Разплата

by Stephen Leather

Защо му е на богат шотландски финансист да сключва сделка за наркотици с ИРА?
Защо му е да се забърква с подземния свят, да рискува kариерата си, да поставя под заплаха семейството и любовницата си?
Мотивът му е прост - разплата за едно хладнокръвно убийство.
Неговият съперник е опасен гангстерски бос с купища пари и връзки. Задачата е повече от трудна за един новак, особено ако в плановете му има фатален пропуск, който ще бъде открит твърде, твърде късно…

Genres: Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.

Reviews

[Eric_W · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to agree with some of the other reviewers. The book has an interesting premise: a relatively average Joe seeks revenge on a group of people responsible for his father's suicide (the book's formal description is very screwy.)

This was Leather's first book and he notes that, much like some of Deighton's books, the narrator is never named. His access to the nether world is somewhat satisfactorily explained and there is the stereotypical love for the beautiful and tender call girl. There is the requisite developmentally, but charming, brother he puts at risk. You know, you've seen these players before.

The first part of the book is better than the final portion which descends into the typical gun battle with the hero being saved by his gangland friend at the absolute last minute, nay second. Nothing innovative there except for the distillery details. No spoilers for anyone who has watched any TV show in the last century.

Nevertheless, it is a good start and intriguing enough for me to start another Leather book: Bombmaker which has a very interesting story-line.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I did enjoy Stephen Leather’s very English noir style, I think the whole time building up to the climax was drowned out by the very quick out come at the end. He spend a lot of effort planning and getting all the details right for revenge when it all started to fall into place it was all over. This is my second Leather book and I did enjoy his style and it hasn’t put me off reading more of his book, I just won’t be recommending this book as a starting point for this author.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

At only 240 pages this is and extremely well written short read. It soon gets you so involved that you cannot put the book down.

An excellent blend of well developed characters mingled with a wonderful plot.

[Phil Altimas · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a great book, when a wealthy banker seeks revenge on a group of people responsible for his father's suicide all hell lets loose, his planning is good but not that good

great story line
a great build up
ended too quickly for me , I needed more back story
but a great book all the same

[Andy Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

i though this was a great listen (audiobook)

[David John Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Lots of twist and turns. Easy to follow the plot but a real page turner. Iwould definitely recommend the book and author to friends.

[Mrs A. J. Turbfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exce tale by a master story teller. Very good read,I can't get enough of this author. His attention to details,make his writing style

uniq.ue. I want more and more of this cliff hanging, make believe world be inhabits. Would like something longer and more thought provoking. But am very happy with all so far.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first Book by this author and I will be on the look out for more . I liked the size of the book , and the author kept the story compact to match but it flowed well and the plot developed as the pages were turned, and we learned what was the background leading up to the pay off. This will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys an action packed crime .

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this early novel Leather tries to balance a thriller story with a tongue in cheek writing style. The premise and development are so absurd that he can't be serious, no matter how brutal the events depicted. Read it quickly as it was too silly to invest much time or attention.

[Leonard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great plot. Thoroughly enjoyed reading about finance and about how the City works. I liked it's size - not too long like most books today.

[Annemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable reading but lacked his usual exciting style.

[Mark Sutcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

after a bit of a slow start boy does it pick up a great novel

[Mary Purcell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not his best book aim afraid. I’ve read quite a number of Stephen Leather’s books and in my view this is not up to his usual standard. Maybe because it is one of his first ones.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was so bad I had to keep reading...

[John Ellis]

Pay off

Another classic from Stephen Leather, his attention to detail is fantastic as is his story telling. I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Helen Stead · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good plot, but a lot of technical information, especially at the beginning, made it hard work at times.

[jPhx · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow but steady start that kicks off nicely in the second half. I really enjoyed it.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leathers’ ‘Pay Off’ is distinctly noir while not necessarily subscribing to a particular sub genre; the core elements are ever present. The unnamed protagonist, a Scottish financer, sets off a chain of events which, unbeknownst to him, will leave him bathed in blood over glory. ‘Pay Off’ consists of a tightly woven plot where the reader isn’t initially introduced to the reasoning behind the need for revenge, rather, the recruitment of key players who take part in the action. I enjoyed all aspects of ‘Pay Off’, from the solid protagonist, accomplices and ancillary characters to the unconventional method of delivery. 3.5 stars.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure if this is Leather's first ever book, but it's definitely an old one, and that's not a bad thing at all. I really enjoyed this and don't feel that the 2nd part was really too rushed like some other reviewers. I'm not sure if this was really noir and there were even a few parts which had me chuckling. Good characterisation and a a decent story made this an enjoyable read (listen).

As always, Thornley was exceptionally good as the narrator.

[Randhir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sardonic, terse prose keeps the action moving. The Author knows how to keep interest from flagging.
The plot line is believable though it does stretch at times. He deals with revenge and its aftermath and a bunch of characters with flawed personalities, including the hero.

[Wan Ni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promising setup and beginning, but part 2 of the book just felt like a rush job written by someone else. A waste, sadly. A very straightforward revenge gone awry plot.

[David Highton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not surprised this is a first novel - reasonable plot but not the best execution - and the high class prostitute with a heart of gold stretches credibility

[Stuart Haining · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10 10%

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

A reasonable revenge type story.

[Simon Gelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK

[Duncan Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

An impressive debut!