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Ructions O'Hare #2
Goering's Gold
Ructions O'Hare returns in a thriller — based on one of history's greatest unsolved heists — pitting him against the IRA, Interpol, and neo-Nazis . . .
When WWII ended, the allies discovered that a huge amount of gold bullion plundered by Nazi Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering had gone missing. Some believed the gold had been hidden in a train box car in Poland. Others that it was secreted in Lake Toplitz in the Austrian Alps. And a few thought it was buried in the Republic of Ireland, which was neutral during the war.
When ex-IRA soldier Ructions O'Hare stumbles on a piece of Nazi memorabilia once owned by Goering, he begins to think that those who suspect the gold was in Ireland just might be on to something.
But for Ructions to return to Ireland is easier said than done. For a start, the IRA is after him for not paying them a cut from a huge bank robbery he carried out in Belfast. And then there's the Neo-Nazis, who believe that Goering's gold rightfully belongs to them, and who are happy to kill anyone who gets in their way.
And as Ructions gathers clues to the gold's location and, as his many adversaries realize he's getting closer, it's as if a noose is tightening around his neck...
When WWII ended, the allies discovered that a huge amount of gold bullion plundered by Nazi Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering had gone missing. Some believed the gold had been hidden in a train box car in Poland. Others that it was secreted in Lake Toplitz in the Austrian Alps. And a few thought it was buried in the Republic of Ireland, which was neutral during the war.
When ex-IRA soldier Ructions O'Hare stumbles on a piece of Nazi memorabilia once owned by Goering, he begins to think that those who suspect the gold was in Ireland just might be on to something.
But for Ructions to return to Ireland is easier said than done. For a start, the IRA is after him for not paying them a cut from a huge bank robbery he carried out in Belfast. And then there's the Neo-Nazis, who believe that Goering's gold rightfully belongs to them, and who are happy to kill anyone who gets in their way.
And as Ructions gathers clues to the gold's location and, as his many adversaries realize he's getting closer, it's as if a noose is tightening around his neck...
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2022
59 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 12, 2022
I was a huge admirer of Richard O’Rawe’s first novel-I consider it to be one of the best heist novels I’ve ever read. With Goering’s gold, he moves into thriller territory, and promptly outdoes most of what’s on the market these days. In all the best ways, this reminded me of the books that Frederick Forsyth was writing in the 70s and 80s. My highest possible recommendation.
May 27, 2022
After pulling off a massive bank heist in Belfast three years ago, ex-IRA soldier James 'Ructions' O'Hare's dream of living the quiet life in rural France with his girlfriend Eleanor is about to be shattered. The IRA are feeling cheated about the whole bank robbery affair that has been laid at their door, despite them not benefitting from the pay-out, and they would like nothing better that to see Ructions dead.
Reluctantly forced to go on the run to escape the IRA gunmen who have tracked him down, fate makes it a triple whammy when a plunging stock market loses him the greater part of his stolen millions, and Eleanor decides to leave him. But then an unexpected opportunity opens up when a gang of vicious neo-Nazis target his friend Serge, who they believe owns a valuable Nazi artefact - the bejewelled Ceremonial Field Marshall's baton that was presented by the Führer to Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering.
It has long been thought that Goering smuggled a fortune in gold bullion out of Germany in the dying days of the Second World War, and the baton, which Serge does indeed secretly own, could well be the key to finding this lost treasure. With the IRA, Interpol and some seriously unpleasant neo-Nazi's on his trail, Ructions is soon on the hunt for the location of the rumoured gold - and all the clues point to it being in the very place it is most dangerous for him to go... Ireland.
Goering's Gold is a rip-roaring adventure that cleverly mixes a veritable treasure-trove (pardon the pun) of highly entertaining storylines around the settling of old scores and the hunt for lost Nazi gold.
I have not read the first book in this series, Northern Heist, which means there are a lot of threads here hanging over for Ructions' first adventure (or is is misadventure) in connection with the infamous Belfast bank raid. But O'Rawe fills in enough of the gaps in this second book around the seething desire for revenge held in some quarters of the IRA, and Irish law enforcement, to allow you to pick up just enough of the history between all the opposing parties.
Ructions is a fascinating character, with lots of hidden depth. His quick thinking and Irish charm had me warming to him in double quick time, although I must admit to finding Eleanor rather one-dimensional - the femme-fatale character Gitte was so much more interesting, with a very satisfying story arc. The rest of the cast is filled out nicely with all the players you would expect in a story of this kind - the good, the bad, and the morally grey, who all tend to move around a bit in these categories over the course of the tale - except for the evil Nazis, of course, who stay well and truly in the scoundrel role.... Boo!
O'Rawe creates a rollicking plot for these characters to fulfil all their entertaining potential. There are twists and turns galore, with lashings of double-dealing that really keep you on your toes. His detailed knowledge of the inside workings of the IRA really comes across in this story too, with just the right level of authentic grittiness to play against the more surreal theme of the uber-villain Nazis. The threads come together slickly, weaving a delicious Dan Brown-esque treasure hunt mystery through a many-layered thriller that reminded me rather nostalgically of the best of Frederick Forsyth, with a darkly humorous touch of Guy Ritchie thrown in for good measure - especially in the way Ructions has all parties heading for an almighty clash at the hiding place of the gold.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It's pitched perfectly to keep fans of tautly plotted noir thrillers gripped, with just the right mix of unsettling fact and absorbing fictional caper to make it a proper page-turner. There is also a seductive little hook into the next Ructions adventure... which I really, really want to read!
Reluctantly forced to go on the run to escape the IRA gunmen who have tracked him down, fate makes it a triple whammy when a plunging stock market loses him the greater part of his stolen millions, and Eleanor decides to leave him. But then an unexpected opportunity opens up when a gang of vicious neo-Nazis target his friend Serge, who they believe owns a valuable Nazi artefact - the bejewelled Ceremonial Field Marshall's baton that was presented by the Führer to Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering.
It has long been thought that Goering smuggled a fortune in gold bullion out of Germany in the dying days of the Second World War, and the baton, which Serge does indeed secretly own, could well be the key to finding this lost treasure. With the IRA, Interpol and some seriously unpleasant neo-Nazi's on his trail, Ructions is soon on the hunt for the location of the rumoured gold - and all the clues point to it being in the very place it is most dangerous for him to go... Ireland.
Goering's Gold is a rip-roaring adventure that cleverly mixes a veritable treasure-trove (pardon the pun) of highly entertaining storylines around the settling of old scores and the hunt for lost Nazi gold.
I have not read the first book in this series, Northern Heist, which means there are a lot of threads here hanging over for Ructions' first adventure (or is is misadventure) in connection with the infamous Belfast bank raid. But O'Rawe fills in enough of the gaps in this second book around the seething desire for revenge held in some quarters of the IRA, and Irish law enforcement, to allow you to pick up just enough of the history between all the opposing parties.
Ructions is a fascinating character, with lots of hidden depth. His quick thinking and Irish charm had me warming to him in double quick time, although I must admit to finding Eleanor rather one-dimensional - the femme-fatale character Gitte was so much more interesting, with a very satisfying story arc. The rest of the cast is filled out nicely with all the players you would expect in a story of this kind - the good, the bad, and the morally grey, who all tend to move around a bit in these categories over the course of the tale - except for the evil Nazis, of course, who stay well and truly in the scoundrel role.... Boo!
O'Rawe creates a rollicking plot for these characters to fulfil all their entertaining potential. There are twists and turns galore, with lashings of double-dealing that really keep you on your toes. His detailed knowledge of the inside workings of the IRA really comes across in this story too, with just the right level of authentic grittiness to play against the more surreal theme of the uber-villain Nazis. The threads come together slickly, weaving a delicious Dan Brown-esque treasure hunt mystery through a many-layered thriller that reminded me rather nostalgically of the best of Frederick Forsyth, with a darkly humorous touch of Guy Ritchie thrown in for good measure - especially in the way Ructions has all parties heading for an almighty clash at the hiding place of the gold.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It's pitched perfectly to keep fans of tautly plotted noir thrillers gripped, with just the right mix of unsettling fact and absorbing fictional caper to make it a proper page-turner. There is also a seductive little hook into the next Ructions adventure... which I really, really want to read!
May 28, 2022
Goering's Gold is one of the best and most entertaining heist books I've read. It's fast-paced and brimming with adventure as Ructions O'Hare finds himself up against the police, the IRA and Nazis as he hunts for lost gold.
Despite Ructions' criminal background and the fact that he always has his mind set on his next big score, he had me laughing out loud at times and I was actually rooting for him to succeed. He's very confident and always prepares for every outcome. It was so funny seeing him running rings around everyone and always staying one step ahead. Every time the police or the IRA thought they had him cornered, he always had a trick up his sleeve and managed to escape. He's really cunning and quite smart in how he handles situations.
The hunt for the missing gold was very interesting. I was curious how a large amount of gold could have been hidden away all this time without anyone ever finding it and I was eagerly anticipating finding out the full story. All the little clues that were uncovered that eventually led to its location were fascinating. The story is part treasure hunt, part heist as Ructions first has to locate the gold and then actually pull off the heist. Plus, he's not the only one searching for the gold so it's quite a tense, high-stakes thriller.
There's also references to Ructions robbing a bank, which takes place in Northern Heist. I have not read that but fortunately you don't need to read it in order to understand what happens in Goering's Gold. The fact that Ructions managed to rob a bank and is now on his next adventure shows how much of a thrill-seeker he is and speaks volumes about his character. I do love anti-heroes though and I bet Northern Heist is just as entertaining as Goering's Gold.
Goering's Gold is a fast-paced and wildly entertaining read. I highly recommend it for those that enjoy historical thrillers, suspenseful reads and a fantastic heist story!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Despite Ructions' criminal background and the fact that he always has his mind set on his next big score, he had me laughing out loud at times and I was actually rooting for him to succeed. He's very confident and always prepares for every outcome. It was so funny seeing him running rings around everyone and always staying one step ahead. Every time the police or the IRA thought they had him cornered, he always had a trick up his sleeve and managed to escape. He's really cunning and quite smart in how he handles situations.
The hunt for the missing gold was very interesting. I was curious how a large amount of gold could have been hidden away all this time without anyone ever finding it and I was eagerly anticipating finding out the full story. All the little clues that were uncovered that eventually led to its location were fascinating. The story is part treasure hunt, part heist as Ructions first has to locate the gold and then actually pull off the heist. Plus, he's not the only one searching for the gold so it's quite a tense, high-stakes thriller.
There's also references to Ructions robbing a bank, which takes place in Northern Heist. I have not read that but fortunately you don't need to read it in order to understand what happens in Goering's Gold. The fact that Ructions managed to rob a bank and is now on his next adventure shows how much of a thrill-seeker he is and speaks volumes about his character. I do love anti-heroes though and I bet Northern Heist is just as entertaining as Goering's Gold.
Goering's Gold is a fast-paced and wildly entertaining read. I highly recommend it for those that enjoy historical thrillers, suspenseful reads and a fantastic heist story!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
December 21, 2022
I’m not entirely certain this book wasn’t written by Michael Scott. It’s not quite as bad as Threat Level: Midnight, but not far enough away for a supposedly professional author.
I made it 20 pages and retuned it. Thank goodness for libraries.
I made it 20 pages and retuned it. Thank goodness for libraries.
July 19, 2022
James “Ructions” O’Hare is lying low in France following his heist at the National Bank of Ireland which netted him €20m from the €36.5m taken. The IRA haven’t forgiven him for cutting them out of the job and have a score to settle. Following a tip off Commander Robert ‘Tiny’ Murdoch tracks him down and so Ructions and his partner and accomplice Eleanor Proctor are on the run again.
Serge Mercier is an international super fence and money launderer who helped Ructions dispose of the proceeds of the robbery. After a raid by neo-Nazis which he thwarted by the use of his panic room, but which cost the life of his butler, Serge realises it is time to act. The Nazis were after Field Marshall Goering’s ceremonial baton which it is believed is the key to finding millions of Euros worth of gold bullion.
Serge calls Ructions to offer him the treasure hunt of a lifetime. He has advanced prostate cancer so time is short and now the Nazis are on the scent they need to be thwarted. Runctions’ investments have bombed so it is an offer he can refuse even though it results in Eleanor deserting him.
Ructions heads off to Ireland with the baton in seeking the help of an old friend to figure out its significance and whether is indicates the location of the gold. Can they crack the code and recover any gold from under the noses of the IRA, neo-Nazis, and the police?
The novel starts off at a relatively slow pace as the situation is set up, with the various factions introduced. Once the action moves to Ireland the pace ratchets up and the final quarter seems to fly by despite being incident packed. The plotting itself is quite intricate as Ructions manages to set off group against group and still manage to stay a couple of steps ahead of his pursuers. Finding gold is the least of his problems as he tries to stay out of the clutches of three police forces, Nazis and the IRA, some of whom want him dead.
The writing style is unflashy and puts me in mind of the style of European thrillers written just either side of the Second World War. There is no bad language and even though the IRA and Nazi’s are central to the plot violence included is minimal and not at all graphic. Its not a book that goes out to shock but rather tell a rollicking adventure tale.
The central characters are nicely drawn with Ructions as a kind of antihero hero. The author manages to make a former IRA hardman and bank robber a likable, if somewhat flawed, man who the reader is willing on to find the gold. Karl Keller and his Nazi cohorts are naïve and inexperienced wannabees, it is the grandfather figure Adelbert Keller which is the true personification of evil.
This being Ireland we get a taste of their special kind of internal politics with the interaction of the IRA with the police forces either side of the border. The informants, the influencing the hidden back scratching and general paranoia is all there albeit relatively low key. The author was a member of the IRA so the descriptions of them have authenticity though I imagine these have been dialed down to a degree. Who would have expected that the IRA’s internal enforcers are known as the ‘Nutting Squad’? Added to this is Interpol and the French police and a nice dollop of jurisdictional ‘territorial pissing’.
The Irish influence can be felt, judiciously added rather than laid on too thick. We have the daft inappropriate nicknames (Tiny is of course a big man) a bit of blather in the dialogue and a feel for the Irish way of life. The love of the pub is of course there, though interestingly key figures are tea total or non-drinkers. Overall, it feels genuine.
Goering’s Gold is a highly entertaining old-style thriller with a high stakes treasure hunt at its core that doesn’t disappoint.
Serge Mercier is an international super fence and money launderer who helped Ructions dispose of the proceeds of the robbery. After a raid by neo-Nazis which he thwarted by the use of his panic room, but which cost the life of his butler, Serge realises it is time to act. The Nazis were after Field Marshall Goering’s ceremonial baton which it is believed is the key to finding millions of Euros worth of gold bullion.
Serge calls Ructions to offer him the treasure hunt of a lifetime. He has advanced prostate cancer so time is short and now the Nazis are on the scent they need to be thwarted. Runctions’ investments have bombed so it is an offer he can refuse even though it results in Eleanor deserting him.
Ructions heads off to Ireland with the baton in seeking the help of an old friend to figure out its significance and whether is indicates the location of the gold. Can they crack the code and recover any gold from under the noses of the IRA, neo-Nazis, and the police?
The novel starts off at a relatively slow pace as the situation is set up, with the various factions introduced. Once the action moves to Ireland the pace ratchets up and the final quarter seems to fly by despite being incident packed. The plotting itself is quite intricate as Ructions manages to set off group against group and still manage to stay a couple of steps ahead of his pursuers. Finding gold is the least of his problems as he tries to stay out of the clutches of three police forces, Nazis and the IRA, some of whom want him dead.
The writing style is unflashy and puts me in mind of the style of European thrillers written just either side of the Second World War. There is no bad language and even though the IRA and Nazi’s are central to the plot violence included is minimal and not at all graphic. Its not a book that goes out to shock but rather tell a rollicking adventure tale.
The central characters are nicely drawn with Ructions as a kind of antihero hero. The author manages to make a former IRA hardman and bank robber a likable, if somewhat flawed, man who the reader is willing on to find the gold. Karl Keller and his Nazi cohorts are naïve and inexperienced wannabees, it is the grandfather figure Adelbert Keller which is the true personification of evil.
This being Ireland we get a taste of their special kind of internal politics with the interaction of the IRA with the police forces either side of the border. The informants, the influencing the hidden back scratching and general paranoia is all there albeit relatively low key. The author was a member of the IRA so the descriptions of them have authenticity though I imagine these have been dialed down to a degree. Who would have expected that the IRA’s internal enforcers are known as the ‘Nutting Squad’? Added to this is Interpol and the French police and a nice dollop of jurisdictional ‘territorial pissing’.
The Irish influence can be felt, judiciously added rather than laid on too thick. We have the daft inappropriate nicknames (Tiny is of course a big man) a bit of blather in the dialogue and a feel for the Irish way of life. The love of the pub is of course there, though interestingly key figures are tea total or non-drinkers. Overall, it feels genuine.
Goering’s Gold is a highly entertaining old-style thriller with a high stakes treasure hunt at its core that doesn’t disappoint.
November 17, 2023
Mythic Irish bank robber Ructions O'Hare returns in GOERING'S GOLD for a second go-round after his initial appearance in the gritty bank-heist adventure NORTHERN HEIST. Ructions is still butting heads with the IRA. He still plays cat and mouse games with law enforcement across several borders. Several members of his merry band of robbers are around still as well, as is his girlfriend, Eleanor. It's not the same though.
NORTHERN HEIST was a spare story that reveled in the rough-hewn underworld of Irish crime and politics. Ructions served as the navigator through that world, and he performed his role well, grounding the reader in a compelling construct. The story was fantastic but realistically portrayed, in dialogue and description. GOERING'S GOLD is just mostly fantastic.
In this novel Ructions becomes enmeshed in a treasure hunt for Nazi riches, though the hunt really doesn't end up being much of a challenge. The IRA is back for its pound of flesh, and modern-day Nazis are thrown into the mix as well. Politicians and law enforcement are around to add heft to the plotline, but nothing really changes as a consequence of their participation in the story. The entire treasure hunt is trumpeted on front pages and news broadcasts, which seems odd for the conspiracies at play, but that does not stop Ructions O'Hare from planning and organizing with seeming impunity. The conclusion is too facile and there are too many holes in the plot and in the characterizations of leading figures. It is difficult to figure out the whys of Eleanor's actions and reactions, for example. The same can be said for any understanding of the causal motivations for many of the law enforcement figures readers meet along the way. Some revelations just seem born out of whole cloth, or fundamentally unnecessary (see IRA leadership). There is an incompleteness that pervades GOERING'S GOLD. X + Y doesn't equal Z. The most positive explanation for this trait would be the suggestion that this novel is setting up a sequel with many of the same protagonists and antagonists, so that not everything can be answered herein.
A little gold here
a few bars there, and here's some
too. Riches for all.
NORTHERN HEIST was a spare story that reveled in the rough-hewn underworld of Irish crime and politics. Ructions served as the navigator through that world, and he performed his role well, grounding the reader in a compelling construct. The story was fantastic but realistically portrayed, in dialogue and description. GOERING'S GOLD is just mostly fantastic.
In this novel Ructions becomes enmeshed in a treasure hunt for Nazi riches, though the hunt really doesn't end up being much of a challenge. The IRA is back for its pound of flesh, and modern-day Nazis are thrown into the mix as well. Politicians and law enforcement are around to add heft to the plotline, but nothing really changes as a consequence of their participation in the story. The entire treasure hunt is trumpeted on front pages and news broadcasts, which seems odd for the conspiracies at play, but that does not stop Ructions O'Hare from planning and organizing with seeming impunity. The conclusion is too facile and there are too many holes in the plot and in the characterizations of leading figures. It is difficult to figure out the whys of Eleanor's actions and reactions, for example. The same can be said for any understanding of the causal motivations for many of the law enforcement figures readers meet along the way. Some revelations just seem born out of whole cloth, or fundamentally unnecessary (see IRA leadership). There is an incompleteness that pervades GOERING'S GOLD. X + Y doesn't equal Z. The most positive explanation for this trait would be the suggestion that this novel is setting up a sequel with many of the same protagonists and antagonists, so that not everything can be answered herein.
A little gold here
a few bars there, and here's some
too. Riches for all.
November 5, 2022
I rate a book 5-star if the book offers fresh and new content, good writing and fun characters. This book which I had picked on an impulse, surprised me in more than one way, and I it is probably all in a good way.
I know this genre has established authors like Alistair McLean (one author that I have read more than others in this Action-Adventure genre), more recent authors like Clive Cussler and I'm sure there are tons of them who I am yet to read. But with most of the 90s movies being an action-adventure genre based, there are always only a few new tales that can be told. O'Rawe has done brilliantly to stitch a book where as a reader, I never ever felt bored. Its a story which is Adventure mixed with Heist but nothing is improbable stunts like those happening in Indiana Jones or Mission Impossible series. Nothing is a plot element. Almost everything feels planned and natural. It is like O'Rawe did a lot of whiteboard sessions tieing up ends before embarking on writing this story.
A huge compliment to his writing. Every Single Character in this book is likeable, relateable and most importantly real . The dialogues that happen between them is one of the better ones I have read in the last two years or so. I predominantly read Fantasy Fiction, so this was a great breakaway from that routine characterizations and stereotypical conversations. The book, in the age of "edgy" writing is uniquely feel-good, while still being able to capture attention and interest.
There might be a few readers who find it just a bit slow, which I too felt briefly. But then I realized that the platheora of characters, and their backgrounds that the author has set-up, will all be working in their ways, in their intelligence and means for their personal goals. If the author tries to spend time establishing that, the overall pace of story will probably not be a quick one. However, the end result will always be a satisfying one.
I'm, as mentioned above, utterly surprised at the novelty of writing, the simplicity and beautiful characters I met through the book. Looking forward to more from O'Rawe.
I know this genre has established authors like Alistair McLean (one author that I have read more than others in this Action-Adventure genre), more recent authors like Clive Cussler and I'm sure there are tons of them who I am yet to read. But with most of the 90s movies being an action-adventure genre based, there are always only a few new tales that can be told. O'Rawe has done brilliantly to stitch a book where as a reader, I never ever felt bored. Its a story which is Adventure mixed with Heist but nothing is improbable stunts like those happening in Indiana Jones or Mission Impossible series. Nothing is a plot element. Almost everything feels planned and natural. It is like O'Rawe did a lot of whiteboard sessions tieing up ends before embarking on writing this story.
A huge compliment to his writing. Every Single Character in this book is likeable, relateable and most importantly real . The dialogues that happen between them is one of the better ones I have read in the last two years or so. I predominantly read Fantasy Fiction, so this was a great breakaway from that routine characterizations and stereotypical conversations. The book, in the age of "edgy" writing is uniquely feel-good, while still being able to capture attention and interest.
There might be a few readers who find it just a bit slow, which I too felt briefly. But then I realized that the platheora of characters, and their backgrounds that the author has set-up, will all be working in their ways, in their intelligence and means for their personal goals. If the author tries to spend time establishing that, the overall pace of story will probably not be a quick one. However, the end result will always be a satisfying one.
I'm, as mentioned above, utterly surprised at the novelty of writing, the simplicity and beautiful characters I met through the book. Looking forward to more from O'Rawe.
November 17, 2023
This story was presented as a thriller, with the main character in search of a stash of gold bullion hidden by Hermann Goering during World War II. The main character, Ructions O’Hare, is a master thief. Previous victims of his skill are intent on hunting him down for perceived unfair distribution of past gains. New competition sees him as attempting to deprive them of their rightful heritage.
With the IRA, Neo-Nazis, and police organizations in multiple countries in the mix to try and follow O’Hare to the treasure, and then claim it for their own, plus a jaunt around Europe, this offers many events I usually enjoy. Ultimately, this felt like an attempt at convoluted schemes like Ludlum, but just a little too much Pink Panther type humor, intended or not, to let me rate this above 3 stars. A fast and fun read that I’ll put into my brain candy category.
With the IRA, Neo-Nazis, and police organizations in multiple countries in the mix to try and follow O’Hare to the treasure, and then claim it for their own, plus a jaunt around Europe, this offers many events I usually enjoy. Ultimately, this felt like an attempt at convoluted schemes like Ludlum, but just a little too much Pink Panther type humor, intended or not, to let me rate this above 3 stars. A fast and fun read that I’ll put into my brain candy category.
July 10, 2022
A lightweight, entertaining crime thriller. "Ructions" O'Hare, relaxing and enjoying the fruits of his labors in O'Rawe's previous novel, Northern Heist, becomes aware that Hermann Goering may have secreted a huge quantity of gold bullion in the waning days of WWII--and that there may be a way to find out where it is. Far be it from me to reveal the details; suffice it to say that O'Hare is bored with his life of luxury and decides to go back into business and try to find the gold. Through twists and turns, the master thief confounds his many foes at every turn and in the end.....Well, you know. There are too many happy coincidences and logical inconsistencies for me to rate this book more highly, but if you're looking for a fun read with a raffish hero, have at it.
May 29, 2022
DNF.
No real sense of place (which is why I thought I'd enjoy this, set in France, Spain, Ireland...) but also, what terrible writing.
And copy editing.
There is no excuse for a book this poorly presented to cost money.
First, the "French" translations (easily checked on Google) are horrible
Then, the English itself is full of errors: "she 'wretched' in the toilet"...did you mean "retch"? Or how about, "She had been famished, not haven eaten since breakfast..." Not having eaten? A haven is a sanctuary, not any form of verb. I could go on, but instead, I will not finish nor read anything else by such a sloppy writer.
No real sense of place (which is why I thought I'd enjoy this, set in France, Spain, Ireland...) but also, what terrible writing.
And copy editing.
There is no excuse for a book this poorly presented to cost money.
First, the "French" translations (easily checked on Google) are horrible
Then, the English itself is full of errors: "she 'wretched' in the toilet"...did you mean "retch"? Or how about, "She had been famished, not haven eaten since breakfast..." Not having eaten? A haven is a sanctuary, not any form of verb. I could go on, but instead, I will not finish nor read anything else by such a sloppy writer.
July 18, 2022
Real Rating 3.5
I enjoyed this book and I'm sure it would make a great action film. The author has created some unique characters who need to be able to act in a wider, more realistic sphere of criming. I would read a second edition of Ruction's adventures if they were a bit more grounded, seasoned criminal and a little less super-thief.
I enjoyed this book and I'm sure it would make a great action film. The author has created some unique characters who need to be able to act in a wider, more realistic sphere of criming. I would read a second edition of Ruction's adventures if they were a bit more grounded, seasoned criminal and a little less super-thief.
September 29, 2025
When WWII ended, there was a rumor that Hermann Goering had hidden his Nazi gold somewhere in Europe. Ex-IRA member Ructions O'Hare has his suspicions that the gold is in Ireland. He's after it, so are the police, the IRA, and a neo-Nazi group--even the French are involved. Lots of plot twists in this triller.
July 8, 2022
Ructions O’Hare is now my favorite robber!
Plot line includes the IRA, Neo-Nazis, French money laundering, and Arthur Guinness, God rest his soul. And a cast of memorable crooks and clever dialogue.
Eager to read the earlier thriller with this engaging robber.
Plot line includes the IRA, Neo-Nazis, French money laundering, and Arthur Guinness, God rest his soul. And a cast of memorable crooks and clever dialogue.
Eager to read the earlier thriller with this engaging robber.
February 8, 2023
11-2023. I like our anti-hero, Ructions O’Hare. He is pulled back into the life of crime after retiring in the last book. He is caught between lots of competing enemies and bad people, and tries to find a way out. Like book one, this was a fun trip, and justice is mostly done.
March 19, 2023
A quick read that guys would like with the rogue Irishman, Ruction, who despite having untold millions, can't resist pursuing the finding of a possible stash of gold in Ireland by the infamous Nazi, Goering.
December 9, 2023
Was a decently fun book to read. Was kinda hoping there would be more history involved. A little too neat and somewhat predictable (a couple twists you didn’t see coming.) Still enjoyed it and wasn’t too long.
September 10, 2022
The James Bond of Irish thieves. Entertaining but didn't live up to the hype of the WSJ book review. It's the second book in a row that they have recommended that let me down.
October 29, 2023
A good one
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