"Comeback" by Richard Stark - Book Review

If you want a great book and you like reading thrillers Comeback by Richard Stark is the book for you. In the same style as Pulp Fiction, this novel isn't so much a mystery as an adventure novel that follows a career criminal named Parker who is enlisted to help in an unusual heist. While the objective in this case is to make off with a substantial haul (in excess of $400,000) the twist is that they are going to be knocking over a live event held by a tele-vangelist with the help of an insider and two partners. It doesn't take long for things to start going sideways on this job as the insider gets cold feet and needs to be convinced to help complete the heist. After the heist the plan is moving along until one of the partners decides to double cross his partners in hopes of making off with the haul. Once this turn occurs Comeback really starts to heat up as Parker needs to getaway with his remaining partner and they start to hunt down the turn coat. Without recounting the entire story line this book has a hefty dose of twists and turns as Parker goes all out to escape from this heist with his freedom and the loot. I'm hooked and will be definitely be looking up other novels in the Parker series.

"The Hot Kid" by Elmore Leonard - Book Review

I picked up an Elmore Leonard novel "The Hot Kid" to read over the holidays and must admit that it was a great book. The premise of the book is a mix of hard-boiled cop mystery from the 1930's mixed with a twist of Western thrown in for good measure. While I'm not a huge fan of Westerns this book does a great job of mixing two forms and delivers an interesting crime novel more than a traditional mystery.

This book makes for an intriguing read as you follow the path of U.S. Federal Marshall Carl Webster from boyhood through his pursuits of seven criminals. Leonard's style is interesting in that he develops several simultaneous plot lines in the novel that eventually intersect that heads towards the final showdown in the book. The reader gets a glimpse into the criminal that eventually becomes public enemy number one and his showdown with Carl Webster. "The Hot Kid" turns out to be an easy read if you're looking for a solid crime novel. Leonard delivers with realistic and well developed characters a gritty back-drop of bank robbers, murder and general mayhem.

New Blog - Spin-off Classic Mac

Just a quick note to say that in an effort to improve this blog I've made the decision to spin-off the Apple, Mac and iPod related content and focus Thoughtful Wheaten on topics of Investing, Finance, Book Reviews, etc... Hopefully you'll enjoy the changes here is a link to the new blog:

Classic Mac