karieh13's review against another edition
2.0
Though I finished this book and enjoyed it to some extent, it took me quite a while to get over the fact that the book was NOTHING like I’d expected.
Given what I read on the back, I thought this would be a fascinating book about how seemingly normal college kids turn to crime because of desperation over the horrible economy & bleak job prospects. I expected to read about how young adults who were on the usual path to a successful future tried everything they could before they became criminals. Instead, the reader is given the following to explain this inexplicable choice:
“I say we do it,” said Mouse. “We’re smart enough. We can pull this thing off.” Pender hesitated a moment. Then he nodded. “Let’s try it,” he said. “Just to see if we can.”
And with that, these friends start kidnapping other human beings. Not stealing, not fraud, but kidnapping and threatening other human beings. That short moment of hesitation is all the reader sees and is then forced to believe that there were no second, third, fourth thoughts. After that, I still expected to be given some back story – the details on the first kidnapping – maybe some fear or change of heart – something so I could buy this premise. Nope. These college students made the decision to become kidnappers with about as much thought as one might give to what to order at dinner.
Which meant that I did not like them – they were completely unsympathetic and unbelievable characters. Thank goodness the reader does meet some seemingly normal characters in the agents tasked with tracking them down.
But then, I started to get an unpleasant feeling about what the real message of the book was. Instead of what I thought I would be reading about: “How the current economic situation is so bad that our young people are forced to try anything”, turns out the message is instead: “Young people feel so entitled and are so amoral that they will do anything.”
“It was about cheating the system and not getting caught. It was about some crazy Robin Hood thing, this gang of broke kids outsmarting the rich, redistributing the wealth, and proving that yeah, crime could pay, and a hell of a lot more than some useless college degree besides.”
That phrase “redistribution of wealth” pops up again as Pender is talking to the FBI as to why they did it, and then I just got mad. I can see one college kid turning to kidnapping, but the idea that four did so, with no internal struggle, no real regrets (unless it comes to getting caught) even when the crimes turn to murder is just not believable to me.
If this is some sort of nasty political commentary on recent events, then I regret reading this book. If this is just a book that needs work to make the characters believable, then I will give the author the benefit of the doubt.
Given what I read on the back, I thought this would be a fascinating book about how seemingly normal college kids turn to crime because of desperation over the horrible economy & bleak job prospects. I expected to read about how young adults who were on the usual path to a successful future tried everything they could before they became criminals. Instead, the reader is given the following to explain this inexplicable choice:
“I say we do it,” said Mouse. “We’re smart enough. We can pull this thing off.” Pender hesitated a moment. Then he nodded. “Let’s try it,” he said. “Just to see if we can.”
And with that, these friends start kidnapping other human beings. Not stealing, not fraud, but kidnapping and threatening other human beings. That short moment of hesitation is all the reader sees and is then forced to believe that there were no second, third, fourth thoughts. After that, I still expected to be given some back story – the details on the first kidnapping – maybe some fear or change of heart – something so I could buy this premise. Nope. These college students made the decision to become kidnappers with about as much thought as one might give to what to order at dinner.
Which meant that I did not like them – they were completely unsympathetic and unbelievable characters. Thank goodness the reader does meet some seemingly normal characters in the agents tasked with tracking them down.
But then, I started to get an unpleasant feeling about what the real message of the book was. Instead of what I thought I would be reading about: “How the current economic situation is so bad that our young people are forced to try anything”, turns out the message is instead: “Young people feel so entitled and are so amoral that they will do anything.”
“It was about cheating the system and not getting caught. It was about some crazy Robin Hood thing, this gang of broke kids outsmarting the rich, redistributing the wealth, and proving that yeah, crime could pay, and a hell of a lot more than some useless college degree besides.”
That phrase “redistribution of wealth” pops up again as Pender is talking to the FBI as to why they did it, and then I just got mad. I can see one college kid turning to kidnapping, but the idea that four did so, with no internal struggle, no real regrets (unless it comes to getting caught) even when the crimes turn to murder is just not believable to me.
If this is some sort of nasty political commentary on recent events, then I regret reading this book. If this is just a book that needs work to make the characters believable, then I will give the author the benefit of the doubt.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
A quick read that kept me entertained, but I felt no sympathy for the band of college graduates turned kidnappers, which lessened the tension a bit. I kind of side-eyed the flirting between Stevens and Windermere too, which I guess makes me unsuited to continue with the series.
balthazarlawson's review
4.0
At times I thought this was a bit long winded, drawn out and overly complicated but still it was an enjoyable read. The suspense of wondering if they will or won't get away in the end was good and keep you involved until the end.
The thing I disliked was the cliched sexual tension between the investigators. Why is that a man and woman can't work together without any kind of sexual tension simmering in the background? You just know that in future books they will end up in bed together.
Worth reading.
The thing I disliked was the cliched sexual tension between the investigators. Why is that a man and woman can't work together without any kind of sexual tension simmering in the background? You just know that in future books they will end up in bed together.
Worth reading.
mojoshivers's review against another edition
4.0
Usually I’m not one for negotiation endings, but the kidnapping, chasing, and plain acting like fugitives on the run were so well executed, it made me want to see how it all resolved itself. Somehow the author managed to make a protracted negotiation seem like it was high courtroom drama. Not only was I unsure of how it would end; I was unsure of how I wanted it to end.
Laukkanen managed the difficult task of making everyone so damn sympathetic. I even felt bad for the kidnappers because I’ve been in similar straits before, where any action, no matter how nutty, is better than feeling like you’re just stuck and the world put you there. Hell, he even managed to make the Mob enforcer likable and that guy shot innocent witnesses.
All in all, this was a great start to the series and a great start to an intriguing partnership.
Laukkanen managed the difficult task of making everyone so damn sympathetic. I even felt bad for the kidnappers because I’ve been in similar straits before, where any action, no matter how nutty, is better than feeling like you’re just stuck and the world put you there. Hell, he even managed to make the Mob enforcer likable and that guy shot innocent witnesses.
All in all, this was a great start to the series and a great start to an intriguing partnership.
scknitter's review against another edition
4.0
It has been awhile since I started a book and couldn’t stop until it was finished. The Professionals is one of those books. The bad guys don’t seem too bad at first and the cops chasing them don’t seem to be too capable. But, that all changes by the end of the book when the criminals and law enforcement both show they are true professionals - willing to sacrifice everything.
A top notch debut thriller with an unusual plot, terrific characters, and non-stop action.
A top notch debut thriller with an unusual plot, terrific characters, and non-stop action.
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
Like a palate cleanser for me after some hardcore literary fiction these past weeks. Not my usual wheelhouse, but the plot was tight, characters were strong, and while there was plenty of carnage, not particularly bloody or gratuitously violent. Great suspenseful beach read.
edlweiss's review against another edition
3.0
Well-written crime novel. I certainly enjoyed the portrayal of the characters on both sides of the law, as has been said in other reviews. Coming at both the criminals and law enforcement from a neutral, unbiased head space made for a more interesting read than the standard crime thriller. The action sequences were nicely conveyed, and the pace of the novel was very satisfying. Entertaining read, if not anything particularly ground-breaking.
fierymoon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
i dont know if that was just me, but the first chapters didnt make sense till we actually got the backstory so that's why im taking 0.25 points from my initial 5-star ranking
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Murder
mattnixon's review against another edition
3.0
all kinds of fun--college students decide to say "screw the job market we'll go into kidnapping!"