In his sequel to the popular North Country novel 21 Mine, Jeffrey G. Kelly takes us back to the Adirondacks with Wallace Klocks. After Klocks, an antique dealer/art thief, escapes from “Moriah Shock,” a minimum security prison in Essex County, he creates a new life and a new identity as Jonathan Deeds in Apalachicola, Florida. After only a year of freedom, Klocks grows tired of the back-country, houseboat lifestyle of his alter-ego and is lured to Crown Point in search of a prize worth millions.

In Crown Point, at the bridge that links Vermont to New York, a lighthouse holds a sculpture by renowned artist Auguste Rodin (creator of The Thinker). Klocks risks his freedom to swipe it. As Jonathan Deeds, Klocks has lost his touch. He isn’t the masterful, rugged, and fearless thief that he used to be, and after he encounters two college students, Matt and Kim, and an ex-cop, Conway, he realizes that he needs to regain his thieving past.

A sculpture of Samuel de Champlain

Adirondack Heist is a good book to read for anyone interested in the history of Lake Champlain. Some facets of Samuel de Champlain’s life are revealed, and facts from famous battles are scattered throughout the story.

Adirondack Heist is a quick read, and the action alone is worth the time. Many action scenes proceed without interruption. Unfortunately, this leads to some problems with the quality of the story, primarily involving the characters.

The characters are not as well developed as they could be and are precariously added throughout the novel. The ex-cop Conway is the most interesting character, but after about three quarters of the book, he practically disappears from the story line. Matt and Kim are identifiable to some extent, they just don’t grab the same amount of attention as Klocks or Conway. Other characters who appear in the first book, such as Spike and Damian, are great additions to Adirondack Heist, giving Klocks’ character more depth. But, again, their part in the story is minimal.

The cover of Adirondack Heist

In the case of Klocks, I must admit that I was rooting for his failure. While he is meant to be an anti-hero, his attitude, arrogance, and lack of respect for women (at one point he almost tries to force himself upon Kim) makes me cheer for the cops. Perhaps Kelly wanted the reader to feel the same way I did, but nonetheless Adirondack Heist is an enjoyable read.

The story as a whole is pretty fresh. It is fast-paced and hard to put down at times, especially during the actual heist and the final chapter. Adirondack Heist is a cliché “rainy day book.” It’s a fairly short novel and can be finished in a few hours. I recommend Kelly’s sequel to those who have read and enjoyed 21 Mine. The descriptions of the area are familiar and the historical details are accurate. And although the ending is a bit ambiguous, it kept me reading on.

Have you read this book? Tell us what you think!