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The Travelers #0.5
The Double Cross
A con artist betrayed by his partners. A plot for revenge. Can he and his new partner outwit his old crew… and escape with the cash and their lives?
In 1989, where it all begins…
Paul Kendal, 26 years old, is a con artist in a robbery crew. When he has all the information necessary to disarm their targets’ alarm systems and empty their safes, his partners go to work.
Originally, it seemed like a sweet plan, but as he begins to have doubts, his partners double-cross him. Now he wants payback. For that he needs a new partner.
Carol, 17 years old, uses her movie-star good looks to entice victims for her boyfriend to mug. But when her boyfriend lands in jail, Paul makes her an offer she can’t refuse…
The Double Cross is a novella-length dark crime thriller that tells the story of how the Travelers met. If you like fast moving action, unpredictable plot twists, and criminal chicanery, you’ll love this prequel to Michael P. King’s Travelers series.
Buy The Double Cross now to start your adventure.135 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 22, 2017
14 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Michael P. King
21 books47 followersHow many times have you heard or read a news report that made you think, “You just can't make this stuff up. What could they possibly have been thinking?” People often involve themselves in a chain of events that leads to unforeseen consequences simply because they want to take what they think is the easy way out, or they want to take what they think is a short cut to wealth or fame. I'm fascinated by this tendency, and it's the jumping off place for my fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 1, 2021
I figured I’d give this a try, since it was a freebie offered either for surviving book one or just as a promo lure, but alas it seems the appeal of the traveling man and his traveling lady eludes me still. Oddly enough, at first this was actually more interesting than book one, had all the makings of being one of those occasions where the making of (in this case the making of a con team of two) would surpass the main feature, but no, once the two of them got together and figured out their working groove and it turned into a straight up action thing…it was exactly book one and exactly as enjoyable…which for me wasn’t much.
It’s fine technically and, if you’re into the sort of straight up mindless all show no tell bland action things, you might enjoy it…it just didn’t work for me. I expect more cleverness and panache out of con stories, well, stories in general really. Something with more interesting or engaging or even layered characters, because these guys were certainly no onions, more like lemons. No offense to lemons.
So ok, guess this series just isn’t for me. Not much ventured time wise, nothing gained.
It’s fine technically and, if you’re into the sort of straight up mindless all show no tell bland action things, you might enjoy it…it just didn’t work for me. I expect more cleverness and panache out of con stories, well, stories in general really. Something with more interesting or engaging or even layered characters, because these guys were certainly no onions, more like lemons. No offense to lemons.
So ok, guess this series just isn’t for me. Not much ventured time wise, nothing gained.
March 14, 2021
5*
A con artist betrayed by con artists he helped, yet managed to finesse two con artists who were not as good at up scaling their act, yet the betrayed con artist used a divide and conquer technique to work on helping him improve his work.
The plots, are extremely well interconnected, understood by the author yet written in a way that the reader can understand. Interesting and superb
A con artist betrayed by con artists he helped, yet managed to finesse two con artists who were not as good at up scaling their act, yet the betrayed con artist used a divide and conquer technique to work on helping him improve his work.
The plots, are extremely well interconnected, understood by the author yet written in a way that the reader can understand. Interesting and superb
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2019
5/1989, Vine Club (Madisonville). Paul Kendal (26, womanizer, con man), Jacob (49, leader, safe cracker), Stevie (driver), & Pooch (weapons, vet) were meant to be career criminals.
Fillmore Dr. Cicilie Chandler’s (52, wealthy widow) home had been burglarized.
Even the safe had been broken into.
Hickory Forge steakhouse Royal Rd. Sam Bryant (A/A, Cicilie’s business partner) confronted Paul (Cicilie’s gigolo) while he/Cissy were enjoying their meal/drinks.
He got lucky this time & got to live.
High Five Tavern (Pikesville). Paul went to see Stella (bar owner, counterfeiter).
Jeremy Singer (aka Paul, pharmaceutical) met Sandra Malone (Insurance Alliance) at the Hotel bar.
What were Roy Stevens (aka Paul, Traveling Man), & Carol (aka Candy, mother) up to?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, & great font/writing style. A very well written comedy caper book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great comedy caper movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Blurred Lines Press; BookSirens; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
Fillmore Dr. Cicilie Chandler’s (52, wealthy widow) home had been burglarized.
Even the safe had been broken into.
Hickory Forge steakhouse Royal Rd. Sam Bryant (A/A, Cicilie’s business partner) confronted Paul (Cicilie’s gigolo) while he/Cissy were enjoying their meal/drinks.
He got lucky this time & got to live.
High Five Tavern (Pikesville). Paul went to see Stella (bar owner, counterfeiter).
Jeremy Singer (aka Paul, pharmaceutical) met Sandra Malone (Insurance Alliance) at the Hotel bar.
What were Roy Stevens (aka Paul, Traveling Man), & Carol (aka Candy, mother) up to?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, & great font/writing style. A very well written comedy caper book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great comedy caper movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Blurred Lines Press; BookSirens; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
April 5, 2018
Paul Kendal is a con man, in his mid-twenties, acting as a lead into the homes of rich, older women in order for the rest of the crew he joined, to rob the house. The other three in the gang, have been together for years and are much older and set in their ways. They need him as the ‘face’ man, to entice the old women and get details of the homes and their contents.
Paul is getting discontent with this job and wants to get out or change what he is doing. Unfortunately, he has ‘spouted off’ a bit too much and his doubts in his role have reached other members of the crew. They decide to cut him out of the next big job and double cross him! As he recovers, he plots his own payback, but has to find a new partner to help him with his plans.
He finds a young girl, Carol, who was using her good looks to get male victims drunk and outside where her boyfriend would then mug them. Paul gets her on her own and makes her an offer to teach her what he knows and asks her to help him with his revenge.
A good, short story, that keeps your interest throughout. Nothing is too convoluted, but there are some violent scenes, as can be expected when talking about a criminal gang, a double cross and then revenge. The new, two-some become known as the Travellers and this is the prequel to the series which follows Paul and Carol. A good read and pleasant opener to the rest of the series. I will look forward to them.
I received an ARC copy of this novella from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion above.
Paul is getting discontent with this job and wants to get out or change what he is doing. Unfortunately, he has ‘spouted off’ a bit too much and his doubts in his role have reached other members of the crew. They decide to cut him out of the next big job and double cross him! As he recovers, he plots his own payback, but has to find a new partner to help him with his plans.
He finds a young girl, Carol, who was using her good looks to get male victims drunk and outside where her boyfriend would then mug them. Paul gets her on her own and makes her an offer to teach her what he knows and asks her to help him with his revenge.
A good, short story, that keeps your interest throughout. Nothing is too convoluted, but there are some violent scenes, as can be expected when talking about a criminal gang, a double cross and then revenge. The new, two-some become known as the Travellers and this is the prequel to the series which follows Paul and Carol. A good read and pleasant opener to the rest of the series. I will look forward to them.
I received an ARC copy of this novella from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion above.
August 15, 2023
"The Double Cross" is a clever and amoral introduction to the 'Travelling Man' series.
It's 1989 and Paul Kendal, 26, is a conman plain and simple. It doesn't bother him in the slightest.
His particular talent, or at least the one he most commonly employs, is to seduce and steal from older women. Sometimes it is a long con, otherwise it is wham bam and thanks for the jewellery and credit cards Ma'am. They are mostly women who, for one reason or another, are unlikely to report him to the police.
But, when his partners betray him and he narrowly escapes being killed he's out for blood.
He needs a new partner and he finds her in Carol, 17, a damaged young woman but Paul sees potential in her.
The game is afoot! But what Paul doesn't know is that while he is trying to settle the score so is just about everyone else. And everyone thinks that they are the only ones who know what is going to happen.
It a fun read and I'll definitely be reading the series. However, it is too short to properly rate and the relationship between Paul and Carol is somewhat over-simplified.
3 Stars.
It's 1989 and Paul Kendal, 26, is a conman plain and simple. It doesn't bother him in the slightest.
His particular talent, or at least the one he most commonly employs, is to seduce and steal from older women. Sometimes it is a long con, otherwise it is wham bam and thanks for the jewellery and credit cards Ma'am. They are mostly women who, for one reason or another, are unlikely to report him to the police.
But, when his partners betray him and he narrowly escapes being killed he's out for blood.
He needs a new partner and he finds her in Carol, 17, a damaged young woman but Paul sees potential in her.
The game is afoot! But what Paul doesn't know is that while he is trying to settle the score so is just about everyone else. And everyone thinks that they are the only ones who know what is going to happen.
It a fun read and I'll definitely be reading the series. However, it is too short to properly rate and the relationship between Paul and Carol is somewhat over-simplified.
3 Stars.
February 4, 2019
This is a must-read for lovers of "The Traveling Man"
"The Double Cross (The Travelers Book 0)" by Michael P. King is the prequel to the "Traveling Man" series. Although written after the fourth book in the series, 'Freeport Robbery', it isn't written with as much care as 'Travelling Man', the first in the series. The action jumps around in a way that is disconcerting, and provides opportunities to close the book and turn on TV news.
Nevertheless this is a very well-crafted backstory; it fits with characters that are years older and meshes very well with their future attitudes and actions, yet King found both protagonists (nobody would ever call them heros) to be very different from the people they become, and has made them very real and believable.
I just wish he had fleshed out the action a bit more — while the characters are well-developed in the yarn, the action is somewhat hop-scotch.
"The Double Cross (The Travelers Book 0)" by Michael P. King is the prequel to the "Traveling Man" series. Although written after the fourth book in the series, 'Freeport Robbery', it isn't written with as much care as 'Travelling Man', the first in the series. The action jumps around in a way that is disconcerting, and provides opportunities to close the book and turn on TV news.
Nevertheless this is a very well-crafted backstory; it fits with characters that are years older and meshes very well with their future attitudes and actions, yet King found both protagonists (nobody would ever call them heros) to be very different from the people they become, and has made them very real and believable.
I just wish he had fleshed out the action a bit more — while the characters are well-developed in the yarn, the action is somewhat hop-scotch.
January 27, 2019
I received this book as part of a promotion and have voluntarily chosen to review it.
The world of grifters and conmen. Paul is a part of this world - he seduces older women who give him presents. They also welcome him into their homes where he leaks security information to a crew so that the can rob the safe and all the goodies. The women are too embarrassed to admit that they've been cuckolded. It all goes swimmingly until the day it doesn't. The crew turns on Paul, rob him and make sure he gets beaten. Paul recovers and forms his own crew to get revenge. He's been double crossed. Now he intends to turn the tables. There is a triple cross and, if I counted right, a quadruple cross. One thing for sure, we are rooting for Paul all the way. This is a prequel to a series under the Traveling Man title. At 132 pages it's an easy read. Highly recommended.
The world of grifters and conmen. Paul is a part of this world - he seduces older women who give him presents. They also welcome him into their homes where he leaks security information to a crew so that the can rob the safe and all the goodies. The women are too embarrassed to admit that they've been cuckolded. It all goes swimmingly until the day it doesn't. The crew turns on Paul, rob him and make sure he gets beaten. Paul recovers and forms his own crew to get revenge. He's been double crossed. Now he intends to turn the tables. There is a triple cross and, if I counted right, a quadruple cross. One thing for sure, we are rooting for Paul all the way. This is a prequel to a series under the Traveling Man title. At 132 pages it's an easy read. Highly recommended.
September 15, 2021
This is a story of a con man and his student and the training involved for the purpose of taking revenge on his former partners. It looks like the first book in the series but it is actually the fifth book written. I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. It was non stop action with a bit of violence. Since it is the fifth book and practice makes perfect, I am hoping the first books are just as good.
March 15, 2018
As always with Michael P. King’s books, I stayed up too late reading this fast-paced tale of how his anti-hero duo met, including a view of how these two grifters assess one another in their world of who’s playing whom.
August 19, 2019
I Enjoyed this book!!
Paul and Carol are likeable characters.
The plot is interesting!!
This story has a Good pace.
Paul and Carol are likeable characters.
The plot is interesting!!
This story has a Good pace.
March 3, 2020
Recieved free for review:
I love when I find a new author to enjoy!
I love when I find a new author to enjoy!
October 25, 2020
I found this an interesting story that is mixed with scenses of violence. It shows as how you can't always trust those you think you can, with revenge being the only option.
October 13, 2021
The title says it all - robbers rob other robbers in a robbery, lies abound, revenge spurs violence and the protagonist (villain or good guy?) prevails. Its brevity spares it from being too much.
August 18, 2023
Really liked it. Preview of all the stories that follow. Very realistic. Good characters and dialogue. Crooks robbing crooks is fun.
April 11, 2025
Intriguing introduction to the series, enough to make it worth trying further books.
February 14, 2019
Ok, from the title ‘The Double Cross’, I knew what to expect from this book.
What I didn’t expect was perfectly developed characters in a most creative storyline, making an excellent goodread. Paul and Carol are crooks, plain and simple, but I loved them and was even on edge when they barely escaped getting caught. Here’s a twist, it’s not just cops they’re trying to stay a step ahead of, but other crooks, too. A exciting introduction to the intriguing characters and storylines to expect in ‘The Traveling Man’ series.
It’s definitely a must read!
What I didn’t expect was perfectly developed characters in a most creative storyline, making an excellent goodread. Paul and Carol are crooks, plain and simple, but I loved them and was even on edge when they barely escaped getting caught. Here’s a twist, it’s not just cops they’re trying to stay a step ahead of, but other crooks, too. A exciting introduction to the intriguing characters and storylines to expect in ‘The Traveling Man’ series.
It’s definitely a must read!
November 9, 2017
When I first discovered The Travelers series, I was impressed. The writing was awesome (actually I saw very few editing problems). The con couple were very likeable and I wanted to know how they came to be together. The Double Cross answered all the questions I had about their beginning. Maybe they made it Book 0, so actually you should read it before Book 1, 2, 3 and 4. Hopefully there will be many others.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews