Max Austin

In crime, as in most other things, you should not make a mess where you live. Veteran bank robbers Bud Knox and Mick Wyman know better but this is their last heist, retirement looms and the First State Bank over on Wyoming Avenue looks like a pushover. Besides, Mick is bored.

Bud knows that no bank is a pushover but he lets himself get talked into it and, Max Austin being Max Austin, you can expect a great story that is tangled and funny. The finale is as expected but we hope against hope show more that with some twist of luck things will turn out differently.

I love Max Austin books and, while this one is not as funny as Duke City Desperado, it is believable and the dialogue is great.

I received a review copy of "Duke City Split" by Max Austin (Random House – Alibi) through NetGalley.com. show less

Max Austin is a strong contender for the job of filling Elmore Leonard's shoes and so far he making a good showing. This is the third of his books I have read and this one is by far the funniest. The publisher's blurb for this book isn't really correct, it is in no way a thriller. It is the story of about a day and a half in which young Dylan James goes from smoking a bit of dope with a friend to being a federal fugitive – all because of a garage door opener. I laughed and laughed.

I show more received a review copy of "Duke City Desperado" by Max Austin (Random House – Alibi) through NetGalley.com. show less

I haven't read this author before and after reading this book, I feel I may have missed a good author. I'm glad I found him because I really liked this book. It is a relaxing, humorous read. There is action galore that made me want to keep turning pages to see what was going to happen next. There are good guys and bad guys and some that are both good and bad guys. There is even a little romance thrown in. The book kept me laughing and even the scary parts made me smile. I will definitely show more read more books by Max Austin. I received this arc book from NetGalley for an honest review. show less

Surprise! Vic Walters is a father. But we’re not talking about a bouncing baby boy – we’re talking full-grown son he never realized he had. After his mother passed away, Ryan found Vic. Ryan let Vic know by actions more than words that he’s interested in following in his father’s footsteps as a hit man. It’s not a bad job from Vic’s perspective. They only take out ‘scum’ and never women or children. His boss is Penny Randall who runs Lucky Penny Bail Bonds. Her business is show more legit and serves as a front for Vic’s hits. He wants for little except a new Cadillac once in a while, so his bank account is plentiful. But, it’s not a job he necessarily wants for his son.

This was neither a portrayal of son finds long lost father nor a denial of the matter. Once Ryan had proved his relationship to Vic’s satisfaction, it was an acceptance and a bonding over time that was warm but not cheesy. I loved the twist in this story. Basically, there are no ‘good guys’; only ‘shades of bad’. Yes, Vic is a hit man, but he is a very personable and likable character. Most of the people he meets on a day to day basis have no idea of what Vic actually does. Once you reach the last third of the book, you won’t even hear friends or family call your name – your brain will be too engaged in finishing this fast-paced suspense novel. This is the second in the Lawbreakers Thriller series. Although I’ve not yet read the first, Duke City Split, I found Duke City Hit can be read quite easily as a standalone. It is set in Albuquerque, NM, often referred to as ‘Duke City’. I rated Duke City Hit at 4.5 out of 5.

As a note, Duke City Desperado, the third in the series, will be published June 2015. show less