The Amateurs is a thriller about ordinary
people trying to take an illegal bite out of society and the terrible
consequences thereafter.
STORY:
Four friends: Alex, a bartender with too many
bills and family trouble; Mitch, a doorman with self-esteem issues; Ian, a
degenerate cocaine addict; and Jenn, a travel agent looking for excitement,
decide it's time to take back what society owes them. With a seemingly indestructible plan and
absolutely no idea how to carry it out, the four misfits attempt to rob a bundle
of cash from a mobster. Think a mix of
Tower Heist, Horrible Bosses, and Foolproof, but much better with a more
serious tone. Consequences, liquid
filled tubes, terrible bets, and stupidity ensue.
THOUGHTS:
Marcus Sakey (Author) essentially takes four
ordinary people and throws them into an extraordinary circumstance. What could possibly go wrong when four
friends—who seem to have never watched an episode of CSI—draw up the perfect
plan to rob an ex-mobster named Johnny Love?
In short? Everything and
anything. But the real pull of the novel
isn't the crime itself or the terrible effects of trying to steal a better
life. It's the characters. Each personality is cleverly written with
distinct differences and life problems, adding depth to each protagonist.
Sometimes when reading a novel or watching a
movie, the main protagonist can be a little tough to relate too. But Sakey's brilliance is writing four main
protagonists and letting you choose to root for one or all of them. Will you get behind good-looking Alex, a
divorced father having trouble with child support payments? Maybe lonely Mitch is more your speed,
because he has that special someone in his life that he can't seem to ever
obtain. Then there's Ian, the rich
stockbroker who snorts every single paycheck and tends to bet on the losing
team almost exclusively. If none of them
hold your interest, than how about Jenn.
She's a thirty something travel agent that just needs a little adventure
in life, because going to the same job everyday has grown increasingly
stale. Each and every character gets his
or her own backstory, adding a flavor for every reader's taste.
The story premise remains believable because
each of the four have motive for taking the loot. Whether it's to keep a family together, to
stay alive, or just to try and be happy.
It's all here for them to contemplate and for the reader to easily
understand, because there isn't a single person out there who hasn't thought
about taking the easy route in life. The
story also remains grounded. Sakey
doesn't overdo it by throwing millions of bucks into the mix. The ending balance is just enough to give each
of them a fresh life to venture into.
Haven't you ever thought, "If
I just had about fifty grand, I could pay off all those credit cards I've maxed
on porn subscriptions." Sure
you have. And if the chance to do so
seemed easy enough with virtually no way of getting caught, wouldn't you take
it? But there's the catch: nothing is
ever as easy as it seems.
The chapters switch from each character's point
of view, letting you dive into their minds up until the heist. This adds a level of drama on top of the
suspense of getting caught. Then the
four are in the thick of it and—BAM—the littlest thing changes the outcome and
it’s a constant uphill battle to keep themselves and the ones they love,
alive. The plot is equal parts thriller,
comedy, and drama. And after part two
you'll realize the novel isn't all sunshine and rainbows. If you're interested in heist stories or
novels about ordinary people getting caught up in unbelievable circumstances,
then this book is a no-brainer.
Now, not only are the four worried about the
cops and dangerous men, but stealing money and having four people in on the
plan presents complications on their friendship. If one person were to get caught, would they betray
the other three? This is where moral
decisions and true friendships come into play.
What if your true friend had a load of cash in their hands or a gun to
their head, and to be set free, all they had to do was cough up your name. Would they do it? But the story doesn't only revolve around
trust. There's also a love triangle
adding tension, family issues, and addictions, all adding upon the strenuous
mess the foursome fall into.
AND THEN THERE'S PART THREE:
If there's one spot the book slows, it'll be
just after part three begins. (Part one deals with the plan. Part two contains the heist and part three is
the aftermath.) Typically in a novel
you're privy to one character's inner monologue, but when you're dealing with
four main protagonists, now you've quadrupled your inner thoughts. So instead of the plot moving forward, the
first couple of chapters tend to stay stuck in each character's head, as they attempt
to work things out, before making their next move. Also weighing down the ending is some the
action chapters have punch lines that are way too predictable and cliché. You'll already know what the last line of the
chapter will be even pages away. But the
lull in the narrative is just the calm before the ending storm. So don't let those few chapters dissuade your
decision to read the book.
"Yes, hello. Don't be alarmed. I may look like the guy that ruined the future of both Deadpool
and Green Lantern, but I assure you...I'm not him."
"I haven't the slightest idea of what you're talking about, Sir. No one here ordered a pizza. So beat it."
CONCLUSION:
Marcus Sakey's The Amateurs is filled with
wonderful prose, exceptional character building, and a great premise. If only the last part would've kept the
momentum going, then the rating would've been a full five stars. So if heists, drugs, love, family, and
friendship issues are your taste, then this story will sit happily in your
collection. Or you could just head to
the nearest library and get all the wonderful items listed above…for free.
4
out of 5 stars (minus a star for the lull
in part three)
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