The Repayment

by J.C. Moore

Sarah's world goes haywire when her abusive husband abandons her for another woman. She's left with nothing but a decrepit farm with a guest house teeming with secrets. But, as she delves further into the murky darkness of the house, she uncovers something sinister lurking in its depths, a force so powerful and so relentless that it surpasses her darkest fears.
This is a horror and revenge novel. It features graphic violence, gore, and sexual material.

Genres: Horror

106 pages, Paperback

Published July 1, 2023

About the author

J.C. Moore is the bestselling author of the Shadow Bay mysteries, the Frank Mallory thrillers, and the No Safe Place series.

His books blend crime fiction, suspense, and psychological tension, often featuring small towns with dark secrets, missing persons, serial killers, and ordinary people forced into impossible situations.

Influenced by writers such as Robert B. Parker, Michael Connelly, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, and James Patterson, Moore writes fast-paced stories driven by character, consequence, and the choices people make under pressure.

Before becoming a full-time author, he worked as a bartender, IT technician, touring musician, horse farm manager, and restaurant owner. His music has appeared in television and film.

He lives in upstate New York with his partner and their dog Archie and is a member of the Mystery Writers of America.

The Shadow Bay Series

Secrets from a Serial Killer
The Winter of Hidden Knives
Behind All the Dark Roads
Echoes of a Serial Killer

The Frank Mallory Thrillers

Dead Man's Payback
No Way Out Alive

The No Safe Place Series

Brink of Ashes
Brink of Winter

TikTok: @jcmooreauthor

Find out more at jcmooreauthor.com

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Repayment was a very short read and it really needed to be longer or edited better. This one managed to be both too much and not enough at the same time. We got too much about a character that turned out to be inconsequential and not enough about the one that did. The ending was utterly rushed and unsatisfying.

Ultimately, I thought that the idea was interesting but that the execution lacked refinement.
Neutral 2.5 rounded up.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the cover, and the illustrations in the story were great additives.

However, it feels like you start reading in the middle of a tale already being told. It’s too short of a story to develop the plot, characters, and background that would enhance the narrative.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, but there just wasn't enough to the story. It felt rushed, disorganized, and what the hell was Rodney even supposed to be?!

[Rereader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everything was rushed, no time was spent letting the reader linger on what happened before the next crisis occurred, all of the men are either rapists, assholes, or both, and the ending was deeply unsatisfying.

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a horror story about domestic abuse, trauma, and creature horror. A lot of what transpires is rather predictable and unoriginal, but the writing, intentionally or not, produces such disorientation that I, for one, felt Sarah's traumatic experience to the bone! Trauma does not allow one to think clearly, the sense of reality being utterly disturbed; all of these, and more, are integral parts of this story. The ending was quite satisfying, taking into account the whole disorientation thing.

[RatedHforHorror · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really felt for the main character in this book. Her husband that she is pretty much done with and not living with her abused her, mentally and physically. She is just trying to move on with her life and everything is against her. There is domestic abuse in this and gets a little graphic at times. It is a short little book that I enjoyed. Quick read.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

oof I hate to give a rating this low, but this is like a decent outline for a story that also needs some input from a cishet woman's perspective. There is a lot of telling without showing, the dialogue doesn't sound natural, and it overall just feels incomplete. I also just don't buy the protagonist's thought processes.

[Quinesia Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

just an all- around sick, sad book. a horror about domestic abuse. so sick and sad with so many triggers.

it is entertaining, and easy to read. a novella, so fast moving. one sitting. 3 stars.

[Chad Hoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick, and easy! Hope the author dose more with the Rodney character.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was Rodney real or was it something Sarah fabricated to cope with her situation? How much of what I read actually happened?

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Christopher Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://www.thepensivequill.com/2023/...

[modifiedmommabearreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

(⭐⭐⭐⭐.5)

I was kindly sent this e-book for review from the author. It is a recent release, and is out now for purchase on Amazon. Again, thank you for giving me the opportunity to review one of your works. It was an enjoyable read, and a crazy rollercoaster ride of a novella.

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Let me first start off by saying that other than a few well for me, sentences that got a bit too repetitive, and a few grammatical errors, this book was such a treat for me to read. It lost half a star because of those tiny technicalities. Once I received this book, and I read the synopsis for this horror novella, I didn't expect for it to have this weird effect on me. Including the breaks I took while reading this last night, I didn't fall asleep until I figured out how it ends. Ok, so Sarah is my hero. Through years of abuse from an ex-husband she once loved, there were several moments where I felt sad for her, and so many emotions all at once throughout the book. It's hard to explain, but I love how she ended up become a lot scarier of a character as the book progressed. All I can say is please don't judge her so quickly at first. Life, and by life I mean, men have been very cruel to her. The people who she came across ended up getting their just deserts. It was relatable for me. A cathartic experience. This book was a big eye opener for me personally and though I'm assuming Mr. Moore probably didn't think this was going to happen to his readers, it happened to me and I thank you. Revenge is definitely a dish best served cold. I mean give it a chance and see for yourself why I rated it 4.5. His use of gore was excellent. All I can say after reading this is WOW. I couldn't believe all of this happened and how entertained I was. This is my first book of his, and I will be reading more of his work, because I was sold.