The Things She Stole - D. D. Black

Brandon Penny is a law abiding member of society. Not at all what his mother envisioned. nAs a child, Brandon's con-artist mother raised him to be a criminal prodigy. But when he was twelve a robbery went bad, a gun went off, and Brandon's mother disappeared, never to return. n nLeft all alone, Brandon burned with anger. And questions. n nWhat happened that night? Why did his mom leave him behind? And why didn't she ever come back? n nNow he works a monotonous 9-5, pining for the girfriend who dumped him. All he has to his name is the beer in his hand and a punch card for the vintage video store. n nBut when his estranged mother returns to town for a major heist, the police ask Brandon to help track her down. He doesn't trust the cops, he can'ttrust his mother, and he's too afraid to trust the ex-girlfriend he still loves. The only one he can count on is himself. n nOne way or another, he'll find out what happened that night. But to do it he'll have to tear down the life he's built. n n⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Takes the domestic thriller genre to a whole new level. Part mother/son crime drama, part heist novel, The Things She Stole reminded me of Ben Affleck's movie, The Town. Compelling characters, amazingly-rendered Portland setting, and a conclusion full of twists, turns, and ultimately, satisfaction. Highly recommended. n n⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full of tradecraft and suspense, emotion and action. And the ending? Fist-pumps and tears. Not to be missed!n