Revenge Interrupted

by Shakir Rashaan

A razor-sharp, propulsive thriller that cuts to the bone—where vengeance, loyalty, and deception collide and every act of justice comes with a price.

Renault Jamison has spent years paying for crimes he didn’t commit. Imprisoned for a cyberattack that destroyed his career and reputation, he endured the kind of confinement that breaks most men—until an unexpected chain of events sets him free.

Now armed with a mysterious fortune and a list of enemies, Renault returns determined to dismantle the powerful network that framed him. But when a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with Kadence Knight, a woman who sees past his guarded exterior, his focus begins to fracture.

As Renault closes in on the people who destroyed him, he and Kadence uncover a conspiracy that stretches far beyond personal revenge. What began as retribution becomes a race to stop a global cyberwar. To win, Renault must decide whether reclaiming his life is worth the cost of losing his soul—and the woman he never expected to love.

288 pages, Paperback

Published July 28, 2026

About the author

“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.” ~ Virginia Wolfe

Conjurer of worlds. Sorcerer. Man. Myth. Legend. Prototype.

All of these words describe Shakir Rashaan, who has been creating mind-twisting stories and lavish worlds for well over a decade, rolling onto the national literary scene as a contributor to Z-Rated: Chocolate Flava 3 in 2012. His raw, vivid, and uncut writing style captured the attention of the Queen of Erotica herself, Zane. A year later, Shakir’s debut novel with Strebor/Atria/Simon & Schuster, The Awakening, opened to rave reviews, while the follow-up in the Nubian Underworld series, Legacy, garnered even more success, and the third installment, Tempest, helping to make the series one of the most unique and best-selling in the erotic romance genre.

Rashaan would later add to his impressive catalog with the debut of the Kink, P.I. Series in 2015, starting with Obsession and following up with Deception and Reckoning. Drawing comparisons to Walter Mosely’s Easy Rawlins series, Kink, P.I. has developed into yet another best-selling series, carving its place as a “throwback to the days of classic mystery books” in the mystery genre.

Further adding to his impressive portfolio, Rashaan was a regular blogger for USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog, where readers could find him at his “Manly Musings” personal blog, reviewing books, television shows, and movies from a man’s perspective. He wrote recaps for various shows for the STARZ Network, including The Girlfriend Experience, POWER, and Survivor’s Remorse, before the blog was retired in late 2018.

Shakir has gone on in recent years to pen a series of bestselling novels, including In Service to the Senator, a sexy political thriller surrounding an up-and-coming vice presidential candidate, The Devil’s All-American, a unique paranormal romance featuring a rising college basketball star, Unthinkable, a not-so-conventional romance set in the entertainment industry, Love, Lust & Beautiful Liars, a romantic suspense novel about an international weapons dealer who was looking to retire and enjoy his HEA, and most recently in 2021, Queen of Cambridge, part of the Queens of the Castle anthology series.

Shakir has switched gears, jumping into the young adult world, developing the Neverwraith series, a YA paranormal fantasy for Entangled Teen/Macmillan, and the South Hampton series, in addition to several other YA and New Adult projects to expand his NEBU universe. Neverwraith is his most ambitious project to date, about a teenage descendant of an ancient metahuman bloodline who searches for the truth about the death of his parents and their connection to a centuries-old blood feud over sacred texts contained inside of his native Kindara, an island nation located near the West African coast ... all while navigating high school

Shakir currently resides in suburban Atlanta with his wife, soon-to-be college graduate daughter, and a Jack-Chi named Teddy.

Reviews

[CourtneyRenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Renault 'RJ' Jamison, the man that you are!

🌟 International Crimes
🌟 Romance
🌟 Money laundering
🌟 Revenge plot

So picture it, your boys decide to take you on one last vacation to an Island in Greece before you marry the love of your life, and what was supposed to be a trip to remember turns into a nightmare that you never saw coming.

While Renault has not always stayed on the right side of the law, he has been careful not to get caught, taking ever precaution and using every safe guard at his disposal. So why is this time different? What did he miss on this job?

The action starts from the very first chapter! The pacing slows somewhat in the middle but as with any great action packed story it definitely picks back up and the ending is so satisfying.

This book is for the thriller lovers that enjoy action packed adventures, it literally read like a movie.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for this ARC.

[Earthy Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC read! Thanks to Black Odyssey Media. I loved this book.

I’ve been craving a true mystery thriller for a while now, and this book delivered exactly what I was looking for. From the very first chapters, it completely pulled me out of a reading slump and reminded me why I love this genre so much. The pacing was incredibly well done fast enough to keep me constantly engaged, but balanced in a way that allowed the tension, mystery, and character development to fully unfold. There was never a moment where the story felt slow or dragged out. Every chapter gave me another reason to stay up a little later 😂.

One of my favorite things about this book was how cinematic it felt. The scenes were written so vividly that I could picture everything perfectly in my mind, almost like I was watching a movie unfold in real time or reading directly from a screenplay. The atmosphere, dialogue, and suspense were all executed in a way that made the story feel immersive and intense. I genuinely felt transported into the world of the book.

I also really loved the characters and the way they evolved throughout the story. They felt layered, realistic, and emotionally engaging, which made me even more invested in what would happen next. The only thing I had a issue for the evolution of the MC in the FMC relationship. It’s didn’t make sense to me.

I appreciated that beyond the mystery and suspense, the story also included meaningful themes, life lessons, and little gems of wisdom that I could personally connect with and reflect on long after finishing the book.

The ending especially wanting more. It honestly felt like there may have been a nugget left, and if there is another book coming next, I’m beyond excited to continue the story. This was the kind of thriller that keeps you thinking even after you turn the last page, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping, fastpaced, cinematic mystery read.

[Vonetta Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review

The way the book started it had me hooked and wanting to find out how we got here. So as we read on we learn what transpired to get Renault into the situation he was in. Of course we know he was set up and I just knew who it was based on other situations that occurred prior to his arrest but I didn't see some of it coming. The fact that he was so shocked was a little surprising to me but I guess he was blinded by what he thought was a true friendship. After the initial arrest and sentencing, the story started to drag a little for me. I knew we would see his time in prison; however, it just seemed like a lot of "down time" and wasn't as engaging as the beginning of the book was to me. He went through a lot while he was in there but I was waiting to see when he was actually go to be able to enact his revenge on the ones who wronged him..

After learning of everyone who was involved with his downfall while he was locked up, when he finally got out I didn't trust anyone and this is where the story picked back up a little to me. I wanted to see him really get his revenge and it became a game of who can I trust. When him and Kadence finally put things into motion and set out to hit the whole group that was working together where it really hurt and stop them from what they were planning, it was kind of anti-climatic for me compared to the buildup. Speaking of Kadence, I didn't really believe his connection with her because we really only saw them together for a very brief time so I didn't really see how they could have these "strong feelings" the way it was described in the book.

Overall, I thought the book was okay but the pacing of the story wasn't fluid throughout which kind of took away from the thrills of it to me. Thank you to Black Odyssey Media for this ARC so I could provide my honest opinion.

[J.L. Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The action in Revenge Interrupted starts from the get-go, pulling the reader into Renault Jamison’s bewilderment and horror as he’s arrested while in Greece on a jaunt with friends before his wedding.

His situation goes downhill at the speed of light when he’s sent to prison for a year after being framed for a cyberattack.

You know that saying about keeping your friends close but your enemies closer? That’s the worst part of his harrowing experience because Renault doesn’t know who is friend or foe.

Rashaan does a good job of keeping the reader guessing as to who is on the level and who isn’t, and it was good to see the bad guys get theirs.

I read the bulk of the novel in two days and then raced through to the end when I had the chance to sit with it again. The ending was satisfactory in terms of those who got their comeuppance, but I see the setup for another story because there are still some folks Renault has to deal with who didn’t get theirs in this novel.

If non-stop action and suspense are your thing, plus romance, treat yourself to a copy of Revenge Interrupted.

Many thanks to Black Odyssey Media for an ARC.

[_dulcekk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story opened with a bang and immediately had me invested in what was to come. However, once RJ was captured and sent to a Saudi prison, the story started to fall flat for me. When he finally got out and shifted his focus to revenge, I was pulled right back in; who was involved and why was RJ the one paying the price for everything.

Throughout the story, RJ constantly let his ego make decisions for him, keeping him in situations he should have walked away from. I found myself screaming, "use your common sense!" But RJ lived by, "my ego won't allow me to abandon the situation." The whole time I kept thinking... at what cost, sir? Then the story took a turn that completely baffled me. The reason RJ was initially in trouble didn't quite connect with where the plot eventually ended up, and I was left wondering, How did we get here?

However, I would say that Enzo was definitely a worthy adversary, and he used far more common sense than RJ did.

Thank you to Black Odyssey Media for the advance reader copy.

[Khatreenah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was my first book by Shakir Rashaan and it was an interesting read. It went dove into tech and finance which was right up my alley. It’s a story as old as time about being wronged and plotting revenge but the author had an original spin on the story. This was a twisty ‘idk who to trust’ book without the fear factor. It had a touch of spice which was placed nicely. Some parts seemed slower than others and the build up was monumental in comparison to the conclusion. Personally, I don’t like being taken for the ride and not being able to enjoy the results. For example, 75% of the book was about what would’ve/ could’ve/ didn’t happen and then I waited until the epilogue to find out the resolution and the characters just said it in passing. I don’t want to skim over that piece lol that’s why I read the book! Overall, it was a good book - I’d rate it a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.5 / 5 stars 🌟

[Chinareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this complimentary ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own and are being left voluntarily.

This was my first read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. The suspense kept me engaged from beginning to end, and I found myself constantly trying to piece the puzzle together. This book perfectly embodies the saying, “Keep your enemies close.”

That’s exactly what RJ had to do because he couldn’t trust a soul. Everyone was a suspect in my eyes, and I was all in for the ride, trying to figure out who was behind everything. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story kept me guessing.

If you’re looking for a good suspense thriller that will keep you on your toes and have you questioning everyone’s motives, then definitely pick this one up. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Honeyveereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave the true meaning of keep your enemies closer. The way Revenger Interrupted had so many emotions coming out of me is insane! From the beginning, I was ready to see what would happen next, praying that the reveal wouldn’t be what it would be, and it was. Who needs enemies when you got friends like that, right? All the clues were there from the beginning, and as everything unfolded, you saw just how deep the betrayal went.

Revenge interrupted had me ready to curse sooo many times. I couldn’t believe the cards that Renault was dealt and by the ones so close to him at that. We go down Renault's journey of his revenge, and you get to see the battle that it takes for him to get there. Even with so many differing opinions in her ear, it was very clear he had one thing on his mind: Revenge.

[Haerlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shakir Rashaan is a new author for me. I picked up this book thinking it was romantic suspense, a genre I love, but it turned out to be a thriller that hooked me from the start with its twists and turns—which I thoroughly enjoyed. What it wasn’t, though, was romantic suspense. The romance here felt about as significant as Pussy Galore to James Bond—present, but far from central. I’d caution readers not to expect romance or steamy scenes to be the focus; this story is driven by revenge, and that’s more than enough. The world Rashaan created could easily grow into a series—again, much like James Bond. Renault is handsome, skilled, well-connected, and forged by surviving a crucible, having thwarted an international plot. There’s plenty of room for more stories here, and I’d gladly read them.

[Nikki Eckerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an exciting and quick read. Intrigue, betrayal, love and redemption all wrapped up in one thriller that leaves you guessing until the end. Renault had every reason to want revenge but thanks to love and solid friendships, he found the road to redemption and might save the global financial market along the way. Kadence definitely won me over.. I can see this being a series of four to five books especially if some characters are brought back to assist in each book.

This was a good read although certain sections could’ve been explored a bit more. A solid 8/10.

[Anniee Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Shakir Rashaan for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Revenge Interrupted was intense, gripping, and packed with emotion from beginning to end. Shakir Rashaan created a story full of tension, layered characters, and twists that kept me fully invested the entire time. The pacing kept things moving without losing the emotional impact, and I found myself completely locked into the story. A powerful and entertaining read all around.

[Mrs Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revenge Interrupted was a hit from the first chapter. The story was full of great character development and a powerful plot. The pacing was a bit slow during Renault's incarceration. After his release the story did drag a bit but picked right back up toward the end. Overall this was a great read. Thank you to Shakir Rashaan and Black Odyssey for this Advanced Reader zcopy all opinions are my own.