Hard Cash

The Nolan Series, Book 5

By: Max Allan Collins

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki

Heist-man Nolan is enjoying his retirement from crime, running his own restaurant, when the president of a bank he robbed two years ago shows up with a blackmail demand. All Nolan has to do is rob the bank again — and play patsy to a sexy girlfriend’s murder scheme.

©1982, 2012 Max Allan Collins (P)2022 Skyboat Media, Inc.

Max Allan Collins always entertains

4/5
Very quick and fun. The best part about this series is that there really is no time lapse in between books. They kind of start where the other ends. This thief is still very unlucky.

Great crime novel

This is a fast-paced caper novel, the fifth in the Nolan series. It works equally well as an introduction to the series or as a standalone novel. Originally published in the 70s, it’s an action crime novel that intertwines a bank heist with a revenge plot from the past. Collins does a good job cranking up the tension, slowly revealing key points of the heist to keep you curious and wanting to read more. The book moves at a good clip though there are occasionally somewhat long flashbacks. Some of these go into more detail on some minor characters than is necessary. They are pleasant detours and well written.
The heist itself is extremely clever, cinematic and very well written. That said the ending felt abrupt. Overall highly entertaining and engaging. The whole series is superb. Narration is excellent.