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El Gardener #1-3
The Long Con: An El Gardener Omnibus
Grifter, con-artist, inside-woman… call her what you want, El’s never said no to a heist.
But when an old friend and a new crew come calling with an offer she can’t refuse, El finds herself stalking her most ruthless mark yet - one vicious and corrupt enough to test her skills to the limit and plunge her headlong into a world of violence, corruption and murder.
A fast-paced crime cocktail blending elements of Widows, Ocean’s 11 and The Usual Suspects with the 90s nostalgia of The Place Beyond The Pines, THE LONG CON will wrap its hand around your throat from the very first page - and won’t let go until you’re gasping for breath.
First published in 3 parts as THE DEBT, THE PUSH and THE REMEMBRANCE
But when an old friend and a new crew come calling with an offer she can’t refuse, El finds herself stalking her most ruthless mark yet - one vicious and corrupt enough to test her skills to the limit and plunge her headlong into a world of violence, corruption and murder.
A fast-paced crime cocktail blending elements of Widows, Ocean’s 11 and The Usual Suspects with the 90s nostalgia of The Place Beyond The Pines, THE LONG CON will wrap its hand around your throat from the very first page - and won’t let go until you’re gasping for breath.
First published in 3 parts as THE DEBT, THE PUSH and THE REMEMBRANCE
660 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
T.C. Parker
16 books139 followersI'm a writer and researcher based in the fox-ravaged wilds of Leicestershire.
I've been a copywriter, a lecturer and, very briefly, an academic; now I run a semiotics and cultural insight agency by day and dream up horror and crime fiction at night, when the kids are asleep.
I write mostly horror and crime, skeet enthusiastically as @tcparker.bsky.social, and post the occasional poorly-composed photo on Instagram (as @writestc).
For stories, serialised novels and other thoughts about the universe, visit/subscribe to my Substack - tcparker.substack.com
I've been a copywriter, a lecturer and, very briefly, an academic; now I run a semiotics and cultural insight agency by day and dream up horror and crime fiction at night, when the kids are asleep.
I write mostly horror and crime, skeet enthusiastically as @tcparker.bsky.social, and post the occasional poorly-composed photo on Instagram (as @writestc).
For stories, serialised novels and other thoughts about the universe, visit/subscribe to my Substack - tcparker.substack.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 8, 2022
I’ve included my individual reviews of each book below, but they’re long and most people won’t read them, so let me summarize a few things first: READ THIS F***ING BOOK! JUST DO IT! It is so good, an easy 5+ stars! TC Parker is a phenomenal writer, meticulous in every aspect of her books, from plot to word choice to grammar, and beyond. The Long Con is an absolutely enthralling read that will take you on a wild and relentless ride with villains you’ll love to hate, a fantastic cast of misfit characters, an a**load of mystery and intrigue, twists you won’t see coming, and a dash of lesbian love that you’ll be rooting for all the way through!
This is one of those books I wish I could unread just so I could experience it again for the first time! But in lieu of that, I’m just going to buy a print copy for myself for Christmas (I'm not kidding) and hope and pray that someone takes this gem to the big screen!
**For more detailed raving about how good this book and each of its parts are, continue reading below... **
**THE DEBT**
I don’t think I can write a review that will do this book justice, to be honest. It was soooooooo good! Think Oceans 8 (GIRL POWER!!), but darker, and with the dash of Sapphic we all wanted. Sounds perfect, right?
Initially, the timeline took some getting used to and I had to flip back a few times to confirm which years held which events, but rather than disengaging me from the story – as that sort of thing normally does – I actually was MORE intellectually engaged with it. It really read like an Oceans film where it frequently bounced back and forth between the present and past events, giving you the necessary background information about characters and events as you needed it. The times that really, unrepentantly, reminded me of the Oceans films were when the crew would be gathered and planning their con with flashback scenes interjected of individual prep jobs that had been completed already. You’ll know what I mean when you read it. It was great. I loved the narrative style, the way it vacillated between characters’ retelling of events and flashbacks of those events – the way I describe it sounds odd, but it gave an effect like you see in movies/television where a character starts telling a story before the scene transitions into a flashback of that story. Parker managed to weave in and out of these different styles so seamlessly, it was really quite impressive!
Another aspect of the writing style that I found very impressive was the amount of detail. Everything in the book, from background characters to historic events, is described so well that it was nearly impossible not to believe it was real; there were times I was tempted to google characters and events because they were written so thoroughly that I thought they must be real (okay, I admit, I did google a few…). On top of that, each persona that the main character adopts was given so much detail and background that they could have been real people. As someone who dabbles in writing in my spare time, I just couldn’t get over how insanely much thought and work had to go into writing a book so replete with intricate detail.
The plot was fantastic! It wasn’t long before I was so drawn into the story that I had a tough time putting it down (I don’t think I would have if I weren’t doing a buddy read!). The manner in which Parker unfolds the story, peppering in backstory and the POVs of side characters, really serves to crank up the intrigue and tension. With a villain you love to hate, and a plot laden with twists and turns and just the right amount of off-the-page brutality (and a little bit on the page as well) to keep you invested in the end goal, it’s a definite page-turner!
I’ll admit that normally books without at least a romantic subplot tend to score a bit lower for me, but there was so much going on and so much to enjoy in this book that I really didn’t miss it. It was still Sapphic enough to make me happy, but there’s definitely no romance to be found here (though I did feel a bit of a potential connection between two characters that I was definitely rooting for; my fingers are crossed for the sequel!). I definitely recommend giving this one a read, and I’m definitely hoping for an audiobook!
**THE PUSH**
Another absolutely riveting book by TC Parker! All too often, sequels fail to fill the shoes of their predecessors; I can assure you that The Push held its own – it will draw you in, hold your attention, and keep you guessing all the way through.
The Push brings back characters from the first book for another twisty mission with a sinister backstory. I relished getting a deeper understanding of each of the women, and am crossing my fingers that Parker retains her fantastic cast of misfits in the final installment of this series. They are all such well-formulated and diverse women with interesting skills and backstories – these characters alone make for a great story, even without the phenomenal plot! Annnnnd I was super pleased to find that the hint of chemistry I felt in The Debt was indeed there and developed into a hint of sapphic romance this time around – it’s subtle and it’s only a subplot, but enough to make my little gay heart happy!
The plot was f***ing MASTERFUL, I must say! It’s a complex story – full of twists and turns, intrigue and mystery – but Parker leads the reader through it so skillfully and unravels each of the intricately woven threads so well that, even though there’s a lot going on, it’s so easy to follow along without feeling like you’re being spoon-fed. An indisputable chef’s kiss for you, TC Parker! I love the tie-in to the first novel and cannot wait to see how all of this culminates in The Remembrance.
I have no doubt that The Remembrance is going to be just as phenomenally devised and written as the first two books, Netflix really needs to snap this series up, it has the makings for a fantastic movie trilogy!
**THE REMEMBRANCE**
TC Parker certainly knows how to bait the hook! This book had my full attention from the get-go with a thoroughly intriguing opening scene. I mean, how can I turn away from a charred, severed arm and a young girl of questionable sanity? If that weren’t enough, the second chapter gave me everything I ever needed in this book – confirmation of the romance I’d been hoping on for 700 pages! This trilogy has absolutely everything, a bit of sapphic love, a lot of action, scheming and deception, a dash of violence, thoroughly deplorable villains, and an insanely well-developed plot. The only thing I’m sure went a bit over my head was the very Britishness of it, but honestly, I loved that aspect as well.
The plot, as with the previous two installments, is so well thought out. Parker weaves an intricate and beautiful web of a story that will have you ensnared the whole way through. Right out of the gate, she doesn’t give you even a minute to get comfortable, opening the book with a puzzling scene from 40-50 years before the current events that makes you wonder, uncomfortably, how it will tie in with the beloved cast of characters. I absolutely love how she goes back and forth between the two different storylines of the crew and this second, more sinister POV. It’s been a minute since a book has managed to make me feel actual tension and dread, so I’m giving a round of applause to Parker because she certainly got me. I’m a stickler for tidy plots, so you’d best believe I will find your loose ends and rant about them in my reviews, but Parker is so absolutely meticulous that even with such a complex, ever-evolving story, she didn’t leave a single loose end for me to sniff out; this book – this entire trilogy – was a perfectly wrapped gift, complete with impeccable bow and neatly printed, perfectly placed gift tag, not an errant piece of tape or stray bit of ribbon in sight!
I don’t think I’ll ever stop raving about TC Parker’s writing style - again, I’ll throw out the word meticulous. I’m THAT reader, the one who notices misspellings, grammar mistakes (yes, even if I’m not so careful with my own in reviews), errant plot threads, and juvenile vocabulary. From the very first book I read by TC Parker – Saltblood – I noticed how flawless and eloquent her writing style is. Every time I encounter a flaw when I’m reading, it pulls me out of the story because my brain needs to fix it before I can move on, but the only time I ever emerge from TC Parker’s stories is when she uses words I’ve never even heard before, and though I can intuit the meaning, I’m like a truffle pig for new and obscure vocabulary, so I relish the rather lengthy list of words that I’ve learned solely from Parker’s books (I almost NEVER find new words when I read…and I read A LOT). Her writing always flows so smoothly, it’s apparent that she takes great care with every single sentence and word she writes. I also adore how descriptive she is, with an analogy or likeness for everything; her breadth of knowledge (or maybe just her ability to Google obscure things) is very impressive.
I can’t say enough about how good this book was, it’s absolutely a must-read, and you absolutely must read the first two books first! I’ll be shoving this trilogy down anyone’s throat who makes the mistake of asking me for a book rec : ) READ ‘THE LONG CON’…OR ELSE!
This is one of those books I wish I could unread just so I could experience it again for the first time! But in lieu of that, I’m just going to buy a print copy for myself for Christmas (I'm not kidding) and hope and pray that someone takes this gem to the big screen!
**For more detailed raving about how good this book and each of its parts are, continue reading below... **
**THE DEBT**
I don’t think I can write a review that will do this book justice, to be honest. It was soooooooo good! Think Oceans 8 (GIRL POWER!!), but darker, and with the dash of Sapphic we all wanted. Sounds perfect, right?
Initially, the timeline took some getting used to and I had to flip back a few times to confirm which years held which events, but rather than disengaging me from the story – as that sort of thing normally does – I actually was MORE intellectually engaged with it. It really read like an Oceans film where it frequently bounced back and forth between the present and past events, giving you the necessary background information about characters and events as you needed it. The times that really, unrepentantly, reminded me of the Oceans films were when the crew would be gathered and planning their con with flashback scenes interjected of individual prep jobs that had been completed already. You’ll know what I mean when you read it. It was great. I loved the narrative style, the way it vacillated between characters’ retelling of events and flashbacks of those events – the way I describe it sounds odd, but it gave an effect like you see in movies/television where a character starts telling a story before the scene transitions into a flashback of that story. Parker managed to weave in and out of these different styles so seamlessly, it was really quite impressive!
Another aspect of the writing style that I found very impressive was the amount of detail. Everything in the book, from background characters to historic events, is described so well that it was nearly impossible not to believe it was real; there were times I was tempted to google characters and events because they were written so thoroughly that I thought they must be real (okay, I admit, I did google a few…). On top of that, each persona that the main character adopts was given so much detail and background that they could have been real people. As someone who dabbles in writing in my spare time, I just couldn’t get over how insanely much thought and work had to go into writing a book so replete with intricate detail.
The plot was fantastic! It wasn’t long before I was so drawn into the story that I had a tough time putting it down (I don’t think I would have if I weren’t doing a buddy read!). The manner in which Parker unfolds the story, peppering in backstory and the POVs of side characters, really serves to crank up the intrigue and tension. With a villain you love to hate, and a plot laden with twists and turns and just the right amount of off-the-page brutality (and a little bit on the page as well) to keep you invested in the end goal, it’s a definite page-turner!
I’ll admit that normally books without at least a romantic subplot tend to score a bit lower for me, but there was so much going on and so much to enjoy in this book that I really didn’t miss it. It was still Sapphic enough to make me happy, but there’s definitely no romance to be found here (though I did feel a bit of a potential connection between two characters that I was definitely rooting for; my fingers are crossed for the sequel!). I definitely recommend giving this one a read, and I’m definitely hoping for an audiobook!
**THE PUSH**
Another absolutely riveting book by TC Parker! All too often, sequels fail to fill the shoes of their predecessors; I can assure you that The Push held its own – it will draw you in, hold your attention, and keep you guessing all the way through.
The Push brings back characters from the first book for another twisty mission with a sinister backstory. I relished getting a deeper understanding of each of the women, and am crossing my fingers that Parker retains her fantastic cast of misfits in the final installment of this series. They are all such well-formulated and diverse women with interesting skills and backstories – these characters alone make for a great story, even without the phenomenal plot! Annnnnd I was super pleased to find that the hint of chemistry I felt in The Debt was indeed there and developed into a hint of sapphic romance this time around – it’s subtle and it’s only a subplot, but enough to make my little gay heart happy!
The plot was f***ing MASTERFUL, I must say! It’s a complex story – full of twists and turns, intrigue and mystery – but Parker leads the reader through it so skillfully and unravels each of the intricately woven threads so well that, even though there’s a lot going on, it’s so easy to follow along without feeling like you’re being spoon-fed. An indisputable chef’s kiss for you, TC Parker! I love the tie-in to the first novel and cannot wait to see how all of this culminates in The Remembrance.
I have no doubt that The Remembrance is going to be just as phenomenally devised and written as the first two books, Netflix really needs to snap this series up, it has the makings for a fantastic movie trilogy!
**THE REMEMBRANCE**
TC Parker certainly knows how to bait the hook! This book had my full attention from the get-go with a thoroughly intriguing opening scene. I mean, how can I turn away from a charred, severed arm and a young girl of questionable sanity? If that weren’t enough, the second chapter gave me everything I ever needed in this book – confirmation of the romance I’d been hoping on for 700 pages! This trilogy has absolutely everything, a bit of sapphic love, a lot of action, scheming and deception, a dash of violence, thoroughly deplorable villains, and an insanely well-developed plot. The only thing I’m sure went a bit over my head was the very Britishness of it, but honestly, I loved that aspect as well.
The plot, as with the previous two installments, is so well thought out. Parker weaves an intricate and beautiful web of a story that will have you ensnared the whole way through. Right out of the gate, she doesn’t give you even a minute to get comfortable, opening the book with a puzzling scene from 40-50 years before the current events that makes you wonder, uncomfortably, how it will tie in with the beloved cast of characters. I absolutely love how she goes back and forth between the two different storylines of the crew and this second, more sinister POV. It’s been a minute since a book has managed to make me feel actual tension and dread, so I’m giving a round of applause to Parker because she certainly got me. I’m a stickler for tidy plots, so you’d best believe I will find your loose ends and rant about them in my reviews, but Parker is so absolutely meticulous that even with such a complex, ever-evolving story, she didn’t leave a single loose end for me to sniff out; this book – this entire trilogy – was a perfectly wrapped gift, complete with impeccable bow and neatly printed, perfectly placed gift tag, not an errant piece of tape or stray bit of ribbon in sight!
I don’t think I’ll ever stop raving about TC Parker’s writing style - again, I’ll throw out the word meticulous. I’m THAT reader, the one who notices misspellings, grammar mistakes (yes, even if I’m not so careful with my own in reviews), errant plot threads, and juvenile vocabulary. From the very first book I read by TC Parker – Saltblood – I noticed how flawless and eloquent her writing style is. Every time I encounter a flaw when I’m reading, it pulls me out of the story because my brain needs to fix it before I can move on, but the only time I ever emerge from TC Parker’s stories is when she uses words I’ve never even heard before, and though I can intuit the meaning, I’m like a truffle pig for new and obscure vocabulary, so I relish the rather lengthy list of words that I’ve learned solely from Parker’s books (I almost NEVER find new words when I read…and I read A LOT). Her writing always flows so smoothly, it’s apparent that she takes great care with every single sentence and word she writes. I also adore how descriptive she is, with an analogy or likeness for everything; her breadth of knowledge (or maybe just her ability to Google obscure things) is very impressive.
I can’t say enough about how good this book was, it’s absolutely a must-read, and you absolutely must read the first two books first! I’ll be shoving this trilogy down anyone’s throat who makes the mistake of asking me for a book rec : ) READ ‘THE LONG CON’…OR ELSE!
September 7, 2022
The Long Con is made up of three full length crime novels from TC Parker - The Debt, The Push and The Remembrance.
The trilogy has a fabulous cast of characters and the storylines are fast paced with twists and turns that will have you gripped from start to finish.
Parker, better known for horror, proves herself to be a talented multi-genre author with a distinct writing style and has a masterful ability to always choose the right word. I love the characters in these books, they are well rounded and fleshed out in way that made me genuinely invested in them. The plots weave in and out of different places and time periods but Parker does it in such a way that feels effortless and seemless.
The Long Con is well worth anyone's time, step into a world where the bad guys are bad, the women are badass and the Con is always on :)
The trilogy has a fabulous cast of characters and the storylines are fast paced with twists and turns that will have you gripped from start to finish.
Parker, better known for horror, proves herself to be a talented multi-genre author with a distinct writing style and has a masterful ability to always choose the right word. I love the characters in these books, they are well rounded and fleshed out in way that made me genuinely invested in them. The plots weave in and out of different places and time periods but Parker does it in such a way that feels effortless and seemless.
The Long Con is well worth anyone's time, step into a world where the bad guys are bad, the women are badass and the Con is always on :)
September 5, 2022
A quintessential heist thriller, The Long Con offers a vibrant, all female cast whose stories are masterfully woven together at the intersection of grief and revenge. T.C. Parker always delivers and has outdone herself with this omnibus.
August 17, 2023
The Debt: This was a wild ride from start to finish. I loved the oceans style of this book, the team of women behind this setup were fascinating and I loved each of their stories and the parts they played in the setup. I happened to start this while on vacation in the UK and it was a lot of fun to have recently visited some of the London locations mentioned. The surprise at the end genuinely shocked me and I loved it. The chapters are short but engaging and give just enough detail to keep you wondering. El and team had great chemistry and I'm really looking forward to seeing whatever shenanigans they get up to in the next one.
The Push: This is the second installment in the El Gardner series and I am loving this cast of characters. The team has a new con this time but it's related to the previous book as well so make sure you read this trilogy in order. The same team is back again and these ladies make such a fun group. I love their camaraderie and their creativity as a group of con women is so much fun. The writing style just adds to this, feeding you bits of their plan as you go but also keeping you on the edge of your seat waiting for the hammer to fall on them. On to book 3 now! Can't wait to see what they get up to next and kind of sad it will be the last one.
The Remembrance: This final installment in the El Gardener series ended on a high note. I love this group and I'm disappointed this is the last one. I stretched out reading the trilogy and will likely read it again in the future as well. This group of con women get themselves into and out of so much trouble and their creative cons have me guessing to the end. This one really threw me and the ending I thought I was getting changed in the last chapter. This time the team gets caught up in the web of a hitwoman with ties to one of them as well as ties to their old enemies. They come together again when their bank accounts are all either frozen or drained and they need to figure out their next steps. We see some old and new characters both alongside the core group. This team of cons is wonderful and I really wish it wasn't over with this one. Anyone who liked the Oceans movies will love this series and I highly recommend it!
The Push: This is the second installment in the El Gardner series and I am loving this cast of characters. The team has a new con this time but it's related to the previous book as well so make sure you read this trilogy in order. The same team is back again and these ladies make such a fun group. I love their camaraderie and their creativity as a group of con women is so much fun. The writing style just adds to this, feeding you bits of their plan as you go but also keeping you on the edge of your seat waiting for the hammer to fall on them. On to book 3 now! Can't wait to see what they get up to next and kind of sad it will be the last one.
The Remembrance: This final installment in the El Gardener series ended on a high note. I love this group and I'm disappointed this is the last one. I stretched out reading the trilogy and will likely read it again in the future as well. This group of con women get themselves into and out of so much trouble and their creative cons have me guessing to the end. This one really threw me and the ending I thought I was getting changed in the last chapter. This time the team gets caught up in the web of a hitwoman with ties to one of them as well as ties to their old enemies. They come together again when their bank accounts are all either frozen or drained and they need to figure out their next steps. We see some old and new characters both alongside the core group. This team of cons is wonderful and I really wish it wasn't over with this one. Anyone who liked the Oceans movies will love this series and I highly recommend it!
September 7, 2022
A mix of 90s nostalgia, sapphic tension and schemes that would put Danny Ocean himself to shame, TC Parker’s The Long Con is a thrilling read and Netflix would be a fool not to come knocking on her door.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews