Island of Thieves: A Novel (Van Shaw Mysteries Book 6)

The thief had to work in the dark, get past armed guards, avoid surveillance cameras, overcome the circuitry for various alarm systems, cut his way through a metal cage, and acquire an object that was set on a pedestal. The entire time, his progress is being checked. The thief is Van Shaw, the people watching him are agents of a possible employer, and the theft is actually the rehearsal for a legitimate job. When Glen Erik Hamilton introduced Van Shaw in his debut novel “Past Crimes,” we learned that Van was raised to be a professional thief by his Irish grandfather Dono. Both were named Donovan, with Gramps using the first four letters of the name and grandson taking the last three. In the most recent novel, Van is a reformed thief and former Ranger, having served ten years in the armed services. Now, he’s a silent partner in a Seattle night club where he tends bar. However, he is contacted by Sebastien Rohner, an enigmatic business tycoon, who has an upcoming meeting with some potential partners on his island retreat, Briar Bay Island, just south of the Canadian border. The island is also home to Rohner’s art collection, and he expresses concern that someone may attempt to steal some of the valuable pieces. Rohner already has a security company and his own guards. Van understands that Rohner knows about his past as a thief, but the eccentric tycoon is nevertheless worried about the safety of his prized objects d’art in the museum. Van says, “You want me to test its security.” Rohner replies, “I want you to be its security…. I believe someone will attempt to steal one or more pieces of art from me during the next week. I require you to stop them. Set a thief to catch a thief, yes?” Once on the island, Van is confronted by Rohner’s chief of security who distrusts his employer’s choice. Misgiving mounts when Van discovers the body of Nelson Bao floating in the surf, stuck among rocks on the rugged coastline. Bao was one of the principals in a multi-corporate deal that Rohner is trying to put together. Already a “person of interest” in Bao’s death, Van seems to be the prime suspect when a second murder occurs. Marked by a presumption of guilt, Van has no choice other than to go on the run until he can track down the killer. His quest for truth is obstructed by the fact that he is being hunted by the Seattle police, an enraged Rohner and his operatives, and a couple of psychopathic hitmen. As he is pursued from coast to coast, it becomes clear to Van that he had been set up from the very beginning to be the fall guy. In this well plotted page-burner, Hamilton has created a work that Publishers Weekly calls a “perfect mix of serious crime and caper movie.” As he works his way toward the exciting climax, it becomes clear why Hamilton has won numerous accolades and has been nominated for the Edgar, Barry, and Nero Awards....Jim Glynn

I have read all of Glen Erik Hamilton’s novels; ISLAND OF THIEVES is the most ambitious yet. By ‘ambitious’ I mean length, complexity and reach. The book encompasses crime, industrial espionage, and international espionage. We cross the country, from Seattle to New York and even take a train out of Denver. With its initial/final island setting—an enclosed space in which people seem to die—GEH has even managed to evoke Agatha Christie.The central concept is a tad bit muddled. Van is hired by an international billionaire to guard his island’s art collection. He is told that a number of individuals will be meeting on the island and that these good old boys like to steal from one another as a kind of sport or multimillion-dollar jest. This is all obfuscation, since the meeting on the island actually concerns a chemical McGuffin, something that will change the world and reap fortunes beyond the dreams of avarice. The art gallery is actually going to be turned into a science lab where the chemical in question will be tested. One person on the island is not really the person he is pretending to be and, oh yes, there are some wily Chinese there as well. Throughout the novel Van questions why he ever took this gig in the first place. GEH ultimately explains it all, but he has to work very hard to do so, which suggests the degree to which he understands that he has created a bit of a muddle.The book starts slowly but ends with a bang, one of those 75 pp. climaxes for which Jonathan Kellerman is so well known. The ultimate genre is action/adventure with some very nasty baddies, one group of which longs for the opportunity to extract information from Van by pulling flesh from his face with a pliers.Bottom line: this is a big, all-over-the-place page-turner with Van in full former-Ranger mode, seeking money, love, adventure, answers and justice. I couldn’t put it down, but I was still a wee bit confused by it all.Four stars for plot but six stars for ambition.

I read "Island of Thieves" on a friend's recommendation and was hooked. As novel number 6 of the Van Shaw series both my wife and I decided to start with number 1 and work our way through the other five.These novels are exciting and packed with twists and turns that would keep you on the edge of your seat if they were motion pictures. Key for me is that you come to care for the quite flawed Van Shaw and are emotionally with him as he navigates some really frightening challenges. Highly recommend the series and can't wait for novel number 7.

Well, well, well. Finally a fantastic thriller. This book was so fascinating I could not put it down. What a story with van Shaw as the hero. I wanted to skip to the end but would not let myself do it. Mr. Hamilton knows how to keep his readers on the edge of their seats. Treat yourself and get lost in thus book.

Great book, I hope there will be more books written in this series!!

Book started slow.(too much interaction among friends and loved ones). Plot picked up speed and I liked the frantic pace. (story line and characters were unbelievable but I enjoyed the romp).......Until the last few chapters. Shootings, explosions, crashes, death all around on a very small Island. Did I mention the storm?

A good action book. The main story was weak at some points, the motivation for some of the characters flimsy.. but reading it was good for relaxation and to pass the time.

I love this entire series. Van Shaw is one of those flawed protagonists that you are rooting for throughout the book. And the supporting cast is wonderful too. Well developed characters. Good writing. Quick read because you can’t put it down.