Thick as Thieves

Written by Sandra Brown

Narrated by Kyf Brewer

In this tantalizing thriller from a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a woman uncovers lifelong secrets as she searches for the truth behind her father's involvement in a heist gone wrong.

Twenty years ago in the dead of night, four seemingly random individuals pulled the ultimate heist and almost walked away with half a million dollars. But by daybreak, their plan had been shot to hell. One of them was in the hospital. One was in jail. One was dead. And one got away with it.

Arden Maxwell, the daughter of the man who disappeared all those years ago—presumably with the money, after murdering his accomplice—has never reconciled with her father's abandonment of her and her sister. After countless personal setbacks she decides to return to her family home near mysterious Caddo Lake, and finally get answers to the many questions that torment her. Little does she know, two of her father's co-conspirators—a war hero and a corrupt district attorney—are watching her every move.

Ledge Burnet, a rebellious teen at the time of the heist, evaded his jail sentence by enlisting in the army. Now he's back in town to care for his ailing father—and to keep his eye on the county's corrupt district attorney, whom he suspects was the real murderer. Although the two are bound to silence because of the crime they committed together, each has spent years waiting and hoping that the other will make a fatal misstep. But the arrival of their elusive accomplice's daughter, Arden, who may know more about the missing money than she's telling, sets them both on red alert. She ignites Ledge's determination to expose the D.A.'s treachery . . . and sparks a desire he wishes to deny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hachette Audio
• Release date: Aug 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781549156328

Sandra Brown

Sandra Brown is the author of seventy-three New York Times bestsellers. She has published over eighty novels and has upwards of eighty million copies of her books in print worldwide. Her work has been translated into thirty-five languages. Four books have been adapted for film. She lives in Texas.

[zmagic69 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My first time reading a book by this author. Excellent writing, well plotted murder mystery with well thought out surprising twists.
I will definitely be reading more books from this author.

[ftbooklover · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Arden Maxwell decides to have her baby and live in the house that she and her sister vacated when Arden was ten year old. At the time, their father had disappeared leading to accusations that he committed a burglary of a local business and the murder of one of his accomplices. However, it isn't long before she loses her baby in the middle of the local grocery store. While trying to survive the depression that follows, Arden's sister, Lisa, attempts to convince her to come back with her to Dallas until she decides what to do with the rest of her life, but Arden isn't ready to leave the past behind and makes a plan to renovate the house using local contractor Ledge Burnet. Ledge's initial refusal doesn't deter Arden because she is now determined more than ever to find out what happened the night her father left them on the eve of Easter all those years ago.

Troubling in Thick as Thieves is that Arden's miscarriage is seemly no more than a plot device that is gone as quickly as it is mentioned, however, the book is filled with suspense and intriguing secrets leading to a couple of dandy twists near the end of the book. The plot, though, doesn't hold up in the last several pages of the book, and the dialogue becomes stilted and less than realistic. These issues detract from a story that has many strong points. Overall, this is a decent romantic suspense story with a somewhat overly dramatic ending. 3 1/2 stars.

[whiskeyinthejar-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

After leaving her home twenty years ago with her father missing and older sister now responsible for her care, Arden Maxwell is back in Penton. Pregnant and wanting to fix up her childhood home to start fresh, Arden suddenly loses the baby. With her sister Lisa hounding her to leave Penton and come live with her, two months later Arden is rising out of her grief and deciding that she needs answers to the night her father disappeared.
Ledge Burnet knows that Arden is in town and has been trying to keep an eye on her while keeping his distance. He's always been waiting for the truth of that night twenty years ago to come out but he doesn't want Arden to get caught in the crossfire.
The past with all its lies and history swirl in the Texas bayou.

“Talking about it is the surefire way to get caught.”

Thick as Thieves starts with a prologue from twenty years ago as four individuals meet after robbing a large family goods store. From there we jump to present time and interspersed with Arden and Ledge's point-of-view chapters, we get flashbacks to the robbery night from the individuals involved. The main robbery outline is revealed early and instead the finer details of the night are left to be colored in as you read. For the most part, the reader knows more than Arden, which I liked, and we're following along as she discovers what happened and who to trust.

“One of these days I'll probably have to kill him.”

The leader of the robbery group, Rusty Dyle, had a credible role as villain but while he had the power, sheriff's son and then District Attorney, he lacked a strong motive or a certain je nais sais qoui to his thoughts and actions; he fell a little flat as the bully for the sake of being a bully villain. Ledge as our cool, solid, but shadowed hero that almost had more chemistry with his hate relationship with Dusty than his lusty one with Arden. There's some underlining sizzle between the two but the romance thread felt forced with Ledge instantly lusting after Arden and Arden feeling strong caution but physical attraction seeping through. They lacked an emotional and relationship development closeness and we mostly just get in kisses and “I want you” forced in between the robbery and murder mystery and Arden searching for answers.

He lowered his head and focused on the one stair step between them. “Because I would be seeing you every day, but having to keep my hands off you.” He looked up at her from beneath his brows and spoke from the heart. “And I don't think I can do that.”

I thought the mystery, thriller aspect of this was paced well, it's gradual with answer reveals but the story pulls you in. As this read more as a mystery/thriller to me, I did like it but anyone reading this for a strong romance plot, I would say lower your expectations as Arden and Ledge's relationship depth isn't there. A big reveal was left to the very end that made me want to go back and read the story to see if there were clues I missed and while there was some surprise to it, I felt more irked deceived than enjoyed deceived because of how late it was left to be revealed. While I enjoyed the easy pace for the vast majority, I did think the ending left too much for the very end and made it feel piled on, especially for the character of Arden, who don't get to really see work through the reveals.

“I take to you, Ledge.” She hugged him tighter.

This had a strong beginning and middle with a gradual paced mystery that gives a lot of answers but saves big truths until the very end. The romance felt forced for the most part but the overall story will definitely capture your attention and have you contently wandering in the slow mysterious Texas bayou for hours.

[mchwest · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I always loved Sandra Browns novels, they would twist at the end and surprise me. This just kinda went on and on, there was a twist, but it really didn't add to the story line. It was still an ok read!

[patrusca-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

it was just OK

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As usual, Sandra Brown has written a solid mystery with romantic undertones. In this novel, 4 people are involved in a robbery, but one is intent on double crossing all of them and keeping the money.
Fast forward to years later, and Arden Maxwell has returned to her hometown and her childhood home. She hasn’t seen her father since the night of the robbery, when he was blamed for the gruesome murder of Brian Foster. Arden’s older sister, Lisa, didn’t want her returning to their old house. But, Arden feels a sense of loss and abandonment.
In town. there is a long simmering feud between Ledge, a carpenter, and Rusty, the DA. Rusty is slimy, and Ledge has a questionable past. Ledge is keeping an eye on Arden, but so is Rusty.
Ledge and Arden become involved, but they are in danger from Rusty. Even Lisa isn’t safe from Rusty. It all comes to an explosive head when confessions are made.
Another solid entry from Sandra Brown.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.

#ThickAsThieves #SandraBrown #Edelweiss