Once a Thief is a wild ride that will have you feeling like you’re flying down the straightaways and around the tight curves at Monza. Christopher Reich shines a light on the dark underworld of global finance and does so in an entertaining way.
This was my first foray into the Simon Riske series and it definitely won’t be the last. With a protagonist that is a former criminal turned exotic car restorer, how could I not enjoy this book?
After restoring a lost Ferrari worth a cool $100 Million, Simon Riske is anxious to see the deal closed for his client. When a last second alteration to the agreement sends Simon on a seemingly wild goose chase for the original gearbox, Riske’s reputation and finances are on the line. When clues of the gearbox’s whereabouts lead him to a Russian criminal he helped bring to justice, things go about as well as you’d expect them to. Now on the run from British authorities, Riske must join forces with the last woman he’d expected to.
Meanwhile, Riske comes into contact with a woman investigating her father’s violent death in Switzerland. A banker dying in the manner in which he did leads to more questions than answers. Realizing their unexpectedly shared goals, the pair combine efforts, at great personal risk, in order to track down and help locate billions in dirty money and assets.
This is definitely a book for anyone who has interest in fancy cars, espionage, or the dark side of global finance and how ill-gotten gains are laundered. I would recommend going back and reading the previous books as they’ll provide additional insight into Riske’s character and history. With that knowledge, the experience of reading this book will be enhanced.
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Purchase Once A Thief
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Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen
