The Thieves of Legend

Doetsch steps up his game with his fourth thriller featuring ex-thief Michael St. Pierre (after 2010’s lackluster The Thieves of Darkness). U.S. Army Col. Isaac Lucas drags St. Pierre, now the head of a security consulting business, back into the criminal life and forces Michael’s girlfriend, KC Ryan, to commit her own criminal act as well. Michael has to steal an ancient Chinese object from the Venetian Casino Macau, “the largest, richest casino in the world,” and KC must steal another part of the artifact from the Forbidden City in Beijing. Chinese gang leader Xiao Yan Wang also wants the artifact, which, if he can gain possession of it, will make him the most dangerous man on the planet. In the end, Michael, KC, and Wang wind up on the mysterious island of Penglai, where they battle for control of the deadly artifact. Plenty of action blends with interesting history and criminal tradecraft for a satisfying read. Agent: Cynthia Manson, Cynthia Manson Literary. (Nov.)