Criminals

by Margot Livesey

Book Overview

Margot Livesey's early novel Criminals is the story of adult brother and sister Ewan and Mollie and their decision to rescue an abandoned child. But is the child being rescued by these two, or... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140262776
• ISBN13: 9780140262773
• Release Date: February 1997
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.04 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Of "crimes" of various degrees

A 4 month old baby girl is abandoned in a Perth, Scotland bus station in the gentsroom on the filthy floor next to a toilet.. Ewan, a decent young banker, picks her up and was on his way for help when he sees his bus taking off. He runs and catches it, figuring he'd turn the baby over to the police tomorrow. His sister tho, who it turns out is having emotional/mental problems, foils him. Anyway, it turns out that the baby was........well I'm not going to say....that would be giving it away. Let's just say that sinister deeds are afoot. Ewans take on this is; "He (Ewan) had found a baby in a bus station and unwittingly kidnapped her, gone to Milan on business, sat in a chair that belonged to Lucrezia Borgia, slept with an Italian pianist in one way and Vanessa in another, met the deadly Coyle (Serious Fraud Office), discovered his sister had kept the baby, and accepted the offer of the woman who had betrayed him (insider trading) to drive them back here in a desperate effort to avoid grief and scandal." A nicely told story of three honest well meaning people being burned by others. One a stranger, one not. Of "crimes" of various degrees. BTW Ewan didn't kidnap this little girl. I don't know why, in the book, they keep referring to it as that. The kid was ABANDONED. This is my first Margot Livesey.I'm going for her others now. Recommended.

AN ENTERTAINING, FINELY-WOVEN TALE

CRIMINALS is my second experience with the fine writing of Margot Livesey -- her newest, EVA MOVES THE FURNITURE, drew me in. The threads of this story are delightfully convoluted -- the fact that one of the characters is a weaver may be an unintentional metaphor, but I suspect Ms. Livesey knew exactly what she was doing in assigning her that activity.There are many issues addressed by both the story and the people who populate it so vividly. Honesty, in many guises and forms, is chief among them -- honesty in work, in relationships with family and lovers, with ourselves, and, ultimately, with the law. Some of the characters learn from the events that transpire here -- some do not. There are three main branches of plot in this novel -- and one of them is a book within the book...Ewan Munro, a respected banker, on his way to visit his sister Mollie in Scotland -- who is obviously distraught over her recent separation from her lover of several years -- finds a baby in a roadside mens' room, apparently abandoned. Through a series of good intentions and botched attempts to communicate his find, he winds up bringing it with him to his sister's home. In her pain and anguish, she latches onto the baby with all of her emotions, as a virtual lifeline to the world -- and it's a tether she is terrified to break.We also see the story develop from the perspective of Kenneth, a young n'er-do-well, looking out for no one but himself, caring not a whit for the feelings or well-being of his girlfriend -- or her child. When any emotions arise within him to cast doubt on the worth of his devious schemes, he douses them with alcohol and rationalization.Against this action is cast the novel-within-the-novel -- written by Mollie's departed lover. Within its pages, Ewan begins to see his sister's intimate secrets revealed -- and through it he discovers the reasons behind much of her mental trauma.As the story moves along, Livesey skillfully brings these threads together, allowing the reader to follow them comfortably through her shifts of perspective. There is well-managed suspense here, combined with some very human, credible characters -- she builds and reveals their personalities and traits gently but thoroughly. It makes for an engrossing, rewarding read.

A thin line between good and evil

This incredible book awed me. I still haven't been able to get it outof my mind. Having read The Missing World, I wanted to get my hands onanother Margot Livesey book. Her beautiful language is filled withdark humor and disturbing scenes. Criminals is about selfishness andwhat it takes to do the right thing. On his way to visit hisemotionally imbalanced sister, Ewan finds a baby in a bathroom at abus station. Frantic, he takes the baby with him. He figures that oncehe's settled at his sister's house he'd be able to report the missingbaby. Little does he know that it is all part of a man's scheme tomake a profit. To make matters worse, his sister becomes emotionallyand psychologically attached to the infant. There are many disturbingand engrossing moments in the novel, especially its disarming andsurprising conclusion. This is one of the most memorable psychologicalthrillers I have ever read. There's a thin line between good and eviland moral and criminal behavior in the story. Are you searching for asuspenseful and literary thriller? Look no further. Criminals is abook that will keep you turning the pages in the wee hours of thenight.

Great Read - Literary Psycho-thriller

This book is intricately plotted and suspenseful. It is also superbly well-written. I found myself moved to the next chapter despite work or family intrusions and wanting to get back as soon as I could until I finished the novel. Loved it and await Missing World. I'm thrilled they'll be a new one out soon to quench my appetite.

Suspenseful and intelligent . . . Recommended read

When a yuppie banker finds an abandoned baby girl on the floor of a bus station restroom, he ignites the passions, greed, and madness that were lying just beneath of the surface of seemingly ordinary lives. As we watch helplessly, the situation slowly spirals out of control, and the characters' carelessness, secrets, and lies lead inevitably to tragedy. Livesey shows us that we are all criminals waiting for the right set of circumstances to reveal our crimes. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and would recommend it. Not exactly a mystery, or even a thriller, it is a well-written, intelligent, and suspenseful novel which I COULD put down but looked forward to picking up again.