Pay Back

Detective Marcy Kendrick #5

by Theo Baxter

She seemed like an ordinary housewife. Until she was brutally murdered.

When a woman from an affluent LA neighborhood is brutally murdered, Detective Marcy Kendrick and her partner Angel Reyes are sent to investigate.

And soon discover that the victim is no ordinary housewife. She is one of several wealthy women who are connected to organized shoplifting rings – they receive stolen goods from the gangs, then sell the merchandise through online “discount” stores.

Now, someone is killing off these women in a series of terrifying home invasions. Who wants them dead? And why?

Kendrick and Reyes must find a killer who shows no sign of stopping. But their only witness is in a coma and the body count is rising fast.

It’s a race against time. Can they stop the killer before it’s too late? Or is yet another housewife about to meet a grisly end?

Pay Back – book 5 in the thrilling series featuring Detective Marcy Kendrick.

Genres: Suspense

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2024

Reviews

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Theo Baxter. He once again weaves an enjoyable story and does a wonderful job pulling you in. He kept me turning the pages with the suspense and murder and brings his story to life with his descriptive scenes. He moves the story fluidly and delivers a terrific read.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and are freely given.

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Marcy Kendrick is still seeing Frank and her partner, Angel is still seeing Callie. With all of the bad press that LAPD has been getting, they put Marcy and Angel in front of the camera and have them doing interviews, etc. However, this is causing problems for Marcy. As Marcy and Angel are part of HSS, they get a new LT, finally, all that Marcy and Angel dealt with, with Marcy’s ex husband, is done. Thank goodness. Lukas Chenevert is their new LT and he is awesome! His description had me going gah gah because I adored Sean Connery, especially when he was young and then with a southern accent? Hello! Can we women say- YUM. lol. Weird things are happening and gangs and gangs of kids are flash mobbing and stealing merch everywhere. I felt really bad for Robbery & Homicide. Then there is a woman’s death in Hollywood Hills that had a home business and while looking into it, they find shady stuff. Then there are a few more deaths. Marcy and Angel are working with whomever they can while still doing interviews to my chagrin. (& theirs!). Things just go crazy and then they go crazy to the nth power. Frank doesn’t seem to be handling stuff well and I was a bit upset with him. I like him, but sorry, I’m still team Angel. lol.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pay Back by Theo Baxter is the fifth book in the detective Marcy Kendrick thrillers. I love a book that starts with high momentum and doesn’t let up and that is definitely this book. The murder of an influential LA housewife uncovers the devious side jobs her and her friends have been up to, but like with a lot of Theo Baxter‘s books there is much much more. I have never read one of Marci Kendricks books but I will definitely look for them in the future. I love his standalone thrillers so thought I would give this series a chance and I was not disappointed. Is it wrong that I felt bad for the killer?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book just as I did for the previous four! I love the author’s style of writing, and I was so excited to get this book that I wanted to delay, prolong the anticipation. Theo has created the perfect detective partners and I keep rooting for them to take their partnership to a new level. Theo is just a tease!! The mystery centers around who is killing rich women. Selling high end goods is what they all have in common. We get sneak peaks into the life of the killer. And the camaraderie of the detectives is always a joy to read. They are also great at solving crimes. I can’t wait for the next in this series!

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 2 out of 5]

2* Uncomfortable over Angel 'perving' over Marcy.

This is my first book in the series but I wasn't lost. The storyline was pretty good, with the identity/race/gender of the baddie concealed quite nicely without faux artifice, and the tale for the most worked.

What I didn't like is how these cops didn't seem to mind sharing info, like Angel with his girlfriend that he's probably just stringing along - he admits to himself that he has feelings for Marcy, and when he thinks she's broken up with Frank, his heart skips a beat. Ick. Marcy shared stuff with her brother. They also talked about questioning one victim's daughter, but never get round to it. The policing felt lax.

Chevenet felt like he was being clumsily set up as a future potential love interest for Marcy. To talk about him, like the female cops did, wasn't OK and wasn't PC. A guy would've been pulled up for it. It wouldn't happen out loud in 2024 UK, but hey, This Is America, so...

The romances were cringe. With respect to the author, his Frank's mindset, his Marcy's mindset and his Angel's mindset were just wrong. There was no passion between the couples, thankfully, just talk of muscles being well used. I think the tale would've worked better without the personal relationships, which just came across as insincere and going through motions.

Not sure I'd read more by this author.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my reading pleasure

[Bibliophile Foodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another solid and gripping addition to the Marcy Kendrick series. I’ve been following Marcy and Angel since book one, and I really enjoy how each story brings something new while still building on their personal and professional lives.

The case starts with the murder of a wealthy woman in the Hollywood Hills, but things quickly spiral into something much bigger. What looks like a single crime turns out to be part of a larger, darker operation involving stolen goods, online scams, and a string of connected deaths. I liked how the plot kept expanding—it made the mystery feel layered and unpredictable.

Marcy and Angel are such a great team. Their partnership is one of my favorite parts of the series. They trust each other, challenge each other, and always have each other’s backs. I also liked the addition of their new lieutenant, Lukas—finally someone who supports them instead of making their lives harder. He was a refreshing change and added a nice dynamic to the team.

There’s also a lot going on in Marcy’s personal life, especially with Frank. Im curious to see where that storyline goes next.

While this book wasn’t as action-heavy as some of the earlier ones, it still had plenty of tension and suspense. I liked how it touched on real-world issues like organized theft and the pressure police face from the media and public.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 5 in the series has Marcy and her partner assigned to the case of three wealthy women who were killed in home invasions. All were running online businesses out of their homes. How are they connected and is there more involved?
"When a woman from an affluent LA neighborhood is brutally murdered, Detective Marcy Kendrick and her partner Angel Reyes are sent to investigate.
And soon discover that the victim is no ordinary housewife. She is one of several wealthy women who are connected to organized shoplifting rings – they receive stolen goods from the gangs, then sell the merchandise through online “discount” stores.
Now, someone is killing off these women in a series of terrifying home invasions. Who wants them dead? And why?
Kendrick and Reyes must find a killer who shows no sign of stopping. But their only witness is in a coma and the body count is rising fast.
It’s a race against time. Can they stop the killer before it’s too late? Or is yet another housewife about to meet a grisly end?" synopsis copied

[Sandy T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detective Marcy and her partner get the win against the criminals in this engrossing story. I liked how the author wrote about the current problem of "smash and grab" thefts and the resulting escalation of violence. This book doesn't have as much physical action as the previous ones but it is still an excellent read. The author keeps the reader engaged as he details the emotional turmoil of the main characters, the stress of their jobs, it's effect on their personal relationships and then their questioning if they are making a difference while risking their lifes. I'm happy Mercy's boss, the new lieutenant is supportive and is a great addition to the team. I recommend this book and would suggest you read the whole series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Darren Bourn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a novel that I was fortunate enough to be granted an advance copy to read and review by the author (Theo Baxter), his publisher (Inkubator Books), and the fine folks at Booksprout.

This is book five of the Detective Marcy Kendrick series from Theo Baxter where the protagonist, Detective Marcy Kenrick must face a tense investigation as a woman from an affluent LA neighborhood has been brutally murdered, Detective Marcy Kendrick and her partner Angel Reyes are sent to investigate. As a subplot, the reader is also exposed to the struggles that Kendrick faces as she is involved in a relationship with a detective from a local police department (Santa Monica) and the emotional and mental hazards that may evolve from such a relationship.

Our detectives soon discover that the victim is no ordinary housewife. She is one of several wealthy women who are connected to organized shoplifting rings – they receive stolen goods from the gangs and then sell the merchandise through online “discount” stores.

Now, someone is killing off these women in a series of terrifying home invasions. Who wants them dead? And why?

This was a very good detective story with a pleasingly unusual plot, and interpersonal relationships similar in style to a Karin Slaughter novel. The two main characters, Marcy Kendrick and Angel Reyes, whose background stories have developed with each book in this series. In this latest delve into the realm of LAPD homicide, Kendrick and Reyes must find a killer who shows no sign of stopping. But their only witness is in a coma and the body count is rising fast. This is a race against time as the detectives attempt to stop the killer before it is too late.

On a scale of five stars, I would rate this book a solid four stars and believe that this book would be a favourite of those fans of police procedurals and crime thrillers.

As with all my literary ramblings, these are just my five cents worth.

[Shauntelle (shauntellereads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcy is back! I love Detective Marcy Kendrick, and this 5th installment in the series was just as great as the 1st 4 books. While this can be read as a standalone, I recommend going back and reading the 1st 4 books in the series. If you like crime procedurals, then you will love this series.

This was an enjoyable book with short chapters, lots of suspense, and plenty of drama. Marcy and her partner, Angel, are dealing with crime mobs around the city and trying to determine who is killing wealthy women who are selling shoplifted goods. The story is told from mainly Marcy's and the Entrepreneur's POVs, and Angel narrates a few chapters as well. I am loving Baxter's writing style. This series flows so well. I'm excited to see what the future holds for Marcy and Angel.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Gwen Chester · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally love Theo Baxter books. But this one may be the exception. I can understand some cussing because of the characters but you took the cussing way too far. Your books are strong enough that they do not need all of the foul language to make them good. Even my husband that was in another room mentioned all of the cussing especially the F--- work or a version of it.

And I kept thinking there would be a different ending. I expected her partner Angel or Frank to be a bad guy and take Marcy out to be the ending as you had mentioned it so many times through the book. I am glad that it was not the ending that I expected, but you had me going until the very end of the book this time.

I got this book from Book Sprout and will be glad to leave my review.

[Shannon Binegar-Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh this is the best in the series so far. Not only do Marcy and Angel have a new case, they have a new lieutenant as well as relationship issues and an issue with Frank to contend with. That is more chaos than they should have to deal with. Oh and her and Angel are stuck doing interviews to help put a good light on the L.A.P.D. That is until Marcy reaches her boiling point because they keep bringing up her mother. One reporter takes things too far. This book was so incredibly good. Although to be fair I haven’t read a book yet by Theo that hasn’t kept me completely enthralled from page 1. Well done, another excellent thriller.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

[RM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC.

Loved this. A real suspense from start to finish. There were no crazy plot twists, just a really good story of how the LAPD solve the case of a serial killer.

Between Marcy, Angel and the crew, they keep getting reporting of dead women found in their homes. The only link they can find is that they all run their own businesses online, selling heavily discounted goods which have been stolen from large retailers by gangs of shop lifters. The team need to work out who is killing these women before someone else dies.

The book kept me gripped, it was highly enjoyable and would definitely recommend. I requested this book mainly because I read another book by this author, and Thei Baxter did not disappoint!

[Vickiec192 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another intriguing case for Marcy and Angel, this time they are out to solve the murder of a housewife with a side hustle. Unfortunately, this side hustle isn't exactly legal!!

Yet again, Marcy and Angel's character progression is great. I still feel that with the amount of food they eat they are part Hobbit, and I have a caffeine high from all their coffee breaks! With this case they are working alongside robbery and homicide so we get a few new characters added into the mix. With books/series' of this nature where the plot is so high paced that the characters can be a little flat, but with this series the balance between character and plot is really well balanced.

Who dunnit at it's finest!!!

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is so enjoyable and easy to read. We are already on the fifth book and this time Marcy and Angel investigate when a series of murders occur of well-heeled women who seem to be operating online businesses dealing with stolen merchandise.

As usual, this was a very fast-paced thrilling story. There's a new boss to deal with, with thankfully less hassle than the last one. Marcy also has some personal issues to handle. I very much enjoyed the thrill of the chase here as the team try to track down the ringmaster behind the thieving mobs to bring them to justice. Can't wait for the next book.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting full of suspense and a serial killer targeting police officers.
Although each book can be read as a standalone I love catching up with characters and their lives.
Angel, my goodness how I’d love for him to tell Marcy how he really feels but then again it’s good to see him happy with someone.
Marcy’s ex husband is a real piece of work, anger management certainly did nothing to improve his demeanour in this book.
A great series gritty and very enjoyable.

Thank you @zooloosbooktours @inkubatorbooks books for having me on the tour and for a copy of this boxset

#theobaxter #detectivemarcykendrick #inkubatorbooks #zooloosbooktours #bookstagram #thrillerbooks #policeproceduralbooks

[Carol Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything from this author Theo Baxter, so it was quite a surprise just how good he is.
Enjoyed the storyline, found it engaging and was well written.
The two investigating police officers Marcy and Angel work well together and they have their own lives other than their jobs, but I have missed out on these as this is his 5th book so I might be doing some catching up on the previous novels.
I did receive a free ARC copy via Incubator Books (Bookaprout), and my review is my take on this novel.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been my least favourite of the series so far - but it's still a fun book. Thanks to Zooloo's Book Tours for my copy. There's a bit of character development in this one, which fleshes out a certain person somewhat. In general, though, things just got worse for Marcy in this book, and it's less enjoyable when things go badly for her!

I really enjoyed Stephen's role in this book, as well as the fact that Marcy and Angel were working closely with another department in the force. It was nice to see the team as a bit more of a unit.

[Samantha Labanowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I went into this book without reading the first four of the series but I didn’t feel like I was missing out. I loved the chapter titles, I feel like you don’t see that very often anymore. I felt like I was constantly in suspense of something happening next and I love that. I related to both characters through both perspectives and I think that’s hard to do for an author. Very quick read, highly recommend. Gave me Elle Gray, FBI Blake Wilder series feels and I loved those too!

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoy strong lead female characters. There are so many twists and turns in the story that it keeps you guessing until the end. Interesting characters that you wonder which one is the guilty party. Like the concept of the organized shoplifting women and the fact that they're being killed off because of that makes for interesting reading. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kendrick and Reyes two Decteives are sent to a home to investigate a murder, what they come to find out is that the housewife was part of an organized retail theft ring and she is not the only one who has been murdered or attempted to be murdered. What you would think would be an easy case turns out to be the opposite and leads them down many different paths trying to find answers. A good story with excellent characters to help move the story along, a very good book.

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book five of the Detective Marcy Kendrick series and it is just as good and suspenseful as the other books. It is so enjoyable and easy to read and I just didn't want to put it down. The author's psychological books are good too but I prefer this series.
I received an advance review copy via Booksprout and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[Bren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the partnership that Kendrick and Reyes have and all the things they go through to solve a case. These two Detectives don't run from danger they run right into the face of it determined to apprehend the killer and in doing so it pulls the reader along w/ them to witness every move they make including the arrests of the killer.

[Steve Sawczyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic in an already fantastic series

Absolutely loved this book, another fantastic read in an already fantastic series. One aside, this is the first time I have seen X, the social platform fomerly known as Twitter, referred to in a book, it seems not too long ago that the name change happened and already the newer name is finding its way into literature. :)

[TheLisaD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pay Back, written by Theo Baxter, one of my favorite authors, was an exceptional story filled with action and intrigue. Each book I’ve read by Baxter has been better than the last, and Pay Back was no exception. I couldn’t put it down and eagerly anticipate what happens next in the life of Detective Marcy Kendrick.

[itsybitsybookhoarder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this one. The fact that the first chapter had "no cap" written three times in five pages set a rough start for me. I got through it, and it wasn't a bad book, but I was hoping for more. I will try to read more from this author to give him another chance.

[Kira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book it is a great novel to read this author did a great job with this story this story very well written a true page turner.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book, but then again I have no read a book by the author that I haven't liked! This was suspenseful, action packed, with mystery, past trauma, and a present that is keeping the characters on their toes. This is a definite must read.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book and I love Theo Baxter. Anything by him is a home run read. This book had a lot of suspense. You really need to read the first book though to be able to keep up with Darius' story in this book. Anyway, its a definite must read.

[Alvara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's another enjoyable read in the Detective Marcy series. There is plenty of suspense as you follow the investigation to identify the killer. Looking forward to see where the next book will go.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.