Prince of Thieves By Chuck Hogan

This book takes place in the mid 1990's in Charleston, Boston; the oldest neighborhood in Boston. I watched the Ben Affleck's adaptation film of this book "The Town" before I read the book.  Because of that, as I was reading the book, Doug MacRay WAS Ben Affleck.

The author writes about a group of childhood firends that commit heists when they are older.  Doug screwed up his chance to get out of the Town after being drafted by the Bruins.  He is a recovering alcoholic.  James Coughlin, another member of the "gang" is a hot-headed, degenerate but pulled 9 years in prison for defending Doug.  His sister is Doug's former lover.

The gang pulls a bank heist.  They are extremely detailed oriented and in doing so, they investigate the workers of the bank.  One of those employees is Claire Keesey, the Assistant Bank Manager.  Doug falls for her and after a successful bank robbery, Doug finds a way to meet her, unbeknownst to her, she does not realize that he was one of the bank robbers.

The FBI is obviously investigating the crime and the agent in charge, Fraweley, is also into Claire and  as the story unravels, you can see the battle for Claire's affection.

The movie was excellent but the book was too.  I recommend it.

Agent Frawley, Doug MacRay, James Coughlin, Krista Coughlin from the movie "The Town"

Hardcover: 364 pages
Publisher: Scribner; First Edition edition (August 10, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 074326455X
ISBN-13: 978-0743264556