I love days like the one above. Sky the color of October skies, white puffy clouds, and crops growing in the fields. This was taken when I brainstormed with friends down in South Mississippi. I hope we get to do it again this year!
Not long ago I read Johnnie Alexander’s The Mischief Thief, and it’s one of my favorites of hers. I say that about every book of hers I read, though. 🙂
Johnnie and I go waaaay back. We both were in a critique group over ten years ago when neither of us was published, and if I’m not mistaken, we both received a contract about the same time. Since then we’ve become really good friends, catching up mostly through Zoom these days. While she wasn’t at the brainstorming session where the above photo was taken, I hope she can join us this year…or whenever we get together again!
Here’s the cover and back copy of The Mischief Thief:
For con artist Chaney Rose, life hasn’t been easy. In desperate need of cash, she readily accepts a gig from an unethical attorney to recover Mischief, a stolen racehorse. Hunting for clues, she breaks into the suspected thief’s home only to be caught—with a few pilfered items in her pockets—by the police detective who’s tailing her. By-the-book Adam Thorne was fired from his church ministry because of his father’s involvement with the valuable racehorse. He arrives home to find a detective arresting the young woman who broke into his house. In a burst of Les Miserables-inspired charity, he claims he gave Chaney the stolen items. Adam needs Chaney’s help to find his father who has disappeared along with Mischief. But when Chaney learns that Mischief’s owner intends to kill the horse, she needs Adam’s help to expose the cruel plan before it’s too late.
My take:
I truly love this story and hope there will be many more with Chaney Rose and Adam Thorne. The story has the feel of The Sting and Oceans 11. Chaney was raised by her grandfather to be a con artist but when the story opens, she is trying to go straight. Sort of. I loved watching her struggle with what she’s been taught all her life and what she knows she should do as she and Adam try to save the horse named Mischief from mobsters. And Adam is awesome as the minister who had just lost his church because of a power struggle within the church. The Mischief Thief is a story of forgiveness, grace, second, third, fourth, and more, chances.
It is a story with many twists and turns that keep you turning the page. I hope it is the first of many stories involving Chaney and Adam! In this first book, you see who she can be once Christ gets hold of her.
You can purchase The Mischief Thief at Amazon. It is my personal opinion if you like seeing the bad guys get hoisted on their own petard, you’ll enjoy this book!
Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a May drawing for a book from my library! Tell me if you’ve ever read a grifter story or if you like stories like The Sting.
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Comments 47
Well, that sounds like a winning book. I DO want to read it.
Hi, Delores. It was such a fun story to write. Hope you get a chance to read it!
I do like stories like The Sting! I’ll have to check this one out! Thank you for sharing about it.
Author
I think you’ll love it, Anne! I kept hearing “The Entertainer” in my head the whole time I read the story. 🙂
I watched the “Ocean” movies while writing this story, but I have never seen “The Sting”! Definitely on my list!
Author
Johnnie! Do not tell me you’ve never watched The Sting! That is a must-see!! It was fun to see you here.
I can’t believe it either! We should get together to watch it–how can we make that happen?!?!
A big yes to that kind of story. I got hooked with several of James Garner’s TV and movie stories; especially when the con is for a good cause. I see “The Mischief Thief” is also available as paper back only on Barnes & Noble. Hopefully, it will come out for the Nook soon.
Author
Hi, Tim. I’ve checked with Johnnie about Nook and will let you know what she says. I think you will really enjoy the book.
Thanks Pat. I think I’ll like it, too. I saw that it just came out, and sometimes not all formats are released at once.
Hey, Tim! I’m so thankful for your interest. The ebook version is exclusive to Amazon for the first three months, then it should be available on the Nook. So please mark your calendar!! And thanks again!
I have read this type of story in the past. This one sounds like a good story.
Author
It is, Gloria. Johnnie Alexander is such a good writer. I wish I had her poetic way of saying things!
Oh, Pat! And I wish I had your “plotting” sense!
Hi, Gloria. It was fun to create a character who knows how to skirt the law while also having such a good heart. I’ve actually become very maternal toward Chaney Rose–nothing that has ever happened with any of my other characters. LOL!
I guess I wasn’t much into Shakespeare when I took English in high school. I think I read Hamlet as an assignment but didn’t bother paying much attention. So I just learned the expression “hoisted on their own petard.” Before looking up the meaning of the expression, my first thought was of Haman in the book of Esther who was hung on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. Maybe there’s a tiny bit of sadism in me, but I must admit I find it fitting when an evil person ends up suffering something bad that they had planned for a good, decent person. This story sounds interesting.
Author
I so agree with you, Edward. Oh, and I learned the expression when I was reading O’Henry and stories with an O’Henry twist. Thanks for stopping by.
Hi, Edward! My high school English classes never taught Shakespeare–hard to believe but true. I kinda agree with you about the evil person suffering. I think it’s something we want to see in a story. Though I also appreciate a story with a fulfilling though not necessarily happy ending if it’s done well. Thanks for commenting!
This story seems to have a lot of different parts to it and sounds like a good read.
Author
It does, Lynn. It was a really good read!
Hi, Lynn! I set out to write a light-hearted suspense story, but the characters truly came into their own and added so much depth. Always fun when that happens in the writing process!
I enjoy a good heist book or movie. Its fun to see the bad guys get what they deserve since it doesn’t always happen in the real world.
You’re absolutely right, Megan! I think that’s one reason we read good books–to see justice take place. Thanks so much for commenting!
Author
I know, Megan! I think you’d really enjoy this book.
It sounds intriguing and like a good page turner.
Hi, Alicia. I’ve had readers say it was hard to put down and they didn’t want to end even as they were racing to the end. Writers LOVE to hear that!! Thanks for being here!
Author
Page-turner is a good description, Alicia. And Chaney is so likable. So glad you stopped by.
I like Johnnie’s books! Not read the Sting!
Author
I don’t think The Sting is a book, Shelia. It’s a movie with Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Charles Durning and a whole lot more great actors. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070735/
Hi, Shelia! So glad to “see” you here. We need a “The Sting” watch party!
Pat, Thank you for sharing another beautiful scripture! I loved watching the Oceans movies.
Enjoy your weekend!
Author
So glad you enjoyed the scripture, Caryl. You’ll enjoy Johnnie’s book.
Caryl! Always fun to “see” you! The Oceans movies are a lot of fun. I binge-watched them all at once. (The three main ones, that is.)
I enjoyed reading your post. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Author
It’s a very interesting book, Diana! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi, Diana. So glad you stopped by. Hope you get a chance to read The Mischief Thief!
That sounds like a great book! I did like The Sting and the Oceans movies. Does it remind you about Oliver and Fagin?
Author
I reminds me of The Sting, Paula. It’s been so long since I’ve read Oliver Twist, that I can’t remember. lol So glad you stopped by!
Hi, Paula! That’s such an interesting question. I didn’t think about Oliver and Fagin as I wrote the story. But I suppose Chaney is a little like Oliver–she’s a pickpocket with a conscience and dreams of a different life. So glad you stopped by!
I enjoy grifter stories and movies. Thank you for sharing.
Author
Thanks for stopping by, Lucy! I think you’d enjoy this story!
Lucy! Alway enjoy seeing you! I enjoy grifter stories and movies, too, so it was so much fun to actually write one! Glad you’re here!
I definitely enjoy books like this, and I look forward to reading this one.
Author
I know you’ll enjoy it, Nicole. Johnnie is a great writer! Thanks for dropping by.
Hi, Nicole! I’d love for you to read it and hope you enjoy it!!!
I’ve just finished The Mischief Thief and I agree that it’s one of Johnnie’s best. It’s also another great addition to the Mosaic Collection books. Thanks for sharing today!
Author
Connie, I’m hoping there will be several books involving Chaney and Adam! Thanks for stopping by.