usbsticky's review against another edition
3.0
3 stars = I liked it as per GoodRead's rating system.
This short heist book reads like a movie script. It's short on detail but to the point on action and a fast read.
Short summary: Finn is out of prison after a 7 year stint. He is immediately offered a vault heist of valuable metals. He gathers up his old crew to plan a tunnel job. Meanwhile, activists gather for an environmental protest at the same time and around the same place that the heist is taking place. What will happen? Will Finn succeed or will the activists and police derail his caper?
A lot happens in 286 pages. The characters have to be introduced, the heist planned, scouted and made. The "other side" in the form of special railway agents is also shown, but it's somewhat a halfhearted effort that was better off not included, with the word count better off given to the heist instead. So while each event or character is given an adequate treatment, none was really fully developed enough for me to feel it. If it was a movie, I would have enjoyed it but forgotten all about it once I walked outside into the bright sunshine. As a book, I enjoyed it, now I'm writing a quick review and on to the next one.
I got this book free as an uncorrected proof.
This short heist book reads like a movie script. It's short on detail but to the point on action and a fast read.
Short summary: Finn is out of prison after a 7 year stint. He is immediately offered a vault heist of valuable metals. He gathers up his old crew to plan a tunnel job. Meanwhile, activists gather for an environmental protest at the same time and around the same place that the heist is taking place. What will happen? Will Finn succeed or will the activists and police derail his caper?
A lot happens in 286 pages. The characters have to be introduced, the heist planned, scouted and made. The "other side" in the form of special railway agents is also shown, but it's somewhat a halfhearted effort that was better off not included, with the word count better off given to the heist instead. So while each event or character is given an adequate treatment, none was really fully developed enough for me to feel it. If it was a movie, I would have enjoyed it but forgotten all about it once I walked outside into the bright sunshine. As a book, I enjoyed it, now I'm writing a quick review and on to the next one.
I got this book free as an uncorrected proof.
shai3d's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! I just finished THE DOWNSIDE and fell in love with Finn who is definitely an old school criminal. No computers for him. In fact, he reminds me of guys that you will meet in your local neighborhood bar after their shift except for the fact that he tends to get paid a lot more when things go right. And it's his turn for things to go right.
I do have to say that Mr. Cooper does a brilliant job with his characters. Some of them you will click with, others not so much. Just like the folks that you meet in real life. Along with Finn, I really liked the characters of the hacker Nicola and Corman who is a jack of a lot of trades.
The reader is given the inside view to a caper that definitely involves some heavy lifting. We get to see as all the details fall into place as the big night comes closer and closer. We even get to join the gang as the heist takes place. A lot of twists and turns as the tension ratchets up.
I would recommend THE DOWNSIDE to any of my readers who enjoy a good thriller or crime drama. Personally I am hoping to see some more books with Finn and his crew.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
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