Vendetta

by Craig Gaydas

Embezzlement is underway at Martins Insurance Group. When Jody Minerali discovers it during a routine audit, she determines that the corruption goes all the way to the top and also includes the mob. With nowhere to turn within the company she is forced to seek outside help. Unfortunately management learns of her discovery and they have different plans. Crime boss Vito Lucero is not ready to have his cash cow shut down and plots to shut her up permanently. After her fiance is murdered she is driven to the Pine Barrens of New Jersey where she is raped and left to die. After an accident involving the Medical Examiner's van, her body disappears. Strange sightings of large cats, possibly panthers, were seen recently and the police conclude that her body was carried away by wild animals. When a string of murders start to take place in the sleepy seaside town of Palm Harbor the police assume a serial killer is on the loose, until Jody's fingerprints are discovered on the murder weapon. The town is turned upside down as the police realize that a woman's scorn can reach beyond the realm of the dead.

360 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2013

About the author

I have dabbled among many professions. I was everything from a private investigator/security professional to a supply chain professional with a Fortune 500 company. I have always used my creativity in different ways from tabletop gaming, to online gaming, to writing fan fiction. I only recently started writing novels, starting with my debut fantasy adventure- The Guardian Chronicles.

Reviews

[Sahara Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While auditing claims and underwriting transactions at Martens Insurance Group, Jody uncovers possible embezzlement of funds by one of the Underwriters. She goes to her boss / CFO with her suspicions, which results a hit from the Mob on her and her fiancé. Now she’s back for revenge.

This isn’t a typical who-dunnit story, as we know who the killers are almost from the beginning. But we do get to follow around with Detective Chuck Ferraro as he tries to piece together the multiple murders of Alex and Jody, her missing body and the other murders that start springing up around his quiet town. We also follow along with Jody as she begins her vendetta against everyone involved with the embezzlement and the death of Alex and herself.

I thought the characters were well-developed and even though I knew Jody would end up dead, how else are you going to have a paranormal vendetta?, I still felt sad for her in the way she died. I really enjoyed the end of the book and I thought it was a perfect ending. Another character I really enjoyed was Dalton Fitch. He was the counterpoint to her lust for revenge.

There were some issues with the plot that I disagree with. One, it’s only a few days after Alex is murdered, but Jody’s sitting on his grave, wondering why she was brought back. His body wouldn’t even have been released from the morgue yet, let alone buried. Second, an embezzlement of this magnitude, via claims and underwriting practices, would’ve already been discovered by the State Insurance Department. I’ve worked in health insurance for most of my life, I know how it works. Insurance companies get audited constantly by the states they sell insurance in. Embezzlement happens in insurance companies, it happened in one I worked for, but not through claim payments. Insurance Departments keep an eagle eye on these types of transactions.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. If you like a dark mystery with a twist of paranormal, you should read this book. I give it 4 feathers.

[ChaCha Ala Mode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again the editing in these electronic releases could be better. Overall the story is a good one. A few typos that made me have to reread a line here and there a few times. Nothing tragic. I liked the plot, the characters were decently developed and the story ended well.