SECOND POCKET FIRST

Grosvenor presents a humorous novel about a thief whose love of his chosen vocation outstrips his skills.

Issey is an enthusiastic burglar living in an attic apartment in present-day Boston. He’s part of a collective of crooks who rob and fence delicate valuables, priceless heirlooms, and other items from the ritzy neighborhoods and campuses of Boston and Cambridge. Unfortunately for Issey, the group has had enough of him bringing only knickknacks of minor value to the table, and they’re set to kick him out before their mysterious, large-scale “Faneuil Hall job.” Issey pleads for one more chance, but then he receives a call from his brother, to whom he hasn’t spoken in years; he informs him that their mother has remarried and moved away. Issey agrees to return home to Vermont to clear out her collection of fancy vases—which he’d stolen from others. Once there, he meets Rohel’s sharp-tongued wife, Anissa, and finds out that his brother wants to sell their mom’s house. Issey continues his thieving ways in Vermont, and before long, he’s accused of stealing three horses from a local named Avi; he didsteal many things from Avi, but not his horses. His search for the animals strangely makes him a local hero. However, as in other good books about crooks, an associate from Issey’s past lurks in the shadows. Many novels about thieves promise humor, but Grosvenor’s is a rare one that actually delivers: “Issey was getting beaten up a lot these days. More than usual. Was he just terrible at this now?” Readers will easily relate to Issey and the mismatch of his ambitions and abilities—as well as conviction that looking the part of the erudite thief is almost as important as what he steals. The settings, too, are well-rendered, especially when the narrative shifts to Vermont: “The air has a purity that cuts through scavengers and liars.” Overall, it’s a satisfying read, featuring a reluctant hero who’s sure to keep readers chuckling.

A lighthearted jaunt alongside a lovable loser whose rise and fall will keep readers turning pages.