Backlash: Venom and Vendetta from ’Nam

by Ana Manwaring

Jackman Quint's former CO, Chuck Nader, has a vendetta to settle. For Quint, the Vietnam war ended thirty-two years ago with a dishonorable discharge, a prison term, and his daughter JadeAnne, lost to him. Shouldn't Quint be the one with the grudge? He's made a new life for himself, reunited with his daughter, expanded his investigations, and dipped his toe into the dating pool. Finally, life is going his way when Nader shows up in Mexico City on a top secret mission through the U.S. Embassy. Coincidence? But it's soon clear, Nader is out for blood. And he won't settle for killing Quint-he's after everyone Quint loves. He's already killed one of the team. If Quint can't unravel why Nader is bent on his destruction, he'll never be able to protect the team, his woman, or most importantly, JadeAnne. She flies home in less than a week. The days are counting down.

323 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2023

About the author

Ana Manwaring writes raw, unflinching crime thrillers that dwell at the crossroads of corruption, survival and vengeance. With a bold, gritty voice and a sharp eye for institutional injustice, her latest novel Mortal Revenge, co-authored with Fernando León Torrens, plunges readers into the sun drenched streets of Veracruz, where power and family secrets collide under the weight of violence and betrayal. Mortal Revenge isn’t just a thriller — based on a true story, it’s a fight for truth, told with unrelenting honesty.

Drawing on a deep-rooted fascination with Mexico, political and social intrigue and the human psyche under pressure, Ana builds morally complex anti-heroes whose fights for justice blur into quests for survival. Her work brings Latin American infused crime fiction to the forefront — combining intense action, layered character drama, and social realism. Her novels include the JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventures and the the Dafne Olabarrieta Mexico Mysteries. She has also written a memoir of her years living in Mexico, Saints and Skeletons.

When she’s not weaving dark plots or crafting shocking twists, Ana connects with her readers on social media, sharing behind the-scenes insights, cultural inspirations, and the emotional heart of her stories.

Ana also teaches creative writing, produces North Bay Poetics, and is the Vice President of of Sisters in Crime Northern California. https://anamanwaring.com https://linktr.ee/anamanwaring

Reviews

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book of the jadeanne adventure series and I was absolutely blown away by this series! This final book is quint’s final try of getting redemption with his friends, family, and himself. Will he be able too or will he succumb to the stress and disaster? Kick back your feet and go to Mexico with this clan. Especially if you like thriller with lots of mayhem and adventures with some seriously funny characters. Ana had such great character development that was needed for this series and each one feels like your friend by the end it was hard to close the book and finish being in that world with them. Each book was worth the wait to get because I couldn’t put it down once I had it, i loved it!

[Lisa Towles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Backlash: Venom and Vengeance from 'Nam is another story in this author's JadeAnne Stone Mexico Adventure series, this time focusing on a different character at the center stage - her father. Quint's military history and resulting baggage gets even more interesting when his past comes back to haunt him...a powerful adversary out for blood and targeting Quint and everyone he loves. If you like crime thrillers, a rich sense of place, nonstop action and memorable characters, you will love this book.