mazza57's review against another edition
2.0
It wasn't awful but too many threads too many scams and not good enough to want me to read any more in the series
ruthie_the_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
I hadn't read any stories in this series before, but this still seemed like a good introduction to the character of Junior, and I didn't feel like I missed out on too much from not knowing who he was. Although the story has the feel of an old-fashioned American Private Detective story Junior is, in fact, a high-end burglar. I liked this twist to the formula, and found myself routing for Junior, in spite of him being on the wrong side of the law. The pace ramps up as you read through the book, and there was one section where I was whipping through the pages, desperate to see what was going to happen to poor Junior who seemed to be stuck in an inescapably bad situation!
Good action, a good leading character, I would definitely try another story in this series.
With thanks to Net Galley for the e-book.
Good action, a good leading character, I would definitely try another story in this series.
With thanks to Net Galley for the e-book.
nico05478's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite in this series. I found my brain drifting off during two of the burglary scenes.
scostner's review against another edition
3.0
A literate thief? One who quotes books accurately and understands their themes? It sounds too good to be true, and you know what they say about things that seem to good to be true. Perhaps Junior should have kept that in mind when he decided to take an "easy" job to please his fence. If he had, then he wouldn't have nearly been beaten to death by thugs with baseball bats, or threatened with a professional hit being taken out on him, or the string of other mishaps that plague him throughout the book. But since he doesn't listen to that little voice of reason, he finds himself being sucked deeper and deeper into a trap with no way out. There are more double-crosses and setups than a Sunday night mystery movie (yes, I'm dating myself with that reference), and they up the ante each time. And the pressure comes from every side; his girlfriend Ronnie, his ex-wife, his daughter and her social life, his fence, a burglary target, a former client, and a Hollywood executive (among others). Can an intelligent crook figure his way out, or will he be caught like an unwilling mouse?
Junior is not as dashing or into elaborate disguises as Val Kilmer in "The Saint." He doesn't use songs to time his movements like Bruce Willis in "Hudson Hawk." But he is glib, fairly good looking, and even has a bit of a conscience. He feels loyalty to his friends, is protective of his daughter and girlfriend, and is honest enough to admit when he owes someone. All of which makes him likable enough for us to wish for his success and cringe every time something else goes wrong.
For those who haven't read Junior's earlier adventures, this could be a good introduction to the series and to Junior's character. The supporting cast of Ronnie, Louie, Stinky, the Slugger, Anime, Milli, Rina, Kathy, Tyrone, et al. fill out the action with wildly different personalities and quirks. While it's not a screenplay, the story is very easy to visualize (back that Sunday night mystery movie), and carries the reader along from one crisis to the next. Recommended for mystery readers (existing Junior Bender fans or not), especially if they like stories with a cinematic feel to them.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
Junior is not as dashing or into elaborate disguises as Val Kilmer in "The Saint." He doesn't use songs to time his movements like Bruce Willis in "Hudson Hawk." But he is glib, fairly good looking, and even has a bit of a conscience. He feels loyalty to his friends, is protective of his daughter and girlfriend, and is honest enough to admit when he owes someone. All of which makes him likable enough for us to wish for his success and cringe every time something else goes wrong.
For those who haven't read Junior's earlier adventures, this could be a good introduction to the series and to Junior's character. The supporting cast of Ronnie, Louie, Stinky, the Slugger, Anime, Milli, Rina, Kathy, Tyrone, et al. fill out the action with wildly different personalities and quirks. While it's not a screenplay, the story is very easy to visualize (back that Sunday night mystery movie), and carries the reader along from one crisis to the next. Recommended for mystery readers (existing Junior Bender fans or not), especially if they like stories with a cinematic feel to them.
I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
hsquared's review against another edition
3.0
Halligan's latest has quite a lot going for it--a quirky, but loveable cast of characters, witty dialogue, light romance, and a dark but compelling theme of corruption, manipulation, and abuse of power within the elite of Hollywood that is nicely mirrored at the high school level in the parallel plot with Junior's daughter. My only real complaint is with the pacing. For the first three quarters of the book, the story wanders as Junior stumbles from one setup to another, then comes dramatically into focus as everything suddenly falls into place. The suspense at this point builds to a white knuckle ride that comes to a speedy--and much too perfect--conclusion. Though the ending is satisfying in that the nasty villain gets his just rewards, it would be even more so if we could have seen Junior sweat a little more to get there.
*digital advanced reader copy from Net Galley.
*digital advanced reader copy from Net Galley.
mindybookbear's review against another edition
2.0
I received this book as a free advance reader copy from Netgalley.com in return for a review.
I did not enjoy this one as much as the others in the Junior Bender series. The action starts and stops until almost the end of the book, and seems repetitive when compare to the others. Junior is a good guy who investigates crimes for criminals. He’s blackmailed into a theft and this sets off an investigation and of course he finds a body, leading to his “retribution.” I only kept reading to a) see the ending and b) see Junior interact with his daughter (my favorite part of the books). But it was too short. This is turning into a series where the same thing happens over and over, with the only changes in Junior’s growth as a man (kind of). This might be my last Junior Bender book for a while.
I did not enjoy this one as much as the others in the Junior Bender series. The action starts and stops until almost the end of the book, and seems repetitive when compare to the others. Junior is a good guy who investigates crimes for criminals. He’s blackmailed into a theft and this sets off an investigation and of course he finds a body, leading to his “retribution.” I only kept reading to a) see the ending and b) see Junior interact with his daughter (my favorite part of the books). But it was too short. This is turning into a series where the same thing happens over and over, with the only changes in Junior’s growth as a man (kind of). This might be my last Junior Bender book for a while.
catmum's review
5.0
We have come to expect certain things from the Junior Bender books: expert burglaries, sometimes in spite of himself; well-meaning, if bumbling, personal relationships; the coolest set of secondary characters since Fox Mulder hooked up with the Lone Gunmen; all tied together with a healthy dose of humor. And Hallinan does not disappoint. But King Maybe is also darker than we've seen before, from Junior ruminating on Gruddists, to a bad guy who is much closer to straight-up evil. Altogether, the most satisfying of all the Junior Benders. Highly recommended.
samhouston's review
4.0
Master burglar Junior Bender has a big problem, but it’s not the kind of problem you would expect someone in Junior’s profession normally to have. There are no cops hot on his trail because, truth be known, the cops don’t even have Junior on their radar screen. He is that good at what he does. No, Junior’s problem is that he is a burglar with a conscience who is forced to deal with a wide assortment of people for whom conscience doesn’t even figure into the equation.
Still, it is only after a planned-to-the-split-second burglary suddenly goes pear shaped that Junior realizes just how a serious a chain of events he has inadvertently triggered. King Maybe, probably the most ruthless and most powerful man in all of Hollywood, wants Junior to do something for him – and declining the job is not something he is going to let Junior do. King Maybe may not be much of a physical specimen (only those who don’t know him, though, would dare label him the shrimp he is), but his money and vicious cruel-streak make him one very dangerous man.
King Maybe is the fifth book in Timothy Hallinan’s Junior Bender series, and the now fortyish Junior has been breaking into houses and businesses without ever once having been caught since he was fourteen years old. That’s more than two decades of unbroken success, but Junior has to wonder if that means that he is unlikely ever to be caught, or that the odds are increasingly more likely that his day is drawing near. Junior really has no idea, but hedges his bet by keeping a detailed escape plan firmly in place. At a moment’s notice, Junior Bender is prepared to disappear, assume a well-crafted new identity, and begin life anew far from California.
King Maybe can correctly be characterized as a “crime thriller,” but that would be shortchanging both the book and its author because Tim Hallinan’s novels are as character-driven as any literary fiction out there. Longtime fans of the series are familiar with the Junior Bender character at this point, and they know pretty much what to expect from him in most circumstances (although Junior does show a side of his character at the end of this one that I didn’t suspect he had). What keeps the series so fresh is Hallinan’s talent for creating memorable side characters for Junior to interact with, be they Filipino houseboys, love interests, or villains like the high-heeled cowboy boot wearing King Maybe, a little man with a big ego.
Hallinan has done it again. This one is fun.
Still, it is only after a planned-to-the-split-second burglary suddenly goes pear shaped that Junior realizes just how a serious a chain of events he has inadvertently triggered. King Maybe, probably the most ruthless and most powerful man in all of Hollywood, wants Junior to do something for him – and declining the job is not something he is going to let Junior do. King Maybe may not be much of a physical specimen (only those who don’t know him, though, would dare label him the shrimp he is), but his money and vicious cruel-streak make him one very dangerous man.
King Maybe is the fifth book in Timothy Hallinan’s Junior Bender series, and the now fortyish Junior has been breaking into houses and businesses without ever once having been caught since he was fourteen years old. That’s more than two decades of unbroken success, but Junior has to wonder if that means that he is unlikely ever to be caught, or that the odds are increasingly more likely that his day is drawing near. Junior really has no idea, but hedges his bet by keeping a detailed escape plan firmly in place. At a moment’s notice, Junior Bender is prepared to disappear, assume a well-crafted new identity, and begin life anew far from California.
King Maybe can correctly be characterized as a “crime thriller,” but that would be shortchanging both the book and its author because Tim Hallinan’s novels are as character-driven as any literary fiction out there. Longtime fans of the series are familiar with the Junior Bender character at this point, and they know pretty much what to expect from him in most circumstances (although Junior does show a side of his character at the end of this one that I didn’t suspect he had). What keeps the series so fresh is Hallinan’s talent for creating memorable side characters for Junior to interact with, be they Filipino houseboys, love interests, or villains like the high-heeled cowboy boot wearing King Maybe, a little man with a big ego.
Hallinan has done it again. This one is fun.
clambook's review
3.0
Probably read better than it listens, but the silliness of the plot and quality of the narration made it unlistenable. DNF>
cindyp's review
5.0
Welcome back Junior Bender! The smoothest, classiest, fastest talking (and funniest) burglar is back in action. In this fifth book in the series he’s crossed a Hollywood studio executive who happens to dabble in violence and revenge. In order to save his own hide, Junior must commit a series of burglaries that range in difficulty from insane to impossible. In the midst of this he's also trying to keep his estranged daughter from being scammed, placate his ex-wife, and repair his relationship with his girlfriend who may or may not be a murderer. Full of memorable, wisecracking characters, this caper novel is a wild, laugh-out-loud, breathtaking ride.