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Wilson Mystery #6
Rocks Beat Paper: A Wilson Mystery
A highly entertaining heist thriller that combines “the intense grit of Richard Stark’s Parker series with the amorality of Jim Thompson’s work” ( Publishers Weekly , starred review) A phone call brought Wilson and nine other men to a job in New York. At first, he couldn’t see a way to make the heist work, but the score ― millions of dollars in diamonds ― motivated him to try. Wilson came up with a plan he knew would work . . . until the inside man got killed and took the job with him. With no way inside, the crew walks away without the diamonds. Now, on his own, Wilson is free to execute the job his way. He sets a con in motion that should run as predictably as a trail of dominoes ― except the con doesn’t rely on inanimate tiles, it relies on people. And when Wilson pushes all the pieces across the board, he finds that there are other players making their own moves against him. No one is willing to walk away because the job is about more than money. The job is about diamonds. And in this game, rocks beat paper every time.
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2017
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391 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 29, 2017
When someone uses the term “hardboiled”, you generally think of novels featuring a gritty PI who ponders the evil men do while saving a dame in distress. Wilson (no 1st name) in not a PI. He’s a thief. And his deep thoughts are reserved for planning a job. But hey, he makes a good living so if it ain’t broke…..
Wilson was invited to be part of a gang with plans to liberate a bag of uncut diamonds from a high end jeweller. But when their inside man suddenly died, so did the job. He wasn’t comfortable with the size of the crew anyway & decides to amend the plan & go for it. All he needs are 2 carefully selected partners: Miles (the conman) & Monica (the driver).
Good thing he’s a determined guy because although he doesn’t know it yet, there are others with the same idea. Stealing large sums of money can be tricky but diamonds are easier to move & hold their value. Or to quote Wilson, rocks beat paper. He, Miles & Monica put the scam in motion but have no idea what or who they’re up against.
This is a gritty, fast paced story that skates past noir to the hardboiled end of the genre. The lean narrative & sparse dialogue keep things moving as the plot zigs & zags in directions you never see coming. We spend most time with Wilson & his crew but there is a small peripheral cast that pops in & out of the story. The result is we’re never quite sure where the threat is coming from. Even as the bodies begin to fall, you may be surprised by who’s left standing at the end.
Most of the action occurs in New York’s meaner neighbourhoods lending a dark, brooding atmosphere to the story but everything revolves around Wilson. He’s an interesting guy. Smart, blunt & pragmatic, he’s a gun for hire who prefers to avoid any personal ties. He has the ability to assess the schematics of a job & find the weak spots. At the end of the day, he just wants to do a job & walk away a few dollars richer. If someone has to die for that to happen, well…such is life.
Don’t go into this expecting an MC who falls into the “charming rogue” category. He’s as unsentimental as it gets. But he’s also brutally honest about who & what he is. I enjoyed his clever scams & ability to quickly come up with a Plan B when necessary. Some characters in this genre can feel derivative but with Wilson, the author has created one that is original & distinct.
This is book #6 in the series & sure to be a hit with fans of cleverly plotted & hard hitting crime drama.
Wilson was invited to be part of a gang with plans to liberate a bag of uncut diamonds from a high end jeweller. But when their inside man suddenly died, so did the job. He wasn’t comfortable with the size of the crew anyway & decides to amend the plan & go for it. All he needs are 2 carefully selected partners: Miles (the conman) & Monica (the driver).
Good thing he’s a determined guy because although he doesn’t know it yet, there are others with the same idea. Stealing large sums of money can be tricky but diamonds are easier to move & hold their value. Or to quote Wilson, rocks beat paper. He, Miles & Monica put the scam in motion but have no idea what or who they’re up against.
This is a gritty, fast paced story that skates past noir to the hardboiled end of the genre. The lean narrative & sparse dialogue keep things moving as the plot zigs & zags in directions you never see coming. We spend most time with Wilson & his crew but there is a small peripheral cast that pops in & out of the story. The result is we’re never quite sure where the threat is coming from. Even as the bodies begin to fall, you may be surprised by who’s left standing at the end.
Most of the action occurs in New York’s meaner neighbourhoods lending a dark, brooding atmosphere to the story but everything revolves around Wilson. He’s an interesting guy. Smart, blunt & pragmatic, he’s a gun for hire who prefers to avoid any personal ties. He has the ability to assess the schematics of a job & find the weak spots. At the end of the day, he just wants to do a job & walk away a few dollars richer. If someone has to die for that to happen, well…such is life.
Don’t go into this expecting an MC who falls into the “charming rogue” category. He’s as unsentimental as it gets. But he’s also brutally honest about who & what he is. I enjoyed his clever scams & ability to quickly come up with a Plan B when necessary. Some characters in this genre can feel derivative but with Wilson, the author has created one that is original & distinct.
This is book #6 in the series & sure to be a hit with fans of cleverly plotted & hard hitting crime drama.
August 5, 2017
A good quick read. This was a different sort of mystery/suspense novel since all the characters are bad guys. You don't want to root for the bad guys but can't help liking him and rooting for him.
August 3, 2017
If I had to pick a name of an author that had floored me with each book they have written, yet they seem unknown in reading circles, I would put Mike Knowles at the top of the list. Knowles has been consistently putting out books that are top notch since 2008 when he burst onto the scene with Darwin’s Nightmare which introduced his series protagonist, Wilson. Knowles has since release 5 books with Wilson as the lead and each one was better than the one that came before it, however, he may have saved his best for his most recent addition to the series, Rocks Beats Paper.
For the uninitiated to the series, Wilson is a man who keeps off the radar. He keeps a very small circle of colleagues and even fewer friends. He prefers it this way because he makes his living pulling heists. Not quick “stick ‘em up” robberies, but large scale ones with big payouts. He tends to pull a job and disappear for large stretches of time while he plots his next job.
In this fast-paced and well plotted book. Wilson comes out of the woodworks to be a part of a 10-million-dollar diamond heist. The first quarter of this book shows you the great depths he puts the crew through to plan for every obstacle and possible outcome of every possible situation they may encounter. Wilson is nothing if not a meticulous planner and he is not afraid to walk away from a job if there is the smallest chance he doesn’t escape with his freedom and his desired spoils.
When the inside man from this planned job dies in a car accident, Wilson is forced to let the planned job die with him. But that doesn’t stop him from resurrecting a new plan for the same score. Wilson is brilliant in his prepping and his planning and this novel is a lot of fun to read.
I have seen many reviews that compare the Wilson novels to the Richard Stark Parker novels. I have only read 1 Parker novel, so perhaps I am not the best to comment on the comparison, but I found this novel to be up to par with the Parker novels and I actually enjoy the Wilson novels more. I am sure that comment won’t sit well with the loyal Parker fans that read this review, but if they at least read a Wilson novel to see how it rates, my goal for this review is accomplished. Knowles deserves a much wider audience than he seems to have. His writing is crisp, plotting is tight, and all his novels have left me eagerly waiting his next release. Do yourself a favor and grab this book and take it for a spin.
Highly Recommended.
For the uninitiated to the series, Wilson is a man who keeps off the radar. He keeps a very small circle of colleagues and even fewer friends. He prefers it this way because he makes his living pulling heists. Not quick “stick ‘em up” robberies, but large scale ones with big payouts. He tends to pull a job and disappear for large stretches of time while he plots his next job.
In this fast-paced and well plotted book. Wilson comes out of the woodworks to be a part of a 10-million-dollar diamond heist. The first quarter of this book shows you the great depths he puts the crew through to plan for every obstacle and possible outcome of every possible situation they may encounter. Wilson is nothing if not a meticulous planner and he is not afraid to walk away from a job if there is the smallest chance he doesn’t escape with his freedom and his desired spoils.
When the inside man from this planned job dies in a car accident, Wilson is forced to let the planned job die with him. But that doesn’t stop him from resurrecting a new plan for the same score. Wilson is brilliant in his prepping and his planning and this novel is a lot of fun to read.
I have seen many reviews that compare the Wilson novels to the Richard Stark Parker novels. I have only read 1 Parker novel, so perhaps I am not the best to comment on the comparison, but I found this novel to be up to par with the Parker novels and I actually enjoy the Wilson novels more. I am sure that comment won’t sit well with the loyal Parker fans that read this review, but if they at least read a Wilson novel to see how it rates, my goal for this review is accomplished. Knowles deserves a much wider audience than he seems to have. His writing is crisp, plotting is tight, and all his novels have left me eagerly waiting his next release. Do yourself a favor and grab this book and take it for a spin.
Highly Recommended.
August 9, 2019
This is my first read of Mike Knowles, but the novel was fairly easy to read and understand with not too much jumping from one scene to other. Wilson, and eight other bodies met in a room to plan a robbery, steal uncut diamonds from Saul, a jeweler, older man, supposedly in the early stages of senility. David was the inside man, an employee of Saul, and he was going to make it possible for Wilson and others to get into the Saul's safe to steal the diamonds. David and his cousin, Alvin, were killed, scuttling the robbery. Wilson took some time off, did other smaller jobs, but thinking how he could steal Saul's diamonds. Wilson called a meeting, found out who killed David and Alvin, also who seriously injured Monica, his get away driver, and who had their own plan of getting the diamonds. Wilson shot one of the men, Monica shot the man who stabbed her, but not fatally, and he escaped. Wilson trimmed the team having he, Monica, and Miles as lead.
Wilson is a brutal man, Miles, a con man, and Monica, a tough, African-American, expert-get-away driver. Saul, not senile at all, played Wilson, having him think that the diamonds could be stolen.
The plot has many twists and turns. The triumvirate of Wilson, Miles, and Monica ended fatally with gun fire occurring between them. The ending was rather surprising to me.
Trust was a fleeting characteristic. I like the important role given Monica, and how Miles was always willing to reach out to her, when he could.
Wilson is a brutal man, Miles, a con man, and Monica, a tough, African-American, expert-get-away driver. Saul, not senile at all, played Wilson, having him think that the diamonds could be stolen.
The plot has many twists and turns. The triumvirate of Wilson, Miles, and Monica ended fatally with gun fire occurring between them. The ending was rather surprising to me.
Trust was a fleeting characteristic. I like the important role given Monica, and how Miles was always willing to reach out to her, when he could.
February 6, 2018
Wilson works as a con man and has a "broker" who finds him jobs. On his latest job, he is teamed up with eight others to rob a lot of diamonds from a jewelry store. Saul, the owner of the store, is getting old and forgetful. David is the "inside man" on the job. He has been a loyal employee and is in line to manage the store. But he is getting tired of waiting and wants to have the store robbed before Saul runs it to the ground. Before the plan could be put in action, a couple deaths put an end to it. Robbing the jewelry store is still on Wilson's mind and he puts together another plan to do it his way.
This is the six in the Wilson series. Though it is part of series (I've read them all), it works as a stand alone. I liked the writing style and there were lots of twists and turns. It's written in first person perspective from Wilson's point of view. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.
I like Wilson ... he is straight to the point and no nonsense. Miles, a con man, is back as part of the team ... he is amusing and added humor to the story.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/02...
This is the six in the Wilson series. Though it is part of series (I've read them all), it works as a stand alone. I liked the writing style and there were lots of twists and turns. It's written in first person perspective from Wilson's point of view. As a head's up, there is swearing and violence.
I like Wilson ... he is straight to the point and no nonsense. Miles, a con man, is back as part of the team ... he is amusing and added humor to the story.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2018/02...
July 7, 2017
Mike Knowles has developed a character in Wilson that rivals Andrew Vach's Burke for being likeable in spite of being unlikeable.
Starting with Darwin's Nightmare...every Mike Knowles novel is of the "can't put it down" variety
Starting with Darwin's Nightmare...every Mike Knowles novel is of the "can't put it down" variety
April 15, 2018
Wilson has evolved over the years from a loner in Canada to working with at least one member of an old crew in NYC in this story. Still hard as nails and mostly unsentimental, he's not a hero but a violent criminal who makes his own way with enough missteps to make the journey interesting.
May 13, 2017
For my written review, please check out the link below:
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
Debra's Book Cafe
Debs :-)
September 14, 2018
A good simulacrum of Donald Westlake or Lawrence Block. Lots of twists and turns. Made me think it'd be a good low-budget Redbox thriller starring Nic Cage or Bruce Willis--or both!
February 18, 2023
This book had some funny lines in it and I had to laugh out loud. A jewellery heist that takes on many levels of deceit among thieves. May just read another previous book from this author to get more details of the main character.
February 14, 2017
Summary: A diamond heist caper.
It's my first Mike Knowles book. This is not the first in the Wilson mystery series but you don't have to read the other(s) to enjoy this. This is a fast reading book and I finished this in 24 hours.
This isn't high brow literature. It's fast and furious and is action oriented. I found some of the premise and logic iffy but I just went along with the ride, it was better that way.
Character development is like everything else in this book: quick and dirty. There are no wasted words and Knowles does a good job of making them real in these short words. They come in, get introduced and they're off. Knowles adds a bit of humor to the characters. The humor is a bit forced but acceptable and thank goodness it isn't on every page.
What I liked most was the plot. At 286 pages, Knowles fits a lot in. I can't spoil it here but there is enough here for some authors to make this a 500 page book. Not having filler is what makes this quick reading. You just follow along as the characters go from one thing to another.
Overall, I enjoyed it. The only thing I felt missing was a grand finale. It was a bit of a let down but I think the way the author wrote it this way as a segue to the next book.
I received this book as a free review copy.
It's my first Mike Knowles book. This is not the first in the Wilson mystery series but you don't have to read the other(s) to enjoy this. This is a fast reading book and I finished this in 24 hours.
This isn't high brow literature. It's fast and furious and is action oriented. I found some of the premise and logic iffy but I just went along with the ride, it was better that way.
Character development is like everything else in this book: quick and dirty. There are no wasted words and Knowles does a good job of making them real in these short words. They come in, get introduced and they're off. Knowles adds a bit of humor to the characters. The humor is a bit forced but acceptable and thank goodness it isn't on every page.
What I liked most was the plot. At 286 pages, Knowles fits a lot in. I can't spoil it here but there is enough here for some authors to make this a 500 page book. Not having filler is what makes this quick reading. You just follow along as the characters go from one thing to another.
Overall, I enjoyed it. The only thing I felt missing was a grand finale. It was a bit of a let down but I think the way the author wrote it this way as a segue to the next book.
I received this book as a free review copy.
April 25, 2017
Outstanding; Continuing character: Wilson; ten criminals get together to pull a job robbing a jewelry store, but when it has to be cancelled new alliances form and re-form in an effort to still cash in; hard to put down and need to look into prior in the series; received as an ARC from Goodreads giveaways
Want to read
May 6, 2017PW Starred: Wilson, the antihero of this fantastic hardboiled criminal noir from Knowles (The Buffalo Job), is a straight shooter; that is, as a cohort tells him, “People seem to have a habit of getting shot around you, and you are usually the one holding the gun.” Wilson, a career criminal, has survived five brutal novels thus far, each page laden with violence, schemes, double crosses, backstabbers, and more besides. This tense thriller draws him into that most classic of criminal capers: a diamond heist. After a key player is killed, the job is called off, but Wilson decides to do it anyway, on his own terms. Wilson is a captivating character: cold, merciless, magnetic, and honest about the world he willingly inhabits. “The games we play are never fair and they never end clean,” he observes. “They just end.” Combining the intense grit of Richard Stark’s Parker series with the amorality of Jim Thompson’s work, Knowles once again delivers a heady brew of tough-guy dialogue, byzantine plots, vibrant characters, and a protagonist who believes only in “an I for an I.” (May)
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews