Crooks

A Novel About Crime and Family

De: Lou Berney

Narrado por: Johnathan McClain

"Lou Berney's Crooks stands with some of the finest crime novels ever written." — Don Winslow, #1 Internationally bestselling author

"A panoramic, cross-generational look at a unique family pursuing their individual visions of the American dream.” — Joseph Finder, New York Times bestselling author

From award-winning author Lou Berney comes an electrifying new novel that follows a uniquely American crime family on an unforgettable journey across four decades.

You’ve never met a family like the Mercurios.

They say the American dream is going farther in life than your parents ever did. But how does that work if your parents are criminals?

For Buddy, a low-level mob wise guy, and Lillian, a charming pickpocket, the criminal underworld is the only life they’ve ever known. When they’re forced to flee the glittering Babylon of Las Vegas, they end up opening a club in Oklahoma City—a town that quickly feels like a gold mine of fresh marks and easy new money. Along for the ride are their five children, all of them raised into the family business of crime—until the day comes when they each have a chance to make their own way in the world, even if they can never completely escape the family’s long, dark shadow.

Jeremy, the family’s Golden Boy, will throw himself into the glittering excesses of a drug-fueled Hollywood in the roaring 1980s.

Tallulah, the daredevil, will find herself in the deadly Wild West of post-communist Moscow.

Ray, the dope, the dumb muscle since he was a kid, wants nothing more than to put down his gun, but following orders is all he’s ever known.

Alice, the genius who renounced her life of crime long ago, now sees her white-shoe law firm being blackmailed and must tap into old skills to save both the company and her own life.

And Piggy, a civilian always on the outside looking in on his crime family, desperate to be part of the gang.

Crooks is an epic novel about a truly unforgettable family—each Mercurio has to grapple, in their own way, with the family’s powerful criminal legacy.

Great story

This is a great novel nearly destroyed by the most hackneyed and incompetent voice acting ever. Jonathan McClain narrates the entire novel in the tone and style of a cliched 1930s radio serial, and not in a good way. Every character sounds cartoonish and ridiculous. McClain mistakes volume for emotion throughout. The interesting characters Berney populated the novel with become shallow caricatures. Only the story saves it. Here’s hoping McClain goes back to his day job immediately.

Couldn’t put it down.

This is a great and entertaining book. I couldn’t find a good stopping point each time I had to put it down I couldn’t wait to get back to it. In the end it was a fun ride from start to finish. Thank you Lou Berney

Great plotting and characters

This is a funny but poignant story of a crime family. Some aren’t criminals, but the background comes in handy at times. The narrator is terrific.

Performance was great! Lots of emotion in each character. Story was fun and engaging.

Would definitely recommend! I found myself asking which story or character do I like the best?

Don Winslow was right.

Great writing, light hearted dark material done well. Excellent narration. Compelling characters. Fun story. I will recommend this to my friends.