The fun part of heist stories is counterbalancing the planning with the actual deed. Wick balances an ample amount of set-up and exhibition. The dude is a walking fan-fiction creation. Isn’t that what all good thieves and gamblers and hustlers tend to be? Scoundrels? Not Maven. He’s not a gambler or alkie or misogynist or matchstick man or pet lover or – heaven forbid – a Vegan! He’s a Cardinals fan of all things! He is devoid of anything that would brand him a … scoundrel. Wick never gets into why Maven steals, other than a few hints at it being the “family business.” Maven has no vices. He yearns to be Chris Pratt but is stuck being Taylor Kitsch or Robbie Amell and remains as tame as junior prom date at a Christian academy. He’s like that high school friend who had all those lofty plans: own a movie theater, sip blended Scotch, pick locks, learn martial arts. Maven, however, is as watery as a Coors Light. From the alleyways of New York to the palatial estates of Miami, Safecracker has all the makings of a Jerry Bruckheimer action flick. And Wick lays on the stress as nothing is easy. No longer a thief-for-hire, Michael must now break into a rival Cartel’s safe in order to win his life back. While attempting to pick off an ultra-rare coin he gets bogarted by a kick-ass karate babe who kills his mark and then has Michael set up by a Mexican Cartel. He is a high-class thief who ensures no one, except the insurance companies, gets hurt. Michael Maven might be among the best of what he does. Why then is master thief Michael Maven a boring character? Best of all? He has a cool story making Safecracker a fast, fun read. Wick has the genre’s tropes blended down into a delicious cocktail. You name it, author Ryan Wick has it in place all set to a swinging Dean Martin score.

Safecracker skillfully contains all the elements of hip heist story: a daring burglary life-and-death situations a femme fatale high-class locations a British handler a friendly bar.

Safecracker by Ryan Wick