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Jo Gunning #6
Gunning for Vengeance
Jo Gunning Returns!
Seeking nothing more than peace and quiet, loner Jo Gunning wanders into Prescott, Arizona.
But solitude proves illusive.
As Jo hikes a remote trail, someone shoots at her. As Jo searches for the culprit, she stumbles upon a kidnapped teenager—a victim of a human trafficking ring—and she finds herself in a fight she never wanted. Not one to run from trouble, Jo helps the boy, and she sets in motion deadly events that lead her to a quest for vengeance.
Gunning for Vengeance is a pulse-pounding thriller with a female lead character readers say is “smart, tough, compassionate, and, when necessary, deadly.”
“I have hit the jackpot with Renee Pawlish.” ~ Amazon reviewer
Seeking nothing more than peace and quiet, loner Jo Gunning wanders into Prescott, Arizona.
But solitude proves illusive.
As Jo hikes a remote trail, someone shoots at her. As Jo searches for the culprit, she stumbles upon a kidnapped teenager—a victim of a human trafficking ring—and she finds herself in a fight she never wanted. Not one to run from trouble, Jo helps the boy, and she sets in motion deadly events that lead her to a quest for vengeance.
Gunning for Vengeance is a pulse-pounding thriller with a female lead character readers say is “smart, tough, compassionate, and, when necessary, deadly.”
“I have hit the jackpot with Renee Pawlish.” ~ Amazon reviewer
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 24, 2023
488 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Renee Pawlish
113 books346 followersFrom the time she was ten and tried to write her own detective series in the fashion of the Hardy Boys, Renée Pawlish has been developing her craft. Along with creative writing classes, Renée studied great writers like Dashiell Hammett, Rex Stout, Stephen King, Sue Grafton and many more. Once Renée graduated from college, she began her first novel. Now, all these years later, she has penned numerous books in a variety of genres.
Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries and thrillers. She also has some middle grade novels waiting to be published.
Renée loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.
The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
Reel Estate Rip-off
The Nephilim Trilogy
Nephilim Genesis of Evil
Books Two and Three soon to be released
The Noah Winter YA Adventure Series
The Emerald Quest
Take Five
A short story collection that includes a Reed Ferguson tale.
The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within
A non-fiction book about one of the most haunted houses in America.
To learn more you can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish....
on her blog:
http://tobecomeawriter.wordpress.com/
on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/reneepawlish
Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries and thrillers. She also has some middle grade novels waiting to be published.
Renée loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.
The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
Reel Estate Rip-off
The Nephilim Trilogy
Nephilim Genesis of Evil
Books Two and Three soon to be released
The Noah Winter YA Adventure Series
The Emerald Quest
Take Five
A short story collection that includes a Reed Ferguson tale.
The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within
A non-fiction book about one of the most haunted houses in America.
To learn more you can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish....
on her blog:
http://tobecomeawriter.wordpress.com/
on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/reneepawlish
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 26, 2023
What started as an enjoyable hike in Arizona turns out to be a harrowing experience for Jo Gunning. Someone decided to take some shots at her on a remote part of the trail. Not one to back away from a challenge, Jo decides to investigate further. She rescues a teenage boy from an isolated cabin and finds human trafficking.
Seemingly average people are involved in a vicious operation. The body count mounts up in the relatively small city of Prescott, Arizona. Jo feels she has to have proof of the scale of the criminal activity before she can completely turn the case over to local law enforcement.
The action will keep the reader riveted to the end. This is an excellent series for Renee Pawlish, and I highly recommend it. Some of the things I appreciate about the Jo Gunning series (in no particular order):
1. There is a tremendous amount of action, but no extreme graphic violence. I have enough imagination, and Pawlish includes enough description to convey the atmosphere.
2. Gunning's driving force isn't her hatred of men. She doesn't continually rant about how ineffective and inept men are.
3. Sex isn't a major factor in the stories. She doesn't trivialize men.
4. Pawlish doesn't continually repeat Jo's thoughts and anxieties through numerous chapters to make the book longer.
Be sure to check out this series. You'll find it's different from the average female protagonist action thrillers. Pawlish is an excellent author whose plots are intriguing, characters well developed, and gripping action pulls the reader into the story.
Seemingly average people are involved in a vicious operation. The body count mounts up in the relatively small city of Prescott, Arizona. Jo feels she has to have proof of the scale of the criminal activity before she can completely turn the case over to local law enforcement.
The action will keep the reader riveted to the end. This is an excellent series for Renee Pawlish, and I highly recommend it. Some of the things I appreciate about the Jo Gunning series (in no particular order):
1. There is a tremendous amount of action, but no extreme graphic violence. I have enough imagination, and Pawlish includes enough description to convey the atmosphere.
2. Gunning's driving force isn't her hatred of men. She doesn't continually rant about how ineffective and inept men are.
3. Sex isn't a major factor in the stories. She doesn't trivialize men.
4. Pawlish doesn't continually repeat Jo's thoughts and anxieties through numerous chapters to make the book longer.
Be sure to check out this series. You'll find it's different from the average female protagonist action thrillers. Pawlish is an excellent author whose plots are intriguing, characters well developed, and gripping action pulls the reader into the story.
Read
December 31, 2023I am a fan of Renee Pawlish and I enjoy all of her series. The Jo Gunning series is more intense and may be my favorite of all. This is the latest in the series - each will stand alone, but do refer to people and occurrences from others in the series however it doesn't contain spoilers for the preceeding books.
Jo is ex military and is traveling around the country while deciding what to do after leaving government service. She is pretty much a loner and travels light, but helps people along her way. This begins with Jo hiking, leaving the main trail to avoid other hikers. Someone takes a couple of shots at her and she evades further confrontation. She comes upon a cabin and through a window she sees a boy tied to a chair and hears his captor's cruelty. When the man leaves, she enters the cabin and rescues the young man. He's weak and they can't make good time. The big man returns, finds the boy missing and - remembering the woman on the trail - sets out to find them.
No spoilers here. This is a riveting story, and Pawlish keeps the suspense going. Her characters are fully drawn and believable, and she keeps the story real. I highly recommend this author, the series and the book
Jo is ex military and is traveling around the country while deciding what to do after leaving government service. She is pretty much a loner and travels light, but helps people along her way. This begins with Jo hiking, leaving the main trail to avoid other hikers. Someone takes a couple of shots at her and she evades further confrontation. She comes upon a cabin and through a window she sees a boy tied to a chair and hears his captor's cruelty. When the man leaves, she enters the cabin and rescues the young man. He's weak and they can't make good time. The big man returns, finds the boy missing and - remembering the woman on the trail - sets out to find them.
No spoilers here. This is a riveting story, and Pawlish keeps the suspense going. Her characters are fully drawn and believable, and she keeps the story real. I highly recommend this author, the series and the book
December 26, 2023
Gunning for Vengeance (A Jo Gunning Thriller Book 6), my sixty-second read from author Renee Pawlish and the sixth involving this character. Great character, great storyline, a must-read! If you like Lee Child's Jack Reacher you'll love these books! Yeah, it is that good! It's no wonder with the popularity of Jack Reacher in books and movies that an author with the character creation abilities of Pawlish would take the concept and improve on it. As Pawlish expands her writings over 4 primary characters it has improved all four but Jo Gunning is her best character yet! A Renee Pawlish book is like a visit with an old friend. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to the next book in this series as well as anything written by her. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
December 24, 2023
I have been reading the Jo Gunning series from the beginning. It just keeps getting better. In this volume Jo finds herself in a situation where the best defense is a good offense.
After rescuing a young man from the illegal sex trade, Jo ends up having to battle numerous enemies, some who want to keep her quiet, some to pay her back for her interference.
Overall, this series just keeps getting better. Where some writers burn out and end up ruining the main characters, Ms. Pawlish has added more life to her characters. This book shows us what Jo is capable of when pushed too hard.
Although this is enjoyable as a standalone book, I recommend the reader start from the beginning to appreciate the development of the title character and better understand her motivations.
After rescuing a young man from the illegal sex trade, Jo ends up having to battle numerous enemies, some who want to keep her quiet, some to pay her back for her interference.
Overall, this series just keeps getting better. Where some writers burn out and end up ruining the main characters, Ms. Pawlish has added more life to her characters. This book shows us what Jo is capable of when pushed too hard.
Although this is enjoyable as a standalone book, I recommend the reader start from the beginning to appreciate the development of the title character and better understand her motivations.
December 24, 2023
Jo Gunning is minding her own business while hiking on a public trail, when someone shoots at her. Using her skills gained as a seasoned Army veteran, Jo evades the shots, and of course, being shot at gets her curious as to the who and why someone is shooting. Did she accidently venture onto private property or hunting grounds?
As so often happens with Jo, she slides right into discovering a serious crime that has been well hidden away from local eyes. Righting wrongs and stopping crime is what Jo Gunning does in life after the Army, even though she doesn't seek it. Getting law enforcement involved is sometimes tricky, but Jo Gunning doesn't give up!
The Jo Gunning series is one of my favorites from Renee Pawlish.
As so often happens with Jo, she slides right into discovering a serious crime that has been well hidden away from local eyes. Righting wrongs and stopping crime is what Jo Gunning does in life after the Army, even though she doesn't seek it. Getting law enforcement involved is sometimes tricky, but Jo Gunning doesn't give up!
The Jo Gunning series is one of my favorites from Renee Pawlish.
January 1, 2024
She has Compassion and Skills!
This book is the 6th in a series that is best when read in order. Our heroine has some mad skills. She comes across a situation that she can't ignore and the action never stops! The story is definitely white hat/black hat which is necessary when dealing with the trafficking of young people. Aside from the subject matter, there is not enough to trigger anyone. The plot is great and totally believable. The finale is excellent and leaves the door open for an arch-enemy to appear. I love this series and wish there were 10 more to read right now!
This book is the 6th in a series that is best when read in order. Our heroine has some mad skills. She comes across a situation that she can't ignore and the action never stops! The story is definitely white hat/black hat which is necessary when dealing with the trafficking of young people. Aside from the subject matter, there is not enough to trigger anyone. The plot is great and totally believable. The finale is excellent and leaves the door open for an arch-enemy to appear. I love this series and wish there were 10 more to read right now!
January 31, 2024
A satisfying thriller
I think the Jo Gunning stories walk a line between Detective Noir and military thrillers. First two small gripes, a firearm magazine is not a "clip", and brain trauma sufficient to cause loss of consciousness is life threatening and likely to have long term consequences. I realize that knockouts keep the protagonist from either becoming a mass murderer or an early casualty.
With that said, I found the story much more real and engaging than the Jack Reacher or John Wick "unkillable man" stories.
I think the Jo Gunning stories walk a line between Detective Noir and military thrillers. First two small gripes, a firearm magazine is not a "clip", and brain trauma sufficient to cause loss of consciousness is life threatening and likely to have long term consequences. I realize that knockouts keep the protagonist from either becoming a mass murderer or an early casualty.
With that said, I found the story much more real and engaging than the Jack Reacher or John Wick "unkillable man" stories.
December 24, 2023
This book grabbed my attention from the start. It is about a tragic topic but is written so well it keeps you reading until the very end. the author wrote about the topic of child sex trafficking in such a way that it informed you of how horrible this is, yet kept you interested in the story. The book has many ups and downs and took you for quite the roller coaster ride. The series just keeps getting better and better!
December 30, 2023
Jo Gunning is just hiking in the woods when she gets shot at, leading her to stumble upon a shack containing a kidnapped boy who is being held as part of a human trafficking ring. Well written, great characters and I highly recommend reading this book as well as all of the previous ones in the series. Renée puts you so into the story that you can almost smell the woods as she tries to rescue the boy and evade the man that was shooting at her. The story gets get better as you read on.
January 3, 2024
Jo Gunning is staying in Prescott AZ for some relaxation. While out running to relieve stress someone shoots at her. While searching for who and why she finds a teenage boy cuffed to a chair in a cabin. Helping the boy escape and on the run the man who held the boy hits him with his truck on accident. Jo is now out to find justice for the young boy and make sure to stay alive herself. What she uncovers is more than she could imagine.
December 27, 2023
Wow! The saga continues as Jo Gunning does her best to stay under the radar, at least until threats from the past are resolved. Then an innocent hike turns deadly and Jo will not back down until she finds who is responsible... and they will pay dearly! I am so fortunate to be an Advance Reader for Renee Pawlish and highly recommend any of her books for your personal library.
January 31, 2024
Excellent ex soldier takes on mob book
Sex trafficking is a seriously sickening scourge and America is caught in the thick of it both as victims and as perpetrators. Pawlish does an outstanding job dealing with the topic without getting caught up in the numbers and statistics occasionally bandied about in the press.
Jo is a great heroine and the story is very believable.
Sex trafficking is a seriously sickening scourge and America is caught in the thick of it both as victims and as perpetrators. Pawlish does an outstanding job dealing with the topic without getting caught up in the numbers and statistics occasionally bandied about in the press.
Jo is a great heroine and the story is very believable.
April 26, 2024
I enjoyed this book, but really wish the ending wrapped up more. It didn't feel finished to me. It reminds me of how creative writing was in school, where you got your specific amount of words written and now you just needed to end this story. I was waiting for this to actually come to a conclusion instead of, "Welp, looks like I will be here for a while".
April 16, 2025
Another great Gunning story
I love the character, but it does seem unbelievable how much trouble she find...lol. It's going to be interesting to see where the author goes with all the people who are Gunning for Gunning. Seems every story ends with someone left over from the crime/situation looking for her.
I love the character, but it does seem unbelievable how much trouble she find...lol. It's going to be interesting to see where the author goes with all the people who are Gunning for Gunning. Seems every story ends with someone left over from the crime/situation looking for her.
December 9, 2023
Poor Jo, fresh off the debacle in Vegas, trying her best to keep to herself, and then she stumbles upon a young boy tied to a chair in a cabin near a trail. Things get a lot more interesting after that.
It is a very good book in true Pawlish style.
It's easy and fun to read.
It is a very good book in true Pawlish style.
It's easy and fun to read.
December 25, 2023
Jo is out hiking in an effort to clear her mind when she stumbles into another situation. From the first shot to the final scene, this book pulls you in. It's another great story in the Jo Gunning series.
April 1, 2024
Good story but slow in the middle
Jo's taking a relaxing hike in the woods when she gets shot at. She rescues a boy being trafficked, and starts to track down a trafficking organization headed by a Chinese-American woman. Very good writing, but a lot of time spent with Jo hunting villains, villains hunting Jo. Gets more suspenseful and exciting near the end.
Jo's taking a relaxing hike in the woods when she gets shot at. She rescues a boy being trafficked, and starts to track down a trafficking organization headed by a Chinese-American woman. Very good writing, but a lot of time spent with Jo hunting villains, villains hunting Jo. Gets more suspenseful and exciting near the end.
August 25, 2024
Loved it but ending was not satisfying at all…
January 11, 2025
another great story. Keeps you on
your toes. Looking forward to the
next installment.
your toes. Looking forward to the
next installment.
January 15, 2024
terrific
Love reading Renee's books, Jo is my favorite character, she reminds me of a female Jack Reacher. Her books are great also.
Love reading Renee's books, Jo is my favorite character, she reminds me of a female Jack Reacher. Her books are great also.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews