Chuck Logan Prince of Thieves

Prince of Thieves

Chuck Logan

Scribner, Jul 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 9781416554905

They entered the Boston bank wearing masks with guns ready to be used. They point their weapons at the terrified bank manager demanding that she open up the vault. Stunned and frightened that she will die Claire Keesey provides the numbers to the criminal to open the vault. The thieves escape, but the leader takes Claire hostage, but once they are free he releases her.

The brilliant strategist Doug "Prince of Thieves" MacRay can not forget the trembling Claire. He wants her so sans mask he manages to meet the still traumatized bank executive. As they begin to date Doug, and his team pull off another bank job. FBI Agent Adam Frawley is in charge of the investigation, but though frustrated with the impudent robbers, he begins to think Doug is the mastermind and his Charlestown buds are the team. However, even he wonders if he wants Doug to be the bad guy because he is attracted to Claire too while the Prince of Thieves plans a final job before settling down with the woman he loves; he plans a walk off robbery of Fenway Park.

Although Doug spends an inordinate amount of time internally debating whether he should give up his vocation for love as his muses slows down the action, readers will appreciate this fun character driven thriller especially the dark caper scenes. The triangle consisting of the banker, the robber, and the detective is brilliantly devised as each seems genuine and their interactions plausible. The support cast enhances the locale or the understanding of the lead trio. Fans will enjoy Chuck Hogan's PRINCE OF THIEVES wondering who will be left standing with the girl.

Harriet Klausner