AMONG THIEVES has introduced me to a new super hero. His name is James Beck. Beck is an expert marksman, a precise knife wielder, knows how to use his Bucheimer sap for immediate disabling of an assailant, but best of all he can really fight. His fists, his kicks, his spins, he is dynamite. He isn't bad looking either. Beck was sent to prison for eight years for killing a cop in a bar fight.

His lawyer, got him out on a technicality, sued and won Beck over $2 Million. Beck bought a bar in a three story building in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and employs ex-cons. One of the ex-cons is his buddy from prison, Manny Guzman. Manny, a former lord of a Dominican street gang and head of the most feared Latino gang at Dannemora prison, is now a partner with Beck in his bar. Manny wanted somebody dead.

It was time to listen. His cousin, Olivia Sanchez, a compliance officer at a brokerage firm on Wall Street. came to Manny seeking his help. She told Manny that she suspected Alan Crane, in charge of a huge hedge fund, was "cutting corners and doing risky shit." Crane heard she was talking about him, and questioning his actions. Furious he came into her office, threatened her and broke two of her fingers. Olivia went to the hospital, talked to the police and the next day when she returned to work, she was fired, and blackballed. Crane denied everything, blamed Olivia and won. So much for whistle blowing.

Manny wants to break Crane's bones and urges him to get Olivia's job back. Beck does not want him involved. He meets with Olivia and offers his help. Beck is a master at prediction and planning. What should have been a simple negotiation turns into all out war Enter the Russian Mob, illegal arms deals with links to the U.S. Military, unscrupulous multi-million dollar investments, the NYPD, and all kinds of nasty players. Danger, lies, betrayals with a little bit of sex thrown in for good measure.

This plot is non-stop action full of blood and guts, twists and turns, double crosses galore. Fantastic descriptions of fight-to-fights action, and the bodies begin to pile up. AMONG THIEVES is an outstanding escapist fiction with colorful characters. Beck is the leader with an assortment of former criminals devoted to him and each other. He knows that there is a traitor within his ranks and slowly but surely he unmasks the villain. Great read and new hero to watch, and I will.