Audio book review - superbly narrated by Dan John Miller with the right temperament and tones to keep the pages flowing. A thoroughly entertaining tale of suspense, mystery and thriller that had me hooked very early on. The anti-hero delivers an enthralling performance with a hint of humour, with plenty of back story to support this as a stand alone book

Safe Cracker
By Jesse DeRoy
Narrated by Dan John Miller
4 ⭐️

I had a good time with this action packed heist. It’s essentially an action movie in book form, and I wholly appreciated the Die Hard references (my husband’s favorite Christmas movie franchise 🫠). This story follows a reformed, trained since birth criminal, with a specialty in opening the most formidable safes in the world. When he finds himself in a self made financial jam, he dips his toes back into the life he left behind. Of course it doesn’t go as planned. I liked the MC and his story. I appreciated his love for his family even when it feels misplaced to an outsider. I laughed several times and was fully invested throughout. The audiobook is partially to credit my enjoyment of this book. Miller delivers a great performance. I have zero complaints. Check this contemporary action, crime adventure out!

Audiobook ARC courtesy of NetGalley, Jesse DeRoy and RBMedia. Thank you! 🔓

A fast-paced, well-done thriller that takes a safecracker Duke (who is on the straight path) on a deceptive trail. The plot had a lot of twists and turns. My only qualm with this book was that Duke was supposedly one of the best in his field but still fooled at every turn. Like really, dude!!

The narration was well done.

#netgalley #Safecracker

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Duke is one of the worlds elite safecrackers and he should be since his father raised Duke and his sister Jenny to be the best career criminals. He has always lived outside the law until two years ago when a job he set up turned tragic. It ended with his father in prison, Jenny in a coma and Duke on the straight and narrow boring path. The only thing that has kept him going is some illegal gambling which has him up to his eyeballs in debt and he's about to lose his thumbs if he cant come up with a payment. Enter a pair of government suits looking to hire him for a secret job with one of the best safe's in the world, its a highly dangerous location and noone can know he was ever there but the payout would right his wrongs and release his father. In and out was all he was supposed to do but when the job goes awry Duke finds himself in the middle of a government shitstorm. Double crossing, governments, treason, guns and billionaires has Duke scrambling to save his life.

This is a debut novel from Jesse DeRoy and it is a very strong thriller. The POV is from Duke and he is a very likable thief. The characters are all strong and interesting since no one seems to be as they first appear. The pace of the story is done well with the back story unfurling throughout. I really enjoyed the first safe cracking scene as it was great detail and a world I know nothing about so it would have been nice to have a few more of those scenes, given the title. Considering how the previous job he took ended, I was surprised he did not ask more questions before taking this mission, it seemed unrealistic. I thought the ending was a little over the top and the final connections too contrived but overall I really enjoyed this "spy" style thriller. I could see why Duke is turning into a series, and would continue to follow this character. I would read more work from DeRoy.

I had the audio version read by Dan John Miller. He does a very nice job, was easy to listen to and had good timing.

So this book was a fast-past read, it most definitely should be a movie. I felt like it was reading a screenplay or a script for the most part. I do like books with short Chapters but this was a little too short, I think instead of having 130 chapters it really should have been about 60-75 total.
I enjoyed the story and would love to read another book by this author. If you are looking for a high stakes, captivating and very interesting book I would pick this one up.

Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

It was funny, it was mysterious and it had a great amount of action. Just a great crime novel I enjoyed the characters the writing was great and I hope there’s more like these !! Definitely gonna add this one to my library.

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 30th December and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of January

Probably the easiest 5 stars I’ve given this year!

Firstly: the narration by Dan John Miller was excellent, it was easy to get lost in the story and understand. Dan’s energy carried over audio very well and the tone of his voice was an easy listen.

The plot: this was such a unique plot line and the level of details and research Jesse DeRoy must have done to include all the information on safecracking was impressive. I loved all the detail included on different types of safes. The inclusion of corrupt federal agents and different agencies was quite enjoyable as well.

The characters: I thought the author wrote the characters in a way to really make the reader invested in their story and success. I also enjoyed the single POV storyline without too many side stories to track.

The ending: I liked how a few storylines were wrapped up in the end and did not feel like any loose ends were outstanding.

I truly hope we get to see the sibling dynamic duo back for another book soon!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jesse DeRoy and RBmedia for this ARC.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Jesse DeRoy’s Safecracker is a thrilling dive into the criminal underworld, filled with tension, intrigue, and unexpected twists. Narrated by the versatile Dan John Miller, this audiobook offers a gripping and immersive experience that will keep listeners hooked from start to finish.

The story follows Grantchester “Duke” Ducaine, a master safecracker who has been trying to live a straight life for the past two years. However, Duke’s past catches up with him when a bookie threatens to break his thumbs, and a pair of shady federal agents offer him a deal he can’t refuse: break into an unbreakable safe. As Duke takes on the job, he discovers that some secrets are best left hidden.

Dan John Miller’s narration is a standout feature of this audiobook. His ability to capture the gritty, noir atmosphere of the story and bring the characters to life is impressive. Miller’s deep, resonant voice perfectly matches Duke’s tough exterior and inner turmoil, while his nuanced performance adds depth to the supporting characters.

DeRoy’s writing is sharp and evocative, with a keen eye for detail and a talent for building suspense. The dialogue is crisp and realistic, adding authenticity to the characters and their interactions. DeRoy’s ability to weave intricate plotlines and maintain a steady pace ensures that the story remains engaging throughout.

Safecracker explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and the consequences of one’s past actions. It delves into the moral complexities of living a life of crime and the struggle to break free from it.

Safecracker is a compelling and well-crafted thriller that will appeal to fans of crime fiction and heist stories. Jesse DeRoy has created a memorable protagonist in Duke Ducaine, whose journey is both thrilling and thought-provoking. Dan John Miller’s exceptional narration elevates the audiobook, making it a must-listen for anyone who enjoys a good crime caper.

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

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.