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Vendetta
FROM THE BESTSELLING AND CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED AUTHOR OF SPARE ROOM, GANGLAND GIRLS TRLIOGY and the FLESH AND BLOOD SERIESDreda Say Mitchell was awarded an MBE in Her Majesty The Queen's 2020 New Year's Honours List'Dreda Say Mitchell has been flying the flag for crime writing for years' BERNARDINE EVARISTO, author of Girl, Woman, Other , winner of the Booker Prize 2019'Breathless from the first word and thrilling to the last' Lee ChildTwo murders. Two different crime scenes. One killer?Mac wakes in a smashed-up hotel room with no recollection of what has happened. With his lover's corpse in the bathroom and the evidence suggesting that he killed her, Mac is on a mission to uncover the truth and find the real killer.But he's in a race against time with less than a day to unravel the mystery. Still reeling from a personal tragedy Mac isn't afraid of pain. Hot on his heels is tenacious Detective Inspector Rio Wray. Double-crossed and in the line of fire, Mac has to swim through a sea of lies to get to the truth.But only Mac knows he's been living a double life. Can he be sure he doesn't have the blood of a dead woman on his hands?Praise for Dreda Say 'Fast-paced, gritty and relentlessly violent expedition into the shadowy world of an undercover operative' Irish Independent'Awesome tale from a talented writer' Sun'Fast-paced and full of twists and turns. ' Crime Scene Magazine'Thrilling' Sunday Express Books of the Year*********GET THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES, DEATH TRAP , NOW!
404 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 6, 2014
85 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
Dreda Say Mitchell
46 books520 followersHer Majesty, The Queen appointed Dreda an MBE in her 2020 New Year’s Honours’ List. Dreda scooped the CWA’s John Creasey Dagger in 2004, the first time a Black British author has received this honour. Dreda and Ryan write across the crime and mystery genre – psychological thrillers, gritty gangland crime and fast-paced action books Spare Room, their first psychological thriller was a #1 UK and US Amazon Bestseller. Dreda is one of twelve acclaimed and bestselling international female writers contributing to a new Miss Marple anthology. Dreda is a passionate campaigner and speaker on social issues and the arts. She has been a frequent guest on television and radio including BBC Breakfast,, Celebrity Pointless and Celebrity Eggheads, The Stephen Nolan Show, Front Row and Woman’s Hour. She has presented Radio 4’s flagship books programme, Open Book. Dreda was named one of Britain’s 50 Remarkable Women by Lady Geek in association with Nokia. She was the 2011 chair of the Theakston Harrogate Crime Fiction Festival. Dreda was born and raised in the East End of London where she continues to live. Dreda’s family are from the beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada and her name is pronounced with a long ‘ee’ sound in the middle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 2, 2014
I received this book via goodreads first reads.
I really really really enjoyed this book, its non stop action all the way through. I loved the character Mac I really felt for him, there was a mad twist in the plot and I really hope that there will be a sequel to this book to carry on with Mac's story.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good thriller, this book doesn't disappoint.
I really really really enjoyed this book, its non stop action all the way through. I loved the character Mac I really felt for him, there was a mad twist in the plot and I really hope that there will be a sequel to this book to carry on with Mac's story.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good thriller, this book doesn't disappoint.
August 18, 2018
I’ve had this book sat on my kindle for way too long. This is another author who I’ve heard lots of great things about so knew I needed to bump it up my to be read pile. Having finished it, I am so glad I did and have to say I agree with all the good things that everyone else has said.
This is one action packed and fast moving story. It is actually shouting out to be made into a film. From the harrowing beginning to the explosive ending, I literally lapped every page up whilst enjoying this nail biting read.
Mac is a great protagonist and I instantly took to him. He really gets the reader routing for him, willing him to unravel the mess he has found himself in whilst avenging the death of Elena. There are also some very tender moments when it comes to Stevie and Milos that made my eyes fill up more than a few times.
Vendetta is a great introduction to a new author to me. With each page, I didn’t know what to expect next. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat as there are so many hair raising moments and some unexpected surprises in store. An exhilarating and gripping thriller that will have you hanging on for dear life!
This is one action packed and fast moving story. It is actually shouting out to be made into a film. From the harrowing beginning to the explosive ending, I literally lapped every page up whilst enjoying this nail biting read.
Mac is a great protagonist and I instantly took to him. He really gets the reader routing for him, willing him to unravel the mess he has found himself in whilst avenging the death of Elena. There are also some very tender moments when it comes to Stevie and Milos that made my eyes fill up more than a few times.
Vendetta is a great introduction to a new author to me. With each page, I didn’t know what to expect next. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat as there are so many hair raising moments and some unexpected surprises in store. An exhilarating and gripping thriller that will have you hanging on for dear life!
November 5, 2014
Vendetta is Dreda Say Mitchell's sixth book, and her first thriller. A change in genre, despite still being crime, is a big risk for any author. Sometimes, it pays off. This is one of those times. Dreda is the female Simon Kernick in my eyes. If I had read this book not knowing the author, Kernick would have been my guess. I was actually a bit apprehensive when I heard about the change, however all apprehension vanished after the first chapter. The book starts as it means to go on. A thriller cannot start slow, and this was action packed from the word go.
Our main character Mac, a police officer working undercover, wakes up in a hotel room, his only recollection of the previous night being that he was meeting a woman called Elena. Mac finds Elena dead in the hotel bathroom, his recently fired gun on the floor and the police about to storm the hotel. Already I was hooked as Mac hurriedly tries to escape from the hotel (and he does so brilliantly, in the first of many great escapes). Mac is determined to avenge Elena's death, and keep himself alive in the process, he firmly believes he didn't kill her himself, but he has a couple of ideas about who might have done.
Dreda creates believable and realistic characters. From the beginning I was wary of Mac, wanting to believe his innocence but at the same time being on edge in case he isn't. As we learn more about his past, we discover more about what has made him the man he is today, and why a therapist is worried that he is potentially unstable. There's a generic type of character in thrillers like this but Dreda has created someone original, with a believable backstory and a job that makes certain parts of the book very exciting indeed. The fast paced nature of the book demands that the book is read in just a few sittings. It's absolutely relentless, there's a few times it slows down and lets you get your breath, but those times are few and far between.
Hunting Elena's killer is Detective Inspector Rio Wray who I absolutely loved from the minute we met her. She is not a woman you want to mess with, and has a fierce determination to get the job done and prove her doubters wrong. She's fought for her place on the force and takes no crap from anybody. She's such a brilliant character that I hope we see her again in the future. Definitely one of the best fictional detectives I've read about recently. Often thrillers can leave you a bit cold, with recycled characters and not much originality, that wasn't the case here. All the characters were brilliantly created and original, especially the bad guys.
I don't trust anybody in thrillers, even the people we are meant to. My brain is constantly working, second guessing characters and trying to spot the twists before they come. Sometimes however the storytelling is just too clever, with twists and turns aplenty Dreda has played a blinder here with twists I just didn't see coming. And as for the ending... It's not a cliffhanger as such, but more a jaw dropping moment that left me reeling. It was a fantastic ending that left me wanting more. Mac is a brilliant character I'd love to see in a book again, although whether Dreda's next book is a standalone or a sequel I'm not sure.
This book is almost perfect for a film. The role of Mac in my head was Danny Dyer, though he's been in a film called Vendetta already. As for the role of Rio Wray I have no idea who could play her, she is a rare breed. A one of a kind character and it would take one talented actress to portray this formidable detective. It's action packed with some brilliantly bloody and gruesome scenes, there's been some great British films in recent years and this could work as one of them.
I have massive respect for Dreda, for the work she does outside of writing and for being an inspiration to many people and for being such a genuine person. I'm extremely excited for her next thriller, with a publication date of November 2015 it seems such a long time away but already I can't wait. For thriller fans this isn't one to miss. Highly recommended by me.
Thanks to Hodder for the review copy via bookbridgr.
Our main character Mac, a police officer working undercover, wakes up in a hotel room, his only recollection of the previous night being that he was meeting a woman called Elena. Mac finds Elena dead in the hotel bathroom, his recently fired gun on the floor and the police about to storm the hotel. Already I was hooked as Mac hurriedly tries to escape from the hotel (and he does so brilliantly, in the first of many great escapes). Mac is determined to avenge Elena's death, and keep himself alive in the process, he firmly believes he didn't kill her himself, but he has a couple of ideas about who might have done.
Dreda creates believable and realistic characters. From the beginning I was wary of Mac, wanting to believe his innocence but at the same time being on edge in case he isn't. As we learn more about his past, we discover more about what has made him the man he is today, and why a therapist is worried that he is potentially unstable. There's a generic type of character in thrillers like this but Dreda has created someone original, with a believable backstory and a job that makes certain parts of the book very exciting indeed. The fast paced nature of the book demands that the book is read in just a few sittings. It's absolutely relentless, there's a few times it slows down and lets you get your breath, but those times are few and far between.
Hunting Elena's killer is Detective Inspector Rio Wray who I absolutely loved from the minute we met her. She is not a woman you want to mess with, and has a fierce determination to get the job done and prove her doubters wrong. She's fought for her place on the force and takes no crap from anybody. She's such a brilliant character that I hope we see her again in the future. Definitely one of the best fictional detectives I've read about recently. Often thrillers can leave you a bit cold, with recycled characters and not much originality, that wasn't the case here. All the characters were brilliantly created and original, especially the bad guys.
I don't trust anybody in thrillers, even the people we are meant to. My brain is constantly working, second guessing characters and trying to spot the twists before they come. Sometimes however the storytelling is just too clever, with twists and turns aplenty Dreda has played a blinder here with twists I just didn't see coming. And as for the ending... It's not a cliffhanger as such, but more a jaw dropping moment that left me reeling. It was a fantastic ending that left me wanting more. Mac is a brilliant character I'd love to see in a book again, although whether Dreda's next book is a standalone or a sequel I'm not sure.
This book is almost perfect for a film. The role of Mac in my head was Danny Dyer, though he's been in a film called Vendetta already. As for the role of Rio Wray I have no idea who could play her, she is a rare breed. A one of a kind character and it would take one talented actress to portray this formidable detective. It's action packed with some brilliantly bloody and gruesome scenes, there's been some great British films in recent years and this could work as one of them.
I have massive respect for Dreda, for the work she does outside of writing and for being an inspiration to many people and for being such a genuine person. I'm extremely excited for her next thriller, with a publication date of November 2015 it seems such a long time away but already I can't wait. For thriller fans this isn't one to miss. Highly recommended by me.
Thanks to Hodder for the review copy via bookbridgr.
October 20, 2015
Dreda Say Mitchell is one of those authors I’ve been meaning to read for quite some time. Yet for reasons unbeknown to me, it has taken me far too long to actually get around to reading one of her books.
I really enjoyed the book, finding myself gripped from start to end. Sadly, however, despite waiting to jump on the bandwagon it does not fall in my top reads. Nevertheless, it was an interesting read and I’m glad I finally decided to give the author a go.
I think what let me down was the number of twists involved in the book. I love a book with many twists and turns in, yet in this one I believe things were taken a little bit too far. Every twist and turn I could think of was thrown in, meaning I was seeing these things coming well in advance. At some points it would have been more shocking if the twists had not occurred.
Don’t get me wrong, it made the book interest but it almost felt as though through trying to make the book unpredictable the opposite happened.
Still, the characters and storyline were great and both won me over.
It was certainly an enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed the book, finding myself gripped from start to end. Sadly, however, despite waiting to jump on the bandwagon it does not fall in my top reads. Nevertheless, it was an interesting read and I’m glad I finally decided to give the author a go.
I think what let me down was the number of twists involved in the book. I love a book with many twists and turns in, yet in this one I believe things were taken a little bit too far. Every twist and turn I could think of was thrown in, meaning I was seeing these things coming well in advance. At some points it would have been more shocking if the twists had not occurred.
Don’t get me wrong, it made the book interest but it almost felt as though through trying to make the book unpredictable the opposite happened.
Still, the characters and storyline were great and both won me over.
It was certainly an enjoyable read.
April 14, 2022
Mitchell's Vendetta starts with body in a the bathtub and doesn't stop. While the blurb and the book description center Mac, it should be noted that Rio is also center stage. And I love Rio. I love what she calls her BMW. I am so glad that this is a Rio series because she is so awesome.
Mac and Rio are at odds for part of the novel, but both are trying to find out who killed Elena, Mac's girlfriend. The book is a literal non stop read as Mac and Rio race though the city, sometimes hunting each other, sometimes hunting the killer.
What is particularly good is the care that is taken to develop the characters. It is true that Mitchell does use a well known and well used plot device or two, but the twists on it are nicely done. What is also important is that well I can't say I like Mac, I found him interesting enough to keep reading.
Now Rio is awesome, and I hope that someone in the powers that be at some production company somewhere opts this series for a tv show because I would love to see Rio on screen.
Mac and Rio are at odds for part of the novel, but both are trying to find out who killed Elena, Mac's girlfriend. The book is a literal non stop read as Mac and Rio race though the city, sometimes hunting each other, sometimes hunting the killer.
What is particularly good is the care that is taken to develop the characters. It is true that Mitchell does use a well known and well used plot device or two, but the twists on it are nicely done. What is also important is that well I can't say I like Mac, I found him interesting enough to keep reading.
Now Rio is awesome, and I hope that someone in the powers that be at some production company somewhere opts this series for a tv show because I would love to see Rio on screen.
November 4, 2014
Well worth the wait.
OMG How excited was I to receive an early copy of this book. I couldn't wait to get stuck in. It seemed like foreverago since I read Dreada Say Mitchell books.
Although this book is different from her other books, right from the first page I loved this book. It didn't take me long to get sucked right into the story.
We start off this book with a Murder. What do you do if you wake up in a sleezy hotel room, and the woman you went there with is now dead in the bathroom, brutally murdered, you have a gun shot wound to your head, and you have no bloody idea what the hell happened.
Well you go searching for answers, answers that might just get you into trouble, or at best just killed. No big deal, as long as you get the truth.
Well that is exactly what happened to Mac. I really liked him, although he was at times hard to figure out, and a little crazy. Well more than a little, he was kind of crazier than a big bag of crazy things. But likable. I found myself many times talking to the characters in the book, now i'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. lol. But to me it means that the author has managed to get you sucked in and involved in what is going on. I sooo needed to know Who-What-Why.? all the way through I suspected everyone of not being what they say they are, I become very suspicious of everyone, and didn't know who could and couldn't be trusted.
An amazing book, well worth reading. This book is certainly going to be in my top 10 read of 2014. Just Brilliant.
I wanted to sit and read this in one sitting, but I found I was actually really good (bloody hard to do) but I took my time and just read a few chapters at a time.
I really liked the short chapters in this book, as it's easy to *read just one more chapter*.
'Breathless from the first word, thrilling to the last.' Lee Child
'Wonderful vivid writing and a truly original voice.' Peter James
Two murders. Two different crime scenes. One killer?
Mac wakes in an smashed-up hotel room with no recollection of what has happened. With his lover's corpse in the bathroom and the evidence suggesting that he killed her, Mac is on a mission to uncover the truth and find the real killer.
But he's in a race against time with less than a day to unravel the mystery. Still reeling from a personal tragedy Mac isn't afraid of pain. Hot on his heels is tenacious Detective Inspector Rio Wray. Double-crossed and in the line of fire, Mac has to swim through a sea of lies to get to the truth.
But only Mac knows he's been living a double life. Can he be sure he doesn't have the blood of a dead woman on his hands?
OMG How excited was I to receive an early copy of this book. I couldn't wait to get stuck in. It seemed like foreverago since I read Dreada Say Mitchell books.
Although this book is different from her other books, right from the first page I loved this book. It didn't take me long to get sucked right into the story.
We start off this book with a Murder. What do you do if you wake up in a sleezy hotel room, and the woman you went there with is now dead in the bathroom, brutally murdered, you have a gun shot wound to your head, and you have no bloody idea what the hell happened.
Well you go searching for answers, answers that might just get you into trouble, or at best just killed. No big deal, as long as you get the truth.
Well that is exactly what happened to Mac. I really liked him, although he was at times hard to figure out, and a little crazy. Well more than a little, he was kind of crazier than a big bag of crazy things. But likable. I found myself many times talking to the characters in the book, now i'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing. lol. But to me it means that the author has managed to get you sucked in and involved in what is going on. I sooo needed to know Who-What-Why.? all the way through I suspected everyone of not being what they say they are, I become very suspicious of everyone, and didn't know who could and couldn't be trusted.
An amazing book, well worth reading. This book is certainly going to be in my top 10 read of 2014. Just Brilliant.
I wanted to sit and read this in one sitting, but I found I was actually really good (bloody hard to do) but I took my time and just read a few chapters at a time.
I really liked the short chapters in this book, as it's easy to *read just one more chapter*.
'Breathless from the first word, thrilling to the last.' Lee Child
'Wonderful vivid writing and a truly original voice.' Peter James
Two murders. Two different crime scenes. One killer?
Mac wakes in an smashed-up hotel room with no recollection of what has happened. With his lover's corpse in the bathroom and the evidence suggesting that he killed her, Mac is on a mission to uncover the truth and find the real killer.
But he's in a race against time with less than a day to unravel the mystery. Still reeling from a personal tragedy Mac isn't afraid of pain. Hot on his heels is tenacious Detective Inspector Rio Wray. Double-crossed and in the line of fire, Mac has to swim through a sea of lies to get to the truth.
But only Mac knows he's been living a double life. Can he be sure he doesn't have the blood of a dead woman on his hands?
October 20, 2014
For those that have read Dreda’s previous book such as Gangster Girl, don’t expect more of the same. It seems that Dreda has taken a bit of a turn away from that type of story and has instead immersed herself in a somewhat twisted but gripping type of book. The synopsis kind of speaks for itself in the first line alone. Mac wakes in a hotel room covered in blood and his girlfriend dead in the bath. I liked Mac, although from the very beginning wasn’t too sure what to make of his situation. There are more twists that a French plait and I spent my whole time from start to finish suspecting every person featured in the book.
The pace is ratcheted up to maximum level and from the first page right to the very last one I had that breathless feeling where things are just happening way too quickly…and somebody was always close behind! D.I Rio Wray makes her appearance as a very ballsy character and I would actually love to see her in future books as she made such an impact. Mac although enjoyable to read, took me longer to actually like (but when you read it you will see why).
This style of writing is a cross between a really fast paced Kernick and a real ‘who-dunnit’. There was something refreshing reading something from an author who has slightly changed tack. In addition to Mac being well and truly up the creek and without a paddle, the story is layered back slowly and his history becomes more apparent. Now normally this would help the reader come to a conclusion about things. Oh no, not in this book…it just added more suspicion to every character. My husband actually commented that he had never know me read a book where I had boldly stated “I know who it is” so many times!!!!
At first I was unsure how I felt about the change in direction for Dreda Say-Mitchel, but having read Vendetta I can honestly say I think she has once again done an amazing job. Now if I’m being brutally honest (when am I anything but?), some of her fans may not be quite so keen on this change. Maybe people will think she should have carried on her books from previously? Each to their own is what I say, but I am an avid crime reader (right across the board) and sometimes a change is as good as a rest. I only had minor criticisms (and they really were minor) such as one or two occasions I remember thinking “no way could that have happened” but that aside I really enjoyed this latest outing and cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
The pace is ratcheted up to maximum level and from the first page right to the very last one I had that breathless feeling where things are just happening way too quickly…and somebody was always close behind! D.I Rio Wray makes her appearance as a very ballsy character and I would actually love to see her in future books as she made such an impact. Mac although enjoyable to read, took me longer to actually like (but when you read it you will see why).
This style of writing is a cross between a really fast paced Kernick and a real ‘who-dunnit’. There was something refreshing reading something from an author who has slightly changed tack. In addition to Mac being well and truly up the creek and without a paddle, the story is layered back slowly and his history becomes more apparent. Now normally this would help the reader come to a conclusion about things. Oh no, not in this book…it just added more suspicion to every character. My husband actually commented that he had never know me read a book where I had boldly stated “I know who it is” so many times!!!!
At first I was unsure how I felt about the change in direction for Dreda Say-Mitchel, but having read Vendetta I can honestly say I think she has once again done an amazing job. Now if I’m being brutally honest (when am I anything but?), some of her fans may not be quite so keen on this change. Maybe people will think she should have carried on her books from previously? Each to their own is what I say, but I am an avid crime reader (right across the board) and sometimes a change is as good as a rest. I only had minor criticisms (and they really were minor) such as one or two occasions I remember thinking “no way could that have happened” but that aside I really enjoyed this latest outing and cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!
November 6, 2014
Just had an e. Mail to say. I am a winner of a copy of this book . Muchly excited . Will leave a review when I've read it
December 1, 2014
My thanks go to Goodreads, the author and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a copy of ‘Vendetta’ by Dreda Say Mitchell.
This type of novel is not my usual genre of choice and if I had researched previous novels by this author I would not have entered Goodreads, Giveaways for a copy of Vendetta (e.g. ‘Geezer Girls’, ‘Gangster Girl’, ‘Hit Girls’).
It just goes to show that you can’t judge a book or the author from previous covers, as this novel was excellent.
It is not often that the blurb lives up to the actual content – this is an exception. Described by Lee Child as “Breathless from the first word and thrilling to the last”!
Mac wakes up in a smashed up hotel room and is unable to remember what has happened. There is a dead woman in the bath, his girlfriend Elena, who has been shot in the back of the head, her face is unrecognisable and his gun is on the floor.
Mac, an undercover cop, has infiltrated a Russian gang, the leader kills with ease and involved in arms smuggling.
All evidence points to Mac being the murderer of Elena and the police are hot on his trail. Mac races against time to solve the mystery, at the same time still reeling from the death of his young son a year ago.
A day in the life of Mac, this 402 page novel was packed with intrigue, action, thrills and totally absorbing. On occasions I become so involved in the story (gruesome at times) I had to close my eyes and turn away from the written word.
For me this indicates what an excellent writer Dreda Say Mitchell is as all her characters were brought to life (and death) on the page and I felt totally engrossed in the plot from beginning to end.
I will certainly look out for ‘Death Trap’ which is due out in Nov 2015 however I think I’ll take a rain check on ‘Geezer Girls’.
This type of novel is not my usual genre of choice and if I had researched previous novels by this author I would not have entered Goodreads, Giveaways for a copy of Vendetta (e.g. ‘Geezer Girls’, ‘Gangster Girl’, ‘Hit Girls’).
It just goes to show that you can’t judge a book or the author from previous covers, as this novel was excellent.
It is not often that the blurb lives up to the actual content – this is an exception. Described by Lee Child as “Breathless from the first word and thrilling to the last”!
Mac wakes up in a smashed up hotel room and is unable to remember what has happened. There is a dead woman in the bath, his girlfriend Elena, who has been shot in the back of the head, her face is unrecognisable and his gun is on the floor.
Mac, an undercover cop, has infiltrated a Russian gang, the leader kills with ease and involved in arms smuggling.
All evidence points to Mac being the murderer of Elena and the police are hot on his trail. Mac races against time to solve the mystery, at the same time still reeling from the death of his young son a year ago.
A day in the life of Mac, this 402 page novel was packed with intrigue, action, thrills and totally absorbing. On occasions I become so involved in the story (gruesome at times) I had to close my eyes and turn away from the written word.
For me this indicates what an excellent writer Dreda Say Mitchell is as all her characters were brought to life (and death) on the page and I felt totally engrossed in the plot from beginning to end.
I will certainly look out for ‘Death Trap’ which is due out in Nov 2015 however I think I’ll take a rain check on ‘Geezer Girls’.
November 8, 2014
My thanks to Hodder and Bookbridgr who kindly sent me my review copy.
This is the first crime novel I have read in a while, they used to be all I would read. I stopped reading them when I didn't come across anything that seemed original.
Firstly Vendetta is the most original crime novel I have ever read, it is punchy, pacy and you are driven through a narrative with the hurtling speed of a freight train. This novel delivers an ending that I never would have guessed in all of my days and it comes at you like a bolt of lightening and leaves you sat there shocked, numbed and wanting more.
Short sharp chapters help deliver the pace with the whole story being set in 24hrs. Hard to believe so much happened during that time, the twists and turns in the plot and the way they sneak up on you are just astonishing. As a reader you start to believe one thing and then something else happens immediately to change your mind.
What I liked most about this book is the fact that as the plot developed so did the characters. Oh how I adore flawed characters, for after all none of us are perfect, such a being doesn't exist. It was hard to like any of the characters and I would guess not one of them is fully reliable. There is more than one Vendetta going on. Characters that are out for there own gain and will step on anyone that gets in their way.
By far my favourite, and it is hard to have a favourite is DI Rio Wray. I loved her feistiness and strength of character. I can't wait to read more about her in future.
If intelligent, credible crime novels are your thing then please read this, and prepare yourself to be astounded.
This is the first crime novel I have read in a while, they used to be all I would read. I stopped reading them when I didn't come across anything that seemed original.
Firstly Vendetta is the most original crime novel I have ever read, it is punchy, pacy and you are driven through a narrative with the hurtling speed of a freight train. This novel delivers an ending that I never would have guessed in all of my days and it comes at you like a bolt of lightening and leaves you sat there shocked, numbed and wanting more.
Short sharp chapters help deliver the pace with the whole story being set in 24hrs. Hard to believe so much happened during that time, the twists and turns in the plot and the way they sneak up on you are just astonishing. As a reader you start to believe one thing and then something else happens immediately to change your mind.
What I liked most about this book is the fact that as the plot developed so did the characters. Oh how I adore flawed characters, for after all none of us are perfect, such a being doesn't exist. It was hard to like any of the characters and I would guess not one of them is fully reliable. There is more than one Vendetta going on. Characters that are out for there own gain and will step on anyone that gets in their way.
By far my favourite, and it is hard to have a favourite is DI Rio Wray. I loved her feistiness and strength of character. I can't wait to read more about her in future.
If intelligent, credible crime novels are your thing then please read this, and prepare yourself to be astounded.
December 14, 2014
It’s always exciting to see a favourite writer trying something different even if the experiment doesn’t completely work. However I’m glad to say that the departure Dreda Say Mitchell has made with Vendetta works, for me, on every level. And exciting – oh wow, is all I can say.
We meet Mitchell’s main character, undercover cop Mac, when he comes to lying in a pool of his own congealed blood in a sordid hotel room. And his day goes downhill from there.
Two things puzzle me about this rip-roarer of a thriller. How can Mac keep going when he has to suffer the kind of physical (and mental) torment that the author throws at him over the 24 hours of the book? More importantly, in a novel where the pace never lets up for a moment and where there is so much, and such varied, action and violence how does the author manage to build such a believable and psychologically complex group of characters.
Mac starts as an enigma and becomes a flawed hero. His behaviour may make you wince at times, but you always feel for him. And, where Mac breaks all the rules, the magnificent D.I. Rio Wray lives by them (except the one about sleeping with the boss!) Wray is another great character and I’d love to see more of her in future books.
A lightning-paced novel that will keep you turning the pages even when you’re afraid to know what might happen next!
We meet Mitchell’s main character, undercover cop Mac, when he comes to lying in a pool of his own congealed blood in a sordid hotel room. And his day goes downhill from there.
Two things puzzle me about this rip-roarer of a thriller. How can Mac keep going when he has to suffer the kind of physical (and mental) torment that the author throws at him over the 24 hours of the book? More importantly, in a novel where the pace never lets up for a moment and where there is so much, and such varied, action and violence how does the author manage to build such a believable and psychologically complex group of characters.
Mac starts as an enigma and becomes a flawed hero. His behaviour may make you wince at times, but you always feel for him. And, where Mac breaks all the rules, the magnificent D.I. Rio Wray lives by them (except the one about sleeping with the boss!) Wray is another great character and I’d love to see more of her in future books.
A lightning-paced novel that will keep you turning the pages even when you’re afraid to know what might happen next!
November 21, 2014
There is a cover quote from Lee Child ‘Breathless from the first word and thrilling to the last.’ Top author nails a review in one line. That is exactly how I found Vendetta. In the opening scenes our hero, Mac, wakes in a hotel room with a gunshot wound to his head and his girlfriend’s mutilated corpse in the bath. Did Mac kill her? He can’t remember but the police are outside and Mac does not want to stick around to answer awkward questions.
What comes next is a frenetic thriller as we follow Mac through the back streets and dark alleys of London while he tries to keep one step ahead of Detective Inspector Rio Wray and tries to catch up with a killer (assuming that killer is not Mac himself).
Short yet punchy chapters, fast paced narrative and an engaging story make Vendetta very readable and extremely enjoyable. I loved Dreda Say Mitchell’s characterisation of Mac and DI Wray, she puts her cast through the wringer and how they contend with their respective trauma and loss defines their actions through the book. Characters pushed to their limits take reckless chances which, in turn, leads to great entertainment for a reader.
Vendetta is magnificent - a must read book for anyone that likes a thriller!
My review (in full) can be found at grabthisbook.net
What comes next is a frenetic thriller as we follow Mac through the back streets and dark alleys of London while he tries to keep one step ahead of Detective Inspector Rio Wray and tries to catch up with a killer (assuming that killer is not Mac himself).
Short yet punchy chapters, fast paced narrative and an engaging story make Vendetta very readable and extremely enjoyable. I loved Dreda Say Mitchell’s characterisation of Mac and DI Wray, she puts her cast through the wringer and how they contend with their respective trauma and loss defines their actions through the book. Characters pushed to their limits take reckless chances which, in turn, leads to great entertainment for a reader.
Vendetta is magnificent - a must read book for anyone that likes a thriller!
My review (in full) can be found at grabthisbook.net
December 16, 2014
You wake up in a seedy hotel room with a head wound and a girls DEAD body in the bath this is how John macdonaugh started his day.
He can't remember if he killed her or is someone trying to frame him has Mac his a undercover cop infiltrated into a Russian mob this spirals into a intriguing thriller
Can Mac figure what's happening has the bodies start mounting up across London and been hunted by a old colleague + a shady figure who was kicked out of the force and his handler who isn't playing straight with him .
Mac has to try to get to the bottom of all this before the police arrest him and send him to prison.
This is the first book by dreda I have read and its non stop action and a page Turner WELL WORTH A READ
He can't remember if he killed her or is someone trying to frame him has Mac his a undercover cop infiltrated into a Russian mob this spirals into a intriguing thriller
Can Mac figure what's happening has the bodies start mounting up across London and been hunted by a old colleague + a shady figure who was kicked out of the force and his handler who isn't playing straight with him .
Mac has to try to get to the bottom of all this before the police arrest him and send him to prison.
This is the first book by dreda I have read and its non stop action and a page Turner WELL WORTH A READ
November 16, 2014
I have read a number of “suspense/thrillers” recently and I must say this is one of the best. No spoilers but it keeps going forwards, backwards, sideways, down, (no not up!). This is a new direction for the author and full credit to her for taking it on and succeeding with such style.
Dreda Say Mitchell
Vendetta
Dreda Say Mitchell
Vendetta
October 24, 2022
Mac wakes injured and confused, only to find his girlfriend has been shot dead and he is the prime suspect. Mac goes in pursuit of the real killer who seems linked to a prominent Russian gang.
There are chases, gruesome killings and explosions in a plot riddled with bullet and plot holes. The author seems to be aiming for a Jack Reacher type but characterisation is poor, psychology is cod and the set piece events are just ridiculous.
The big reveal is so predictable from early on yet comes as a complete surprise to a master criminal and a so-called intelligence officer.
A disappointment in every way.
There are chases, gruesome killings and explosions in a plot riddled with bullet and plot holes. The author seems to be aiming for a Jack Reacher type but characterisation is poor, psychology is cod and the set piece events are just ridiculous.
The big reveal is so predictable from early on yet comes as a complete surprise to a master criminal and a so-called intelligence officer.
A disappointment in every way.
June 15, 2021
This is my first book by this author and wow what a story. Despite his pains, Mac becomes a scheming protagonist, desperate to find the killer of the woman he loved and encountering plenty of danger along the way.
There were a few big twists in the story but none that were unbelievable which I find can quite often ruin a book and the parallels between Stevie and Milos showed a vulnerability to Mac. I also really enjoyed the way it was set in one day. Really enjoyable read
There were a few big twists in the story but none that were unbelievable which I find can quite often ruin a book and the parallels between Stevie and Milos showed a vulnerability to Mac. I also really enjoyed the way it was set in one day. Really enjoyable read
May 9, 2019
I read this on my second attempt at reading it. And I’m glad I returned to it and gave it the time for a second chance. I normally don’t have that problem with this author so not sure why, but it just didn’t grab me but as I got more into the story it was more than rewarding and provided some great twists.
August 20, 2025
3.7 stars. The minute I finished with this book I looked to see if there was a sequel and I was so disappointed to see that there was not. I really grew to love Mac’s character and would love to see more of his adventures. All of the police drama in this book was crazy and I enjoyed all of the discoveries that I made along with the characters.
June 10, 2019
I love Dreda's books but I struggled with this one and it's not because the story wasn't good, it was so I think I wasn't in the right frame of mind for it. I did want to finish reading it because I hate giving up on a book.
July 24, 2017
Brilliant, Brilliant, if you want a thriller with everything, this is the book for you, could not put down, loved it, would rcommend
May 19, 2021
Fast paced action from start to finish great read
July 10, 2021
This was not the normal kind of book I’ve read before of dreda and it was a bit slow for me but it did improve not one of my favourites but still a good read
March 11, 2022
Great book!
Interesting, fun, exciting. Dramatic at times. Looking forward to reading the next novel. Not light reading, but takes your heart and soul.
Interesting, fun, exciting. Dramatic at times. Looking forward to reading the next novel. Not light reading, but takes your heart and soul.
September 26, 2022
Anne2022
Keeps the page turning! I enjoyed this would love to know what happened to Milo and Elena. Why waa Calman fired from the police Department?
Keeps the page turning! I enjoyed this would love to know what happened to Milo and Elena. Why waa Calman fired from the police Department?
October 21, 2022
A really good read. Proper thriller
December 19, 2018
Good
Good read but I did find it a lot boring in the middle but the twist and turns on the end was a great
Good read but I did find it a lot boring in the middle but the twist and turns on the end was a great
September 10, 2016
Vendetta is the first book featuring Detective Rio Wray and undercover Detective John MacDonagh. The two characters are immersed in the byzantine world of global mobsters and governments, which are further dotted with a host of other interesting characters with unknown for certain, shifty motives.
Reading this first installment and trying to figure out who should or should not be trusted is like rolling around a broken up bead of mercury while watching the droplets form, only to break apart again.
Rio Wray is an outwardly confident-internally insecure, tough as nails, by the book, female black detective, while MacDonagh is a haunted, PTSD afflicted man trying to decipher who murdered his lover he found in a seedy hotel bathroom after awaking from a seemingly blow to the head.
There are plenty of twists to keep the reader interested. One early plot twist was completely unpredictable and from that point, I knew the book was going to be a very enjoyable crime fiction novel and that prediction turned out to be true.
For those that like the Rachael Howzell Hall Elouise Norton novels, this series appears to be right up there with her novels.
Yes, this was a violent, gritty book, but those that read these novels shouldn't be too shocked to what is contained inside.
Strongly recommended.
While in the first part of the book, one twist immediately grabbed me
Reading this first installment and trying to figure out who should or should not be trusted is like rolling around a broken up bead of mercury while watching the droplets form, only to break apart again.
Rio Wray is an outwardly confident-internally insecure, tough as nails, by the book, female black detective, while MacDonagh is a haunted, PTSD afflicted man trying to decipher who murdered his lover he found in a seedy hotel bathroom after awaking from a seemingly blow to the head.
There are plenty of twists to keep the reader interested. One early plot twist was completely unpredictable and from that point, I knew the book was going to be a very enjoyable crime fiction novel and that prediction turned out to be true.
For those that like the Rachael Howzell Hall Elouise Norton novels, this series appears to be right up there with her novels.
Yes, this was a violent, gritty book, but those that read these novels shouldn't be too shocked to what is contained inside.
Strongly recommended.
While in the first part of the book, one twist immediately grabbed me
January 24, 2015
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
The book opened great, what a way to start... waking up in a hotel room with your dead girlfriend in the bath and you have no idea what happened. The story had potential but for me it didn't meet expectations.
This is one of those 'who done it?' books where you spend the entire time trying to figure out who the murderer is. My major issue was it seemed to take a while for the investigation and speculation to gain momentum. The investigation didn't really flow from one idea to another like most of these types of books do. I had to take a break at the beginning of the book because I was getting frustrated at the pace of it. It did start to pick up in the middle though.
The story line as a whole I was a little disappointed with and I felt like certain parts of the story needed more expanding. Like what really happened to Calum and what's the deal with Rio's relationship with Mac's boss? We also didn't learn that much about Mac and his apparent blackouts and flashbacks, the characters were just missing something, as if they weren't fully developed.
The big reveal was unexpected and one of the few highlights for me. The ending kind of left too much still open, I think it needed more.
For me it was an OK read and I give it 2 stars!!
The book opened great, what a way to start... waking up in a hotel room with your dead girlfriend in the bath and you have no idea what happened. The story had potential but for me it didn't meet expectations.
This is one of those 'who done it?' books where you spend the entire time trying to figure out who the murderer is. My major issue was it seemed to take a while for the investigation and speculation to gain momentum. The investigation didn't really flow from one idea to another like most of these types of books do. I had to take a break at the beginning of the book because I was getting frustrated at the pace of it. It did start to pick up in the middle though.
The story line as a whole I was a little disappointed with and I felt like certain parts of the story needed more expanding. Like what really happened to Calum and what's the deal with Rio's relationship with Mac's boss? We also didn't learn that much about Mac and his apparent blackouts and flashbacks, the characters were just missing something, as if they weren't fully developed.
The big reveal was unexpected and one of the few highlights for me. The ending kind of left too much still open, I think it needed more.
For me it was an OK read and I give it 2 stars!!
Read
April 7, 2016When Mac wakes up next to the dead body of a woman who has been shot through the head, he knows he is in big trouble. He is a ‘naked cop’, deep undercover with a gang of international arms smugglers. But is he back in the field far too soon after the death of his young son?
DI Rio Wray is not a woman to be messed with – especially when she is forced to turn up at a crime scene still dressed for her mate’s hen party.
Both are hunting the same murderer, but from such opposite extremes of law enforcement they seem more like enemies than old friends.
Mitchell’s Vendetta is packed into little more than 24 hours, and covers ground that would have been familiar to Dickens’ Inspector Bucket – peeling back the gentrification of places like St Katherine’s Dock to reveal the criminality still lurking underneath.
Mac and Rio snag our sympathies. We get a hint of the prejudices Rio has overcome as a black, female police officer. But Rio needs no pity from anyone. As for Mac, some of Mitchell’s best writing comes when he relives the death of his son, and when he interacts with Milos, a young boy of the same age, caught in a complex crossfire of adult vengeance and retribution.
A high octane thriller with plenty of brutal violence from the start, but one that explores the nature of loyalty, both in the police world and in its flip side – the world of criminal gangs.
DI Rio Wray is not a woman to be messed with – especially when she is forced to turn up at a crime scene still dressed for her mate’s hen party.
Both are hunting the same murderer, but from such opposite extremes of law enforcement they seem more like enemies than old friends.
Mitchell’s Vendetta is packed into little more than 24 hours, and covers ground that would have been familiar to Dickens’ Inspector Bucket – peeling back the gentrification of places like St Katherine’s Dock to reveal the criminality still lurking underneath.
Mac and Rio snag our sympathies. We get a hint of the prejudices Rio has overcome as a black, female police officer. But Rio needs no pity from anyone. As for Mac, some of Mitchell’s best writing comes when he relives the death of his son, and when he interacts with Milos, a young boy of the same age, caught in a complex crossfire of adult vengeance and retribution.
A high octane thriller with plenty of brutal violence from the start, but one that explores the nature of loyalty, both in the police world and in its flip side – the world of criminal gangs.
September 27, 2019
Implausible, silly, and surprisingly enjoyable.
I didn't like the book particularly but conversely, I enjoyed. If you like fast furious action, huge amounts of gratuitous violence, stereotypical bad guys, an undercover cop gone rogue, you'll love it.
And, although it really wasn't my cup of tea, and I wouldn't want to read too many like this too often, I did enjoy being in the moment of reading it.
If I was writing a serious, objective review, I would have to point out the numerous incongruities, impossibilities, factual inaccuracies sillinesses, and WTF moments, all squeezed into a ridiculous timeframe. But if you suspend disbelief, you should be able to enjoy the dramatic arc, the description of places and violence and so on.
I didn't like the book particularly but conversely, I enjoyed. If you like fast furious action, huge amounts of gratuitous violence, stereotypical bad guys, an undercover cop gone rogue, you'll love it.
And, although it really wasn't my cup of tea, and I wouldn't want to read too many like this too often, I did enjoy being in the moment of reading it.
If I was writing a serious, objective review, I would have to point out the numerous incongruities, impossibilities, factual inaccuracies sillinesses, and WTF moments, all squeezed into a ridiculous timeframe. But if you suspend disbelief, you should be able to enjoy the dramatic arc, the description of places and violence and so on.
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