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Criminals
One robbery. Three people. No heroes. Much loved ABC presenter James O'Loghlin's novel explores why and how ordinary people turn to crime.
What makes a criminal? One May 2019 morning, two masked gunmen rob Blacktown Leagues Club. What happens next will change the lives of three people. Twenty-three-year-old Dean Acton is a heroin addict trying to get off the break and enter treadmill by pulling one big job. Sarah Hamilton, also twenty-three, is a police officer on stress leave, working behind the bar, trying to forget the mistake she made that caused the death of her fiancée. Mary Wallace, a forty-five-year-old ex-schoolteacher who lives and drinks alone, feels that her life is already over, and has made plans to formalise that arrangement.
When Sarah realises there is something familiar about one of the gunmen, she is drawn back to the thrill of investigating, and can identify Dean. Dean is overjoyed at his $12,000 haul, but before he can decide whether to spend it on a new start in Queensland or a few months' worth of heroin, he's arrested, and in Long Bay jail everyone wants to find out where he's stashed the cash.
Mary is inspired by the robbery. Pottery and French classes haven't jolted her out of her depression, but perhaps embarking on a life of crime will. She starts small, and then ups the ante. When she, too, is arrested and her lawyer tries to discover why a respectable middle-class woman would steal constipation medication, will she be able to reveal what caused her to give up on teaching and everything else?
Dean learns that the only person who identified him at the robbery was Sarah and is tempted by a plan that will ensure she won't ever be able to give evidence against him. But is he prepared to go that far? And if he does, will he ever come back?
As Dean's trial approaches, Mary, Dean and Sarah must work out why they have become who they are, and whether they have the courage to change.
What makes a criminal? One May 2019 morning, two masked gunmen rob Blacktown Leagues Club. What happens next will change the lives of three people. Twenty-three-year-old Dean Acton is a heroin addict trying to get off the break and enter treadmill by pulling one big job. Sarah Hamilton, also twenty-three, is a police officer on stress leave, working behind the bar, trying to forget the mistake she made that caused the death of her fiancée. Mary Wallace, a forty-five-year-old ex-schoolteacher who lives and drinks alone, feels that her life is already over, and has made plans to formalise that arrangement.
When Sarah realises there is something familiar about one of the gunmen, she is drawn back to the thrill of investigating, and can identify Dean. Dean is overjoyed at his $12,000 haul, but before he can decide whether to spend it on a new start in Queensland or a few months' worth of heroin, he's arrested, and in Long Bay jail everyone wants to find out where he's stashed the cash.
Mary is inspired by the robbery. Pottery and French classes haven't jolted her out of her depression, but perhaps embarking on a life of crime will. She starts small, and then ups the ante. When she, too, is arrested and her lawyer tries to discover why a respectable middle-class woman would steal constipation medication, will she be able to reveal what caused her to give up on teaching and everything else?
Dean learns that the only person who identified him at the robbery was Sarah and is tempted by a plan that will ensure she won't ever be able to give evidence against him. But is he prepared to go that far? And if he does, will he ever come back?
As Dean's trial approaches, Mary, Dean and Sarah must work out why they have become who they are, and whether they have the courage to change.
326 pages, Paperback
Published July 5, 2022
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August 10, 2023
Criminals by James O'Loghlin
Synopsis /
One robbery. Three people. No heroes. Much loved ABC presenter James O'Loghlin's novel explores why and how ordinary people turn to crime.
What makes a criminal? One May 2019 morning, two masked gunmen rob Blacktown Leagues Club. What happens next will change the lives of three people. Twenty-three-year-old Dean Acton is a heroin addict trying to get off the break and enter treadmill by pulling one big job. Sarah Hamilton, also twenty-three, is a police officer on stress leave, working behind the bar, trying to forget the mistake she made that caused the death of her fiancée. Mary Wallace, a forty-five-year-old ex-schoolteacher who lives and drinks alone, feels that her life is already over, and has made plans to formalise that arrangement.
When Sarah realises there is something familiar about one of the gunmen, she is drawn back to the thrill of investigating, and can identify Dean. Dean is overjoyed at his $12,000 haul, but before he can decide whether to spend it on a new start in Queensland or a few months' worth of heroin, he's arrested, and in Long Bay jail everyone wants to find out where he's stashed the cash.
Mary is inspired by the robbery. Pottery and French classes haven't jolted her out of her depression, but perhaps embarking on a life of crime will. She starts small, and then ups the ante. When she, too, is arrested and her lawyer tries to discover why a respectable middle-class woman would steal constipation medication, will she be able to reveal what caused her to give up on teaching and everything else?
Dean learns that the only person who identified him at the robbery was Sarah and is tempted by a plan that will ensure she won't ever be able to give evidence against him. But is he prepared to go that far? And if he does, will he ever come back?
As Dean's trial approaches, Mary, Dean and Sarah must work out why they have become who they are, and whether they have the courage to change.
My Thoughts /
During the 1990s, James O’Loghlin worked as a legal aid lawyer, and he has used that experience with which to draw ideas from to the form the basis of his novel, Criminals.
Criminals is an interesting book. O'Loghlin appears to be less interested in the event which triggers the story (ie the bank robbery) and more about the characters therein. There are three main characters - Dean, Mary and Sarah and each is connected in some way to the 'robbery'. Dean committed the robbery; Mary was in the bank at the time of the robbery; and Sarah. Well, Sarah was able to identify Dean as the person who held up the bank. O'Loghlin explores how this one event causes each of them to rethink their lives, reconsider past decisions, and look more deeply at themselves and how future decisions can affect their lives. In short, to move in a new direction. As O'Loghlin explores with each character, how each of their decisions now might improve or further ruin their life, and you are left wondering which way they will teeter. It's not until you reach the end that O'Loghlin reveals all.
O'Loghlin writes with insight and compassion, and this is certainly one thought provoking novel. One of the things I found most enjoyable about this novel was that you had no idea where it was heading. Because that was at the characters' behest…..and you never knew which way they were teetering. O'Loghlin takes a very deep dive into each of their lives - both past and present - and as you get to know more about them, we get some insight into how they have become the adults they are today. You find yourself 'rooting' wholeheartedly for them to choose the right 'path'; make the 'right' decisions.
A most unusual crime novel, but a very engaging read nonetheless. The only thing that disappointed me with this one was the editing (or lack of) and for that I've lowered my rating. There really is no excuse for poor grammar and editing considering how many people will have the chance to read it before publication.
Synopsis /
One robbery. Three people. No heroes. Much loved ABC presenter James O'Loghlin's novel explores why and how ordinary people turn to crime.
What makes a criminal? One May 2019 morning, two masked gunmen rob Blacktown Leagues Club. What happens next will change the lives of three people. Twenty-three-year-old Dean Acton is a heroin addict trying to get off the break and enter treadmill by pulling one big job. Sarah Hamilton, also twenty-three, is a police officer on stress leave, working behind the bar, trying to forget the mistake she made that caused the death of her fiancée. Mary Wallace, a forty-five-year-old ex-schoolteacher who lives and drinks alone, feels that her life is already over, and has made plans to formalise that arrangement.
When Sarah realises there is something familiar about one of the gunmen, she is drawn back to the thrill of investigating, and can identify Dean. Dean is overjoyed at his $12,000 haul, but before he can decide whether to spend it on a new start in Queensland or a few months' worth of heroin, he's arrested, and in Long Bay jail everyone wants to find out where he's stashed the cash.
Mary is inspired by the robbery. Pottery and French classes haven't jolted her out of her depression, but perhaps embarking on a life of crime will. She starts small, and then ups the ante. When she, too, is arrested and her lawyer tries to discover why a respectable middle-class woman would steal constipation medication, will she be able to reveal what caused her to give up on teaching and everything else?
Dean learns that the only person who identified him at the robbery was Sarah and is tempted by a plan that will ensure she won't ever be able to give evidence against him. But is he prepared to go that far? And if he does, will he ever come back?
As Dean's trial approaches, Mary, Dean and Sarah must work out why they have become who they are, and whether they have the courage to change.
My Thoughts /
During the 1990s, James O’Loghlin worked as a legal aid lawyer, and he has used that experience with which to draw ideas from to the form the basis of his novel, Criminals.
Criminals is an interesting book. O'Loghlin appears to be less interested in the event which triggers the story (ie the bank robbery) and more about the characters therein. There are three main characters - Dean, Mary and Sarah and each is connected in some way to the 'robbery'. Dean committed the robbery; Mary was in the bank at the time of the robbery; and Sarah. Well, Sarah was able to identify Dean as the person who held up the bank. O'Loghlin explores how this one event causes each of them to rethink their lives, reconsider past decisions, and look more deeply at themselves and how future decisions can affect their lives. In short, to move in a new direction. As O'Loghlin explores with each character, how each of their decisions now might improve or further ruin their life, and you are left wondering which way they will teeter. It's not until you reach the end that O'Loghlin reveals all.
O'Loghlin writes with insight and compassion, and this is certainly one thought provoking novel. One of the things I found most enjoyable about this novel was that you had no idea where it was heading. Because that was at the characters' behest…..and you never knew which way they were teetering. O'Loghlin takes a very deep dive into each of their lives - both past and present - and as you get to know more about them, we get some insight into how they have become the adults they are today. You find yourself 'rooting' wholeheartedly for them to choose the right 'path'; make the 'right' decisions.
A most unusual crime novel, but a very engaging read nonetheless. The only thing that disappointed me with this one was the editing (or lack of) and for that I've lowered my rating. There really is no excuse for poor grammar and editing considering how many people will have the chance to read it before publication.
September 4, 2022
I knew that James O’Loghlin has worked as both a comedian and as a lawyer so I was aware he would be capable of telling a good story. But I was also expecting that the story he would tell would be weighted heavily toward the comedic side of the ledger. I was very pleasantly surprised with Criminals. From what started out feeling like a bit of a breezy caper, the mood darkens as some serious social and psychological issues are presented. O’Loghlin deals with them with sincerity and compassion, striking a wonderful balance between humour and serious introspection.
An armed robbery at the Blacktown Leagues Club sets the story rolling. From the robbery, the paths of three vastly different people cross and their lives are affected by the encounter.
Dean is a junkie and break and enter man. He has orchestrated the robbery in a bid to make a big score to fund his habit and to pay off some really pressing debts. Sarah is a former police officer who now works behind the bar. Mary is a depressed alcoholic 40-something who was seriously contemplating ending it all before walking into the club that day.
Their lives are each affected in some important way by that day which acts as the impetus for greater changes. Dean, of course, eventually gets arrested for his crime. Sarah is reminded that her powers of deduction and investigation are still strong. And Mary? Well Mary postpones her planned suicide and then makes an unexpected leap as the following quote indicates:
We are taken deeply into each of their lives (past and present) and are brought face to face with tragedy, adversity and heartbreak in roughly equal measure.
The story moves along at a brisk pace thanks to the alternating first-person narratives devoted to each chapter. As we flick our attention to another of the three main characters we either find out another important tidbit about their past or watch their present selves coping with where their lives have now reached.
O’Loghlin expertly draws the threads into alignment and what we’re left with are characters we’re invested in and now care about where they’re headed. And rather than being repelled by Dean, Sarah and Mary’s faults I couldn’t help but find myself well and truly in their corner.
An armed robbery at the Blacktown Leagues Club sets the story rolling. From the robbery, the paths of three vastly different people cross and their lives are affected by the encounter.
Dean is a junkie and break and enter man. He has orchestrated the robbery in a bid to make a big score to fund his habit and to pay off some really pressing debts. Sarah is a former police officer who now works behind the bar. Mary is a depressed alcoholic 40-something who was seriously contemplating ending it all before walking into the club that day.
Their lives are each affected in some important way by that day which acts as the impetus for greater changes. Dean, of course, eventually gets arrested for his crime. Sarah is reminded that her powers of deduction and investigation are still strong. And Mary? Well Mary postpones her planned suicide and then makes an unexpected leap as the following quote indicates:
“Yoga, painting and drunken sex hadn’t made me feel alive again, but perhaps risking my reputation, respectability and liberty could. Perhaps the danger, fear and excitement of crime could jump-start what was left of my heart and shake me out of the open-eyed coma I’d been in.”
We are taken deeply into each of their lives (past and present) and are brought face to face with tragedy, adversity and heartbreak in roughly equal measure.
The story moves along at a brisk pace thanks to the alternating first-person narratives devoted to each chapter. As we flick our attention to another of the three main characters we either find out another important tidbit about their past or watch their present selves coping with where their lives have now reached.
O’Loghlin expertly draws the threads into alignment and what we’re left with are characters we’re invested in and now care about where they’re headed. And rather than being repelled by Dean, Sarah and Mary’s faults I couldn’t help but find myself well and truly in their corner.
September 8, 2022
“We answered the call, identified the perpetrator….Job done. Crime solved. Except it wasn’t. We’d only solved half of it. We’d only figured out the ‘who”….We’re all icebergs, showing the world our shiny tip, smiling as we say ‘Good morning’ and ‘Fine thanks’, while beneath we hide the messy, complicated truth. To really solve a crime you also need to work out the ‘why’.”
Given James O’Loghlin’s pedigree as an ABC presenter, comedian and former lawyer, I was expecting something caper-ish (crime mixed with screwball comedy) from his debut adult fiction, Criminals, but this is primarily a character driven story, a little quirky but also deliberate and thoughtful.
After absconding while being driven to court mandated rehab, drug addict and petty thief Dean Acton figures a big score from the Blacktown Leagues Club will solve his most immediate needs and let him lay low for a while. Sarah Hamilton, working as a barmaid while on indefinite leave from the police force, remains calm when she’s confronted by two armed masked men, which is why she notices that the thin one seems to recognise her. Sipping a gin, patron Mary Wallace smiles as the shorter of the two robbers turns his gun on her, getting shot now, she thinks, would be convenient.
In the aftermath, as the narrative alternates between each we’ll realised character, O’Loghlin explores the question of criminality through themes of guilt and innocence, opportunity and responsibility, second chances and redemption, and the choices we make that define us.
“I never thought about the consequences of getting a decision wrong, until it happened.”
Sarah puts her investigative skills to work, identifying one of the thieves as her high school’s former football hero, but having once before made a judgement with terrible consequences, she needs to be certain she isn’t making a mistake. Raised on the maxim of ‘right’s right, and wrong’s wrong’ the line is less clear to her now, and she struggles with the decisions she’s faced with.
“‘You committed a crime, but are you a criminal?’
‘Yes, because I committed a crime.’
‘Then everyone’s a criminal.”
Mary, a middle-aged, depressed alcoholic contemplating suicide, is inspired to recreate the excitement of the hold up by embarking on her own petty crime spree, while assuring her absent daughter via email that everything is fine. But as the thrill of lawbreaking wears off, Mary has to choose what to let go of.
“I know I’m right down the bottom, nearly as low as you can get. But in a weird way that’s almost a relief, cos it means you can’t fall any further.”
Dean meanwhile, barely has time to celebrate his ‘perfect’ crime before he’s arrested. Faced with a lengthy prison sentence what he decides to do next will not only define his future, but could change someone else’s.
Written with insight, wit and compassion, Criminals is a thought-provoking and engaging novel
Given James O’Loghlin’s pedigree as an ABC presenter, comedian and former lawyer, I was expecting something caper-ish (crime mixed with screwball comedy) from his debut adult fiction, Criminals, but this is primarily a character driven story, a little quirky but also deliberate and thoughtful.
After absconding while being driven to court mandated rehab, drug addict and petty thief Dean Acton figures a big score from the Blacktown Leagues Club will solve his most immediate needs and let him lay low for a while. Sarah Hamilton, working as a barmaid while on indefinite leave from the police force, remains calm when she’s confronted by two armed masked men, which is why she notices that the thin one seems to recognise her. Sipping a gin, patron Mary Wallace smiles as the shorter of the two robbers turns his gun on her, getting shot now, she thinks, would be convenient.
In the aftermath, as the narrative alternates between each we’ll realised character, O’Loghlin explores the question of criminality through themes of guilt and innocence, opportunity and responsibility, second chances and redemption, and the choices we make that define us.
“I never thought about the consequences of getting a decision wrong, until it happened.”
Sarah puts her investigative skills to work, identifying one of the thieves as her high school’s former football hero, but having once before made a judgement with terrible consequences, she needs to be certain she isn’t making a mistake. Raised on the maxim of ‘right’s right, and wrong’s wrong’ the line is less clear to her now, and she struggles with the decisions she’s faced with.
“‘You committed a crime, but are you a criminal?’
‘Yes, because I committed a crime.’
‘Then everyone’s a criminal.”
Mary, a middle-aged, depressed alcoholic contemplating suicide, is inspired to recreate the excitement of the hold up by embarking on her own petty crime spree, while assuring her absent daughter via email that everything is fine. But as the thrill of lawbreaking wears off, Mary has to choose what to let go of.
“I know I’m right down the bottom, nearly as low as you can get. But in a weird way that’s almost a relief, cos it means you can’t fall any further.”
Dean meanwhile, barely has time to celebrate his ‘perfect’ crime before he’s arrested. Faced with a lengthy prison sentence what he decides to do next will not only define his future, but could change someone else’s.
Written with insight, wit and compassion, Criminals is a thought-provoking and engaging novel
October 11, 2022
Criminals by James O’Loghlin is an interesting crime tale, by the well-known Australian comedian and media presenter. The essence of the narrative is three different peoples’ lives, after they witness a hold-up in a local league club in Sydney: Dean has a drug habit and decides to commit the armed robbery; Sarah is tending the bar having previously been a police officer; Mary is a patron who requires her daily alcohol fix. As the narrative unfolds, we discover each protagonist is dealing with their own demons and yet is connected in ways they were unaware of prior to the robbery. With a gentle tone and true-to-life characters, this is a most enjoyable ode to crime as each of the protagonists face their doubts, fears and mistakes amidst the complexities of their lives. An unusual crime novel with its humourous basis and the muddled lives of the protagonists, but it’s a totally absorbing read with a four and a half star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.
July 21, 2022
Read until the very last page …read the acknowledgements… p325 speaking re working at Legal Aid … “The most valuable lesson was that I had got lucky in the lottery of birth, while others had not, and the moving past a difficult upbringing or tough times wasn’t always as simple as “getting on with it” or “showing some character”. Applause applause!!!
July 5, 2022
Into the crime fiction reader's life something different should lob more often. CRIMINALS is not only different, it's brilliantly different.
Well known ABC presenter James O'Loghlin has taken his inspiration for this novel from his time as a criminal lawyer, and told the tale in a laid back, yet funny and compassionate style. There's a fine line being teetered on here, with three seemingly ordinary people being flung into each other's orbits as a result of one act, revealing more and more about those people as the story progresses. The humour is always there, but it's tempered with a real sense of belief in these three - misguided, mistaken, misunderstood, misstepping, extremely human people. The question from the blurb "What makes a criminal?" becomes more pertinent and more nuanced with every single twist in the tale that is CRIMINALS.
Told in a series of short, sharp chapters in the main, the backgrounds of the three main characters - Sarah, the barmaid come police officer on stress leave; Mary a forty-five-year-old teacher who drinks alone and writes long emails to her daughter; and Dean, the high-school football hero with supposedly everything to live for, now a desperate heroin addict with one more crime to commit in a grand plan to end the break and enter treadmill and get his life back on track. Everything about the way that these people live their lives is extremely believable, as is the way that they accidentally collide on the day that Dean decides to rob the Blacktown Leagues Club.
The fact that police officer, come barmaid Sarah uses her training to work out who the disguised armed robber was, and then digs into his background, uncovering a life that's gone badly off the rails, whilst her own seeming rise was badly curtailed by the actions of those around her are contrasted starkly against the life of Mary. The schoolteacher with a drinking problem, and the decision to end her own life, which gets muddied a bit by a sideline in reckless (cry for help) theft. Her personal tragedy sits alongside Dean's own life, going so badly off the rails when he and his high-school girlfriend slip into the life of drug addicts. She eventually leaves him behind to clean herself up, and craft out a life, whilst Dean sinks further and further, until this robbery and his arrest on the basis of Sarah's identification leaves him with some very stark choices to make. The storylines of these three entwine, branch off, reconnect and slide in and around each other in a seemingly effortless manner, which makes you wonder just how much blood sweat and tears from the author went into making something so complicated, so straight-forward.
It's been a while since the last book that glued me to a chair to be read in one day, but CRIMINALS absolutely enthralled and had me utterly involved in the stories of Sarah, Mary and Dean. It's a fascinating view to take, and the question from the blurb "What makes a criminal?" becomes more pertinent, nuanced with every single twist in the tale that is CRIMINALS.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Well known ABC presenter James O'Loghlin has taken his inspiration for this novel from his time as a criminal lawyer, and told the tale in a laid back, yet funny and compassionate style. There's a fine line being teetered on here, with three seemingly ordinary people being flung into each other's orbits as a result of one act, revealing more and more about those people as the story progresses. The humour is always there, but it's tempered with a real sense of belief in these three - misguided, mistaken, misunderstood, misstepping, extremely human people. The question from the blurb "What makes a criminal?" becomes more pertinent and more nuanced with every single twist in the tale that is CRIMINALS.
Told in a series of short, sharp chapters in the main, the backgrounds of the three main characters - Sarah, the barmaid come police officer on stress leave; Mary a forty-five-year-old teacher who drinks alone and writes long emails to her daughter; and Dean, the high-school football hero with supposedly everything to live for, now a desperate heroin addict with one more crime to commit in a grand plan to end the break and enter treadmill and get his life back on track. Everything about the way that these people live their lives is extremely believable, as is the way that they accidentally collide on the day that Dean decides to rob the Blacktown Leagues Club.
The fact that police officer, come barmaid Sarah uses her training to work out who the disguised armed robber was, and then digs into his background, uncovering a life that's gone badly off the rails, whilst her own seeming rise was badly curtailed by the actions of those around her are contrasted starkly against the life of Mary. The schoolteacher with a drinking problem, and the decision to end her own life, which gets muddied a bit by a sideline in reckless (cry for help) theft. Her personal tragedy sits alongside Dean's own life, going so badly off the rails when he and his high-school girlfriend slip into the life of drug addicts. She eventually leaves him behind to clean herself up, and craft out a life, whilst Dean sinks further and further, until this robbery and his arrest on the basis of Sarah's identification leaves him with some very stark choices to make. The storylines of these three entwine, branch off, reconnect and slide in and around each other in a seemingly effortless manner, which makes you wonder just how much blood sweat and tears from the author went into making something so complicated, so straight-forward.
It's been a while since the last book that glued me to a chair to be read in one day, but CRIMINALS absolutely enthralled and had me utterly involved in the stories of Sarah, Mary and Dean. It's a fascinating view to take, and the question from the blurb "What makes a criminal?" becomes more pertinent, nuanced with every single twist in the tale that is CRIMINALS.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
July 10, 2022
I wish James O’Loghlin hadn’t waited so long to write his first adult fiction because this debut was awesome! A gritty and real depiction of life on the edge in Sydney, Criminals is truly unputdownable.
This book is told from three POVs: Dean, a drug addict breaking into homes to fund his habit; Mary, a middle-aged alcoholic who can’t see a way out of her grief and depression; and Sarah, a young cop on stress leave following a devastating event. They are all brought together one morning when masked intruders hold up the Blacktown Leagues Club.
The western Sydney setting felt real and un-glossed and the plot was clever and complex resulting in a compelling story. I loved how O’Loghlin got into the head of each character to explain how they unravelled in away that made it really understandable. As a former Legal Aid Criminal Law solicitor, O’Loghlin had plenty of real life situations to draw on, and that gave this book an authentic feel.
A brilliant debut crime fiction, if you read this genre, grab a copy, it’s a guaranteed great read.
This book is told from three POVs: Dean, a drug addict breaking into homes to fund his habit; Mary, a middle-aged alcoholic who can’t see a way out of her grief and depression; and Sarah, a young cop on stress leave following a devastating event. They are all brought together one morning when masked intruders hold up the Blacktown Leagues Club.
The western Sydney setting felt real and un-glossed and the plot was clever and complex resulting in a compelling story. I loved how O’Loghlin got into the head of each character to explain how they unravelled in away that made it really understandable. As a former Legal Aid Criminal Law solicitor, O’Loghlin had plenty of real life situations to draw on, and that gave this book an authentic feel.
A brilliant debut crime fiction, if you read this genre, grab a copy, it’s a guaranteed great read.
February 1, 2023
This was a quick, easy read that I really enjoyed, the perfect book to read on summer holiday . It was well structured and paced in a way that kept me wanting to turn the page to see what happened next. I think it would make a great limited tv series, I was casting it in my head as I read along. 3.5 stars
July 18, 2022
Thank you so much to DMCPR Media for providing me with a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review!
Dean is scrambling through life, break and enter, head to the dealer, score, shoot, repeat. Sick of the small time cash he’s making from house break ins, he decides to go for the big score. An armed robbery at the local club. They’re just replica guns, so if his mate Kenny can keep his mouth shut, they should be in and out and set for …well, a while at least. What could possibly go wrong?
Of course, the plan goes up the creek when the bartender is a cop on stress leave, and even worse, Dean recognizes her from school and club regular, Mary, has chosen that particular day to leave the world, so she won’t be taking any orders from the likes of Dean and Kenny.
I absolutely loved this book! Watching Dean, Sarah and Mary’s lives unravel and discovering all that had gone on in their past, had me feeling shocked and sad, but honestly, Dean still managed to make parts of the book so damn funny. I was bouncing from tears of sadness to one’s of laughter all over the place😄
Criminals felt like pure 90’s Aussie humour to me and hey, I have no idea if that will translate well to other countries, but that’s ok, it was damn perfect to me 😄 If you’ve been feeling like your crime books are getting a bit same old same old lately, make sure you drop everything and jump right into this one!
Dean is scrambling through life, break and enter, head to the dealer, score, shoot, repeat. Sick of the small time cash he’s making from house break ins, he decides to go for the big score. An armed robbery at the local club. They’re just replica guns, so if his mate Kenny can keep his mouth shut, they should be in and out and set for …well, a while at least. What could possibly go wrong?
Of course, the plan goes up the creek when the bartender is a cop on stress leave, and even worse, Dean recognizes her from school and club regular, Mary, has chosen that particular day to leave the world, so she won’t be taking any orders from the likes of Dean and Kenny.
I absolutely loved this book! Watching Dean, Sarah and Mary’s lives unravel and discovering all that had gone on in their past, had me feeling shocked and sad, but honestly, Dean still managed to make parts of the book so damn funny. I was bouncing from tears of sadness to one’s of laughter all over the place😄
Criminals felt like pure 90’s Aussie humour to me and hey, I have no idea if that will translate well to other countries, but that’s ok, it was damn perfect to me 😄 If you’ve been feeling like your crime books are getting a bit same old same old lately, make sure you drop everything and jump right into this one!
Read
November 15, 2022Pending
October 31, 2022
This is not your usual crime fiction but an interesting exploration, through story, of why people commit criminal acts and how we all are, to a greater or lesser degree, criminals. James O’Loghlin tells a good story with much of his material coming, no doubt, from his time as a criminal barrister. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me think about how family background and life events can form the path one takes in life. Bonus - it’s an interesting read with a few twists and surprises along the way.
September 2, 2023
Great book from a great author. Check out his podcast too - Minding Your Mind!
August 16, 2023
A solid crime story from former lawyer, TV and radio presenter James O’Loghlin with all the required elements to make an enjoyable adult read. Dean is first on the scene, a sneaky, twisty-turny kind of man who knows too much about human nature than is good for him. He’s a lapsed footballer, thief, a classic wheeler-dealer druggie always in debt and a prime manipulator of the judicial system. Unfortunately he is his own worst enemy, but there are millions like him, poorly educated and easily addicted which leads to a life of crime. Then comes Mary, an embittered woman who doesn’t really know what she wants out of life any more and when something nice comes along she will not give anything nice in return. Actually she’s a revelation. Third is Sarah who has experienced family trauma in the police force and is on special leave. Being a cop is in her blood, she hasn’t lost her skillset but she has to get her head sorted. Of course, you can guess what happens, Dean and his offsider Kenny hold up Blacktown leagues club at gunpoint and in that club are Mary and Sarah, for different reasons, but all have their viewpoints changed on that fateful day.
There are others in this story but these three people take prime position. Call it destiny or fate; even if Sarah can strategise, Mary can plot and Dean can talk his way around most things, there are plenty of potholes at the crossroads of their bumpy lives. Choices are offered and decisions made. You can guess which avenue is taken and it isn’t always paved by the solid tarmac of respectability. There is some emotional depth, the character portrayals and spin-out for each is well done, the irregular behaviour of people in control of their own futures who don’t really know how to make it work. I love the Aussie vernacular, the setting, and the wry humour. Dean’s initial offsider is the classic dumb accomplice and I laughed out loud at their antics, not as smoothly satisfying but similar to Bryan Brown’s ‘Sweet Jimmy’. While most of the dialogue is clever it gets a bit cops and robbers TV generic, as does the scene-setting and book layout. Also I noticed typos and that disappointed me. Don’t look too hard at the plot, I suggest go with the flow and appreciate the emotional moments scattered among the thorny encounters which contribute well to the overall story.
There are others in this story but these three people take prime position. Call it destiny or fate; even if Sarah can strategise, Mary can plot and Dean can talk his way around most things, there are plenty of potholes at the crossroads of their bumpy lives. Choices are offered and decisions made. You can guess which avenue is taken and it isn’t always paved by the solid tarmac of respectability. There is some emotional depth, the character portrayals and spin-out for each is well done, the irregular behaviour of people in control of their own futures who don’t really know how to make it work. I love the Aussie vernacular, the setting, and the wry humour. Dean’s initial offsider is the classic dumb accomplice and I laughed out loud at their antics, not as smoothly satisfying but similar to Bryan Brown’s ‘Sweet Jimmy’. While most of the dialogue is clever it gets a bit cops and robbers TV generic, as does the scene-setting and book layout. Also I noticed typos and that disappointed me. Don’t look too hard at the plot, I suggest go with the flow and appreciate the emotional moments scattered among the thorny encounters which contribute well to the overall story.
February 23, 2023
"We're all icebergs, showing the world our shiny tip, smiling as we say 'Good morning' and 'Fine thanks', while beneath we hide the messy, complicated truth." Sarah thinks when Mary tells her her story, her messy, complicated truth.
This is all about the messy, complicated truths - the whys - the stuff we hide underneath that causes us to act as we do, or in this case, to become criminals. It's the choices we make with the information we have. The paths we take. The circumstances we accept for ourselves, even when we know we really desire more and could do better.
Three quite different main characters - Dean the petty crook/junkie, Mary the ex-teacher, mother, lonely alcoholic looking for excitement and Sarah the depressed ex-cop barmaid, learning to cope when those she loves don't live up to her expectations. The stories weave over and around each other, touching here and there, then spinning off again. The twists and turns as pasts are revealed kept me turning the pages long after the lights should have been out. Each of the characters make bad choices but O'Loghlin shows us how they could be any of us - we're all just one choice away from being a criminal.
I loved meeting Dean, Mary and Sarah and looking into their lives for a while. I loved the rawness of it, the reality and honesty, the truthfulness. Excellent work. Didn't want it to end.
This is all about the messy, complicated truths - the whys - the stuff we hide underneath that causes us to act as we do, or in this case, to become criminals. It's the choices we make with the information we have. The paths we take. The circumstances we accept for ourselves, even when we know we really desire more and could do better.
Three quite different main characters - Dean the petty crook/junkie, Mary the ex-teacher, mother, lonely alcoholic looking for excitement and Sarah the depressed ex-cop barmaid, learning to cope when those she loves don't live up to her expectations. The stories weave over and around each other, touching here and there, then spinning off again. The twists and turns as pasts are revealed kept me turning the pages long after the lights should have been out. Each of the characters make bad choices but O'Loghlin shows us how they could be any of us - we're all just one choice away from being a criminal.
I loved meeting Dean, Mary and Sarah and looking into their lives for a while. I loved the rawness of it, the reality and honesty, the truthfulness. Excellent work. Didn't want it to end.
June 12, 2024
Read this with interest as the plot and setting are very real to today's society. All 3 of the main characters struggle with what makes a criminal and what is a crime. They make decisions based on their perspectives.
Mary is an alcoholic and depressed so gets bored and tries shoplifting, each time getting a little more serious. Eventually she is caught and has to face court.
Dean is further down the track has tried drugs and steals to support his habit. He attempts robbery at an RSL club and is identified. He ends up in jail awaiting his trial and faces some "heavy" criminals.
Sarah, an ex -policewoman, must face her demons after her fiance dies and she discovers her role model policeman father isn't as good as she thinks.
I like the 3 pronged approach and the sequencing of the chapters to reveal a little more each time.
James O'Loghlin writes a very REAL story. I'm looking forward to more by him.
Mary is an alcoholic and depressed so gets bored and tries shoplifting, each time getting a little more serious. Eventually she is caught and has to face court.
Dean is further down the track has tried drugs and steals to support his habit. He attempts robbery at an RSL club and is identified. He ends up in jail awaiting his trial and faces some "heavy" criminals.
Sarah, an ex -policewoman, must face her demons after her fiance dies and she discovers her role model policeman father isn't as good as she thinks.
I like the 3 pronged approach and the sequencing of the chapters to reveal a little more each time.
James O'Loghlin writes a very REAL story. I'm looking forward to more by him.
November 24, 2022
Dean is an addict and small time thief who needs a bigger pay check and walks into the Blacktown Tavern one morning to commit armed robbery. Behind the bar is ex-cop now barmaid Sarah and at a quiet table sits ex-teacher now alcoholic Mary. This isn't the story of the robbery, but the aftermath and how each character makes choices that blur the lines and impact on each other. James O'Loghlin is a comedian and ex barrister. His comedic touch comes thru in his writing, which is light and humorous. However the story itself leans heavily on his experiences with the people he has worked with as a lawyer. The author does a great job in explaining how things are not black and white, how humans have different pushes and pulls and how we all make questionable decisions, because that's what makes us intrinsically, fallibly human.
May 7, 2023
As the cover suggests, this book is about a robbery. It’s written from multiple POVs with Dean, the robber, Sarah, the barmaid (who is also an ex-policewoman), and Mary, the local alcoholic. This event starts a chain reaction in each of their lives and the reader is absolutely taken on the journey with them.
James was (possibly still is) a criminal lawyer and that is made clear in his writing. I could “hear” the way Dean spoke in my head given my personal experiences as a defence lawyer. I’ve also personally dealt with a “Mary” and “Sarah” and, as such, I throughly enjoyed the book.
Criminals was an easy book to read and the stories are all nicely wrapped up at the end.
James was (possibly still is) a criminal lawyer and that is made clear in his writing. I could “hear” the way Dean spoke in my head given my personal experiences as a defence lawyer. I’ve also personally dealt with a “Mary” and “Sarah” and, as such, I throughly enjoyed the book.
Criminals was an easy book to read and the stories are all nicely wrapped up at the end.
May 27, 2025
If it wasn't for the last half of the book, this would've scored much lower but it finally flowed better than the first half. I like books with short chapters. I like books that have different narrators/stories. For me, the trick with multiple narrators is to allow the story to move along as each one speaks. The chapters were probably just too short to create the depth you need to really engage the reader and have them invested in each of the characters. We did get there eventually but it was a bit of a slog. I raced through the last half and this has redeemed the book for me. Each character has their own tragedy to resolve and it was good to see that play out.
January 6, 2023
I initially though this was a murder mystery book and was a bit confused when there didn't seem to be a crime to solve. But then I realised this is a really a book about the criminal justice system and how it effects different people. It gives some very unique insight into how different backgrounds, experiences and access to resources and support can really change outcomes for people, especially when interconnecting with the criminal justice system. Really good book to get get you thinking and prompt conversation.
November 1, 2022
loved this book
I was totally engrossed in this book. The characters were all so very real, with their flaws, hopes, dreams, ability to make. Intakes and ability to entertain the possibility of change.
I was totally engrossed in this book. The characters were all so very real, with their flaws, hopes, dreams, ability to make. Intakes and ability to entertain the possibility of change.
November 6, 2022
If you are going on a long haul flight, this is the type of book to pick up at the airport.
Not much concentration required but a good read. Three damaged people come together to show the law is black and white with not much room for grey.
Not much concentration required but a good read. Three damaged people come together to show the law is black and white with not much room for grey.
November 20, 2022
A quintessential Aussie crime book set in good old Blacktown about drugs and thugs, committing crime and doing time, corrupt cops and good cops, choices and redemption and with a touch of warmth and humour thrown into the mix. A very enjoyable read.
July 16, 2022
Review coming soon.
August 18, 2022
Pure entertainment with meaning
October 6, 2022
Fun characters, great plot points, realistic issues.
October 10, 2022
For me, the first part was a bit of a slog, but I got into the story more in the latter sections
December 1, 2022
A funny but thought-provoking read of why people do the things they do and how we always carry our past with us no matter how hard we try not to. Highly recommended.
January 3, 2023
A story of redemption with realistic characters.
March 27, 2023
Good story and an easy read with the 3 different characters having their own chapters
February 25, 2024
Solid entertainment, well written, cracking pace, while a fairly humble crime story its well executed and more thoughtful than I'd initially guessed it would be. Well worth a read
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