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Thirteen Million Dollar Pop (Frank Behr #3)
by
David Levien
The acclaimed author of City of the Sun returns with a relentlessly taut new novel featuring enigmatic private investigator Frank Behr and the American heartland setting that has won David Levien critical raves.
In an Indianapolis underground parking structure, Frank Behr is on an executive protection detail for Bernard “Bernie Cool” Kolodnik, a hard-driving business mogul...more
In an Indianapolis underground parking structure, Frank Behr is on an executive protection detail for Bernard “Bernie Cool” Kolodnik, a hard-driving business mogul...more
Hardcover, 290 pages
Published
August 9th 2011
by Doubleday
(first published August 2011)
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Review from badelynge.
Taking a last minute protection detail from a colleague, ex Indianapolis cop and former P.I. Frank Behr doesn't know what he's letting himself in for. Now working for the Caro group , a security firm, Frank spends most of his working days at a desk, compiling security checks for contracted firms and organisations. He's bored to tears but circumstances and a pregnant girlfriend don't leave him too many other options. The security detail turns out to be a lot less routine tha...more
Taking a last minute protection detail from a colleague, ex Indianapolis cop and former P.I. Frank Behr doesn't know what he's letting himself in for. Now working for the Caro group , a security firm, Frank spends most of his working days at a desk, compiling security checks for contracted firms and organisations. He's bored to tears but circumstances and a pregnant girlfriend don't leave him too many other options. The security detail turns out to be a lot less routine tha...more
Bone-crunching thriller from Hollywood scriptwriter David Levien. It's about his regular hero, ex-cop Frank Behr, having to take a job in a high-end security firm. He doesn't like suits, taking orders, BlackBerry phones or being shot at – which is exactly what happens when he minds businessman Bernard Kolodnik. No one in his company or the police seem that anxious to find out why Bernie Cool was a target. So Frank, whose partner is expecting a baby and who needs the job, ignores all the warnings...more
Sep 02, 2011
Giovanni Gelati
added it
When I finished reading this I heard “Welcome to the Jungle” by Guns and Roses blaring on my XM/Sirius boombox, very fitting. This was my first read on a David Levien novel and it will not be my last. The character he has created in Frank Behr is nothing short of amazing and satisfying. He is fractured yet looking to seal the cracks kind of hero that had me enthralled the entire read. The code of ethics that Levien has instilled in him is simple, strong and unbreakable. It seems nothing about Fr...more
The last time we met with Frank Behr, PI, he was reluctantly accepting a position with an investigation outfit named Caro. He wasn't keen on joining up, partially because of that suit and tie thing, but also because he could tell that something wasn't quite right. But in spite of the way they played him, he was needing a steady gig, running out of friends, and about to become a father.
PI instinct aside, settling into their orbit seemed the prudent thing to do.
Now, some time later, Behr's realizi...more
Indianapolis private investigator Frank Behr returns in this outstanding third installment of David Levien's series of mystery/thrillers. One night in an underground parking lot, working executive protection detail for multimillionaire businessman Bernard "Bernie Cool" Kolodnik, Frank and his wealthy client are attacked by automatic gunfire. Pinned behind the door of an armored vehicle, Frank returns fire and is able to keep his client protected. While he is hailed as a hero, and receives thanks...more
Two of the main appeals of Davie Levien's novels are his intricate plots and multi-demensional characters.
In "13 Million Dollar Pop," Frank Behr is a relatively new employee at the Caro Group, private investigators and personal security advisors. As the story opens, he's searching for a home with his girlfriend, Susan, who is nearing delivery of their first child.
Frank is doing a favor for a friend at work and providing security for Bernard Kolodnik when someone tries to kill Kolodnik. Frank's f...more
In "13 Million Dollar Pop," Frank Behr is a relatively new employee at the Caro Group, private investigators and personal security advisors. As the story opens, he's searching for a home with his girlfriend, Susan, who is nearing delivery of their first child.
Frank is doing a favor for a friend at work and providing security for Bernard Kolodnik when someone tries to kill Kolodnik. Frank's f...more
I enjoyed Levien's first Frank Behr novel, City of the Sun, a few years ago, so I graciously accepted a copy of this novel from Doubleday. I had a problem with the debut novel being *another* kidnapping novel, but I got the original plot line in this one! The setting is still Indianapolis (yay!), but the conspiracy is racinos and those who run them. Politics and economics control everything, even in Indiana! When Behr gets shot at while protecting an Indy businessman, he can't rest until he figu...more
Because of how much I enjoyed Levien’s debut novel, City of the Sun, I thought I would give this latest installment of the Frank Behr series a shot. Unfortunately, this is the last one in the series for me. Yes, it is also currently the most recent volume published, but I am striking Levien’s name from “Authors To Watch For” list. Just as with the second volume in the series, Levien has failed again to recapture the atmosphere and tension of his first book. Though this does follow in the same ve...more
A thriller with an overload of testosterone. Frank Behr is doing a job he hates because he is developing a domestic side and is awaiting the birth of a child with his girlfriend, Susan. Must provide a paycheck and some stability to his life, but this job is anything but stable. The opening chapter has Frank and the man he is supposed to be protecting shot at by someone with sophisticated weapons. It is a guy read with all kinds of manly maneuvers in fights, manfully described. Frank seldom messe...more
I really really liked the first book, the second one was pretty good. But this one, geeze, I thought the author would never get to the point, I was well into Chapter 36 when I realized that I wasn't sure what the hell was going on, I don't think the author did either. He spent far too long building to the point and then wrapped the whole thing up in a few short chapters. Thus giving me far too long to realize that I am not even sure I like his main character. I kept wanting to shout to his pregn...more
Review based on ARC from Doubleday:
What a pleasant surprise this book was. I was familiar with David Levien due to his movie work, screenplays etc., but not as a novel writer. 13 Million Dollar Pop was well written, well crafted/plotted. It's not often you get to read crime/cop fiction that doesn't go over the top, but Leviene did it. This book was an absolute joy to read and I have now found a new hero to root for in Frank Behr. This being the 3rd book in the Frank Behr series, I now have to g...more
What a pleasant surprise this book was. I was familiar with David Levien due to his movie work, screenplays etc., but not as a novel writer. 13 Million Dollar Pop was well written, well crafted/plotted. It's not often you get to read crime/cop fiction that doesn't go over the top, but Leviene did it. This book was an absolute joy to read and I have now found a new hero to root for in Frank Behr. This being the 3rd book in the Frank Behr series, I now have to g...more
In this 3rd installment, PI Frank Behr takes a corporate security firm job and immediately and literally comes under fire guarding an Indianapolis mover and shaker with political aspirations. Understandably miffed at nearly being killed, Frank begins to look deeper into who shot at him and why. Fighting both his employer’s wishes and the Indy Police Dept., Frank chases down loose ends until he finds himself over his head with a contract killer. Different, dark, and good reading!
-Steve K.-
-Steve K.-
I remember really enjoying City of the Sun, which was the first novel to feature Frank Behr. so when I saw this I picked it up. I didn't realize there is another novel in between, so I felt like I was missing bits. I will go back and read the second book.
Also, the thriller aspect wasn't as taut because of the white collar crime and multiple perspectives you could see all the people involved. A lot of senseless violence by Waddy. I wonder if there will be a fourth book with a show down.
Also, the thriller aspect wasn't as taut because of the white collar crime and multiple perspectives you could see all the people involved. A lot of senseless violence by Waddy. I wonder if there will be a fourth book with a show down.
Once again David Levien has produced a winner. This book pits a professional private investigator (Frank Behr) against a professional Hit Man (Waddy Dwyer). As Waddy's accomplice put it “when pros lock up, everyone gets hurt.” This book illustrated the politics and back stabbing that goes on when a lot of $$ is involved in both the legal and government environments. Levien has left the door open for another sequel and I for one hope he will continue this series. This book packs a punch.
This was a well-written crime novel. I gather it is part of a series featuring Frank Behr, a former cop/investigator now working for a "white-shoe" private security company. He is chafing at the bit with this job, but his girl friend his pregnant and he needs the salary. When an attempt is made on a client's life that he is guarding, the story gets set in motion. Although I found it to be somewhat convoluted and muddled in parts, it's basically an intelligently-written story.
PI Frank Behr is working for a private security firm to get a regular paycheck because his girlfriend is pregnant. While on a protection detail he saves a politically connected businesman from being shot. The police don't think much of the attempted hit but the more Frank investigates on his own,the more people start dying.
Another fast-paced storyline and great action from Levien. Frank Behr rivals Jack Reacher as a strong hero-type character. I received a free copy of this book from the publish...more
Another fast-paced storyline and great action from Levien. Frank Behr rivals Jack Reacher as a strong hero-type character. I received a free copy of this book from the publish...more
Levien's second novel is a good bit better than his first. Lots of action with a monstrous villain and an interesting if not completely plausible plot line. The characters are relatively well drawn for a thriller and Frank Behr is a Jack Reacher like hero who doesn't take orders from anyone, regardless of consequences. Suspense builds gradually throughout into an exciting climax. This book is so full of blood and gore that some people may find it difficult to stomach. However, it is definitely h...more
I am enjoying Levien and former cop Frank Behr, series semi-hero. The level of violence, especially hand to hand, is really off the charts. It does, however, keep me turning pages. His endings aren't my favorite but they are so short and quick, that I can ignore them and imagine my own. I do thank the author for settling that endless debate. If you're going to kill someone with a kitchen knife, Wusthof is best.
In my humble opinion this was by far the weakest book in the Frank Behr series. A relatively uninteresting (at least to me)main story, with a side story that made this book readable. As I said in my last update had it not been for a very big finish I was close to putting this book down. I will not hesitate to read the next Frank Behr book but I sincerely hope it is much better than "13 Million Dollar Pop."
Excellent; Continuing character: Frank Behr; with his son near to being born, Behr is working for a security service and is almost killed while subbing on a personal protection job; he goes up against a foreign adversary as well as political and gambling interests
An interesting Chicago noir...not as shocking as THE CHICAGO WAY...and the main character gets involved in one too many mediocre plots (the down on his luck war vet, his boss with a bad daughter, his new baby)...the bad guy here is the real treat.
The 3rd novel in the Frank Behr series, once again very impressed with writers style and plot. The character development was also excellent portraying Behrs current personal life very well. This is a hard hitting, fruity and realistic thriller series and throughly recommended.
Good, well-written pacy thriller with a typically tenacious hero who is unable to move on when a hired gun tries to kill the man he's protecting. The book had the usual ingredients - a flawed, slightly obsessive hero, plenty of action scenes, close brushes with death - and both heroes and villains had the mirror image of a seriously damaged sidekick. For me, the book was a three and a half, as it felt a bit standard issue, though it was unusual for the baddie to be Welsh. Would almost definitely...more
This book has several great elements in making a great story: shady political deals, high-priced escorts, pregnant wives, European guns-for-hire, a parking garage shoot-out and a racino (casino and racetrack combo.) I plan to read more books by Levine.
Not quite as good as the two previous Frank Behr novels. This one had an overly-complicated mystery and not really much happened for about two-thirds of the book. Then it exploded in some pretty gruesome, vivid violence toward the end. Altogether, it was just a bit too much. Levien's other books were more controlled and more interesting.
I don't typically read a lot of crime/suspense stories, but this one was very good. I particularly liked the fact that the characters were more developed than a lot of books of this genre.
I really like the Frank Behr series. He's not your normal main character/good guy. He makes mistakes and is lets his emotions play out in a bad way on occasion. Levien does a great job in making Behr interesting. The story lines and plots are great. If you haven't read a Frank Behr series novel, I highly recommend it.
The first two in this series captivated me. Book three is proving no different.
Very good - definitely will recommend to all mystery/thriller readers.
Never knew crime could be so harsh in Indianapolis?
Very good - definitely will recommend to all mystery/thriller readers.
Never knew crime could be so harsh in Indianapolis?
This is my first and last Frank Behr novel. When one has to resort to killing off innocent pregnant women, its sickening.
Eh. Choppy. A bit too much MMA. A couple of interesting twists, but overall pretty predictable.
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David Levien is an American screenwriter, novelist, director, and producer. Best known as the co-writer of Ocean's Thirteen, Levien has also produced films such as The Illusionist and The Lucky Ones.
As a screenwriter, he has a deal with Paramount Studios. His next project with the studio is the 2009 film The Winter of Frankie Machine, starring Robert DeNiro.
As a novelist, he has published City of...more
More about David Levien...
As a screenwriter, he has a deal with Paramount Studios. His next project with the studio is the 2009 film The Winter of Frankie Machine, starring Robert DeNiro.
As a novelist, he has published City of...more
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