Prince of Thieves
By Chuck Hogan

   Doug MacRay and his friends, Dez, Jem, and Gloansy, have been buddies since childhood, growing up tough in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, once famous as the bank robbery capital where "bringing home the bacon" meant robbing a bank or armored car. Doug is following in the footsteps of his convict father and plans the sophisticated gigs for the group -- as much for the high as for the money.

    During a robbery, a bank manager is taken hostage, and while she is released unharmed, Doug finds that he is attracted to her. Claire Keesey has been badly traumatized by the robbery, but unaware that Doug was the mastermind behind it, she begins to reciprocate his interest in her. The FBI agent in charge of bank robbery investigation is also attracted to Claire, though he's not sure that she wasn't somehow involved in the robbery. The tension mounts as the boys plan their next big job, and as agent Frawley gets closer to identifying them.

      This is an intricately plotted story with many complex characters who each react to their own stimuli. Passions are laid bare and studied in depth as the characters interact with motives of their own. With fresh metaphors, Hogan's unique writing style blends weighty emotions and extreme action shoot-outs. The main character, Doug MacRay, is a complicated man, noble and villainous by turns, and trapped in a life that he wants desperately to change.

   Chuck Hogan just grabs you by the lapels and won't let go, escalating the action up to the unexpected ending. This was the first book I have read by this author, but it left me wanting more....I immediately got online and ordered his two previous books. I'm definitely a fan.