Henchmen

by Eric Lahti

Join a small organization of loveable bad guys: a supervillain and her henchmen. Eve, the seven foot tall, bulletproof blonde is their leader. Frank and Jean are a couple that can get into any computer or building unseen. Jacob is a rough around the edges biker type that has a deep and abiding love of guns and explosives. And Steven? Well, he’s really good at manipulating people and pretty handy to have around in a fight. As supervillainy goes, they’re just starting out. They don’t have much of a secret base. They don’t have matching uniforms. Not a one of them owns a single pair of tights. What they do have is an interest in tearing down the country and watching it burn.

There’s just one little problem, though. No matter how tough and smart a small group may be, tearing down a country is almost impossible for five people to pull off, so they while away their time pulling small jobs and putting together as much advanced technology as they can.

A chance encounter at a sushi bar has led them to a young woman with a terrifying secret she doesn’t even know she possesses. The Yakuza wants to use her to put pressure on a missing father. No one’s entirely certain exactly what the secret is, but it smells like a weapon and it might be just the sort of thing to help topple a nation.

They’re done pulling small jobs. Now they’re aiming for the top – because why bother robbing jewelry stores when you can topple governments?
Yakuza gang fights.
Incursions into high-security, top-secret government buildings.
Picking fake fights with losers in bars.
A psycho ex-coworker who has some strange friends.
And a well-dressed older gentleman who haunts dreams.
It’s all in a day’s work for Steven…one of the world’s most dedicated and dangerous…
HENCHMEN

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Superheroes, Fantasy

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2013

About the author

Eric Lahti grew up looking for UFOs and buried treasure in northwest New Mexico. Unfortunately, he never found either of them. Or maybe he did and he's just not telling. He did find some good stories to tell at parties about lights in the skies and gold in the ground, though. When he's not writing, he's programming and practicing his Kenpo. He's also an active blogger, waxing philosophical about a range of topics from writing, to martial arts, to politics and religion. Frankly, he fancies himself something of a Renaissance geek about a wide variety of things. In addition to his current books, Better Than Dead is going to be published relatively soon-ish.

He also runs a blog at Eric Lahti

You can also visit his website that he updates intermittently, check out his Twitterific Tweeting or visit him on Facebook

Reviews

[Jason Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, not so much superheroes... more super-antiheroes. I give this 4.5 stars and only knock it down from 5 stars because of so many editing problems. But even though that usually ruins a story for me, this story was good enough to make the editing errors not such a big problem. I want more of this series!

BTW, this has blood and guts and death and stuff for those who have a problem with that.

[Max Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the…? This is a seriously entertaining if not somewhat hard to classify book. That’s a good thing for me. Henchmen gets straight into the action and it never lets up. This tale of villains that you really have to love rather than hate is told from the point of view of the writer’s chief protagonist and Henchman, Stephen. Eric Lahti has played around with genre here, which can be dangerous but works very well indeed in this case.
Key to the success of his style is his use of humour and a superb ability to create likeable characters who while you sometimes need to suspend belief to accept, are in fact characters that the reader quickly attaches to and this for me made the story work. Quite gruesome at times, it is a dark, funny tale that for me has more than one eye on a future cinematic ambition. There is nothing wrong with that. Perhaps I got a sense of comic book or graphic novel about Henchmen as it has a very visual impact on the reader. I could imagine each and every scene as I read the book, a credit to the author who’s attention to detail is a big part of the enjoyment. My only criticism is that the blurb for Henchmen might put some people off reading the book as it lists the varying parts of the book that on the face of it may not appeal to everyone, but this book is more than the sum of its parts, so I for one am glad I picked it up. I want more from Eric Lahti, a new departure in reading for me and one to watch for the future.

[Lesley Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, Eric Lahti, what have you done to me? Ordinary life never felt so dull...I feel much like someone who got on a bus thinking they knew the route and the destination and fell off dazed, befuddled and high as a kite many miles later, at what might be the terminus or merely the start of another roller-coaster journey to who knows where. In between I was taken on a rollicking ride on what felt at times as though I’d slipped somehow sideways in between the brightly coloured pages of a comic book. Pow! Splat! Ooooooof! Squelchhhhh! (That’s the sound of a Super Villain almost but miraculously not quite being pulverised.) It’s a book for boys and their unquenchable love of toys, and yet – here I am (admittedly far from girlie, it’s true) absolutely in love with these characters, whoever, whatever they are. They are bad, very bad, but they’re also brilliant. Where did they come from, how did they get together, and why? And where are they going? Are they on the side of good or evil? Or is there a third side I didn’t even guess existed? I’m not sure I ever satisfactorily found the answer to all or any of that, but it didn’t matter. I don’t like guns, and yet I’ve learned more about guns and how much fun they are than I ever thought I’d want to know (but how fascinating!) And I usually tend to go into an altered state of extreme boredom when people talk about anything relating to computers or technology... but how very captivating all that can be! Eric Lahti softened me up so completely that by the time we got to the really unbelievable bit towards the end I was completely won over and ready to believe anything. This book had me laughing out loud and wanting to nudge the person next to me on the bus to show them how clever some of the lines were (I didn’t. I’m sure they’d have thought me deranged after one glance at the wild look in my eyes.) I’m so glad I’ve got ‘Arise’ to look forward to. The adventure goes on...

[SheReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book ended up being way different than I was expecting when I started it. It was much more complex and a little more Sci-fi than I thought, both of which were good things.

This is a story about a group of people that have come together to do bad in order to achieve good. They don't consider themselves terrorists (although, in part, that's what they are). They think they are doing it for the good of humanity. Congress must die- that is their goal. They each have their reasons that have brought them to this point but they've reached the same conclusion.

Steven is our POV character. He has had everything taken from him and wants revenge. In the group, he seems to be the pragmatic one, a little more cautious than some of the others. My favorite was Eve. No one knows exactly what she is except that she's bullet proof. She a bit of a bad ass.

When their group saves a young girl with a tragic backstory of her own, they not only gain a new member of the crew, but a new job. There's a building that holds something unknown. It took Jessica's father from her and they must find out what it is.

The story in this is great. It's not just your typical bad guy story. All of our MCs are self proclaimed bad guys but its hard to see them that way. I loved the ending but won't give any spoilers as to why. Let's just say that what they find is very cool.

There were a few places where the story dragged for me and I felt like some of the characters besides Steven and Eve fell flat. But, it wasn't enough to stop me from loving the book and looking forward to reading the next one.

[R.K. Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing to dislike about this book. Seriously, if more books were written like this more kids would be reading instead of watching reality television. Yes, there is graphic violence (at one point someone's head may get twisted around) but it's cartoony violence. Lahti's writing style, in my opinion, is kind of Quentin Tarantino meets Elmore Leonard. Everything on the page is there to entertain the reader.

One of the biggest strengths of this piece were the characters. Since it was an evil gang, the author had a lot of flexibility to give them terrific quirks, which only added to their complexity. The inclusion of details so specific that you know the ring tone and pizza preferences of characters makes it not only easy to relate to them, but cheer for them.

I have already purchased the 2nd book in this series and look forward to reading it ASAP!

[Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.75* dnf: 36%
(edit: The first time I made excuses for why I didn't like this. Now I'm changing that. The humor got old real quick. The action scenes bored me. I didn't connect with the characters. They were standing around making jokes or just punching people.)


I realized I really like action scenes that don't involve the main characters just straight up using guns or punching because I get bored of that quick. (I like navigating the location instead of straight physical attacks). I mean I really like it when the enemy is doing direct attacks, but not the main characters. Kind of weird, but then I think of all the spy books I like and it makes sense.

Couldn't connect with the characters and not enough description of the surroundings. The dialogue is pretty funny, but it also made the story very wordy. I felt like I wasn't getting to the point fast enough.

[R.A. McCandless · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here’s to evil!

I loved this story. It’s a real page-turner, and I’m not just casually throwing that phrase out there. I think this was the fastest I’ve ever read a single novel. It took me about five days to finish the entire thing, and that’s with three kids and a wife requesting my attention.

The main character was really something. He provided a nice balance between serious discussion, and glib sarcasm. He was an excellent noir hero, even though he was one of the titular henchmen. The motley cast of characters added a unique blend of support to a story that covers action, adventure and a touch of romance in a nuanced and well thought out way. The plot covers everything from general social malaise, to conspiracy theory, to computer hacking, and even some supernatural twists that you'll never see coming (but might now that I've mentioned it).

Definitely an author I'm looking forward to seeing more from!

[Felipe Lerma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller story meets meshes and mashed with Fantasy

Gripped by the action promising book cover, I missed the story's classifications: fantasy, occult.

Which is a good thing, or I'd have missed a first for me: a rousing thriller like action story meshed into elements of fantasy, or maybe it's space creatures, or maybe occult beings. (smiles)

And though many questions are answered, like most good books, and good TV series today, there's plenty left unsaid for another episode!

Immediately apparent in the early pages of the story is the author's remarkable skill of combining clear acute action moments between more than just two characters. If anything, like the interactions during moments of outfoxing security guards, both via dialog and physical movements, was among the best and clearest I've come across. Though this attribute reappeared several more times, I definitely wouldn't mind more of this.

Also evident early on were the narrator's snarky attitude and asides to the reader.

These theatre-like moments, which I enjoyed tremendously, worked!

Partly, I believe, because the author kept all asides within two well contained and necessary boundaries.

One, the asides were always in character, the humor always in line with the narrator's attitudes during his actions and interactions with characters in the book.

Two, because the asides never wavered from the first person deep point of view restriction of limited knowledge.

This way I got foreshadowing hints of the fantasy/occult events that would unfold later, and cynically and humorously learned about the other characters, like Eve, the seven foot woman leader of the gang who was “bullet proof” for unknown reasons.

The story has lots of social commentary, all but once laced with biting humor.

If I had any qualms, thus making me feel this was 4.5 vs 5 full stars, it was the loss of humor for a few pages when the narrator meets his old CIA co-worker and they “discuss” the issues. That and if maybe a few more hints of the fantasy elements to come had been woven in earlier, developed with the same humor already rampant through-out the book.

The few typos in the book altered nothing of my enjoyment of the story.

But if there's any question about the story, besides a reader needing to read the book for themselves, I'll give a few excerpts below of the narrator's general tone.

I did also have a question of where the sequel would veer. Exposition? Or the snappy actions and snarky running commentary? But luckily there was a nice sample of the second book at the end that told me, yes, definitely worth following up with this author.

Finally, as a last thought about the book, I want to mention that the superb action scenes I mentioned at the beginning of my review, carried over into the action scenes with the “unknown” creatures revealed later in the book. There was no sense of having lost authenticity of movement, action and reaction, or, maybe most importantly, consequences.

Here below are a few excerpts.


(in Epilogue)

When I hear the toilet down the hall flush and the sink come on I relax a bit. People may be crazy and violent, but they usually don’t waste time flushing the toilet and washing their hands when they break into your house to kill you.

*
I’m in an elevator shaft going God only knows how far down, into a place that’s been shut off for God only knows how long, for God only knows what reason. You know what the problem with God is? Knows everything, but won’t tell you jack shit.

*
He’s your typical rent-a-cop from one of the local rental places. He’s wearing a black uniform and boots to make him seem intimidating, with a Glock on his hip. The guard is overweight, balding and, from the smell of the room, badly in need of a bath. He’s also snoring like an exhausted pit bull.

--
Just a taste of this writer's wit. There's much much more. A great fun read.

[P.A. Rudders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start with this one? This is a full-on action thriller that throws in elements of Sci-Fi, mysterious aliens, the supernatural, and a body count not seen since the days of the great flood. The Henchmen are a varied group of guys and gals you really don’t want to get on the wrong side of; led by a seven foot bullet-proof Amazonian blond bombshell, this assortment of characters possess both the will and the skills to literally change the world. Anyone expecting a typical macho ex-military commando type outfit will be pleasantly surprised; apart from Eve, their super humanly strong and virtually invulnerable leader, among the Henchmen there is the latest addition to the group, a drop dead gorgeous kick boxing ex-nude model, Jessica, who doesn’t think twice about killing someone in the most brutal of ways when circumstances demand, computer and security system hackers gay couple Frank and Jean, Jacob the gun mad biker, and last of all, Steven the narrator.

Despite their propensity to violence and a desire to kill off the entire American Congress, you can’t help but like every last one of the Henchmen. The book completely turns on its head the idea of good and bad guys; the violent chaos causing Henchmen are superb in their role as sympathetic super villains, while the American Government is clearly cast in a bad light. Some of the background plot, and just what it is the Henchmen hoped to achieve was a little light on detail at times, but then again, any attempt to elaborate there might well have slowed down the pace; there’s plenty of explosive action, fighting, fire-fights, and realistic and accurate weaponry and computer security detail to give the book authenticity in these areas, but not so much as to bog the story down in such detail. Given the unusual nature of some of the characters and the mixture of genres, the reader does have to suspend disbelief to some extent, but you’re so engrossed in the moment of what’s happening you rarely give it a second thought.

Written in the first person from the perspective of Steven, the author manages to give the narrative a real sense of character and a distinct ‘voice.’ By making the narrator a close ‘member of the team’ so to speak, the author managed to combine the intimacy of this point of view with the sort of overview usually associated with a third person perspective, yet still providing the opportunity for some sharp and witty humour and satire by way of Steven’s own thoughts and observations of those about him; the author’s ability to lampoon and caracature the male psyche was as funny and sharp as I’ve read in a long-time.

Following a literary roller coaster ride of combat and fire-fights leading to a literal world changing finale, the author nicely rounds up the conclusion, giving a brief post-script to the characters. I did think that some aspects of the cataclysmic conclusion were a little vague, and there are lots of unanswered questions about the characters, in particular the Amazonian like, Eve, but given there’s a sequel, one imagines much of this may well have been intentional. Overall I was kept hooked from start to finish, laughing out loud at times, and gasping for breath at others. Will I be reading said sequel? Absolutely!

[Silas Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of Eric Lahti's Henchmen

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I found it to be a fresh and different story idea that kept me captivated from beginning to end. The story involved a fine collection of characters who maintained the action of the story, while enough backstory was added to give the reader a deeper connection to them. I liked how the author explained how this band of misfits got together and why they were involved in a cause that might at first seem somewhat unlikely, but became more believable as the story unfolded. There were a few unexpected twists that I won't get into other than to say questions I had early in the book about the gang's leader were answered in the last third of the book, when more information was given and I think it was wise of the author to keep the reader wondering until then. I will most definitely be continuing on with the next book in the series as Henchmen left me satisfied, but attached to the characters and their stories and looking forward to more.

[Sharon Brownlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the blurb to The Henchmen fast paced and it made me wonder what the story would be like. It was very fast paced and enjoyable,just like the blurb. The book is what I would call a real page turner. So much action and tongue in cheek, sarcastic comments that had me laughing aloud.
Eric Lahti wrote The Henchmen in the first person, it was done in such a way I could imagine the author sitting in front of me telling his story. The book had a warmth about it that invites the reader in and interests them so much they stay to the end. A story with twists, realsim and unrealistic scenarios but all done superbly. The author has worked hard in this book, he has been artculate in arranging his characters, plot and twists. I look forward to the second book in this series Arise (Henchmen 2) and follow Steven and his Henchmen.

[Diana Febry · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unusual and compelling story, smoothly told. If you enjoy action packed books with intriguing characters I highly recommend Henchmen.
Lahti writes with confidence and great panache. So much so, I confess I did double check this is a debut novel. Original story with diverse characters, atmospheric with a clear sense of setting and the pace is maintained throughout. I especially enjoyed the deft touches of humour, at just the right time, to lighten the tension of the tightly drawn plot.
Very impressed and looking forward to reading Arise, the sequel, in the coming months.
This is one classy book.

[Lincoln Farish · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced, funny and action packed story of bad guys doing bad things for the “right” reasons.
Enjoyed it all the way through, but was a bit conflicted with the ending.
Nevertheless I am hopeful there will be another in this series, and will be awaiting it eagerly.

[John Hennessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: Well, if you have read the synopsis, you will stay around for the review. First things first, who says that synopses have to be short? The above is long but tells you all you need to know, but like most crime thrillers, you have to read the book to discover the rest.

Henchmen by Eric Lahti centres its attention around Steven, a gun for hire, though how he actually gets hired is a stroke of genius fiction. As I was reading the story it reminded me all that was best about America, but also the worst.

It does not, at any time, seek to glorify the violence in the story, which is frequent, occasionally strong, but always in context. Add in the fact that the first person narrative is so well written, that you are placed directly amongst the action. I swear I could feel bullets whizzing by my head and punches to my mid section.

Here's another reason why this book worked for me - the author has a great command of martial arts knowledge, and tells these particular scenes as a true exponent of the art of Kenpo. Styles aside, the author clearly demonstrates his knowledge of fighting and how those skills translate against the antagonists of the story.

The narrative is fast paced, but whilst the plot itself is grand in scope and detail, it's the dialogue that is the winner for me. Lines like:-

"....no one starts a gunfight over breasts."
"They do in Texas."

First person narrative like this:

We're not into graves in my family, just incinerate and toss to the breeze.

He pulls out some kind of tool that I swear is a leftover prop from Ghostbusters.

If that's not got you reaching for the 'buy' button how about this for a chapter title?

A Hot Chick, A Tough Guy and a Valkyrie Walk Into a Bar.

Beats 'Chapter 23', doesn't it?

The story never strays far from its core plot, the Henchmen are a group that individually, are as different as can be. When you read the character of Eve, you won't ever mix her up with another person. The characterisation is simply excellent here. Yes, there are quite a lot of characters, that perhaps extra readings of this book would flesh them out a bit more, but for me, Steven, Eve and the delectable Jessica are the stand out characters in this first in the series.

There's a little social commentary and the occasional political statement here and there, but it is never preachy and flows pretty flawlessly with the narrative.

The setting is Albuquerque for the most part, and although I haven't been to New Mexico (sorry, the nearest I got to was LA) I have imagined it with dust filled desert roads, a vast remote landscape, interspersed with the kind of modern buildings the government would have us call a city.

Ultimately, Henchmen is much more than a revenge story, though there is little doubt Steven's targets deserve to be iced. It is much more than a heist story, though there's great fun to be had when the group go on their hits.

Here is the debut novel of an author that understands his audience. I wanted to be thrilled, entertained and have a chuckle along the way. Now click the link on Amazon to understand what I'm on about.

[Angela Lockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buckle up and let the Henchmen take you for a ride. You might not understand all the fantastic characters Eric lahti introduces us to, or even agree with them; but trust me getting on this thrill ride will certainly beat reading the paper. I’m a kitten loving European, that doesn’t get America’s fascination with guns and it’s paranoia about their own government, but it certainly makes for good, high octane entertainment.
What sets this book apart is its cast of strong and original characters. The group of self-proclaimed supervillains are let by a seven foot tall woman called Eve. She has assembled a group of henchmen to tear down the Government. Each of the men has been approached by Eve for their set of skills. Jean and Frank are a gay couple that can get them into any building or computer system. Jacob is a biker that loves his guns and has many useful contacts. Steve; the narrator has worked for the government but has valid personal reasons to hate them. He is also a good guy to have around in a fight or provide an inappropriate wise crack. The interaction between the gang provides many comedy moments and there are some great lines here.
One night whilst out for a night of Sushi served on a naked woman (Is this hygienic?) The team help a young woman, (the serving dish) Jessica, when some Yakuza want to do very bad things to her. (I kid you not, worse than tying her up and serving sushi from her stomach!) The Yakuza gangsters are after a secret weapon her father helped develop. Eve and her henchmen offer their help in finding her father and Jessica becomes part of their team. This leads them on a very dangerous path of secret government projects and things that should probably not see the daylight. Eve is evasive about who she is and why she is bullet proof, but she has a clear agenda and the others are willing to follow her. Why? I think because they share her ideology, she pays well and cares about her team. Steve at one point muses whether she is a minor goddess but none of them knows. The thing is, Eve is intriguing and as a guy with a grudge willing to do bad things you have to ask yourself; why wouldn’t I join a seven foot bullet proof blonde, intent on creating some serious havoc?
There is a fair bit of graphic violence and strong language, but I think with a title like Henchmen you should be prepared for this. Guns, violence and the odd alien thrown in for good measure; just enjoy. Part 2 is already out and part 3 is in the process of being released, which is good news.

[Adam Oster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came into this book without any real knowledge or expectations or...well..anything. I just saw that it was a story told from the perspective of an evil super-villain's henchman and I was sold.

And I'm really truly happy I was. Henchman is quite the amazing take on the supervillain back story...as well as an amusing look into how they manage to get so many people to work beside them. This story follows Steve (or Steven? I forget because his role as nameless henchman seemed much more important to the tale) and we get to see a firsthand account of what it really means to work for someone who is trying to destroy the world...or, in this case, try to overturn the US government.

Actually, once you get into this book, you'll see that the term supervillain might be a bit of a misnomer, at least as far as what we know through Steve's eyes. Eve, his 7-foot tall Amazonian boss with at least a minor dosing of super-strength, doesn't seem to be doing what she's doing to mean any form of selfish means, but in order to better the world. This isn't Lex Luthor trying to sink California into the ocean so he can sell real estate on the other side of the San Andreas fault. This is someone who believes the system is broken and is looking to fix it, through means that might be questionable, sure, but sometimes drastic times require drastic measures...or some other similar overused cliche.

This is where Lahti's brilliance shines. Not only does he manage to craft a wonderful thought-provoking piece of what might cause someone to turn to supervillainy, while also showing that they aren't completely blameless, even if they might have noble intentions; but he also does so with a hefty dose of humor. This book is plenty funny and on more than one occasion I was reminded of John Dies at the End (although I must note this is nowhere near as flatout funny as that book...rather superficial reminders). Comedy isn't the primary purpose here, just a great additional to the voice this book carries. One of something much larger lying under the surface...which we only begin to get a peek at by the conclusion of this tale.

Simply put, this is a great title and one I can't wait to see how it progresses. I highly suggest you check it out!

[Tom Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked on this story by the time I reached the third paragraph. It was at that point I realised that the narrator was part of the team, but more importantly, his charisma oozed out between the lines. I sensed honesty and dark humour attached to his view of pretty much every situation - even when things were not looking good. In fact, it was more pronounced when things were not looking good.
The title of my review is actually a disservice to the author, but it was the closest I could get to two recognisable entities which have in the past, provided entertainment of a certain kind. Throughout this tale I enjoyed the sometimes laconic, but always insightful observations of the narrator. I liked him so much that I was hoping that if he did get hurt, he wouldn’t die; even at the end.
I also enjoyed the imagery and the incredible situations in which the team found themselves. I was able to clearly visualise the characters. How do you make a larger than life character seem more believable? If you write like this author, you give them strengths and weaknesses, plus you choreograph the action scenes to create more than a hint of realism.
There are a few scenes in the plot which border on sci-fi/fantasy, but because of the plot, for this story they work. In my view it’s hard to write a page-turning action tale, and include just sufficient detail to create the believability factor. Here, we have weaponry details and occasionally computer details that lift the action from the page. It’s equally hard to write humour. To combine those aspects takes a particular skill; which is where Eric Lahti impressed me most. Here you will find a blend of excitement, action, comradeship, fantasy and humour. I enjoyed this story from start to finish and I’m pleased to know that the sequel is already out there ... waiting for me.

[Senan Gil Senan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no I in TEAM. Well technically not, but in this fast paced narrative which is written in the first person perspective, he is very much part of the team. Most authors write in the first person perspective in order to portray private thoughts going through the minds of their protagonist. Eric Lahti seems to have used this perspective to help you appreciate the camaraderie of being in this special gang of misfits. The camaraderie is built on action and humour which is dished out throughout.
In the opening chapters, I felt that that the author was trying to tell me more about the assorted members of this team than the main character and protagonist. Then i realised that he wasn't really the main protagonist. That accolade probably belonged to the boss Eve or at least to the team as a whole. To understand the main character, you have to understand how he fits in to this motley crew.
Again the first person perspective allows a good dose of sarcasm to be delivered in the mindset of the narrator as well as in the dialogue. The humour works well and gives the storyline a tongue in cheek aspect that makes you not think too hard about the plot. The plot is fast paced though and unfolds with a lot of action, and the dialogue builds up the characterization.
Are the henchmen a bunch of villains as they portray themselves? Maybe in the same guise as Breaking Bad antiheroes. They are just a cool bunch of renegades with big plans.

[Jan Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story - wow! I had no idea what to expect but I'm so glad I read this book. I feel like I've been part of a group of super-villains for the duration of this story. I would never have thought I'd be rooting for the 'bad' guys and condoning mass murder and destruction but this is written with such wry humour it made even the most atrocious acts seem perfectly reasonable. It is fast paced, edge of seat gripping, bizarrely mysterious, laugh out loud funny and yet thought provoking all at once. I'm quite exhausted now it's done, I think I'll have to catch my breath before I jump back into Eric Lahti's world to read the sequel Arise.

At first glance I thought it would be more of a man's book - henchmen, villains, bikes and guns - but I'm pleased to say I was wrong. Despite being written from the point of view of henchman Steven, it is just as appealing to a female audience. The little asides about men's fascination with weapons and big power tools were hilarious. And it has some pretty hot female characters too, both very believable and enviable.

How can you categorise a book like this? Action, thriller, supernatural, humorous? It needs its own unique category creating to do it justice. I guess you'll just have to read it and decide for yourself. One thing's for certain, it fits perfectly into the category of thoroughly entertaining reading.

[Rhoda D'Ettore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was reading one type of book, but then twists brought me some surprising gifts. In the first chapter, the author's humor begins and by chapter 14 I laughed out loud at some of the lines. In the first paragraph of that chapter, it discusses a cemetery and to paraphrase, "the residents here don't talk much without ouija boards or psychic mediums." Also, there is an excerpt where guns are compared to muscle cars.. as a car enthusiast I loved it. These are not plot points, just small details in a twisting story that sucks the reader in from the start. The detailed descriptions of Las Vegas and the southwest area are spot on. Having been there many times, I was quick to relate to the setting. Mentions of Sandy Hook and the Boston bombing not only provided this book a contemporary flare, but a credible and realistic story---even when unrealistic things happened.

The story telling is fast paced, action packed, intense and creative. The plot is original. There really isn't anything I would change. However, I would like to post a WARNING: Strong language. Not that I found it offense, but some may.. I guess I'm off to get book 2 now... and YAY.. there's a book two! Bravo Mr. Lahti, Bravo!

[Anthony Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eric Lathi’s love of comic books shines through in this dark, gruesome, humorous cocktail of mayhem and supernatural slaughter, and well, after all you can’t have slaughter without laughter right! It is written enjoyably in an uncommon style, with Stephen, our Henchman as narrator, who is very much just a part of the sum as a whole, and it is told very much from his point of view. With the text in places somewhat reminiscent of Frank Miller’s Sin City, I could quite easily create the celluloid in my mind as to how Eric wanted it look. The story I felt was a little light on content, but the witty, graphic dialog more than made up for this; the excellent original sideways one-liner’s gave the script a healthy kink. I especially loved the way the characters themselves fobbed off the reader from any lengthy explanation for the unexplainable by simply saying “you don’t need to know”.
Overall the book was fast paced, gritty, thought provoking, well researched and thoroughly enjoyable. Ironically I have literally just watched the first three series of Breaking Bad back to back (yes I know, a late arriver). Those who have read this book will get the connection.

[Katharine Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please tell me I can meet these Henchmen and be their friend?! Such a great read! The story takes you on such a ride through the thoughts and happenings of a Henchman named Steven, and you cannot help but love his wit and grit. I went into this book completely blind, not even having read the blurb as to what it was about, and I have to say I was completely roped in from the very first page. I loved every second of it. The characters were so loveable, yet completely terrifying with their unique abilities and personalities you cannot help but laugh at their interaction yet fear their vengeance. The technical knowledge in Lahti's writing makes you feel like a seasoned tech savvy, computer-hacking, gun slinger with the confidence of a goddess by the time you finish, officially adding the reader to the Henchmen's team roster.
Thank you, Eric Lahti for a fantastic read, unique storyline, and for making the reader feel a part of the events as they unfolded. I eagerly anticipate the next in the series, and would recommend this book to anyone.

[Patrick Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I like Henchmen?

Well, considering one of the main characters is a seven-foot-tall demigod named Eve that is super-strong and immune to bullets, do you really need to ask that question?

Well, who is she? How did she get her powers?

Who CARES?

These are questions you may (or may not) ask yourself while reading Henchmen. But probably not, because you'll be having to good a time to ask silly questions like that. You're read about teams of heroes, seen movies about them, now follow a team of bad guys as they go about their business in their quest to achieve their goal: to blow up Congress. (Yeah, just go with me here... it's really not as bad as it sounds.)

Written with a deft hand and a sardonic wit, Eric Lahti brings this motley band of baddies to life, and you not only root for them, but love them and root for them as they take on a corrupt and failing system. It's a rollicking, rambunctious roller-coaster ride from beginning to end, and I'll be moving right on to Book 2 in the series.

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Henchmen” by Eric Lahti is a hugely enjoyable read. Lahti provides a cast of memorable and entertaining characters that could carry a series without the need for a plot. In the book they form an unlikely team of henchmen that provide excellent action, some fantasy/ supernatural elements and a very good, although somewhat ‘evil’ plot concerning the US Congress. The book is instantly likeable with its dark humour and the best ‘bad guys’ you could possibly read about. I hate to use the phrase in reviews, but I couldn’t put the book down once I had started and I read it in almost one sitting. His characters are watchable, memorable and have a presence, you can imagine them easily with the excellent details attributed to them.
The book is great fun, written in an accessible and enjoyable way in a fast pace that keeps you running along until the very end. Humour and thrillers don’t often blend well but here they truly do.
Really good!

[Writingstationhub Writingstationhub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well what a different book from the rest, but in a good way of course. Character's Frank Jean, Jacob, and Steven, also Eve who is bold and dangerous and from the description somehow not human they are bunched together and we meet them straight from the start. A strange meal in a restaurant takes a violent turn, and eating sushi off a naked woman sounds interesting i must say. A violent but great brawl follows, this scene hooked me in like a flash it worked really well. The group take the naked woman named Jessica under their wing, Jessica's father was part of something top secret. I don't want to give to much away but i loved the storyline it was very original top marks, o and beware of the Dreamer.....

I know it is a short review, but this great original story made me lost for words this time...

[Rebecca Bryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very impressive debut novel.
WOW, Eric! Great imagination, great story. Good and evil, monsters and mayhem: a very impressive debut novel. I love the language; it's direct, pithy and the first-person narrative includes the reader, talks to you not at you, so you feel you're part of the group, not an onlooker. The settings and events have a raw, honest edginess, and are well-observed with a realism that takes you to the heart of the action. Eric has a wonderful way with words and metaphors - ' All I did was move a chair.' an understatement that sums it up beautifully. You'll see what I mean when you get to that bit. I am slightly in awe of this man. Have just bought 'Arise', the second novel. Can't wait to see what happens to the gang.

[Kayla Howarth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Badassery, guns, violence, and awesomeness.

I couldn't help but fall in love with Steven's sarcastic humour, Eve's mysteriousness, and Jessica's gumption.

I'm still not convinced the group of henchmen are the villains they claim to be - it was shown numerous times throughout the book that they all had a heart... Except maybe Eve, but she's a whole other kettle of fish; something I hope to be explored more in the sequel which I'll definitely be reading.

The MC breaks the fourth wall on numerous occasions, which is something that tends to annoy me, but without doing this, Steven's humorous side would have suffered a loss, and that's actually my favourite thing about Henchmen. I was laughing out loud throughout most of the book.

If this is what evil is, I want to be bad. "To evil!"

[Bryan Nowak · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an author myself I value one thing above all others, characters I can like. Eric Lahti has masterfully built a merry band of misfits that anyone can instantly like, although their aims are not exactly pure of heart.

This is the first book in the series and I find it to be the less serious of the books. The characters are definitely believable and fun and they are scattered against a vivid world that is easy to appreciate. At one point I found myself wanting to go visit the gang's hide out.

I loved the fight scene a the Sushi restaurant because I could actually visualize the scene in my head. That takes true writing talent and is not really an easy thing to do.

[T.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a bit outside of the genres I typically read, but reading some of the reviews caught my attention and I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I stretched my horizons a bit because this was a very entertaining story. The main characters are anti-heroes instead of your typical good guys, and the guys who you might think should be the good guys end up surprising you more often than not. There are a lot of twists and turns, some of which really caught me by surprise and some that have me intrigued and hoping for more explanation in the sequel. And yes, I will be reading the sequel!

[Robert Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from New Mexico I can see where the author gets his off the wall humor, weird but real characters, and a story line that needs new words to define...fast, quirky, language not for the weak...I laughed most of the way through the book even though it is action adventure to the core..If you are looking for Walson Pond this book is not it. If you are looking for a not so ordinary novel that will keep you guessing and turing the pages this is it. Fun and exciting read.