While plotting my book yesterday, I came to a realization. I have watched more than my fair share of heist/caper movies, but I have read practically no heist/caper books. I mean, I know how I would film the scene I’m going to start with, but I don’t know how I would write it. So I’m now working on fixing that–by reading some good heist/caper books. We’ll see how that goes. One of the troubles is that I’m not really writing an entire heist/caper. I’m just writing two heist/caper scenes. What I want to do is something like the beginning of the Thomas Crown Affair remake, or the opening of The Italian Job remake–heists that introduce characters and challenges all at once, yet still look really cool and make sense. None of the giant build up to the heist that’s found in movies like Ocean’s Eleven. Does that makes sense? So my appeal to you, dear readers, is if any of you have read any scenes like that in any books. If you have, email or respond below. I’d love to see what you’ve got.
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Mistborn is essentially a heist novel. I don’t know if it would have the kind of scene you’re looking for, though.
I thought of that . . . maybe I ought to actually break down and read the printed version at last, eh? I only workshopped the first third or half with Brandon back in the day, and once I found out what happens, I sort of went on to read other things.
But good suggestion, and it’s a good motivation to get me to read it.
Hmm. The only one that comes to mind immediately is King Con, by Stephen J. Cannell. But it’s more con artist than heist.