Thanks to #Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review the latest by Simon R. Green, "The Best Thing You Can Steal",

I always know that, when I pick up a book by Simon R. Green, I'm in for a treat. Mr. Green never ceases to entertain and twist my brain into contortions that it never was meant to do; I've read his entire "Nightside" series, as well as his "Secret Histories" series, and, of course, "Ishmael Jones", so it came to me as no surprise that I would thoroughly enjoy "The Best Thing You Can Steal".

The man now known as Gideon Sable is putting together the heist of all heists, and he's enlisted a number of cronies with dubious pasts, presents and futures: Annie Anybody, who is never the same person twice and can control all sorts of machines by convincing them to do what she wants; the Ghost, who is exactly that; Johnny Wild, the Wilde Card, who can confound everyone by never being exactly what he seems; and The Damned, who earned his reputation by slaying Angels and stealing their haloes - and is damned for all eternity.

Their mission: to break into an impenetrable citadel - the museum where Hammer keeps everything he's ever collected. And they're going to succeed, because Gideon already knows how it's done, courtesy of the previous Gideon Sable's journal. They've been tasked with this heist by Hammer's ex-wife, who covets everything, but especially one rare item.

This is a novella that reads like a full-length novel. The action is fast and furious and keeps the reader enthralled, as each character is introduced and their history explained, before the heist begins.

Thoroughly entertaining and recommended.

I haven't read anything from Simon R Green for a while, I loved the Deathstalker series and dabbled with Hawk and Fisher and the Nightside and Secret Histories series. I jumped at this offer of a free Netgalley ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gideon Sable (not the original) comes across a plan to rob Fredric Hammer, one of the most evil and corrupt collectors of the weird and strange. He gathers a crew for the heist from individuals, who have history with Hammer and are eager to get their chance for revenge.

Green has given a fantastic cast of characters. The thief who is more like Robin Hood, Annie Anybody, a woman who can assume any identity and has an interesting relationship with technology. The Damned who has the ultimate armour, but seeks redemption. The Ghost who has managed to keep his sense of self and Johnny Wilde who has seen too much.

This is not the type of story to send you behind the couch, but you will enjoy the journey and the range of unusual characters. There is a gentle humour throughout and the pace of the story is nice and brisk. An excellent urban fantasy.

The words "Simon R. Green" on the cover led me to expect that there would be disturbing amounts of violence and other disturbing things within, and also that it would be a well-written story with a heroic arc. All of this was, in fact, the case.

An optimistic thief and con-man who has recently taken on the pre-existing identity of Gideon Sable recruits a largely supernatural heist crew to rip off the worst man in the world. I have to say, a heist doesn't have to have a victim who deserves to lose, but it certainly helps.

It's a quick read, pacey, but not just unreflective action, and the heist is extremely clever, as heists ought to be. The supernatural background is based in Catholic Christianity - there are saints, relics, angels, demons, and so forth - but none of the characters is devout. The trip is often horrific, but the ending is heroic.

I love a good heist, and this is one. Recommended.

This is a standalone (I think) paranormal title that is an enjoyable, if not entirely surprising read. Mr. Green has a formula for urban sci-fi that works, but it can be somewhat repetitive if you are a long-time fan. This book was a fast read, and reminded me of older works like the Nightside series.

A new Simon Green is always a fun read. I read it in a day and enjoyed it. However, it did feel like a watered down version of his Nightside books.

I’m glad to be the first person to rate and review this book, because it was lovely and you should definitely check it out and here’s why.
I’ve actually never read Green before. Certainly heard of him, he’s got tons of books out, even familiar with his most famous literary creation, though in tv form. Main reason being…not exactly my genre, paranormal fantasy. Plus I really don’t like to read serials. But then this one come up on Netgalley and it just looked fun and was so short (and really, not many authors of that of other genres manage to tell a story in under 200 pages these days), so I figured why not…and ended up really liking it. Way, way more than anticipated.
And I know this isn’t high literature and I know it’s silly at times and the ending’s too neat and kinda cheesy and some of the logic is credulity stretching and some of the action is too over the top…but it’s just so much fun. Green by now is an absolute pro, he can probably produce these books in his sleep (and we should all be so fortunate as too have dreams this exciting), but somehow he still manages to come up with original, genuinely fresh seeming sort of quirkiness. The characters are wackadoodledoo in the most excellent ways, complete with backstories and articulated action toys, ok, not the latter, but maybe one day, who knows. The story is so dynamic and entertaining and reads just like a really good fantasy tv show and the entire production is..well, it’s positively charming.
The plot, you ask…well, it’s about an elaborately orchestrated theft performed by a master thief and four additional players he assembles specifically for the job, including his ex, a woman of many disguises and wigs, a muscle…a man destined for the Underworld with supernatural protections to make that journey a long way off, a Wild Card, a man who peered beyond the fabric of reality and got all kinds of screwy from it and a Ghost, that’s easy, he’s a ghost.
Together they intend to steal a tv that shows past of future from an evil collector of all sorts of esoteric and magical objects.
The master thief is Gideon Sable, it is the name he stole, along with some necessary for the job tools like a key to anywhere, a compass to guide you to the thing you most desire and a pen that pauses time. Frankly, with those accoutrements who wouldn’t be a master thief and how difficult would it really be to become one. Nevertheless, there are obstacles to surmount and personalities to negotiate, though Gideon and his con man charm do know how to offer each of his new friends the thing they wish for the most, Wizard of Oz style. And so off the go on a great adventure, fun for them, fun for you.
Overall, a surprisingly enjoyable read that entertains, delights and doesn’t overstay its welcome, so much so I might even read the further installments. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.