The Misguided Thief

By: Robert T. Hunting

Narrated by: Peter Kuhn

Well, it isn’t theft, Stellan Nieves tells himself, not when you’re stealing from a crook.

Stellan, a married mid-20s Chicago accountant, dreams of a new life free from a spiteful wife and two unruly young daughters. His salvation comes by way of mobster Dusan “Squeezebox” Kovačević.

Stellan stumbles onto a cache of $2.1 million hidden beneath loose floorboards at Squeezebox’s warehouse. He at first resists the temptation, but it proves too tempting. He plots out his theft, and, under the cover of darkness, bolts with the money in his trunk. Ditching his sensible Brooks Brothers suits and wingtip Oxfords, Stellan resurfaces in a small college town in Vermont. Certain no one would ever look for him there, he reinvents himself as Pete Harris, with a beard, wire frame eyeglasses, jeans, plaid shirts, hiking boots, and a pickup truck.

A vengeful Squeezebox becomes apoplectic at the theft. He hunts manically for Stellan, but Federal indictments put an end to his search. Charged under the RICO Act, he receives a 60-year sentence. His forever home will be a 6’ x 8’ cell in a small federal prison. The only way Squeezebox will ever leave prison is in a pine box.

Time passes, and serendipity plays her hand. While taking courses at the local college, a bulletin board notice seeking volunteers to teach English and math classes at the nearby prison catches Pete’s attention. He mulls it over. Why not? He can spare the few hours.

The tension is palpable as the two men unexpectedly face each other across a small table in the prison waiting room. Will this chance meeting lead to their complete undoing, transformational redemption, or none of the above?

©2017 Robert T. Hunting (P)2021 Wordwooze Publishing

Interesting Outcome

This historical account of old time crime in the US sees the unlikely decisions coming full circle for a man who steals from his previous criminal boss. He assumes a new identity and life in a small town. He leaves a wife he no longer loves and two children. His boss looks for him with no luck until his circumstances in life changes. Narrator Peter Kuhn did a great job with the audio.

Enjoyable story

The Misguided Thief by Robert T. Hunting is a engaging story of 2 men and the choices they make and how they live their lives. True, Stellan was a miserable mid-20 year old, but I thought he was very greedy and selfish. With all his planning, Pete shows his hubris by going to the jail without checking the inmate list. I’m sure the national trial and media coverage of Dusan Kovačević would reveal his prison assignment. For most of the story I found the Dusan to be much more likable and wished him well. The narration by Peter Kuhn was great. It book finished with an epilogue and I was crying at the end.

enjoyable and thought provoking

This was quite interesting to follow along with tips on how to blackmail and commit other crimes and cover ups. Enlightening! Twisted people getting away with some double dealing in and out of jail. Astounding !! Some honor among thieves and some not so much!!?? I empathized with Stellan for jis loss. and felt Beck's was out of line and should have left Pete's past stay buried. Too pushy and nosy. I liked the family reuniting aspect. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review . The narrator did a great job bringing it to life.