SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE LEFT TURN
He traded a cocktail shaker for the criminal world—and learned the hard way that every exit has a price
He was just a run-of-the-mill bartender In the glitzy, cocaine-dusted docks of Puerto Banús. With a heavy pour and a talent for keeping his mouth shut. He wasn’t looking for a career change, but in a place like Banús, the wrong person is always watching.
Hand-picked from the Mediterranean sun and thrust into the global underground, he traded his cocktail shaker for the life of a Herald of Prohibited Articles. He didn’t deal in drugs, guns, or people—he moved "unmovable" assets like untraceable diamonds, bearer bonds, and misplaced art. He stayed for the adrenaline, the clientele, and a shit-ton of money that would make the Pope rethink his vocation.
He was taught Six Strict Rules to live by in this game:
- Rule One: No Flash. Blend into every surrounding that is needed.
- Rule Two: Be on Time. Five minutes early is on time; on time is late.
- Rule Three: Plausible Deniability. If you don’t know, you can’t tell.
- Rule Four: No Ego. You think you’re smarter than the “System,” you’re dead.
- Rule Five: The Exit. Always know your exit from a country, a contract, or a place.
- Rule Six: Don’t be greedy. Never double-book yourself.
But even the most disciplined professional has a messy beginning. His first real contract leads to a double-cross that forces him into a desperate gamble—one that entangles a brilliant Interpol agent in his escape.
Follow his journey as he learns the trade on the go, moving from the safety of the bar to a world where a single mistake is a jail or death sentence.
The life is simple. The jobs are anything but.
About the Author
Noel Ryan grew up in Ireland, a place that provided the foundation for a lifetime of stories, though his curiosity was always focused on the horizon.
At twenty-one, Noel set out from home to begin a decades-long journey across the globe. Reaching 3 continents Over the years, he has moved through the same international circles, high-end bars, and transient spaces that define the world of his writing—returning to Ireland for stints between travels, but always drawn back to the pulse of the world’s major hubs.
Having spent a lifetime observing the elite from the inside out, Noel writes with the sharp eye of a man who knows exactly what happens behind closed doors when the right price is met.
Should Have Taken the Left Turn is the first installment of an explosive new trilogy following the exploits and the meteoric rise of its protagonist.
Valuing his privacy as much as a well-told secret, Noel writes from the Mediterranean coast. By keeping his own life out of the frame, he ensures the focus stays entirely on the page, allowing the narrator to lead while he remains a silent observer in the distance
The Soundtrack to Should have taken the left turn.
They say life has a soundtrack—My old life certainly did . Here is the official music companion to the novel.
I’ve always found that the right song can define a moment better than words ever could in some respects. Because the life I’m describing moves through so many different worlds, this is an intentionally eclectic playlist. You won't find a single genre here, because a job didn´t stay in one lane.
Each track corresponds to a specific name of a chapter, curated to capture the shifting moods of the journey
Whether it’s the tension of a high-stakes delivery or the quiet reflection of a fleeting minute seeing your reflection in a mirror, these songs are the heartbeat of every move made and every risk taken.
It’s the ultimate thriller reading playlist.
Listen while you read to fully immerse yourself in the scene, or hit play now to get a taste of the life before the launch
Prologue - ME, Myself and I
Whoever said crime doesn’t pay clearly partook in the wrong criminal activities. To be honest, it does pay—very fucking well.
I wouldn’t call myself a criminal of the common variety. I didn’t deal in drugs, guns, or people. I would describe myself as—among other things—a herald of prohibited articles. That would best suit my vocation. I get certain types of property from A to B, or F if needed. It all depends on the client. There’s no university course where you learn the skills of my profession, and you can’t get a certificate online. I got into it over a cocktail.
I’m not going to tire you with my life story. The first twenty-four years bore even me to think about. Who the fuck wants to hear about my first steps or my first sexual endeavours? No one.
I’m going to enthral you with my escapades over the last fifteen years. I’ve been involved with all the usual suspects: sex, drugs, booze, double-crosses, cigarettes, women, money, and lost love—and some very unexpected ones, such as diamonds, government black ops, bearer bonds, globe-hopping, and misplaced priceless art. I have had to do some things that wouldn’t make a mother proud, but… the life I’ve lived would make the Pope want to rethink his vocation.
I gained a reputation with an eclectic clientele. Thanks to them, I made a shit-ton of money and travelled the world too many times to count. I met some of the most colourful, but deranged, people on the planet. There have been some complete scumbags who liked the idea of being "gangstas"—we never took their contracts, too much trouble. I’ve made a few enemies along the way, but it comes with the territory.
There’s been one constant pain in my ass for the last fifteen years or so. I just can’t seem to get rid of her: a lovely Interpol agent who seems to have a hard-on for me. With the amount of shit I’ve seen and done, I should come with a public health warning.
It’s highly possible you might hate me by the end of the book—or halfway through—or you could love me unconditionally. I’m Marmite that way.
It’s been my life and my choices, whether good or highly questionable......
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