Review by Booklist Review
So, you managed to steal the Mona Lisa from the Louvre. Now what? How do you collect the $800 million the painting is worth without getting every cop in the world down on you? That's a job for the no-name hero of DuBois' new novel, who describes himself as conducting successful negotiations with a variety of dark characters and shadowy companies. He knows the market value of everything, and, as we join his story, he's facilitating the sale of a stolen Rembrandt for a cute mom-and-pop couple. Gunfire erupts. After escaping, the Negotiator begins his own vengeance ride, seeking to know who's behind the shooting, and then to put them in body bags. Yes, our hero is a bit of a psychopath, and DuBois tries to soften his edges by giving him a taste for poetry and playful conversation. Unfortunately, this strategy is overutilized, sometimes taking us out of the intensity of the moment, but, in all, there's enough action, plot twists, and betrayals all rendered in high-energy prose to keep one stuck to the pages.--Don Crinklaw Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The eponymous Negotiator, the narrator of this smooth standalone from DuBois (Hard Aground and 10 other Lewis Cole mysteries), has found a lucrative if dangerous living as a middleman in potentially violent negotiations. A lone operator, he occasionally uses the services of Clarence Briggs as "extra firepower if the circumstances demand it." Clarence accompanies the Negotiator to Chester, Vt., where George and Beth, a seemingly ordinary elderly couple, have a rare painting to sell to a foreign buyer. But just before the buyer is due to arrive at the couple's house, George pulls out a gun and shoots Clarence dead. The Negotiator, who manages to escape through a window, shares Sam Spade's attitude about what to do when your partner is killed-get revenge. The mysterious George has lots of clout, and the Negotiator has to make some exceptionally sharp and unexpected deals in his quest for payback. DuBois wraps up his clever tale with a few nifty twists. Readers will hope for a sequel. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
The anonymous narrator is a negotiator, a man who is indispensable to those on the dark side of life. He's the in-between figure who puts a price on items such as stolen jewels or paintings and walks out with a cut when the deal is successful. Dubois's antihero has three rules: no drugs; no human beings; and nothing that feels as if it's against the United States. He has one person who works with him, Clarence Briggs. The Negotiator seldom makes a mistake, but when he accepts the wrong job, Clarence is killed. Now, the Negotiator is out for revenge. Once again, he's on his own, although two women, one an FBI agent, seem determined to help him-or not. A fast-paced thriller with unexpected twists, this title has one rule: trust only yourself. VERDICT This stand-alone by the author of the Lewis Cole mysteries (Hard Aground) features nonstop action and a loner character that will appeal to fans of Lee Child's Jack Reacher.-Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
