The Second Life of Nick Mason: A Novel by Steve Hamilton (English) Paperback Boo

Description: The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton An NPR and Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the YearA Library Journal Best Thriller of the Year "A gamechanger. Nick Mason is one of the best main characters Ive read in years."—Harlan Coben From New York Times-bestselling, two-time Edgar-award-winning author Steve Hamilton comes an unforgettable new hero, a man who will walk out of prison and into a harrowing double life that is anything but free. Nick Mason has already spent five years inside a maximum security prison when an offer comes that will grant his release twenty years early. He accepts—but the deal comes with a terrible price. Now, back on the streets, Nick Mason has a new house, a new car, money to burn, and a beautiful roommate. Hes returned to society, but hes still a prisoner. Whenever his cell phone rings, day or night, Nick must answer it and follow whatever order he is given. Its the deal he made with Darius Cole, a criminal mastermind serving a double-life term who runs an empire from his prison cell. Forced to commit increasingly more dangerous crimes, hunted by the relentless detective who put him behind bars, and desperate to go straight and rebuild his life with his daughter and ex-wife, Nick will ultimately have to risk everything—his family, his sanity, and even his life—to finally break free. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Author Biography Steve Hamilton is the New York Times-bestselling author of twelve novels, most recently Die a Stranger and Let It Burn. His debut, A Cold Day in Paradise, won both an Edgar and a Shamus Award for Best First Novel. His standalone novel The Lock Artist was a New York Times Notable Crime Book and won an Alex Award and the Edgar Award for Best Novel. He attended the University of Michigan, where he won the prestigious Hopwood Award for writing, and now lives in Cottekill, NY, with his wife and their two children. Review Praise for The Second Life of Nick Mason"[The Second Life of Nick Mason] is so good, it legitimately stands shoulder to padded paranoid shoulder with the classics of the crime noir genre… There are so many terrific elements in this novel—Nicks haunted character, a plot that never darts in the direction you expect it to, and a truly ingenious climax—that I could be here till Labor Day singing its praises."—Maureen Corrigan, NPR Fresh Air"A high-octane, tension-filled novel thats received well-deserved praise from great authors."—Huffington Post "[A] heart-pounding thriller with cinematic appeal...Hamilton cleverly imbues the narrative with myriad of twists and turns, allowing the intricate plot to unfold with stunning and extraordinary skill and suspense. From the honor amongst thieves, to the honor amongst those sworn to protect us, to the loyalty among childhood friends and beloved family, multiple worlds collide as Hamilton catapults us into Nick Masons complex psyche."—Esquire.com "As fertile as Chicago is for crime fiction, it isnt often that an outsider captures the underside of the local scene as memorably as Steve Hamilton does with The Second Life of Nick Mason, the terrific first installment in a projected series...The novel more than lives up to its hype."—Chicago Tribune "In this edgy noir from a crime fiction maestro, an ex-con struggles with unexpected freedom, falteringly rebuilding his life while a depraved puppet master still behind bars pulls his strings."—O Magazine"[A] reinvention of the noir thriller...Hamilton gives us a bad guy who is willing—and able—to do worse....Edgy and intelligent entertainment that hits with the force of a narrative bullet."—Arizona Republic "Steve Hamiltons new novel, The Second Life of Nick Mason, is every bit as good as Don Winslow and Harlan Coben and Michael Connelly say it is."—New York Daily News"A captivating thriller...Hamiltons latest novel is ambitious in its criminal scope and it rises to the challenge of not only creating compelling three-dimensional characters, but also fearlessly confronting our classic perceptions of right and wrong, good and evil, as Mason desperately tries to escape his unholy bonds of criminal servitude, regain his autonomy and perhaps whatevers left of his humanity...Time will tell where Mason will ultimately end up, but the next installment in this enthralling series is sure to be another Hamilton page-turner, and cant come soon enough."—Esquire"A suspenseful, fast-paced crime novel with the same heart, well-drawn characters and muscular prose that fans of [Hamiltons] popular Alex McKnight series and his fine stand-alone novels such as The Lock Artist have come to expect."—Bruce DeSilva, Associated Press "A fine premise, a vibrant setting, a charismatic antihero...its a tight, gripping book about a man hellbent on reinventing himself against long odds."—The New York Times"The sinner who gets a chance to start over is an archetypal figure in crime fiction. Steve Hamilton works a smart variation on it in The Second Life of Nick Mason."—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review"[An] intelligent thriller....The reader has a vulnerable underdog to root for: a loser who may yet be born to win."—The Wall Street Journal"Fast and deadly."—Sacramento Bee "Hamilton gets just about everything right in [The Second Life of Nick Mason]. The narrative is spare, descriptions lean and settings authentic."—The Arizona Republic"A tense, coiled thriller...It moves like a bullet train, told in a deceptively simple, gin-clear prose that all but sucker punches the reader....One of [Hamiltons] best."—Booklist (starred review)"Hamilton surpasses himself with Mason, who inspires storytelling of the leanest, most gripping sort...A terrific new hero."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"[A] high-octane series launch...Hamilton guns it like Nicks 1968 Mustang for a fast and furious ride."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)"Trust Stephen King. This book is the real deal."—Stephen King"Steve Hamilton amazes me. Every time I think hes going to zig he zags. As original as any writer Ive ever read, Hamilton once again reinvents himself and the genre with another wonderful character and story. Get in on the ground floor with The Second Life of Nick Mason. Its a great read."—Michael Connelly "A gamechanger. Nick Mason is one of the best main characters Ive read in years. An intense, moving, absolutely relentless book—it will grab you from the first line and never let go."—Harlan Coben "Stunning. A gripping non-stop thriller. An engrossing read from page one. Steve Hamilton has delivered a fascinating new character. A flat out terrific read. I could not put this book down."—Don Winslow "Whatever he writes, Ill read. Steve Hamiltons that good."—Lee Child "If this book were a bullet, it would blow a hole right through you. Once Steve Hamilton pulls the trigger, the action in The Second Life of Nick Mason never lets up. Hamiltons tale of a man released from one prison only to find himself trapped in another is told with all the style and power we expect from an Edgar Award-winning author. This is crime fiction at its finest."—William Kent Krueger (2014 Edgar Winner for Best Novel of 2013) Review Quote Praise for The Second Life of Nick Mason "[ The Second Life of Nick Mason ] is so good, it legitimately stands shoulder to padded paranoid shoulder with the classics of the crime noir genre... There are so many terrific elements in this novel--Nicks haunted character, a plot that never darts in the direction you expect it to, and a truly ingenious climax--that I could be here till Labor Day singing its praises."--Maureen Corrigan, NPR Fresh Air "A high-octane, tension-filled novel thats received well-deserved praise from great authors."-- Huffington Post Excerpt from Book -1- Nick Masons freedom lasted less than a minute. He didnt see it then, but hed look back on that day and mark those first free steps through the gate, after five years and twenty-eight days inside. Nobody was standing over him, nobody was watching him, nobody was telling him where to go and when. He could have walked anywhere in that moment. Pick any direction and go. But the black Escalade was waiting for him, and as soon as he took those thirty steps and opened the passengers side door, his freedom was gone again. Mason had effectively signed a contract. When most men do that, they know whats expected of them. They get to read the terms, understand what the jobs going to be, know exactly what theyll be expected to do. But Mason didnt get to read anything, because this contract wasnt on paper at all, and instead of actually signing anything, he simply gave his word, with no idea what would come next. It was late afternoon, the heart of the day spent on processing and change-out. The daily discharge from USP Terre Haute. Typical prison operations, hurry up and wait, the screws dragging their feet all the way to the end. There were two other inmates with him, both anxious to get outside. One of the men hed never seen before. Not unusual in a prison with so many separate units. The second man was vaguely familiar. Someone from his original unit, before he made his move. "Youre getting out today," that man said, looking surprised. You dont talk about the length of your sentence with most men in this place, but theres no need to keep it a big secret, either. This man had obviously figured Mason for a long-timer. Or maybe hed heard it from someone else. Mason didnt care. He shrugged the man off without another word and went back to his final release forms. When Mason was done with those, the clerk slid a plastic tray across the counter with the clothes hed been wearing the day he processed in. It felt like a lifetime ago. Hed arrived here in this same room and been told to put his clothes in the tray. The black jeans and the white button- down shirt. Now, it felt strange to be taking off the khaki, like the color was a part of him. But the old clothes still fit. All three men walked out together. The concrete walls, the steel doors, the two rows of chain-link fence topped with razor wire - all left behind as they stepped out onto the hot pavement and waited for the gate to grind open. There were two families waiting there. Two wives, five kids, all of them looking like theyd been standing there for hours. The kids held handmade signs with multicolored letters, welcoming their fathers home. There was no family waiting for Nick Mason. No signs. He stood there blinking for a few seconds, feeling the hot Indiana sun on the back of his neck. He was clean shaven and fair-skinned, a little over six feet tall. His body was taut with muscle, but lean like a middleweight. An old scar ran the length of his right eyebrow. He saw the black Escalade, idling near the sidewalk. The vehicle didnt move, so he walked down to it. The windows were tinted. He couldnt see who was inside until he opened the front passengers side door. Once he did, he saw that the driver was Hispanic, with dark sunglasses covering his eyes. One arm draped over the steering wheel, the other at rest on the gear shift. He wore a simple white T-shirt with the sleeves cut off, jeans and work boots, one thin gold chain around his neck. Dark hair pulled back and tied with a black band, and as Masons eyes adjusted, he saw the gray threaded through the mans hair and the lines on the mans face. He was at least ten years older than Mason, maybe a few more. But he was rock solid. His arms were tattooed all the way down both arms to his fingers, and he had three rings in his right ear. Mason couldnt see the other, because the man did not turn to him. "Mason," the man said. A statement, not a question. "Yes," Mason said. "Get in." Out five minutes, Mason said to himself, and Im already about to break my rules. Rule Number One: Never work with strangers. Strangers put you in prison or they put you in the ground. A stranger already put me in the first. I dont need another stranger to put me in the other. Today, Mason didnt have a choice. He got in and closed the door. The man still hadnt turned to face him. He put the vehicle in gear and accelerated smoothly out of the prison parking lot. Mason scanned the vehicle. The interior was clean. The leather seats, the carpet, the windows. He had to give the man credit for that much. The vehicle looked like it had just rolled out of the showroom. He gave the mans tattoos another look. No prison ink here. No spider webs. No clocks without hands. This man had spent a lot of time and money in the chair of a real pro, even if some of the color had faded over time. There was an Aztec lattice going all the way up the right arm, with a snake, a jaguar, a headstone, and some Spanish words meaning God knows what. What was unmistakable were the three letters in green, white, and red on the shoulder. LRZ. La Raza . The Mexican gang that ruled the West Side of Chicago. Another rule broken, Nick thought. Rule Number Nine: Never work with gang members. Theyve sworn a blood oath of loyalty. But not to you. An hour of silence passed. The driver hadnt offered so much as a sideways glance. Mason couldnt help but wonder what would happen if he turned on the radio. Or actually said something out loud. Something made him stay silent. Rule Number Three: When in doubt, keep your mouth shut . After driving past every exit on US-41, they finally pulled off. For an instant, Mason wondered if this whole thing had been a setup. It was an unavoidable prison reflex, to be ready for the worst at any moment. Two hours away from the prison, somewhere in the middle of western Indiana, the driver could pull off on the most abandoned exit he could find, drive a few miles into the farmland and then put a bullet in the passengers head. Leave his body right there in the ditch beside the road. You wouldnt go to that much trouble to do something that could have been done already, on any given day standing around the prison yard, but Mason could still feel his body tensing as the vehicle slowed down. The driver pulled into a gas station. He got out and pumped gas into the tank. Mason sat there in the passengers seat, looking out at the little minimart. A young woman came out through the glass door. Maybe twenty years old. Shorts and a tank top, flip flops on her feet. Mason hadnt seen a live woman dressed this way in five years. The driver got back in and started the vehicle. He pulled out and drove back onto the highway, pointed north and hit seventy on the speedometer. Dark clouds began to assemble in the sky. By the time they reached the Illinois border, it was raining. The driver turned on the wipers. The traffic got heavier and the lights from the other cars were reflected on the rain- slicked road. The tall buildings were lost in the clouds, but Mason would have known this place, no matter how dark the sky or how low the clouds hung over the city streets. He was almost home. But first the long pass over the Calumet River, the cranes and drawbridges and power lines. The harbor was down there. The harbor and the one night in his life when everything changed. The one night that led him all the way to Terre Haute and to a man named Cole. Then somehow all the way back, a lot sooner than he expected. He counted down the streets. Eighty-seventh Street. Seventy-first Street. They were on the South Side now. The rain kept falling. The driver kept driving. Garfield Avenue. Fifty-first Street. You want to start an argument, you go into any bar around here, ask the regulars if Canaryville starts at Fifty-first or Forty-ninth. Stand back and watch the words fly. Then the fists if its late enough. They passed the big train yard, a thousand boxcars waiting for an engine. Then the tracks running high along the eastern edge of his old neighborhood. Mason took a breath as they passed Forty-third Street. His whole life came back to him at once in a sudden flood of almost random memories, both good and bad - Eddies dad taking them to old Comiskey Park, the first car he ever stole, the only game he ever got to see Michael Jordan play in person, the first time Mason spent the night in jail, the party where he met a Canaryville girl named Gina Sullivan, the day he bought their house, the only place he could ever call home... it was all right here, wrapped up together in the city of Chicago. The alleys and the streets of this place ran through him like the veins in his body. The lights were on at the new Sox park, but it was still raining too hard to play. The Escalade went all the way downtown, crossing the Chicago River. The Sears Tower - always and forever the Sears Tower, despite whatever new name they try to give it - dominated the skyline and looked down at them through a sudden break in the clouds, its two antennae like a devils horns. The driver finally got off the highway and took North Avenue all the way across the North Side, until Mason could see the shores of Lake Michigan. The water stretched out in blues and grays forever, blending into the rainclouds. When they turned on Clark Street, Mason was about to say something. You bring me all the way up Details ISBN0399574344 Author Steve Hamilton Short Title 2ND LIFE OF NICK MASON Pages 320 Language English ISBN-10 0399574344 ISBN-13 9780399574344 Format Paperback DEWEY FIC Series Number 1 Year 2017 Publication Date 2017-04-18 Subtitle A Novel Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2017-04-18 NZ Release Date 2017-04-18 US Release Date 2017-04-18 UK Release Date 2017-04-18 Publisher Penguin Putnam Inc Series A Nick Mason Novel Imprint G P Putnams Sons Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:124980042;

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