The Things She Stole

Twenty years ago Brandon Penny was a criminal prodigy. Today, he's a broken-hearted movie buff working a dead-end job. But everything is about to change.

As a child, Brandon carefully studied his mother and her crew of thieves. Gifted from the start, Brandon was pulling short cons by age six, stealing jewelry by age eight, and orchestrating heists by age eleven. But one night a job went bad, a gun went off, and Brandon's mother disappeared.

Shuffled in and out foster homes, Brandon burned with anger. What happened that night? Why did his mom leave him behind? And why didn't she ever come back?

When his mother returns to Portland for a major heist, the police ask Brandon to help track her down. He doesn't trust the cops, can't trust his mother, and is too afraid to trust the ex-girlfriend he still loves. The only one he can count on is that twelve-year-old criminal genius inside him.

One way or another, he'll get his answers, but he'll have to tear down the life he's built to do it.

"⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 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!"