FUN CITY HEIST
A rollicking rock-and-roll heist blending humor, crime, and the chaos of a struggling band chasing one last score.
Mo Melnick used to be a drummer in rock band Sunshine Apocalypse. He used to be someone. These days he rents beach umbrellas on the Jersey Shore. The last thing he expects is for Johnny Clay, his old bandmate turned enemy, to ask him a favor. Johnny’s dying, and before he passes he wants Sunshine Apocalypse to reunite for one last gig at Fun City, the beachfront amusement park where their musical journey began. Mo’s in—reluctantly.
But then Johnny reveals his real plan: He doesn’t just want to play at Fun City on the Fourth of July. He wants to rob it.
The plan is crazy. It has more holes than a golf course. But Mo’s sick of barely keeping his head above water, and, ironically, this crime may be Mo’s one chance to connect with the daughter he’s never known. So he and his gang of middle-aged has-beens dive into what will be the most outrageous heist New Jersey’s ever seen—if, that is, they can pull it off alive . . .
REVIEWS & PRAISE
"A great (and, yes, very fun) heist novel. Kardos knows we’re all one wrong heartbeat away from fatal damage, but that it’s never too late to turn things around. Fun City Heist is thrilling, hilarious, and deeply entertaining.”
—William Boyle, author of Saint of the Narrows Street
"Fun City Heist is such an expertly-paced thriller, equal parts thrills, low-key comedy, and well-earned heart. I flew through the pages of this perfect summer read."
—Peter Swanson, NY Times bestselling author
"Kardos triumphs in this playful caper."
—Publishers Weekly
"Here's hoping Kardos provides his unlikely hero with a well-deserved encore."
—Kirkus Reviews
"With more twists and turns than Fun City's giant rollercoaster Kardos' novel is equal parts wacky and heartwarming."
—Booklist
"A delightful, fun-filled heist novel laced with heart, nostalgia, and rock and roll."
—Mystery & Suspense
"Start to finish, Fun City Heist makes for captivating reading…musicians will really feel like this book's been written for them."
—The Clarion-Ledger
"The oft-thrilling ride concludes with a climax that is as satisfying as it is clever...Fun City Heist will keep you nodding and smiling for days after the last page is turned."
—Open Letters Review
"The work of Michael Kardos has always been challenging to categorize, with the one consistency being unforgettable characters filled with heart. In Fun City Heist, Michael Kardos gifts readers with the Rock & Roll attitude and the robbery shenanigans they never knew they were looking for."
—BOLO Books (Be On the Lookout Books)