Novak

Redcars #5

by R.J. Scott

He's a psychopath trained to destroy. Now he’s found someone he’ll break the world for.

Novak can't do attachment. He calculates, controls, eliminates threats, and keeps everything exactly where it belongs.

Until Caleb.

With the hacker who hates him, every instinct tells him to protect, contain, and eliminate anything that gets too close. Novak knows exactly what that makes him. He doesn’t just want Caleb. He’s already decided Caleb is his.

Finding two children before a fire destroys the evidence is one thing—but when Caleb follows the data, they uncover a trafficking pipeline buried beneath religion—victims catalogued, collared, controlled, and sold through a network so clean it disappears across state lines.

Novak has seen this before. Lived it. Survived it.

With less than twenty-four hours before a shipment disappears into the network, Caleb and Novak have a choice—wait for backup, which will take too long, or go in alone, take down the compound, and get the kids out before the system resets. With no guarantee they make it out alive.

Novak is a dark MM romantic suspense featuring high-stakes survival, forced proximity, obsession, and a psychopath who doesn’t feel fear—but does feel ownership. Expect violence, razor-edged loyalty, “touch him and die” protection, and a love that doesn’t offer escape—only survival.

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2026

About the author

RJ Scott writes heartwarming, passionate MM/gay romance stories where every man finds his happily ever after. When not writing, she enjoys reading books, watching movies, spending time with her family, following Formula 1 (Forza Ferrari!), and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Email her here: rj@rjscott.co.uk

Find RJ here: Amazon | BookBub | Facebook - Also, Never miss a release

Reviews

[Edga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved all of the Redcars guys' stories, despite what some might see as 'shortcomings', I think morally grey Avengers who step in when the system fails. They’re likeable because despite their 'tough guy', psychotic vibes, they’re actually pretty damaged and lonely before they meet their soul mates.

Caleb and Novak (Leon) fit right in. Somehow, psychotic killer, emotionless Novak, finds himself attracted to Caleb. Even though he's a high functioning psychopath who doesn't do feelings like 'normal' people, he definitely loves Caleb in his own way. For him, love is about total ownership and protection, and once he decides Caleb is his, nothing will get past him . To say he has a protective streak where his 'boo' is concerned, is an understatement. I loved their relationship story, they just fit together like perfect puzzle pieces. Caleb accepts Leon as he is, lock, stock, and barrell:

"His love wasn’t gentle or uncomplicated. It was obsessive, rooted deep, sharpened by everything he’d survived and everything he refused to lose. It wasn’t about letting go or setting free; it was about holding on, protecting, staying. And somewhere in all that intensity, he’d learned something quieter—that when he said those words, it made me smile, that I leaned into him instead of pulling away, that I always kissed him after."

I also enjoyed how Novak fitted in with the Redcar crew, they smack of a found family, one of my favourite tropes. Together they risk everything for the abused because they’ve all felt powerless in one way or another in their past lives. Who doesn't want to make the 'bad' people pay? For Novak, and the others it’s about taking down bullies and righting wrongs.

Honestly, RJ Scott just has this magic way of writing characters that you can't help but love. Her writing skills are so diverse. I adored this bunch of total misfits who’ve turned their own crap into a reason to fight back. It's kind of like the cliché, 'not all heroes wear capes.' Sometimes, it's enough to make sure the bad guys finally get what’s coming to them, and I'm all for that.

Please read the TWs.

[❀ Jess]

Safety: Book starts with Caleb going to a club while Novak is stalking him and he dances with someone and gets a BJ from that guy in a bathroom. He doesn't return the favor because Novak bangs on the door saying the police are there. I guess Novak isn't aware of what he wants from Caleb yet when this happens and all he cares about is keeping Caleb safe.

It's implied that Caleb has been aware of Novak since meeting and it rubbed me the wrong way when his POV has him thinking that he's been edged by Novak before finally getting to have him which felt like a super weird thing to say since he didn't seem to care at all about Novak and was actually a jerk towards him 🙄

Read it. Didn't care for it. I was liking these books since the angst is usually external to the relationship but this one didnt work for me. The only time it held my attention was towards the end when Novak got hurt. 😩

[Tris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another mega amazing book. And. My favourite of this series. I know I know - I said that of the last book too!!

I didn’t get everything I wanted lol (see reading notes below) but this was still one heavily gut wrenching emotionally packed book. I loved both Caleb and Novak so much. I’m glad Caleb didn’t have too many hesitations even when Novak “emotes” differently, and I’ve always loved the obsessed ones.

The side stories, as usual, is a bit too gruesome for me but I still love it anyway. This was sooo good I kinda didn’t want to stop reading about Caleb and Novak when the book ended. I wish we saw more of the future for them and how they develop .., like do they move in together? Etc etc - I’m wayyyy too invested.


[Review while reading:

I’m going to be a terrible pain if somehow Novak doesn’t get terribly injured or caught, so that Caleb finally goes into rage about it so Novak knows how much he cares

Yep… story telling in my head and getting angry if it don’t happen lol

Ok. Or maybe if Novak just decides to stop following Caleb around and he notices… you know. That thing]

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novak is the last book in the Red Cars series, and while I’m very sad that it’s ended, because the series was brilliant, it was a fabulous story to end with. Novak is a psychopath and the author has created a beautifully emotionless character who has decided that Caleb, the team’s computer wiz, is his. Watching them interact was wonderful. Caleb struggles with Novak’s intensity, while Novak obsesses over him and while their relationship is definitely not sweetness and light it works for them. As usual there is darkness in their story as they deal with more horrible people, and even cameo appearances by a couple of characters from the author’s Shadow Team series. I’ve enjoyed this whole series and this book was a great way to end it. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

[Elle Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leon Novak doesn’t love. He is, after all, a functional psychopath. He’s also had a boatload of trauma. But he chooses Caleb. And once that choice is made, he is all in. Protected. Lover. Object of his obsession. Prime directive. It’s all Caleb.

“This wouldn’t be normal. No balance, no half-in. If I chose him, it was all of it - the control, the obsession, the way he’d fold me into his world until there wasn’t a clean edge between where I ended and he began,” Caleb reflected and I’ve never felt anything more fully.

Caleb had his moments of questioning the sanity of letting himself fall, sure. But in the end, he realized the futility of the situation. Somehow along the way, without his permission or knowledge, he’d already done so.

Scott crafts these two characters carefully and it’s not your typical romance by any stretch. But the bond between the two men is absolute. Novak’s inner monologue: “I didn’t need to feel it the same way to understand its function; I just needed to learn what it required from me, where it held, where it could break, and how to maintain it.” With a plan like that, I’d say the odds of long-term success are pretty darn good.

With help from old friends from Sanctuary/Shadow team, enough bad guys to keep things interesting and a family subplot this one has a bit of everything. Five stars.

[Belinda Zamora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great addition to the series

Novak is an actually diagnosed psychopath and he's very clear and proud of it.
Caleb is an elite hacker.
Both have made it their mission to save children from abuse, just different methodology.
Novak knows Caleb is his person, Caleb is unsure of Novak.
They have a small window in which to save children and dismantle a vast network harming children.
There's lits of fast-paced action, danger, and drama.
Watching Novak learn how to take care of Caleb was fascinating and it was also lovely to see Caleb meet him and learn how to navigate being in a relationship with Novak.

[Sharnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 | Psychopath x Tech Guy | Novak x Caleb
HEA | Dual 1st | KU
Overall Thoughts:
✨ Loved this next instalment in the Redcars universe, I enjoyed seeing Novaks perspective on the world
✨ Their dynamic was very cute, certainly different when Novak is a functioning psychopath but I feel like it was done really well
✨ Check trigger warnings as usual with this series

[Bear_reads_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much! Novak is definitely tied with Rio for my favorite. I love how he just chooses Caleb and its just that simple for him. Caleb's not really sure how to handle him at first but ends up just as obsessed!

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Absolute Favorite ❣️

My favorite redcars ! I want me Leon Novak !!This man was dealt a shitty hand but made the best of it.

[LeeAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novak (Leon) is a psychopath. Literally diagnosed as such and he's fine with it. More than fine actually.
He lives it, breathes it and makes no excuses for it.
Here's the thing though, he doesn't go after innocent people. It's the rotting, evil people who are on his radar.
From a young age, he felt and saw things differently. Usually with very little emotion.
Caleb is part of an elite group of men who go after the vile, disgusting people who hurt children. He's very good at his job.
Needless to say, that even though these two are VERY different in how they go about things, both men want the same thing. Find kids held captive or trafficked and free them, get them to safety.
Now onto them personally.
Even though Caleb is very unsure of Novak, Noak knows Caleb is his person. He would die protecting him. I won't go into all the details, what fun would that be if I revealed things the reader deserves to discover for themselves?
Here are a few hints: intense feelings, heat, lust, protective instincts, love, fear for life and overwhelming need to be together. That is what we experience with these two.
I wanted so badly to give Noak hugs but knew, even if I could he wouldn't feel comfortable. But Caleb? Oh yeah that man can pretty much touch Novak wherever with full enthusiastic acceptance from Noak, as it should be. He also knows though when to tread lightly.
I just loved this story so much!
Are there awful parts where children are captive and awful things are discovered about their lives?
Absolutely! But the author handled those parts beautifully.
Is justice served upon the evil?
Yes, and very satisfactorily!
Cannot say enough good things about this without giving huge plot points away.
Enjoy!
Have tissue ready

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
I really loved this book, the complexity of the characters, the dark world they navigate and the dark way they respond - from hacking to torture and murder.
Caleb is the hacker who is initially extremely wary of Novak and how he resolves situations.
Novak is a functioning psychopath who actually has a code so he doesn't just kill indiscriminately.
Both men are highly intelligent and use their vastly different skills to help recover trafficked children from horrendous situations.
Novak has decided that Caleb is his - to watch over, to protect - because Caleb makes him feel something he's never experienced before. Caleb want's nothing to do with Novak until he begins to actually understand who and what he is.
Their journey is complex and takes place while the danger and violence and the atrocities they deal with runs parallel to the development of their relationship - where one man is fixated, the other is dismissive, until close proximity encourages a deeper understanding.
In the end, they find a way that works for while doing what's necessary.
I loved the way Caleb ended up acknowledging and accepting the only way Novak is capable of expressing his version of love. Their relationship is actually heartfelt and deep. Although, I would have liked a little more follow-up of them as a couple.
The only negative, and the reason I didn't give a full five stars, is for things like the inconsistencies and typos like missing or extra words.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the entire series. I enjoyed this journey down a dark and twisted path with men who manage to find love amongst it all.
I would absolutely recommend this as long as you are comfortable with the TW's.

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another amazing installment in the Redcars series and I think my favourite.

You would think that a dark romance with a "functional psycopath" may not qualify as a book where the two characters can fall in love but RJ Scott did a brilliant job with Novak.

I was intrigued when he started showing up in "Doc" and I wondered how I would look at a person who kills without emotions. Well, I fell in love with him.

If Novak would be anyone else, I think I would go looking for the bubblewrap to hug him closely but I don't think he would enjoy this. His past is brutal, brought up abused and trained to become a killer, he found an unexpected home with the Cave.

The description how he relates to Caleb, how he wonders about the feelings he shouldn't have and the "he's mine" and "I kill anyone who touches him" are so real for him, in other characters it would come over as over the top and ridiculous, for Novak anything else would feel something is lacking.
His need to control, for accuracy and a clinical distance to human behaviour is so well written.

Caleb, the hacker, is a bit less defined, I miss a more detailed background, the snippets are quite basic.
He struggles to understand Novak, to accept him as more than a tool and at first can't see him as a human being. But close encounter and close proxemity and Novak's brutal honesty slowly wear down and Caleb sees the man underneath the iron clad control and focus.

The storyline matches the darkness in Novak, children traffiking and abuse. I love the little cameo from a Shadow Team.

I do hope we see the Redcar characters again.

[Elaine Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novak (Leon) is one of the most compelling characters I’ve read in a long time. He’s a diagnosed psychopath, fully aware of what he is and completely unapologetic about it. But what makes him stand out is the direction of his darkness—he doesn’t target the innocent. He goes after the truly vile, the people who prey on the vulnerable. Caleb, meanwhile, is part of an elite team dedicated to rescuing children from horrific situations. He’s disciplined, driven, and deeply committed to justice. On the surface, he and Novak couldn’t be more different, yet they share the same mission: find the missing, save the children, and stop the monsters responsible. Their relationship is a slow burn of intensity, trust, and raw emotion. Caleb may be unsure of Novak at first, but Novak knows—without hesitation—that Caleb is his person. The protective instincts, the heat, the fear, the devotion… it all builds into a connection that feels powerful and earned. There were so many moments where I wanted to wrap Novak in a hug, even knowing he’d never accept it. Caleb, though? He’s the exception to every rule Novak has, and the way their bond grows is beautifully written. Yes, the story deals with dark subject matter. There are difficult scenes involving children in captivity, but the author handles these moments with care and respect. And when justice comes, it is incredibly satisfying. . The characters are unforgettable, the emotional stakes are high, and the blend of darkness, hope, and connection kept me hooked from beginning to end.

[SNik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fifth in series (Redcars), best if read in order. Coworkers (sort of). Slow burn. Dual POV. Heed content warnings.

Abandoned by his parents for being a psychopath, Novak survived abuse and military training and now his focus has turned to Caleb. Working for a covert organization to take down child traffickers and other bad guys, Caleb isn’t sure he wants Novak’s attention, but there’s something there that intrigues him.

This story absolutely gripped me as Novak functions under his own rules which factor in Caleb’s needs but doesn’t fundamentally change anything about Novak. That really spoke to me as Caleb has to adjust his expectations of what a relationship with Novak would entail and accepts every facet of it because he can see how Novak adjusts his behavior to include Caleb as an important factor but doesn’t try to control him. There are some really dark pieces of the story about Novak’s past, and yet his obsessive nature never becomes a red flag and I loved how Caleb embraced his way of existing. I enjoyed the attention to detail when it came to Novak’s tactical observations, the action, the steam, and the honest communication between these two. This series is great and this book in particular is a favorite.

[Xanthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to have the opportunity to read Novak so early, with the rest of the Redcars series being so good and Novak such an intriguing character in the last couple of books.
I can honestly say, it's just as good as you are expecting, if not better. Knowing that Novak becomes attached to Caleb is one thing but reading how his mind works through that, being a functioning psychopath is another. That's what made me really need this story and it doesn't disappoint. Neither does how Caleb works through his thoughts and feelings about it all, never expecting someone like Novak to become his person.
Of course, there is also the darker aspect of the case that the team are working on, dealing with human trafficking. That is included in the trigger warnings along with past abuse and torture experienced as a child, stalking (with good intentions aka Novak), and on page torture and murder.
It's an intense and brilliantly written story that drags you in right from the start as Caleb battles with his thoughts on Novak doing the wrong thing for the fight reasons.
I can't wait for everyone to read it!
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Hellsbells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldnt wait to read this new installment of the Redcars series and was exicted to learn more about Novak. This book didnt disappoint.

Novak has trigger warnings at the start so please read those before deciding to read this book.

Novak's history is awful, but learning how his mind works and how he functions is very interesting. I loved reading Calebs reactions to Novaks's mindset.

Them being brought together while investigating the human trafficking ring added some relief to the darkness of the book but was ties in wonderfully with Novaks past. There's are so many good quotes in this book, one of my favs being
"He sent me his version of torture porn and narrated every fucking step.”

I love everything about his book. The different perspectives from Novak and Caleb really pulled you into their story and I needed to know how those opposing perspectives came to care for each other.

I love the darker themes of this series and as with the other books I started and finished this in 1 sitting. I just couldn't put it down. Loved It.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark romance with morally gray characters is not my usual choice for reading romance but if RJ Scott writes it then I will read it! The entire Redcars series has totally captivated me and Novak was no exception.

I can’t even imagine how or what RJ researched in order to write a story with a functioning psychopath. Novak decided that Caleb is his to protect but it takes Caleb a bit of time before he can come to terms with and accept that and it takes more time before he realizes that he’s falling for Novak.

Novak and Caleb have some very hot and sexy times! I loved the mentions of RJ’s Shadow Team series. You absolutely don’t need to have read those books to enjoy Novak but it might entice you to check that series out – it’s really great.

If you happen to be more in the mood for something sweeter and hot…I’ve been listening to RJ’s Texas series and want to give a shout out to those books, too.

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.

[Avid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book really packed an emotional punch. This whole series has tackled some deep, dark themes especially around child trafficking. In this book we finally get the back story to Novak, a high functioning psychopath who kills on command with no remorse or feeling. We experience the world through his eyes which is brilliantly researched and written. His interactions with Caleb when he is vulnerable are heartbreaking and add a sliver of light to his darkness. Caleb is the perfect match to Novak and takes real care of the sliver of lightness he is shown. The children's role in this story was sensitively written and I was rooting for them to be saved. The book gave real insight into the psychopath mind and Doc's insights were spot on. Another emotional rollercoaster of a book full of action, intel, friendship, morally grey heroes, retribution and love.

[Helen Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Redcars series keeps getting better with each successive story. Although I thought I would find it hard to connect with Novak due to his psycopathy, I found his extreme focus relatable. Watching him warm his hands over the fire of human emotion was fascinating. Caleb's need to decide whether or not to be all in with Novak made an interesting decision point in the story. The plot around the trafficked children was compelling. I always enjoy Redcars' "I will burn down the world for the people I love" mindset. However, there were a number of continuity breaks as well as missing words and grammatical errors, so it didn't reach the 5-star mark for me. I wish this author would get a better beta reader team or copy editor so these errors wouldn't be a factor in my ratings.

[Nicki - The Overflowing Bookcase · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one hurt by heart. Novak is such a broken man that was torn apart from a very early age and the connection he feels for Caleb breaks him out of his turmoil. Each and every interaction pulls a layer off of Novak leaving him unsure but totally committed. Whether it is to keep Caleb safe or to make sure he has what he needs, he can finally understand love. And if that was not enough, RJ Scott throws in a child kidnapping ring just to keep the pages turning. A wonderful read with a main character who is beautifully broken.

[Kathy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in the Redcards series. This is one of the darker books in this series. It deals with some very intense subjects. I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to see what made Novak become the man he is. I loved the way the relationship between Novak and Caleb evolved. The characters were well developed, and the pace makes it hard to put down. Though this is the fifth book in the series, I feel it can be read as a stand-alone book.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

....and Yep, that there is so romantic for me! I could not get enough of the genuine crazy possessive thoughts of Novak. He just had to own Caleb, that was it, period in the way his mind worked. I was however pleased that Caleb was not just all in here. He had to learn how to understand how Novak's mind worked.

[Kendra Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caleb is a hacker who goes after people who hurt kids and he does a good job of it. Novak is an unrepentant psycho but when he meets Caleb something clicks for him. These two worked good together. They both had similar goals. Their chemistry is hot. 🔥 The story is good and well written. Definitely recommended. 🙂

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another intense read in the Redcars series, but the connection between Novak and Caleb is solidified when Novak, a psychopath who understand who exactly who he is, decides Caleb is the one person for him. The depth of these characters in the series always surprises me, but I'm immersed in the world as soon as I start reading.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say that Novak felt possessive of Caleb is an understatement of epic proportions. The "touch him and die" vibes were palpable. I really enjoyed watching Caleb work towards accepting all facets of Novak's unique personality. This is another fantastic addition to the series.


*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*

[Rachel Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better and better! I thoroughly enjoyed this addition to the Redcars series, with Caleb and Novak's love story. The characters are great and the story is fast paced. Novak was amazing a high functioning pyschopath who has such a tragic emotional back story. How he survived the abuse to only use his training to kill bad guys is unbelievable. His decision that Caleb's is his to look out for and protect was so sweet. Highly recommend. HEA.

[AL · Rating 5 out of 5]

A psychopath walks into your life...
Well now, this one was a very unexpected surprise! I didn't know what to expect from this one, but RJ Scott blew my mind yet again! This series is a perfect showcase of the author's craft. Definitely a very well done foray into the dark side.

[Jerry]

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[Cristy Elizondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book on the series. I was so happy to read Caleb's story. And poor Novak. I'm glad he found someone. I love all the men of the Cave.