Book review: 'Adirondack Heist'
LEE GOODEN, For The Saratogian
10/08/2002
''Adirondack Heist,'' by Saratoga Springs author Jeff Kelly, is a fast-paced, almost cinematic book, full of historical, geographical and present-day references to upstate New York. It is the sequel to Kelly's first book ''21 Mine,'' in which Kelly's protagonist Wallace Klocks was introduced. ''Heist'' contains enough expositional material to make it unnecessary to have read ''Mine'' to enjoy ''Heist.'' However, the previous book it should be read because it is the start of Kelly's excellent body of work.
''Adirondack Heist'' begins as Klocks, an escaped convict from upstate New York, leaves his refuge in Florida and re-examines his life and personal credo. Kelly writes:
''For one year, Wallace Klocks remained anonymous. That was his plan and so far he had succeeded. But you know what? He missed upstate New York ... Klocks missed his notorious reputation ... Klocks liked to picture himself as a man of action -- a man who built a life on what he did, not what he said.''
In Klocks, Kelly has created a character similar to hard-boiled, hard-fisted and testosterone-driven crime fictional noir men like Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder, Robert B. Parker's Boston private eye Spenser, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer and Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade.
Hammer, Spade, Scudder and Spenser are heroes that have no qualms about crossing the line of the law to achieve a noble cause.
Klocks is an anti-hero who doesn't care about the law, and his high intelligence contrasts with his rough male veneer. He wants to become a renowned art thief. And, as with Block's gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, Klocks's taste, skills and mind make him a formidable thief, capable of stealing a Rodin sculpture from Crown Point.
The resemblance to Block's Rhodenbarr ends at tastes and intelligence. Where Rhodenbarr might be squeamish at physical confrontation, Klocks wouldn't have a problem with hurting, torturing or even killing, as long as the ends justified the means.
''Adirondack Heist'' is for readers who enjoy a good action story that reads like a movie in the tradition of films like ''Oceans Eleven,'' David Mamet's film ''Heist'' and Michael Mann's ''Heat.''
Klocks is a character that the average man would love to emulate, and let his darker side out for one day -- a chance to drive fast cars, meet beautiful women and take what he wants, living one day at a time and thumbing his nose at the law.
©The Saratogian 2006
LEE GOODEN, For The Saratogian
10/08/2002
''Adirondack Heist,'' by Saratoga Springs author Jeff Kelly, is a fast-paced, almost cinematic book, full of historical, geographical and present-day references to upstate New York. It is the sequel to Kelly's first book ''21 Mine,'' in which Kelly's protagonist Wallace Klocks was introduced. ''Heist'' contains enough expositional material to make it unnecessary to have read ''Mine'' to enjoy ''Heist.'' However, the previous book it should be read because it is the start of Kelly's excellent body of work.
''Adirondack Heist'' begins as Klocks, an escaped convict from upstate New York, leaves his refuge in Florida and re-examines his life and personal credo. Kelly writes:
''For one year, Wallace Klocks remained anonymous. That was his plan and so far he had succeeded. But you know what? He missed upstate New York ... Klocks missed his notorious reputation ... Klocks liked to picture himself as a man of action -- a man who built a life on what he did, not what he said.''
In Klocks, Kelly has created a character similar to hard-boiled, hard-fisted and testosterone-driven crime fictional noir men like Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder, Robert B. Parker's Boston private eye Spenser, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer and Dashiell Hammett's Sam Spade.
Hammer, Spade, Scudder and Spenser are heroes that have no qualms about crossing the line of the law to achieve a noble cause.
Klocks is an anti-hero who doesn't care about the law, and his high intelligence contrasts with his rough male veneer. He wants to become a renowned art thief. And, as with Block's gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr, Klocks's taste, skills and mind make him a formidable thief, capable of stealing a Rodin sculpture from Crown Point.
The resemblance to Block's Rhodenbarr ends at tastes and intelligence. Where Rhodenbarr might be squeamish at physical confrontation, Klocks wouldn't have a problem with hurting, torturing or even killing, as long as the ends justified the means.
''Adirondack Heist'' is for readers who enjoy a good action story that reads like a movie in the tradition of films like ''Oceans Eleven,'' David Mamet's film ''Heist'' and Michael Mann's ''Heat.''
Klocks is a character that the average man would love to emulate, and let his darker side out for one day -- a chance to drive fast cars, meet beautiful women and take what he wants, living one day at a time and thumbing his nose at the law.
©The Saratogian 2006
posted by Lee Gooden | 7:13 PM
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