The Executioner's Game

by Gary Hardwick

"Luther Green is the very best at what he does. But the mastery of his profession is nothing he can brag about. It's nothing for which he will ever be officially recognized and it will never earn him a large paycheck. But there is a high likelihood that Luther's proficiency at his job will get him killed." "Luther Green is a government assassin. For more than a decade, he has traveled the world, surgically eliminating America's enemies, never questioning his orders while performing as reliably as death itself. But his new assignment threatens to change all that. Luther's superiors have designated his new target as Alex Deavers - the agent who taught Luther everything he knows and a man now considered to be a rogue agent on the edge of insanity." "As Luther seeks to uncover the clues that will lead him to his prey, he slowly realizes that Alex is on a mission of his own, playing a cat-and-mouse game with his former apprentice while setting in motion a plan that could kill millions. Luther begins to suspect that the only person who can give him the answers he needs is the psychotic madman he has been ordered to execute." Luther follows a perilous trail that takes him into the most dangerous territory he has ever encountered. He is just a pawn in a twisted chess match, but a pawn may transform itself into the game's most dominant weapon. Now he has just days to learn the rules and employ all of his skill and training to find the truth. But to defeat the deadly forces against him, Luther Green must win the most dangerous game of all.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1996

About the author

Gary Hardwick is a television and screenwriter, film director and novelist.

Gary is the writer/director of the hit film The Brothers, starring Morris Chestnut, Shemar Moore and DL Hughley, and Deliver Us From Eva starring Gabrielle Union and Megan Good.

He was the production writer for the hit film Bring It On, The Perfect Match for Queen Latifah’s Flava Unit and Lionsgate Films and 2021’s, Christmas Unwrapped starring Amber Stevens for Lifetime Entertainment.

In 2022, Amazon Filmed Entertainment purchased Gary’s spec script, the HBCU set film, Stand Battle along with AGC Studios.

Gary’s first novel, Cold Medina, was a commercial and critical smash. His second novel, Double Dead was bought by Warner Brothers. His fourth novel, Color Of Justice was optioned by Universal Films for rapper Eminem. His seventh novel, the spy thriller, The Executioner’s Game was purchased by Sony Pictures as a starring vehicle for Academy Award winning actor, Jamie Foxx.

Gary’s HardBooks imprint publishes thrillers and science fiction novels under his pseudonym, a.a. clifford, whose titles include SexLife, Escape To Sex, The Enkntatum, Kifo and Kifo x Moto.

Gary has currently completed the sci fi novels, 4 and 5 under his science. They will be published in 2023 as part of his Numbers Trilogy.

Reviews

[La Tonya Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a suspense from the beginning of crime, drug dealing, and life in the inner-city of Detroit. It dealt with police and political corruption in the mayor's office. Even though it was fiction, you felt that it came out of the headlines from today's newspaper's and society. It was a believable read. The vernacular was street language; therefore, be prepared for four letter words that maybe offense to you. David Cavanaugh is a homicide detective and hard nosed police cop and he proofs it on the job daily. It was a fast, enjoyable, and light reading for a weekend.

[Kaje Harper · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is a well-researched and engaging story about the intersecting lives of two men in Detroit 1967. Thomas is a white cop. Robert is a black Marine, serving in Vietnam as the story opens. He is wounded and returns home to Detroit to find a city full of tension and a younger brother full of anger against the white establishment. Over a year filled with tension and violence, assassination and riots, these two men deal with family conflicts and then come up against each other over the shooting death of Robert's brother. This book had the potential to be emotionally gripping, but somehow just missed. It is well written but the style is just a little detached, so I found myself interested in these two men but not emotionally engaged in their lives. The ending is hopeful and the story is worth the read. Some may love the fact that it never descends into melodrama. I would have liked a little more emotional tone.

[Byron Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden Gem

Gary Hardwick is an excellent storyteller that is often overlooked. If afforded the opportunity you should definitely check out some of his works.

Buy it, read it and enjoy.👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is not easy for a white boy raised in a black neighborhood by his cop dad, who then becomes a cop himself on the streets of Detroit. Danny Cavanaugh can't seem to get a grip on the perimeters of his reality. Why is his family so against his smart, beautiful black girlfriend? Why do both blacks and whites seem to have a problem with the way he speaks? But right now, Danny's big concern is solving the vicious deaths of the affluent blacks in his community.

Hardwick? You hit it out of the park! This novel made me think, ruminate, consider, anguish, -- and a bunch of other verbs! I admire your boldness to attack issues of prejudice, discrimination, bigotry, hatred, love, family, compassion, justice, equality -- and, again a bunch of other nouns. You are a fearless writer.

Congratulations on a amazing piece of work!

I highly recommend this novel.

[Byron Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Gary Hardwick novel and I enjoyed it immensely. His knowledge and vernacular of the streets was spot on and it helped to give the book a grittier, harder edge. I highly recommend this book, but be forewarned, there were many typographical errors. They were fairly easy to decipher though.

[Byron Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

White Chocolate

Gary Hardwick can spin a tale with the best of them. This book dealt with topical issues of today, epecially, cops vs civilian relationships. A well written whodunit.

Buy it, read it and enjoy!!👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Liked the development of the characters. Some chapters seemed to drag for no reason, but still a good story that'll keep you interested!

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read somewhere that whites always have to ask why Mookie threw the trash can through the window whereas black people know without asking. That fact ran through my head as I read this book, set in Detroit in 1967-68. For those folks who aren't from here (or just forgot), 1967 was the year of a huge riot in the D and the riot that arguably set the white folks a steppin' to the 'burbs. I am a white teacher in SW Detroit, teaching kids of many races, mostly non-whites and therefore I was drawn to this book to hopefully find out more about the time before and just after that pivotal year.

The two main characters in the book are Robert, a black Vietnam veteran, and Thomas, a white rookie police officer with the DPD. The book starts with scenes of Robert in Vietnam and his eventual homecoming to his wife, parents and brother. Thomas' scenes begin with his graduation from the police academy, with his parents and fiancee in attendance. (Note to the author: check the math on Thomas' age vs. his birthdate...does not compute my friend). The book quickly thrusts us into the riots and the murder of Robert's brother, Marcus. The death of Marcus does look fairly suspicious; Robert certainly thinks so. Spurred by the murder, Robert falls in with the local black power party.

Meantime, Thomas is dealing with being present as Marcus died (along with three other cop buddies), his hippie fiancee and his old school dad. In one of the few stereotypical moves in the book, Irish Tom hits the bottle to cope with the investigation into Marcus' death. At the same time, Robert gets in deeper and deeper with the movement, all the while trying to find out what happened to his brother. Eventually, Thomas and Robert's paths cross and--but I'm not here to spoil the book. Suffice it to say that the book follows the two characters through a tumultuous year in a difficult time.

What I liked about this book was that I never questioned the questions of Thomas or the issues of Robert. I think that some white people really do wonder why Detroit seemingly fell apart after we ran screaming to the burbs. I think some white people really do want to know why, as Thomas wonders, turn of the century immigrants could flourish while inner city blacks often floundered. (Hint: did your race come here voluntarily or were they forced to come here? That will help you find an answer)

And I don't know this, but I have to think that some blacks wonder what the fuck is wrong with white people and why are we so scared all the time? Hell I wonder this...and I'm white. And why don't more white people realize the injustices that were perpetrated over centuries, from slavery to white cops coercing confessions from black men.

At the same time, the book does a nice job of showing how sometimes just knowing someone "different" can make all the difference. In other words, the issues of white & black aren't all white & black.

Another prop for the book is the way the two main characters turned down sex. I get sooooooooo tired of hearing how men "can't resist" and will give into it if "she offers it" and how men are ruled by their "second brain". If this is true, then all y'all need to get yo' ass out of positions of power and stay in the bathroom all day, marveling over the worm between your legs. However, I DON'T think this is true (in my single days, I found many men to be hesitant about things) and I appreciated reading this in the book.

If you are at all interested in the 1967 Detroit riot or racial issues, I recommend this book. It will make you think about some issues that you may not have thought about recently, or ever (esp. if you are white). After reading it, do I better understand why Mookie threw the trashcan? At the risk of sounding trite, I believe I do.

[Smoochys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danny Cavanaugh is a black man in a white man's body. What's interesting about Danny is that like many black men he has grown up in a world that wasn't fully accepting of him - only the world he grew up in was black. In fact he was so busy noticing the little things that blacks found lacking in him that he didn't notice some very key things that blacks find lacking in each other.

Race aside, this is a mystery where affluent blacks are being killed by a serial killer. It is up to Danny and his two partners to find out who that killer is. The intricacies of the mystery are interesting and the reader is lead down a road of thoughtfulness on the way to the discovery of the killer.

This was a fun read.

[Andree Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crazy good read

This book is wriiten from the protagonist's view. Danny Cavanaugh is an Irish cop who grew up in a black neighborhood. He's rough around the edges with a good heart. His SIL Ivory ends up dead after being stopped by cops. We learn the backstories of the characters including Danny while learning about Detroit .
As you become engrossed in the story it unfolds quite unexpectedly. Danny Cavanaugh reminds me of Easy Rawlins, the Walter Mosely detective. Both are tortured human beings with great instincts and somewhat unethical means in solving a problem.

Some may be turned off by the language and the intimate scenes, but it adds to the plot and its not iver the top.

Overall a good read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. A good book for a rainy afternoon or a lazy day. Characters were well formed. The plot was well thought out. Hardwick addressed a lot of social issues within the Black community that have been talked about but not in front of the "others". A societal commentary inside a detective mystery. What makes this story unique is the lead detective is a Caucasian, Irish detective raised in the heart of African American Inner city Detroit. The question of what makes someone's soul Black or White comes up often in this story. It made a very interesting discussion.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is exciting. I have had a couple of Hardwick's books on my shelf for a while and just had not gotten to them yet. This first one is really good and I'm excited to have found a new author. Inspector Tony Hill is the youngest to ever head up the special force within the Detroit police department. The drug lords are waging war. Hardwick paints characters so well that it is easy to keep them straight and hard not to care what happens to them. Can't wait to start the next one.

[Ernette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good storyline and very realistic depiction of gritty part of Detroit and the people trying to survive there. Found the book easy to read and believe, however; grammar and spelling distracted me from the overall enjoyable experience.

Wonder if Gary received any pushback from city officials and/or previously unnamed mayor(s)?

Note to self: I'm not an English major.

[Livey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Detroit, solving crimes and bad azz cops and criminals. Gary Hardwick obviously knows and loves Detroit! More power to you - keep writing the good books!

[Christine]

Great Book!!!

[Sumayyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not great.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good beach reading.

[Pete · Rating 2 out of 5]

Third rate. Story is weak and character developement is poor. Reader's time would be better used listening to the rap music the author seems so wrapped up in.

[Sherrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every minute of reading this book when i was in high school

[Byron Washington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the previous Hardwick novels, but still a good read.

[Gloria Rucker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that got me hooked on suspense novels!!!!! I loved it so much I read it twice!!!

[Lindale]

X

[Lillie M. Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

Good action scenes, characters are well thought out, good plot. Looking forward to the next book, hope you bring back some of the same characters.