Gunning for Payback

Jo Gunning #10

by Renee Pawlish

Former Army Civil Affairs specialist Jo Gunning thought a quiet visit with her family would be the safest thing she could do. Until a threat from the past crashes back into her life—fast, dangerous, and personal. When her family disappears, Jo doesn’t know if the culprit is Thad Dunwoody, the man whose operation she destroyed, or another enemy she’s made along the way. As the danger closes in, she’s pulled into a deadly game of cat and mouse that stretches from small-town streets to the dark corners of her own history. To save the people she loves, Jo will have to outthink and outfight someone who thought payback was theirs.

Jo’s about to show them it works both ways.

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

From the time she was ten and tried to write her own detective series in the fashion of the Hardy Boys, Renée Pawlish has been developing her craft. Along with creative writing classes, Renée studied great writers like Dashiell Hammett, Rex Stout, Stephen King, Sue Grafton and many more. Once Renée graduated from college, she began her first novel. Now, all these years later, she has penned numerous books in a variety of genres.

Renée was born in California, but has lived most of her life in Colorado. When she's not hiking, cycling, or chasing ballplayers for autographs, she is writing mysteries and thrillers. She also has some middle grade novels waiting to be published.

Renée loves to travel and has visited numerous countries around the world. She has also spent many summer days at her parents' cabin in the hills outside of Boulder, which was the inspiration for the setting of Taylor Crossing in her novel Nephilim: Genesis of Evil.

The Reed Ferguson Mystery Series
This Doesn't Happen In The Movies
Reel Estate Rip-off

The Nephilim Trilogy
Nephilim Genesis of Evil
Books Two and Three soon to be released

The Noah Winter YA Adventure Series
The Emerald Quest

Take Five
A short story collection that includes a Reed Ferguson tale.

The Sallie House: Exposing the Beast Within
A non-fiction book about one of the most haunted houses in America.

To learn more you can follow her on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/reneepawlish....

on her blog:
http://tobecomeawriter.wordpress.com/

on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/reneepawlish

Reviews

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gunning for Payback (A Jo Gunning Thriller Book 10), my seventy-sixth read from prolific author Renee Pawlish and the tenth involving Jo Gunning, finally with an appearance by Dack. Great character, great storyline, another must-read! If you like Lee Child's Jack Reacher you'll love these books! It's no wonder with the popularity of Jack Reacher in book, movies & TV that an author with the character creation abilities of Pawlish would take the concept and improve on it. As Pawlish expands her writings over five primary characters it has improved all five but Jo Gunning is hands down her best character yet! A Renee Pawlish book is like a visit with an old friend. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to the next book in this series as well as anything written by her. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Laura Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense Action Throughout

And the feeling of trouble just around the next corner was relentless. I had to pause a few times because the if there’d been a sound track it would have been from Jaws when the shark was coming.

Gunning for Payback is an excellent addition to the series. This book focuses mostly on Jo and her family and a newly bloomed revenge plot from the situation in book 8. Most of Jo’s adventures arise when she connects with someone who’s caught in something they don’t have the skills or knowledge to resolve. This situation is specifically targeted at Jo and her family.

I’ve followed this series from the beginning and have enjoyed how Pawlish has developed the characters. Each new book reveals a little more of Jo’s history and the events that have shaped her.

Start with book 1 and be prepared to be swept into adventure and mayhem. The good guys aren’t always unscathed but they triumph in the end.

[Peg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Jo Gunning thriller - will leave your heart was racing by the end of the first chapter! Jo wants to visit her dad and sister, with whom she has recently been reunited. They have had to be relocated with new identities due to events in Jo’s past. She barely leaves town and realizes she is being followed. By whom? Plus Jo’s dad and sister are not answering their phones. She finds them missing and needs to use all her resources and former training to get to the bottom of their disappearance. Things get complicated as she tries to determine why her family is running and if, maybe, the pursuers are actually after herself. Her former military comrade, Dack, gets into the action and works with Jo to stay alive and find her family. The danger and fast pace continue as Jo needs to evade those after her while she tries to contact and find her family.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Renee Pawlish has come up with another hit. Her continuing series about Jo Gunning is still going strong. This is a very good addition to the series, continuing the adventures and bringing back an old nemesis.

Jo shows once again that you don't mess with her family. She uses her skills learned while on active duty with the Army to battle evil that is threatening her sister and father. We finally get to see her and Dack working together physically instead of just communicating over the phone.

I would recommend this book to anyone, but most especially to those who have been following the series.

[Sheree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Renee Pawlish continues the - edge of your seat - Jo Gunning series filled with suspense and intrigue.

Traveling through the swamps, woods and backcountry of Florida and Georgia, Jo has to think fast and act faster to outsmart a professional team determined to stop her. Who are they and why are they after her? Is Jo the hunted or the hunter?

Gunning for Payback kept me riveted through the chapters as Jo Gunning and her best partner, Dack, work together to solve who is out to get Jo and her family. I highly recommend this series.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how she does it, but Ms. Pawlish gets better and better with each volume in this series. Gunning for Payback is non-stop action with intervals of cat-and-mouse suspense. With her family in danger, Jo asks for her friend, Dack's help. I loved getting to know him better in this book. The drama is fast-paced. I couldn't put it down, so I read late into the night. It was well worth loosing sleep and I can't wait for Jo Gunning Thriller Book 11!

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gunning for Payback is the latest book in the Jo Gunning series by Renee Pawlish. Jo has planned a low key visit with her dad and sister. But it seems that trouble has followed Jo. There is complete intrigue from the start as Jo must find her missing family and find out who is after her. Fast paced and heart stopping action to the very end.

[Cheryl Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is another awesome edge of your seat story with lots of twists and turns. If you haven’t read the series you are missing out on the roller coaster ride that will keep you reading from start to finish. I love the characters and their interactions. I love the storyline and how it grabs ahold of you and how it keeps your attention from the first chapter till the end!

[Jim Flagg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great book in this series. You should read this series in order as it will help the reader better understand the characters and their continuing story. The action starts fairly quickly and continues off and on as the story continues. The characters and story are well developed and believable. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Sebastian Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking story with Jo Gunning which continues the feud with the White Corporation she ruined earlier. Somebody wants to get payback by hook or by crook. They will stop at nothing including harming her father and sister.
Fast on action all the way as the game of cat and mouse slowly evolves. And we get more hands on involvement from Dack which shows his care of Jo.
Loved it!

[Marcia E. Rowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series and I look forward to the next installment. The author's development of Jo has been masterful, with great insight as to the plight of many of our veterans. It is easy to think a veteran can come home from deployment and get back to life when in reality that doesn't work for everyone.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting, action packed tale from Pawlish.
Someone is following Jo after she finally had a visit with her family, and she's worried about them. When she doesn't find them where they were staying she starts looking, trying to outwit those who just won't stop following.
Hard to put down!

[Barry Weisbord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Renee Pawlish. Well told, great characters and fun to read. People are after Jo and her family and she has to figure out who, find her father and sister and put a stop to this latest attack.

[Jay Beckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pawlish is a master of suspense

Renee Pawlish writes with authority and insight, never dropping quality penmanship for the sake of the tale. Plus working with quality editing before going to print.

[Cathy Graff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series

Renee Pawlish's 10th book was just as good as her 1st! It's a great series start to finish! Gunning has a complex character and the story lines are wonderfully written.

[Dianne Biscoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo finally got to spend some time with her dad and sister. Then suddenly things seemed to spiral out of control for everyone. Is her family in danger??

Such a good book!!

[Dwight Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure, but is it
over, or does the danger move up
the chain of the White Company.

[Russ Leavitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a good read

[Pamela Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, fast paced, can't put it down.

Love this series, easily could be transformed to a tv series, female Reacher, but with more emotions and female logic.

[America · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was exciting, never knew what was next. I could hardly put the book down. I was at the end before I knew it. Can’t wait for the other book.