An Ordinary Decent Criminal
A Thriller
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4.2 • 9 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
Not since Jack Reacher has there been such a quickthinking, hard-edged antihero who readers will root for against all odds
All recovering drug addict and reformed thief Montgomery Haaviko wants to do is settle down with his wife and baby in their new home and work on building a straight life, one free of the day-to-day hustle and danger of being a career criminal. But for a man who's never held down a legitimate job it isn't going to be easy. When Monty foils a robbery in his new home, killing the intruders, he soon finds he has both a small-time crime boss and a star police sergeant looking for ways to ruin him, run him out of town, or kill him. It's going to take all of the tricks this streetwise ex-con has up his sleeves to prove his innocence, protect his family, and avoid the temptation of the life he left behind.
Montgomery Haaviko's Tricks of the Trade:
• Be nice. Nice is good. Nice sets a standard. Then, when you get mean, the shock is strongest.
• Armored cars are owned by people with guns.
• When burglarizing a house move slowly. Then slow down. Now cut it by half. And you've got it.
• A couple of drops of crazy glue on the tips of your fingers will eliminate fingerprints.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Canadian author Van Rooy introduces an appealing antihero, Montgomery Haaviko, in his debut, a gritty, offbeat suspense novel. When three armed men break into Haaviko's Winnipeg house, Haaviko, who has a criminal record but is trying to make a fresh start, winds up killing them all in self-defense. The police don't believe his account and arrest him for murder. When Haaviko refuses to talk without a lawyer, the police beat him severely. Later, with the help of a lawyer, Haaviko succeeds in getting the charges against him dropped. Despite having nothing official hanging over him, Haaviko soon discovers that his attempts to find gainful employment are being undercut by an unknown foe, who begins a whispering campaign against him by spreading word of his shady past. While Van Rooy doesn't sustain the energy of the dramatic opening scene, he heightens interest with his lead's clever efforts to counter this campaign and tosses in enough dark humor to please Elmore Leonard fans.
Customer Reviews
An ordinary decent criminal
Good read. A dark hero I would not like for a neighbor with a different perspective on "ordinary" life.
Very unexpected
This is a fantastic book with depth, details and exceptional characters. Funny too. Such an interesting story of a violent criminal wanting to turn good, but facing hurdles caused by others. I like reading Lee Child, Michael Connolly and Daniel Silva. Now very much looking forward Van Rooy's next book.