Second Pocket First

Title: Second Pocket First

Author: Gregory Grosvenor

Genre: Humour Crime

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

Published Date: 2025

Book Length: 242

Format Read: Paperback supplied by Zooloos book Tours in return for an honest review

Star Rating: 4**** I liked it a lot and recommend

About Book: Issey considers himself a masterful and elegant thief. He's just as meticulous with his lockpicking tools as he is with his ankle boots and slimming turtlenecks. He's also easily confused, stupid, and maybe not so good at being a thief.

Unforeseen circumstances bring him back to his childhood town, the wonderland that is Vermont's Bell River Valley. With the holidays on the horizon, he sets his sights on the town's open doors. But just as his thieving begins, with accompanying shapewear and accessories, something unexpected happens—he falls backwards into becoming the town hero. The sudden hero role ushers in wealth, adoration, and a love interest so mysterious he hardly knows her name.

However, before he can get too cosy, an uninvited associate from his past reappears—as does every last item Issey has ever stolen.

My Thoughts: Second Pocket First by Gregory Grosvenor falls into the humour-crime genre, but to me, it leaned more toward quirky literary fiction. It follows Issey—self-proclaimed elegant thief and definite disaster magnet—as he returns to his hometown in Vermont and accidentally becomes a local hero.

Issey might just be the worst burglar ever (in the most entertaining way possible), and his escapades are laced with confusion, charm, and just the right amount of chaos. I really enjoyed the unique voice and the immersive New England flavour that runs throughout the book—it genuinely feels like you're eavesdropping on a small-town conversation.

The plot meanders at times, and I occasionally found myself wanting a bit more momentum, but the writing is clever and the characters delightfully odd. While it wasn’t a laugh-out-loud read for me, it has a quiet wit and a quirky charm that makes it stand out.

If you love character-driven stories with a literary flair and a pinch of criminal mischief, Second Pocket First is definitely worth a try.