The Things She Stole - D. D. Black

Brandon Penny is a law abiding member of society. Not at all what his mother envisioned. As a child, Brandon's con-artist mother raised him to be a criminal prodigy. But when he was twelve a robbery went bad, a gun went off, and Brandon's mother disappeared, never to return.

Left all alone, Brandon burned with anger. And questions.

What happened that night? Why did his mom leave him behind? And why didn't she ever come back?

Now he works a monotonous 9-5, pining for the girfriend who dumped him. All he has to his name is the beer in his hand and a punch card for the vintage video store.

But when his estranged mother returns to town for a major heist, the police ask Brandon to help track her down. He doesn't trust the cops, he can'ttrust his mother, and he's too afraid to trust the ex-girlfriend he still loves. The only one he can count on is himself.

One way or another, he'll find out what happened that night. But to do it he'll have to tear down the life he's built.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Takes the domestic thriller genre to a whole new level. Part mother/son crime drama, part heist novel, The Things She Stole reminded me of Ben Affleck's movie, The Town. Compelling characters, amazingly-rendered Portland setting, and a conclusion full of twists, turns, and ultimately, satisfaction. Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full of tradecraft and suspense, emotion and action. And the ending? Fist-pumps and tears. Not to be missed!