Thieves' Paradise [Paperback]

Eric Jerome Dickey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2004

The sensational New York Times bestselling author of Between Lovers, Liar's Game, and Cheaters returns with an irresistible novel about grifters and con artists, brothers and sisters, looking for love and making ends meet-on the wrong side of the law.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Thieves' Paradise, bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey weaves an engaging tale of betrayal, desperation, love, and loss seen through the eyes of Dante Black. Unemployed and down on his luck, Dante spends most of his time frequenting an L.A. diner where he hopes to win over Pam, an attractive waitress and actress wannabe. The rest of his time is spent reluctantly working for Scamz, a colorful character from Dante's past with a taste for illegal operations, beautiful women, and flashy cars. Rounding out this cast of clichéd yet well-developed characters is Dante's best friend, Jackson, who's deep in debt and eager for a quick solution. Throughout the novel, Dante drifts through seedy pool halls and lavish mansions as his friends quickly become enemies, lovers, and unbearable burdens.

My life had been mean and violent, so all of that colored my perception... Hard to find peace in a storm. I'd been waiting for the storm to leave me. Sometimes you had to leave the storm.

Always fresh, often perceptive, occasionally funny, and undeniably sincere, Thieves' Paradise proves yet again why Dickey continues to top the charts with each artful novel he crafts. --Gisele Toueg --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

California-based Dickey (Between Lovers) exposes L.A.'s gritty underworld in this smartly paced novel that is part love story, part coming-of-age tale. Dante, a troubled young man who as a teenager nearly killed his abusive father, finds himself drifting into a life of crime when he can no longer make ends meet. Dickey, a talented writer with a good ear for dialogue and a street-smart sense of character, knows how to portray the kind of desperation that makes people get into trouble under the guise of making a quick dollar. When Dante and his buddy, Jackson¢who suffers even more drastic financial woes¢hook up with a master con artist, they enter a roller-coaster world where the combination of fast money and major scams results in explosive, life-threatening situations. The author ably contrasts spiffy behind-the-scenes crime-world ventures with heart-pumping sensuality when Dante has some tantalizing encounters with Pam, one of the myriad waitresses in L.A. hoping to make it in the acting business. Dante lures Pam into the con game when he learns she needs cash, and the two of them are an electrifying couple both in and out of the bedroom. Unfortunately, the author opts for a quick fix epilogue by plunking Dante into an entirely different world at the end of the book without showing how this streetwise man of 25 makes the transition to academia. Still, in his compelling picture of another world, Dickey believably shows how even in the underbelly of society, loyalty, respect and love have their place.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451211456
• ISBN-13: 978-0451211453
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (141 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #861,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Jerome Dickey is the author of twelve novels, including the bestsellers Genevieve, Drive Me Crazy, Naughty or Nice, The Other Woman, and Thieves' Paradise. Dickey writes full time and is developing a six-issue mini-series of comic books for Marvel Enterprises featuring Storm (X-Men) and the Black Panther.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Danger + Romance = a book worth my dollar, May 18, 2002

By 

David (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thieves' Paradise: A Novel (Hardcover)

Thieves' Paradise has to be my favorite book by Eric Jerome Dickey. I did enjoy his others tremendously and I think he's an excellent writer. But I really enjoyed Thieves' Paradise because of the dangerous edge and the other books didn't have that element. Chalk it up to my being an 18-year-old male and not knowing all the in's and out's of romantic/real love. Although, the other books were without a doubt entertaining and well written as well.

Dante and Jackson were working for this dude named Scamz. Scamz was the big dawg, running the whole con-game show.

Dante was the narrator and somewhat of a protege to Scamz, although he really wanted to be an honest man. Dante was sweatin this chic named Pam, until he eventually broke her down after he convinced his Scamz to let her (a rookie)participate in a con where she almost got everybody killed.

Dante also got Scamz to put his friend Jackson on because he caught a $16,000 child support case. Jackson had a woman who loved him and a baby mama causing mad drama. He needed fast cash to get her off his back so he could be with his lady, Robin. He went into panic mode and like Pam, almost got everybody killed (including himself).

Now that I think about it, everybody in this book almost got everybody killed, or tried to kill everybody themselves.

Oh, and the sex scenes were tight - and plenty. Thieves' Paradise is a damn good book in my opinion. Also, his characters had depth. I guess that's what the professionals would look at.

Keep up the great work Dickey. 5 stars!!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different Genre; Same Remarkable Talent, May 14, 2002

By 

Livvy (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thieves' Paradise: A Novel (Hardcover)

INTENSE! ENTERTAINING! EXCITING! Thieve's Paradise will definitely give readers a greater respect for Eric Jerome Dickey (if that's possible) because he successfully broke the paradigm without losing the romance/sensuality, excitement, emotional depth and humor elements that have made him a literary icon.
Thieves' Paradise was a story about people from different backgrounds who are now all on the same common ground, which is
needing a hustle to make a serious 'come-up'. The reader learns very early that even the characters that seemingly wouldn't 'hurt a fly' would do anything to turn life's tables to their favor. Also, for this to not have been an isloated romance novel, it is filled with relationship drama and is INTENSELY SENSUAL.
Thieves' Paradise was an enjoyably fast-paced story, taking place in three days (and it has to be a gift to fill three days with enough action and romance to write a complete novel!) and I was right there the whole time waiting to see when these wonderfully-developed, unpredictable characters would crack under the extreme pressure put on them by this incredible author.
I am so excited for Eric Jerome Dickey for being able to write such an EXCEPTIONAL story that strays from what his readers are accustomed to without losing his gift of sapid story-telling.
Summarily, this book was on point and off the hook!
5 stars from me!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Genre; Same Remarkable Talent, May 14, 2002

By 

Livvy (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thieves' Paradise: A Novel (Hardcover)

INTENSE! ENTERTAINING! EXCITING! Thieve's Paradise will definitely give readers a greater respect for Eric Jerome Dickey (if that's possible) because he successfully broke the paradigm without losing the romance/sensuality, excitement, emotional depth and humor elements that have made him a literary icon.
Thieves' Paradise was a story about people from different backgrounds who are now all on the same common ground, which is needing a hustle to make a serious 'come-up'. The reader learns very early that even the characters that seemingly wouldn't 'hurt a fly' would do anything to turn life's tables to their favor. Also, for this to not have been an isloated romance novel, it is filled with relationship drama and is INTENSELY SENSUAL.
Thieves' Paradise was an enjoyably fast-paced story, taking place in three days (and it has to be a gift to be able to fill three days with enough action to write a whole novel!) and I was right there the whole time waiting to see when these wonderfully-developed, unpredictable characters would crack under the extreme pressure put on them by this incredible author.
I am so excited for Eric Jerome Dickey for being able to write such an EXCEPTIONAL story that strays from what his readers are accustomed to without losing his gift of sapid story-telling.
Summarily, Thieves' Paradise was on point and off the hook!
5 stars from me!