Riesgo mortal

Mike Tucker #1

by Brian Coffey, Dean Koontz, Alberto Magnet (Translator)

Un cuarteto de profesionales ha planeado un golpe espectacular: interceptar una cuantiosa entrega de dinero destinado a Rosario Baglio, un capo mafioso. Sin embargo una maniobra errónea hace fracasar la operación y uno de los cuatro hombres cae en manos de los mafiosos .
Tucker, el cerebro del grupo, no encaja la derrota y en lugar de ocultarse en las entrañas de la gran ciudad decide penetrar en la mansión de Baglio, rescatar a su compañero y apropiarse de sus maletas repletas de dinero y estrchamente vigiladas.
Una solución descabellada que debe aplicarse en menos de 48 horas.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Crime

313 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Note: More than one author wrote under the Brian Coffey name. For the Irish poet, go here. For the books by Dean Koontz writing as Brian Coffey, stay here.

Dean R. Koontz has also published under the names Leigh Nichols, Brian Coffey, David Axton, and Owen West].

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the surface Blood Risk bares resemblance to the well-known series by Richard Stark featuring criminal extraordinaire, Parker, insofar as the synopsis and lead character. However, shortly after a failed heist, resulting in one member of a professional gang of thieves being captured by the mob (not an enviable position), the plot turned 'rescue mission', with any noir sentiment thrown out the window in favor of a survival and special ops-like focus.

The action scenes, being prominent in the beginning and end of the book only, make for some downtime in-between the bullets and broads which enables some strong character development and backstory. Despite a lack of story progression, I didn't mind this slower pace (the book is only 160 pages long, so the intervening period wasn't exactly lengthy).

[Sumit Singla · Rating 2 out of 5]

No wonder Dean Koontz wrote this under a pseudonym. If the paper-thin plot and two-dimensional characters are what he writes, then I think I'll have to give his other works a pass.

Tucker assembles a team of capable individuals to rob a mafioso, but things start to go horribly wrong. Will the group be able to reassemble and accomplish their original mission with added complexities?

I didn't completely understand Tucker's motivation for the 'crime' and also what overall drives his character. Most of the other characters are shallow and perhaps that will change in the subsequent books.

Overall, quite a disappointment and I do hope Koontz's other books are better.

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is more like a novella since it is only 160 pages. The author is actually Dean Koontz as Brian Coffey was one of his pen names before he became well known. This book is your basic money heist book which goes awry.

Before Dean Koontz became known for his supernatural thrillers he wrote different genre books like science fiction or thrillers. This is one of those books. It was a quick, decent read. I am a fan of Dean Koontz and what I admire about his work is his characters. One can tell this is an early work as there isn't much to his main character. He leads a double life and we get a look into both lives. The problem is that we never really learn the motive behind his secret life. I needed the main character to be fleshed out a little more like Dean Koontz has done in his known works. As of the story, it was pretty straight forward and nothing really new here.

This was more of a novelty read for me as I am trying to read every Dean Koontz work. (This is more complicated than it sounds because of the crazy prices for some of his early books.) It was a quick read and it is what I basically expected. If you are looking for an example of his amazing books this is not it and I would try something else.

[Douglas Castagna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent caper novel in the vein of the Parker novels by Richard Stark. The story is streamlined and the action moves at a decent clip. Not the typical Dean R Koontz fare but then again, he wrote this when he was starting out and wrote in a lot of different genres instead of the mash-up ubergenre he has become famous for. Nice read.

[Pedro Plasencia Martínez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Riesgo Mortal o Blood Risk según su título original, es una novela trepidante que parece casi un guion adaptado, creado para dar a luz a una cinta de acción clásica. Aquí la sencillez predomina sobre cualquier cosa, se nos cuenta un golpe que quiere dar una banda de ladrones contra un mafioso. No hay metáforas, ni poesía, ni demasiada exploración psicológica que digamos y los pocos análisis que podemos encontrar, se presentan en servicio de las persecuciones, las peleas, la obtención de armas, los allanamientos y las habilidades criminales de los protagonistas. Esto hace que la trama siempre vaya al grano sin rodeos, pero le resta profundidad. Llevo 15 libros de Koontz leídos y puedo asegurar que este es el más impersonal de todos, está bien escrito, es disfrutable, pero no se reconoce al autor en ningún momento.

Review in english:

Riesgo Mortal or Blood Risk according to its original title, is a fast-paced novel that almost seems like an adapted script, created to give birth to a classic action film. Here simplicity predominates over anything, we are told of a coup that a gang of thieves wants to carry out against a gangster. There are no metaphors, no poetry, nor much psychological exploration, so to speak, and the few analyzes that we can find are presented in service of the chases, fights, obtaining weapons, raids, and the criminal skills of the protagonists. This means that the plot always gets to the point without detours, but it takes away from its depth. I have read 15 Koontz books and I can assure you that this is the most impersonal of all, it is well written, it is enjoyable, but the author is not recognized at any time.

[MikeR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pulp fiction heist novel by Dean Koontz using the pseudonym Brian Coffey. Simple, fast paced novel which is the first of a series of Mike Tucker novels.

The Characters are very interesting yet not overly developed which would occur in the subsequent novels.
Mike Tucker, an affluent individual due to an inheritance left by his mother, yet the money is not readily available being controlled by his father, thus his involvement with criminal ventures. He leads a double life as an antique dealer.
Jimmy Shirillo, a young man with a debt to settle with the target, mafia boss Rossario Baglio.
Pete Harris, an aging WWII veteran unable to assimilate with society leading to his life of crime.
Merle Bachman the "getaway" driver.

When the heist goes wrong due to an unforeseen accident, Bachman is captured by the mafia and, fearing they will be named, the remaining trio undertake a rescue mission, breaking into Baglio's mob protected estate.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dean Koontz or Brian Coffey? Supposedly a pen name? This is certainly different from Koontz's other work, but very well done.

A crime caper with depth and some curiosity about Tucker - great character.

Well written and enjoyable.

Recommended

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time read of this book. Brian Coffey first book......actually Dean Koontz. Its not jo to standard as a Koontz book I don't think but its good on its own merits for sure. Little over an hours read.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

its different style of koontz

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leído para la categoría “A book with a criminal character” de ATY 2019 challenger.

Es un libro con una trama bastante simple, pero llena de acción lo que hace bastante ameno de leer, no es absolutamente para nada de horror si piensan que como el autor es Dean Koontz y por ende debe serlo, sino de acción y esta escrito bajo un seudónimo.

En fin la historia es sobre un atraco que no funciona bien y que lleva a nuestro grupo de ladrones a realizar un tipo de rescate por ciertas circunstancia. El protagonista principal lleva una doble vida, y será él el único personaje donde la historia estará más centrada y por ende más conoceremos, aunque tampoco se nos profundizara mucho, el libro está más centrado en la acción de los planes y el momento del rescate que en otra cosa.

Es una historia entretenida, pero no va más allá de eso.

Puntaje Final: 2.5 estrellas.

[Marsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un libro distraido pero nada más...
Es una historia de acción dentro del género del thriller y la novela negra, sin muchas pretensiones argumentales más allá de explicar de forma lineal y directa un rescate perpetrado por unos delincuentes. El autor no aporta muchos matices ni trabaja mucho la ambientación o los personajes. Va al grano. Eso hace que el libro tenga ritmo, se lea bien y que se haga más interesante y trepidante conforme avança. Pero repito, sin ser nada del otro mundo.
Es más, he encontrado que es un poco previsible, no hay grandes sorpresas ni giros argumentales brillantes y el final es plano e insulso, un "happy end" prescindible.

Parece un libro de encargo para hacer caja aprovechando el tirón que a lo mejor el autor ya tenía en los tiempos en que fue escrito (1973) sin importar que la historia fuera simplona... Suerte que es ameno y corto de leer!

[Nigel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of the Tucker trilogy written under his Brian Coffey pseudonym by Dean Koontz and was one of early works having been written in 1974. The early plot setting did seem a bit a jumpy and completely consistent, but after a few pages it settled down into and easy to read thriller. The plot is very simple after a botched raid on a mafia car transporting the weekly cash takings one of the gang is captured and taken to the local don’s house. Afraid that he might talk the remaining members plot to storm the house and rescue him.
The story contains very little in the way of plot twists but despite that it is a good standard thriller with a good pace which keeps you turning the pages. The action scenes could have been better and I know from reading his later work that Dean matures in this and other areas as his writing experience develops.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

this copy of the book is old - it is still published under the authors name of Brian Coffey before Dean Koontz was connected to it. The plot is rather basic and to be honest a little thin, there is so much that could be fleshed out, thing hinted at but never explained or expanded (I see there are in fact 3 books in the series, I wonder if they pick up on any of the aspects missed or over looked in this book). However the action is fast and none stop which make this book a real page tuner simply because you want to see what happens next and not leave the characters in the middle of it all. I will admit that it was a fun read more so than I was expecting but then again Dean Koontz always was good at keeping the momentum going and keeping you turning those pages.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four men waited on the narrow mountain road for the Cadillac carrying 341,890, the biweekly taking of a Mafia cell. Four men who had never failed in a heist before, on their fourteenth operation in three years: Shirillo, watching in the long grass; Pete Harris with a submachine gun; Bachman in the getaway car; and Mike Tucker, art dealer and professional thief; the perfectionist. As the big Cadillac slewed round the bend, none of them realized that this time Tucker had made a fatal miscalcuation that would plunge them all into a blood war against the Mafia

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good early Koontz book. If you can get a hold of a copy it is worth a read.

[Helen Bassett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was interesting and enjoyed reading it.

[Simon Gelling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring and not very involving