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 on the verge of making a move into big-time Indiana politics. Behr is working for an exclusive investigation company, and it’s an uncomfortable fit, both literally and philosophi­cally. The uneasy stability is quickly rocked by a burst of automatic weapons fire as an attempt is made on the promi­nent client, and Behr manages to protect him and repel the attackers. Though Behr is celebrated for his heroism, he can’t help but investigate what happened in that garage and why the Indianapolis cops seem to be burying the incident.

As David Levien has masterfully done in his previous nov­els, he weaves a crime story that is teeming with real characters and electric energy centered on the brooding psyche of Frank Behr. Thirteen Million Dollar Pop is unyieldingly compelling and will give readers yet another reason to enlist with this superbly talented writer.

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Detective, Noir

290 pages, Hardcover

First published August 9, 2011

About the author

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 the Sun with Random House.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 fast reactions saves Kolodnik.

Frank is treated like a hero and the next day, the governor appoints Kolodnik as a replacement when the senior senator from Indiana resigns to fight advanced prostate cancer.

Everyone seems satisfied but Frank. He's an investigator and wants answers. When he asks about the official investigation, he's stonewalled.

The story describes a real estate developer named Lowell Gantcher. There was supposed to be a development including a casino that would sell quickly and make millions for Gantcher. He made a deal with Shug Saunders to attempt to get Kolodnik's influence but when Kolodnik was appointed to office, put his business dealings on hold. Now the economy and other factors stalled the development and Gantcher is overextended.

The author explores Frank's goal of solving the crime. We also witness his tender moments with Susan as she nears delivery date. Frank also shows that he likes to help people who are being unjustly treated as when he tries to help his boss from a serious family situation.

The pacing of the novel is masterful. Things are calm at the start of the story, after the attempt on Kolodnik's life, the author gives the reader background on the events. Then the story speeds up like a hurricane as the action continues and suspense mounts. Each charater is fully drawn and comes alive in the pages of the story.

This is one of the best mysteries of the year and shouldn't be missed.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 that it should have been and he's ambushed in an underground car park by a lone shooter with some very fancy weaponry. Frank foils the hit but the shooter gets away... and beyond a lot of pats on the back nobody seems to want to investigate. Now this is where I have my only quibble with the book. Motivation. Frank's motivation. Usually the plot dictates that the protagonist has to take the case or bad things are going to happen to them as a result. This one has nothing of the sort. In fact it's quite clear from the outset that poking your nose into things is going to cost you at the very least your job, and it's going to paint targets on your back, your girlfriend's back and one for that little unborn life too. He's confronted several times and asked just what are his motivations and the best he can offer are vague notions of things being personal and even just outright boredom. Maybe, as somebody suggests, he's just a glory hound.
Other than that the book is very entertaining; a twisty corporate shenanigans plot, a lethal Welsh hitman, lots of action and a hero who won't lie down. This is the third in David Levien's series featuring Frank Behr and my copy was titled The Contract even though it's previously been published as 13 Million Dollar Pop, though I guess that doesn't translate too well outside the States.
Review from an advanced readers copy.

[Giovanni Gelati]

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 Frank Behr gives, he is just a straight forward juggernaut of righteousness that won’t stop till he has all the answers no matter good or bad they are. Picture your favorite dog on ‘roids with the intent to chew his favorite bone till he is done, then you have Frank Behr. The surrounding cast of characters are just fun; he introduces one that I hope will be a great partner for Frank in new novels, my fingers are crossed. Personally I would like to read a stand-alone novel with this character in it, possibly as a retro novel, a prequel to get more of the man, as what was shown here was very tightly controlled. My suggestion at the bear minimum is to get this on your to read list ASAP, but I suggest getting it into your hands as quick as possible and go for the blistering ride, the ending is like being shot out of a cannon in circus, watching all three rings pass under you.
Here is the synopsis:
“The bestselling 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 acclaim.
In an Indianapolis underground parking structure, Frank Behr is on an executive protection detail for Bernard “Bernie Cool” Kolodnik, a hard-driving business mogul on the verge of making a move into big-time Indiana politics. Behr is working for an exclusive investigation company, and it’s an uncomfortable fit, both literally and philosophi­cally. The uneasy stability is quickly rocked by a burst of automatic weapons fire as an attempt is made on the promi­nent client, and Behr manages to protect him and repel the attackers. Though Behr is celebrated for his heroism, he can’t help but investigate what happened in that garage—and why the Indianapolis cops seem to be burying the incident.
As David Levien has masterfully done in his previous nov­els, he weaves a crime story that is teeming with real charac­ters and electric energy—centered on the brooding psyche of Frank Behr. Thirteen Million Dollar Pop is unyieldingly compelling and will give readers yet another reason to enlist with this superbly talented writer. “

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 go back an read the previous 2. 5 out of 5 stars, read this book folks, you will not be disappointed.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

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 and starts digging anyway.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

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?

[Clancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best new characters out there right now. Exciting and gritty story, each one is better than the next.

[Harry Lane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic hard-boiled noir.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those prime examples of a book I would have never read, had it not been for this challenge. PopSugar 2019: "A book with 'pop,' 'sugar,' or 'challenge' in the title." I literally typed "pop" into my library database and picked the first audiobook with 4 reviews or higher.

This is definitely one of those airport detective crime novels.
Pros:
-Despite being #3 in the series, this did a great job as a standalone. It explained concepts or characters that I'm sure were covered in other books in a concise enough way that I understood, but hopefully wouldn't have driven a constant reader nuts.
-The narrator was interesting, did a good job with accents, and had good pacing.
-Despite dozens of characters, the plot was easy to follow and wrapped up with enough detail to be satisfying, but enough cliffhanger if someone wanted to continue.

Cons:
-Nothing stand-out about it. Which is fine! Feels like a pretty average episode of a CSI spin-off.
-The main character kind of sucks. It makes sense for his character and it's totally believable, but it's wild that his girlfriend has stuck by him through some pretty major suckage. Then again, I don't know their back story.

PopSugar 2019: "A book with 'pop,' 'sugar,' or 'challenge' in the title."

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this novel about Frank Behr, a former police detective now working for a private company that provides protection and investigative services. He doesn't like his new job, but he needs something steady to pay the bills now that his girlfriend is pregnant with their first child. Frank fills in on a routine protection case that turns ugly when a professional hitman tries to take out the client. Frank is told he did well and to move on to his next case. Frank can't let it go. I feel the author lost control of the story for a bit, with what seemed every little thing happening in Frank's life leading him back to the shooting. The characterizations are okay if a bit sketchy - more could have been done to flesh out some of them. The story is well told despite some of its unbelievability.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a little bit of bulldog in every private investigator. However, Frank Behr is the ultimate PI bulldog. Once he's on the scent, he can't be stopped. You want him on your side, not tracking you. There's no finesse, no "shaken not stirred," just full out pursuit. You get the picture?

I'm reading this series in order and David Levien puts Frank in some interesting situations and the plot though slightly unbelievable, keeps your attention. Yes, Frank is a bulldog, but also a lone wolf, he works best when it's just him. Though he gets a little help in this novel from an unexpected source, it's still mostly all Frank Behr. Hey David Levien, how about getting back to this series and writing us a couple more, pretty please?

[Art · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank Behr is wearing a tie and working for the man, joining an elite firm to do their dirty work. But the money and the benefits are good. So you know it can't last, right?

He is working a supposedly easy personal security detail when someone tries to shoot his protectee, a real estate multi millionaire. Most guys would count their blessings and consider it a win that neither he nor his charge were hurt.

Instead, Frank has to get to the bottom of it and figure out who tried to shoot him and why. When the Indianapolis police tryo to stonewall their investigation, it gives him even more reason to pursue the lost cause.

And when Behr gets personal, you know it's going to get ugly.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thirteen Million Dollar Pop (Frank Behr, #3) by David Levien

11 years since I read book 2 where the dead lay and not sure why I waited so long.
Behr now working as an executive protection officer survives an attack in an underground car park and so our story begins.
the writing is good and the mystery solid.
Behr is fun to spend time with and Levien keeps you wanting to turn the page.
The chapters are quick and snappy the story just zips along at a good pace.
This is a solid book with good character development and good storytelling it wont be 11 years before I read book 4.

Well worth your time and hard-earned cash.

[Marianne Stehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series a great deal. It is not thrills a minute, but fast moving and takes the time to develop characters. I believe there to be one more installment, which I do not have my hands on yet, hope I get it soon. I want to know what happens to my "friends." That is the tell-tale sign of a good book, when characters become friends and who need to know what happens with them.

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can see this as a film, reading book 1 then book 3, thought that I missed something

[Mailmanr5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this character. Pretty good story.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read of this author. The writing is very good, story believable and good characters

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow ...........................

[Adrienne Yee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kicks ass. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relentless suspense crime thriller.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of technical fighting terms, not boxing, more like hand-to-hand combat.

[Frank Consalvo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in a series. Might be the weakest so far. Yet it is still a solid read. If you like tough crime dramas with good action and a tough hero then this will satisfy.

[Mr.Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two good stories.

[Peter Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot and characters, great read!

[Mike]

Sept 2013 #3 of 4

[J Edward Tremlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 realizing he was right. They're wanting him to perform break-ins and other "gray" activities on their behalf. So far he's been able to say no, and they've been willing to laugh it off, but he doesn't know how long he can keep refusing to do what they brought someone like him on board for; after all, every investigation outfit needs a bull on a leash to break down the china shop, and that's him.

Then a security detail gone wrong shakes up his own porcelain -- literally -- as the high-rolling businessman he's guarding for the night is almost perforated by an automatic weapon in a parking garage.
Behr's superb handling of the matter saves the client, and makes his employers very pleased with him.

But there's a lot of unanswered and disturbing questions about the timing of the hit (just before the guy gets appointed to a Senate seat in D.C.? REALLY?) and his own outfit's unwillingness to look further into the matter disturbs him. Of course, he's not surprised that the Indianapolis PD isn't too seemingly energetic, much less helpful, about the matter -- that's part of why he left them in the first place.

But when the guy he saved seems to want to shove his near-assassination down the memory hole, too, Behr realizes there's a lot more to this than what he's being told. And giving him the cold-shouldered runaround just encourages him.

Before long, Behr's up to his bull neck in real estate deals gone wrong, gambling, blackmail, hired thugs, and the kind of quietly corrupt, sweep-it-under-the-rug dirty politics only a seemingly clean city like Indianapolis could cradle to its bosom and care for. It's the sort of thing he knows how to handle very well, but his employers aren't too keen about him sniffing around the crime on company time. And when another assassin slides into town to clean up the other's mess, Behr's going to have to tread carefully if he wants to live to uncover the secret of the Thirteen Million Dollar Pop.

Levien's sophomore run with Behr, Where the Dead Lay, was something of a disappointment after the taut and harrowing masterpiece that was City of the Sun. With his latest work, the indefatigable PI is back on top of his game with a harsh roar of a story that pulls no punches, and evokes both dread and cheering as the clues and bodies stack up, side by side. Behr is a delightfully flawed creation, broken yet unbreakable, who crashes after the truth -- and occasionally justice -- regardless of who and what tries to get in his way.

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 from a grateful Kolodnik—Frank can't help but investigate the incident himself, and he doesn't understand why the police aren't making more of an effort to figure things out. And when Kolodnik is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate shortly after the attack, everyone around him is in a hurry to pretend the incident never happened.

As Frank digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding the attack, he finds evidence of crooked business deals and layers of betrayal, and he comes face to face with one very angry and lethal hitman. But the more he investigates, the more danger he finds himself in, danger that has repercussions that affect his very pregnant girlfriend, Susan, and others in his life. Yet Frank is unable to shake his need to find answers, no matter what the consequences.

I am a big fan of David Levien's Frank Behr novels, and 13 Million Dollar Pop is a fantastic addition to the series. Frank is a very complicated and conflicted character, and you empathize with him even as you wonder if he is doing the right thing by pursuing the investigation. Levien definitely keeps you guessing as to how the plot will unfold, and the action is taut and fast-paced. If the book reads like it should be made into a movie, it's partially because Levien is also a screenwriter and director, but that doesn't mean the book isn't well-written. This is a series you shouldn't miss, and Frank Behr is a character who you won't forget.

[Eric J. Gates · Rating 4 out of 5]

AKA 13 Million Dollar Pop

This is the first of Levien's books that I have come across. The novel is the third featuring his Frank Behr character, and although the tale is peppered with references to the previous novles, the story can be read as a stand-alone without any problems.

I liked the flawed nature of the character, and the fact that his main adversaries always seem to be better than him at what they do, be that fighting or detective work. His character is accurately described as being like 'sand in the gears'; a tenacious righter of perceived wrongs you makes life uncomfortable for all.

The first half of the novel was very inconsistent, however, in that the pace was all over the place, yet in the remaining part the author grabs hold of the reins firmly and rides the tale hard to an almost satisfying finish. I was disappointed that one of the bad guys (a particularly nasty piece of work at that) was left to disappear (perhaps to reappear in a sequel, although there is no inkling of this in the novel) and the reader is left to deduce that Behr's ally Decker may have gone after him. The treatment of this character was a little up in the air and this stood out after all the trouble the writer had gone to to create a solid backstory and believable motivation for his existence.

One Page Stopper (i.e. one of those moments where you read something that is obviously wrong and you leave the tale and start to criticise the writer's lack of research/care mentally) was the use of a very American idiomatic phrase in the mouth of a British character - no way! - that phrase is never used outside the US, sorry. Need to fire your editor for that one. I won't draw other readers' attention to this by identifying the phrase however: American readers won't notice anyway.

Overall, not a bad read; entertaining fare for summer.

[Dejuan Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

13 Million Dollar Pop by David Levien is a great mystery/action novel that is Frank Behr. Frank is a detail that protects Bernard Kolodnik, a real- estate mogul who is thinking about going into the world of politics. The name of the people that he works for are the Caro Group. He doesn’t like them though he is just doing it so he can get money for him and his girlfriend who is nine months pregnant. He does a great job protecting Mr. Kolodnik. In fact he is the reason that Bernard Kolodnik is still alive. People came to try, and kill Mr. Kolodnik but stopped the attackers from hurting anyone.

There are some things that I like in this book, and; one of them is that Frank Behr is an example of how to get your work done even if you don’t enjoy your job. Another thing is that the author used very descriptive language, and taught the readers many new words. There was also things that I didn't like. I felt that there wasn't enough action throughout the whole book so that made the book go from a great book to a good one. Another thing that I didn't like about the book was that Frank Behr’s back story wasn't fully explained. I never really felt like I knew who Frank Behr truly was.

Even though there wasn't enough action for me throughout the book I still feel that it is a good book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to read about Mystery and Crime. The author made me feel like I can do something that I don't want to because of the way that Frank Behr did his job every day even though he didn't like the job itself, or the people that worked around him.

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 vein as the second book, Where the Dead Lay, it is such a deviation from the first book in the series that it hardly seems fair to shelve them alongside one another. Behr, the main character, is not even remotely likable anymore. And all the relationships - not just those between Behr share no semblance with reality any more. The police actions and way they relate with Behr is downright ludicrous. I also did not care for the more politically slanted plot. It is definitely a fast and violent read, but it simply isn’t a very good book at all.