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Hollywood Payback
A struggling Hollywood actor falls into a life of crime in this highly anticipated second novel from Hollywood Hustle author and four-time Emmy Award nominee Jon Lindstrom.
Twenty years ago, Jake Ferguson threw his life away. Once a promising Hollywood actor, he crashed and burned the usual way: with coke, booze, and pills. When that path reached its inevitable end, he made a desperate choice and an innocent woman was killed. Before being convicted and shipped to Folsom Prison, Jake agreed to testify against his own partners-in-crime as the star witness for the prosecution.
Now Jake’s reentering society—coming home to an LA he no longer recognizes and to a life that has lost all meaning. Then he meets Carla, a waitress who understands him better than he expects, and he begins to believe deliverance may be possible after all. Until one night, a murder is committed right in front of him and Jake knows he’s been set up.
With authorities closing in and more lives on the line, there’s only one way out, for himself and the people he cares about: revenge.
Fans of Michael Connolly and Harlan Coben won’t be able to resist this unputdownable crime novel from USA Today bestselling author Jon Lindstrom.
Twenty years ago, Jake Ferguson threw his life away. Once a promising Hollywood actor, he crashed and burned the usual way: with coke, booze, and pills. When that path reached its inevitable end, he made a desperate choice and an innocent woman was killed. Before being convicted and shipped to Folsom Prison, Jake agreed to testify against his own partners-in-crime as the star witness for the prosecution.
Now Jake’s reentering society—coming home to an LA he no longer recognizes and to a life that has lost all meaning. Then he meets Carla, a waitress who understands him better than he expects, and he begins to believe deliverance may be possible after all. Until one night, a murder is committed right in front of him and Jake knows he’s been set up.
With authorities closing in and more lives on the line, there’s only one way out, for himself and the people he cares about: revenge.
Fans of Michael Connolly and Harlan Coben won’t be able to resist this unputdownable crime novel from USA Today bestselling author Jon Lindstrom.
336 pages, Paperback
Published April 14, 2026
22 people are currently reading
8413 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 22, 2025
I must admit the only reason I even read his book (or his first book) is because of his role on General Hospital as Dr. Kevin Collins. So fangirling right now. However, When I read this book, it kept me wanting to know more of what was happening and sometimes saying, wait … what??? Just to make sure I didn’t miss anything, I re-read that ending twice! This book was very well put together and peaked my interest until I finished it! Defiantly a 5+ star. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC #JohnLindstrom #HollywoodPayback #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this ARC in a Goodreads Giveaway for my honest review. This was a really good book. Very well written with a story plot that kept you wanting to continue to read to see what would happen next. A young aspiring actor named Jason aka Jake to his friends, failed at breaking into the movie business. He gets hooked up with the wrong crowd, becomes a cokehead. His buddy Damon comes up with a get rich heist that goes horribly wrong and Jake finds himself in prison for the next 25 years. After released he tries to keep his nose clean meets a nice girl named Carla and tries to begin again. But his past won't let him. He gets taken and hung up by an enemy he didn't even know he had. He was dragged back into a world he didn't want to return to, and with no way out has to fight for his life tooth and nail for himself and the women he cares about, Carla and his ex Angela. With everyone's lives in the balance he has to do things he really doesn't want to do.... This is an edge of your seat read that you have to get. I highly recommend it.
A note to the author: Your characters relate a lot to some of my personal life.
Jason my ex husband: drug addicted ex-con, very abusive. His best friends were Derek and Bill.
Carla myself sweet helpful blue collar worker. Physical description was me when I was younger.
Angela: My husband's ex and still ongoing mistress, her name was Angel in my life.
Subtle differences but similar. Kept me extra Interested in the book. Great writing, thank you.
A note to the author: Your characters relate a lot to some of my personal life.
Jason my ex husband: drug addicted ex-con, very abusive. His best friends were Derek and Bill.
Carla myself sweet helpful blue collar worker. Physical description was me when I was younger.
Angela: My husband's ex and still ongoing mistress, her name was Angel in my life.
Subtle differences but similar. Kept me extra Interested in the book. Great writing, thank you.
April 22, 2026
Grabbing this complementary ALC from Spotify Audiobooks via NetGalley, I went in pretty blind… and honestly, I went back and forth on this one before settling on 3⭐️.
I struggled a bit with how to rate it because a few elements just didn’t quite work for me.
First, the narration. I didn’t realize going in that it was narrated by the author. Had I known, I probably would have passed on requesting it, as that doesn’t often work for me, and unfortunately this was no exception, even with the author being an actor.
From the start, there was a disconnect between the vocal performance and the prose. It aged the character well beyond their actual age, and not in a way that felt intentional or tied to their experiences. It just made it harder for me to connect, which pulled me out of the story.
Then there’s the prose itself, which felt a bit reversed compared to what I usually experience. Most books start strong, dip in the middle, and then recover at the end. Here, the middle was actually the strongest part.
The beginning, while not bad, felt like it belonged to a completely different book. There’s a significant amount of background setup that never quite connects to the thriller elements, which made it feel a bit misleading. If this had been more of a literary or character-driven story, I would have been much more invested in the acting journey. As it stands, it didn’t add much to the main plot beyond showing that the character’s life had changed.
I did find myself more engaged in the middle and was genuinely looking forward to the third act as things started to build. Unfortunately, that’s where it lost me again. It became predictable, overly wordy, and, at times, a bit boring. It ended more with a fizzle than a bang.
I struggled a bit with how to rate it because a few elements just didn’t quite work for me.
First, the narration. I didn’t realize going in that it was narrated by the author. Had I known, I probably would have passed on requesting it, as that doesn’t often work for me, and unfortunately this was no exception, even with the author being an actor.
From the start, there was a disconnect between the vocal performance and the prose. It aged the character well beyond their actual age, and not in a way that felt intentional or tied to their experiences. It just made it harder for me to connect, which pulled me out of the story.
Then there’s the prose itself, which felt a bit reversed compared to what I usually experience. Most books start strong, dip in the middle, and then recover at the end. Here, the middle was actually the strongest part.
The beginning, while not bad, felt like it belonged to a completely different book. There’s a significant amount of background setup that never quite connects to the thriller elements, which made it feel a bit misleading. If this had been more of a literary or character-driven story, I would have been much more invested in the acting journey. As it stands, it didn’t add much to the main plot beyond showing that the character’s life had changed.
I did find myself more engaged in the middle and was genuinely looking forward to the third act as things started to build. Unfortunately, that’s where it lost me again. It became predictable, overly wordy, and, at times, a bit boring. It ended more with a fizzle than a bang.
April 18, 2026
Hollywood Payback by Jon Lindstrom is a crime novel. Not a solving-crime novel. May I first say, it is incredibly better than his first effort. The story is about a youngish man just released from prison: Jason (Jake) os one of a myriad of people who descended on Hollywood to become movie actors. He found an agent who supported him and almost got good parts several times, but it never quite happened. Then, he met a man, Daman, which whom he worked at a restaurant, who got him into drugs, and then finally, work as a gigolo. Daman’s next idea was robbing a bunch of drug dealers of their money, which was stored and distributed once a week. Not being that smart, Jake agreed. But he failed to notice cameras in the alley. Then he failed to notice a woman who was walking in the alley. He was the driver; he hit her. But the worst happened when Damon jumped out and pumped two bullets into her head. They got caught. He told the truth. Then he spent twenty years in prison where he made a friend: an older, wiser man, who taught him to get along. The story is mostly about what happened when he left prison. And it is a doozy.
Jake is basically a decent guy, but he looks out for himself as much as anyone. He got himself into a mess and figured out a way to get out of it. People betrayed him. He betrayed others. But, he took care of some. He was duped. It happened several times in his life. This time, he found his way out. It was a compelling story. The traps a wanna-be actor could fall into. The trap loving a woman could become. The traps presented by people who were angry. He was a great character and this was a good story. Fast-paced. Interesting. Heartbreaking in some ways. Good read.
I was invited to read Hollywood Payback by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #JonLindstrom #HollywoodPayback
Jake is basically a decent guy, but he looks out for himself as much as anyone. He got himself into a mess and figured out a way to get out of it. People betrayed him. He betrayed others. But, he took care of some. He was duped. It happened several times in his life. This time, he found his way out. It was a compelling story. The traps a wanna-be actor could fall into. The trap loving a woman could become. The traps presented by people who were angry. He was a great character and this was a good story. Fast-paced. Interesting. Heartbreaking in some ways. Good read.
I was invited to read Hollywood Payback by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #JonLindstrom #HollywoodPayback
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: April 14, 2026
“Hollywood Payback: A Thriller” is the second novel by Emmy-nominated actor and author Jon Lindstrom. His first novel, “Hollywood Hustle” was gripping and tense, shining a light on the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, and “Payback” is much the same and just as engaging.
Jake Ferguson moved to Hollywood to get his start as an actor but, when his longtime agent and friend is killed, Jake gives up on his dream and turns to a life of crime. After serving twenty years in prison for a brutal crime, Jake is finally free, once again returning to the life he left behind in California. Although most of his relationships were lost before he went away, he manages to reconnect with an ex-girlfriend, Angela, who helps him get back on his feet. All Jake needs to do is stay out of trouble and he’ll be able to live out the rest of his days in freedom but that isn’t as easy as it seems.
Jake is the protagonist and, for the most part, he narrates the novel in the third person. There are snippets here and there from secondary characters, but it is Jake who is the star. After too many rejections and the death of his manager, Jake turns to drugs and prostitution, then ends up making a crucial mistake and winding up behind bars. Jake somehow manages not to be pitiable though, as he seems genuinely reformed and willing to follow the letter of the law upon release. There are a few other characters, some shady, some not, and they all play off Jake very well.
Stephen King’s “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption:Hope Springs Eternal” is brought up often throughout the novel, for the influential role it plays on Jake’s life while he is in jail, and it’s obvious that the novel brought some inspiration to Lindstrom, although the differences between the two novels far outweigh the similarities.
“Payback” was full of unexpected twists, intrigue, mystery and top-level action. Hollywood, California is portrayed in all of its true forms, and it’s the perfect backdrop for Jake to build, and then rebuild, his life. There is some powerful and emotional subject matter in “Payback”, including drug use and depictions of sex work (although neither of these are particularly graphic), but it just serves to connect readers to Jake on a deeper level.
After pages of non-stop action, the ending was pleasantly surprising, and it hit with an unexpected twist. Lindstrom’s “Hollywood” novels are entirely different, sharing only the first word in their title and the infamous setting, so each story is its own, with original characters and plot lines, however it was definitely worth experiencing both of Lindstrom’s stories and I hope that there are more to come!
Expected publication date: April 14, 2026
“Hollywood Payback: A Thriller” is the second novel by Emmy-nominated actor and author Jon Lindstrom. His first novel, “Hollywood Hustle” was gripping and tense, shining a light on the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, and “Payback” is much the same and just as engaging.
Jake Ferguson moved to Hollywood to get his start as an actor but, when his longtime agent and friend is killed, Jake gives up on his dream and turns to a life of crime. After serving twenty years in prison for a brutal crime, Jake is finally free, once again returning to the life he left behind in California. Although most of his relationships were lost before he went away, he manages to reconnect with an ex-girlfriend, Angela, who helps him get back on his feet. All Jake needs to do is stay out of trouble and he’ll be able to live out the rest of his days in freedom but that isn’t as easy as it seems.
Jake is the protagonist and, for the most part, he narrates the novel in the third person. There are snippets here and there from secondary characters, but it is Jake who is the star. After too many rejections and the death of his manager, Jake turns to drugs and prostitution, then ends up making a crucial mistake and winding up behind bars. Jake somehow manages not to be pitiable though, as he seems genuinely reformed and willing to follow the letter of the law upon release. There are a few other characters, some shady, some not, and they all play off Jake very well.
Stephen King’s “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption:Hope Springs Eternal” is brought up often throughout the novel, for the influential role it plays on Jake’s life while he is in jail, and it’s obvious that the novel brought some inspiration to Lindstrom, although the differences between the two novels far outweigh the similarities.
“Payback” was full of unexpected twists, intrigue, mystery and top-level action. Hollywood, California is portrayed in all of its true forms, and it’s the perfect backdrop for Jake to build, and then rebuild, his life. There is some powerful and emotional subject matter in “Payback”, including drug use and depictions of sex work (although neither of these are particularly graphic), but it just serves to connect readers to Jake on a deeper level.
After pages of non-stop action, the ending was pleasantly surprising, and it hit with an unexpected twist. Lindstrom’s “Hollywood” novels are entirely different, sharing only the first word in their title and the infamous setting, so each story is its own, with original characters and plot lines, however it was definitely worth experiencing both of Lindstrom’s stories and I hope that there are more to come!
April 20, 2026
Hollywood Hope. This one is very different from Lindstrom's debut, actually corrects some mistakes it made (somewhat), and even manages to land haymakers even Stephen King couldn't land quite so well... while directly calling out King. Yes, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption is called out a few times in this tale, and yes, the tale largely follows a similar path to a point... and yet Lindstrom really does take that framework and make it his own in a tale as old as Hollywood itself.
At its heart is a guy who went to Hollywood as a typical midwestern guy looking to make it as a star... who then encountered Hollywood as it actually is, up to an including a #MeToo level scene (that is brief yet present) before falling to its also far too real underbelly (or so I've been told - I've never been further west than Phoenix, AZ, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've so much as crossed the Mississippi River). This section is mostly told in flashbacks to his days before prison even as our main narrative starts as he is being released from prison, and in both sides we get an emotional, heartfelt look at both sides of that inflection point, one with a lot more heart than Lindstrom's debut... yet also with a fair amount of action.
The action at hand is both of the Carolina Reaper level (if brief, but fairly explicit) on the one hand in the before-prison scenes (along with some perhaps more jalapeno level spice in the post-prison timeline) and of the Without Remorse sheer bloody brutality level in several scenes deep into the text.
It is within the Without Remorse type sections that we get into where Lindstrom made some improvements from Hollywood Hustle... and still shows areas he still needs to clean up. One scene in particular describes suppressed gunshots as Hollywood almost always does... which particularly in that exact situation is very nearly as far from the truth as possible. Yet later in the text, Lindstrom accurately has a character say the reality of what suppressors actually do... before showing them again being used in a more Hollywood fashion. But it is within that last part in particular that Lindstrom really shows his improvements with guns, as he specifically names - and accurately describes - a particular $1,300 ish exotic-ish shotgun and exactly how to actually use this exact model. That he then employs it with such mastery and beauty is just... chef's kiss. Truly. Though those with low tolerances for gore are going to want to self sensor the movie running in your head in this bit! (But the Without Remorse references in this review should have warned you of that already. ;) )
Overall this was a really solid mix of emotional depth and excellent action that really any reader will likely find at least something to enjoy about this book, particularly when you add in the free-roaming Los Angeles vibe where not many areas of the city are left unexplored in some manner.
Very much recommended.
At its heart is a guy who went to Hollywood as a typical midwestern guy looking to make it as a star... who then encountered Hollywood as it actually is, up to an including a #MeToo level scene (that is brief yet present) before falling to its also far too real underbelly (or so I've been told - I've never been further west than Phoenix, AZ, and I can count on one hand the number of times I've so much as crossed the Mississippi River). This section is mostly told in flashbacks to his days before prison even as our main narrative starts as he is being released from prison, and in both sides we get an emotional, heartfelt look at both sides of that inflection point, one with a lot more heart than Lindstrom's debut... yet also with a fair amount of action.
The action at hand is both of the Carolina Reaper level (if brief, but fairly explicit) on the one hand in the before-prison scenes (along with some perhaps more jalapeno level spice in the post-prison timeline) and of the Without Remorse sheer bloody brutality level in several scenes deep into the text.
It is within the Without Remorse type sections that we get into where Lindstrom made some improvements from Hollywood Hustle... and still shows areas he still needs to clean up. One scene in particular describes suppressed gunshots as Hollywood almost always does... which particularly in that exact situation is very nearly as far from the truth as possible. Yet later in the text, Lindstrom accurately has a character say the reality of what suppressors actually do... before showing them again being used in a more Hollywood fashion. But it is within that last part in particular that Lindstrom really shows his improvements with guns, as he specifically names - and accurately describes - a particular $1,300 ish exotic-ish shotgun and exactly how to actually use this exact model. That he then employs it with such mastery and beauty is just... chef's kiss. Truly. Though those with low tolerances for gore are going to want to self sensor the movie running in your head in this bit! (But the Without Remorse references in this review should have warned you of that already. ;) )
Overall this was a really solid mix of emotional depth and excellent action that really any reader will likely find at least something to enjoy about this book, particularly when you add in the free-roaming Los Angeles vibe where not many areas of the city are left unexplored in some manner.
Very much recommended.
May 5, 2026
I picked up Hollywood Payback hoping for a sequel to has-been actor Win Greene’s exploits in Hollywood Hustle, but what I got was a new tale altogether featuring never-quite-made-it actor, Jake Ferguson. My disappointment was brief, as Jake’s story was every bit as compelling as Win’s.
Unlike Win, Jake could never catch a break to launch a successful career. There were several close calls and then an equal number of bitter disappointments. Jake descended into depression fueled by drugs and failure, which led to the biggest mistake of his life—accessory to murder. After serving prison time, Jake is determined to make amends for the wrongs he committed. He returns to L.A. and the eponymous Hollywood because by law he has to, and finds the city where his dreams died to be as inhospitable as ever.
Jake gets a job with his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend as a driver. He’s not happy with the arrangement, but as an ex-con, he has few choices. From the jump, Jake senses something is really off. Turns out the boyfriend runs a criminal enterprise that yanks Jake right back into the sordid illegal activities that sent him to prison in the first place. In addition to that, the boyfriend has an agenda that Jake never imagined, one that includes betrayals, vendettas, and murder.
I wound up enjoying this book as much as the first, primarily because Win and Jake are so likable. That’s not to say they are totally good people. Win’s a drunk and bad father. Jake’s a druggie and convicted felon. What they share is a deep decency and a strong desire to do the right thing even though they often seem incapable of it. I also liked that Lindstrom’s depiction of L.A. makes the city a character unto itself. (Reminds me a bit of Jonathan Kellerman’s descriptions of the city in his Alex Delaware series.) The head-snapping twists at the end of Hollywood Playback are a tad far-fetched, but I flat don't care. I liked it so much, I’m now hoping for a third Hollywood offering in which Win and Jake join forces.
Thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Jon Lindstrom for providing a digital review copy.
Unlike Win, Jake could never catch a break to launch a successful career. There were several close calls and then an equal number of bitter disappointments. Jake descended into depression fueled by drugs and failure, which led to the biggest mistake of his life—accessory to murder. After serving prison time, Jake is determined to make amends for the wrongs he committed. He returns to L.A. and the eponymous Hollywood because by law he has to, and finds the city where his dreams died to be as inhospitable as ever.
Jake gets a job with his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend as a driver. He’s not happy with the arrangement, but as an ex-con, he has few choices. From the jump, Jake senses something is really off. Turns out the boyfriend runs a criminal enterprise that yanks Jake right back into the sordid illegal activities that sent him to prison in the first place. In addition to that, the boyfriend has an agenda that Jake never imagined, one that includes betrayals, vendettas, and murder.
I wound up enjoying this book as much as the first, primarily because Win and Jake are so likable. That’s not to say they are totally good people. Win’s a drunk and bad father. Jake’s a druggie and convicted felon. What they share is a deep decency and a strong desire to do the right thing even though they often seem incapable of it. I also liked that Lindstrom’s depiction of L.A. makes the city a character unto itself. (Reminds me a bit of Jonathan Kellerman’s descriptions of the city in his Alex Delaware series.) The head-snapping twists at the end of Hollywood Playback are a tad far-fetched, but I flat don't care. I liked it so much, I’m now hoping for a third Hollywood offering in which Win and Jake join forces.
Thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Jon Lindstrom for providing a digital review copy.
April 26, 2026
I read this author’s previous book, “Hollywood Hustle,” and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to pick this one up. While I typically gravitate toward romance, I do enjoy stepping outside of my comfort zone every now and then, especially when a story promises strong character development and a gripping plot. From the description, I could tell this book was going to be a bit darker and more intense, and it definitely delivered on that.
One of the things I really liked about this book is how it moves between two different timelines. That structure added a lot of depth to the story and helped build a stronger understanding of the main character, Jake. The book is told in first person, which made everything feel more personal and immersive. You really get a sense of his journey, the choices he makes, and how his past continues to shape his present. It is not always an easy story to read, but it kept me fully engaged because I wanted to see how everything would come together.
There were several moments that surprised me, and I appreciated that the story kept me guessing without feeling confusing. The tension builds in a way that keeps you turning pages, and just when you think you have everything figured out, something shifts. I always enjoy books that can do that successfully.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was intense, engaging, and different from what I usually read, which made it stand out even more. I am glad I gave it a chance, and I will definitely continue to keep an eye out for more from this author.
One of the things I really liked about this book is how it moves between two different timelines. That structure added a lot of depth to the story and helped build a stronger understanding of the main character, Jake. The book is told in first person, which made everything feel more personal and immersive. You really get a sense of his journey, the choices he makes, and how his past continues to shape his present. It is not always an easy story to read, but it kept me fully engaged because I wanted to see how everything would come together.
There were several moments that surprised me, and I appreciated that the story kept me guessing without feeling confusing. The tension builds in a way that keeps you turning pages, and just when you think you have everything figured out, something shifts. I always enjoy books that can do that successfully.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. It was intense, engaging, and different from what I usually read, which made it stand out even more. I am glad I gave it a chance, and I will definitely continue to keep an eye out for more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley
Jake Ferguson has made some poor choices since coming to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. Tonight, he sits in his car, waiting for Damon and Bill, who are late. Finally, they race across the alley, jump into the car, and yell for Jake to go. They carried large black canvas bags . . . and guns.
Their “haul” was drug money from the El Reppettos gang.
Wanting to get as far away as fast as possible, Jake headed toward the alley entrance. With no time to swerve or stop, he hit a woman walking across the alley entrance. His relief was palpable when he realized she was still alive.
Until Damon shot her in the head.
And it was all caught on a surveillance camera.
=========
This story is told in present day when Jake is released from prison and in the past to provide the backstory as to how he ended up there. Beneath all the wrong decisions, Jake is a likeable guy and readers are sure to root for him to escape the vindictive people from his past.
Unexpected plot twists keep readers guessing; the pace is quick, the story is gritty. The only downside here is the author’s overuse of a particularly offensive expletive that is likely to offend some readers and lowers the rating for this book.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Jake Ferguson has made some poor choices since coming to Hollywood to pursue an acting career. Tonight, he sits in his car, waiting for Damon and Bill, who are late. Finally, they race across the alley, jump into the car, and yell for Jake to go. They carried large black canvas bags . . . and guns.
Their “haul” was drug money from the El Reppettos gang.
Wanting to get as far away as fast as possible, Jake headed toward the alley entrance. With no time to swerve or stop, he hit a woman walking across the alley entrance. His relief was palpable when he realized she was still alive.
Until Damon shot her in the head.
And it was all caught on a surveillance camera.
=========
This story is told in present day when Jake is released from prison and in the past to provide the backstory as to how he ended up there. Beneath all the wrong decisions, Jake is a likeable guy and readers are sure to root for him to escape the vindictive people from his past.
Unexpected plot twists keep readers guessing; the pace is quick, the story is gritty. The only downside here is the author’s overuse of a particularly offensive expletive that is likely to offend some readers and lowers the rating for this book.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
April 22, 2026
I had this one on pre-order as I enjoyed John linstrom’s first book so much I knew I would love this one as well and I was not wrong. MR. Linstrom really captured the land of broken dreams and the reality of Los Angeles beyond all the glitter and glammor. Jason Jake Firguson one one of the many hopefuls who comes to Los Angeles hoping to be discovered and make their fortune. But like so many would be stars, he is unable to get that big break. After his agent, a kind man who believed in him, is killed in a car accident, he falls in with a sociopathic minipulator Damon who leads him into drug addiction and working as a giggelo to feed his habbit. The story moves between Jakes early days in Tinseltown, his decent into addiction and crime and his attempt to rebuild his life after being released from prison after 20 years for the colmination of his bad choices but Jake soon finds you can never fully outrun your past, all you can do is make the best choice you can to make a life for yourself. I found it hard to put this one down and lost a lot of sleep reading it. It was well worth it though and I hope there is a next book for this author.
May 2, 2026
A five-star, binge-worthy crime novel that never lets up. Jon Lindstrom delivers a fast-paced, high-stakes story that pulls you in immediately and refuses to slow down. I listened to the audiobook while reading along, and having Lindstrom narrate it himself added an entirely new layer—his performance brings the grit, emotion, and urgency of the story to life in a way that feels incredibly immersive.
At the center is a struggling Hollywood actor whose life spirals into crime fueled by drug and alcohol addiction, ultimately landing him in jail. When he gets out, you think there might be a chance at redemption—especially when he meets a waitress who offers a glimpse of something different. But that hope is short-lived. When he’s framed for murder, everything unravels, and with law enforcement closing in, he makes a choice that propels the story into full-throttle revenge.
The pacing is relentless, the tension constant, and the action doesn’t stop. Lindstrom crafts a gritty, cinematic ride filled with twists, desperation, and raw intensity. This is the kind of book you tear through in one sitting—compulsively readable and impossible to put down.
At the center is a struggling Hollywood actor whose life spirals into crime fueled by drug and alcohol addiction, ultimately landing him in jail. When he gets out, you think there might be a chance at redemption—especially when he meets a waitress who offers a glimpse of something different. But that hope is short-lived. When he’s framed for murder, everything unravels, and with law enforcement closing in, he makes a choice that propels the story into full-throttle revenge.
The pacing is relentless, the tension constant, and the action doesn’t stop. Lindstrom crafts a gritty, cinematic ride filled with twists, desperation, and raw intensity. This is the kind of book you tear through in one sitting—compulsively readable and impossible to put down.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 stars
This is the second crime novel by author/actor Lindstrom, and I enjoyed this gritty, standalone thriller even more than his first book. In this one, an aspiring actor beaten down by rejection and desperate for money for rent and drugs makes a life-changing mistake. Years later, he's still trying to make up for the wrong choices he's made, but ends up in the middle of another very dangerous situation.
This is a well-written, suspenseful book with content that is sometimes disturbing. Besides telling Jake's story, it also pulls back the curtain to expose the darkness behind the glitzy facade of Hollywood. Jake is a complex and flawed character, but I was engaged in his story and was rooting for him to succeed. The book is tense, and there are times you know something is going to go wrong, but it's still not predictable. I was surprised and satisfied by the way things turned out at the end.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
This is the second crime novel by author/actor Lindstrom, and I enjoyed this gritty, standalone thriller even more than his first book. In this one, an aspiring actor beaten down by rejection and desperate for money for rent and drugs makes a life-changing mistake. Years later, he's still trying to make up for the wrong choices he's made, but ends up in the middle of another very dangerous situation.
This is a well-written, suspenseful book with content that is sometimes disturbing. Besides telling Jake's story, it also pulls back the curtain to expose the darkness behind the glitzy facade of Hollywood. Jake is a complex and flawed character, but I was engaged in his story and was rooting for him to succeed. The book is tense, and there are times you know something is going to go wrong, but it's still not predictable. I was surprised and satisfied by the way things turned out at the end.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Fast, exciting, “have to know the finish” read! This is definitely a thriller worth reading.
Jason “Jeff” Ferguson is just out of prison after 25 years. He’s back in LA, the jurisdictional site, of the crime for which he served time. He’s looking for work and discovering new and old relationships. New is Carla whom he met a coffee shop on his fret day out (I cracked up over Jeff’s naïveté when Carla shows up at his apartment wondering why - that was so perfect). Old relationship is Angela, his girlfriend pre-jail, now an ex. Angela carries new baggage: Eric, the new boyfriend, who seems to be involved in lots of businesses. When Eric hires Jeff as his driver, Jeff feels he might just be beginning his new life. Then the scenario changes and revenge from the crime that put Jeff in jail is coming for him. What follows is fast-paced and exciting.
I liked Jeff. He’s realistic and resilient. The plot is really a good one - revenge and obsession. Told in a dual-timeline, the story builds tension and understanding of how past decisions affect current ones.
Enjoyed the read. Highly recommend
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this ARC.
Jason “Jeff” Ferguson is just out of prison after 25 years. He’s back in LA, the jurisdictional site, of the crime for which he served time. He’s looking for work and discovering new and old relationships. New is Carla whom he met a coffee shop on his fret day out (I cracked up over Jeff’s naïveté when Carla shows up at his apartment wondering why - that was so perfect). Old relationship is Angela, his girlfriend pre-jail, now an ex. Angela carries new baggage: Eric, the new boyfriend, who seems to be involved in lots of businesses. When Eric hires Jeff as his driver, Jeff feels he might just be beginning his new life. Then the scenario changes and revenge from the crime that put Jeff in jail is coming for him. What follows is fast-paced and exciting.
I liked Jeff. He’s realistic and resilient. The plot is really a good one - revenge and obsession. Told in a dual-timeline, the story builds tension and understanding of how past decisions affect current ones.
Enjoyed the read. Highly recommend
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book takes you into the dark side of Hollywood, the pressure of the acting industry, and how horribly things can go. It opens with wonderful imagery of Hollywood, foreshadowing how beautiful the holy shrub looks, yet how painful the thorns are and poisonous the berries.
As a result of a failed attempt at an acting career and a downward spiral that ends in murder, Jake lands in prison for twenty years, and when he gets out and hopes to make amends? Life has other plans.
A fantastic dual timeline story. One a noir taking us through dark moments, struggles, and the sad failures of Jake's life and the second becomes quite exciting as Jake gets wrapped up in a scheme he never meant to and the only way out gets very violent.
I only heard pieces of the audiobook, but what I heard is excellent.
Full disclosure: I had the pleasure of interviewing Jon on my podcast.
As a result of a failed attempt at an acting career and a downward spiral that ends in murder, Jake lands in prison for twenty years, and when he gets out and hopes to make amends? Life has other plans.
A fantastic dual timeline story. One a noir taking us through dark moments, struggles, and the sad failures of Jake's life and the second becomes quite exciting as Jake gets wrapped up in a scheme he never meant to and the only way out gets very violent.
I only heard pieces of the audiobook, but what I heard is excellent.
Full disclosure: I had the pleasure of interviewing Jon on my podcast.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A similarly titled second novel, Hollywood Payback by Jon Lindstrom, is once again set in California. Having served his sentence, once aspiring actor Jake Ferguson returns to Los Angeles, and tries to re-establish his life. He gets a job driving for a businessman, chauffeuring, doing deliveries and pick-ups. Switching back and forth in time, we soon discover the events that led to Jake’s incarceration and seemingly inevitable repeat of knowing the wrong people. Can Jake escape his past mistakes, and the danger he finds himself in? An engaging thriller, with a gritty yet realistic feel, that is a captivating read with a four star rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.
May 6, 2026
🎥 Hollywood Payback by Jon Lindstrom 🚨
With the authorities closing in and more lives on the line, there’s only one way out, for himself and the people he cares about: revenge.
Jake Ferguson threw his life away two decades ago, and he’s done his time behind bars. Now, as he re-enters society, he realizes the world has changed vastly since he was last free. And now, all he wants to do is settle into a quiet life. It’s just too bad that other people have alternate plans for Jake. So, what’s he going to do about it?
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, but Jake became a likeable character pretty quickly, and I liked how we saw him in present day, and then also in the early 2000s.
I really think this would be a great crime movie, and I’m not surprised, since Lindstrom himself is an actor, director and screenwriter on top of being an author. So, Jon, care to comment? We going to get a movie out of this?
I’m definitely going to go back and read his first book, Hollywood Hustle, because that one also sounds great and I clearly like his style of writing.
Now, if you’ve read his other book already, I’d love for you to comment and let me know what you thought!
With the authorities closing in and more lives on the line, there’s only one way out, for himself and the people he cares about: revenge.
Jake Ferguson threw his life away two decades ago, and he’s done his time behind bars. Now, as he re-enters society, he realizes the world has changed vastly since he was last free. And now, all he wants to do is settle into a quiet life. It’s just too bad that other people have alternate plans for Jake. So, what’s he going to do about it?
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did, but Jake became a likeable character pretty quickly, and I liked how we saw him in present day, and then also in the early 2000s.
I really think this would be a great crime movie, and I’m not surprised, since Lindstrom himself is an actor, director and screenwriter on top of being an author. So, Jon, care to comment? We going to get a movie out of this?
I’m definitely going to go back and read his first book, Hollywood Hustle, because that one also sounds great and I clearly like his style of writing.
Now, if you’ve read his other book already, I’d love for you to comment and let me know what you thought!
May 4, 2026
a very entertaining crime romp around LA.
ex con gets released from prison and has to navigate back into society after a long sentence.The main c¡character is surprisingly sympathetic for an ex rent boy, murderer and wannabe actor.
H tries to make amends and finds himself involved in a twenty million robbery, it moves into very cinematic territory as he inflicts violent revenge on the robbers.There is a neat twist in the tale and a satisfactory conclusion.
Screenwriter, actor and director Lindstrom has written two good crime capers both set in Hollywood he writes about what he know, as in various iconic sites in Hollywood are the settings.
This is a great beach read for the summer.
ex con gets released from prison and has to navigate back into society after a long sentence.The main c¡character is surprisingly sympathetic for an ex rent boy, murderer and wannabe actor.
H tries to make amends and finds himself involved in a twenty million robbery, it moves into very cinematic territory as he inflicts violent revenge on the robbers.There is a neat twist in the tale and a satisfactory conclusion.
Screenwriter, actor and director Lindstrom has written two good crime capers both set in Hollywood he writes about what he know, as in various iconic sites in Hollywood are the settings.
This is a great beach read for the summer.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was a great story. Jason (Jake) fresh out of prison for a botched heist twenty five years ago, is looking for a fresh start. Told through a dual timeline, Jake takes a job chauffeuring, delivering or whatever needs being done for a business man, quickly getting drawn back into a life he no longer wants. This was an excellent gritty crime noir fiction, showing the dark side of Hollywood. It was extremely entertaining and very engaging. Lindstrom is quickly becoming a go to read for me.
May 4, 2026
Hollywood Payback was a really solid, entertaining read. I liked how it blended suspense with a look into the darker side of Hollywood — it made the story feel fresh and different from your typical thriller.
The pacing was strong, and the twists kept things interesting without being predictable. The main character was easy to get behind, and the dialogue felt natural throughout.
Overall, a fun, engaging book that’s hard to put down. I’d definitely read more from Jon Lindstrom.
The pacing was strong, and the twists kept things interesting without being predictable. The main character was easy to get behind, and the dialogue felt natural throughout.
Overall, a fun, engaging book that’s hard to put down. I’d definitely read more from Jon Lindstrom.
April 19, 2026
I read this book, and it's fantastic. I would recommend it to those who enjoy thriller books.
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