The Professionals by Owen Laukkanen

The Professionals (Stevens & Windermere)

by Owen Laukkanen

Four friends, caught in a terrible job market, joke about turning to kidnapping to survive. And then, suddenly, it’s no joke. For two years, the strategy they devise works like a charm—until they kidnap the wrong man.

Now two groups are after them—the law, in the form of veteran state investigator Kirk Stevens and hotshot young FBI agent Carla Windermere, and an organized crime outfit looking for payback. As they crisscross the country in a series of increasingly explosive confrontations, each of them is ultimately forced to recognize the truth: The real professionals, cop or criminal, are those who are willing to sacrifice everything.

Reviewed by ibeforem on

4 of 5 stars

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This was an enjoyable cross between a police procedural and a caper novel.

On one side are 4 college friends, Pender, Marie, Sawyer, and Mouse. These four chose an unconventional career path after graduation -- they started kidnapping people for ransom. The way they see it, no one is getting hurt, they're just losing a little bit of money. Except one day they choose the wrong target, and everything starts to go downhill.

On the other side are Minnesota State Investigator Kirk Stevens and FBI Agent Carla Windemere. When Stevens begins investigating one of the kidnappings in Minneapolis, he ends up working directly with the FBI, traveling across the country to chase down the kidnappers.

There are definitely parts of the books that seem written to be shown on TV or in a movie, but I didn't mind, it kept it entertaining. You're also able to connect with and sympathize with the bad guys as much as the good guys, and I liked that.

This was the first in Laukkanen's Stevens & Windemere series, and the rest will definitely be on my to-read list.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 8 January, 2019: Finished reading
  • 8 January, 2019: Reviewed