Safecracker

This books start at 60mph and doesn’t let up the entire time. Nonstop action, crazy criminals, and violence, but this book was so good I didn’t want to put it down. But I have to wonder if I missed it even though I reread those few pages a few times—-what happened to Fanny when they got back on the boat? Other than that open question, I highly recommend this book to readers who like intense action stories.

I really enjoyed this adventurous view from the criminal side. Writing in a light style that kept me engaged, the depth of characters and the twists and the turns made it hard to put this book down. I can't wait for Wick's next book.

I really enjoyed this book. It started with a bang and never stopped. The gist is about this minor criminal who happens to be a phenomenal safecracker. He is forced to work for a Mexican cartel to break into a safe in Miami and bring out some documents. To say any more I feel would be too much. I must add that I felt this was more a book my husband would enjoy- lots of disturbing killings etc. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this arc.

This was magnificent! There was tons of action, frightening characters and a great plot. Some scenes were very graphic and gruesome, but this only added to the thrill! Michael is a thief , a very good thief. He is coerced into stealing a ledger for a drug lord and if he refuses, his family and friends will be killed. I could easily see this book as a movie.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Bad guy doing good; love it!  Easy reading, great premise, nice turns.  I was disappointed when the romp was over.  More, more, more!!

To use a rare descriptor for me, what a fun read.  Laid up for a week with broken ribs, I had no idea this was the book I needed to make it through.  Cinematic, breezy, strongly drawn characters and a plot I'm sure has already been sold to a movie production company or studio.  Already looking forward to the author's next one, sequel or not.

A little confused over the title as the ARC says Lawbreaker but anyways. This was fast and fun. Occasionally very funny but also quite standard. I didn't think it added anything to the genre but as a book for a flight, or in my case a long train journey, it was perfect.

Michael Maven is a thief.  Not an ordinary run of the mill crook, but one that treats what he does as a profession.  Before entering his mark's residence he carefully studies everything he can about the target and draws up a carefully thought out plan for the crime.  He is also careful about leaving items scattered about thinking that it is bad enough for the mark to be robbed without also leaving debris for them to clean up.  Most important it is his avowed intention to do no personal harm to the person or persons being robbed and will not carry any deadly weapon during the robbery.  
     The story picks up Michael as he enters a victim's New York city apartment with the intention of obtaining an extremely valuable coin. He has determined the resident will be away for several hours giving him time to work. But after entering the apartment he is disturbed by talking when the prospective victim unexpectedly  returns home bringing a lady with him.  Michael cannot get out of the apartment and has to hide hopefully not being discovered until the lady leaves.  Surprise surprise, the lady murders the man, nearly murders Michael and gets away with the coin that he was after.
     Than, the lady's boss, actually an international drug lord forces Michael to take on the very dangerous job of stealing a journal from a rival drug lord.  If he doesn't both and his family will be killed And, of course, you guessed it, the woman he "met" during the attempted robbery is assigned by her boss to help Michael with the theft.  What happens becomes the crux of the novel, and it is described in a slightly tongue and cheek style.  A well done book  setting up subsequent stories involving characters introduced in this one and assuring that readers will seek those out when published.

Review by 2shay..........

This is a stay up late, lose sleep and obsess until the last page is turned, fabulous novel! I’m not kidding. Who doesn’t love the professional thief with the heart of gold and a sense of honor? Michael Maven is that guy!

This safecracker takes a simple job to steal a rare coin. Sure! Instead, he witnesses a murder, gets his throat cut and almost dies. That’s in the first few pages and it never slows down from there. It was a woman that beat the crap out of him, cut his throat and left him for dead. Meet Katrina, the best Betty-bada$$ I’ve met in a while. It turns out that she works, not necessarily willingly, for a drug lord. That drug lord now wants Michael and Katrina to work together to rob another drug lord.

And that’s where the meat of the story begins. Non-stop action, and I personally fell in love with both characters. I think you will too! Grab a copy and...

Enjoy!   ARC graciously provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an honest and voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy of Safecracker for an honest and unbiased review.

WOW - Wick’s “wicked debut” is WICKED GOOD!

Packed with great writing that moves the story along, Wick’s flawed hero makes for a very interesting read.  While it’s hard to love Michael Maven, who makes his living as a thief, it does make for some of the best twists and turns that take us along on a journey that not even he could’ve ever foreseen, and this Robinhood does have a few redeeming qualities.

I was glued to the pages reading late into the night. I think it would be a great vacation read.

What kind of a story begins and ends with the chiming of a cuckoo clock?   In the beginning , our main protagonist, Michael Maven is sitting at the bar watching a significant Cardinal's baseball game, with implications in the pennant race, when is throat is unexpectedly slit with the subsequent cascade of his blood onto the floor.  Not to worry...   our charismatic anti-hero narrowly survives.  Michael is a professional thief, well trained in not only the arts of stealth and procurement of the riches of others , but also in the martial arts and the necessity for detailed planning. He is both, respected and admired by the underworld as a master thief ...  who has never come close to being caught.  What makes him special however is that he has scruples and avoids killing, and even violence at all costs.  After the opening salvo, we are taken back in time to explain the motivation of the blood letting.
    Michael was charged to steal a rare coin ... a 1343 Edward III Florin ...  from Raymond Hemsworth's safe in his upscale exclusive apartment ...  which required a fingerprint to open.  With detailed planning, Michael is about to open the safe, when Raymond unexpectedly returns home with a gorgeous woman in tow.  Michael hides in the closet and observes the inevitable seduction and unexpected murder of Raymond.  The femme fatale unabashedly cuts off his thumb to successfully open the safe and abscond with the coin. In the hopes of obtaining the coin he unsuccessfully tries to confront the assassin ...  what ensues is an amazing choreographed martial arts battle between the two, which Michael surprisingly looses, but escapes with his life.
     Michael with an intricate network of information gatherers, learns that he has encountered the notorious female Ukrainian assassin , Katerina - hunted by the FBI and presently employed by Luis "El Cerdo" (The Pig) Alvarez.  The Pig is a major Chicago crime boss, working for the deadly Sinaloa cartel.  Shortly after obtaining the intel, Katerina slits his throat at the bar .   Before he can even fully recover, he's contacted by The Pig and presented with a situation he cannot refuse.  All of his friends and family will be brutally tortured and killed ( with body parts being sliced off before the final coup de gras) if he doesn't commit the ultimate heist.  He merely has to steal back the Alvarez' business ledger from the heavily fortified and guarded compound of an opposing cartel king-pin. 
    Wick spins a riveting and cinematic action packed narrative, aided by skillful characterization of Michael and the multitude of colorful characters that are involved in the planning and execution of the ultimate heist. Flowing effortlessly is the necessary and appropriate gruesome details.. There is no way anyone can avoid reading faster, as the tension and action is mercilessly ratcheted up to near exhaustion.
     Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.  This surprisingly is Ryan Wick's Debut novel ...   I certainly hope there are more tales of Michael Maven - the master thief with scruples.

Thrills, danger and action? Yes please! This is an edge of your seat thriller! Also a debut novel for Ryan Wick. 
I'll be honest, I judge a book by its cover and I'm very pleased I decided to give this one a go. It's a great read!

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to give this book a read!

What a great debut novel for Ryan Wick.  Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read it.
Fast paced crazy crime thriller!  This one can definitely give you nightmares!  Horrendous murders, terrifying cartel members, the FBI and an underground group of "friends" that help out the protagonist.  Lots of suspense and tense moments, would make an awesome movie.

Captivating, suspenseful, entertaining novel! This beautiful story kept me on the edge of my seat while I was reading it! Would highly recommend to those who enjoy this genre.

Ryan Wick's fabulous debut crime thriller is a cracking read, fast paced and addictive, featuring expert New York safecracker and thief, Michael Maven, trained by his parents, although his father is now serving a prison sentence. Michael is the anti-hero with a heart and morals, he does not believe in killing anyone in the course of his 'work', a film buff, he channels his ill-gotten gains through the movie theatre he owns. He steals to order for his boss, Elizabeth Rose, so when she informs him of his latest job, to steal a rare coin, a 1343 Edward III florin, recently bought by Raymond Hemsworth, a wealthy American hedge fund manager, he begins his meticulous and detailed planning for the heist. However, it all goes to hell in a hand basket when Hemsworth unexpectedly returns home with a stunningly beautiful woman in tow. Maven hides, but to his horror, he watches the woman kill the hedge fund manager, proceeding to steal the coin from the safe. This is too much for him, but he underestimates her phenomenal fighting abilities as she gets away with the coin.

The book opens in a shocking manner, with Michael drinking at his favourite Alistair's Pub, run by his closest friend, Jimmy, when a woman catches him unawares and cuts his throat. At this point, the narrative goes back 12 days, unveiling the events that led to the culmination of this horrifying moment. Maven goes into overdrive to find out who the woman is, deploying the expertise, resources and knowledge of Jimmy, Elizabeth Rose, and hires former NYPD cop, Jerry 'Doc' MacIntosh, now running a lucrative private investigation business. It turns out she is a deadly Ukrainian assassin for a major player of the Sinaloa cartel, Luis 'El Cerdo (The Pig)' Alvarez, a Chicago crime boss. With his family and friends under threat, Maven is forced by Alvarez to carry out the heist of a lifetime at the home of a rival cartel's boss in Miami, Florida. Maven is going to need all his wits and his close circle of friends to survive, knowing that even if he succeeds in the heist, there is no way Alvarez is going to let him live.

Wick writes a pulsatingly riveting thriller, mired in the midst of the horrors of the murderous, torturing cartels that thrive in the climate of fear they create. Maven finds himself caught between the terrors of the infighting between the cartels, with the FBI, in the form of Special Agent Rebecca Browning wanting his help in putting Alvarez behind bars. The author has created a colourful and charismatic central protagonist in Michael Maven, a man that the reader will unquestionably root for, the oh so human ethical criminal. This is a wonderfully entertaining thriller with its nail biting tensions and suspense, set in great locations. I understand this is the first in a series, leaving me greatly anticipating the next in what promises to be a stellar series. Many thanks to St Martin's Press for an ARC.

On a job to steal a rare coin from an apartment, Michael is interrupted by another criminal with an agenda all her own. With the coin gone, and him nearly losing his life, he finds himself given a proposition he can’t refuse from a cartel leader—rob his rival or die. The deeper in he gets, the more he comes to realize that even if he succeeds, he’ll still be on the cartel’s hit list. 

Michael makes a great character. He’s smart, savvy, and skilled and his friends all have his back. The only way he can survive is to outwit the cartel leader by nabbing the loot and a plan to make sure the cartel keeps their word that he can walk away free and clear. His movie theater serves as a way to launder his money and to engage his passion for film. The ending nicely sets the stage for a sequel, which is awesome because the protagonist and secondary characters are so much fun. Assassin Katarina is fascinating and terrifying. His fence breaks all kinds of stereotypes. 

The plot moves at a brisk pace as the stakes get higher along with the risks. The story takes place in New York, Miami, and Chicago, and the character of each of the settings shines through. SAFECRACKER is a great debut novel and a promising series starter. 

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Thanks to the NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, for providing an Advance Reader Copy.

Happy, happy days! An anti-hero who is so heroic I couldn't help but join his fan club. Yes, Michael Maven is a professional thief but at least he's a good thief who has scruples about his career. I'm going to include a spoiler here, even though Michael has his throat cut in the first line of this book he didn't die. Quite an accomplishment, that, and the author did a pretty good job of keeping his main character alive for the remainder of the novel. Lucky for me, lucky for you too. Otherwise we would have missed a darn good story. Michael isn't just a thief, he steals per instructions and it's for extremely valuable items. This was a case of everything going perfectly right on a job until it all went to heck in a handbasket.

As a debut novel this one was very special. Author Ryan Wick hasn't tried to make Michael into anything but a regular person with some highly developed skills he needs for his career. The characters surrounding Maven are developed just to the point they needed to be for logical, common sense support while stopping short of super-human status. The web of intrigue got more and more intricate as the hunt for the assassin and the stolen coin became wider and took off in directions not hinted at in the beginning of the story. I must say, I really enjoyed "learning" so much about good, bad or mediocre safes and locks and that bracelet Michael wears is absolutely incredible. Not much I can do now but wait patiently for another story. Surely this is going to be a series, right?

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Thomas Dune Books for an eGalley of this novel.

Safecracker is a debut that promises to deliver on more installments.  Well written, crackling prose and plot, and a central character that you can root for despite his chosen profession.  Well done.

This was a non stop action thriller. Some of the action wasn't very pleasant but the storyline was strong enough to pass over it. Some great characters even though on the wrong side of the law. All ends tied off well in the conclusion. A must get to end type story.

Highly entertaining! Started off strong and just kept going. This was my first book by this author but will not be my last. I recommend Safecracker for a fun, thrilling ride!

Safecracker, by Ryan Wick, is the debut of a series of books about Michael Maven. Fast paced with edge of your seat moments, Safecracker gives the reader a "bad guy" that has his own set of morals. "Bad guy" or not the reader with find themselves rooting for Maven. I want to thank St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for giving me an early copy to review.

How can you not love a book that begins with the protagonist's throat being cut in the first sentence?! And the action doesn't let up until the end! Michael is a thief, adept at picking locks and safes. So when he decides to steal a rare coin it seems to be too easy...until unexpectedly  a beautiful woman comes home with the occupant and from his hiding place in the closet, he sees her drug the man and take off with his coin. Michael then finds himself embroiled in a sinister plot in the middle of two cartels as he is blackmailed into working with this female killer. It's dark, gritty, violent, and is faster than the speed of light! And I believe there will be a sequel as it's a nice twisty ending!

A really good thriller that keeps the action moving throughout the book.  The guessing starts on page one and does not let up until the end!  Ryan Wick has built a whole community where...just to be clear...our bad guy has to be worse than their bad guy to win.  So good that I was sorry to see the end of the book.  Let's hope we see more from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC 
A new author for me and won't be the last book I read by Ryan Wick.  
A great read, funny at times and sped along, really enjoyed this, bring on the next one

If you like to read thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat and up all night, this is the best story for you. 
I loved it and will recommend it anytime. 
We always read about villains in the books but what happens when the villain has a story to tell? 
This fast-paced read, with characters that you’ll need to know more about them with each turned page and a story that will bring your imagination and theories on the brim, will keep you entertained and you’ll want to read the last page just to find out the outcome and if your theory is true. 
I feel like there’s so much more to tell and hope we’re going to get more books.

Great book, can't wait to read more from this author.  Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy!

Michael Maven could be my newest book hero! Ryan Wick is DEFINITELY on my authors-to-grab-their-books-as–soon-as-they-are-published list!

SAFECRACKER has all the thrills, the danger, the action and the attitude that is sure to keep readers balanced on the edge of their seats throughout.

Having followed into the family “business,” Michael Maven is a safecracker who has never met a safe he couldn’t crack, he is an artist who takes pride in his work, but the night he witnessed a murder would send him into a world of murder, mayhem and sadistic drug lords who will stop at nothing to have their way. Now a pawn whose life is only as good as his ability to crack a safe, Maven will have to use all of his talents to stay one step ahead of two powerful crime bosses and a beautiful assassin who has him in her sights.

I loved the action, the dialogue, even the more grueling parts, but most of all, I loved the characters. Michael proves there is honor among thieves, believes there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed, but knows when to play the game, especially when his life is on the line. Fabulous bad guys, truly rotten and vile, an assassin who is as much a victim as a killer and a twisted storyline to die for! I see an amazing future for Ryan Wick and his brilliant storytelling! In need of something pretty amazing to read? SAFECRACKER should fill the bill, you'll thank me after!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Thomas Dunne Books! This is my honest & voluntary review.

Do you like honored, charming thief stories? Nope, I’m not talking about Robin Hood or box office disaster of Taron Egerton (thankfully he got rid of tight pants and wore more colorful clothes to be a rocketman!) And of course I’m not talking about Steve Mc Queen’s Thomas Crown (and my grey cells already erased the images of Pierce Brosnan’s Thomas Crown) I’m talking about a brand new hero: Here comes MICHAEL MAVEN: This man hates women beaters, unnecessary violence and lives with ethical rules. 

We have a safecracker, charismatic thief on our menu: not so slowly cooked, fast paced, full of action, gore, grim and violent parts at your service. 
He is a thief but he has principles. He never hurts people and one day, he’s hired to steal rare coin, he hears owner of the coin and a very attractive woman are coming into the apartment. So he hides himself into closet. 
And surprise, the very attractive woman is also femme fatale and very dangerous killer. She kills the man and wants the coin for herself. 
Poor charming thief runs for his life but puts himself very deadly position and of course all of his loved ones are also in great danger now! This means he has to accept very thrilling job to crack a notorious cartel boss’ safe in Miami. 

Aren’t you still interested? Come on, it’s really fast pacing and entertaining reading! I visualized this as another sequel of Mission Impossible! Maybe Tom Cruise should be retired and John Krasinski takes over this role (with the very big height difference) We need a real action star because we don’t have a regular thief! We have super human, ultra lucky man who defeats grim reaper so many times! He can really kick asses, dodging bullets, saving his throat from being slushed and deals with very inhuman wild creatures (the worst kind of bad men you may hardly imagine) 

I didn’t expect something masterpiece or a big espionage, great scheme! This was easy, fast, riveting, entertaining page-turner! I insist it should be turned into a movie! The cliffhanger at the end was a smooth touch. So it deserves my four satisfying, heart throbbing, thrilling stars.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this great thriller ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.

Wow this was a great debut novel.  Fast paced and action packed, it had me captivated. I
Look forward to more of this author’s work. 
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Always root for the GOOD guy except when the BAD guy is not the WORST guy! Michael Maven has made a career out of his very in depth planning of  GET IN - GET IT TAKEN - and GET IT CASHED IN and stashed away for another day.  My Kindle was on Fire with the intense jittery heat of what happens when in the middle of a heist; Michael is forced to hide in a closet and watch events unfold that threaten his future and those of his friends!  VERY Violent events are described so be forewarned!!  "A copy of this book was provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion." AWAIT WHAT THIS AUTHOR OFFERS NEXT!!

A high paced thriller. Michael is a thief. He has loved the thrill of opening safes since he was a boy. He makes some unfortunate choices about who he robs with serious consequences. The opening chapter sees him have his throat slit!!! There are some particularly revolting scenes which if you are squeamish are best avoided. He is coerced into cracking the safe of a cartel boss and everything falls apart. He has to work with the assassin who twice tried to kill him. High paced with lots of detail this book will keep you gripped.

Action at 90mph, with suspense that doesn't let up.  Characters are well-drawn and the plot is diabolically believable.  Mr. Wick did an excellent job of keeping my attention riveted for hours on end.  Highly recommended.

4.5 OOOOOOOh this was good Stars
This had everything going for it from the very first page. Fast-paced and smart plotting. A safecracker who has his target and then is interrupted by the guy coming home with a woman...Looks like they are going to do the horizontal mambo and then Bam She kills the guy...Bad enough but then she is about to steal his coin he came for...

Well, from this point, our guy is in deep...Cartels, Bad Guys, threats and figuring out how to survive. 
Enjoyed the read.

Had I started this book earlier in the day on Saturday, I would have easily blazed through it by bedtime. My first five star read of 2020! 

This book combines action, suspense, crime, and humor in a believable and thrilling plot. I look forward to seeing where the series goes next because there is quite a lot to unpack here. 

Copy given in exchange for my honest review from net galley.

Born to be a thief? What else do you choose to do in life when as a child, your mom teaches you to crack safes? When your dad is serving time for his thievery? Michael has learned these lessons well and now his life and the lives of close friends and family members depends on it. He might just succeed, but it is doubtful he would both succeed and come out of this situation alive. After all, everyone knows not to come between drug lords.

A rare coin is at the center of this story and how the decision to take on this theft could be the last theft he ever attempts. A good story worth 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

A very interesting first novel., with a very unusual protagonist in the genre. A promising new name in the crime thriller genre.

Fans of the crime thriller (as I am) will appreciate my giving this work 4 stars. Nobody gets 5 from me because that's reserved for the next Hemingway. "Safecracker" is not a work of literary merit but it's a damn good, punchy, 
accelerated, somewhat gory tale. If this is Ryan Wick's debut then we have a lot to look forward to from a very capable new author. I have a gut feeling that we are going to hear more of protagonist Michael Maven, burglar extraordinaire, martial arts master and all round maverick. He is, however, a tad chaste in this episode for some reason known only to his creator.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book.

This is a fast paced and exciting read. The characters are well developed and interesting.  The ending suggests a sequel and I will look forward to reading it. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read a review this ARC.

Such a great book!  I am now in love with a thief!  If you are a fan of  Gregg Hurwitz and his Orphan X series then you will love Ryan Wick's new series!

Fast-paced and action-packed, Safecracker is one hell of a suspenseful heist novel!

Beginning with a bang - I mean, that opening line hooks you right in - and it does not stop, or ease up, until the end. And even then, I’ve been left wanting more. Thankfully, I read on the author’s Goodreads profile that he intends it to be a series, because the story cannot end that way.

Safecracker is incredibly visual, full of deviant characters with somewhat of a conscience/moral code that you want to cheer for, and is well-written, albeit a little over-descriptive at times. Most of all, it was fun. So very few non-humour books are fun to read these days. This one is. 

Many thanks to Ryan Wick, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I very much look forward to continuing the series!

Hi Everyone!
I know it’s been such a long time since I’ve written a review. I could blame that on adulting, the weather and eating too much on Thanksgiving but none of that would be true. I wasn’t feeling very inspired lately. Until I received a book from Netgalley that was able to light my fire, pun intended. So let’s get into it!
Synopsis
In this wicked debut, safecracker Michael Maven must pull off the most dangerous theft of his long career—or his friends and family will be killed.
Safecracker Michael Maven’s latest job should be simple: steal a rare coin from a New York apartment. But when the coin’s owner comes home with a beautiful woman, who then murders him, Maven realizes his mission won’t be so easy. And once the woman tries to take the coin for herself, Maven’s forced into action. While he narrowly escapes being killed himself, Maven’s then coerced by the woman’s boss, a sadistic drug lord, into a far more complicated and dangerous job.
If Maven fails to crack the safe of a rival cartel boss in Miami, his friends and family will die. If he succeeds, they still might. Which means he not only has to somehow pull off an impossible heist, but also outwit two crime bosses as well as the woman, his reluctant new partner.
Ryan Wick hits the right combination in Safecracker, unlocking a fast-paced, action-packed, cinematic thriller that fans of the genre won’t want to miss.
My Review
I knew I would love this book the minute I started reading it. Michael Maven doesn’t act ashamed to be a thief. He is blunt, self-aware and does not play games when it comes to knowing his surroundings. Except once where he might become too comfortable in a certain establishment. There’s almost a sense of pride in his occupation of choice. He has a job to do that seems relatively easy given his certain set of skills. However, a strikingly beautiful woman who can fight like she’s in the octagon makes his job a bit harder. 
This is Ryan Wick’s debut novel but it is power-packed from beginning to end.
Safecracker lives up to its description as fast-paced. 
I rate this book 5 out 5 stars.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was a past-faced, extremely well written book. It started with a bang in Chapter 1 and just never slowed down. My only regret - that the story didn't continue!!

Michael Maven is a thief, and a very good one. He's a nice guy with an aversion to violence, a moral center, and a host of interesting friends.When he gets his throat cut and almost bleeds out on the floor of his best friend's bar, you might be tempted to sigh - the first two chapters were so good - but you don't, because you already care about the hero if this fast-paced narrative. By the time he realizes that his attacker is the same woman he watched pull off the job he was in the middle of doing and murder the man whose safe he had just cracked, they've both been forced by the cartel boss she works for to be unwilling partners in a heist they'll die if they don't pull off - an d probably be killed if they do. This is one of the fastest, freshest capers I've read in months, and Wick sets up Michael's next adventure nicely in the final paragraph.

The first thing to note is that this book is written in the first person, I usually find it absolutely jarring, as very few authors get it right. Ryan Wick managed it superbly, I didn't even realise that I had been reading first person until I went back to it for the review.

Michael Maven is naturally a safe cracker and thief, one of the best and employed by the elderly Elizabeth, who is also his fence. Michael studiously surveils his marks for days, using various disguises and noting their daily patterns. Raymond is his next target and he is confident in his planning, that is until Raymond comes home early with a beautiful woman, who not only robs him but murders him as well. 

Michael is unfortunately witness to this and Katrina, the vicious contract killer can't take any chances leaving him alive. The only way for Michael to save his life and those of his friends is to take on a job for Katrina's boss, Luis Elverez, a Chigaco mob boss. 

The job is dangerous, Katrina is dangerous and Luis is dangerous, Michael is not sure he will survive any of them.

Many novels featuring crime bosses follow the usual mob tropes and as such I steer clear of them. Safecracker, however, has managed to focus on Michael and his story without the normal mob clichés. The characters were diverse and enjoyable, Katarina being the only one who was slightly stereotyped. All in all though it was a fun, exciting read.

Thank you #Netgalley and #ThomasDunne for the ARC of #Safecracker in exchange for my honest review

Oh my goodness!  Our hero is a safecracker and the novel is written from his viewpoint.  It is remarkably visual, remarkably violent (think Scarface) and remarkably well written.  You are dragged into  Michael’s life at the onset when his throat is slashed while he is sitting in a bar in New York City.  Then you are taken back twelve days to learn why this could have happened .  By this time you are so totally engrossed you are part of this life!  The plot involves a Ukrainian assassin, two Mexican drug cartel lords,  a series of the most cold blooded underlings I have encountered in recent fiction and, of course, Michael’s cohorts.  It takes place in New York, Chicago, Miami and back to New York. This is fast reading and remarkably well done.  Thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Dunne Books for an ARC for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Safecracker by Ryan Wick.  This is a fast paced, slick current  novel.  A modern day crime novel that keeps you engaged till the end.
Mike Maven is a criminal and he is the best.  He never gets caught and he always gets the loot.  He is on a new assignment - the mark a rich man with a rare coin.  Mike is prepared for this heist, but something goes terribly wrong and he meets someone who may be even better than he is at robbery - and "she" works for some scary people who are part of a cartel.  
Mike's life is forever changed because of this robbery gone wrong - and he and his friends are now up against all odds - Mike's life may end and he must do everything possible to make sure he can accomplish a daring heist. He is forced to take part in a daring plot and his would be assassin is now his partner.  How can this end well?  His and his friends life depends on it.

4 stars - very good.  RECOMMEND.

I flew through this story. A thief is running from an assassin, but they both are forced to work for a cartel king...say what!!! Oh and yeah, the FBI is in their trail...just a normal week.

The action is non stop and the planning and execution of this story was fantastic. The details are important and all the characters play an important role. The outcome is always in flux and who is the good guy can be somewhat questionable.  Some scenes are graphic and the violence is shied away from, but that brutality led to the vivid credibility of these scenes, characters and world.

I loved the background information and how the ending left us with the segue into a next book. I hope to see the FBI agent and Katerina both in the next book and Jimmy!  Also I hope we see more of Liz and learn about her connections because they came in clutch for this story!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Dunne Books for a chance to read this book and share my opinions.

SAFECRACKER is one of the best thriller debuts in years.

Professional burglar Michael Maven is cracking a safe in search of a very rare, very valuable coin, when the homeowner returns unexpectedly, with a woman.  Hiding in the bedroom closet, Michael watches in disbelief as the "date" kills the homeowner, slices off his thumb, and uses the thumb to open his safe and steal the contents, including the coin.

Following this crackerjack opening, Michael is forced to do a job for the Sinaloa cartel, with his family and friends at risk if he doesn't complete the job by his deadline.  But will they let him live after he steals what they want? Michael is not betting on it.

This reader, for one, cannot wait for future installments in this series!

One of my top books this  year.  A book that grabbed me from the first page.  Couldn't put down.   I bragged about this book for days.  It usually takes me forever to read a book on a reader since I am old fashioned and like to see how far I have to go in a book but this book I finished in record speed.   Best part of book is that it proved that a woman can do a man's job and she does it better.

Mike Msecracket extraordinaire, and is always well prepared before he begins a job.  This one should be easy, the very wealthy homeowner is out at a fancy ball, and he has done his homework, so he gets in easy and finds the special safe he knows holds the rare coin he is looking for.  He did not expect to be joined by the homeowner and his female friend. - but he is hopeful they will not stay around long, as he is hiding in the closet. Much to his surprise, the lady surprises the homeowner with a needle to the neck, which knocks him unconscious and proceeds to open the safe and take the bounty, and gives the man on the bed one more shot in the heart, killing him! Michael will not let her escape with his prize and surprises her from behind as she tries to leave. Unfortunately, she is more than a match for him and he is lucky to be left alive after a fierce battle with her. A few weeks later, he is enjoying a baseball game in a local bar when he is suddenly attacked from behind by a knife-wielding predator - who is trying, and almost succeeds, in slitting his throat!. When he wakes in the hospital, the local gendarmes and the FBI both want to talk to him - they know the lady who attacked him, and also know that she will not give up until he is dead since he can identify her as the killer of the wealthy man ! And this is the leading to a never-ending twisting/turning tale as Katarina and her cartel boss try to blackmail Michael. Hard to put this one down! Thank you to NetGalley for this advance copy of Safecracker! Look forward to more from this author.

This is, hands down, one of the best debut novels I have ever read.

Matthew Mavin is a thief among thieves.  He dislikes the sloppy-trash-everything type of thieves and sees himself to be above that.  He gets himself into a pinch that, while during a job, he runs into a badass assassin who not only messes up his ability to walk away with a big score, she kills him shortly thereafter.  If you aren't writing a horror book, it takes a lot of guts to kill off your main character in the first few paragraphs of your story.  Ok... the story doesn't end there, so there must be something more to it and there is.  The story does not slow down or skip a beat what-so-ever after that, though.

The storyline is intense and the characters are well-written and engaging.  Short of this small tidbit, it is hard to say too much more without giving away anything.  

If you like [author:Lee Child|5091] or [author:Barry Eisler|603] you should pick this book up.  I will be watching for any other books by Ryan Wick and hoping for the next installment of this series.

Thank you to Ryan Wick, Thomas Dunne Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you usually have a glass of wine while reading, forget that, just get the whole bottle to sit beside you!  This certainly is the story of a crime going bad!  But the thing is, you find yourself really liking the thief!  A very fast paced thriller that you find you can't put down until you are finished reading it.  Even after you are done reading it, you still keep thinking about Michael and the whole ordeal.
This is going to be a series,... can't wait to see what Michael and Katrina are up to next!  What a great debut book... thanks Ryan for a great book.
Netgalley... thanks for the opportunity to letting me read this book!

Wow, this is a great book. I was hooked from the beginning and read it in one session. It's got lots of tension and adrenaline pumping scenes. The tension builds up to the very end. I can't wait until the next book is out.  #Safecracker #NetGalley

The book was dramatic, realistic, and fast-moving with a great ending. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to others

Safecracker was a fun read or me. It was action packed with strong characters and a plot I'm sure has already been sold to a movie studio. This book had me on the edge of my seat from the first page until the last. The protagonist is a professional safecracker and  thief. His life is turned upside down when a simple safecracking job takes an unexpected turn. He finds himself in a mess of assassins and drug cartels and has to use all his expertise to save himself, his family and friends. The plots, the conniving, the alliances that are formed in this grand performance provide non stop action that is sure to entertain you. My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

This was a quick, fun and well written heist novel. It put me in mind of the Lawrence Block Bernie Rhodenbarr series but if adapted in 2020 by like a Michael Bay or John Woo.

I had assumed there would be more cat and mouse between the two main characters but it’s definitely more traditional thriller that involves revenge and (spoiler) drug cartels. As others said, it’s super, super, super violent in parts. TW: One of those scenes has the threat of rape. 

My only complaint was how underdeveloped and stereotypical two of the marginalized characters were. The lone black kid of course is from the projects with a drug addict mother. His sole purpose is to show what a nice guy the main character is because he occasionally gives the kid money and is friendly to him.

And there’s also the Asian martial arts mentor who gets like half a scene.

Since this is a series, I hope the author really develops these characters in the next book.

This is one of those books where the first line is all it takes to get your attention. A fast paced read, the chapters are short enough that it makes for easy breaks if you are reading on the go. Fair warning that there is a bit of graphic violence described and it gets a little intense. I am really hopeful that this is the first of a series. There is no mention of it being anything other than a stand alone book, but the way it ends and how well the characters are set up in this book, it could easily jump right into a second of a series. I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley, and am so glad that I did. Being a debut novelist, I will certainly keep Ryan Wick on my radar for additional books.

Our hero is a burglar with a heart of gold, whose fence is an impeccable elderly Englishwoman, whose colleague is a hacker extraordinaire, and whose good friend runs the last authentic Irish pub in New York.  These are fine old trappings of the genre and don't hold the story back.  And it's a pretty good story: plenty of action and tension, a plot with lots of twists, and good writing.  A good start to what I assume will be a series.

This is the debut novel for Ryan Wick and I thoroughly enjoyed it.   Michael Maven is a safecracker and thief.  He is minding his own business when someone tries to kill him.  It does on from there.  there is no stop action with Maven getting out seemingly impossible situations.  He is forced to work for an evil cartel.  Bad things happen but Marven does not give up.  He has many friends that help him along with the FBI.  The whole story is fun and adventurous.    I liked the way the author wrote from the point of view of the main character.   They did change the title which did not hurt the story or my enjoyment.

Thanks to Netgalley, MacMillian publishing and Ryan Wick for this ARC . I loved this book ! The characters were great and interesting , every one . The chemistry between main characters was spot on. I loved the mystery and the suspense and the ending. Looks like this might have a follow up or a series  with the main character and maybe the female protagonist ? 😊 Can’t wait for  more of this  authors writing. He’s a new favorite male author of mine. 5 stars !

A quick, high-action book that will keep you reading until the very end.  A safecracking burglar gets called to the big leagues to pull off a large heist against a cartel family?  Of course, I wanted to read it!  Great dialogue, great characters, great locations.  A must read for those who love action.

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of Safecracker. Or Lawbreaker, because that was the title after I downloaded it.

Michael Maven is a safecracker with certain rules. You don't hurt people. You just steal.

When a heist goes completely FUBAR, he is pulled from his little safe world and coerced into a near impossible heist for a drug kingpin.

What could go wrong?

There are serious triggers; violence that makes a Tarantino movie look almost like a Disney movie, but other than the typical movie cliches; a gorgeous Eastern European assassin, the nine lives Maven seems to have that enable him to get out of nearly every dangerous scrape and/or situation, Safecracker is a wild, fun, and immersive read.

You root for Michael Maven, a thief you can't help but like and admire, and every time he is pulled into a near impossible situation, you know he will find some way to get out but how?

I'm glad a sequel is coming because I'd like to know more about Maven, his family, his childhood, and that cliffhanger of an ending.

This would make a great movie.

Wow! What a wild ride! Lee Child, move on over, Reacher's got real competition. I can hardly wait for the next installment. Michael Maven, professional thief who's got magic fingers around a safe, is surprised during a heist when another burglar arrives, in the company of the householder.  Things spin out of control as Maven snuggles in a closet and then tries to apprehend the other thief. Who is also a stone-cold killer.. 
So much happens in this twisted tale, and at so fast a pace, that spoilers are inevitable. But know that the author has endless tricks and turns up his sleeve and no matter the spoilers, you'll still be mesmerized and surprised. And maybe at moments grossed out.
Shortly after losing his grip on the murderer, Maven's throat is cut. Literally. Then he comes to the attention of one of New York's most vicious drug lords. And Maven gets an offer he doesn't dare refuse: burgle the impregnable mansion of another drug lord and bring back a ledger.. Or else everyone he knows, and their extended families, will die very ugly deaths. Drug lords really know how to get one's attention.
The author managed to cram endless the action into this book without overwhelming the story and provides us with a tense, read-all-night story, blood-drenched in spots but still with enough human interaction and emotion in it to keep it from being just another litany of drug violence. Readers of Timothy Hallinan, Harlan Coben, Robert Crais, J. D. Robb and others will gobble this one up. Enjoy!

On and off throughout this book I kept thinking " Bond... James Bond", and then of course the Reacher series came to mind.
This was a fun, fast read, and I have a feeling we'll be hearing the name Ryan Wick on a regular basis after this.

Aside from some confusion over the title (the ARC I recieved wasa titled "Lawbreaker", which I assume will be the published title, although I much prefer Safecracker) I very much enjoyed this rollicking thriller in what I hope is the beginning of a series featuring Maven. Without giving away too much, Maven is an expert thief, especially skilled at breaking into impenetrable safes. Stumbling upon a murder while on a job, he's marked for death by the killer with whom he ends of having to partner when forced to by a particularly vicious gang leader. (A note to the squeamish: the book has some rather detailed descriptions of violence. not for the faint-hearted. Unlike many thriller wannabes, this book is quite well written and moves along briskly.  I look forward to a long series, especially if Katrina makes another appearance.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.