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1.22k reviews for:
Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks
Patrick Radden Keefe
3.96 AVERAGE
1.22k reviews for:
Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels and Crooks
Patrick Radden Keefe
3.96 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
medium-paced
“They reflect on some of my abiding preoccupations: crime and corruption, secrets and lies, the permeable membrane separating licit and illicit worlds, the bonds of family, the power of denial.”
Rogues: True Stories of Grifters, Killers, Rebels, and Crooks – Patrick Radden Keefe
This is a collection of twelve of his New Yorkerarticles, each a meticulously crafted deep dive into the lives of people who push, and often obliterate, the boundaries of law and morality. Here you’ll find art forgers and arms dealers, drug lords and whistleblowers, death-penalty lawyers and wine counterfeiters. And yes, even Donald Trump makes an appearance, in a profile that traces the role of reality television in remaking his public image (a piece that makes you wonder, what would Keefe make of him now?).
Keefe is a master of narrative nonfiction. He immerses himself in each world he investigates, balancing vivid storytelling with rigorous fact-gathering. The result is journalism that grips like a crime novel yet never trades truth for drama. His profiles are rich with detail, but more importantly, they are alive with human complexity, whether he’s exploring the loyalty and betrayal within a Dutch crime family or the moral compromises of a defense attorney for the “worst of the worst.”
What makes “Rogues” more than just a page-turner is how it underscores the essential role of well-researched, deeply reported journalism. In an era of quick takes and shallow sound bites, Keefe’s work is a reminder of the power, and necessity, of patient investigation. These aren’t just stories about criminals; they’re stories about the societies that produce them, the systems that enable them, and the people caught in their orbit.
“Rogues” entertains, but it also illuminates. It’s an important, compelling testament to the idea that truth-seeking is both an art and a public service and that in the hands of a writer like Keefe, it can be utterly unforgettable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism
4.5 stars. a fantastic book that shines light on fascinating and sometimes unknown people. i invite anyone who doesn't like nonfiction to pick up this book, as i truly believe keefe will change your mind.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
I like PRK. Some stories were better than others
I love all the tea on so many people and places. Definitely for the curious type.
Falloume. Tendo leído antes o libro de El Imperio del Dolor pensaba que este tamén me iba flipar. En si o formato do libro gustoume, pero paréceme que se alarga demasiado con cada historia e termino perdendo o interés porque lle dá mil voltas innecesarias a cada tema.
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
E-reader 4.25
A very interesting read about various people do various evils
A very interesting read about various people do various evils
Longform magazine pieces collected into a quite good overall book. There's one I didn't (couldn't) read because it's about Mark Burnett making Trump into a force to be reckoned with and it's not the time for that (will never now be the time for that) and it was mournful to read about Anthony Bourdain, but there's a lot of great writing about a lot of powerful stories in this collection.