The Downside

Finn, the star of this wildly inventive caper novel from Thriller Award–finalist Cooper (Full Ratchet), specializes in thefts of large, heavy objects, such as an autorack of Mercedes S-Coupes. Fresh out of prison after seven years, Finn is met by Emily Hale, an employee of Wes Schiller, the Wall Street investor who hired Finn and his team for the job that got them all busted. Wes now wants Finn to break into the New Jersey railyard vault where his commodities firm is storing $50 million worth of rhodium ingots—some of which are counterfeit—and switch them with those in a neighboring vault belonging to another commodities firm. Finn reluctantly agrees and assembles the same three-man team, despite knowing that one of them (or maybe Wes) was the person who ratted out the earlier heist. The operation requires heavy drilling equipment, impressive hacking skills, and delicate timing, and betrayal is almost guaranteed. The railroad yard’s formidable security complicates the task. Fans of Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder novels will find a lot to like. Agent: Janet Reid, New Leaf Literary. (Sept.)