I think that this may just be the best surprise debut of the year! I found Safecracker, by Jesse DeRoy, to be a high-adrenaline, action packed, thriller that will definitely be added to my personal favorites list. I literally could not put this book down from start to end listening to it with all the gusto I could muster so as not to miss a word! Phenomenal, fast paced, interesting, laced with tidbits of the trade.

In the early part of the book, you catch the family dynamics or the why and how. Family is everything! Proven when the young protagonist (Duke) has to put a bullet in the brain of a man who is intent on killing his father and sister when he was just 10 years old. But when now older sister and brother are double-crossed on a job, it puts one of them in grave danger fighting for their life in a coma. Team of two, has just become the team of one, and things have changed drastically. The family is in danger, and It's a game of cat and mouse played in an extremely high-stakes environment.

So much action packed in this book! Who can you trust? Who works for whom, and how far up the criminal chain does it go? How far up does the government chain go? For that matter, how far up does it go in the family chain? Will impossible circumstances become possible to get what is to be acquired inside an impenetrable safe by THE safecracker? It's like "Mission Impossible" meets "Fugitive" meet "Ocean's 1",
This brilliant novel does it all without foul obscenities and/or sex scenes.

An overall thrilling debut that packs a stirring punch in every direction! Don't miss it. Can't wait to see the next in the series!
5 Well deserved starts! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My extreme thanks to NetGalley, Jesse DeRoy, and RBMedia for an AAC of this publication in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I experienced this story via audio with Dan John Miller. He tackled this 10-hour and 48-minute narration with wit, energy, and the gusto to carry this story.

When I showed interest in this book, I thought I was getting a Young Adult version of this story. I was completely wrong, but I got my satisfaction from the childlike behavior of the main character, Grantchester "Duke" Ducaine, the young, best safecracker in the region and worst gambler ever. But understand that this book is complete with adult material. There's a lot of mob enforcement, bullets flying, and knife work throughout the story. The action was intense and satisfying to hear.

Even though I loved the characters and action sequences, I had mixed feelings about the story. Nothing memorable stood out to me. But still, it was a promising debut for DeRoy. The chapters were short and sweet, and the plot wasn't too political. If you can, check out the audio; Miller was excellent.

In the book Safecracker, new author Jesse DeRoy writes about Grantchester “Duke" Ducaine who was born and raised a thief, his specialty is safe-cracking. But for the past two years he has gone straight. With his dad in prison and his sister in a coma for which he blames himself, life has been a struggle. His gambling debts have not helped. So when he gets a chance to clear his debt, get his sister a better care facility, and spring his dad from prison, he jumps at the chance. But who is he really working for? The Feds or someone else? And will he get out alive? Has he put a target on his friends and families back? This was a great fast paced story with lots of twists and turns. I would recommend this book. The audio-book narration was very good. I received a copy of this audio-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Okay this book really needs to be a success because I most definitely want to see more of Duke’s adventures. Safecracker is the debut novel for author Jesse DeRoy, and he knocks it out of the park. I love complex characters, especially if what they do isn’t always on the up and up. And Grantchester “Duke" Ducaine is most definitely a complex character of questionable moral fiber. I was hooked from the opening line: “The first time I killed a man I was eleven years old.” For a moment just forget the main storyline of this book. The opening story anecdote as well as several other flashbacks to some of their early escapades makes me want to a tv series focused on Duke’s and his sister’s teenage/young adult life of crime.

Now back to the actual story of Safe Cracker. Without going too deep into there spoiler territory. While Duke might be a ‘retired’ thief, trying to live the on the straight and narrow path (or straight-is anyway)he’s still got issues. Not the least of which is large gambling debts (which he owes to…nope that would be a fun spoiler). But besides his gambling issues, his father is in jail and his sister needs requires extensive medical care. He’s doing his best to make ends meet, but then along comes an offer he can’t refuse. It sounds so easy (at least for a thief of Duke’s caliber) and besides he’d be working for the good guys this time around, wouldn’t he? You know the old saying if it sounds too good to be true it usually is, right? Truer words were never spoken and soon Duke finds himself neck deep in trouble. I enjoyed this book so much. The characters are delightfully complex and the story is a wild, fast paced, tension filled escapade. I can’t believe this is a debut novel. And as for the audio, as always Dan John Miller was an absolute delight to listen to. I can’t wait for more of these books. I’d like to thank RBmedia | Recorded Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review an advanced copy of the audio version of Jesse DeRoy’s Safecracker.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3LU3VDC6MNQGR/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Firstly thank you NetGalley for gifting me this arc.
I truly enjoyed it but it wasn’t what I expected. I expected so many heists but there was only one. I looooved the narrator of the audiobook! Duke, the main character, is struggling with paying his gambling debt and trying to find people who hurt his sister so he takes a risky (legal?) job from the government to get his dad released from prison and pay the debt.
There was a bit too much safe stuff going on, explaining how everything works was a bit too much for me. A bit of a too much chapters that I think weren’t necessary - a few of them could work amazingly as one. We got 1pov from Duke and past and present timeline.
There was so much going on but all in all I enjoyed it and would recommend.

I enjoyed this! I would have liked more time talking about safes and cracking safes. A true thriller. Loved the short chapters and consistent plot movement. Would read more if this was a series.

really enjoyed this audiobook. The narration was great, the main character was likable and funny, and the storyline was interesting.

I do love a good heist thriller every once in a while, and there was just something about the premise of Safecracker that I wasn't able to resist. The fact that I've been wanting to listen to another audiobook for a while only made me even more excited to have been granted access to this audio ARC... And I have to say that I ended up having SUCH a great time listening to this debut! This was exactly the action-packed and exhilarating heist thriller I was craving.

It's true that I don't exactly listen to a lot of audiobooks; not because I don't enjoy them, but because it takes me twice as long to get through a story this way. Sometimes it's worth it though, and I'm definitely glad I got to experience Safecracker in this format. I think I enjoyed the story even more because of it! The narrator Dan John Miller has a voice that is easy to listen to and I could appreciate how he changed his voice when different characters spoke in the dialogues. His voice also fitted Duke's character incredibly well!

Safecracker is the story of Grantchester 'Duke' Ducaine... Born and raised a thief, he decided to swear off crime after a job went wrong two years ago. There are without doubt a colorful and complicated family dynamics in play, and I think this made the story only more engaging. Duke is an extremely flawed character with his gambling addiction and colorful past, but he is somehow incredibly easy to warm up to. I had so much fun following him on his quest, and while there are some cliches involved surrounding his character, I personally wasn't bothered by them as they did fit his character very well.

This story is a bit of a blend between crime, heist and action thriller, and while I do wish there could have been more of the actual safecracking, the plot itself was still extremely engaging. It was basically one wild rollercoaster ride, where Duke found himself in a LOT of dangerous and complicated situations. Think Hollywood action blockbuster, and you will get an idea of what the plot looked like... There is no doubt that Safecracker would work SO well as a movie adaptation! The international settings were a great touch, and I could also appreciate how there was also focus on Duke's personal life and how certain events ended up connecting.

If you like your thrillers on the fast and action-packed side, Safecracker will take you on a wild and exhilarating ride. A lot of danger, a lot of action, a healthy dose of crime and more than one heist scene; this was a fantastic debut and I already can't wait to meet up with Duke again in the future.

.25⭐️
Wow! I was floored when I read that this was a debut author because this book was so well written that it had the polish that veteran authors have. I love safe cracking material. I’ve loved movies and books that have safe cracking as it just interests me in a bizarre sort of way. The main character was great that he was raised and had lived his life in the criminal element, but was trying to go straight and all of the emotions he had the guilt that he had on him due to certain situation and trying to help his dad and walk the straight narrow and Has a very complicated family structure and a gambling problem. This created a unique individual that seemed so real that you couldn’t help a route for him throughout.

I had received the audio ALC for this one and I really enjoyed the narration. Sometimes I don’t overly enjoy male voices for my audiobooks for some reason but this gentleman I thoroughly enjoyed. As always I sped this up for my own preference to 1.75 the speed rate and it was perfect , listening speed for me. I will say that it took me a couple nights because I would fall asleep to the narrators voice because it was so calming and soothing.


I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Netgalley and Recorded Books to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review. The title comes out on November 12, 2024. I really suggest getting this on your TV if this is the genre that you like because you’ll be glad that you did..

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Safecracker by Jesse DeRoy and expertly narrated by Dan John Miller is a fast-paced heist thriller with just the right blend of smarta$$ wisecracking, chicanery and plot with a lovable, down to earth MMC in Grantchester "Duke" Ducaine (you can see exactly why he prefers his nickname!) - This audiobook was a perfect match between author and narrator, the flow was absolutely on point

Duke and his sister were raised to be criminals by their renowned safecracker father. However, when a heist goes wrong, ginny ends up on a coma and their father in jail. Duke is left bereft, trying to resolve his gambling debts ( owed to aunt Paulie who is deliciously savage) and avoid a life of crime when he is contacted by agents claiming to be FBI, asking him to crack a safe. This has to be legit thinks our dandy hero, but, is it? Especially when there is another set of agents, a switchback, and oh so very much more

I. Loved. Every. Minute!!! Yes, it deserves three exclamations marks, indeed, I almost went all caps on this one/ Let alone that it is a debut! Flipping glorious. Jesse DeRoy is going to be an author to watch and hat is for sure

Thank you to NetGalley, RBmedia | Recorded Books, Jese DeRoy and the narrator Dan John Miller for this excellent ALC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Duke is kind of the last person standing in his nuclear family. His father is in jail. His sister is in a coma. His mother died years ago, knowing his dad was going to train their children to be world class criminals. And they are. Duke is 22 and his sister a little older. His Aunt Paulie, Dad's sister, runs a gambling racket and various other highly lucrative operations and Duke cannot make the vig on his large debt to her. She not only won't play favorites with her nephew, she argues she can't play favorites or everyone will peg her as a softie. So they have family dinners together and threatening conversations that almost result in the worst.. Paulie is not happy that Duke has gone straight. He can barely pay any bills with his gambling habit and the income of a legitimate safecracker. He opens safes for estates, for people who forgot the combination and for... the government. Just when he faces having his thumbs seriously damaged by Paulie's collectors, Duke lands a very hush, hush government job. And while he is very observant and attuned to his surroundings and the people in it and always plans for every contingency he can imagine, this job lands Duke in an international thriller. This is the series debut and I am very happy that in addition to giving us great characters and an excellent plot, DeRoy provided a really interesting and thorough back story. I'd enjoy more flashbacks of their past, as appropriate, involving how they were trained and what their father viewed as their prospects. Duke is too hesitant and it did not bode well. He feels totally responsible for his sister's coma and that a his father, in a rush to get to them overseas, got picked up on a traffic violation when he had a lot of warrants out related to his bigger business. Definitely a great debut. I'd keep reading this series.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review Safecracker.
I would like to give a fair and honest review.

For a debut novel, it is great. Duke was described well. Really got to understand him. The storyline did not jump around so it was easy to follow.

Summary:

Duccain and his sister started their lives as a career criminal under the tutelage of their father. They are double crossed and everything goes left for all parties.
Duke decides to go on the straight and narrow path.
He was offered a job that was too good to be true... and so in there the fun begins.

Duke was born a thief and is on a path to do better in his life. This book takes us through pressures of being pulled back into danger, both on the end of bookies and the FBI. Hopeful that working with the government can turn his life around, there is much more that is uncovered.

The chapters are short, fast paced right from the first chapter. 1 extra start for this being a debut novel, will definitely look for more from this author.

I did not realize that this was a debut novel! Holy smokes! Well, where do we go from here??

Duke was raised in a family of thieves. His father taught he and his sister everything they know. And, Duke had his first kill when he was 11. 😮😮

But, things have changed since those days…
His father is now behind bars, and his sister…well, she’s not in the business any more, and Duke blames himself for everything!

This was a fast-paced, ever-changing, action-packed novel! It also spans a few counties too! (And a few years…). And, although Duke is on the straight and narrow now, he seems to be in high demand for some shady jobs!

Oh…did I mention his job? He’s a safecracker!!!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

Terrific debut novel!!
#Safecracker by #JesseDeroy and narrated nicely by #DanJohnMiller.
Apparently, this is book #1! So, yay…there will be more!!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #RBMedia and #RecordedBooksMedia for an ARC of the audiobook which is being released in a few short days on 11/12/24, so look 👀 for it then!!

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Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

"Duke" Duccain was raised by his father to be a thief, just like his sister. They spent their lives perfecting their craft until one heist went horribly wrong. After that setback, Duke decided to leave his criminal life behind and pursue a more legitimate path. However, he struggled with a gambling problem and found himself in debt to his bookie. Just when things seemed bleak, the feds approached him with a tempting offer: they wanted him to carry out a heist for them. Little did he know, this would only be the beginning of a series of complications.

This debut heist thriller is an engaging read. Duke is charming and skilled, but despite his confidence, he often finds himself outsmarted. He attempts to stay two steps ahead but consistently falls behind. Chaos reigns in his life, and Murphy's Law seems to be in full effect. The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns; just when you think you have the ending figured out, something twists in the narrative. Although Duke is meant to be the hero, he exists in a morally gray area. If you enjoy a good heist story, this book is definitely one to check out. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Grantchester Duccain.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Jesse DeRoy, RBmedia, and Recorded Books____ for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Jesse DeRoy storms onto the scene with this solid debut novel. Eager to impress, he does so with a mix of grit and determination. Duke Ducaine has had quite the life and is seeking to correct it. While his personal stuff is a little murky, he also has a bookie who wants his head and two feds who have made a deal with him, should he be able to crack into an impenetrable safe. Duke lives for a challenge and is eager to impress. DeRoy dazzles in this debut and leave some hoping for more in a series!

While Grantchester “Duke" Ducaine loved his early life surrounded by the criminal element, he’s chosen to turn straight. It warms his heart, but the lack of tension creates a missing piece within Duke’s chest. He stays busy handling a few things in his life, with his father locked away in prison and a bookie who has been threatening if the vig is not upheld. However, staying clear of the law is the best way to be for the time being.

Serving as a safecracker, Duke has mastered his craft and impressed many who saw him in action. Duke’s abilities reach a pair of federal agents, who strike up an idea that is almost too good to be true. When Duke is tasked with opening an impenetrable safe and delivering the contents back to them, he cannot help but feel as though things might be getting better. Then a gut feeling comes over him and he discovers that he’s being played and left as the scapegoat.

Working to ensure he is not the target of reprisals, Duke puts it all on the line.
He seeks to ensure his father’s safety, but also holds into the one thing he has to keep the upper hand. It is now a race to see who will blink first and the fallout of any action that could have larger implications. DeRoy delivers with this debut and kept me hooked until the final pages.


I enjoy finding new authors to read and follow, as one can never be sure what to expect. DeRoy offers up a great story and ideas that flow with ease. The narrative is gripping from the outset and never wanes as the tension mounts. Strong characters and wonderful technical jargon help ensure the story and its nuances are intriguing, leaving the reader to bask in the intricacies and lap it all up. I was quite impressed with the plot and how it worked in many levels, keeping the reader hooked and guessing. I will be keeping an eye out for future novels and hope Jesse DeRoy has more ideas with Duke soon!

Kudos, Mr. DeRoy, for a great debut novel.

Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy. I must say I am pleasantly surprised this was the authors debut novel. Jesse did such a great job weaving in the past and present and kept me on my toes all the way til the end! I can’t believe how much story was in the novel. I went in expecting a pretty simple crack safe have a little more to the story, and move on, but it was sooooo much more jam packed then that. After reading this book it made me want to go and watch oceans 11 hehehhehe. But I could also see this book as a perfect start to a pretty cool series. The author had a ton of knowledge on safes and just heists in general. Really hoping this does become a series because loved getting to know all of the different characters in the book. Fun and fast glad I got a chance to read it:)

I really enjoyed Safecracker by Jesse DeRoy. This debut novel is a fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I finished the book quickly because I couldn’t put it down. This heist story focuses on Duke who was raised to be a thief , can crack any safe and will do anything for his family.

Dan John Miller did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & RB Media for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Duke was raised to be a career criminal. But after one job leaves his dad in jail and his sister in a coma, he goes straight. Except being straight is not very lucrative. Then some feds show up and make him an offer he can't refuse- enough money to pay off his debts plus some, and more importantly- his father's release for time served. He knows it is too good to be true... and he is right.

I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of this. Duke is an interesting character- very likeable, very capable, but also kind of an idiot. Then we got to the last third and my eyes glazed over often. The action stopped and we got into the why of it all, and I didn't care for the why. Personal opinion. But there was a definite shift in the pace/tension.

I will probably pick up book two. I enjoyed Duke and the first half enough to give it another try.

Dan John Miller did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

okaaaayyyyy i was not expecting to like this as much as i did!! it was so action packed, fast, and a fun read! i couldn’t stop listening!