* Review * THICK AS THIEVES by Sandra Brown

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Thick as Thieves by Sandra Brown
Published by Grand Central Publishing on August 25, 2020
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In this tantalizing thriller, 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.

A stunning uncovering of secrets, lies and corruption! Sandra Brown has indeed brought her A game with the release of THICK AS THIEVES and I could not have loved it more. The drama and mystery from the start hooked my attention quickly and held it throughout the twists and turns of finding out what truly happened that night. I loathed putting it down for even a minute before finding out the whole story.

Arden Maxwell is an interesting character. She’s returned home two decades after the night that changed her life forever and just wants answers once and for all of what happened to her father. Did he really abandon his family for the draw of almighty greed or did he meet with foul play? Arden has secrets of her own that are slowly given to the reader as we fall under her spell and begin to hope for a brighter future for her.

Ledge Burnet won me over fairly quickly. We know from the start that he was the troubled teen that took part in the heist for his own reasons, but Arden doesn’t know he was involved as they begin to connect over remodeling her house, his family business and his concern over the shoddy DA having her in his sights.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an interwoven mystery that takes many twists and turns before light is shed on what truly happened. The added hint of a romantic entanglement between Arden and Ledge adds a great dimension to the story line.

PUBLISHER: GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING

RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 25, 2020

AVAILABLE FORMATS: AUDIO, E-BOOK, HARDCOVER

In this tantalizing thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown, a woman, seeking to learn her father’s involvement in a twenty-year-old heist that ended in murder, runs afoul of his accomplices.

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.