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Tom Davin's business is a bit unusual—he finds stolen art and sells it back to its owners for a good penny—until he uncovers a devious plot and finds himself on the run from a vicious Russian assassinTom Davin is a Brooklyn insurance investigator in a jam. He arranged an art theft to cover a debt—only somebody swiped the paintings from his crew. Now the insurance company wants him to investigate his own art theft; the local bookie wants his money; his crew in the neighborhood is targeted by a sniper; both the mob and the cops think he's the shooter; and his girlfriend split and stuck him with four cats that are redecorating his apartment. Six-foot-six Tommy nimbly navigates his troubles and Brooklyn with the help of tantric yoga, his father's aphorisms, and a comely masseuse. But the question do good things happen to good people? The answer lurks in a fiery Brooklyn scrap yard.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 2, 2010
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Brian M. Wiprud
21 books25 followersA New York City writer, Brian Wiprud is the award-winning and multiply nominated author of fifteen novels. His current series features the adventures of Boone Linsenbigler, dashing and jinxed pitchman for a multinational beverage company.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 4, 2021
This is the book that a dear teenage parishioner couldn't believe that a pastor's wife (me) was reading last summer. "It's so yucky sounding! Why would you read something like THAT!" she asked more than once. :)
Regardless, I thought it was another good Winprud book!
Regardless, I thought it was another good Winprud book!
October 10, 2017
A first person narration of art theft which takes you into the intimate spaces of NY and the business of the art trade. This is an investigation procedural coupled with action pacing - altogether, you get a fast paced, good night or summer reading! Highly recommended.
December 18, 2010
I do believe Wiprud just keeps getting better. I was very impressed with his previous book, "Feelers", and "Buy Back" is another gem. This time we get an inside track on the world of art theft and forgery, including lots of insider terms (nicely described and worked into the story by the author).
Tommy Davin certainly looks like he could be a criminal: standing six-foot-six and weighing in at 270 lbs, he's an imposing figure. And while he bills himself as an "insurance investigator", he's really working on the fringes of what could be considered legal; his job is more recovery of the stolen works so that the insurance company doesn't have to pay out the claim, and he's given fairly free rein to get the art back in any manner he sees fit to use. Despite his vocation, he's actually a pretty nice guy, one who refuses to carry a gun and uses tantric breathing to calm himself during stressful moments.
Unfortunately for Tommy, he's also a sucker for the wrong woman. His ex-girlfriend has flown the coop, leaving him with her $15,000 debt to a local loan shark - and her four cats, dubbed the Fuzz Face Four by Davin. Poor Tommy. He's saddled with Snuggles, the cat who "vomit(s)... like a fire hose", Lady Fuzz who has serious litter box issues, Tigsy the diabetic kittie, and Herman, the cat who wouldn't eat. He complains about them but you can tell that he also cares about them, especially after realizing that they've been kidnapped (he says more than once that he hopes whoever took the felines is giving Tigsy his insulin... awww...). Then the threatening notes start showing up under his front door. Only problem is the notes are written in Russian, and Tommy doesn't read Russian. But he has bigger problems...
In an attempt to pay off the loan shark, Tommy sets up his own art theft using a couple guys from the neighborhood that are known in the industry. His luck keeps getting worse when the crew inform him that the paintings they stole...were stolen from them. Adding insult to injury, Tommy's "employer" contacts him and asks him to investigate the theft, putting him in an awkward position. As he starts his "investigation", those around him start losing their lives in the most horrible fashion - shot to death by a sniper. And Davin is fairly certain that the sniper has missed each time - because he's been standing right next to the recently deceased during each incident. The police think Tommy is responsible for the shootings, even though he keeps telling them that he was the intended target. And that loan shark isn't getting any more patient about his money.
It's a wonderful little crime drama with the usual quirky Wiprud characters. The Brooklyn setting totally works, and the character development is excellent. If you like action, this book also has plenty of that, including the sniper scenes - very descriptive and actually pretty gruesome. Tommy Davin is a fabulous protagonist, and I hope that Wiprud revisits the neighborhood, and Tommy, sometime down the road.
Tommy Davin certainly looks like he could be a criminal: standing six-foot-six and weighing in at 270 lbs, he's an imposing figure. And while he bills himself as an "insurance investigator", he's really working on the fringes of what could be considered legal; his job is more recovery of the stolen works so that the insurance company doesn't have to pay out the claim, and he's given fairly free rein to get the art back in any manner he sees fit to use. Despite his vocation, he's actually a pretty nice guy, one who refuses to carry a gun and uses tantric breathing to calm himself during stressful moments.
Unfortunately for Tommy, he's also a sucker for the wrong woman. His ex-girlfriend has flown the coop, leaving him with her $15,000 debt to a local loan shark - and her four cats, dubbed the Fuzz Face Four by Davin. Poor Tommy. He's saddled with Snuggles, the cat who "vomit(s)... like a fire hose", Lady Fuzz who has serious litter box issues, Tigsy the diabetic kittie, and Herman, the cat who wouldn't eat. He complains about them but you can tell that he also cares about them, especially after realizing that they've been kidnapped (he says more than once that he hopes whoever took the felines is giving Tigsy his insulin... awww...). Then the threatening notes start showing up under his front door. Only problem is the notes are written in Russian, and Tommy doesn't read Russian. But he has bigger problems...
In an attempt to pay off the loan shark, Tommy sets up his own art theft using a couple guys from the neighborhood that are known in the industry. His luck keeps getting worse when the crew inform him that the paintings they stole...were stolen from them. Adding insult to injury, Tommy's "employer" contacts him and asks him to investigate the theft, putting him in an awkward position. As he starts his "investigation", those around him start losing their lives in the most horrible fashion - shot to death by a sniper. And Davin is fairly certain that the sniper has missed each time - because he's been standing right next to the recently deceased during each incident. The police think Tommy is responsible for the shootings, even though he keeps telling them that he was the intended target. And that loan shark isn't getting any more patient about his money.
It's a wonderful little crime drama with the usual quirky Wiprud characters. The Brooklyn setting totally works, and the character development is excellent. If you like action, this book also has plenty of that, including the sniper scenes - very descriptive and actually pretty gruesome. Tommy Davin is a fabulous protagonist, and I hope that Wiprud revisits the neighborhood, and Tommy, sometime down the road.
September 14, 2016
This book started out fun. The descriptions were entertaining and slightly over the top. But halfway through, I got bored with it. Too much pointless description and not enough story. The "mystery" could have been told in a third of the book.
Tommy is a sarcastic character who uses his sarcasm in place of emotions. And any time he feels stressed, he does this tantric exercise - like closing eyes, deep breathing, etc. and anytime anyone is around him, he tells them about it. So we never see him angry.
The book is over the top. Someone's head gets hit by a sniper bullet and it is described like their entire head is gone. Things like that happen multiple times, and Tommy just focuses on the little details rather than having a normal reaction of getting the hell away.
Halfway through, I stopped caring.
There was this odd sub plot about his ex dropping 4 cats off with him, and them getting stolen. He barely batted an eye. He did make inquiries every so often, but never worried or fave a damn.
No suspense. A lot of action, but I had no emotional reaction to anything, except the final sentence because I had finally finished it!
Tommy is a sarcastic character who uses his sarcasm in place of emotions. And any time he feels stressed, he does this tantric exercise - like closing eyes, deep breathing, etc. and anytime anyone is around him, he tells them about it. So we never see him angry.
The book is over the top. Someone's head gets hit by a sniper bullet and it is described like their entire head is gone. Things like that happen multiple times, and Tommy just focuses on the little details rather than having a normal reaction of getting the hell away.
Halfway through, I stopped caring.
There was this odd sub plot about his ex dropping 4 cats off with him, and them getting stolen. He barely batted an eye. He did make inquiries every so often, but never worried or fave a damn.
No suspense. A lot of action, but I had no emotional reaction to anything, except the final sentence because I had finally finished it!
July 7, 2010
Buy Back by Brian M. Wiprud
An entertaining look at a criminal subculture in Brooklyn, NY features 6’6’’, 270 pound Tom Davin as a pseudo insurance investigator. Davin’s search for answers in a caper gone awry provides action, adventure and suitable twists and turns for the most jaded mystery reader.
Davin is a highly likeable character who has a unique outlook on what he considers criminal. He has a very ethical personality based on his skewed outlook on life in general and Brooklyn life in particular.
Davin’s vulnerability is captured and is juxtaposed with his size, temperament and career moves. The mystery and action are very well done and provide plenty of raw material for thoughtful speculation.
I really enjoyed the book and the quirky characters.
I highly recommend the book.
An entertaining look at a criminal subculture in Brooklyn, NY features 6’6’’, 270 pound Tom Davin as a pseudo insurance investigator. Davin’s search for answers in a caper gone awry provides action, adventure and suitable twists and turns for the most jaded mystery reader.
Davin is a highly likeable character who has a unique outlook on what he considers criminal. He has a very ethical personality based on his skewed outlook on life in general and Brooklyn life in particular.
Davin’s vulnerability is captured and is juxtaposed with his size, temperament and career moves. The mystery and action are very well done and provide plenty of raw material for thoughtful speculation.
I really enjoyed the book and the quirky characters.
I highly recommend the book.
June 24, 2010
There's a picture of the author in the book jacket. He looks like a nice, respectable guy. Who knew that beneath that pleasant exterior is the brain that could come up with the violent and twisted events of this book? Tommy Davin helps insurance companies retrieve stolen works of art. But now he owes a loan shark for money his ex-girlfriend borrowed, and he's tapped out. So he plans a little art heist of his own, and then things go wrong, in an orgy of double-crossing, and a lot of people are dying. All of Wiprud is must-read, and this is no exception.
October 20, 2010
A fast paced mystery about a insurance investigator is has been left with three or four cats by his former girlfriend. His apt is in a shambles when he gets home and the cats are missing but a letter is left for his girlfriend. His present job is to get back the four paintings that were stolen at the museum. The museum said that five were missing. He knows that isn't true as he was involved with the heist. Russian gangsters are after him and shooting people apart and it gets very dangerous for him. Can't tell you the rest but it is entertaining and exciting.
June 10, 2011
Tommy Davin is a down-on-his-luck Brooklyn insurance investigator specializing in stolen artwork claims. He sort of floats between the criminal underworld and the art society to get the job done. He narrates his tale in a quirky hardboiled style (including slang) that may not be everybody's cuppa. Offbeat characters, gritty urban setting, and deadpan humor are also offered. The burly Tommy is a good dude who likes cats, so I'll vote a thumbs up on this book.
September 15, 2010
Another terrific art heist caper (Still raving about Donna Moore's Old Dogs). Tom's an entrepreneurial insurance investigator who's own art theft has gone awry, leading to all sorts of comic transactions on the streets of Brooklyn. Intricately constructed, very funny, and at times gory--this one keeps a snappy pace all the way through. Think of Get Shorty in Brooklyn. Totally satisfying!
January 4, 2011
This book would definitely be a better movie than a book. Smash 'em, shoot'em, blow 'em up...not a laugh riot...except for the 4 cats. Would have made more sense if I had a better sense of the geography of NYC. Main character recovers stolen art for insurance companies but sometimes also facilitates the stealing of art to start the cycle. Set up at the end for book 3.
June 22, 2010
Even if the story weren’t quick-witted and thrilling and loaded with can’t-catch-your-breath action, the main character alone would make Buy Back an entertaining read.
Read the full review at http://www.nightsandweekends.com/arti...
Read the full review at http://www.nightsandweekends.com/arti...
September 7, 2010
a quirky read. the language and writing style was odd in a good way. the author explained some lingo and such in first person which was different. had an old school feel to it. pretty good story and the author did a good job with characters. i may try another book by Wiprud
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July 30, 2011Investigator finds stolen paintings for insurance reward money. Decides to cut out the middle man and sponsor a heist. The heist is heisted and the race is on to get the paintings back and pay off loan shark.
August 23, 2010
Okay, I've read enough to know this will NOT make a very good Reader's Choice.
Want to read
October 27, 2010Library Journal 6/1/2010
May 13, 2011
If you took out the word "Brooklyn," this would be a short story.
June 13, 2012
Good book. I enjoy the odd rythm of his writing
August 16, 2012
Very interesting protagonist. Lots of twists and turns.
November 9, 2012
An entertaining and humorous mystery elevated by some Damon Runyon-esque Brooklyn dialogue. You also get an interesting inside view of the art insurance business.
August 3, 2010
Chuckled my way through this. Fun read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews