Best There Is series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
January 10, 2021
2.75 stars. Well, that was a mess. And that bit at the end, where Henry call his parents, almost got me teary-eyed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2010
PROTAGONIST: Henry Thompson
SETTING: New York City
SERIES: #3 of 3 (trilogy)
RATING: 4.25
It's interesting that there are so few trilogies written in the mystery genre when that is such a commonplace format in the science fiction world. Although there are many series in crime fiction, it is unusual to find an author determining that they will be writing a trilogy as they start their writing effort. A notable example of a successful trilogy is the Garnethill series by Denise Mina. And now Charlie Huston has come along and done the same with the Henry "Hank" Thompson trilogy, of which A DANGEROUS MAN is the concluding work.
More so than in a series, it is important to read the books of a trilogy in sequence to make the arc of characterization and plot more comprehensible. In the case of the Thompson trilogy, there are many events introduced in the first two books that form the basis for what happens in this last entry. As the book opens, Henry is completely under the thumb of a Russian mobster named David Dolokhov. Henry is in his debt to the tune of 4 million dollars; he is paying Dolokhov off by doing his dirty work for him, with the assistance of Dolokhov's head henchman, Branko. The real motivator for Henry is what will happen if he does not do what is ordered of him—Dolokhov will have his elderly parents killed.
Henry is hiding behind plastic surgery and pain killers; although he doesn't enjoy killing, he does what he has to do. At the moment, he is serving as a bodyguard for an up and coming hotshot baseball player which brings him from Vegas to New York City. The final assignment that will pay off his debt is to kill Dolokhov's sister-in-law, Anna. That's not an easy task; she has two of her Russian nephews protecting her and looking for vengeance for Henry's murder of her son.
The suspense mounts as Henry targets Anna, the nephews target Henry, Henry targets David, Branko targets Henry—how Henry manages to outwit any of these bloodthirsty amoral killers is riveting. It feels as if he is stepping into a hornet's nest. Every move he makes aggravates somebody else. The fact of the matter is, Henry doesn't care if he dies or not. His one noble characteristic is that he will not allow his parents to be killed to pay for the bad choices he's made in his life. He also relates to the young ballplayer he is guarding, having once had a chance at a career in the sport, and offers him advice that will steer him toward a productive future, not the one that Henry carved for himself. It's a surprisingly compassionate act from a man who will kill without blinking.
A DANGEROUS MAN is not for everybody—it's as noir as it gets, and at times quite confusing. People are disposed of without any remorse. Yet, despite the high body count and the absence of any traditional heroes, the book provides a sense of redemption. The pace is unrelenting; the conclusion a completely perfect ending for the trilogy. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Thompson trilogy become a cult classic for noir lovers. Huston has echoes of James Crumley and Hunter S. Thompson—lunatic, disturbing and completely brilliant.
SETTING: New York City
SERIES: #3 of 3 (trilogy)
RATING: 4.25
It's interesting that there are so few trilogies written in the mystery genre when that is such a commonplace format in the science fiction world. Although there are many series in crime fiction, it is unusual to find an author determining that they will be writing a trilogy as they start their writing effort. A notable example of a successful trilogy is the Garnethill series by Denise Mina. And now Charlie Huston has come along and done the same with the Henry "Hank" Thompson trilogy, of which A DANGEROUS MAN is the concluding work.
More so than in a series, it is important to read the books of a trilogy in sequence to make the arc of characterization and plot more comprehensible. In the case of the Thompson trilogy, there are many events introduced in the first two books that form the basis for what happens in this last entry. As the book opens, Henry is completely under the thumb of a Russian mobster named David Dolokhov. Henry is in his debt to the tune of 4 million dollars; he is paying Dolokhov off by doing his dirty work for him, with the assistance of Dolokhov's head henchman, Branko. The real motivator for Henry is what will happen if he does not do what is ordered of him—Dolokhov will have his elderly parents killed.
Henry is hiding behind plastic surgery and pain killers; although he doesn't enjoy killing, he does what he has to do. At the moment, he is serving as a bodyguard for an up and coming hotshot baseball player which brings him from Vegas to New York City. The final assignment that will pay off his debt is to kill Dolokhov's sister-in-law, Anna. That's not an easy task; she has two of her Russian nephews protecting her and looking for vengeance for Henry's murder of her son.
The suspense mounts as Henry targets Anna, the nephews target Henry, Henry targets David, Branko targets Henry—how Henry manages to outwit any of these bloodthirsty amoral killers is riveting. It feels as if he is stepping into a hornet's nest. Every move he makes aggravates somebody else. The fact of the matter is, Henry doesn't care if he dies or not. His one noble characteristic is that he will not allow his parents to be killed to pay for the bad choices he's made in his life. He also relates to the young ballplayer he is guarding, having once had a chance at a career in the sport, and offers him advice that will steer him toward a productive future, not the one that Henry carved for himself. It's a surprisingly compassionate act from a man who will kill without blinking.
A DANGEROUS MAN is not for everybody—it's as noir as it gets, and at times quite confusing. People are disposed of without any remorse. Yet, despite the high body count and the absence of any traditional heroes, the book provides a sense of redemption. The pace is unrelenting; the conclusion a completely perfect ending for the trilogy. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Thompson trilogy become a cult classic for noir lovers. Huston has echoes of James Crumley and Hunter S. Thompson—lunatic, disturbing and completely brilliant.
February 28, 2012
Let me preface my review of "A Dangerous Man" by Charlie Huston with a caveat: I rarely get "lost" in books in the way I might when doing other activities, such as seeing a compelling movie or playing a particularly good video game. With that behind us, I am going to say that this book was riveting--I couldn't put it down. ADM was that good.
I started ADM like I do with most books. I figured I would give it a try, but assumed that I would get bored. Admittedly, what grabbed me initially was the book's first person, uncensored narrative. I had to do a double take when reading the profanity. I soon realized that beneath the gritty, in-your-face writing was a character--Hank Thompson--whose life, through both circumstances and his choices, has become a living hell. Every moment for HT seems like an eternity, and we the reader are eager to watch him see it through to some kind of conclusion.
I didn't read the first two books of this trilogy, so for me, the origins of HTs Faustian bargain with some mobsters aren't spelled out with a lot of detail. But the consequences are: HT has become a pawn of these underworld thugs. His life belongs to them, as does the fate of nearly everyone he comes into contact with--most especially his own parents.
And yet, HT is more than meets the eye. As his situation descends into escalating violence where nowhere is safe for him, we see someone who hasn't played his final hand yet. How HT somehow goes from pawn in the beginning passages to chessmaster in the book's final moments is the essence of ADM's dark journey.
Fasten your seatbelts and get lost in "A Dangerous Man." This is literary escapism on the rails. A satisfying ride it is.
I started ADM like I do with most books. I figured I would give it a try, but assumed that I would get bored. Admittedly, what grabbed me initially was the book's first person, uncensored narrative. I had to do a double take when reading the profanity. I soon realized that beneath the gritty, in-your-face writing was a character--Hank Thompson--whose life, through both circumstances and his choices, has become a living hell. Every moment for HT seems like an eternity, and we the reader are eager to watch him see it through to some kind of conclusion.
I didn't read the first two books of this trilogy, so for me, the origins of HTs Faustian bargain with some mobsters aren't spelled out with a lot of detail. But the consequences are: HT has become a pawn of these underworld thugs. His life belongs to them, as does the fate of nearly everyone he comes into contact with--most especially his own parents.
And yet, HT is more than meets the eye. As his situation descends into escalating violence where nowhere is safe for him, we see someone who hasn't played his final hand yet. How HT somehow goes from pawn in the beginning passages to chessmaster in the book's final moments is the essence of ADM's dark journey.
Fasten your seatbelts and get lost in "A Dangerous Man." This is literary escapism on the rails. A satisfying ride it is.
March 11, 2016
#3 Hank Thompson trilogy - Noir Crime Thriller
First Read: 2009, 5 stars
Second Read: 3/2016, 5 stars
Author Charlie Huston knocks it out of the park (wisecrack intended) in delivering this third book in his Hank Thompson trilogy. The stakes are higher , Hank's on the run, desperate to protect his innocent parents who are being used as leverage by anyone who wants something from Hank.
Hank, once again in this trilogy, makes a deadly mistake in doing a good deed -- he gives a ride, reluctantly, to a woman and child who sell a car to Hank. As if Hank didn't have a staggering group of bad guys, people out for revenge, bounty hunters, etc. on his trail. This book, like 1 & 2, are very violent, but it fits in with the overall plot and sub-plots.
Author Charlie Huston's introduction in book 3 of the characters of Miguel and Jay is brilliant. David, the extortionist who appears to be the biggest threat to Hank's beloved parents, makes a devastating demand of Hank. With Hank's bone-deep love of baseball, , and Miguel's very real chance to play in the pro baseball league, David's demand that Hank exploit Miguel's biggest weakness, imo, makes everything that's gone before look ... like small potatoes.
Hank is forced to kill more people to save his own life. This is the most breathtaking pace of book 1 & 2, and that's saying a lot. The characters and situations are so bizarre -- Hank gets dragged into doing terrible things, not to save his life, but to save his parents' lives.
Huston wraps up his excellent noir crime thriller in a shocking but satisfying way.
My rereads are rare, due to my huge TBR. Charlie Huston is worth every minute of my precious reading time. Next year, I'll be rereading Huston's Joe Pitt, Noir PI vampire series (five books), one of the most unique vampire series I've had the pleasure to read. Imagine Manhattan, turf divided by various vampire groups, with resentments and conflicts between the groups frequently turning deadly. Book 1 is Already Dead
First Read: 2009, 5 stars
Second Read: 3/2016, 5 stars
Author Charlie Huston knocks it out of the park (wisecrack intended) in delivering this third book in his Hank Thompson trilogy. The stakes are higher , Hank's on the run, desperate to protect his innocent parents who are being used as leverage by anyone who wants something from Hank.
Hank, once again in this trilogy, makes a deadly mistake in doing a good deed -- he gives a ride, reluctantly, to a woman and child who sell a car to Hank. As if Hank didn't have a staggering group of bad guys, people out for revenge, bounty hunters, etc. on his trail. This book, like 1 & 2, are very violent, but it fits in with the overall plot and sub-plots.
Author Charlie Huston's introduction in book 3 of the characters of Miguel and Jay is brilliant. David, the extortionist who appears to be the biggest threat to Hank's beloved parents, makes a devastating demand of Hank. With Hank's bone-deep love of baseball, , and Miguel's very real chance to play in the pro baseball league, David's demand that Hank exploit Miguel's biggest weakness, imo, makes everything that's gone before look ... like small potatoes.
Hank is forced to kill more people to save his own life. This is the most breathtaking pace of book 1 & 2, and that's saying a lot. The characters and situations are so bizarre -- Hank gets dragged into doing terrible things, not to save his life, but to save his parents' lives.
Huston wraps up his excellent noir crime thriller in a shocking but satisfying way.
My rereads are rare, due to my huge TBR. Charlie Huston is worth every minute of my precious reading time. Next year, I'll be rereading Huston's Joe Pitt, Noir PI vampire series (five books), one of the most unique vampire series I've had the pleasure to read. Imagine Manhattan, turf divided by various vampire groups, with resentments and conflicts between the groups frequently turning deadly. Book 1 is Already Dead
April 1, 2013
Charlie Huston’s “A Dangerous Man” is the third and last book in the Hank Thompson trilogy. Unfortunately, it is not as good as the first two books (very good “Caught Stealing” and almost outstanding “Six Bad Things”). I hope it is not presumptuous of me to provide the explanation. We do not take the plot of the first two books realistically. I mean, they are written as if they were realistic, but we know they tell a story that could not *really* happen in *real* life. Sort of like “magical realism”, with essential implausibility substituting for magic. It is as if the plot is happening in a parallel universe where it is completely normal for a basically good person, Hank T., to become an efficient multiple murderer.
Alas, “A Dangerous Man” is written in a realistic convention, without the magical, whimsical air of implausibility. The murders are real, the victims’ suffering is real, and Hank’s pain is real. For the most part, this book does not work, unless one likes to read painfully realistic descriptions of beatings and killings. The ending is touching, though, and beautifully written.
There is some other good stuff. Mr. Huston still writes great dialogue. I also like the self-referential fragment of the book where Mr. Huston writes about Hank Thompson thinking about an author, Robert Cramer, who has written a trilogy about Hank Thompson. This is pretty cool.
The first two books in the Hank Thompson trilogy provide a hilarious yet thoughtful parable on human condition. If not for the redeeming ending, this novel would just qualify as porn of pain and violence.
Two and three quarter stars.
Alas, “A Dangerous Man” is written in a realistic convention, without the magical, whimsical air of implausibility. The murders are real, the victims’ suffering is real, and Hank’s pain is real. For the most part, this book does not work, unless one likes to read painfully realistic descriptions of beatings and killings. The ending is touching, though, and beautifully written.
There is some other good stuff. Mr. Huston still writes great dialogue. I also like the self-referential fragment of the book where Mr. Huston writes about Hank Thompson thinking about an author, Robert Cramer, who has written a trilogy about Hank Thompson. This is pretty cool.
The first two books in the Hank Thompson trilogy provide a hilarious yet thoughtful parable on human condition. If not for the redeeming ending, this novel would just qualify as porn of pain and violence.
Two and three quarter stars.
January 29, 2010
I almost didn't buy this book. I loved "Caught Stealing," the first in the Henry Thompson trilogy, but the sequel, "Six Bad Things," involved Henry taking a lot of less-than-sympathetic actions. I had liked the character in the first book, and the second one made me like him a good bit less. It was so disappointing that I had trouble enjoying the storyline as I read it. Charlie Huston's writing is always awesome--action-packed, creative and gripping--but when I'm starting to feel uneasy about the main character, it can be hard for me to stick with books even by authors I love. And yet, I ended up picking up "A Dangerous Man" anyway, mostly because it was super-cheap when the bookstore I used to work for was shutting down. I've finally read it, and while it doesn't bring things back to the level of "Caught Stealing"--which would have been impossible, really, in light of what occurred in the second book--it did a good bit to redeem Henry Thompson as a character, and didn't have nearly as many horrifying and heartbreaking incidents in it as "Six Bad Things" did. In the end, I liked it almost as much as I'd like any Charlie Huston book, even despite my sensitivity (or even oversensitivity) where the main character was concerned. I still think that it might be best to just read "Caught Stealing" and not bother with the sequels at all, but if you can get through "Six Bad Things," "A Dangerous Man" is easy to handle.
October 18, 2017
This is a really good book. It's exciting, it's moving, it kind of feels real even though it's kind of ridiculous. It's also a terrific ending to this series.
A Dangerous Man is the final book in the Hank Thompson trilogy. The first two books - Caught Stealing and Six Bad Things - are also really, really good. This one picks up a bit after Six Bad Things leaves off. Hank (who everyone is calling Henry now) is working for David Dolokhov as a "dangerous man" - basically, he beats up/kills people that David wants him to. Everything is going pretty crappy for Henry: he's wracked with guilt over what he's done and he's pretty drug-dependent. He's also started screwing up a lot of David's assignment. So David gives him an easy one: help protect and escort an incredibly talented but gambling obsessed baseball phenom. In New York. Like in the other books, everything gets crazy. Henry is on the run for his life again, and he tries to make things right.
It's all very addictive. I read this book super quickly because I just didn't want to put it down. It doesn't have quite the same height of suspense as the previous iterations, but it still has most of the magic: the grittiness, the excitement, and the little bit of heart. I'd highly recommend this series: just don't read it out of order.
A Dangerous Man is the final book in the Hank Thompson trilogy. The first two books - Caught Stealing and Six Bad Things - are also really, really good. This one picks up a bit after Six Bad Things leaves off. Hank (who everyone is calling Henry now) is working for David Dolokhov as a "dangerous man" - basically, he beats up/kills people that David wants him to. Everything is going pretty crappy for Henry: he's wracked with guilt over what he's done and he's pretty drug-dependent. He's also started screwing up a lot of David's assignment. So David gives him an easy one: help protect and escort an incredibly talented but gambling obsessed baseball phenom. In New York. Like in the other books, everything gets crazy. Henry is on the run for his life again, and he tries to make things right.
It's all very addictive. I read this book super quickly because I just didn't want to put it down. It doesn't have quite the same height of suspense as the previous iterations, but it still has most of the magic: the grittiness, the excitement, and the little bit of heart. I'd highly recommend this series: just don't read it out of order.
April 16, 2010
Great ending to a great series.....
A great ending to a superb trilogy!
Henry "Hank" Thompson is back, his plastic surgery enhanced face, his pill habit and more...
The story starts in Vegas and then heads back to New York, Hank is working as a "dangerous man", a hired killer, enforcer, bodyguard, etc.
The Russian mobster David Dolokhov has Hank on a short leash, with the threat of his parents being killed hanging over his head, Hank doesn't really have a choice!
I enjoyed this book just as much as the 1st & 2nd books. Charlie's writing and great characters always make for a fast and exciting read!
Hank has killed seventeen people through the three books, stolen four million dollars from the Russian mob and is wanted by the FBI, it had to end sometime!
Charlie Huston could have went alot of different ways for the ending, I think he chose the most realistic ending possible, without overdoing it!
Charlie Huston is a great writer, I'm looking forward to reading his other books, "The Shotgun Rule", "The Mystic Art of Erasing All Signs of Death" & "Already Dead"!
A great ending to a superb trilogy!
Henry "Hank" Thompson is back, his plastic surgery enhanced face, his pill habit and more...
The story starts in Vegas and then heads back to New York, Hank is working as a "dangerous man", a hired killer, enforcer, bodyguard, etc.
The Russian mobster David Dolokhov has Hank on a short leash, with the threat of his parents being killed hanging over his head, Hank doesn't really have a choice!
I enjoyed this book just as much as the 1st & 2nd books. Charlie's writing and great characters always make for a fast and exciting read!
Hank has killed seventeen people through the three books, stolen four million dollars from the Russian mob and is wanted by the FBI, it had to end sometime!
Charlie Huston could have went alot of different ways for the ending, I think he chose the most realistic ending possible, without overdoing it!
Charlie Huston is a great writer, I'm looking forward to reading his other books, "The Shotgun Rule", "The Mystic Art of Erasing All Signs of Death" & "Already Dead"!
March 3, 2016
The third in the trilogy of Henry Thompson, and the trouble that kept following him like a little lost pup. The things he would have to do, to keep his parents alive. But, he was always still doing the right thing....even if that meant a few more bodies wouldn't be found. With sparse, gritting writing, and an anti-hero you had to root for...I enjoyed this trilogy.
April 21, 2009
An absolutely perfect ending to an incredibly enjoyable trilogy.
May 8, 2018
Excellent trilogy by an excellent writer.
July 4, 2025
I would’ve kms during the events of the first book and would’ve never got myself in these situations but good for you Hank.
December 28, 2008
A Worthy Conclusion to a Worthy Trilogy
For those of you that have read Caught Stealing and Six Bad Things , it should be a no brainer to pick up this concluding volume. For those of you who have not read any of this series, I highly suggest you read the previously mentioned books immediately. This trilogy is one of the freshest and most well written set of books I have read in a significant amount of time. I keep kicking myself that I have just now discovered Charlie Huston. Anyways, I digress.
In A Dangerous Man, our antihero has hit rock bottom. The resulting book comes from the depressed outlook and drug induced reference of keeping his parents alive by living a "dangerous lifestyle," doing the dirty work of a Russian mobster. Ultimately, the frame of reference of this book is much darker than its predecessors, but it does an exceptional job of portraying accurate and believable feelings and emotions.
As always, Huston introduces a barrage of new characters, some of which are beyond likable, including the young hot shot baseball player, Miguel, which Henry has been given the charge of "taking care of" in his old stomping grounds of New York City. Obviously chaos ensues, and it is enjoyable every step of the way.
I have not read a book recently with such penetrating and believable characters. The characters (and the situations they are put in) are above and beyond the driving force of these books. A Dangerous Man is an exceptional conclusion to the series, and should be considered a "must read" book.
J.Stoner
For those of you that have read Caught Stealing and Six Bad Things , it should be a no brainer to pick up this concluding volume. For those of you who have not read any of this series, I highly suggest you read the previously mentioned books immediately. This trilogy is one of the freshest and most well written set of books I have read in a significant amount of time. I keep kicking myself that I have just now discovered Charlie Huston. Anyways, I digress.
In A Dangerous Man, our antihero has hit rock bottom. The resulting book comes from the depressed outlook and drug induced reference of keeping his parents alive by living a "dangerous lifestyle," doing the dirty work of a Russian mobster. Ultimately, the frame of reference of this book is much darker than its predecessors, but it does an exceptional job of portraying accurate and believable feelings and emotions.
As always, Huston introduces a barrage of new characters, some of which are beyond likable, including the young hot shot baseball player, Miguel, which Henry has been given the charge of "taking care of" in his old stomping grounds of New York City. Obviously chaos ensues, and it is enjoyable every step of the way.
I have not read a book recently with such penetrating and believable characters. The characters (and the situations they are put in) are above and beyond the driving force of these books. A Dangerous Man is an exceptional conclusion to the series, and should be considered a "must read" book.
J.Stoner
July 16, 2009
I didn't realize until after I had finished this book that it was the third in a series. I really only read it to begin with because it was a free download from Kindle.
The first half of the book was a bit confusing and did not really hold my attention. I found myself having to reread several pages because I realized I was skimming the words, not really paying attention to what I was reading. However, I hate to start a book and not finish it, so I plugged away. When the book was nearly over, I actually found myself enjoying it. Maybe if I had read the first two books, this one would have been a little more enjoyable to me.
The story is told by the main character in the story, who occasionally skips back and forth (Pulp Fiction style) between two different things that are going on -- the current situation he has gotten himself into and then something in the future that happens that we will eventually learn. See what I mean by how this can be pretty confusing?
There's a lot of violence, bad language and adult situations (drugs, sexual situations, etc). I actually think this wouldn't make a half-bad movie, but this is something I'd much rather see on the big screen than read about.
The first half of the book was a bit confusing and did not really hold my attention. I found myself having to reread several pages because I realized I was skimming the words, not really paying attention to what I was reading. However, I hate to start a book and not finish it, so I plugged away. When the book was nearly over, I actually found myself enjoying it. Maybe if I had read the first two books, this one would have been a little more enjoyable to me.
The story is told by the main character in the story, who occasionally skips back and forth (Pulp Fiction style) between two different things that are going on -- the current situation he has gotten himself into and then something in the future that happens that we will eventually learn. See what I mean by how this can be pretty confusing?
There's a lot of violence, bad language and adult situations (drugs, sexual situations, etc). I actually think this wouldn't make a half-bad movie, but this is something I'd much rather see on the big screen than read about.
June 3, 2023
Have you ever read a trilogy in reverse? I have. I picked this up having no idea it was the third book in a trilogy. This is what can happen when you have a list of free books on your Kindle in alphabetical order, you know literally nothing about them but title and author, and you simply start at the top of the list. I didn't realize it was a trilogy until I started reading Six Bad Things, which I initially thought was either a sequel or a stand-alone Huston story. I only gradually realized Six Bad Things had come before and was effectively a prequel to the book I'd just finished.
However, the topsy-turvy reading order worked out surprisingly well - so well that I recommend you try it if you're feeling adventurous. As you can see if you read the blurb, Henry is presented here as a fairly complete character with a somewhat mysterious backstory, and the story is self-contained enough that you'll experience the gaps as delightfully oblique references to Henry's backstory rather than enormous blanks in your understanding of what's going on and why. It was actually great fun to read the story, then a prequel and then another prequel that unfold Henry's story in reverse and explain how he came to be... A Dangerous Man.
However, the topsy-turvy reading order worked out surprisingly well - so well that I recommend you try it if you're feeling adventurous. As you can see if you read the blurb, Henry is presented here as a fairly complete character with a somewhat mysterious backstory, and the story is self-contained enough that you'll experience the gaps as delightfully oblique references to Henry's backstory rather than enormous blanks in your understanding of what's going on and why. It was actually great fun to read the story, then a prequel and then another prequel that unfold Henry's story in reverse and explain how he came to be... A Dangerous Man.
February 25, 2010
I'm an unabashed Huston fanboy ... but that aside, Dangerous Man was an incredible read.
I've cited the first two books in the Hank Thompson trilogy as excellent examples of pure modern noir -- a story in which an innocent is sucked in over his head, in which a mostly good guy has to deal with the consequences of being mixed up with utterly bad people.
Wrapping up such a tale in a satisfactory manner is difficult: I don't want a downer ending just to fit the mood, but there would be something unsatisfactory about a story like this ending with pure happiness. Huston aces it, though, leavening the darkness of the story with just enough humanity. Everything bad that happens to Thompson (and there's a lot of it) happens because it must; the few good things the protagonist experiences likewise flow from the story.
The books I like best are ones that I finish and say 'I want to read this again.' In this case, finishing the book made me want to go back and re-read the entire series.
I've cited the first two books in the Hank Thompson trilogy as excellent examples of pure modern noir -- a story in which an innocent is sucked in over his head, in which a mostly good guy has to deal with the consequences of being mixed up with utterly bad people.
Wrapping up such a tale in a satisfactory manner is difficult: I don't want a downer ending just to fit the mood, but there would be something unsatisfactory about a story like this ending with pure happiness. Huston aces it, though, leavening the darkness of the story with just enough humanity. Everything bad that happens to Thompson (and there's a lot of it) happens because it must; the few good things the protagonist experiences likewise flow from the story.
The books I like best are ones that I finish and say 'I want to read this again.' In this case, finishing the book made me want to go back and re-read the entire series.
July 7, 2012
I loved reading this trilogy…the hard-core crime and violence blended with some of that Pulp Fiction subtle, quirky humour. The kind of humour where the bad guy fails at killing you so he shares a cigarette or drink with you while the failed killing is discussed. I was hoping for maybe a fourth book in this series…and would still be thrilled if there ever was…but the ending of this last book was satisfying and complete. This was, however, one of those books that I just didn’t want to end. Huston’s writing style is edgy and quick…never coddles the reader…and leaves you turning pages as fast as you can read them.
March 29, 2011
A great end to a great series. Huston's Hank Thompson trilogy does a masterful job of telling a tragic story in ways that are alternately hilarious, frightening and sad. He is a master at making one feel grounded in what's going on despite the situation the characters are in. My only complaint is that the serious had to end!
August 20, 2008
The final book in the ultra-violent Henry Thompson trilogy. Great writing, with vivid dialog, as in all of Charlie Huston's books. But I got what I deserved for reading a series this dark. I should know better, but his writing sucks me in, dammit.
December 22, 2012
While dark and grimly violent I did think this was a fitting conclusion to the Hank Thompson trilogy. Was put off a bit though by the no quotation marks style (I had listened to the previous two installments on audio) but did get used to it in the end.
February 27, 2010
I really wish I hadn't read the final volume of this noir trilogy first -- surely the cover could've warned me.
But I'll be looking for the first two, even though I know how it all ends up.
But I'll be looking for the first two, even though I know how it all ends up.
October 5, 2019
“Huston writes dialogue so combustible it could fuel a bus and characters crazy enough to take it on the road.”— *The New York Times Book Review
*
Reluctant hitman Henry Thompson has fallen on hard times. His grip on life is disintegrating, his pistol hand shaking, his body pinned to his living room couch by painkillers–and his boss, Russian mobster David Dolokhov, isn’t happy about any of it. So Henry is surprised when he’s handed a new assignment: keep tabs on a minor league baseball star named Miguel Arenas.
Henry has no pity for the slugger and the wicked gambling problem that got him in trouble, but he can’t help liking the guy. After all, Henry used to be just like him: a natural-born ball player with a bright future. But hell, that was long ago. Before Henry did some guy a favor and ended up running for his life. Before his girlfriend and buddies got gunned down by someone on his tail. Before he agreed to buy his parents’ safety with a life of violence.
And when Miguel gets drafted by the Mets and is sent to the Brooklyn Cyclones, Henry must head back to New York, back to the place where all his problems began—and where Henry might find a real reason to keep living, a reason that may just cost him his life.
*Praise for A Dangerous Man
“Among the new voices in twenty-first-century crime fiction, Charlie Huston . . . is where it’s at.” — The Washington Post*
“Huston reminds me of all my favorite writers–Pete Dexter, Robert Stone, Crumley. If there is such a thing as compassionate noir, Charlie has found it. He’s a true marvel.” —Ken Bruen, author of *The Guards *
“Charlie Huston is the real deal.” —Peter Straub
**
Huston doesn't let his battered, tormented protagonist rest for one moment in the exciting final volume of his trilogy featuring Henry "Hank" Thompson, now an unwilling hit man for David Dolokhov, the Russian mobster whose $4 million he stole (and lost) in 2005's Six Bad Things. With a botched plastic surgery job that's left him disfigured and in chronic pain, Hank is only able to deal with his nightmares about the people he's killed with handfuls of prescription painkillers. He's on the verge of slipping under when Dolokhov assigns him to protect Miguel Arenas, a rising young baseball star and gambling addict who also owes the Russian a big chunk of change. Hank is forced to confront his own past as a former minor league player as his bodyguard gig takes him to New York, where his misadventures began. While the book drags a bit in the middle, the pace picks up toward the end as Hank finds himself once again doing what he does best, running for his life. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Hank Thompson comes full circle in this fitting end to a mayhem-packed trilogy ( Caught Stealing , 2004, and Six Bad Things , 2005) that also packs a potent emotional punch. The young man who lost his chance at a baseball career in an auto accident that killed his best friend has descended into Fat Elvis mode, digging pills out of the carpet of his Vegas flop when he is not killing reprobates for a Russian mobster who holds the lives of Hank's parents in his hands. But when he is ordered to babysit a Mets phenom with a gambling problem so bad he'll bet on which guy at the casino urinals will finish first, Hank's penchant for doing the right thing in the wrong way sets into motion a series of very bad events. He may fumble around, but when his life's on the line, Hank becomes a virtuoso killing machine. It's like when Sundance shoots at that rock in Bolivia: he is better when he moves. The satisfying story moves right along with him, leaving fans glad they still have Huston's other series antihero--vampire detective Joe Pitt--to kick around. Frank Sennett
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
April 19, 2023
RICK ““SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “DANGEROUS MAN HIT’S HOME RUN IN TRILOGY FINALE!”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** WARNING TO PROSPECTIVE READERS **
* THIS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN THE “HANK THOMPSON” TRILOGY *
* TO FULLY APPRECIATE THIS STORY IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT *
* YOU READ THE TWO PRIOR BOOKS: *
* “CAUGHT STEALING”** & “SIX BAD THINGS” *
* BOTH OF WHICH I HAVE PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED *
If you’ve made it through the wild and wooly life of Charlie Huston’s Hank Thompson, by reading the first two books of this trilogy, you certainly know by now, that for a guy who was at peace with the world until he agreed to watch a neighbor’s cat, that no matter how good or innocent Hank’s intentions are, that dead bodies and drugs are sure to follow.
Like Al Pacino, in the ongoing “Godfather” sequels, “Every time Hank tries to get out of the murder business, someone drags him back in!” The constant threat by undesirables to kill his parents, leads Hank to be a “hit-man” and “limb-breaker” for Russian mobster David Dolokhov. In addition to losing one of his kidney’s in an earlier book, and assorted broken ribs, multiple concussions, multiple gun shot wounds, gashes, gouges, and more stitches than a garment made by an epileptic seamstress, Hank also gets plastic surgery to hide his identity from all the authorities and civilians looking for a payoff with his capture. The fact that the Russian mobster arranges for the plastic surgery to be performed by an individual not accredited to perform such surgery, leaves Hank with a deformed face riveted with scars and discoloration.
The latest job assigned to Hank by the Russian is be a bodyguard and driver for Miguel Arenas, college baseball star, Olympic Gold Medal winner, and now the overall number one draft choice in the Major Leagues by the New York Mets. In addition to Miguel’s ability to hit the ball out of the park, comes the ability to have a gambling “Jones” that causes him to lose million’s of dollars of his signing bonus, which puts him into heavy debt, to who else, but the Russian mobster. Hank and Miguel forge a special bond, which brings Hank back to where his misery and murders began, New York city. Blood starts spurting, bodies start dying, bones start breaking, as Hank runs, hides, fights, shoots, stabs, and pleads for his life. This is a must read for every Charlie Huston fan!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
** WARNING TO PROSPECTIVE READERS **
* THIS IS THE THIRD BOOK IN THE “HANK THOMPSON” TRILOGY *
* TO FULLY APPRECIATE THIS STORY IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT *
* YOU READ THE TWO PRIOR BOOKS: *
* “CAUGHT STEALING”** & “SIX BAD THINGS” *
* BOTH OF WHICH I HAVE PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED *
If you’ve made it through the wild and wooly life of Charlie Huston’s Hank Thompson, by reading the first two books of this trilogy, you certainly know by now, that for a guy who was at peace with the world until he agreed to watch a neighbor’s cat, that no matter how good or innocent Hank’s intentions are, that dead bodies and drugs are sure to follow.
Like Al Pacino, in the ongoing “Godfather” sequels, “Every time Hank tries to get out of the murder business, someone drags him back in!” The constant threat by undesirables to kill his parents, leads Hank to be a “hit-man” and “limb-breaker” for Russian mobster David Dolokhov. In addition to losing one of his kidney’s in an earlier book, and assorted broken ribs, multiple concussions, multiple gun shot wounds, gashes, gouges, and more stitches than a garment made by an epileptic seamstress, Hank also gets plastic surgery to hide his identity from all the authorities and civilians looking for a payoff with his capture. The fact that the Russian mobster arranges for the plastic surgery to be performed by an individual not accredited to perform such surgery, leaves Hank with a deformed face riveted with scars and discoloration.
The latest job assigned to Hank by the Russian is be a bodyguard and driver for Miguel Arenas, college baseball star, Olympic Gold Medal winner, and now the overall number one draft choice in the Major Leagues by the New York Mets. In addition to Miguel’s ability to hit the ball out of the park, comes the ability to have a gambling “Jones” that causes him to lose million’s of dollars of his signing bonus, which puts him into heavy debt, to who else, but the Russian mobster. Hank and Miguel forge a special bond, which brings Hank back to where his misery and murders began, New York city. Blood starts spurting, bodies start dying, bones start breaking, as Hank runs, hides, fights, shoots, stabs, and pleads for his life. This is a must read for every Charlie Huston fan!
October 22, 2017
A Dangerous Man is the final instalment of the Hank Thompson trilogy. After the trials and tribulations leading up to his present predicament, it’s no surprise to find him struggling as a conscience-wracked, drug-adled hitman for David Dolokhov, a Russian mobster. Dolokhov specialises in fleecing gambling addicts and running rackets, taking the ultimate sanction as a warning to others when they fail him. He keeps Hank on a short tether with a threat to murder his parents. At a low ebb and waiting to find himself in the firing line Hank’s surprised to be asked to mind a rising baseball star with a gambling problem. Huston uses the introduction of Miguel Arenas to inject some hope into Hank’s life, but also more danger as he’s sent back to New York where his descent started. Told in the first person the narrative is pretty bleak throughout with Hank stumbling from one incident to another, constantly shifting from paranoia to scheming for a way out. It’s a little uneven in the telling, but still a solid piece of contemporary hardboiled pulp and it has a very apt noir ending.
June 9, 2025
3.5* audiobook
A Dangerous Man was a satisfying end to the Henry Thompson trilogy. It feels like a natural progression for Henry, good guy is forced to do bad things to survive book one, book two is a further descent and a deal with the devil to keep his parents safe, then book three the deal is killing him and he's pushing back trying to do good again.
I really liked how his love of baseball also came back through the characters of Miguel and Jay. I also enjoyed the time jumps with Henry running into gangsters, then flashing back to how it happened. Plus his "jobs" for the Russian Gangster David, where he increasingly couldn't do them, shows he was bound for a bad ending.
I listened to the audiobook and it was a struggle. The narrator read Henry with this automaton, almost monotone, like cadence. It was jarring compared to the other books. Definitely detracted from my experience with the book.
A Dangerous Man was a satisfying end to the Henry Thompson trilogy. It feels like a natural progression for Henry, good guy is forced to do bad things to survive book one, book two is a further descent and a deal with the devil to keep his parents safe, then book three the deal is killing him and he's pushing back trying to do good again.
I really liked how his love of baseball also came back through the characters of Miguel and Jay. I also enjoyed the time jumps with Henry running into gangsters, then flashing back to how it happened. Plus his "jobs" for the Russian Gangster David, where he increasingly couldn't do them, shows he was bound for a bad ending.
I listened to the audiobook and it was a struggle. The narrator read Henry with this automaton, almost monotone, like cadence. It was jarring compared to the other books. Definitely detracted from my experience with the book.
August 3, 2025
The final book in the Henry Thompson series {which I didn't even know there were 2 more books} I started reading the first book cause of the movie coming out with Austin Butler and boy oh boy if they EVER make these two books into movies its gonna be emotional for me because Hank's life does NOT get easier and the past catches up with him and he still has regret from his actions
The ending for Hank you could tell he wanted peace but still DAMN that was rough but it was a real page turner - quite a story I never thought i'd rea if there wasn't a movie coming out but I'm really glad I opened up to read a new series but it also was like an action adventure I loved despite the ending but unlike when I finish the first book, I "kind of" have closure of the Hank story even if I wished there was a different ending but highly recommend if you're a fan of the series or like a intense, action adventure thrill ride
The ending for Hank you could tell he wanted peace but still DAMN that was rough but it was a real page turner - quite a story I never thought i'd rea if there wasn't a movie coming out but I'm really glad I opened up to read a new series but it also was like an action adventure I loved despite the ending but unlike when I finish the first book, I "kind of" have closure of the Hank story even if I wished there was a different ending but highly recommend if you're a fan of the series or like a intense, action adventure thrill ride
August 29, 2021
A DANGEROUS MAN is the final book in the trilogy of Henry Thompson. This book wraps up all the loose ends of the saga, taking the reader on another wild ride, this time face-to-face with the Russian mob in New York.
Once I started one of the books I could hardly put it down. Mr. Huston writes sheer escapism in a realistic, hard-boiled style that leaves one wanting more. The characters are not complex but the action comes at you fast and furious like a fast ball over the plate. It's not great literature but it's well-written and entertaining. I hope we see more of Mr. Huston. I'm a fan.
Once I started one of the books I could hardly put it down. Mr. Huston writes sheer escapism in a realistic, hard-boiled style that leaves one wanting more. The characters are not complex but the action comes at you fast and furious like a fast ball over the plate. It's not great literature but it's well-written and entertaining. I hope we see more of Mr. Huston. I'm a fan.
August 19, 2023
Well it ended the only way it could. This was an amazing trilogy. I really enjoyed it, but as I may have mentioned in the second book, it is exhausting. Everything comes at you at a machine gun pace. Even when you think you are getting a quiet moment of discussion between two characters, bam the action and violence start up again. A crazy trilogy, that I would recommend to anyone not squemish.
January 6, 2025
This book was hard for me to get into. Its very mobster type of crime which is always cut and dry with no twists which makes it hard for me to read. There were also parts of the story that were hard to follow especially when he would go back and forth between past and present.
Editing my review: I didn’t realize this was a trilogy and I didn’t read the first 2…that would explain why things didn’t always make sense.
Editing my review: I didn’t realize this was a trilogy and I didn’t read the first 2…that would explain why things didn’t always make sense.
February 13, 2022
Always sad to see the end of a character that you’ve enjoyed. This is third and final of the Hank Thompson series. I enjoyed all of them They were quick reads and I really wanted to see where the story would.
Would have been 5 stars but for the way the chat room dialogue was presented slowed the story down. 4 1/2 stars.
I will be checking out the other series by Charlie Huston.
Would have been 5 stars but for the way the chat room dialogue was presented slowed the story down. 4 1/2 stars.
I will be checking out the other series by Charlie Huston.
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