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zakcebulski's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
So, I was recommended this book by a friend who spoke very highly of it. After hearing their review, I found myself interested in a crime thriller novel, and so I picked this one up.
I have to say that the plot of this book was fantastic. I loved the idea of a young person being able to pick their way through any lock (kinda?) and this skillset gets them embroiled in a series of high risk robberies.
I also liked the way that the main character, Mike (Michael) is afflicted with selective mutism- I thought that this was an interesting character trait that I am happy that the author sticks with throughout the book. I would have had issue if the character had magically dropped the mutism thing seemingly out of nowhere.
When I went in to this book I did think that this was going to be a YA crime thriller- for whatever reason. And, it is absolutely not that. I figured that out as soon as the first few "fucks" were dropped and when a character got his head blown off by a shotgun. I think that the violence in the book does a good job to really illustrate the stakes of the life which Mike and his cohorts are leading.
I think that Steve Hamilton is a very competent writer- his descriptors of both mundane and exciting things alike is a treat to read through. He does certainly have a knack for bringing the reader in to the world whether it is a hot summer's day (which I tangibly felt) or a run down, decrepit home in a suburb near Detroit. I think Steve Hamilton's strength lies in his descriptions to really illustrate the world. I also have to praise the robbery wherein Mike is supposed to be a Russian. The scene where they are racing (slowly) against the lowering temperature of a room while trying to beat the body temperature sensors is pretty well done- definitely the highlight of the book.
That is about where my praise for this book comes to a grinding halt. I have to be transparent here in my feelings of this book- I didn't care for it at all. In fact, aside from the setup and Hamilton's descriptive prowess, I hated this book. I recognize that I am in the vast, vast minority here- as this book is so highly rated and finds its place comfortably on so many "top of the year" lists.
The biggest issue that I have from this book is 100% the way that it feels like there are so many avenues which Hamilton pursues, but, to me, none of them are ever fully fleshed out. I think that this whole idea of a seedy underworld where criminals keep in touch with pagers is interesting as shit. But, it is not developed to anything further than initial intrigue.
I feel like this book could have done with like 50-100 additional pages of developing the criminal enterprise, because, as it is, we are left to sit and just accept that this is how things are. I am fine with suspending disbelief a bit, but this book asked too much of it.
I really did not care for the way that the story progressed "Oh a beeper goes off! Gotta go here and whatttttt no way- the person I am interacting with is somehow conveniently the person who will progress the story!" It just felt so forced. And, what was that bullshit at the end of the story where the fucking Ghost and whatever set up Mike to be "shot", to test his loyalty? Why would that have not been done sooner than the last 30 pages of a 300 page book? That was so pointless. Mike has been shown to be a loyal person even to those disloyal to him- I mean that is the whole reason he has to work with Mr. Marsh in the fucking first place. Is it for the reader's benefit? Surely not, as we already know that he is loyal. For the character's benefit? Possibly, but, what would be the point if he has already been on all of these jobs with people?
I know that I praised the selective mutism part of this book, but, after the 22nd time of reading "Huh, you really don't say anything do you?" Or someone commenting on the benefits of having a person who cannot speak, around, I to the point where I was just so painfully aware that this was a "quirk" to Steve Hamilton to keep bringing up and to add some forced spice to some tense scenes. But, it really and truly seemed to only be used to build the "romance" in some new way- great, nothing like using a disorder stemming from a traumatic event as the basis for a paper thin romance.
Speaking of forced, can I talk about how little I liked the fucking romance subplot in this book? That shit was absolutely terrible. This girl is rightfully scared because this guy broke in to her house but by means of drawing pictures to her, she falls for him? And she knows he broke in to her house to drop off pictures and watches her sleep at least twice and she is not only fine with it, but she falls for him? Are you fucking kidding me? Who in the fuck would act like this? NOONE. It was so weird to read and it comes off like Hamilton had a vision that this is how teen romance but slightly skewed should go- but it is just really dumb.
I feel like I enjoyed the coming up story more than I enjoyed any of the actual high stakes portions of this book- which I don't think is necessarily a good thing when the crime parts are supposed to be what we're here for. Like, the storyline of a character who cannot speak going to high school is interesting to read as high school already fucking blows, but now there is a barrier of not being able to communicate. And also? Why was Griffin's leaving set up to feel like it had such a grand meaning when it is something along the lines of "I was seeing him for the last time- I was right" or something? Okay? And? He just fucks off, just say that- it was written in a way where it felt like Griffin's leaving had some bigger meaning to it- instead... he just went off to college? Great. Characters falling away is perfectly fine. But, why was his departure set up to feel so noteworthy? Was it because Mike was turning a new leaf and going in to the criminal underworld!??!? Probably, but, it just felt like such a fucking set up that has literally no pay off.
Holy fucking hell, this book. What about the characters. I cannot stand when a character is written and said "they are good, not only that, they are the BEST", but they are not shown to be competent, let alone good or the best or whatever- which this book does time and again. I did not give a shit about any of these characters- Mike included. I thought Mike's character idea was interesting but I didn't really care for him further than "he's the reason the story is progressing"- nothing like a flat character to progress the story. Mike's character is reminiscent of Paul Sheldon from Misery- wherein I am only rooting for them because they are the main character, but, they are forgettable and boring. I thought the only interesting part of the story was the traumatic experience that is mentioned time and again throughout the story. Hamilton did handle the trauma well, coming from a person who has suffered a good bit of trauma in their day. I feel like he could have easily just hammed it up to make it super fucking crazy and intenseeeeeee but instead I felt he illustrated it and why it was so horrid, but didn't overdo it.
But, otherwise, I could not fucking care less about any of these characters. They are the most indecisive and most malleable characters I have read recently. Hardly any one sticks to their guns throughout the story and they usually bend, inexplicably and contrastively to their character development, to the whims of the plotline. The best example of this is with the final crew of Julian, Ramona, Lucy and fuckin' Gunnar. They are supposed to be the BEST crew ever and they, after one instance of Mike just fucking sitting there acting like a Russian and helping them commit a fucking robbery say he's one of them, now? Why? What sense does that make? They all welcome him in to their crew, but they all treat him like "whatever, he is just there." So, why welcome him as "one of them"? And, pray tell, what is the fucking point of Ramona and Lucy? Are they really just there as flirtatious sex objects? Because in the scenes where a robbery is either set up or being conducted that is all they are is objectified as sex objects. A femme fatale is perfectly fine, but, what the fuck is this? They are either relegated to flirting for distraction or waiting around.
Also, holy hell, the last robbery was the dumbest shit. Fucking Julian is this guy who is supposed to be absolutely meticulous in his planning. But, he is easily swayed to commit a robbery against their bosses' boss, and one planned by fuckin' Gunnar- the most hotheaded and uneven headed of the crew? Why would he be swayed so easily? Especially when the stakes are set so fucking high that the guy they are to rob is "not to be fucked with" and that doing so is "suicide"? That is so fucking stupid.
Gunnar is the most pissy pants little asswipe character who was actually grating to read. I feel that Hamilton was trying to make him the stereotypical hothead that every crew has- Pesci in Goodfellas or Jamie Foxx's character in Baby Driver but he doesn't get to that point and instead just has a character who is a piece of shit. When it was revealed that he was double-crossing the whole group I truly could not have given less of a fuck. You mean to tell me the dubious guy who has been shown to be a fucking moron was not trustworthy?!?!? It was like that meme of "oh no! Anyways..." and that shouldn't be how a fucking major plot twist should happen.
None of the characters were developed enough for me to care about them. It didn't matter if the characters were in a shootout, were sneaking around somewhere, or if they were dead- they were just so inconsequential to me, where I genuinely thought "okay, this crew is going to get taken out and then we will get the real crew!" But, no, this is the real crew and they fucking suck. The Ghost is a crochety old man who is not to be messed with but who is an expert in the field- what a walking cliché. Mr. Marsh is a very well off man who has masochistic tendencies which he exhibits as a way to deal with his own insecurities- daring!
Man. This book was so fucking frustrating to read. I had such high hopes for it, but, it just fell so goddamned short in every single aspect, in my opinion. The set up of the book should not be the best part of the book, and, to me, that is exactly what happened here. I genuinely disliked this book immensely and am very happy to be done with it. I could go on, but, at this point I am just finished with this fucking book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Rape
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