Bagmen

A Victor Carl Novel

By: William Lashner

Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor

Victor Carl is back, and back in trouble. At a low point in his lowly career, Victor finds himself skulking through the streets of Philadelphia carrying a bag full of money for an ambitious politician. It is a rotten job on the wrong side of anyone’s line, but with bag in hand Victor is suddenly hobnobbing with the city’s elite, filling his bank account, and having sex with the politician’s gorgeous and deranged sister. But just when Victor begins to think he’s got a future in the political game, one of his payoffs ends up in the pocket of a dead woman, and Victor goes from bagman to fall guy. Now Victor’s only way out might lie with a brotherhood of shady characters with sacks full of cash, bad fedoras, and their own twisted set of rules. Will Victor’s new friends help him find a killer or bury him deep?

©2014 William Lashner (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

This is a fascinating, fun mystery.

Here is the latest of the Vic Carl series on Audible. This is my third Lashner novel, but the first I've read in the series. Apparently there are 8 Vic Carl novels, but Audible only offers 3 that are unabridged and 3 abridged novels.

Vic Carl is an experienced attorney who gets no respect from his peers, judges and seemingly his clientele. He's plenty smart and quick witted, but success always seems to allude him. Suddenly he stumbles into a place where his talents, intellect and wit are not only desired, but highly valued. However, it's not in court or litigation, but in the sleezy world of political fixing. He becomes a bagman.

This new occupation is where we find a truly whacky cast of political wonks, very much in the vain of Carl Hiasson or Elmore Leonard. So if you're looking for a serious police procedural, this is not it. Nevertheless Lashner delivers a complex and twisted tale of murder, betrayal and suspense.

Patrick Lawlor does a great job in narration. However, his voice took a lot of getting used to, thus the 3 stars.

This gets 3.5- 4 stars for wit, fun characters and a gripping mystery.

The reader makes a difference

I gave up on my audible book because I found the reader irritating. I don’t know how else to describe it. He talked a bit to fast and had a weird delivery.

The premise of the screw-up lawyer is promising...

I like the idea of a series about a hapless lawyer who survives in spite of it all. But this poor guy - Victor Karl - was for me more hopeless than hapless, and the way it was read made what was poor much worse. I couldn't finish listening and that doesn't happen very often.

Worst Narrator Ever

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I typically like William Lashner's books, but the narrator - Patrick Lawlor was so bad he ruined the story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bagmen?

There really wasn't much. I couldn't even finish the book. There were a lot of good wisecracks, but the narration was so horrible I gave up.

Would you be willing to try another one of Patrick Lawlor’s performances?

No. He's that bad. If any of my other top list authors use him, I'll bypass unless I have the time to read it for myself via hardcover. I'm dyslexic, so I'm very careful about how I invest my time for reading pleasure. This is why Audible is so good for me. I can experience the stories and it won't take me 6 weeks to finish because I read so slowly. But a poor narration is death to a book.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment. Extreme.