![]() The overwhelming impression from these essays is that justice in our violent, turbulent world is fragile and elusive. reveals much that is troubling about our world today: the challenges of international cooperation, the ill-gotten gains of obscenely wealthy individuals, and the intractable presence of terrorism and mass shootings. ![]() There is a feeling in many of the essays that, given the smallest of detours, events might not have happened as they did. While the often-high-profile crimes committed are familiar, Keefe is a virtuoso storyteller, able to create suspense with his descriptions of how those crimes unfolded. A book largely about highly publicized rogues and those engaged with trying to entrap them, Rogues is a fast-paced and frequently suspenseful read. ![]() Intimate characterizations are at the heart of Keefe’s writing. Yet while not excusing their misdeeds, Keefe nonetheless manages to highlight the humanity and contradictions in their lives. Judged solely by the severity of their crimes, many of the lawbreakers are overtly despicable. Taken together, the essays reflect the collective preoccupations of the unsettling era in which we now live: mass shootings and terrorism, unaddressed mental health issues, and the many flavors of financial corruption. ![]() Taken separately, each piece offers a portrayal of rogues variously defined, ranging from the overtly criminal to the lovable (in the case of chef Anthony Bourdain). ![]()
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