When Owen was ten years old, his parents were killed in a car accident and he was adopted by his great-uncle Max, a professional thief. After Owen started high school, the two spent his summer vacations travelling to different areas of the country in their enormous Winnebago. Owen picked the tourist destinations they visited and Max planned which Republicans to rob.

This summer, Max and Owen are visiting the southwest. Along the way, they encounter the daughter of a thief that Max greatly admires and discover that they're being pursued by a mysterious group known as the Subtractors. However, Owen is concerned that Max is not the man he used to be.

"Max, how can we keep putting on shows if you forget where you are half the time?"

"Rubbish. Just got turned around, that's all."

"I don't know. There were a couple of moments I thought you zoned out when you were dancing with Evelyn del Rio."

"I was having fun. You remember fun, don't you?"

"You're worrying me these days, Max."

Max did a King Kong imitation, drumming on his chest and hooting. "Fit as a fiddle," he said, "and ready to roll. Las Vegas, Tucson, Dallas—not to mention Savannah, Georgia—the Max and Owen show is going to bring down the house!"

...from page 28

I've read every book in Blunt's John Cardinal series and enjoyed each of them to different degrees. The most noticeable difference between the series and this stand-alone novel was that there was much more humour in this book. It wasn't without some serious and some sad moments but, in general, it had a much lighter feel.

Max and Owen's exchanges were entertaining, with Max always spouting Shakespearean-style phrases and young Owen being the serious and responsible one. There were also some interesting accomplices including Roscoe the trivia buff and dim-but-dependable Pookie. Even the bad guys were kind of odd. The story took some twists and turns, of course, and the ending was satisfying, if somewhat open-ended.

Although the book was very different from the Cardinal series, Blunt's writing was as superb as always. New readers and long time fans will not be disappointed.

Reviewed by Lynn Bornath on 22 December 2008 from the hardcover edition provided by Random House Canada via LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

What an adventure. Owen gets to travel all summer with his uncle doing shows. Read robbing Republicans. Something he has been doing for a number of years. This year they attract the attention of the Subtractors, a group of thieves that steal from thieves. They help out a beautiful young woman. She joins them for a little while and the fun begins.

Wow what a ride this is. I could not put it down. I liked the characters I was supposed to from page one. The pacing is right on the money, just as I think I can put the book down for a moment to get some work done Mr. Blunt teases with a little tidbit that sucked me in until it was resolved. If you are going to read this do not make any other plans.

Reviewed by PB on 19 February 2009.

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